.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
【 𝐈𝐍𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 】
i
v. the pharmacy
"IT'S GREAT YOU'RE HELPING THE NEW KID, but we also need to think about our own safety. I mean, he's bleeding right now and, you guys know there's an AIDS epidemic happening right now as we speak, right?"
They were cycling into town, and Eddie was talking a mile a minute.
A few moments after Ben had burst through the bushes, the kids had snapped into action; making a collective decision that they needed to help the injured boy.
Eddie, however, had his concerns.
"My mom's friend from New York City got it, just from touching a dirty pole on the subway, and a drop of AIDS blood got into his system, through a hangnail. A hangnail! And they amputate legs and arms and- but how d'you amputate a waist?"
Verity cast a glance at Stan, who was cycling next to her. "Seriously?" She mouthed, getting a dry smile in return.
"Yep," he replied.
"You guys do know that alleys are known for dirty needles with AIDS right? Right?"
"Eddie, it's okay. We're just stopping in here for a minute, right guys?" Verity asked, leaving her bike propped against the wall.
"Yep." Bill nodded. "Richie, wait here. C'mon guys."
They followed him into the store, but not before Verity saw Richie turn to Ben, saying "Glad I got to meet you before you died."
Of course, Eddie had medical supplies in his bag, but the injuries that Ben had required more serious medical attention. And so, they resolved to go to Keene's pharmacy on main street, an Aladdin's cave of medical paraphernalia.
Bill frowned. "Can we afford all that?" They all looked at the pile of supplies in Eddie's arms, knowing they were screwed.
"This is all we've got," Stan held out a few dollars, lying crumpled and pathetic in the palm of his hand.
"Are you kidding me?" Eddie whined.
"Wait, you've got an account here don't you?" Bill asked him, eliciting hopeful looks from the others.
"If my mom finds out I bought all this stuff for myself," Eddie lowered his voice. "I'll spend the whole rest of the weekend in the emergency room getting x-rayed."
"Great," Stan threw up his hands in frustration. "What the hell are we supposed to do know?"
"Well.." Verity looked thoughtful. "Okay, I'll pretend to faint or something, then you guys take the shit and go."
Just as Verity was gearing up for her fainting fit, a familiar red-haired girl turned the corner, an anxious expression on her freckled face.
"Y-you okay?" Bill asked, causing her to frown.
"I'm fine. What's wrong with you?" Beverly Marsh said hastily, and Verity could just make out the tampax box hidden behind the other girl's back.
"None of your business," Stan muttered quickly, earning himself a nudge from Verity.
Eddie glanced around, afraid they'd be overheard. "There's a kid outside, looks like somebody killed him."
"We need some s-s-supplies, but we don't have enough money." Bill admitted.
Beverly was silent, obviously forming a plan. "Do exactly as I tell you, and wait for the signal."
Leaving the others in speechless awe, the Marsh girl sauntered up to the counter, effortlessly striking up a conversation with Mister Keene.
"He gives me the creeps," Verity whispered, shuddering slightly as the man ran his eyes over Bev, a lecherous grin on his face. "No wonder Gretta's such a bitch."
She felt slightly bad for Gretta, the school's notorious mean girl. What was it like to have a father who couldn't keep his eyes off the young girls who frequented his store? Verity tried to avoid the pharmacy at all costs, but there had been a few instances where she had been forced to enter the shop, always feeling uncomfortable under the gaze of the withered Mister Keene.
Beverly had now artfully knocked over one of the brightly coloured displays that topped the counter, causing the man to duck out of sight as a string of hurried apologies spilled from her lips.
She turned to look at the boys and Verity, motioning for them to run. And run they did; but only after Eddie had knocked into a shelf, causing Bill to barge into him in his haste.
-
They were now huddled in the alley, eyes round as they watched Eddie work with the precision and skill of a doctor.
Verity and Stan were leaning against the graffitied wall, her head resting on his shoulder.
"Just suck the wound!" Richie exclaimed, his comment obviously pissing Eddie off.
"I need to focus right now!"
"Oh, you need to focus?"
"Yeah, get my bifocals. They're in my second fanny-pack." Eddie said, a hint of exasperation in his voice.
"Why do you have two fanny-packs?" Stan asked, making Verity chuckle.
"Guys, I said I need to focus!" Eddie scolded.
"Damn, I didn't know Eddie was so good with this stuff," Verity said admiringly, watching in disbelief.
"Yeah, he's got a lot of experience I guess." Stan replied, giving her a meaningful look.
"You have to suck the wound before you apply the bandage, this is 101!" Richie said loudly.
Eddie shook his head. "You don't know what you're talking about."
Verity turned and saw Beverly walking towards them, closely followed by Bill.
"Are you alright? That looks like it hurts." Bev asked worriedly, eyes on Ben.
"No, I'm good. I just.. fell." He said awkwardly.
"Yeah, right into Henry Bowers," Richie smirked.
"Shut up, R-Richie." Bill said tightly.
"Why? It's the truth!"
"Excuse him," Verity said, raising an eyebrow at Beverly, her voice dropping to a stage-whisper. "He has a bit of a control issue."
Richie stuck his tongue out at her. "Shut up, Veritas," he sneered.
"I can see that," Bev laughed brightly. "You sure they've got the right stuff, to fix you up?" she continued, giving Ben a small wink.
Verity was amused to see his loss for words as he smiled bashfully.
"You know w-we'll take care of him," Bill turned to the red-haired girl.
"Thanks again, Beverly."
"Sure, maybe I'll see you around." She said, her blue eyes twinkling.
"Yeah, we were thinking of going to the q-quarry tomorrow. If - if you wanna..?" Bill stumbled over his words.
"Good to know, thanks." And with a small wave, Bev was gone.
"Nice going, bringing up Bowers in front of her." Stan muttered once she had left.
"Yeah dude, haven't you heard what she did?" Eddie asked incredulously.
A worried expression crossed Ben's face. "Why, what'd she do?"
"More like who'd she do," Richie corrected. "From what I hear, the list is longer than my wang."
Verity pretended to retch loudly, earning the middle finger from the bespectacled boy.
"That's not saying much," Stan said under his breath, making Verity choke back a snort.
"They're j-just rumours," Bill glared at Richie.
"Anyway, Bill had her back in the third grade," Richie continued. "They kissed in the school play. The reviews said you can't fake that sort of passion!"
"I think I remember that," Verity mused. "I played the tree."
"An astounding performance, Ver," Stan said sarcastically, using the nickname he had fondly called her in their childhood.
"Now! Pip pip and tally-ho my good fellows!" Richie cried, making them all jump. "I do believe this chap requires our utmost attention!" He gave Eddie a shove. "Get in there doctor K! C'mon, fix him up!"
"Why don't you shut the fuck up Einstein, I know what I'm doing and I don't want you doing the British guy and messing it up." Eddie said in annoyance, followed by another loud shout of "Suck the wound, get in there!"
-
After Eddie had put the last bandage on Ben, the rest of the group had gone their separate ways home. This left Verity and Stan to make the way to their street. The late-afternoon sunlight shone through the trees that lined the avenue, leaving dappled shadows on the tarmac that danced in the breeze.
"Are you okay? You look like you want to say something." she said, noticing how quiet Stan had been.
He looked up from his bike. "Uh, yeah there is actually. I was wondering if, um.."
"Yeah?" She asked hopefully, slowing her pace to match his.
"I was wondering if you wanted to come swimming with us tomorrow?" He asked nervously, as though he was worried he'd be shot down.
"I'd love to!" She said, a smile spreading across her face.
"And the guys are fine with it," he said quickly. "I asked them and they said it's okay."
"Thanks Stan," she grinned. "See you tomorrow."
They parted ways at her front gate, leaving Verity to skip up the path, barely able to contain her excitement. She pushed the front door open, breathing out a sigh of contentment as it swung shut behind her. The hallway was bathed in sunlight, and the heavenly scent of freshly baked bread wafted out from the kitchen.
Juliette poked her head out of the doorway, noticing her daughter's new air of happiness. "Good day, love?"
Verity nodded, giving her mother a hug. "It was brilliant."