If I could stay in bed all day, I think I would take the opportunity to do so. Sure, that means I'd miss out on whatever adventure our group would be going on today, but I'm so tired I think I could use the rest. My mom came into my room when she got up this morning to tell me that she was taking the day off so we could spend some time together, maybe go on the outskirts of Derry and go shopping. I didn't get much sleep last night. I kept waking up what felt like every two hours with the same nightmare. In the beginning, I had it every night. As the months began to fade away though, the frequency of it dwindled with it. Until a few weeks ago...then I started having it again. It's always the same one. Nothing in it ever changes. And it always leaves me waking up missing my dad and Benny more and more every time.

I threw my covers off of my body and sat up. My alarm clock said it was almost 11:30, so I guess I slept in quite enough. I stood up and walked out of my room and down the stairs. "Morning mom," I said, walking into the kitchen to grab myself some orange juice.

"Good morning sweetie," She smiled, looking away from the couch as she held the phone to her ear. "yeah, she slept in again. Though it is the first time in a while, she's got a great group of friends now."

I poured myself a glass of orange juice and put the carton back into the fridge. I leaned against the island and picked up my glass, looking at her. "Who's on the phone?" I asked, taking a sip.

"Okay, here she is." My mom said, getting up off of the couch and handing me the phone. "Special phone call all the way from Los Angeles."

My eyes widened and I grabbed the phone out of her hand– pressing it against my ear. "Benny?!"

His deep laugh rang through the other side of the phone. "Hey Dani, how's my favorite sister doing?"

I picked up my glass of orange juice and walked into the living room, sitting on the couch. "Pretty good, how about you? How's the academy?"

"It's tough, but I expected it to be. Graduation isn't until next month, so that's what I've got to look forward to." He replied.

I took another sip of my orange juice. "Well, 26 weeks is a pretty long time...especially since you were supposed to have graduated in March." Benny was supposed to have entered the Police Academy in early November, only a few days after mom and I moved to Derry. But right before he was supposed to go, he bailed, stating that he wanted to figure some things out first before he made this huge commitment. Mom thinks it's because of Dad...and I do too. But Benny won't admit it. Nonetheless, he went in early April and he's been in ever since.

"Yeah, yeah. Well enough about me, how's my baby sister doing? How did school finish out? Mom says you made some friends?"

"Cool it with the hundredth degree, Benny," I laughed, leaning back against the couch arm, my back to the door. "school was okay. Believe it or not, I only had one friend for the entire school year. But now I have six, so I think it's safe to say I'm not a friendless loser."

He laughed again, making my smile fall. He sounded so much like dad, it hurt. "And Eddie? Mom says you two have been hanging out together! How in the hell did that happen?"

"Believe it or not, we're in the same friend group. I feel bad for him Benny. Aunt Sonia seems like a total nut case. Did mom tell you about what happened in the grocery store?"

"Yeah, she told me. Which is why I was honestly surprised that you and Eddie have been hanging out. Aunt Sonia has always been pretty controlling." He coughed away from the phone and cleared his throat. "Speaking of mom...how is she doing?"

His tone had gotten serious and he spoke in a low whisper as if our mom would have been able to hear him through the phone. I turn around to see her walking towards the front door and opening it before turning away. "She's doing good. I think she was right about this move being good for us. She's working at the police station in town, and she's reconnected with the few of her friends who still live here."

"I'm happy that's the case, but just remember what I told you, okay? Mom's good at hiding her emotions. She's done it all our lives so she never upset us, you know that."

I took a deep breath and sighed. "I know."

"Sure, come on in. She's just inside." My mom said, closing the front door.

I got up off of the couch, leaving my cup on the table and walked out of the living room. I was practically stopped in my tracks the moment I saw who was at the door. "Richie?"

He gave me a small smile and waved as he stood there awkwardly by the front door. "Richie? Who's Richie?" Benny asked.

I went to reply to him when I looked down and realized I was still in my pajamas...in front of Richie. My hair probably looked like major bed-head, I probably had morning breath...and I was standing in my baggy pajamas in front of Richie. "Oh my god..." I whispered to myself, my eyes looking at the stairs. I wonder how fast I'd be able to run up there without my mom and Richie really noticing.

"Oh, I get it..." Benny replied, you could practically hear the smirk by the tone of his voice. "is Richie your boyfriend?"

"Shut up Benny," I mumbled into the phone, looking back at Richie and laughing.

"Dani, why don't you go get dressed? I'll talk to Benny." My mom said, walking towards me.

"Alright, well have fun– but not too much fun! And tell this Richie boy that I'll drive to Derry if I have to."

"Please stop," I whined. I know there was no possible way that Richie could hear what my brother was saying, but he was still embarrassing me.

"Okay fine," he laughed. "I love you kiddo."

"I love you too," I replied, handing the phone off to my mom as she walked off into the living room. "So, did you pick the short straw out of the gang and get sent to the door? Why didn't they come in with you?"

"Actually...it's just me," Richie said, stuffing his hands into his pockets and kicking his shoes. Suddenly, he stood straight up and his demeanor changed as if he had a surge of confidence flow right through him. "Remember how I asked if you wanted to hang out, just us two? I was thinking we could today...if that's alright."

Just like that, it felt like my hope for some hangout time with Richie was as sunk as the Titanic. I mean, here he was at my house, ready to hang out– just the two of us...and I have to go shopping with my mom. "Richie I-"

"You can go Dani. I just remembered I had some errands to run today, we'll postpone our shopping trip another time." She smiled, giving me a small wink that I hoped to God Richie didn't see. Benny was right, she's got some supersonic hearing because God knows how she heard that from the living room.

I turned away from her and looked back at Richie. "Okay, yeah that sounds great." I pointed towards the stairs. "I just need to change real quick and we can go. You can sit in the living room if you want...and if she asks you a million questions, I'm so sorry."

He laughed looking over at my mom. "I think she's kind of cool, cooler than you that's for sure."

"Watch it, Tozier," I replied, pointing at him before jogging up the stairs and into my room.

I closed my door behind me and looked around my room almost in a panic. I had no idea what we were doing today. Were we swimming? Should I bring a bathing suit? Do I try to look nice and wear a dress? No don't be silly Dani, why would you wear a dress? I mean...it's impractical if we're going to be riding bikes around. But...it wouldn't help to try to look my best for him. I grabbed a shirt from my closet and a pair of shorts from my dresser drawers. It was something that screamed, I'm not trying too hard, but I still look cute. I quickly got dressed and grabbed my backpack from the end of my bed. Granted, it really didn't have anything in it besides money, but I'd rather carry that around instead of just my wallet.

I opened my bedroom door and left my room, jogging down the stairs and hoping that my mother wasn't interrogating Richie. Sure, she'd mean well by just asking some questions, but no doubt she'd embarrass me without realizing she was. "Hey, I'm ready to go," I said, walking into the living room to see Richie and my mom sitting on the couch.

They both looked at me and he stood up. "Alright you two, have fun and be safe out there. Don't get into trouble."

"We'll try not to Mrs. Merritt." Richie smiled, walking towards me.

"Bye mom, I'll be home later," I called out, walking towards the front door with Richie right behind me.

The only words she was able to get out before I closed the front door behind us were: remember the curfew. As if I could ever forget the curfew. It's what seemed to control this town and our summer. Resulting in early morning wake-ups so we could fit enough fun during the day before the sun sunk down below the horizon. Richie walked off of the front porch and onto the grass to get his bike as I brought mine down the steps and met him on the sidewalk. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah, where to first?" I asked, getting onto my bike.

"Arcade?" He asked, looking at me. He pushed up his glasses and cleared his throat. "Unless you don't want to..."

"I've been wanting to check out the arcade!" I smiled, starting to ride up the street. "Benny and I used to play in our old towns arcade every Sunday."

"So does this mean you'll be able to put up some kind of fight when I kick your ass at Galaga?"

I laughed and looked at him as he rode up beside me. "That's assuming you're able to beat me at all."

"Well, considering I've yet to lose at that game, I think it's safe to say you're going down."

"Well Richie, you sure do talk a lot of trash for someone who has yet to play their opponent."

As we came up to the end of a sidewalk and Richie pressed the crosswalk button, he looked at me. "Why don't we make this interesting? Like a bet."

"Okay, I'm listening." I couldn't help it. Benny would do this all the time, turn our competitions into bets. Most times I lost, resulting in me always having to do his chores. But I couldn't help it, it made the competition more fun.

"Loser has to..." he looked away as if he was thinking of what the loser had to do as if it wasn't already in his mind. "loser has to do whatever the winner says for the rest of the day."

I raised my eyebrows at him as our crosswalk signaled for us to cross and we rode our bikes. "Are you that confident in your abilities that you're going to make that the conditions?"

He laughed and shrugged his shoulders. "I know there's no way in hell you'd actually want to do what I say, so this way I know you won't let me win."

As we crossed another street, we came to a stop in front of the arcade, getting off of our bikes and letting them sit with all of the others. "Fine," I said, extending my hand to him. "you've got a deal."

❏❏❏❏

I stared at the screen of the video game, my mind still trying to process what had just happened. I could still hear Richie's voice as he paraded around the machine, celebrating his victory. I couldn't believe it, he actually beat me. I was winning, right up to the very end of the game. We were neck and neck...and I got killed. He won. As he rounded around the machine again, his smile seemingly taking over his face I nudged him with my elbow. "You can stop bragging now."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Am I being insensitive?" He asked, putting his hand to his heart. "I could have sworn I told you I've never lost a game."

I crossed my arms and just stared at him. "Fine. You get five more seconds to gloat and then it's over."

"Oh no, we had a deal. You have to do whatever I say for the rest of the day...and I think I want you to bask in the glory that is my victory."

I turned back to the machine and examined the controls. "You definitely bugged with this machine, there's no way I lost."

"No way sweet-cheeks, I won fair and square." He smiled, leaning against the machine. "Now, what should we do next?"

"I can't believe it..." I mumbled. I was truly at a loss for words at the fact he really beat me. Benny couldn't even beat me and he was pretty good at this game.

"Hm..." He looked around the arcade, his eyes finally settling on something. "Oh I know, you can treat me to a late lunch at the diner."

I raised my eyebrows at him, ready to give him some attitude. He just smirked, knowing damn well a bet is a bet and I had to go along with what he said. "Fine, let's go to lunch."

We turned away from the video game and left the arcade. I wanted nothing more than to knock him off of his bike the moment we started to head towards the arcade, but I knew I couldn't do it. When we got to the diner, we parked our bikes around the building and walked in. It wasn't too busy for a Friday afternoon, we had missed the late lunch hour and it's too early for dinner. We sat at a booth in the corner of the restaurant, right across from the few games and quarter machines they had in the place. Richie picked the spot– go figure. 

"What can I get you two today?" The waitress asked, standing at the edge of our table. She was probably about Benny's age, maybe a year or two older. I wonder if she was stuck here in Derry going to the local college just a few miles outside of town...or if she was working for her tuition.

"I'll have the bacon cheeseburger with fries and a coke," Richie said, putting his menu back on the stand on our table.

"I'll have the cheeseburger with no tomatoes, no lettuce, fries, and a water please." I smiled at her, putting my menu down.

"Will that be all?" She asked, writing our orders down on her notepad.

"Can we get a chocolate shake too?" Richie asked, looking at me. "With two straws."

I rested back against my seat and looked at him. He was really rubbing in this whole him beating me thing. The waitress looked at me and smiled. "Sure thing cutie pie. I'll have your drinks up soon."

As soon as she walked away, I leaned onto the table and looked at him. "Two straws Richie? Really?"

He shrugged and adjusted his glasses. "I figured I'd make the first move since you're too scared to."

I almost let my jaw drop, but I clenched my jaw. I couldn't let him know that I actually liked him. I mean, for all I know– being the jokester that he is, this could really all just be one big joke. Something he's doing to earn a few laughs. I took a deep breath as the waitress returned with our drinks. "You're lucky you beat me."

"It wasn't luck, it was pure skill." He looked over at the machines in the corner and turned back to me with a smile. "I'll be right back."

As he made his way over to the machines, the waitress came back with our shake and two straws. "Thank you." I smiled, letting it fall when she turned her back. I looked over at Richie to see that his back was still facing me. I sneakily grabbed one of the straws she had given us and put it next to my leg. I couldn't help but laugh as I opened my straw and put it into the shake. 

Ha, Take that Richie.

I looked at Richie as I began to drink what was supposed to be our shake to see that he was coming back to the table, his left hand hidden behind his back. "I can obviously see how upset you are from losing," he sat back down across from me and brought out his left hand, holding one of those plastic toy capsules. "so I thought I'd get you something. Here, it's yours."

I couldn't see what was in it, because unlike the normal ones– it wasn't clear plastic, it was red. I grabbed it from his hand and rested my elbows on the table. I popped the cap off and tilted it, two woven bracelets falling into my hand. I put the capsule down and examined them. They weren't the usual thing that came out of those machines, they were pretty unique. Both of them shared the same color combination: red, pink and blue. As well as the same design, one that looked like an arrowhead pointing in one direction. 

"Wow...this is...really nice of you Richie," I said, hoping he didn't think I was being sarcastic.

"Yeah well, I kind of feel bad that you're a loser so..." He replied nonchalantly, looking around for his straw. "Hey! Where's the second straw?"

"I don't know, guess I'll have to drink this milkshake all by myself." I smiled, taking another sip of it. I looked down at the two bracelets and slid one over to Richie. "Here."

He picked it up with confused eyes. "I don't know what kind of straws you used in California, but this is not a straw."

"No, it's not smartass." I laughed, tying my bracelet onto my wrist. "but now we can have matching ones."

He put it back down onto the table and resumed to look for his straw. He huffed and got out of his seat, leaving the bracelet. I must admit, the small victory felt nice...almost overpowering the slight embarrassment of his denial for our matching bracelets. At least it did for the few seconds until he plopped back down and sunk his new straw into the shake. 

He leaned in to take a sip and I leaned back into my seat in defeat. "Nice try, looks like we're still sharing our shake."

I bit the inside of my cheek to prevent myself from smiling at the idea and looked down at my lap. My eyes caught sight of the bracelet that now decorated my wrist. Sure, it was from a 50 cent toy machine and yeah, he didn't know what it would be...but there was still the thought. And that's all that matters...especially when it's coming from one Richie Tozier.

"Hey, could you help me?" I looked up to see Richie struggling to tie the bracelet together. "This thing is totally kicking my ass."

I smiled and leaned across the table as he laid his arm on it. I could feel him looking at me as I tied the bracelet and he drank our shake, but when I looked up he looked away. "If we're going to share this shake, you better not drink all of it," I said, taking a long sip.

He laughed and rested his elbow on the table, bringing the bracelet on his wrist close to him, examining the design. "Damn, I sure do have some pretty good taste." I laughed and chocolate milkshake almost came out of my nose. I covered my mouth and nose with my hand as Richie smiled at me admiringly. "Richie Tozier at it again, making all the ladies laugh."

I grabbed a napkin and wiped my face, crumbling it up and shaking my head. "Whatever you say, Richie."