🎈CHAPTER 24🎈
•°Corinne's POV°•
Being back in Derry was a paradox. It felt profoundly wrong—a dive into a past I’d worked hard to forget—and yet, in some deep, unexplainable way, it felt like coming home. My mind was a whirlwind, struggling to wrap itself around the flood of memories this town triggered—memories of this place and the people who had once been my entire world. Now, after disappearing from their lives without a word, I was going to see them again. Scared didn't even begin to cover it.
I sat in Charles's car, my hands gripping the steering wheel, staring at the familiar facade of the Jade of the Orient restaurant. I couldn't make myself move. What would I even say?
The sound of another car pulling up beside me broke my trance. A man got out, and I heard a voice I hadn't heard in decades, yet recognized instantly.
"Well, well, look who it is."
I turned slowly. The man was taller, older, but the glasses were the same. It could only be one person. "Richie?"I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
"The one and only. Oh my god, look at you. You're gorgeous," he said, his trademark grin spreading across his face. He didn't hesitate, pulling me into a bear hug. I returned it, the familiar gesture thawing a bit of the ice around my heart.
"How have you been?" Richie asked, holding me at arm's length to look at me.
"I'm fine. Busy, but that's life, hey? And you?" I said, managing a small, genuine smile.
"I've been good. Shall we get going?" he asked, jerking his thumb toward the restaurant entrance. I nodded, and we started toward the door, only to stop short.
Two people were locked in a warm embrace just outside, blocking the way. A beautiful woman with fiery red hair and a tall, handsome man. My breath caught.
"Wow. You two look amazing. What the fuck happened to me?" Richie announced, grabbing their attention.
They turned, and my world tilted. The woman was undeniably Beverly Marsh, my once-best friend. The man was… it couldn't be. But it was. His face was older, his frame had filled out from the boy I knew, but his eyes were the same. Ben.
"What's going on, man?" Richie said, stepping forward to clap the man on the shoulder. They still hadn't noticed me standing slightly behind Richie.
"Hey, man." "It's Richie.Hi." "Yeah.It's Ben," he said, and just the sound of his voice, deeper now but still so familiar, rooted me to the spot. I couldn't help but stare, my heart hammering against my ribs.
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Unwritten 🎈Ben Hanscom Fanfiction🎈
Fanfiction"I have to go,too," I spoke up, my voice barely above a whisper. "My mom's waiting for me." It was only half the truth. I went around the circle, giving each of my friends a tight hug, saving Ben for last. I tried desperately to keep the tears from...
