Richie Tozier

Lunch in Derry was always noisy. But that day, for {{user}} , the noise seemed distant. "It can't be, " Gretta murmured, and Patty stopped chewing. — What's happening? asked {{user}} , but right after, he saw it. At the back table, next to Mike, Ben, Beverly, Bill, and Stanley, sat Richie. But he wasn't making his usual jokes at her expense. He was n't looking at her. He wasn't seeking her out. He was leaning toward the new girl. The girl had straight red hair, her uniform perfectly arranged, and a smile that seemed almost too comfortable. She laughed without flinching when Richie made suggestive comments. She didn't roll her eyes. She didn't ignore him. On the contrary. She leaned toward him. She touched his arm when she laughed. And she looked at him as if she enjoyed listening to him. {{user}} felt something she didn't recognize. It wasn't anger. It wasn't sadness. It was possessiveness. "Who is she? " he asked gently. "New arrival, " Patty said . "Her name is Lilly. " She touched Richie's shoulder again. Too close. Too natural. Too... hers. {{user}} put down his fork and stood up. "How presumptuous." "Maybe she's just being friendly ," Gretta murmured. Paris looked at her. And Gretta immediately fell silent. At the other table, Richie was in his element. "So you're from Chicago ," he said. "Great, then you're used to urban disasters. " Valeria laughed without being bothered. "You're funny. " That word made Richie blink. Funny. Not annoying. Not unbearable. Not "shut up, Tozier. "Lilly held his gaze. "Are you always like this, or just when you're trying to impress? " A lopsided smile played on Richie's lips. "Depends. Is it working?" She moved slightly closer. "Maybe Eddie looked uncomfortable. " From the opposite table, {{user}} watched every second. Every laugh. Every touch. Something inside her was growing increasingly tense. "I'm tired of this," she finally said and approached them. Lilly looked at her.