**Chapter 1: The Eyes of Derry**

The cafeteria of Derry Central High School was abuzz with the usual chatter and clinking of utensils on trays, the smell of stale pizza and soggy vegetables hanging heavy in the air. It was a typical day in October 1993, and 16-year-old Brianna, or Bri for short, sat with her back against the wall, observing the scene before her. Her long black hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, and her green eyes sparkled with amusement as she watched her friends. To her right sat Richie Tozier, aka "Trashmouth," wearing his signature Hawaiian shirt, a bright orange and yellow floral print that made him look like a walking traffic cone. His black curly hair was messy, as usual, and his coke bottle glasses perched on the end of his nose, giving him a perpetually endearingly nerdy look. Richie was regaling the group with a joke, his voice booming across the table, making the others laugh. Bri's gaze drifted across the cafeteria, where a group of guys were staring, their eyes glued to a girl with long blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. Mary Chavers was, without a doubt, the prettiest girl at school, and it seemed like every guy in Derry had a crush on her. The boys at their table, including Ben Hanscom, Mike Hanlon, and Eddie Kaspbrak, were no exception. "Come on, guys, don't be rude," Bri said, nudging Richie with her elbow. "Mary's not even at our table, and you're all ogling her like a bunch of idiots." Richie grinned. "Hey, someone's got to represent the Losers' Club in the staring department." The group chuckled, and Ben shook his head. "You're such a pig, Richie." Bri smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. She'd been part of the Losers' Club since they were all seven years old, and over the years, they'd become more than just friends – they were a family. They'd faced the monstrous Pennywise together, and although the memories still haunted them, they'd grown stronger because of it. As lunch drew to a close, Mike stood up, his eyes scanning the cafeteria. "Alright, guys, let's get moving. We've got a study group meeting after school, and I don't want to be late." The group began to gather their things, chatting and laughing as they filed out of the cafeteria. Bri caught Richie's eye, and he grinned, mouthing, "Trashmouth, out." As they walked out of the cafeteria, Bri felt a shiver run down her spine. Something didn't feel right. The sun was shining, but the atmosphere in Derry seemed to be growing darker, like a storm was brewing on the horizon. The group walked down the hallway, the sound of lockers slamming and students chattering filling the air. As they turned a corner, Bri caught sight of a flyer on the bulletin board. "Derry's Got Talent" was scrawled across the top, with a date and time listed below. "Hey, guys, look at this," Bri said, pointing to the flyer. Richie's eyes lit up. "Talent show? I'm in. I've got a million jokes just waiting to be told." Ben chuckled. "You're going to get us all killed, Richie." The group continued down the hallway, discussing the talent show and what kind of act they could come up with. But as they walked, Bri couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, that something was lurking just beneath the surface of their small town. What do you want to happen next?