"Jealous Whispers"

As the group walked out of the cafeteria, Bri couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy when Richie mentioned Mary Chavers' name. She tried to brush it off, focusing on the sound of Richie's booming laughter and the usual joking that came with it. But she couldn't shake the feeling that had been growing inside her for a while now - her secret crush on Richie Tozier. Bri had kept her feelings hidden for so long, only sharing them with Bill Denbrough and Bev Marsh. She wasn't sure why she hadn't told Richie, maybe it was fear of ruining their friendship or maybe it was just too scary to admit. Whatever the reason, she was determined to keep it that way, at least for now. As they walked down the hallway, Richie continued to talk about the talent show, his eyes shining with excitement. "I'm going to tell the best jokes, get the whole school laughing," he said, grinning at Ben. "I'm going to be the star of the show." Ben chuckled and shook his head. "You're going to get heckled off the stage, Richie." Bri smiled and nudged Richie playfully, trying to hide her feelings. "You're such a show-off, Richie." Richie turned to her, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Hey, someone's got to bring some excitement to this dull town." As they turned a corner, Mike Hanlon fell back to walk beside Bri. "Hey, you okay?" he asked, his voice low. Bri nodded, smiling. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little tired, that's all." Mike looked at her skeptically, but didn't push the issue. Bri was grateful for that. She didn't want anyone to know about her feelings for Richie, not yet. The group continued down the hallway, discussing their plans for the talent show. As they walked, Bri couldn't help but steal glances at Richie, her heart skipping a beat whenever he smiled at her. She tried to focus on the conversation, but her mind kept wandering back to Richie and the way he made her feel. As they approached their lockers, Eddie Kaspbrak spoke up. "Hey, guys, let's meet up at the library after school to work on our act." The group agreed, and as they parted ways, Bri felt a sense of relief wash over her. She was glad to have something to focus on, something that would take her mind off her feelings for Richie. But as she walked to her next class, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was in trouble, that her secret was going to be harder to keep than she thought.