The rest of the day was so boring that I blurred out what the teachers were saying and continued to stare out of the window. History with Bill was awfully quiet, which was something we weren't used to considering all we did was talk. Everything was such a blur. The dream that I had last night made it seem like things were different, but one thing I couldn't get through to myself; I had a huge cut on my foot that I had also gotten in my dream. And maybe it was just a coincidence, or maybe I had gotten it before I had the dream. Either way, nothing that happened was real. I convinced myself that it wasn't.

"Ariana?" Bill cleared his throat, his voice snapping me out of my thoughts.

I looked over at him, unaware of what was happening. "Huh?" I murmured, my eyes slightly- opened.

Bill tilted his head, his voice getting quieter. "I asked if you w-were okay?" Bill asked slowly.

I slouched down, setting my elbows on the table as I buried my eyes in the palms of my hands. "Awesome."

Bill frowned. "Are you s-sure? Your face is kind of p-p-ale," he stuttered his words.

I shook my head, sitting up as I looked him in his hazel eyes. "I'm okay, Bill."

Bill shook it off, nodding his head as he got back to work.

It was obvious that he couldn't get anything out of me, better or for worse. I hadn't talked to anyone today besides Richie who continually asked me questions while I stood at my locker. He continued asking about what happened with Henry Bowers and how he was going to get revenge on Henry someday for hurting me. As far as he knew, as for as I knew, what happened last night was all a messed up dream that Henry just happened to be in.

"C'mon, Ariana," Richie begged, his foot stomping onto the ground. "Is it true? Do you like Henry Bowers?"

I turned to Richie, my eyes widening. "What? Of course not!" I exclaimed, my face shooting with fast emotions of concern.

Richie sighed in relief, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand as if he just finished running a marathon. "I knew it wasn't true!" Richie smiled.

I frowned, crossing my arms. "What wasn't true?"

Richie sighed. "There was a rumor going around that, well," Richie paced, scratching the back of his neck. "You kind of made out with Henry Bowers."

My face started to heat up. My arms were soon against my hips as I squeezed my hands tightened into fists. I looked at the ground, ignoring the actions that Richie was making.

"But I knew it wasn't true, you wouldn't do that." Richie faked a chuckle, trying to make me feel better but failing at the same time. His smile soon went away as he realized that my face turned into a red, hot pepper.

I was soon walking away from him.

"Hey, where are you going?" Richie called from behind me, following where I was headed towards.

My eyebrows furrowed. Why would anyone ever try doing this, especially when I refused to date him? Of course, he was capable of this, but why would he ever do this to me? The worst thing I've ever done was kick him in the crotch for hitting on me when I told him a solid no.

My light brown hair brushed against my shoulders as I used my breath blow to off the loose strands in my face. I stomped down the hallway and zoomed past the lockers, trying to find that douchebag.

There he was, leaning against the lockers, his small group of friends crowded around him, snickering with their arms crossed.

Henry soon looked toward me, standing up straight from the lockers as his friends made room for me to come in. "Well, if it isn't-" he started. That's when my hand that had been clenched into a ball hit his cheek.

I punched Henry Bowers.

Surprised looks filled the faces of the kids close by us in the hallway, over half of them watching our scene. Henry put his hand on his cheek, his mouth hardly open as he soon looked down at his hand. I stood there, the same remaining expression of anger.

"Don't you ever disrespect me like that again!" I yelled at him, the hallway being so quiet that all you could hear was myself and the gasps of other people. And then I walked away, shoving passed his so-called friends.

Richie stood there in shock, his round-eyes almost popping out of his head as his mouth remained open. "I-uh," he tried his best not to stutter as all eyes were on him and me. "I'll just be going, uh, Ariana!" Richie followed after me as I walked passed him.

The rest of the kids in that hallway looked at Henry, only to see him watching Richie and I walking away and out of the school grounds. Henry still stood there in shock, not moving a muscle, as the remaining people went on with their day, gossiping.

I had made it outside as Richie called after me. "Ariana, Ariana!"

I turned around, Richie stopping as he had finally gotten my attention. "What was that!" I felt the warm tears starting to form in my eyes once again. Richie looked at me confused, watching as the tears fell from my eyes, to my checks, and down my neck. Richie sighed as he pulled on my shoulders, pushing me into his chest. Not only was this the first time Richie was comforting, but it was the first time he was really there for me.

"Ariana!" I heard a voice call.

Richie and I broke the hug, looking toward the school to see Eddie, Bill, and Stan running towards us.

"Are you alright?" Bill asked as he reached us. Bill had walked in front of me, breaking my view from the rest of the boys. He had seen the tears that had rolled down my cheeks, as well as the puffy eyes.

"I swear to God, if that ba-" Bill's face tightened as his jaw began to clench.

I cut him off, my eyes softening. "Bill, I'm okay," the words came out of my mouth.

Bill shook his head as Eddie put his hand on Bill's back. Bill stepped backward and all of the attention was on me.

"If anything, that pervert deserved it," Stan spoke up, a small smile forming on his face.

Richie chuckled as he stepped forwards. "Yeah! Like, did you see Ariana? She was like- kapow!" Richie threw his hands in a punching movement, making the boys and I chuckle.

"Bowers was crying like a baby," Eddie piped up as he snorted with the rest of the boys.

Soon, we were left making fun of what had just happened.

Later that day, I hadn't heard one word from Henry Bowers besides the chatter I heard whenever I walked passed someone I knew from school. It was official—the whole school knew about the catastrophe that had happened earlier this afternoon with Ariana and Henry.

➢➢➢

This was an extremely short chapter, but I promise I'll be updating soon!

Quote of the Day: "Are you suggesting we dance our troubles away?" -Chandler Bing