Bill growled silently, as his back was still facing Henry, his face turned to the side. "What for, Bowers?" Bill asked questionably, as his eyebrows furrowed. Henry only walked closer, standing tall.

"None of your business, Denbrough," Henry responded, as he tilted his head. The boys looked at both Bill and Henry, wondering what was going to happen between them— and so was I. I remained standing there, opening my eyes as the tension spread in the room. And the only thought that could go to my head was mutual, and something that we all were asking ourselves — how would this end?

"Bill, get out," I whispered, my teeth getting together as I shook. I didn't want him to leave, I didn't want him to leave at all. I wanted him to stay for God's sake. But the choice was; if he stays, he gets hurt, and all because of me.

"N-No, I'm not just going to leave you here with this abusive c-coward-" Bill started talking, as I soon cut him off. My eyes widened, as my eyes became watery. This wasn't going to end well.

"Bill, just go," I demanded him, my foot lightly stomping the ground as the boys looked at me with confusion. They thought that I wanted them to stay— that I needed them to stay, and I did. But they couldn't see that.

"Leave," I told the boys, as they all looked at each other. Bill's face looked different; it looked like he was humiliated— disgusted. Bill soon grabbed his lunchbox that was sitting on the floor, as his face became straight. The boys shook their heads in disapproval but continued to leave with Bill. And they never said a word, never looking at me.

"Well, if we aren't alone," Henry said, a smirk forming its way to his face. I turned around slowly, my eyes filled with anger as my hands balled into fists at my sides.

"What do you want?" I asked, my face turning red. I wasn't scared of him—I was far scared of him. I walked closer to him, his face now hovering over me.

"C'mon, don't be like that. It's obvious that you didn't want those losers, you need someone worth your time." Henry snorted, his arm making its way around my waist. This was it, but I couldn't break my calm.

"Just tell me what you want, and leave." I raised my voice, as I backed up, his hand falling to his side as he lost touch with my skin. He raised his eyebrow.

"You're a little feisty one, aren't you?" Henry winked, as he walked closer to me. "It looks like to me that you're choosing me over that stuttering geek, and his little Jew friends." Henry tilted his head, his smirk only growing wider.

At this point, I had lost what I had left of my self-control. Maybe it was because of that smirk of his— or maybe it was because he had just insulted Bill, as well as my long-time best friends.

"You shut your mouth, Henry Bowers!" That was all I could say. Nothing came out; not one word after seeing the expression on Henry's face.

He stepped even closer, to where our faces almost touched; and he looked down at me with his dark green eyes. His eyes narrowed down at me. "Mind saying that again, sweetheart?"

"I swear to freaking God, if you don't leave her alone, I'll—" I heard a voice behind Henry stated. Henry turned around, seeing Bill standing there, the boys behind him as they tried to urge him to get back.

"You'll what, Denbrough? Fight me?" Henry stepped closer, as Bill had been taken back by his sudden movement, but still standing tall. He didn't regret it, he wanted to hurt Henry. But another thing that hadn't crossed his mind— Henry could do just as bad as Bill ever would, maybe worse.

"Hey, what're you kids doing? The class has started." A voice was heard, echoing through the lunchroom. "Henry Bowers, get to class! And the rest of you, go!" We all looked towards the door, seeing our English teacher waving at us to get out. I sighed in relief, Henry rolled his eyes. And soon, Henry grabbed onto Bill's collar, moving him closer as their foreheads almost touched. They glared at each other.

"This isn't over, Skank." Henry let go of Bill, making him stumble backward until he got his balance. The teacher waited for us to leave, as we slowly made our way into the hallway. The boys had gotten to their next class, while I walked with Bill until we were alien. I turned over to him, the pale face of mine still showing. Sure, we had all gotten made fun of and tortured by Henry Bowers, but nothing like this.

"What is wrong with you?" I frowned, tilting my head as his eyes showed the same expression as it was when he looked at Henry. He still hadn't lost that feeling, not just yet.

"I wasn't going to l-let you stay with t-that perv." Bill snapped, his eyes sharpening. "D-Did you think that I would?"

I rolled my eyes. "I could have taken him myself. I don't need your help, neither the guys." I told him, my voice making my anger stand out.

Bill scoffed. "Because clearly you had that s-situation covered, didn't y-you."

"And you just decided to have a staring contest to scare him? What the crap was that?" I asked, as he rolled his eyes and tried walking past me.

"I just don't understand." I quickly stepped in front of him, as I pushed my silk hair out of the way. Bill shook his head.

"You never understood, Ariana. You still don't." Bill's eyes flashed towards mine, the blood-red showing through his light orbs. His mouth began to shake, as he was out of words. And then he was gone, he had walked away and out of my sight. I stood there, staring in front of me as I thought.

I had gotten to class later than I had expected, the whole class had looked at me when I walked in, snorting as I sat down in the back. I had no partner in the class, which was usual considering that I didn't have any friends in any of my classes.

When the school hours were over, I had walked outside of the school, looking past the wondering kids who walked around me. I stood on my toes, clutching my books onto my chest as I tried finding my best friends.

—And by any chance, I couldn't find them. I hadn't seen Henry Bowers since the incident at lunch today, which was odd because I was sure he'd try talking to me once more to rub in his threatening comments.

I looked over to the far side of the school, only to see Patrick Hockstetter leaning up against the shed's bathroom doors, his hands in his pockets. I growled, my feet being far too fast for my body as I stomped my way over to him. I shoved the people, getting rude looks in return.

"Where are they, Patrick?" I asked, using my most threatening voice which wasn't threatening, at least not enough to make him scared. Patrick looked over at me from his gaze and smirked.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Ari." Patrick stood up straight, disconnecting the tension between him and the door. I shook my head in disgust.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about, you douchebag. Where are my friends?" I demanded an answer, throwing my hands at my sides as my books were now long gone behind me.

Patrick shook his head. "I'm sure if I knew where they were, I'd tell you. Sorry." Patrick snorted, his long hair showing around the edges of his face. His light eyes darted at mine, the urge taking over my body. I wanted to hit him like I hit Henry; but much worse.

My right hand connected with his face. Patrick hissed at the pain, covering the red mark with his hand. His face was turned towards the side, his face turning into a frown. I shouldn't have done anything, but holy crap, did he deserve it.

"Well," I heard a voice from behind me. I stayed still, wondering how I could get into trouble this time. "Doesn't someone have a record for hitting guys upside the head, yes someone does?"

I turned my head slightly, seeing the blonde-headed boy making his way to Patrick. "I don't have your friends, but I might as well if you're asking." He chuckled.

I scowled. "You're lying."

Henry shook his head in disapproval. "Can't say that I am, sweetheart. Check the Peer, maybe you'll find out on your own." Henry smirked, as Henry grabbed Patrick's arm and led him away from me.

I was filled with anxiety; they weren't supposed to be at the Peer, not at this time of day. I picked up my pace, running across the street as fast as my small legs would take me. I made my way down an old hill, walking towards the river that the boys were told to be at. And soon I was standing on the hard rocks, my head spinning as I called out their names. I had never been this worried; not when Henry Bowers was in charge of their disappearance.

"Ow, you douche! That hurts!" I heard a small voice coming from behind a small barrier between the creek and a small grassland. I frowned, not knowing a voice with that much absurdity in it.

Walking towards the noises that I heard, I saw a small group standing in the corner of my eye. My group, my all means.

"Look at this idiot! He's freaking bleeding hamburger helper!" I heard Richie call, pointing at a smaller kid sitting on a large rock, the boys surrounding him.

"What's going on?" I asked, their heads turning towards me as my face pale. Bill's eyes went wide, as he ran over to me.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, grabbing my hand as his eyes looked into mine. I frowned, tilting my head, as I looked over at the small number of boys.

"I could ask the same about you," I told Bill. Bill rolled his eyes, moving closer to my face. I continued to stare at the small group, trying to get a better glimpse of the small boy sitting behind them.

"There was an accident," Bill replied, his eyes still connected with mine. I looked up at him.

"What kind of accident?"

Bill tilted his head, taking in a deep breath. The boys soon moved aside, the view of a small boy in my sight started to expand. I had soon seen his face, noticing that I had gone to school with him. "W-We found him lying in the creek, all beaten up a-and bleeding. He told us that he had gotten hurt by s-someone."

The boy had a few scars on his face, no other than a few bruises located on his arms. Blood was drawn to his shirt, as water dripped from his brunette hair. "His name is Ben, from what he told us. He got l-lost, and someone t-totally ran-jacked on him." Bill nodded.

I gulped. "Yeah, I've seen him at school once or twice," I admitted, my eyes locking with the boy as we made eye contact.

"He wouldn't tell us w-who got to him," Bill mumbled, looking down at me. I looked up at him, the pain in my stomach increasing. I hadn't known why someone would hurt such a young boy like this, especially in his kind of condition.

"Any guesses?" I asked.

Bill cleared his throat. "From w-what the boys' have talked about," Bill paused, his face turning a light shade of white. "Henry Bowers."

It wasn't the first time Henry had done something like this. Henry was cruel; heartless. No one knew why he did these things, maybe it was something involving his environment at home, or worse. Maybe it was his past that made him the way he is.

"Why would he do such a thing to Ben?" I questioned, as I looked closer into Bill's eyes. Just like I had pictured; they were filled with concern.

"M-Maybe it's because he's just like us," Bill answered, his voice cracking as he looked at the ground. I frowned, my head tilting to the side as my eyes stared into his.

"What do you mean by he's 'just like us?" I asked him, my voice getting quieter as the boys had paid no attention to the two kids talking on the far side of the creek.

Bill shook his head. "You know w-what I mean, Ariana," Bill stated.

I knew what he meant, that was one thing. But me believing him was another.

"Bill, we're not just like—" Bill cut me off, his eyes continued to stare at the ground.

"Face it, Ariana. Look at where we are right now.
I'm just the stuttering boy. Richie is neglected by his parents. Eddie is a freaking mamma's boy. Stan is a Jew. And you're," Bill paused, his voice loud. The boys' heads snapped over, listening to the harsh words that came out of his mouth. "Y-You just chose not to be one of them." The boys looked down. "You all know it's true, you know it," Bill told them.

I shook my head. "Doesn't mean you had to prove it." I snapped at him, my voice soft as the water flowing in the creek was the only noise heard.

"Let's just—go home." Eddie's voice filled the silence between us, as his body began to shake. "It's getting dark outside." We had walked home, Bill not saying a word as Richie tried his best to make things less awkward. Ben had stayed with us, not making a sound as he was looking at the ground the entire time.

"You know what, screw Henry Bowers!" Richie started to walk backward, a small chuckle escaping my mouth. Richie looked at me, his arm raising and his finger pointing to me. "Aha! You made a noise, Ariana Martin!" I scowled, my arms crossing as I walked straight past him and the boys.

It was soon dark out, and everyone had gotten home safely, thankfully. I was left walking with Eddie, which wasn't usual considering his house was the closest, and we had taken a long way around, past the Quarry.

"So," Eddie piped up, his small figure walking close to mine. I looked at him, a small smile forming onto my lips. He took glances up at me, realizing that I had been staring at him and waiting for him to say something.

"I uh—" And that was all it took for him to lose concentration, tripping and falling onto the ground as his body shifted forward. He laid on the ground a few feet away from me, his face planted onto the gravel. "Crap." He mumbled.

I gasped quietly, as I soon jogged over to his side, grabbing his hand and helping him stand up. He had rocks glued to his legs, a few marks located on his elbows, and the gravel's black liquid painted on his pink shirt.

"Are you okay?" I continued to hold his hand, his body stiffened as he looked into my eyes. He gulped, his mouth gaping.

"Uh—Huh?" He questioned, gazing out as he continued staying in that one position. I frowned, tilting my head.

"Eddie? I asked if you were okay?" Eddie blinked, snapping out of his trance. His face turned a light shade of red, as he stepped backward and let go of my hand, reaching into his pocket. He was pulling out his small inhaler, reaching it up to his mouth and taking a large whiff. I chuckled, my smile filling the corners of my face.

"I—uh," He stuttered, keeping his inhaler in hand. He looked down at his clothes, his eyes going wide. "Crap! My mom's gonna kill me!" He looked up at me, his breath hitching. "Do you know what she does when I'm hurt like this? She'll think a wild raccoon chased me down the street or I got hit by a bus, that's what she thinks! Or maybe she'll just kill me and get it over with—" He panicked. I cut him off.

"Eddie, you're fine."

"Not when she kills me!" Eddie snapped, his eyebrows furrowing together. I giggled, taking his hand as I led him to his house. He had stared at me a couple of times, which wasn't hard to catch when he looked away, blushing.

Eddie had gone to his house, his mother waiting for him at the doorstep, making me hide behind a bush and waiting for her to walk inside with her son.

I had sighed in relief, walking down the sidewalk as the lights of the house were off. While I was at it, I heard a faint knock coming from a window of the Kaspbrak house. Turning around, I saw Eddie looking through his window smiling, waving at me as I smiled. Waving at him, he soon closed his curtains.

➢➢➢

Somewhat of a cute chapter or? Tried making a lil' cute one with Eddie in it because he didn't get too much attention, but let's face it, he's a freaking adorable little cupcake.

Quote of the Day: "You know what your problem is? I'm too good looking." -Michael Kelso