BRUCE YAMADA HAS been missing for a few days now. The day after the boys' baseball game to be exact. That's when he went missing. Once again, another innocent boy became a victim of The Grabber. Nobody knew where he went, nobody knew who took him, and nobody had any clues, except for some black balloons that appeared on the crime scene. Avery Brown took a few days to recompose herself. The truth is, she was miserable. She couldn't believe that her friend had gone missing, she couldn't believe she didn't do anything to help or to stop it. Deep down she knew there was no way she could've helped him or prevented this from happening, but the grief was so strong she felt as if there was a way she could have prevented it, she felt as if it was partly her fault.

Worst of all, she knew he was dead. Everybody in town had hope that maybe somehow, he was alive, and maybe he was going to come back home alive. But Avery didn't believe in any of that bullshit for a second, she connected the dots, she realised that every kid that had been a victim of The Grabber hadn't come back home, and the reason why was painfully obvious. Avery just knew that her friend was laying dead, somewhere in this town, and she hated herself for thinking that way. But most of all, she hated that she couldn't do anything to help, at all.

Avery Brown was currently eating breakfast before school. She had managed to recompose herself and manage to get herself ready for school that day. She was obviously still sad, but some day or the other, she would have to get over it. So she did, for him, for Bruce, she thought.

As she finished her breakfast she yelled a few "goodbyes" into her house for her parents and left. On her way to school, as usual, Avery met up with Donna so both of them could go to school together.

They were a few blocks away from school when Avery noticed a pair of siblings, Finney and Gwendolyn Blake, they were a few feet infront of the two girls, intensely looking at something. Avery furrowed her brows in confusion on what they might be looking at. Being the curious girl she is, the brunette said goodbye to Donna and speed walked to where the siblings were standing. Finney felt a presence beside him and when he turned to look at who it was, he froze. When he saw the brunette girl standing next to him he felt his heart skip a beat, and he gulped, looking slowly at Avery Brown, his long time crush. Gwen noticed how he was staring at the girl next to him, and rolled her eyes, slightly nudging him, making him look at her. Gwen blinked aggressively as she signaled to him to stop staring, he realized that he was indeed staring at Avery Brown, and his face flushed a bright pink color.

"It's new." Spoke Avery looking infront of her, which was where a new missing person's flyer was located. And the missing person just happened to be Bruce Yamada.

"What?" Asked Gwen, confused about what she was saying.

"The flyer. It's new, right?" Asked Avery, now looking between the two siblings.

"Y-yeah, Mr. Yamada's putting them up again." Finney stuttered as he kept his gaze low, looking between Avery and the poster. "You don't think they're gonna find him, do you?" Finney said, now looking between Gwen and Avery. The girls shared a look until Gwen spoke up.

"Not how they want to.." She said looking at her shoes. Finney and Avery looked at each other with a saddened gaze, knowing that she was right.

Wanting to leave this depressing sight and push the memories and the incoming tears away, she coughed awkwardly, bringing the attention of the siblings back to her.

"Well, I-I'm gonna get going, see you guys around." She said and sent a small smile to Finney, who was already looking at her. And with that, she left the siblings, along with the poster of her missing friend.

Avery continued walking to school when suddenly she heard students chanting "fight! fight! fight!" over, and over again. Avery rushed to where all the noise was coming from and she spotted Robin Arellano, the toughest kid in school, about to fight Moose, the biggest jerk in school.

"You think you're so tough, huh?" Spoke Moose with hatred in his voice, attempting to threaten the boy.

"Let's find out." Answered Robin, challenging Moose and obviously not threatened at all.

"I will pound you like a nail, you scrawny little beaner."

Robin was obviously smaller than Moose, but that didn't matter to him. Robin was the toughest kid in school for a reason, he managed to beat everyone, no matter the size.

"Then do it. Unless you're scared." Moose got closer to him anger filling inside him, and that's when he threw a punch, but failing miserably to hit his target due to Robin dodging the punch. Robin then took the chance to punch Moose in the stomach, and then kick his face, making Moose's face hit the pole, making the crowd make different "ooh's." Moose tried to send another punch to Robin's way but Robin succesfully blocked it, and punched him, once again, in the stomach.

"Holy shit." Muttered Avery, her eyes open wide as she stared at the scene happening infront of her.

"Get him, Robin!" Shouted a girl from the crowd. Avery turned her face to look at her and realised it was Gwen. She looked to the boy next to Gwen, with a worried expression on her face, just to find out that he was already looking at her. They made eye contact but Finney quickly looked away, so Avery returned to look at the fight going on infront of her.

Moose was now attempting to hit Robin but failing at every try. Robin held Moose in a somewhat chokehold, and threw him in the ground, making Avery gasp. She couldn't simply look at the scene and not do anything about it.

"Robin! Come on, let's go." Avery yelled trying to get her friend out of trouble. Avery and Robin were really close. Ever since they were little they have been friends, and they have been protecting each other ever since. Robin was one of the only guys who did not have a crush on Avery. He loved her as a friend, he thought she was kind, funny and sweet, but not to the point where he would have a crush on her. He knew they were better off as friends. At this moment Avery knew she had to do something, she definetly did not want to see her friend get hurt, or in trouble because of a jerk like Moose.

"Come on, we have to get to class." Avery said once again trying to distract her friend and try to convince him to go with her.

"Fine." Robin started walking away when Moose decided to speak up.

"Yeah, listen to your bitchy girlfriend!" At this point, Robin just lost it. He clenched his jaw and fist as he turned around to face Moose onde again.

He sprinted towards Moose and sent several punches to his face, making the entire crowd gasp and start to cheer Robin on. Robin wanted to protect Avery, she was important to him and he wasn't going to let anyone treat her badly. Avery didn't dare to look, she knew she couldn't stop him so she just turned around and left, Finney watching her every move. She was grateful for Robin standing up for her, she really was, but she didn't need him fighting her fights, what Moose had said may have hurt her feelings, but she wasn't going to let an asshole like him ruin her day. She also didn't want Robin to get hurt because of her.

Finney Blake flinched at every punch as Moose's face began becoming unrecognizable from all the blood covering his features.

"Come on. Let's go." Said Finney, pushing his sister to leave the circle of people watching the fight. After he saw Avery leave, he didn't want to stay there any longer.

"Holy shit." Said Gwen, her eyes open wide watching what was happening to Moose, until her brother pushed her away from the fight.

"What the hell? That was Moose!" Complained Gwen to her brother.

"I don't care." Shrugged her brother.

"Moose is a giant asshole!" Argued Gwen, looking at her brother in disbelief.

"I know." 

"You heard what he said about Avery!" Whispered yelled Gwen to her brother. She didn't want to yell it in case Avery Brown was listening.

  "I know." Finney said. He cared about Avery, he really did, but under these circumstances, he knew there was nothing he could do.

"But last year when he made your nose bleed,"

"Gwen." Finney interrupted.

"He had it coming." Argued Gwen, still looking at her brother.

"Nobody has that coming."

"Finney he beat you up!"

"I know Gwen, I was there remember?" The boy raised his voice as annoyance crept over him from the fact that his sister brought up such a sensitive topic.

"I just don't wanna talk about it." He continued, now in a more saddened tone as he remembered what had happened to him.

"Well, he was stupid to pick a fight with Robin Arellano. He's the thoughest kid in school since The Grabber got Pinball Vance Hopper." Gwen spoke, slightly changing the subject.

"I wish you wouldn't call him that." Finney flinched and shiver were sent down his spine as he heard his name.

"Everyone called him Pinball Vance." She spoke in an obvious tone.

"No, I mean,"

"I know who you mean, jerk face. Even the papers call him The Grabber."

"Just, wish you wouldn't say his name."

"You don't actually believe the stories, do you?" Asked Gwen, looking at her brother seriously.

"No."

"Because he can't hear you. He doesn't really take kids that say it."

"I know that."

"Finney!"

"I said i know!" Argued Finney.

"Then say it!"

"No!" Said Finney, laughing nervously.

"Are you chicken?!" Finney's face instantly dropped as his sister accidentally ruined the mood, and, instantly, Gwen felt extremly guilty.

"I didn't mean it." She apologised.

"I know."

They parted their ways as both of them had to get to their own classes. Being completely oblivious to the fact that the same van that had kidnapped four boys was circulating the area, looking for its new victim.

...

Avery and Finney were currently in the same class. As the teacher explained the subject, Avery took notes, but she couldn't get the thought of Robin and Moose's fight out of her head. She promised herself that she would check up on him after first period.

"The inner core, solid. The outter core is molted. The next layer, called the mantle, is mostly solid." Explained the teacher while, out of boredom, Finney started playing with his toy spaceship, turning it's light on.

Finney's eyes lifted and he looked at Avery, who's hair was tied up in a half up-half down hairstyle with a small bow tying a part of her hair up as two strands were left loose on the sides of her face. Finney couldn't take his eyes off her, she looked beautiful as ever. He noticed how it looked like she was paying very close attention in class, and how she would take notes every so often.

Avery felt eyes burning into the side of her head, so she looked around and met Finney's pair of eyes. The boy quickly looked away, looking at the board nervously. Avery couldn't help but smile to herself at his antics. She didn't know why she was smiling, she just was, after all, she did find Finney quite cute and extremely sweet. Finney gave her a quick glance again before the bell rang. He quickly packed his stuff, and with a rush, got out of the classroom. Shortly after Finney left, Avery quickly packed her supplies and left to go on a search for Robin.

A few moments later, Avery saw Robin go in the boy's bathroom. She yelled his name, but he didn't hear it. She was now standing infront of the boy's bathroom debating if she should go in after Robin or not. She wanted to help him if he got hurt and also thank him for what he had done for her.

Not thinking straight, she just opened the door and walked in. The minute she opened the door she was met with three boys who she didn't instantly recognize, and two boys she did recognize, Finney and Robin. As soon as she walked in, all five of them turned to look at her. The three unknown boys straightening their postures as soon as they noticed it was her, Avery Brown. She looked at all the boys until her eyes landed on Robin, and then her eyes fell onto Robin's hand.

"Hey, Aves. Uhh, what are you doing here?" Robin asked, just as confused as all of the other boys on why she was in the boy's bathroom.

"Uhm, I wanted to come help you. You know, with your hand, I guess." She scrunched her nose in embarrassment as she said that, walking through the three boys infront of her to get to Robin.

"Avery, if you haven't noticed, this is the boy's bathroom." Said a boy with ginger hair, making his friends laugh along with him. Avery rolled her eyes, she really wasn't in the mood for this. She turned to look at them, and that's when it hit her. Those were the boys that were always bullying Finney.

Sometimes, Avery would always see these boys picking on Finney, she always wanted to do something to try to stop it, but she could never bring herself to do it, and she regretted that every single day. But she hated those boys, she thought they were cowards.

"I'm pretty sure I'm more of a man than you three assholes." Replied Avery with a sarcastic smirk on her face, making the three boys shut up. She turned back to Robin only to see he was already looking at her with a shocked, proud expression on his face.

"So, do you need any help with that?" She asked, pointing to Robin's hand. Robin simply shook his head. Avery's shoulders slumped in disappointment, feeling really embarrased for being in that situation. She had literally walked into the boy's bathroom for nothing.

She looked back around and noticed Finney's eyes were already on her. She gave him a small smile and a wave which he simply returned, slightly nervous.

"Moose got some damn sharp teeth. My nuckles bled all first period." Robin spoke up making everyone look at him. Except for the three boys, who were now looking between each other, and started leaving. The boys were about to leave when Robin spoke up once again.

"Wait." Said Robin, making the three boys stop in their tracks and turn to look at him. Robin looked at them through the mirror.

"Fuck with Finn again, I fuck with you." He said, now looking straight at them. "You can leave now." He finished, with a small hand gesture, gesturing them to leave.

Avery let out a small chuckle at how the three boys were scared and how they obeyed him. The boys left and Avery relaxed a bit more. She didn't like those boys at all.

"Hey, Finney. Are you okay?" She asked with a smile. That smile. Finney melted right there on the spot just by looking at her smile, but he tried to contain his posture.

"Yeah! Yeah, I'm fine." He answered, returning the smile with a small blush on his cheeks.

Finney turned to look at Robin. "Thank you." 

"You're gonna have to stand up for yourself one of these days." Robin stated, continuing to clean up his hand. Avery hugged her body in awkwardness, she felt out of place, she didn't know what to do or what she was doing there. She didn't know if she should leave, or just stay there. So, she just stood in place.

"Yeah, I know."

"Hey, why'd you fight Moose?" Asked Finney starting up conversation again. This made Avery's head perk up and look at Robin.

"He was a shit talking." Robin answered, giving a quick glance at Avery through the mirror.

"Pretty sure he'd back down, but nope." Robin said popping the "p" at the end, making the other two laugh at his comment.

"I was so surprised when he swung to be honest." Robin said as he laughed with the two.

"But I mean, did you have to?" Finney asked once again. Robin was now looking at Avery, and Avery was looking at him, Avery also wanted to know what he had to say, even though she most likely already knew.

"Looked like you really hurt him." Continued Finney, now looking in between the both of them.

"I was just gonna knock his ass down, wail on him a bit. But, then he decided to open his mouth and talk shit. Plus, that wouldn't draw out blood. And in a situation like that, the more blood, the better. For the crowd, you know? Makes a stronger point." He said looking at Avery every so often.

Avery looked between him and Finney, smiling a bit at Robin, as if she was saying thank you for what he had done earlier. She wanted to leave though, afterall, she was still in the boy's bathroom, and she felt a little intrusive, so she gave an excuse on why she had to leave and said goodbye to both of them. Finney once again, looking at her every step she took. Robin definetly noticed this, and arched a brow. After Avery had left, Finney noticed the look Robin was giving him.

"What?" Finney asked, confusion written all over his face.

"You were staring at Avery every second she was here, that's what." Robin teased his friend with a small smile on his face. Finney instantly went red, embarrased that Robin had noticed that, Robin simply laughed at his friend's action. Robin then changed the subject and they talked about movies, and later on Robin asked Finney if he could come over to help him with his math homework, which Finney easily agreed to.

...

Avery's classes had finally finished, she couldn't wait to go home. She quickly packed up her stuff to go meet up with Donna. However, she couldn't find Donna anywhere. She asked a bunch of people if they knew where she was, but nobody knew. She left the school and started walking when she saw one last person who perhaps knew where her best friend was, Finney Blake. Donna had mentioned that she would have her last class with Finney this morning. So, Avery quickened her steps.

"Hey, Finney!" Shouted Avery when she was a few feet away from the siblings. Gwen turned to look at Finney wondering why the hell the prettiest girl in school was calling his name, but Finney didn't dare look. He was too busy staring at the girl walking towards him.

"Hi! I'm so sorry to bother you but, have you seen Donna? I know you have last period with her, and I was wondering if maybe you saw her leave or something?" Avery asked with a small genuine smile on her face. Finney looked at her for a few seconds before answering.

"Uhh, yeah. She left school in the middle of class, she had an appointment, I think." Finney replied, still looking at the girl. That's when Avery remembered, Donna had told her about this appointment, and that she was going to leave earlier, but Avery just completely forgot about it.

"Oh, shit. Right! I totally forgot." Avery spoke silently, as if she was telling herself that. She looked up at the siblings before asking,

"Do you guys mind if I walk with you? It's just, I would usually walk with Donna but, well you know." Avery looked between the pair with a kind smile on her face, hoping that they wouldn't mind. Finney definetly did not mind. Gwen looked at his brother, and then at the girl he was staring at with a smirk.

"Of course we don't mind! Come on!" Gwen yelled in excitement as she grabbed Avery's hand, which made Avery laugh slightly. They started walking together, and chatting together before three familiar boys looked at them. Avery turned to look back at them and heard them say "There he is," and she rolled her eyes. She knew exactly what they were talking about, so she flipped them off with a smile, making them look at each other, one more confused than the other. Avery turned to look at Finney and chuckled, Finney just looked at her in astonishment with a small smile, he was falling harder for her each minute.

"What was that?" Gwen