IT 2017 - Blonde Hair, Black Lungs.

XII

"There's a parade in town, wanna go there? It is your birthday after all." Marilyn asks as she starts the car, I keep looking at my lap, keeping my tears in. I jump when a soft hand place itself on my hand.

"It's okay to cry when you need to. You need to let it out, honey." She coos softly, I bit my lip as they finally slipped and I let out a sob, I bring my free hand up and cover my eyes.

"It's hard I know it is, leavin' him there. But it's alright, I know him seeing you makes it worth it to him." She rubs my back comfortingly, "Don't ever feel like you can't cry because you can." I look up at her and nod, "Let's have a little fun before we go home."

I never liked referring to Philly as home. It never was and never will be. But nonetheless I nodded, agreeing with her plan. She smiles again and pats my hand before taking the wheel and driving off towards the parade.

꒷꒦

"Wow this is something." She breathes as she waits for me to get out of the car.

"Yeah, Derry has it yearly." I look around in some sort of sadness. I remember the summer out here three years ago, I mean who wouldn't, we killed a clown trying to eat us and every other kid in town. My eyes drift to a bench not far from the parade. I smile remembering when the whole group of us talked there, trying to figure out what the fuck was following the town.

Marilyn pulled me from my thinking as she took my hand in hers and pulled me towards an ice cream stand. "What flavor you want?"

I look up at her and think for a moment. "Some plain vanilla." I say smiling at her as her eyes bug out of her head. "Wow, okay, super boring. Hey, can we get one scoop of rocky road then a plain scoop of vanilla, thanks!"

I drop her hand and cross my arms looking around the place I'd yet to go in what felt like forever. My eyes land on a group of boys talking with one another, one was tall with a mop of curly black hair and thick rimmed black glasses that oddly fit him. Next to him was a tall dark-skinned boy with dark brown hair, the last boy, who was slightly shorter than the other two, sported a mop of curly brown hair that fell over his eyes.

They felt familiar, and just like that I was caught staring at them, embarrassment rushed through me as I averted my eyes. But I still felt theirs on me. Suddenly the tallest of the group was walking up to me, a bold grin on his chapped lips. "Hey, hotstuff, saw you lookin' you like what you see?"

I blankly look up at him putting my hands in my pockets, "Yeah your friend's pretty hot, what's his name?" I ask which got a loud laugh from his two friends. The boy in front of me looked surprised and looked behind him, seemingly questioning himself on which one I was talking about.

"Him," I point to the unnamed dark-skinned boy. I wasn't lying, he was attractive. The boy looked at me again, seemingly even more shocked.

"Shit, Mikey you just pulled a girl without trying!" The boy yells laughing at himself, "His name's Mike."

I give a smile, the name reminding me of the Mike I knew, but knowing how common the name is really anywhere it's hard to think this is my Mike.

"Nice to meet you—" I let out a yelp when I'm pulled into a woman's chest.

"You little shit! You scared me half to death!" Marilyn shrieks, I let out a chuckle and hug the woman I've barely known.

"Sorry," I mumble, and she shakes her head and lets out a sigh, pulling away.

"Aren't I supposed to be the one ditching the birthday girl? Not the other way around." She teases, I let out a laugh and apologize again. "Here's your ice cream," she hands me a vanilla cone,

"Thanks." I turn back to the boys, "It was nice meeting you. My name's Baye by the way!" And with that I walked away with Marilyn as we explored. 

Philadelphia, 1992—

"I said leave me alone!" I scream slamming my door shut just in time for the drunken Jace to slam into it and fall to the floor. I let out a scream as he slams himself into my door again, pushing it open slightly as my feet slid on my carpet.

"Stop it!" I hear him grunt behind the door as something is thrown at it, the sound of glass shattering made me flinch.

I loosen my grip on the door handle and breathe heavily, unprepared for him to slam himself into it. The door swings open and I fall down on my back, hitting my head quite hard, the headache is already setting in.

"Get out!" I yell sitting up and grabbing the nearest thing to me; it was a hard-cover book. I stand up and swing it at his head just as he ran at me. I close my eyes as he drops to the floor letting out a groan of pain.

꒷꒦

Derry Maine—

"Hey, bubba, how're ya doing?" I ask as I stay standing up, which seemed to confuse Henry. His eyes shifted past me, glaring at the man behind me.

"Henry, I need you to listen, okay?" I slowly sit down on the mental chair, the coldness cooling the ache in my thighs. He slowly nods his anger filled eyes going to me, the anger melting, being hidden behind his happiness of seeing me.

"This might be the last time for a while I get to visit you." I gently and slowly grabbed his left hand in both of mine, "Schools starting and I might not be able to make it here, but don't worry! Once I pass my driver's test and get my license to drive, I'll get a rental and drive down here on your birthday, okay?"

He stares at me for a while, the sadness and desperation for me to stay was in his expression and body language. But nonetheless, he nods slowly. I give him a smile and rub my thumb over his knuckles comfortingly.

"I'll be back, okay? It's only a few short months, you'll be okay." I grab my ransacked bag from beside my chair and pull out a book, a blue tulip gently tied to the books cover.

"I'll make sure to bring you flowers when I visit next, okay?" I leave the promise in the open air, and he nods again, keeping silent.

"I love you, Henry, you'll be okay." My voice shook a little as the last three words leave my mouth, Henry looks at me in confusion. It was a rarity when I tell him that, and it's only usually when Jace is gonna do something bad, he didn't know that it'd be Jace inflicting something, but he knew enough to know something was being done.

His hand gripped mine harder, refusing to let go when I stood up. I give him a small smile, "Don't worry, I'll be okay. Bye, bubba."

He shakes his head and keeps a firm hold on my hand, like a child denying letting his favorite toy be taken away. He stands up, towering over both me and Jace, his hand going from mine to my elbow, pulling me to him, giving me a hug.

His grip screamed his worry. I rub his back comfortingly. "I'll be okay." I mumble into his shoulder, the guards let this hug take a little longer than usual until it was forced to stop. "I've gotta go, I'll see you soon, okay?"

He nods and lets me leave this time. I keep my posture straight as I hold in my tears. Leaving Henry behind in this place was always hard, and the more I came to visit the harder it was to watch the sad hurt wash over his face when I left.