Down by The Quarry - an IT fanfiction

Chapter 1 - newfound freedom

Nadine was looking forward to her father's departure. It sounds wrong given the context being her parents divorce but she never really saw her dad, and he definitely never really saw her.

Despite being upset she trusted her parents enough and if they thought there was no way to fix their marriage then it must be true.  Some people just aren't meant to be together and Nadine wanted both her parents to be happier.

She watched her mother's stoic gaze as her father packed his belongings into the trunk of the car. Her eyes did not show a single sign of sadness and her expression was hardened and almost cold. Nadine found this unsettling, these were not the same loving eyes her mother had when she was comforting her only daughter, and certainly not the same loving eyes she once had for her husband.

A final wave of goodbye and her dad drove off down the street leaving Nadine and her mother standing in the front doorway, trapped in a moment of complete silence.

"Right then, what do you have planned for today Nadine?" Her mother spoke turning to Nadine with a sudden calm expression.
"Not sure, I might just see if Bev wants to go into town or something." Replied Nadine.
"That sounds lovely," Her mother spoke softly before placing a comforting hand on her daughter's back and turning around to go back inside the house.

Nadine followed her in soon after then decided she would call up Beverly. They planned to spend a day walking around town and then maybe visiting the quarry. The quarry was about the only place for kids to go during summer break in this small town, that and the arcade. Nadine appreciated having Beverly as a friend because of their mutual hatred for the mundane town. In all honesty Beverly was Nadine's only friend and only connection with the outside world. Nadine used to go to school up until grade 5 when her dad convinced her mom to quite literally pull her out out of school.

She still remembered the day her mom told her why she could no longer go to school.

"Your father doesn't think it's safe for you to grow up in that environment dear." She had spoken to a confused 11 year old Nadine.
"Why?" Nadine had asked in reply, though she knew why. Her father was paranoid, and he let his paranoia control him and by extension his wife and daughter. She could tell her mother didn't agree with  her father's decision simply by the way her lips pursed with annoyance, like they did every time her dad made any decisions for the family, yet she never fought to change his mind.

Up until 2 days ago Nadine had been homeschooled by her mom. It was isolating, and Nadine let that be known to her father on a particularly stormy Friday night. A grave mistake on her part.

"Don't you know how much I've sacrificed for you Nadine." Her father began as he still sat blankly staring at the tv, beer in hand.
"I appreciate that dad I really do but I'm a teenager and I want to be around my peers, it's normal."
Nadine replied with a slight tone of frustration in her voice that she hoped her father hadn't picked up on. He did however and this was the very excuse he'd been looking for to finally speak his mind. Placing the beer on the coffee table he switched his gaze to Nadine, a furious look upon his face.
"I work so hard to provide for you and your mother and this is the treatment I receive in return."
He release a prolonged sigh as he spoke and turned to look out the window into the rain covered, dimly lit street.

"There is something evil about this town, Nadi." Were the final words he uttered before sinking back into the couch. When he was like this there was no point in trying to speak to him, it was as if he were simply a shell of a being. Nadine wondered what her father would've been like if he hadn't had the experience he never spoke about about as a child. She also wondered why they stay in this godforsaken town if it only worsened her father's fear.

Nadine wanted her dad to see her, she wanted him to see what this isolation was doing to her and her mother. Her mother said it would pass eventually, and it did, once her father had left at her mother's request.

Now Nadine sat blank-faced on the couch just as her father had this morning, waiting for Beverly's arrival.

At least now she'd be able to spend the final week of summer like a normal kid, hanging out with friends and going out. With all this new freedom Nadine felt as if she could do anything.

Once Beverly arrived the girls walked through the Main Street of town, soaking in the Summer warmth.
They were having a discussion about Mr Keene, who was the middle-aged man who worked at the only pharmacy in Derry and how creepy he was to the girls in town.
"There's something just so off putting about that stare of his, it's not right." Beverly spoke

"And the fact that he has a daughter makes it even creepier." Nadine replied as the two were crossing the street, Beverly with a pack of cigarettes in hand that she'd just stolen from the pharmacy in an act of rebellion towards its owner.

The walk to the quarry wasn't far, and very beautiful. Despite her deep-rooted disdain for Derry, Nadine had to admit that she was not entirely immune to its small town charm.

The girls didn't own proper swimsuits as there wasn't really an official place to swim in town. Instead they settled with wearing their underthings. Nadine felt safe enough showing her body around Beverly because they just got each other.

"That was amazing!" Nadine screamed in exhilaration.
"I know right?" Beverly replied. "Hey follow me I know a spot." She continued, beckoning for Nadine to swim after her.

Eventually they reached land and Nadine followed suit as Beverly hoisted herself up onto its rocky surface. The two lay there for a moment until Beverly excitedly reached towards the bushes, uncovering an old looking boombox and a few cds.
"Ahh so this is where you keep it," I began. "See I knew you were lying when you said your dad made you throw it out!"

"Well not entirely, he did say I had to throw it out but that doesn't mean I listened." She chuckled playfully while inserting a CD that read 'Young MC - Stone Cold Rhymin' and an upbeat hip hop song started to play. Nadine noticed her head starting to bop to the beat and soon the pair were up and dancing.

Nadine was finally experiencing what Summer should really feel like. That was until she heard the startling sound of a group a teenage boys approaching in the distance. Beverly turned to her with a wide-eyed expression, it seems she recognised the voices.

"Bowers," she whisper yelled.