The Silent Heart

Chapter One💕

Stomp…stomp…stomp. The rhythmic clacking of shoes reverberated against the smooth, cool white pavement. I glanced down at the ground, taking a moment to pull out my headphones and let the familiar strains of old 80s music wash over me. Just as I started to drift away, I jolted back to reality. "I should empty my backpack," I reminded myself.

My North Face backpack, simple and white, seemed out of place against the stark pavement. I tucked my headphones into my pocket and glanced around, noticing a group of boys gathered by the bins along the pathway. Nervousness crept in, as I sat down a few steps away from the bin, letting my anxiety take hold as I eavesdropped on their conversation.

“Hey guys, what do you wanna do this summer?” Eddie asked, his voice steady and calming. Eddie was in my math class, and his presence always had a soothing effect on me.

“Start my training,” Richie responded with a grin. Richie was the kind of guy who could make you laugh uncontrollably with his jokes.

Eddie tipped his backpack over the bin, asking, “What training?”

Richie followed Eddie, flipping his backpack over the bin. “Streetfighter?” he replied.

I couldn't help but chuckle, finding the conversation amusing. “That’s funny,” I whispered.

Richie looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “Are you spying on us or something?”

I stammered, “O-oh u-uhm… sorry, I was just waiting for you—” Before I could finish, Henry Bowers swaggered over with his entourage, his usual smirk plastered across his face.

“Aw, look at this, your little girlfriend,” Henry teased, always keen to belittle me by calling me Richie's girlfriend.

Patrick, one of Henry’s friends, glanced my way. “What are you looking at?”

“Sorry, I didn’t know I needed to bring my animal book with me,” I shot back, trying to mask my discomfort. Patrick’s glare only intensified, but Richie burst into laughter, seemingly finding my retort hilarious, even though it wasn’t meant to be.

Henry and his gang moved toward their car, the tension lingering in the air. “Y-You suck, Bowers!” Bill shouted after them.

“Shut up!” Eddie hissed, trying to keep the situation under control.

I knew that Bill’s little brother was missing, and the heaviness of the situation made me feel even worse. “You’ve got a free ride this year because of your little brother,” Henry taunted, making my anger flare.

As I watched Henry and Bill, Henry licked his hand and smeared it on Bill, adding insult to injury before heading back to his car. “Hahaha, guys, did you hear what she said?” Richie laughed, his tone light and mocking.

I let out a chuckle, trying to shake off the discomfort.

“Y’know, I like you. What’s your name?” Richie asked, turning to me with a friendly smile.

I returned the smile, feeling a bit more at ease. “I’m Lillia, but you guys can call me Lilly.”

“Well, Lilly, you’re officially a member of the ‘losers’ group,” Richie declared with a playful look at Eddie.

“Fine, I guess so,” Eddie said with a blush, taking a puff from his inhaler as he looked at me.

The group’s playful banter and unexpected camaraderie seemed to offer a brief escape from the tension that had clouded my day.