Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"HERE'S A FUN FACT: A MAJORITY OF THE WEEDS WE'RE SURROUNDED BY IS POISON IVY," Stanley grumbled whilst he stashed away in bicycle behind shrubs and rocks, "So, I suggest that none of us brush up against it unless you want to swell up like a balloon." He started aimlessly gesturing to all the plant life that resided beside the river as everyone positioned their own bikes amidst the shrubs, "That's poison ivy, as well as that right here. And that, and that."
"Um...W-What? Poison ivy? Everywhere?" Eddie went rigid as he alarmingly straightened himself from bending over to repair his crooked pedal, "Here? Here? Over there?"
"No, Eddie. Shit. None of what Stan pointed to was even poison ivy - it's not fucking everywhere like he believes it is," Amelia reassured her wide-eyed friend, her own eyes hard-rimmed and fixed on Stanley, who merely shrugged. She then indicated at a leafed plant that she could easily identify as genuine poison ivy, "Now, that's poison ivy. It sprouts from the ground, not on trees, Stan. It has three leafs, slightly polished surface and grows on vines or-"
"Shut up, nerd!" Richie clamored once he heard her ramblings about the plant from the sewer on the opposite side of the river.
"I wasn't even talking to you, dumbass!" Amelia retorted just as harsh, her voice raising above the sacred silence of the river.
With an exasperated grunt, she whirled back around from the irritating boy, and retrieved her flashlight from her bag. While she experimented with its light, she caught at the corner of her eye Eddie intently scrutinizing the vine she had designated.
"Just stay away from it, Eds," she remarked lowly, the bitterness to her tone dissolving while the flashlight flickered on brightly in her face. She blinked rapidly at the flood of dark splotches in her vision, "And you'll be just fine. Can you manage that?"
He reluctantly bowed his head and stood back away from the vine, clambering to her side almost instantly. With a minimal shake of her head, Amelia took a stride out into the shallow river, the water moving softly around her ankles and the early summer sun warming her back. She caught her reflection in the crystal water with each step she waded through the water. The clouds overhead in the sapphire sky were mirrored in the water as well.
Yet, as she proceeded across the gushes of water, a repulsive stench swirled around in the air and ruined the serenity. Her nose crinkled in distaste at the reek of the sewer, and her now saturated socks that squeaked with every step. God dammit - what a clever idea it was to wear socks into the sewer.
"Stupid fucking things," Amelia whined and she crashed through the remainder of the river, nearly toppling over the various rocks and her damp shoes.
The water swelled at her feet until she staggered onto the patch of land leading into the murky sewer. With a jutted jaw, Amelia furiously wrenched off her black Converse before her deeply saturated socks, her nose crinkling even further at the odd sensation.
