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I stuffed my mouth with more popcorn, handing it to Stan.
He stuffed his face too, and we let out a hearty laugh from the tv show we were watching. Bozo the Clown.
Our laughter stopped.
"And now for our veeeeery special guest! H-yuck! Penny wise The Dancing Clown!"
All the children cheered as I dropped the bowl of popcorn on the floor. No way.
A sing along began on the screen. Some old folks song about a Farmer and a Boat.
"And the boat goes-"
"Kill them all! Kill them all! Kill them all! Kill them all!" It began to chant. The children confusedly looked at eachother and joined in. The cameras gaze closed up on the clowns hungry smile.
The women in the back was having a panic attack.
I looked at Stan.
I scooted closer to him as the TV turned up by itself until it was blasting.
"KILL THEM ALL! KILL THEM ALL!"
I screamed and ran for the Tv.
I put my hand out to turn it down, but the electricity fizzed and popped.
I fell to the floor out of shock as it turned off altogether.
I made my way once again to turn it on and-
BANGBANGBANG!
We turned to my door. Someone was trying desperately to get in.
I turned to Stan. He nodded and got up bravely to open the door.
"Hello? Ugh. You. Just leave her alone."
"Stan come on man! I just need to talk to her!"
He shook his head and began to close the door. He pushed all his weight on it and slammed it open.
"Sarah. Please. I just need to talk."
I shook my head and got up next to Stan.
"Just leave us alone Richie."
He sighed.
"Please?"
I turned to Stan, alarmed. Richie never asked politely.
"Alright. Fine. But I'll be close around Sarah if you need to leave."
I nodded as Stan left me and Richie alone.
"So what? What's so big?"
"Sarah, I know you're not gonna believe me when I say this. But, I love you. I do. I thought you were gone for good. They didn't see me, but I cried for the first time like...in a long ass time. It hurt me. A-and I thought you were gone. I needed to ease the pain. Even if it went against all of my rules as a human, I just needed someone. You were that person before, but once you were gone... I didn't know what to do with myself."
There was a silence. A sad one. I yearned for the days when we could just lightheartedly flirt and kiss once in awhile. But it was all gone.
"Richie, I- I don't know. I don't know if I trust you or not, but I hear where your coming from. It hurt me too. It really did. And, I was dumb for being so angry at you. I shouldn't want you to wait hands and knees for me whenever I'm gone. I guess... I guess I'm happy she made you happy. And to be fair, you did think I was gone forever. But, how did you do it so fast?"
He put his face between his hands and began to sob.
"I-I don't know. It was just a blur. It was just cause I needed y-you."
He threw his arms around me as he sobbed harder. I hugged him tightly and my feelings for him came flooding back.
Not again.
I let go angrily and got up.
"N-no. Richie, I-I can't do this. Not right now."
His eyes widened as I slammed the door to my own house and walked out.
