" LIPSTICK " + STENBROUGH

[34]

this is unedited and pretty bad sorry :(

rumors spread like wildfire.

they start small, one match, one flicker of a flame, one small thing to ignite the roar. then, they catch on to something flammable, that they can use, and they grow and they grow, until they can no longer be contained. with rumors, someone hears something, and then they use it to make up new rumors. there's no way to tell what's real or what is make believe.

bill denbrough's first thought as he walks down the hallway that day is, they all know.

he wakes up feeling like complete shit, but his mom says he can't miss another day because he'll have too much makeup work. he throws on sweatpants and a t-shirt, his under eyes heavy and dark. he feels like someone is slowly ripping him apart, taking their time to make it even more painful. to make things worse, silver's tires need more air so he has to ride with his mom to school.

she says nothing as he gets out, and he doesn't even slam the door. he doesn't feel angry, or sad, or anything anymore. bill feels numb.

now, as he walks down the hallways of derry public high school, the students all stare at the boy.

"woah, you get hit by a bus or something?" bill ignores richie, who, along with his other friends, are surrounding his locker when he approaches it. all except for stanley uris.

"richie!" eddie chastises, slapping his arm gently. he shakes his head disapprovingly. richie merely chuckles, tossing am arm around eddie's shoulders and pressing a soft kiss to his head. bill ignores the twist in his stomach he feels seeing this.

"he's back!" mike says, grinning and clapping a hand on bill's shoulder. bill forces a smile, as he twists his combination lock and opens the door to his locker.

"how are you feeling?" ben asks.

"oh-okay," bill says weakly, smiling faintly at his friends. beverly squints her eyes unbelievingly.

"really?"

"yeah. my co-cold's gone." bev looks unconvinced but smiles anyway.

"that's good to hear," she says, and glances at ben. "we should get going to first block. you know how mrs. vega gets. see you guys!"

the couple walk away, but not before sending small grins towards their friends. bill watches them as the make their way down the hallway. he's envious that they can hold hands in front of everyone. god, he misses stan. he wishes he didn't, but he does.

"we should get going, too," richie says. "that janitors' closet in the science wing isn't going to occupy itself."

"richie!" eddie squeaks once more, blushing furiously. the two begin to bicker lovingly, but bill ignores them. he tells mike he's heading to class to grab make up work, and walks away.

as he turns the corner, he ignores the stares. bill tries so hard to not let richie and eddie bother him, or anyone bother him. but they're everything he wants—everything he had with stan—and he can't help but feel so lost.

he can feel tears pricking the edges of his eyes, and pushes open the door of the nearest restroom.

it's empty, thankfully, as bill stands in front of the sink, turns on the faucet, and splashes cold water on his face. the paper towel he dries his face with is rough and cardboard-like, but he expects nothing more from their school's terrible utilities budget. bill's reflection depicts a boy with sad eyes and a deep frown etched across pale skin.

the door opens a moment later, causing bill to jump in surprise.

"well, i'll be damned! stuh-stuh-stuttering bill fucking denbrough has returned. where've you been? off, fucking boys?" bill freezes when he hears him.

henry bowers' doc marten boots tap against the tile floors, as he slowly approaches. bill turns to look at him, noticing he's alone. bill's heart is racing.

"i-i–" henry smirks as bill struggles to speak.

"i couldn't help but notice you're in the boys' bathroom," henry says. "why is that?"

"i'm a boy..." bill says, and he's confused. he doesn't get what henry is implying.

"are you? because a real man doesn't take it up the ass, denbrough." bill's eyes widen with realization, and he can't help but think he wants to kill henry bowers on the spot.

"rumor has it you and that jewish kid fucked. so, is it true? do i have another fag i have to put into his place?"

bill doesn't answer. he's afraid he'll cry if he opens his mouth. bill isn't sure why he's frozen, but he is. he's frozen by a fear he's never felt before, and it seems to piss off the boy with the mullet in front of him.

"i asked–" henry takes a step closer, causing bill to recoil, pinning him to the sink, hands gripping the sides, "–do i have another fag i have to put in his place?"

when bill doesn't answer fast enough, henry's fist collides with bill's freckled nose. bill feels the warm blood trickle down and across his lips, as henry slams his fist into his face again, and again, and again. bill's head spins.

"i was really rooting for you, too, bill. but i should've known. you're friends with those two queers that are always on top of one another. no wonder you're into that too." bill feels the room spinning, floor rotating, as henry rambles. he wants to make it stop, but he isn't sure how. "for a town full of so many people who hate gays, there sure are a lot of you out and proud," henry adds, mumbling.

his knee finds its' way to bill's gut; bill hears a quiet crack as henry punches in him near his ribs, his fists quickly jabbing bill's skinny figure. bill's legs eventually give out, as henry sits with legs on either side of bill, beating the crap out of him. his face is covered in blood, stomach already forming bruises, eyes half opened as bill loses consciousness.

henry lifts bill's head from the floor by his hair, bringing their faces close.

"you make me sick."

henry slams bill's head against the tile floor beneath him, and bill fades into unconsciousness.

——

im going to try and update a bunch of stuff tmrw let's see how that goes

also happy late bday to finn !!

sorry this chapter is so late and SO bad, and it makes like no sense. it's really late and i just finished and im delirious lol soo

anyway enjoy ig haha vote and comment and stuff !

- m