Daughter of Pennywise

Apologise

I hadn't looked at Niki the whole time I'd told the story of... well everything. Only leaving the conflict that continued to rage in my soul. She was silent for a long moment when I'd finished. Then I felt her arms wrap around me. "I wish you'd told me sooner."

I sniffed, trying not to cry again. She pulled away and clapped me on the shoulder. "We'll figure it out. It's not like we haven't before."

Tessa knocked on Niki's door, making us both startle. "You gotta get ready, girls. School isn't gonna go to itself."

🤡

"Niki!" I began to panic as she stomped up to none other than Henry Bowers. Him and his goons were leaning against the trans am.

I might have imagined it, but it seemed that the gang blanched when they saw me.

Niki stopped, toe to toe with Bowers.  "I demand you apologize." She spat venomously. "Right. Now." She lobbed a loogie and it landed by his shoe. Vic cringed.

But Niki wasn't finished. "Then I want it in writing and on my desk by the end of the day. If you can manage that, you illiterate dick. With a dollar for my valuable time spent dealing with your pathetic ass." She hocked another loogie to layer over the first.

The shock on all four of their faces was beyond comical. If we were in a cartoon their jaws would be laying on the grass. Niki tapped her foot, arms crossed,  impatiently waiting for the words to drill their way through Henry's thick skull so he could formulate some kind of response. But all that came out of his gaping mouth was something like this. "Uhhhhh...."

The morning bell rang and as I scurried after my cousin she called over her shoulder "Saved by the bell Bowers."

"Holy shit Niki." I muttered as we bobbed and weaved through the hallway.

She glanced back at me, smugly.

🤡

I was coiled tightly the whole day. Waiting for one of them to leap out of a locker and pummel me. 

I was starting to finally relax when Henry stalked into the sixth period class that Niki, him and I shared. He slapped a piece of folded paper down on Niki's desk. Hard enough to make it rattle before stalking back to his seat.

Niki paled in anger when she read it. Fingers squeezing the desk hard enough to turn her knuckles white. I watched a fake and badly drawn dollar flutter to the floor, hasty green crayon scribbles across it. Something told that this was Vic's idea. Maybe Patrick's.

I didn't have to read the note to know what it said. Niki's expression was enough to clue me in.

As the teacher walked in Niki took a deep breath and her entire body relaxed. A sweet smile graced her face and she glanced in the corner where Henry leaned back in his chair.

I eyed her carefully. This is much scarier.

About halfway through class Niki left for the bathroom. I wanted to run into the hall and stop whatever her plans were, but didn't dare. This is gonna be fun.

At the end of the day we were about halfway down the front steps when Niki grabbed my arm. "Let's go out the back way."

"Wh-"

"What the fuck!!"

The yell was unmistakably Belch's. "I'm gonna kill whoever did this to my car!!"

I felt my pupils dilate as I turned to Niki. She smiled and shrugged sheepishly, holding up her house key.

I sent her a quick glare before yanking her back down the hallway. Pushing through students as quick as I could we ran into the girls bathroom and into one of the vacant stalls.

We crammed together, breathing hard. "If we get out of this alive, I'm gonna kill you." I whispered into her face, just inches from mine.

She smirked. "Worth it."

A loud bag made us jump and knock our heads together. I winced trying not to topple off the toilet seat and into the water.

"You in there by yourself Beaverly or you got half the guys in the school with you? Huh, slut?" Greta's loud voice came from outside the stalls. "I know you're in there you little shit, I can smell you. No wonder you don't have any friends."

Beverly's tired voice came from inside the first stall. "Which is it Greta? I'm I a slut or a little shit? Make up your mind."

"Your trash. We just wanted to remind you."

There was a strange sloshing sound and giggles with sloppily whispered insults. Then a loud splash. I tried not to cough at the smell of garbage.

"At least now you'll smell better. Let's go girls." More giggles as Greta and her bitch fest flounced away.

I gritted my teeth. Wanting to-bite- beat that smugness out of Greta.

As we heard Beverly leave the bathroom quieted down. It barely sounded like there was anyone in the hallways either.

"I think it's safe." Niki reached for the lock.

"If they show up I'm leaving you to fend for yourself." I growled.