I'll Protect You No Matter What|Mike Hanlon

Chapter Six

"I'm definitely happy that people are speaking out and people are recognizing
that they have the power to change things."

-Rowan Blanchard-

Beverly and Joy lay out on a rock. They're sun-drenched. As Richie'sBoom Box nearby continues playing Love and Rocket's 1989summer radio hit "I'm Alive".Bill, Ben, Stanley, Richie, Eddie lay on other rocks, leavinga distance between them and the Girls. None of 'em bold enoughto lay near Them. But all of 'em wishing they were as theysneak their stares in.
The girls turn to lay on their stomach, the sudden movementstartling the boys, so they all look away. Busy themselveswith other things...Like Richie turns to Ben's Backpack. Filled with books andpapers. He starts to go through it as he realizes --  

"Newsflash, school's out for summer."
Richie looking at ben and the papers

"That's library stuff. Not schoolstuff..."
Ben said. Richie finds The Postcard.

"Who sent you this?"
RIchie asked and Ben snatched it away
saying no one, Joy looks at him secretly smiling knowing who it was for
Ben looks over at Beverly. Specifically, at her KNAPSACK.Eddie flips through a book on the History of Derry. 

"What's with the history project?"
Eddie questioned

"You could say My brother is an adorable nerd, and good at researching"
Joy teased, Ben glared at his sister embarrassed

"Uh, when I moved here I didn'thave anyone to hang out with oranything, so I just started spending time in the library."
Ben said truthfully, Joy sat up, and touched her chest, as if offended
Ben smiled in succes and mouthed 'sorry'

"Seriously? You went to the library?On your own? For fun?"
Richie said, then he motioned Joy then ben

"I didn't know where Joy was, until Mom told me I was the birthday gift
for her"
Ben said, Joy was walking towards them, and she smiled and hugged ben, Ben smiled and hugged back. Bill and Richie take a closer look. Beverly joins them.

"I want to see too..."
Beverly said. She sits down next to Bill. He can barely concentrate withher so close to him. Skin smells like sun lotion.Beverly looks at him and smiles. Not sure what to do. A XEROX shows an 1879 newspaper story with two old photos:the first of loggers posed in front of the Silver DollarSaloon with schooners of beer in one hand and axes in theother, the second of five bodies chopped up on the sawdustfloor. Headline screams: "FIVE MASSACRED IN BROAD DAYLIGHT"

"Why is it all of people gettingkilled and missing kids?"
Bev asked, ben just shrugs and joy looks at him

"Dunno. That's Derry I guess"
He said

"Like any town, right, been aroundlong enough, bad things happen? Imean, all history is a long line ofbad things happening to people."
Eddie said looking at it still

"Try reading the Torah."
Stan suggested

"Yeah, but Derry's not like any townI moved to. And we've moved a lot.Did you guys know people dieviolently here or disappear likesix times the national average?"
Ben said looking down thinking, he gang look at him

"You read that?"
Bev and joy asked, he nodded

"That's just adults. Kids are worse.Way worse."
The Kids look at each other. Creepy...

"I've got more stuff if you wannasee it..."
Off their "Fuck Yes" faces -- 

"welp, Me and joy are gonna fix up, since you probaly know where we live, see ya there
Come on sis"
Ben said, before Joy can say anything ben already grabbed her hand off they went, like superman, Leaving that gang in dust. They reached theyr're house
And ben fixes everything up, while Joy is changing in her room.