'39 [Stanley Uris]

33: Iron Man Pt. 2

"THIS EXPLAINS SO MUCH!" Stan exclaims, gasping as the girl finishes her thorough explanation.

Andi simply nods her head, looking between the three boys.

"I'm really sorry I didn't tell you guys sooner. If I'm honest, I would've if I knew that you guys were aware of Pennywise," she sighs. "Why didn't you guys tell me all this stuff you knew about?"

"We weren't sure," Mike answers.

"Yeah, I mean how do you go about that topic anyway?" Richie adds. "We couldn't just go up to you and tell you there's a clown eating kids."

"I wanted to tell you," Stan frowns, giving the girl a gentle look. "We tell each other everything, I thought."

"We do," Andi insists, leaning over and kissing the boys cheek. "Look, this is all just a small obstacle in our relationship that we've managed to overcome."

"The next obstacle is worse," Mike scoffs, causing all heads to turn to him.

Andi glares, knowing exactly what he's trying to do. The other boys look at him with confusion, Stan mostly with nervousness. He isn't sure what Mike means with that comment, and he's not sure he wants to be sure.

"Wh-What do you, uh, mean?" Stan swallows glancing from Mike to Andi in swift motions.

"Nothing, he means nothing," the girl growls, shooting Mike a glare.

The dark skinned boy simply rolls his eyes in return, deciding to keep his mouth shut on the situation. After all, it wouldn't do him any good to make Stan more jumpy than he already is about everything.

"Okay?..." Richie trails, giving them suspicious looks.

"Anyway," Andi clears her throat, sitting up a bit, "we have to get the gang back together."

"What?!" Richie hisses, "no way! Not after what Bill did. It was totally uncalled for, and I'm sick and tired of being this groups punching bag."

"Oh, Rich," The girl frowns, "you're not the punching bag. We love you! I'm sure whatever Bill did, he didn't mean."

"He punched me, Andi. Punched. Me."

"Yeah, but you did say some hurtful words," Stan points out. "You poured salt in a very fresh wound."

Mike nods in agreement, causing Andi to look at Richie with a begging look.

"Okay, fine," Richie sighs. "What I said was wrong, but do we really need them? Why can't we do this on our own."

"We have to be together," Andi states, making her tone serious and clear. "Do you all understand?"

"What happens if we don't? Just curious," Mike questions, looking at the girl.

She breaths deeply, eyes full of sorrow.

The two friends walk along the wet and empty street. It's still coated with puddles and gray out from the earlier down pour. Neither seem to mind, stepping in an occasional puddle or two to make a small splash.

Ezra holds the girl's beanie for her, as she wanted to enjoy the feel of droplets of water walking lightly on her head.

"What did you get on your math test today?" Ezra questions, biting a piece of his twizzler.

The dark headed girl jumps at his sudden question, having been lost in thought moments before. Lately, Andi has been paranoid and confused about what she's been seeing.

Ezra raises a brow at her sudden jumpy-ness.

"Oh, uh," she stumbles, "I got a 60."