**Say What You Mean Out Loud**

~ F O U R ~

Last day of school

Greyson Elliot was looking for her friends in the hallway.
She'd been a little shaken up the past week, after hearing voices in her drain once or twice, but today is nothing but pure joy.

Because today, is the last day of school.
She spotted the tall, curly haired boy across the hallway.

"Stanley!" She smiled waving her hand.
She tried pushing past kids to get to him, but somebody stuck their foot out right in front of her and she face planted.

In an instant her head hit the cold linoleum floor and pain shot through her face.
Not only did it burn with pain, but also embarrassment.

Her nose was throbbing, and she sat up groaning.
She looked up at the laughing, snarky Gretta with her stupid cakey makeup and pointy white witch shoes.

"Watch where you're going, freak." She spat, stalking off.
Grey sighed and pulled herself off the ground, running past other laughing students.

She finally caught up with him and grabbed his shoulder, making him jump.
"Sorry, hey. Last day of school!" She smiled.

He looked at her with a frown.
She raised an eyebrow. "What? What's the matter?"

He reached into his khaki pocket and pulled out a little pocket pack of tissues.
He pulled one out and folded it up, handing it to her.

"What... is this for?" She laughed awkwardly.
"You um, your..." He pointed at her face and she shrugged.

"Stan, what is the problem?"
He sighed and brought the tissue to her face, gently wiping her nose.

She watched him with confusion, but a smile.
Even if he was really tall, he was still very close and Grey could make out all the features of his face.

It was times like that, that made her wonder: Huh, I'm seeing things I never saw before. Do I need glasses?

Stan cleared his throat awkwardly and balled up the tissue, that was now soaked red in the middle.

"Oh my gosh, thank you." Greyson gasped in surprise, not even realizing that her nose was bleeding. He handed her another tissue while they started walking.

"You're going to want to hold that to your nose and tilt your head up." He told her, discarding the other one into a nearby garbage can.

She was actually happy to have a nosebleed, from falling and not the intense beat of her heart or the strain of fear coursing through her.

The two kids spotted their other three friends across the hall, and sprinted to catch up with them.

"Guys!" Stan pulled Bill and Eddie back by their shoulders, while Grey went and walked beside him.
"Jesus what happened to you?" Eddie asked.

"Hey, don't bring him into this while Stan's here." Richie poked Eddie, who swatted his hand away.

"I just uh, I tripped and fell." Greyson lied.
Bill practically ignored her and asked, "Hey Stan what happens at the bar mitzvah? It says they slice the tip of your d-d-d-dick off."

"Yah, and I think the rabbi's going to pull down your pants, turn to the crowd and say 'Where the beef?!'"
Grey rolled her eyes and hit Richie in the arm, best as she could without tilting her head down.

"At the bar mitzvah, I read from the Torah and I make a speech and suddenly, I become a man."
"I can think of funner ways to become a man." Richie held his hand up for a high-five, but was rejected once again.