**Say What You Mean Out Loud**

~ S E V E N ~

The Quarry

Greyson Elliot waved to her brother, and started running to the Quarry.
She remembered where it was, after the first time the boys brought her.

They said they were actually going to swim today, which Grey loved.
So she immediately started running, because she knew they were already there.

Meanwhile the five boys were standing on the edge of the cliff, staring at the red head who just jumped in down below.

"Holy shit, we just got showed up by girl!" Grey heard Richie shout.
She stopped to drop her backpack, and pull off her jeans and sneakers.

"Do we have to do that now?" Stan asked.
Grey could hear the girl in the water below, "Come on!"

Beverly Marsh. She wanted to hang out with us?
"My turn!" Grey smiled, pulling off her massive sweater.
She almost hesitated, but she ran towards the water.

Even with her brave leap, she folded her arms over her sides, covering her long vertical scar.

The boys turned around to look at her now while she ran towards the edge of the cliff and jumped in.

Stan watched the girl with wide eyes, a familiar heat rising to his cheeks and at the tips of his ears.
"Oh come on! Two girls now!" Richie groaned.

Grey crashed into the water, that enveloped her in seconds. She came up and was laughing at them from the water below, the sluggish breeze making the water feel even more refreshing.

Richie crossed his arms.
"Stan, could you please tell your girlfriend to shut up!"
"What? She's not... w-we're not... it's not like tha-"
"And could you please speak up!"

Bill rolled his eyes and jumped in the water next, followed closely by the rest of the boys.

They laughed and splashed each other with water, creating lasting memories and wonderful tribute to their friendship. Above all else, it was somewhere they didn't feel pressured by their community and peers.

Plus, there was no Henry Bowers.
Or grey water.
Greyson still didn't like that name.
For obvious reasons.

Beverly was on Bill's shoulders and Grey rode on Ben's shoulders, engaging in a chicken fight.

Beverly pushed her down and Grey, in a fit of laughter, fell right onto Stanley.
He caught her and the two went sinking into the water.

While Grey laughed, bubbles flew up all around their faces, and their hair floated around them.
She looked at him through the crystal water, and smiled.

Stan didn't let go of her, but he didn't smile either.
He just watched her, all other noises muffled by the water.

Times like this, where the unrealistically unpopular girl in front of him looked so beautiful, made it so hard to not like her.

It made him start to wonder.
Why couldn't he just like her? And want to be with her?

It's immature to think he wouldn't fall in love at some point.
But he could never seem to figure out Grey.
She was like a finch. Her flight pattern made no sense to him.

She put her hands on his shoulders and pulled herself up out of his arms, breaking through the water to breathe.
He didn't realize how long they were down there staring at each other, he was losing his breath.