A/N I only just watched this film and I thought I'd give a story a go! I don't think it's all that good but I've tried! :) Also, this is set just after the movie. Please Review, if possible.

Disclaimer: Of course, I do not own any familiar characters/locations from Stand By Me

Reflection and Redemption

Chapter 1: New Beginnings

It had been a cold, windy day. I can remember that much. It was rather unusual for it to be anything below twenty degrees; therefore it stays present in my memory. We were visiting our first bar in Castle Rock. It was my first day in this town, and it was nothing like where I had left.

Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Alice and I live in London, ahem, used to live in London. I'll admit I wasn't all that thrilled about leaving the only home I'd ever know, for this place.

"Excited Al?" We were in the car, something which I never wanted to set foot in again, after spending an excessive time of eight hours in it, at least two more than necessary...mum and her hopelessness with directions. I grunted at her, I hadn't wanted to leave my friends for this place but I knew she only did what she thought best. Guess I'd just have to suck it up.

"Ahh Irby's Billboards, I believe this is the place." My mum sounded genuinely animated, I didn't have the heart to tell her it looked like any dingy bar you'd find in any town or city.

She parked the car and looked at me, eagerly looking for some sign I was enjoying myself. I plastered a big smile on my face and followed her from the vehicle.

It was just as I had expected, small and compact, where everyone knows everyone. So, of course, as soon as we walked in, everyone's attention was focused on us, the freaks from out of town.

I walked like I wasn't bothered by the unwanted attention, but couldn't help but blush when I heard a chorus of wolf whistles following in my wake as I hastily chose a table. I was just too embarrassed to look in the direction the noise had sounded from.

Luckily mum had chosen to visit the bathroom, I could just imagine her expression if her "little girl" was being picked on by teenagers, even if I was seventeen, roughly the same age as those who had made the sound. She acted like they were pervy old men.

I scanned the menu, and then rescanned it, not wanting to have to sit and pointedly avoid eye-contact.

There was a thud, as someone, who was not my mother, placed a glass upon the table.

I glanced up, and found myself looking a boy who was, at a glance, about eighteen,

"Can I help you?" I tried to speak coolly, although my heart was going thump...thump... thump!

"Just thought you might like a drink." He grinned cheekily.

"And you are?"

"Eyeball." He grinned at me, I did not return the smile, I could smell this type a mile off, he was undoubtedly looking for an easy girl. Well, I wasn't her.

Before he could bombard me with questions, I spoke first.

"Well Eyeball, it's been a pleasure." I abruptly stood up and pushed my menu away, I walked, as quickly as possible without drawing attention, to the bathrooms.

My mum was washing her hands, staring into the mirror. She caught my sight of my reflection in the mirror and violently splashed water everywhere.

"Oh Al, you scared me! Did you order yet?"

I shrugged, "didn't see anything I liked."

She tried to hide her disappointment, "well okay, I guess we can find out if there's anywhere else..."

She sounded so hopeless I instantly felt bad for taking my annoyance out on her, I tried to backtrack,

"Oh no it's fine, I'll just have a drink, I'm not that hungry anyway."

"If you're sure..." she exited the room, and then turned back "I'll just order you a coke then?"

I nodded, willing her to leave, after a second she obliged. I lent against the cold wall, praying no one would enter and find me...I needed a minute.

I gazed at my reflection, my dark hair was stuck to my forehead from the heat; it may have been a cool day here but after being used to British weather, well, let's just say this was like a heat wave to me. My eyes are light green and at the moment they looked tired and were ringed by heavy purple shadows. I wondered why that boy, Eyeball, had taken such an interest, I certainly wasn't looking my absolute best, perhaps they had a shortage of girls. I laughed at the thought; they all probably knew each other since preschool, so now, because I was "new," I was given plenty of attention. Desperately uninvited attention, to be precise.

I wondered how long I could hang around in here, not long I was assuming; my mum wasn't the patient type. My suspicions proved correct when mum burst in once more,

"What's taking you so long? Food is getting cold." She hissed at me the stalked out. I rolled my eyes at the space she had just occupied, need I remind her, I hadn't ordered anything.

I sighed to myself and ran a hand through my hair, causing it to stand up. I shook my head at my illogical reaction; my mum just wanted things to be brilliant and satisfying, so, for her sake, I'd try my best.

After scrupulously checking my face for blemishes, I left the bathroom. The first thing my eyes homed in on was my mum, no longer sitting alone, no, now she was with some man. Fantastic, I groaned to myself, I knew she was lonely, but my dad had only died a little while ago, and in my opinion it was a bit early to be thinking about replacements. I studied her face, at least she seemed happy. I knew she wouldn't want me sitting with her, I doubt she'd even told him she had a daughter. I'd just take my coke and....wait a minute! There was no drink there for me, but this man was drinking what suspiciously looked like coke! It didn't take a rocket scientist decipher the situation. Thanks mum.

I didn't even have my own purse and I sure as hell wasn't going to go over and ask my mum for some change. I didn't want to sit near them either, so I chose another table in the opposite corner, unfortunately this was the last available and happened to be across from my wolf-whistling friends. This Eyeball perked up considerably when he seen me sitting so close, I didn't have to be a mind reader to realise he had thought I was only shy and didn't react well to his pleasantries. And, of course, he noticed I was still sitting alone, with nothing in front of me.

I drummed my fingers on the edge of the table, my annoyance coming out in a physical form. It then began to earn me irritated looks from the other diners. I ceased this action when I saw I was just attracting more unwelcome interest for myself.

I decided to chance a glance at his companions; he sat with six other boys. It was clear he was not the leader. No, that position happened to belong to a blonde boy, the best-looking in my opinion, but also the...harshest looking. They did not seem to make a move or speak unless it was approved by this boy, apparent by their body language; they all desperately sought his agreement. Intrigued, I listened carefully, Eyeball was speaking,

"So, Ace, what are we gonna do to those faggots?"

Ace lent back in his chair, "a better question is, what are we not going to do?"

They looked confused...idiots, I found myself thinking,

"Idiots, we're going to give them a right doing over," he unconsciously patted his pocket. Quite obviously, these were what everyone would think of as the neighbourhood bullies. Bet they weren't so bad, I had known a fairly large number of bullies and the majority turned out not half bad...not, I added to myself hurriedly, that I intended to find out. God, I was already starting to go crazy, talking to myself, and I'd only been here a few minutes!

I tried to hold back a laugh, but, of course, as my luck entails, I did not manage it and a small giggle escaped my lips. Instantly I felt Ace's gaze fall me. I rapidly grabbed a menu and studiously began reading it. Needless to say, I did not fool them.

Ace stood up, much to the chagrin of Eyeball, however he did not object. Ace began making his way over to me, much to the jealousy of any girl in the surrounding area. I wished I stop their stares, I could almost hear their catty comments.

"Haven't seen you around." He smiled, but it was guarded, the sort of smile of someone who is accustomed to getting their own way.

I looked at him carefully; did I have to state the obvious? Apparently so, as he waited for a response.

"I just moved here." He'd have had to have realised this, in a town this small, they'd have known if a new dog had moved in!

Ace flicked a glance back at his gang; they immediately put their gawking heads down and pretended to be involved in some riveting discussion.

"Oh I know that, I'm sure I would have noticed you before if that weren't the case." He smiled again, but I still didn't trust it, it was too lazy...it made me rather uncomfortable.

"What did you hear there?" Ah now I got it, he was playing nice guy, in order to make sure I'd keep my mouth shut....at least, I mused, he was trying it the nice way, rather than by force.

I smiled sweetly at him, "oh nothing, I have better things to do than eavesdrop."

"Really? Sure doesn't look like it."

"Yes, really." My tone became clipped.

He looked unconvinced and surprised by my change in demeanour. A dozen thoughts and emotions crossed his face, none of which I could place, before he smirked and gestured back at the table he had just evacuated,

"Seeing as you're alone, why don't you come and join us?" He evidently did not expect me to refuse.

I automatically began to shake my head and started to form a sentence about how I wasn't alone, but then I looked at my mum again.

"Sure," I said, grinning, "why not?"