Author's note: Alright! Plenty of people seemed interested in the story, so here's the first chapter. Hopefully there's not too many mistakes and I hope you enjoy : ) Please review and tell me what you think or anything you might want to see in future chapters!


Chapter 1: A Not So Secret, Secret

The end of school bell rang at 3 o'clock and all the kids rushed to get out. Richie, Stan, Ben, and Beverly all walked beside me apparently making plans to visit Eddie. He had the flu and his mom freaked out and pulled him out of school.

" He's probably not even sick," Richie complained," He probably just wanted to get out of the math test today. Or maybe he just wanted to stay home and jerk off all day!"

Stan punched him in the shoulder. " That's gross man!"

" Your mom's gross!"

" Hey!"

I smiled and shook my head. My friends are so weird, but I wouldn't change them for anything in the world. As everyone got their bikes ready to go, Beverly grabbed my arm. She smiled and her eyes were shining. She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.

" Are you ok? You're being kind of quiet." She was always so nice to me.

" Y-yeah, I'm ok. I-I'm just t-tired."

" You sure?"

I nodded " Yes. Y-you guys go on w-without me."

Beverly looked behind her at the others waiting for her. Ben waved to her. She looked back at me for a second before picking up her bike.

" If you're sure…." She trailer off. I nodded again. " Ok…. We'll see you tomorrow then."

" T-tommorrow, yeah. Bye." I said.

" Bye!" Beverly winked at me as she got on her bike and went to meet the others. They all rode away.

I took a deep, shaky breath and got on my bike, going the opposite direction.


I leaned my bike up against a tree and and walked down to the river. The rocks crunched underneath my sneakers. I sat down at the water's edge, looking down into the beautiful blue water.

I liked to come down here sometimes to be by myself. Don't get me wrong I loved my friend's and my family, but sometimes it's nice to get away from it all. It was quite. And I didn't have to talk to anybody and worry about my stuttering. I had found this little spot in the woods by the River that was hidden behind some thick tree's so nobody else knows about it. I think anyway. I guess it really didn't…..

CRACK!

I stood up quick and whirled around at the sound of a stick breaking. Being stepped on. I guess I wasn't the only one that knew about this place.

The tree branches parted as he walked the through them. He was wearing heavy boots, light washed ripped jeans, leather bracelets on his right wrist, and a yellow shirt with the arms ripped off. His blonde hair curling against his neck. He stopped walking when he saw me.

" B-b-bowers?!"

" B-b-billy!" He sneered at me.

My eyes dropped down to his mouth. His bottom lip had a cut that was red and irritated. A few drops of blood rolled down his chin.

" W-what happened to y-your face?"

" Fuck off." He growled and walked past me, shoving his shoulder into mine and I stumbled.

" What's your p-problem! I-I've never done a-a-anything to you! You s-suck Bowers!" I yelled at him. It made me more angry when he just ignores me and reached down to cup some water into his hand and started to wipe the blood off his chin. My hands were clenched by my side, sure that I was going to get beat up and they would never find my body down here.

Bowers looked over at me from where he was crouched down. His blue eyes flashed for a second. I couldn't tell if it was anger or… sadness?

He let out a soft snort and looked away again, shoulders slumping. " My dad….."

" W-what?"

" My dad ok! That's what's wrong with my face!"

I bite my lip. I wasn't surprised. Everybody in town knew of Officer Bowers anger problems, but have never acknowledged it. It was a small town and everyone just wanted to fit in. No one wanted to get on the bad side of the police.

" Oh. I'm s-sorry."

" Why are you sorry? Shouldn't you be happy?"

" Why w-would I be happy?" I asked, confused.

" Because I torture you and your merry band of losers on a daily basis?"

" E-even if that's t-t-true, no one d-deserves to be abused."

He stood up and turned around, crossing his arms over his chest before rolling his eyes at me. His arms flexed. He did have nice biceps…. Wait what?!

" You're too nice for your own good, Bill."

" Why? Because I-I'm not a dick like y-you?" I scowled.

He laughed. He had a nice laugh, when it wasn't directed at me or my friend's misfortunes. " You know, usually I'd beat your face in for that comment since I'm a dick and all. But I'll let it go this once," He swaggered forward till he was an inch away from me and poked me in the chest," Just don't go around telling anybody about this or else!"

I barely heard him. With him this close I could smell his woodsy/ spicy smelling cologne. He was taller then me, so my eyes were level with his soft looking lips and I couldn't stop looking at the cut on his lip. I felt some angry at his dad building up in my chest. As if on instinct, my hand raised and I stroked one finger down the cut.

As soon as I did he jerked away, looking at me with furrowed brows. I blushed and looked away. My heart was pounding.

" S-sorry." I didn't look back at him.

He was silent for a moment. " Whatever…" He murmured.

I didn't look back till I heard him walk away and back through the trees.


The next day at lunch I couldn't help but look over at Bower's table where he was sitting with his friends. I watched as Patrick Hockstetter tripped a student and they dropped food all over themselves. They all laughed accept Bowers.

He was staring down at the table with a troubled expression. Of course he took that same moment to look up and his eyes meet mine. I licked my lips. His eyes flickered down to my mouth then back up before looking away fast. That was weird.

His blonde friend nudged him and he looked back up and laughed at whatever he said. It didn't sound like the laugh from the river. That one was real. This one however, sounded fake, forced.

There was something about Bowers. I don't know what it was. It seems like he's more than just a stupid bully like I thought. When he wasn't being an asshole he was kinda cute.

Cute?! No,no,no! I did not just think that Henry Bowers was cute! That's like thinking a poisonous snake was cute!

But then he quickly glanced over at me again, his blue eyes soft and a slight blush on his cheeks before he looked down and it was over.

Shit.

I think Henry Bowers is cute….