I couldn't seem to take my eyes off him, which judging by his expression, he didn't seem all too bugged by it.
I shoved aside the other two boys almost immediately, casting them out of my peripheral as I approach him. He wasn't that intimidating now that I saw him up close in person. He wasn't as tall as I had originally thought, nor was he as intimidating. If anything he was a tiny bit unnerving. He had a questionable aura about him and his shit eating grin being always prominent on his face didn't help much.
My gaze hardens as I lower my fists, and instead point at him accusingly.
"You!" I exclaim, a bit louder than I had originally intended "You're that freak who was staring at me through my window when I was moving in."
He just shrugs in reply, his grin shifting to a smirk as he licks his lips in a suggestive manor that made my blood begin to take on that all-too-familiar boil.
"I just figured I'd get to know you a bit." He tells me casually
"I thought I told you I already called that, Hockstetter." The boy rocking a mullet comments, a bit bitterly
'How is he Valerie's kid?' I subconsciously wonder as I look him over in minor disgust
"Like what cha see, sweetheart?" He comments, cockily
I grit my teeth and straighten my back, fists clenching once again as I go to take a step towards the boy with the mullet. Though, Bill and Eddie are quick to hold me back.
"Ez-Ez-Easy [F-First Name]." Bill stutters out "The-The-These guys are t-truh-truh-trouble."
I cock my head towards him as he moves to stand beside me. I nod to him, letting him know that I at least acknowledged his words. However, I continue on to turn my attention back to the opposing group, returning to a glare.
"If you're lookin' for trouble, I suggest you find it elsewhere." I tell them firmly "My Mama said I'm not supposed to fight."
"Yeah, cockstetter." Richie insults "Why don't you and Henry go blow each other?"
"Why you little-" The boy in a mullet, Henry, begins
Henry goes to take a menacing step towards Richie, who throws his hands up in defense. Then, before I can break out of Eddie and Bill's hold on my arms, Patrick extends a lanky arm in front of Henry, stopping him in his tracks, his eyes never leaving me as he did so.
"Move your fucking arm, Hockstetter." He spits
"Ah, sweetheart, we didn't come to fight." The tall boy drawls "Just came to say hi is all."
"Move your fucking arm, Hockstetter!"
Someone else enters your peripheral, and you realize that it was Valerie, who was speed walking over. She looked quite distraught.
"Hi Valerie." You wave
Everyone's attention diverts to the older woman as she briskly walk-sprints her way over in long, purposeful steps.
"Hi, sweetheart. I see you've met my son and his friends." She cuts in sharply as she glances over the two other boys uneasily "Two of them at least."
She goes to stand behind the tallest boy and places her hands on his shoulders, from what I could tell she was a couple inches taller than him. In fact, I didnt even realize she was so tall until now.
"Did you introduce yourself, Patrick?" She asks
I watch her grip tense on his shoulders, neatly manicured nails crinkling the black fabric where her slender fingers dug into his shoulders. Patrick doesn't even move or flinch at this though, but his smile was a bit less intense.
He sharply extends his hand out to me.
"Well sweetheart, I'm Patrick." He tells me "Patrick Hockstetter."
Not being one to back down so easily, I reach out, slapping my hand against his in a tough handshake. I don't even bother giving him my name, and neither of them seem to mind it. Though, Valerie pursed her lips into a thin line.
"Now that you two have met," Valerie forces out "I believe my Patrick and I have to go inside. I need help looking for.. my purse. Henry, Victor, you two should go find your parents. I'm sure they're wondering where you are. I know Reginald is."
"Yes Mrs. Hockstetter." The two chorus blandly before turning to leave
Henry bumps shoulders with Richie harshly, whispering something to the boy with a snarl as he parts whilst Valerie ushers Patrick inside the house through the back door.
Patrick turns his head to me as he leaves, shooting me a snarky wave. My bubbling aggressions build once more as I take a couple steps towards him, watching as he stops, much to his mother's exasperation. My eyes narrow into slits.
"You fucking–"
Before I can go over there and show him what for, a large hand grabs my upper arm to stop me. In the heat of the moment, I honestly hadn't even realized that Bill and Eddie had released my arms.
"Don't." Mama's voice suddenly comes out in a dark tone behind me
I spin around to meet her hard gaze.
"But Mama, I wasn't gonna–" She shushes me
Mama places her hands on my shoulders, her expression softening immensely.
"I know you weren't and I'm proud of you." She tells me in a hushed tone "But the Hockstetter's were nice enough to throw us this barbecue."
Mama gestures to the crowd of talking adults, before she fixes a random strand of hair on my face, tucking it behind my ear.
"I don't know what that boy said to you, but I'm sure Valerie is taking care of it. Thank you for not causing a scene." She pauses, staring down at me with a soft smile "I'll be sure to talk to Valerie about it later, okay?"
I huff out a sigh and shake myself of her hands, crossing them over my chest defensively.
"Fine Mama."
"If you get bothered again, come find your father or myself." She tells me "Let us handle it."
She smooths my hair out, pecks my forehead once again, and parts from me, leaving me standing there with a bubble in my chest that was begging to be released. I walk over to the large tree, giving it a swift punch.
"Fuckin' bullshit." I mumble
I cradle my now aching hand against my chest as Bill and the others approach me.
"S-Sor-Sorry about th-th-that." Bill sputters out
"Are you kidding? That could've been fucking awesome! [First Name] could've totally kicked their asses!" Richie chirps cockily "Those fucking assholes had it coming to 'em."
Eddie rolls his eyes
"Richie, are you serious? That's fucking Bowers and his gang. If they had Belch with em then we would've been toast. Plus we're like half their size."
"Except for [First Name]. She's almost as tall as Patrick!" Richie counters
"She's literally the same height as Bowers." Eddie snaps "And Bowers is like a brick wall of muscle and angst."
"Yeah? So? I'm sure [First Name] could take him." Richie argues before turning to me "Right [First Name]?"
I give them a thumbs up with my hurt hand, not registering that I shouldn't have done that until a small pain throbbed through my knuckles and fingers. I once again cradle my hand to my chest.
"Y-Y-You okay?" Bill questions "You puh-puh-punched that tr-tree really har-har-har–"
"You did hit that tree pretty hard." Eddie agrees
Richie nods in agreement with the boys.
"Le-Le-Let me s-s-s-s-say it!" Bill exclaims
"Yea, Eddie Spaghetti, let the poor man finish, he's disabled." Richie jokes
"I a-am n-n-n-not!" Bill argues
"Don't call me Eddie Spaghetti!" Eddie snaps at him
I snicker at their constant bickering.
"You guys are dumb." I tell them
"Hey!" Richie counters "I'll have you know that I get straight C's!"
"That's not something to brag about." Eddie tells him
Richie puffs his cheeks out and fixes his glasses. Bill approaches me and takes my hand, looking it over. I grit my teeth as he touches one of the bruised knuckles, my hand twitching in an attempt to escape.
"H-Hey Eh-Eh-Eddie? Do y-y-you h-have any buh-buh-bandages on han-hand?" Bill asks him
Eddie unzips his fanny pack and digs around in it, pulling out a single bandage.
"This is all I have." Eddie shrugs
"The magical fanny pack has failed us!" Richie exclaims dramatically, putting a hand to his head
We share a short laugh because of Richie, before I tug my hand away from Bill and let it drop to my side.
"No, but really, I'll be okay."
"See? [First Name] could totally beat Bowers and his gang up!" Richie suddenly exclaims, gesturing to me
"Nobody can do that! It's literally impossible!" Eddie quickly starts to argue
I plop down onto the grass and lay my back against the tree, watching the two as they argue. Bill tried to cut in a couple times to stop them from arguing, but eventually gives up as they silence him every time.
Okay, so maybe an overwhelming amount of new faces, isn't as overwhelming as I thought.
This just might work.
