OMG! It's been a while! A full year since I've updated. Hahaha sorry, bad joke. Wow, I can't believe it's a few months into 2021. Finally, 2020, the worst year ever, is over. I've been busy with school and work so that's why it took awhile to update. I've missed Eyeball and Penny. So I'm happy to be back. The past few days, I've had The Lost Boys and Stand By Me on repeat. If you've seen The Lost Boys, let me know in the reviews, and you're automatically apart of the cool kids club. I'm currently planning either an Ace story or a David story. My love for Keifer Sutherland just inspires me.

Here's the tea - Warnings of mature language and suggestive content. My pure bunnies turn away!

Thank you to everyone who left a review! They really help out, and I just greatly appreciate them. Forehead kisses for you all.

I don't own anything, and please enjoy!

"We'll just have to get along. That's what people do, you know? They just get along. And try to help each other."

― Stephen King, Cujo

"Remind me why we're hiding again?"

The grinning blonde boy wiggled under the bushes until they were shoulder to shoulder, staring at the plain white house a few meters away.

"Good soldiers scope out the battlefield first."

"I must have missed that in bootcamp."

The house was completely unremarkable and dirty. Every window seemed disastrously cracked beyond repair. The only things standing out were a tall chain fence surrounding a dirt terrain and a single red doghouse with a large black pitbull laying inside.

"Ok, recruit, here's the situation," Chris began. "This is Old Man Holloway's house. He's the worst combination a human can be - old and mean."

He pointed to the dog. "Gordy and I pass by here almost everyday, and that poor hound is absolutely miserable. Old Man Holloway beats it. We've tried to talk to him before about it, but he chased us off his property with a rifle. Said if we ever came back, he'd shoot us. Our mission is to infiltrate and recover."

Penelope raised a brow. "You want to steal a dog?"

"Not steal, free."

"Why not report him for animal abuse?"

He scoffed. "We have exactly five police officers in this shithole, and those bellybutton lickers couldn't solve a game of Clue. No, it's up to us, partner."

"I don't know, Chris."

"This is America Land of the Free, goddammit!"

"Ok, calm down, Uncle Sam," Penelope reeled him back into reality. "What's the plan, scamp?"

Chris gestured back to the house. "Bad news, the fence is too tall to push the dog over, and there's only one door. Good news, Old Man Holloway leaves every day at this time to go flirt with women out his league at the bar."

"So, what's the connection?"

Chris winced and his voice raised a few pitches. "The keys are most likely inside."

"YOU WANT TO BREAK IN?"

Chris clamped his dirt covered hand over her mouth.

"Vigilante justice isn't for the weak of heart, recruit. This is necessary to save that pooch."

Penelope glanced at the animal. It hadn't moved so much as an inch since they arrived. It looked almost lifeless - another innocent creature being lost to a cruel world.

She shoved his hand away. "Ok, captain, who's doing what?"

Chris's face lit up. "Literally not a single window is intact so I can get in and find the keys while you stick with the pitbull. Keep him calm."

Her body buzzed as all thoughts of how this could go wrong ran through her head, but she nodded. Suddenly, the door to the little house slammed open, and a tall man with white streaks in unkempt black hair stormed onto the porch. The dog began to whine as the man approached the fence to glare at the dog.

"You've been laying there all day, useless mutt," Penelope heard him growl, his voice garbled and mean. He slammed a fist rattling the fence and stalked to his rusty truck. Once the rumbling vehicle left the driveway Chris and Penelope skirted out from their hiding spot. The house was even uglier up close with dead plants and cracks all over the outside.

Chris directed a commanding look at her. "Time to ball up, soldier."

Penelope shot a finger gun at him. "No guts, no glory."

With an affirmative nod, Chris quickly ran around the house looking for an entryway. The young girl turned and stared up at the fence. She wasn't short by any means, but the fence was as tall as three of her.

Why have such a tall fence for one dog?

She shrugged and quickly climbed the fence. Once she was at the top, did the dog finally look up at her with alarmed eyes. She immediately noticed the sharp ribs poking through the animal's mangled black fur. Its pelt was missing chunks and the naked skin revealed cuts with yellow puss oozing from them.

"You poor thing, we're gonna get you help."

She swung her leg over the top, and immediately once her feet touched the ground did she realize she may have made an error.

The once passive, somber animal rose and bared its sharp teeth into a menacing snarl. The hound glared at her with wild eyes.

She raised her hands up. "I'm not going to hurt you, buddy."

The dog's starved appearance didn't detract from its intimidation only succeeding in making the animal look like a hell hound. A deep growl ripped through its throat as it began advancing towards her.

"I think I know why the fence is so tall now," she gulped. The black eyes glittered, and it leapt for her.

"Chris!" She screamed at the top of lungs, scrambling up the fence. The dog followed her with surprising speed, it sank to grown only to leap high enough to narrowly miss her foot. Penelope flinched in horror as her skirt got caught in the fence. Her trapped state sent the dog into a frenzy. It continued jumping and snarling at her ankles, globs of spit flying everywhere.

"Teenager gives you indigestion!" She yelled.

Chris came running out the house, keys in hand, completely shocked at the sight before him.

"Chris, help!"

He made for the lock, but once he was close enough the furious hound made a go at him too with Chris flinging himself back on the ground.

She was still trapped, not even close to the top of the fence. Looking up, she calculated she could just rip her skirt and hop over the flee. She looked down at the snarling dog. Despite its gruesome, terrifying snarl, she could see tiredness seeping out of its every movement. The dark eyes were wild, but frightened. She couldn't leave the poor thing to its horrible fate of abuse.

With a yell, she yanked her leg forward, successfully tearing her skirt free, but also sending herself falling to the ground. The reaction was instantaneous. The animal turned and charged for her. Throwing her hands out, she clasped them around its neck just as the dog snapped at her face. Dog breath puffed in her face, and she could only stare at the fangs barely missing her. Focusing on holding off the creature, she shouted again.

"Chris, hurry and open the damn fence!" Preferably before her face became kibble.

Chris fumbled with the keys, but just as he slid them in the lock, they heard a dreadful noise. Headlights flashed as a noisy truck engine approached the house.

Old Man Holloway was back early.

"Forgot my damn wallet- hey! Trespassers!" He hollered. Chris swore and jerked the key in the lock while Penelope was still pinned by the pit bull. Penelope saw a flash of silver before she headed a loud gunshot. "You'll have bullets for eyes and you'll shit gunpowder when I'm done with you!"

The dog jerked back off her. Chris flung open the fence and patted his knees with a desperate look on his face. "Here boy!" He called, scared.

The dog turned and certainly saw his owner brandishing a rifle from his truck, once aimed for the sky and now onto them. The loudest, most bone chilling growl imaginable ripped through the dog's entire being as the dog raced out its prison. Chris jumped out the speeding hell hound's way as it barreled towards Old Man Holloway.

"You useless piece of sh- Ah!" He never finished for the dog sank it's teeth right into his thigh.

"Penelope, run!"

Not wasting another second, the girl scrambled to her feet and out the cage. The pit bull released the man's leg and zoomed away in the other direction. Cursing, the old man leaned on his good knee, and began shooting towards the teens. A bullet whizzed past Penelope's head.

"Holy shit, he's shooting at us!" Chris hollered. More gunshots rang out and pushed their legs to go faster. The man must have given up because the only thing Penelope could hear was a furious roar far, far behind them as she and Chris fled down the road.

She would have to rethink this superhero business.

Eyeball clutched the wheel of the sleek black car. Ace had the biggest shit eating grin on his face when he slapped the brunette's back with a smug, "Happy hunting."

Eyeball cruised down the road thoroughly pleased with its smoothness. Fuck, a good car could really boost a man's ego. When he was done here, he would definitely crack a beer and drool over run this car's detail. He spent the last hour driving down every back road he knew. So far, no luck in finding what, rather who he needed.

Two figures ran into the road.

"Fuck!" Eyeball shouted as he slammed on the brakes. The headlights reflected Penelope's and surprisingly his little brother's shock back at him.

"What the hell are you two doing?" Eyeball growled from the open window.

The two gasped for breath. They glanced at each other before erupting into maniac laughter.

Eyeball debated running them over, but the car was too pretty.

"Just serving up some vigilante justice," Penelope giggled.

"I think I need an early retirement from field work." Chris snickered.

The dramatics had Eyeball rolling his eyes. "Hey, shithead, buzz off. I gotta talk to the broad."

Chris glared back at his brother, starting a stare off. They resembled two warring tomcats arching their backs to intimidate the other. Penelope raised an offended brow. "This broad ain't talkin' to you, asshat."

Turning to her, Eyeball groaned. "Oh, come on, I can give you a ride home. You're too far out to walk."

Chris pointed to the car. "Whose hot ride?"

Eyeball patted the door fondly. "Oh, just a temporary gift is all."

Chris and Penelope exchanged unsure looks. "I'll get in if you do."

"Nuh uh, not getting in a car with that psycho. You take the ride. You've earned it tonight, Lieutenant."

"I see I've been promoted."

"Don't get cocky, I still outrank on you." The blonde shot a finger gun at the two teenagers. "I've got better things to do than hang out with a couple of lame teens. Later, snot heads," He said before turning and walking off. If looks could kill, Eyeball was shooting daggers at his brother's back.

Penelope's happy smile instantly fell into a grim line as she turned and faced the driver.

"My mom said I shouldn't get in cars with strange men." She crossed over to the passenger's side. "Especially ones that make up fake fucking rumors."

Eyeball had the decency to look mildly embarrassed. "Sorry, princess, I got a reputation. I couldn't tell the boys you and me just splashed around a pond. A little embellishment was necessary."

She smacked his shoulder, pleased to see him wince. "I think we both got different definitions of little."

He smirked at her as he turned the car around. "You can't stay mad at me forever."

"Why not? I've done pretty good at ignoring you until now. I can stay mad."

He pursed his lips thoughtfully. "I guess the only way of getting your attention is to smash your mailbox again."

She jabbed his shoulder. "Smash my shit, I'll smash you."

"Oh, say less."

She faced towards the window to conceal the smile fighting its way to her face. But Eyeball had a quick eye.

"Oh, shit, did I make the Ice Princess smile?" he laughed.

"I'm laughing at you, not with you."

He clutched at his heart. "You're a cruel lady, but I like a little pain."

Little moments like this were what made her ease up on him the other day, but the reality of his actions sent her crashing back to Earth.

Sensing her starting to shut down, he hurriedly asked, "So where's your house, Summers?"

She told him, and they settled in silence with Eyeball occasionally glancing at her in worry.

Finally, he broke the quiet. "Look, Summers, I shouldn't have told the guys we had sex, alright?"

"Is that an apology?"

"It's my kind of apology."

She whipped around to look at him so quickly he flinched in surprise. "Then you won't be getting my kind of forgiveness, and you can just pull over right now, I'd rather walk than be near you another second."

He scoffed. "I'm not letting a chick walk-."

"No, you'd rather shatter her reputation."

That shut him up, but Penelope was only getting started. "You were actually cool to hang out with, and I thought we had a nice time. Was I really so terrible to be around you had to lie?"

He gnawed at his lip. "It wasn't like that, doll."

"Sure seems like it," she turned towards the window. "Big, tough, cocksure Eyeball Chambers the Cobra couldn't appear to be a decent human being. Doesn't it get exhausting being such a monster?"

"Am I cool monster like in Frankenstein?" he snorted.

"You're the worst kind." She continued icily. "You . . .you really hurt my feelings, Eyeball."

At the waver in her voice, he slowed the car down and parked at the side of the road. He had a death gripe on the wheel as he seemed to be battling within himself. "Look, uh, it wasn't a bad time. In fact, it was so not bad that's why I had to lie."

"What the fuck are you on about?"

He groaned and ran a frustrated hand through his curls. "I-I, it- we- I'm not used to hanging out with a girl where it doesn't end in clothes flying off, okay?"

She rolled her eyes. "Aren't I so lucky?"

"When the guys asked about you, I just panicked."

"So you threw me to the wolves to protect a stupid playboy image?" Why did that hurt her so much? "Congratulations, you really played me."

"Summers-."

"Just take me home, Chambers," she interrupted coldly. "Please."

He turned on the engine and started on the road again. The tension between them suffocated her. A dry lump formed in her throat making it hard to swallow. Eyeball seemed lost in his own thoughts.

"This isn't the way to my house," she mentioned after long agonizingly quiet minutes. He jerked like he forgot she was beside him.

"I'm taking a scenic route," he said.

The road began to get super bumpy as he turned and drove down a dirt road with large rocks. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Eyeball tighten his grip on the wheel once more. Suddenly, he stopped the car again.

"Nature calls," he smiled but it looked robotic, unnatural, leaving the keys in the ignition. "You sit here and keep the car running."

"Whatever," she mumbled and slid in the driver's seat. He closed the door and disappeared into the woods.

After five songs of upbeat jazz that all sounded the same, the girl wondered where he had gone. He was taking an awfully long time. Just as she was going to turn off the car and begin looking for him, red and blue lights flashed behind her. Why were the cops here? She sat up straight when the door open. A large cop plodded up to her window and knocked on it with his baton.

"Evening, ma'am. Can I see your license and registration?"

She frowned, confused. "Sorry, I don't have my license with me right now, and this is my friend's car."

A burly brow rose. "What's your friend's name?"

"Is there a problem?"

The stare he fixed on her troubled the girl.

"Is a taillight out? Are we parked illegally? I can move it."

A pair of yellow, crooked teeth flashed at her. He waved to the cop car, and a second officer got out. Together they looked like a couple of terror twins grimacing at her with their batons and flashlights.

"Miss, could you please step out the car?" The first one asked as his partner quickly circled to the back of the vehicle. He flashed his light on the seats with an inquiring eye.

A nervous chill ran down Penelope's spine. "Sir, what is the problem?"

"I think you already know what it is."

His partner practically skipped back to them. "It's the one, Roy."

Their Cheshire smiles pinned the teen where she stood. "What are you talking about?" she demanded.

The second one pulled out a notebook and flashed a page at her so quickly she couldn't read the writing. "We received a tip that a young girl fitting your description stole a car. License plate matches perfectly."

Penelope's gaped. "I-I- NO. You're mistaken, I didn't steal anything!"

Clearly they weren't buying it. Castle Rock hardly got any action. They wouldn't pass up an opportunity to act like real cops for once.

"If you didn't then who did?"

"Uh-," the thought of them arresting Eyeball flashed in her head. "I can't say."

"And why not?"

"Uh-."

"Because it's you, huh!"

Officer One snatched her arm in a crushing hold. "Paws off, I haven't been read my rights! You got it all wrong!" she screamed. Officer Two made a move for his handcuffs, but she kicked her legs out recklessly, successfully landing a strong kick between his legs. He went down like a missile.

"Bertie!" Officer One gasped. He yanked her around roughly, and she hit the side of the car. She heard her captor fumbling for his own hand cuffs before he let out a deep grunt. His clammy hands abruptly released her as he dropped to the ground. Eyeball threw the broken branch he held.

"Get in the car!" He shoved her into the drivers seat. He slammed the passenger's side door right as the fallen policemen were slowly pulling themselves from the ground.

"Drive Summers!"

"But-"

"GO!"

Slamming her foot on the gas, the car lurched forward, and she could hear the frenzied shouts of the men. Eyeball was flung back in his seat as she wrestled to keep the car under control. The sirens went off behind her.

"OH SHIT!" They shouted in unison as the car flew on the road with the cops not far behind them. This was not how Penelope envisioned her day would go. First I steal a dog, and now I'm a dollar store Bonnie and Clyde! Her mother was flaky, but Penelope had a suspicion that her mother would be royally pissed if her daughter was arrested.

The cops were gaining on them, and thoughts of sitting in a jail cell for the rest of her life clouded her awareness. Oh god, colleges wouldn't admit a prisoner! A graduation gown would clash with an orange jumpsuit!

"Summers!" she heard Eyeball scream. His hands were suddenly on top of hers, and he grabbed the wheel and roughly yanked to the side. The passing car's horn drowned out their screams as their car narrowly missed it and swerved off the road. The seatbelt painfully dug into her ribcage as the car slammed into a ditch. Nothing was broken, but she was gonna have nasty bruises tomorrow.

Eyeball wasn't looking any better. "Oh, shit, come on, Summers."

He unbuckled her and pulled her over the dashboard and out the car. They stumbled into the woods, right as the cop car squealed to a halt.

"Eyeball!" She pointed to a group of berry bushes. "Hide!"

He let her scramble under first. With him squeezing in beside her, it was a tight fit. Blood pounded in her ears. Maybe she was breathing too hard because he clasped a hand over her mouth. Leaves crunched under boots, and her heartbeat quickened with every step getting closer and closer.

"That car is fucked, Roy."

"I can see that, Bertie!"
"There's no need to yell."

"I'm sorry, man, I'm just mad that we finally got some action, and those little shits got away!"

"Ya think chief will be mad at us?"

"Not if we say that we just found the car in a ditch."

Eyeball and Penelope stared at each other, completely still. She could see the black boots behind Eyeball's head, almost touching the bushes they hid under. The hand covering her mouth was getting clammy. She wanted to shove it away, but wouldn't dare move now.

Static could be heard, and a muffled voice sounded above them.

"What was that, Roy?" the second police's voice was noticeably more excited.

His partner huffed, annoyed. "Don't cream your pants, kid. We're getting called to go talk to Mrs. Brower. Said she hadn't seen her kid all day, but twenty bucks say he's just at a friend's house. They always are."

"Why not get Jeff or the sheriff to check it out?"

"They setting up Clue for tonight's game."

"Oh, do you think we're finally gonna finish a game, Roy?"

"Damn right, we are, buddy."

Eyeball and Penelope listened to their footsteps drifting away. When there wasn't anymore noise, Eyeball shot Penelope another look and climbed out. But before he could rise to his feet, her hand shot out and she pulled him down to the ground. She climbed on top of him and pinned his shoulders. Rage blazed in her eyes.

"Listen closely, asshole, I want answers now or else I will scream and those idiot cops with come back then we're both in for it," she spit. "Did you steal a fucking car?"

He had the audacity to grin.

"A Cobras' favorite pastime."

Her nails dug into his shoulders, causing him to wince. "Did you set me up?"

His eyes went wide. "No! Well, not exactly." he admitted. "Ace said to hotwire a car, and report it missing. The plan was to just leave you and the cops would see a girl with the car, and it would give you a little spook. I didn't know they gave the cops your description as the thief."

"You are- Oh! I hate you!" Without another thought, her hand connected soundly with his face, flinging his head to the side. "You're are evil! You fuck up my mailbox, terrorize me, trash my reputation, and now you and your thugs tried to get me arrested! I have half a mind to rat you out to the uniforms, myself!"

"Why didn't you?"

She stopped, hand raised to strike him again. His head turned, and fierce brown eyes met hers.

"I took the car. You didn't tell them my name. Why?"

Her mouth open and closed wordlessly. He continued to stare at her, and she growled. "How'd ya hear our conversation? I thought you would've been sucking Ace's dick right now."

His eyes darkened. Penelope squealed as he jammed his leg into her side, using his weight to switch their positions. Now she was pinned with a dangerous Cobra poised above her. She wriggled against him, but he held firm.

"I don't get you, Summers. First, you're just a quiet little mouse, then you're purposely a thorn in my side, and now you protected me from the cops." His fingers combed through some tresses of her hair as he pondered something. He examined her with a cold eye. "Is the little mouse getting sweet on me? That'd make our little game so boring."

"You mean your reign of terror?" She scoffed. "Fat chance. But seeing you arrested just felt wrong. I was trying to be nice."

"Nice?" His scarred brow quirked. "I can think of better ways you can be nice to me."

"So can I," she retorted. "and they all involve me nicely shoving my foot up your ass."

The hand in her hair tightened. "So the mouse bites back."

She struggled against him. "Cut the shit, Chambers. You came back to help me." His face fell. "Why?"

The hand moved from her hair to her neck. His rough thumb grazed over her pulse point. Heat bloomed in her cheeks. He could probably feel how fast her heart was racing. If he noticed her discomfort, he didn't show it.

"This big bad monster makes his own choices sometimes."

She held her breath as he gazed down at her. His weight reminded her of his strength. He could do whatever he wanted to do, and she wouldn't be able to fight him. Yet, how he was looking at her was anything but threatening.

The bushes rustled, and they froze. Were the cops back? A black paw came into Penelope's view, and familiar black eyes, now clear and unafraid, stared at her. She smiled while Eyeball stared at the new dog. The pitbull dipped its head at her, as if it were saying, Sorry I tried to eat you. Thanks for the help. It sniffed the air and trotted off, tail wagging as the animal went to find a better future. If a dog could move past a horrible situation maybe Penelope could too. She looked back up at Eyeball.

"So what happens now?" she asked quietly. For a moment, he looked confused as if he had forgotten the chain of events leading to this moment, but it passed just as quickly. He stood up and offered her his hand. She accepted, and he easily pulled her to her feet. She tried not to notice how naturally her hand fit into his.

"Now," he smirked, "you make your own choice. The night is still young, and so are we. Let's do something fun."

She gaped at him, at an utter loss. "Do you think this night is going well?"

His smirk widened. "I'm having a boss time." He took a step closer to her. She had to crane her neck to look up at him. "Who says it has to stop?"

She bit her lip as she mulled the idea in her head. "If I hang out with you, no more fucking me over, ok?"

He leaned closer to her. Those seven freckles made an appearance. "I promise that tonight there will be no fucking you over," his gaze dropped, "unless, of course, you ask for it."

She shoved him back. "Ok! Enough of that now!"

His high pitched laugh met her ears. "You're so easy to mess with." He held his hand out for her to take. "One more adventure, princess. What do ya say?"

She wanted to decline. Her body wanted to go home and bury herself in her covers and take a year long nap. But she thought of Dennis telling her to get outside her comfort zone. She thought of Connie being a brave extrovert surrounded by friends. She thought of her mother dancing through life, unafraid of consequences.

She was not like them. She had long accepted that. She should say no.

So why did she find herself whispering a yes and readily taking the smiling boy's hand?

It's my headcanon that Roy and Bertie are currently having a friends to lovers story.

Be sure to review! :)