A/N: Hello, everyone. I hope you are all doing well and staying safe.
This will be the last update for the week until my next post on Tuesday night. I've been working on overdrive on revising and proofing earlier chapters while rewriting and fixing others.
There are a few scene changes in this chapter, along with some dialogue.
Enjoy the read! :)
"I'm practically a registered nurse."
This repeated itself in Ruth's mind like a broken record. It's a piece of information that could eventually lead her into trouble. She can already tell that it will. How long it will take to be a real problem is unknown. The ramifications Ruth will face will undoubtedly be harsh. Jordan will take her anger out on Ruth and leave behind new scars. That is if she doesn't kill Ruth in the process. That's a fear Ruth will always have engraved in her being. Getting killed by her parents for Ruth's stupidity.
It was unwise to comment on her skills tending to her injuries. Nonetheless, it happened, and Ruth can't take back what was said. Ruth can only hope her meeting with Mike Hanlon won't be the cause of her downfall. Mike is a nice boy. He saved her life and showed Ruth kindness, which is a rarity for her. She can only hope, though, that their meet will lead to a friendship. Ruth needs a friend.
Ruth is drowning herself in this downward spiral of hers. These last few weeks have been dragging her further into depression. It's nearing her fourteenth birthday. Ever since she could remember, Ruth has been dealing with this dark fog. She never felt happy. If something did, it would be taken away from her in a heartbeat. Ruth has been left out all alone like a criminal for this long. She's desperate now. Ruth is crying out for help, and no one notices.
She can only hope that the boy Mike will see her scars and help her in some way. Except, Ruth must remind herself that she can't be too trusting. She doesn't know what his intentions could be underneath the sweet shell. Although Ruth remembered him blushing and stuttering when he called her pretty. There is hope for her. Plus, Mike is cute. A small smile spreads on her pink lips, blushing herself.
Hopefully, I will see him again. I think he's sweet, Ruth thinks to herself.
Since her meeting with Mike, Ruth silently walked down the sidewalk. Her scathed elbows stung, and her palms burned. The fall also scraped her knees from underneath the fabric of her jeans. Luckily, they don't show any evidence of her falling. Her arms, though, are another story. She needs to cover them up. If Jordan saw her with nasty scrapes, she will have a bird.
She sighs heavily, turning a corner towards Mr. Keene's drug store. Ruth is not going home to bandage herself. She will buy the supplies. As Ruth got closer, she noticed someone heading there as well. They have the same color hair as Ruth's by a couple of shades darker, but longer. It took her a moment, but Ruth realized it is Beverly Marsh.
"Great," she drones to herself.
Beverly enters the drugstore. Ruth was right behind her. Beverly doesn't acknowledge the fact Ruth slipped in, nor does she catch the following footsteps. Ruth doesn't stalk. She hates people that do. Coincidentally, Ruth is going to the same place Beverly is. She turns her attention to the shelf, halting with a huff. That's when Beverly finally saw Ruth.
"Are you following me?" Beverly questioned tightly.
"Hardly. I just so happened had to come here, as well. So, I am not stalking you."
Ruth makes an 'aha' sound then reaches for what she needed. Just as she turned to grab herself medical supplies, Ruth noticed the bruise on Beverly's neck. Her gaze hardens, and lips tighten from the purple splotch.
While she is getting abused, Ruth knows Beverly is also. With a steady breath, Ruth decides to say something. She can only hope Beverly won't turn a cold shoulder.
"Did your father give you that bruise?"
Beverly grew rigid and jaw squared. She doesn't make eye contact with Ruth, only stares at the shelf of feminine products. Beverly takes the box. Ruth grabbed then turned away in an attempt to ignore Ruth.
"We're a lot alike, Beverly. I know what you are going through." Ruth replies solemnly.
"You don't know a damn thing," Beverly quipped.
"You don't think I do?"
"No, you don't. Now stay away from me."
Ruth's chest constricts, and throat tightening. She breathes heavily to fight off the furious tears then quickly walks away herself. Ruth stops, though, to glare over at her almost identical twin Beverly. They really look alike from hair color, maybe by a couple of shades, to the freckles on their cheeks. Except Ruth's are darker and splotchy.
"I do know what you are going through, Beverly. If I were you, I would stop being a snub about it. You have a bad rep yourself of being promiscuous, which I know is untrue."
Ruth then turned away, leaving Beverly to stare at the air. She didn't realize this, but Beverly watched her go. She saw the scrapes on Ruth's elbows, sickened from the sight. Beverly gulps tightly then started for the counter. She walks down the aisle where Ruth stopped to get herself a package of gauze pads, ointment, peroxide, and wrapping. Beverly watched her for a moment, noticing that Ruth is grabbing the cheaper kind. She even saw the vacant look in Ruth's eyes. Beverly wanted to say something at that point but thought the better of it.
Ruth saw Beverly pausing near the end of the aisle. She glances over to see Beverly with a conflicted expression as if second-guessing her dismissal towards her. Ruth is not going to hold onto hope, though. She gathered what she needed, then brushed past Beverly. Ruth even snatched a box of cracker jacks. She's hungry and needs to eat.
She approached the counter where Mr. Keene should be. From behind her, she can hear the door open. Ruth glances over her shoulder to see Bill Denbrough, Eddie Kasprak, and her crush Stanley Uris enter the drugstore.
They noticed her, too. They gaped at first before scowling. Well, one of them did, which is Eddie. Bill seemed expressionless or maybe thoughtful. Ruth couldn't tell. However, Stan eyed Ruth from where he stood with a flush of pink on his cheeks and gulped. He even wets his lips before a ghost of a smirk spread on his lips. Stan tries to look away but couldn't take his eyes off Ruth.
Ruth felt a light flutter in her stomach. She glances away, pressing her lips, and smiles gently. Ruth looks back over at him and winks. His blush deepens, where he then turned away, fidgeting with his fingers. He has a grin on his face as Stan stared at the medical supplies.
"Dude, what's the matter with you?" Ruth heard Eddie question him.
Stanley is startled when Eddie touches his shoulder. He tried to speak, but it came out as "um, uh blah."
Ruth knowingly smirks, color gracing her nose and cheeks.
Okay, Stanley really is a cutie, Ruth thought to herself.
Not paying attention, Mr. Keene came out from the back and started ringing her things.
"Good afternoon, Ruth," Mr. Keene began.
Startled, Ruth looks at him, failing to hide her smile. "Good afternoon, Mr. Keene."
"And what are you smiling about, little lady? It's not every day I see a smile on your face, Ruth. You should do it more often. It looks good on you."
Ruth's grin widens, and blush brightens.
"Thank you, Mr. Keene.
He would have said more if his eyes hadn't landed her scrapes. "Goodness gracious, how on earth did you get those ugly scrapes?"
"I tripped and fell on the road. Nearly got killed, too."
"Oh, flirting with death, I see." He grins.
"It's hard not to when you have Henry Bowers and his lummox buddies around."
Mr. Keene chuckles, amused. "Lummox, good word use there, Ruth. I swear, that boy is flirting with danger himself. You just so happen to be that danger."
Ruth knew this to be true. She is dangerous. If she allowed anyone to get near her, which Ruth doesn't follow completely, they are sure to get hurt. Not by her, by Jordan and Jonathan. No one knows how ruthless they can be.
"I know," she replies stiffly.
Once Mr. Keene was done, he told her the amount, "Alright, that will be $10.39."
Unfortunately, Ruth doesn't have enough money to get everything. She frowns sadly at the cash in her hand, then at her items.
"Damnit, I don't have enough. Just take off the cracker jacks. I need medical supplies more than sugar-coated popcorn."
Mr. Keene watched her through the brim of his spectacles. "Are you sure?"
Ruth ignores the growl of her stomach. "Yes, I'm sure."
He eyes her still, catching the rumble in her stomach. Mr. Keene does take the cracker jacks off the receipt but places them within her bag without hesitation.
"Mr. Keene?" Ruth questions awed.
"They are free of charge," he says simply with a wink.
She struggled at first but found her voice. "Are, are you sure?"
"It's tough to ignore a rumbling stomach. Especially when you look like you haven't eaten anything in a couple of days. Besides, what's losing fifty cents or two going to do? I'm not going to go bankrupt."
Ruth gapped, blinking furiously. "That's very kind of you, Mr. Keene. Thank you."
Mr. Keene smiles brightly. "Your welcome, Ruth."
Ruth mirrors his smile.
"Have a good day now. And I didn't see you take another one."
She stared for a moment, untrustingly.
"It's okay, Ruth. Go ahead and take one more. You could use it." He winks at her again.
Ever since he could remember, Ruth rarely came in here. The only time she ever did was when the girl needed supplies. He slowly started to realize that Ruth needed them for herself. For the past year or so, Ruth came in more often than he liked. He wondered if it had anything to do with the Bowers boy. That is not the case. Today, Mr. Keene noticed the scars on her arms. It's hard for anyone with a dominant right hand to cut themselves. The new bandage at her wrist is evidence enough.
Mr. Keene always liked the bright child. She is intelligent, observant, and a sweetheart even has a backbone. And the whole damn town is against her for one lame reason? Her mother, Jordan, is, in fact, the town whore. He knows the woman slept with a lot of men. But to treat a child so wrongfully because of an adult's immature decisions is barbaric. Someone should show her how to be a better mother. Or perhaps have Jordan disappear off the face of the earth.
Nonetheless, the woman is still here, and Ruth is being mistreated because of it. In his opinion, fourteen years is long enough. The lifelessness in Ruth's eyes is another indicator that she deserves fairness. It's about time he and the other citizens of Derry start showing kindness.
Ruth warily smiles at him, then turned away. She has a slight pep in her step now, which made him smile. She does take a second box, which Mr. Keene doesn't say a word. Ruth brushes past an astonished Beverly and towards the gaping boys.
Be careful, Ruth, Mr. Keene thought to himself. He then directed his attention to Beverly.
Stan watched Ruth come in their direction. The shopping bag swayed gently at Ruth's side while she carried her books in the crook of her arm. He noticed Ruth seemed particularly ravishing today. Stan is wondering if it has anything to do with Mr. Keene's generosity. Or if Ruth's smile is different when she saw him. Stanley Uris always liked Ruth. He probably has a small crush on her, too. Stan saw her in the halls at school several years ago. Every time he saw her, Stan smiles. He grins shyly whenever Ruth wears her favorite lavender blouse. Any shade of purple is marvelous against her skin, which also makes her eyes pop. Today is no exception. Her mauve button-down blouse enhanced the gold flecks in her earthy jeweled eyes.
It's hard talking to her at times, too. Stan gets tongue-tied whenever Ruth comes around. He especially has a difficult time speaking up for her. The negative remarks and dirty expressions infuriate him. When he does stick up for her, his friends remind him he shouldn't get close. Stanley always wondered why. It's getting to the point that he desperately needs to know. He's noticed something about Ruth that sticks out like a sore thumb. The lack of life in her gaze. The poor girl never shows a genuine smile. A fake one or maybe an amused smirk, but never the real Ruth smile. She hardly ever laughs either. It saddens his heart, really. Ruth doesn't have anyone to draw it out of her.
Maybe, it's time I start stepping up, Stan thought to himself. He inwardly puffs his chest, ready for any challenge to come his way.
I got this, he inwardly grins.
"Hey, Stanley," Ruth calls sweetly, smirking.
And, there it goes. Stanley deflates his palms, sweat, and stammers. "Uh, um blah."
Eddie and Bill notice their friend's nervous blabbering. Bill pressed his lips to keep from smile but chuckled silently while Eddie rolled his eyes.
"For Christ's sake, Stan, get a hold of yourself. She's not that pretty." Eddie snips.
Although it is a lie. There are times when Eddie feels a little intimidated himself. Not all the time, though. He only gets fidgety whenever Ruth wears her neon green top. Her hair seems brighter and shows off the copper undertones. Today, the mauve enhanced her eyes. The natural pink in her lips appeared redder as well. There's a lot of things that accented Ruth's natural beauty today.
Eddie glances over his shoulder slightly at her. Ruth rightfully glared at him because his comment was unnecessary. He knew that. She may be angry at him, but Ruth did look rather lovely today. He quickly glanced away once Eddie felt a hint of heat on his cheeks.
From the corner of his eye, Eddie saw the scrapes. Her left elbow has a shard of glass and is lightly bleeding. He should say something but opted not to. Eddie doesn't want to get pulled into Ruth's problems with Henry Bowers. How does he know Ruth got the injury? Ruth has a tendency to trip and hurt herself whenever she runs into her rumored boyfriend. Is it true? Eddie doesn't think so. It's something Betty Ripsom started long before she went missing. Nonetheless, he has to keep his distance from her.
"Hi, Dr. K. Shall I schedule an appointment to get your mouth and brain checked?"
Eddie frowns. He glances back at her, mildly annoyed. "Sorry, Ruth."
He would have said more if Ruth hadn't directed her attention to someone else.
"Hey, Bill," Ruth greeted him and with a friendly smile.
Bill gave her an acknowledging nod and timid smirk. "Hi," he spoke clearly for once.
Ruth smirked at him and flashed him a wink.
"Um uh, hi, Ruth." Stan finally uttered, pink gracing his cheeks and nose.
He glances down at her bag, seeing the medical supplies. "Oh, are you hurt?"
Ruth forced a smile. "Yeah, unfortunately. I need to get it cleaned up before heading home."
"Do you need some help?" Stan inquires gently, watching her yet hopeful.
She is taken aback by his offer and is considering rejecting his aid. She did so to Mike, but something told her to not turn him away. So, Ruth accepted the offer.
"Yeah, I could use a hand."
Stan perks, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. "Great, here, let me take that for you."
Stan promptly takes the bag and shows Ruth out. He even opens the door for her.
Eddie and Bill watched the two. They noticed Ruth is getting taller since she is an inch shorter than Stan. If she got any taller, Ruth would stand the same height as Henry Bowers.
Eddie shook his head in disbelief. "Jeez, that love-struck idiot is going to get himself killed. Come on, let's get what we need and get on out of here."
Bill struggled to say what he wanted, but Eddie got the hint.
"Yank Stanley off the Bastard Kid. Yeah, I agree with you on that one."
He turned to the shelf and grabbed what they needed while Bill watched Ruth and Stan walk side by side, frowning.
It's a little awkward. Ruth and Stan walked side by side, avoiding eye contact but are smiling. Stan is beaming as he stole glances at Ruth, growing hot in the cheeks. He can't control it, even if he tried. Ruth gives him butterflies. After a moment, Stan clears his throat.
"So, uh, got any plans this summer?" Stan asks, hoping to have an actual conversation with her.
"A whole lot of nothing. I'll probably be reading most of the time," she pauses for a moment. "Or writing and drawing. I haven't done much of both lately. So, I'm hoping inspiration will find me or take up a new hobby like photography. I'm even going to learn a second language while on Summer Break."
"Really? What would you interested in learning? I can see you speaking French."
"No, not French. I'm going to learn Swedish and then maybe German."
"Oh, uh, why those two?"
"I'm not sure why. I think I may have some German or even Swedish roots since my given name can be used in those countries."
"Oh, I didn't know that. I've always wanted to tell you that your artwork is magnificent, Ruth. You should look for some art competitions. I can help you look for some, if you like, of course."
Ruth grew red in the cheeks, suppressing a smirk. "Thank you, Stanley. You do know, we're not supposed to be anywhere near each other, right?"
"I know. I just wanted," Stan stops to clear his throat. "You know, talk with you outside of school. I've been too much of a cluck to say anything."
He inwardly cringes, feeling stupid for saying the wrong thing. Damnit!
Stan hears Ruth chuckle. Hey, I made her laugh, sort of.
"A cluck? Don't you mean a chicken, Stanley?" Ruth asks sweetly.
He glances at her now, seeing Ruth staring at him with a bashful smirk.
"Uh, uh yeah, a chicken," Stan clears his throat again, blushing.
"So um, what are you doing tomorrow? We are planning on_."
Stan is interrupted when a voice spoke over him.
"Yo! Stanley Boy, what are you doing? You're not supposed to be anywhere near The Bastard Kid, remember?" Richie Tozier half screeched, half hollered.
Stan opens his mouth to defend himself, but Ruth had interjected.
"Oh, put a sock in it, Trash Mouth," she bit in annoyance.
Richie's back straightened, scowling. "Shut up, you freaking gnat. You didn't answer my question, Stan. What are you doing?"
"We're talking and," Stan glances at Ruth's arms. He eyes her injury, sadly frowning. "I'm helping her with the scrapes on her elblows, uh elbows."
Ruth snorts at him for saying it wrong.
"She can do it herself. Jeez, do you want to get killed, man?"
"You know what. Keep your mouth shut, Rich. It doesn't hurt to be nice. Come on, Ruth, right over here." Stan quickly defends then showed her to the opposite wall.
He had her sit down on a crate and pulled out the supplies she bought. Stan accidentally yanked the girly product out just enough for Richie to see but is quick to shove it back in the bag with a bright blush.
Richie couldn't help himself in making a comment.
"Yeah, plug it up, BK."
Instead of scowling like Richie kind of expected, Ruth snorts and chuckles at the reference.
He may not get along with her, but Richie knows Ruth enjoys a good horror joke or pun. Hell, he even knows Ruth has a sense of humor. Richie saw her plant a fake snake in Eddie's backpack. He would have said something but decided against it. He wanted to see Eddie's reaction, which Richie was not disappointed. Eddie shrieked so loud and was high pitched, Richie thought Eddie turned into a girl from the fright. He died laughing and almost fell out of his chair because of Ruth's scare on him. Yeah, he told on her. However, if he was given an extra second, Richie would have said it was his idea and not entirely Ruth's. Both of them would have gone to the principal's office and not just her. He kind of hates it, too. If Jordon hadn't threatened him in staying away from Ruth on the first day of school, he and she would have been good friends.
Maybe some things are not meant to be.
Richie silently watched Stan pull out the medical supplies. At the same time, Ruth looked across the way. She avoids Richie's eyes to see Ben, who is in rough shape.
"Oh my god, Ben! What happened?"
She is quick to leave Stan's side to assess Ben's injuries up close. Ruth did not like the looks of the cut on his stomach. Ben's bloody nose sickened her, too. She made to lift his shirt to get a better look, but her hand was politely moved away.
"It's okay, really. It doesn't hurt that much."
"You need medical attention, Ben. The cut is going to get infected. Stan, instead of patching up my arms, let me use what I bought to tend to his injuries."
Stan opened his mouth to argue, but Richie intervened and kindly touched her shoulder.
"Hey, it's alright BK, Eddie and Bill are getting the supplies they need to fix him. So, just step back."
Ruth stares at him then over at Stan for confirmation.
"It's true, Ruth. That's why Bill, Eddie, and I were in the drugstore. They should be back out here in a minute or so. Now let me tend to your arms."
She eyed him for a moment, then back at Ben.
"It's okay. Thanks for your concern, though."
She is reluctant, but Ruth returned to Stan's side. She sat hunched while watching Ben with worry etched on her features.
"Just so know, it was Mullet Brain Henry Bowers that beat him up," Richie told her.
Ruth's eyes narrowed, and back stiffened.
"Henry did that to you?"
Ben nods.
Her lips pursed tightly and glowered at the injuries upon Ben. Ruth can feel this bubbling rage in the pit of her stomach, and fingers twitched to slug the psychopath.
"Simmer down, BK. Don't blow up like Krakatoa over there."
Ruth snapped her gaze on Richie, causing the boy to back up one. She returns to look Ben in the eye.
"I don't care if I get shit from his father, but the next time I see Henry, I will make sure to roughen him up like he did you. I know he likes to harass you but what Henry did is unacceptable."
Ben stared at her from the seriousness in her voice but nodded appreciatively and with a smirk. He noticed from afar the piece of glass in her arm.
"You have a piece of glass in your arm."
Ruth blinks herself out of her anger to look at her arm.
"Ha, well, look at that. I didn't even know that it was there. Nice catch, Hawk-eye."
He doesn't reply, only kept his mouth shut and lightly blushed.
"You should yank it out and watch blood squirt out like a stream of pee." Richie jokes.
Ruth scuffs. "Only you would think that."
Stan braved himself to pull it out and dapped the blood away. He doesn't say much as Stan focused his attention on cleaning the wounds.
Around this time, Bill and Eddie arrive as promised and with non-bagged medical supplies on the ground. Eddie glances over at Ruth, finding Stan there as well.
"Christ, Stan. Are you looking to die?"
Stan glances up sharply. "What? I'm helping Ruth."
"Yeah, I see that. I'm not blind, you know. Why, though? If that bimbo Jordan saw you, she will have a bird. We're not supposed to be anywhere near her."
"Even I told him that, but this love-struck idiot won't listen."
"I'm just helping Ruth with her scraped arms. She won't be able to do it by herself." Stan argued.
"Yeah, well, I certainly don't want to be put in an early grave because of the Bastard Kid. Why don't you go home and patch yourself up, BK?" Richie snaps.
Ruth answers with a glare, smirking. "Go ahead and keep calling me, BK, Trash Mouth. It's better knowing you're naming me after a fast-food chain."
He goes to retort but thought the better of it. Instead, he turns to ignore Ruth.
It was silent between them for a while. No one glanced over at Ruth while Stan dressed her wounds. Ruth watched Eddie tend to Ben's injuries. She feels horrible that Ben got beaten up by Henry.
"I really am sorry Henry hurt you the way he did. Like I said earlier, I will pay him back really good."
Ben acknowledged her and smiled appreciatively, the red in his cheeks deepening. She mirrors with a wink.
"Oh sure, be nice towards him and not me," Richie snapped.
"The day I show a lick of kindness towards you is when you stop referring to me by that, asshat." She bit.
"Yeah, that will happen once hell freezes over, butt monkey."
"Twatwaffle," Ruth bit with a smirk.
"Shithead!"
"Rumpleforeskin."
The four other boys silently snicker.
Richie opened his mouth to retort but couldn't come up with another name. Instead, he turns to ignore Ruth again.
It was silent for a bit between them. Probably for the better, anyway.
Ruth sniffles lightly from dust, irritating her nose. When she did, an unpleasant odor rafts her nostrils. Her features scrunched and looked towards the source. The smell is coming from Richie.
"Jeez, Rich, why do you smell like the city of Derry?"
"Huh?" He pivots sharply, confusion contorting his features.
"You smell like you've been rooting around in the sewers, Gray Water."
"Have not!"
There was a slight snicker from Stan. He stops, though, when Richie glared at him.
"Um, yeah, we were. You, along with Bill, went into one of the sewer pipes. I didn't want to go in because I feared I would get a staph infection." Eddie replies, not looking in Ruth's direction as he concentrated on bandaging Ben.
"The only way you will get a staph infection is if you have an open and unclean cut, Twitchy."
His back stiffens, straightening himself. Eddie snaps his gaze on her with a scowl.
"Excuse me? Twitchy?"
"Ow!" Ben hollers. Eddie accidentally squeezed him.
"Oops, sorry, man, and don't call me "Twitchy," Bastard Kid." Eddie snaps at Ruth.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I call you something that you don't like?" Ruth sarcastically bit.
Richie growls, growing impatient. "God, will you just shut up? I swear you are so fucking annoying."
"And you're not, Gray Water?"
He snarls. "Argh! You know what? Why can't you be like the other kids and just disappear already?" Richie snaps venomously.
"Richie!" Stan yells.
Ruth grew silent as she sat beside him. She glares hardly at Richie with an angry frown then heaves a heavy breath before glancing away. Ruth stares out to the street, now wishing the truck bulldozed over her. She didn't think that would hurt this much. Instead of reaching out to someone for help, she should just vanish. Ruth wants to cry, but tears will only show weakness. She feels their scrutinizing gaze on her, making Ruth feel even more alienated. It's unbearable, too.
I wish, Ruth thought to herself.
"Are you almost done?" She asks Stan, not looking at him.
He watches her guiltily. "I'm just about finished. I'm sorry about_."
"Don't apologize for him, Stanley. He should be a big boy and do it himself." Ruth glared at Richie as Stan continued to dress her arm.
Richie doesn't respond. Ben remains silent, along with Eddie, as neither wanted to get in the middle of it. Bill seems sympathetic and looked as if he wanted to say something.
He opened his mouth to say something, but Stan talked over him.
"Earlier, before Richie interrupted me, I wanted to ask you something."
"What would that be?"
Stanley breathed deeply, readying himself for an upset Richie. "We're going to the quarry tomorrow. I was wondering if you wanted to join us?"
Ruth stares in astonishment, and warmth enveloped her heart from his invitation. She shyly frowns as a deep red swept along the bridge of her bridge. Ruth opens her mouth to answer when Richie butts in.
"No, hell, no! Are you out of your fucking mind? You can't invite her to come with us?"
Stan glanced at him, his eyes narrowing. "Uh, yes, I can, and I just did."
"Dude, did you forget that we can't be around her? Resend your invitation!"
"No, I didn't forget, and I'm not taking it back."
"Stanley, we can't have her join us in anything we do, ever. She's a danger to all of us. Besides, Bill invited Beverly Marsh to come." Eddie chimed sternly.
"Does it look like I really care? I_."
"It's okay, Stanley," Ruth urged lightly.
She softly laid her hand on his shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"But," Stan tried to talk, only to be stopped.
"I really appreciate you sticking up for me, Stanley. I really do. But they are right." Ruth sadly admits.
"Ruth," pleads Stan.
"It's sweet of you to invite me, but I can't. Besides, the boys don't want me around. I don't want to put a strain on your friendships." Ruth replies gently with a sad smile.
"Look, I got to go. Maybe, I'll see you around. I'm thinking about going to the fair anyway, so I might see you there. If Jordan or Jonathan allows me, that is."
She quickly stood while grabbing her things. Ruth flashes him a kind, sad smile.
"It was nice talking to you, though. Goodbye, Stanley."
Stan dejectedly nods, understanding the rejection. He watches her leave, the bandages on her arms ideally in place. Stan inwardly grins at his work, yet sadly smiles at her retreating form. He asked because Stan can tell Ruth desperately needs a friend or two. Stan wanted to be there for her. The scars on her arms is an indicator that things are not what they seem. Ruth is in trouble. Something he had known for a while now. Stan wants to get to the bottom of it and turn things around for her.
From around the corner, someone listened in on their conversation. They looked in at the teenage boys with a scowl, then watched Ruth retreat down the sidewalk, crying.
They quickly follow after her.