A/N: Hello, everyone! I hope you are all having a good week and enjoying the story so far. So far, I have three later chapters completely written out. Plus, I'm working on an alternative ending that will make more sense than what I had originally. Other than that, everything should be smooth sailing as I have all 19, possibly 20 chapters plotted out. :D
Anyway, 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 tell already that it will. How long it will take to be a real problem is unknown. The ramifications are surely to 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 and cute, 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, but longer. It took her a moment, but Ruth realized it is Beverly Marsh.
Oh, great, she drones to herself.
Beverly enters the drugstore. Ruth was right behind her. Beverly doesn't acknowledge the fact that Ruth slipped in her, 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.
"Oh," was the only thing that Beverly said.
Ruth doesn't say anything, just scans her eyes on the products in front of her.
"Are you following me or something, Greyson?" Beverly questioned tightly.
"Hardly. I just so happened had to come here, too, Marsh. So, I am not stalking you."
Ruth makes an 'aha' sound then reaches for what she needed. "So, you know," Ruth starts holding the package for Beverly to see.
"These are better than any other brand."
Beverly glances at the box of tampons then at Ruth. "How so?"
"It doesn't feel like you are wedging a saggy diaper up there," Ruth replies dryly without missing a beat.
She couldn't help it, Beverly snorts lightly laughing. "I'll take your word for it."
Ruth inwardly grins. She made Beverly Marsh laugh. She glances over at the girl, her eyes landing on the bruise on Beverly's neck. Ruth's gaze hardens, her lips tighten. With a steady breath, Ruth decides to say something. She can only hope that Beverly won't turn a cold shoulder.
"Your father gave you that bruise, didn't he?"
Beverly grew rigid, her jaw squaring. She doesn't make eye contact with Ruth, only stares at the shelf of feminine products. Beverly takes the box Ruth recommended. She also doesn't say another word to Ruth. She begins to turn away, avoiding Ruth.
"We're a lot alike, Beverly. I know what you are going through." Ruth replies, solemnly.
"You don't know a damn thing, Greyson." Beverly quipped.
"You don't think I do?"
"No, you don't. Now stay away from me. I'm not supposed to be near you, to begin with."
Ruth's chest constricts, her throat tightening. She breathes heavily, fighting back angry tears.
"Right," Ruth consented.
She quickly walks away. Ruth stops, though, glaring over her shoulder at Beverly.
"I do know what you are going through, Beverly Marsh. If I were you, I would stop being such 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 watched from the corner of her eye Beverly pausing near the end of the aisle. She has this 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, impatiently waiting. From behind her, she can hear the door open. Ruth glances over her shoulder to see Bill Denbrough, Eddie Kasprak and Stanley Uris. They saw her, too, gapping at first before scowling. Well two of them did. Stan eyed Ruth from where he stood. Ruth saw a flush of pink on his cheeks who gulped harshly. 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 flutter in her stomach. She glances away, pressing her lips and smiles gently. Ruth looks back over at him and shoots him a wink. His blush deepens where he then wholly turned away, fidgeting with his fingers. He has a grin on his face as Stan stared at the medical supplies.
"Dude, what's wrong with you?" Ruth heard Eddie question him.
Stanley is startled when Eddie touches his shoulder. He tried to speak, but it came out as "uh blah."
Ruth coyly smirks, color gracing her nose and cheeks. Okay, Stan is a cutie.
Not paying attention, Mr. Keene came out from the back and started ringing her things.
"Good afternoon, Miss Greyson," Mr. Keene began.
Startled, Ruth looks at him, fighting to hide her shy smirk. "Good afternoon, Mr. Keene."
He eyeballs Ruth, noticing her scrapes. "How did you get those ugly scrapes there?"
"Tripped and fell in 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, Miss Greyson."
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, "$6.22." *
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. "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.
"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 smart, observant and a sweetheart. Ruth 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; 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 on 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 as her eyes even pop. Today is no exception. Her mauve button-down blouse enhanced the gold flecks in her beautiful hazel 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 an amused smirk maybe, 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, uh blah."
Eddie and Bill notice their friend's nervous blabbering. Bill stares in annoyance while Eddie rolls his eyes.
"Christ, 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. There's a lot of things that accented Ruth's natural beauty today.
Eddie glances over his shoulder slightly at her. Ruth is glaring at him, rightfully so. His comment was unnecessary, Eddie knew that. She may be angry at him, but Ruth did look rather lovely today. He quickly glanced away once Eddie felt a hint heat on his cheeks.
From the corner of his eye, Eddie saw the scrapes. Her left elbow has a shard of glass, 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 that Betty Ripsom said long before she went missing. Nonetheless, he has to keep his distance from her.
"Hi, Dr. K. Are you stocking up for your doctor's office?"
Eddie frowns. He glances back at her, annoyed. "No. Why don't you take a hike?"
"Oh, ouch," Ruth sarcastically drones. "Nice comeback, chipmunk."
He scowls before opening his mouth to retort but didn't get the chance.
"Hi, Bill," Ruth directed her attention on him now.
Bill gave her an acknowledging nod. "Hi," he struggled.
"Um uh, hi Ruth." Stan finally uttered, pink gracing his cheeks and nose.
He glances down at her bag, seeing the medical supplies. "Uh, are you hurt?"
Ruth forced a smile. "Unfortunately. I need to get it cleaned up before heading home."
"Um, do, do you need some help?" Stan inquires gently, watching her yet hopeful.
She is taken aback by his offer and is considering in rejecting his aid. She did so to Mike. But something told her to not turn him away. So, Ruth accepted the offer.
"Yeah, yeah I could use a hand."
Stan perks, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. "Great, uh 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. "Christ, he's going to get himself killed. Come on, let's get what we need and get out of here."
"And, and, and p, p, pull," Bill struggled.
"Yank Stanley off the Bastard Kid. Yeah, I agree with you on that one."
He turned to the shelf and grabbed what they needed.
It's a little awkward. Ruth and Stan walked side by side, both avoiding eye contact, but they are smiling, though. Stan is beaming as he stole glances at Ruth, growing hot in the cheeks. Its something he can't control, even if he tried. Ruth gives him butterflies. After a moment though, 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 draw. I haven't done much lately. So, I'm hoping inspiration will find me."
"Your artwork is magnificent, Ruth. You should, you know, look for some art contests. I can help you look for some, if you like, of course."
Ruth grew red in the cheeks, suppressing a smirk. "Th, thank you, Stanley. You do know, I'm not supposed to be near you or you near me."
"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 equally.
"Uh, uh yeah, a chicken," Stan clears his throat again, blushing.
"So um, what are you doing tomorrow? We are planning on going to the quarry. Would you_?"
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, shut up 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?"
"Talking and," Stan glances at Ruth's arms. He eyes her injury, sadly frowning. "I'm helping her with the scrapes on her elbows."
"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 chose to keep his mouth shut about the girly product.
While Stan pulled out the stuff, Ruth looked across the way. Her eyes instantly land on Ben, who is in rough shape. "My God, Ben, what happened to you?"
Ben goes to answer, but Richie butts in. "Your boyfriend is what happened, BK. You need to put that mutt on a leash."
Ben's eyes widen, staring over at her. "Boyfriend?"
Ruth scuffs, "Henry Bowers is not my boyfriend, Ben. The lummox has a strange attraction towards me, and that's it. I wouldn't want to date a bully like him anyway. Or you, Trash Mouth." She adds.
Richie sticks out his tongue at her with a vicious glare.
"Very mature. I thought I warned you about Henry."
"You did, I just forgot," Ben answers promptly.
Ben noticed from afar the piece of glass in her arm. "You have a piece of glass in your arm."
Ruth blinks, turning her arm to look. "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 with a glare.
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. They came up to Ben and set 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, dude."
"I told him that! But this love-struck idiot won't listen to me. 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 sharply 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.
Him forgetting must have been when he was in a fright, she thought to herself.
Of course, Ruth didn't want to assume. Instead, she figured asking. "How did you end up forgetting my warning, Ben? Was it because of the fright you were in back at the library?"
Ben acknowledged her, timidly nodding his head. Richie caught it.
"He was scared because you were there, Bastard Kid."
She ignores him. "I ran into him, as well. Henceforth the scrapes. Mostly because I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings. He said they were chasing after you. Had I known they beat you up as they did, I would have done a whole lot more than kneeing him in the jewels."
Ben eyed her for a moment before smiling appreciatively. She mirrors with a wink.
"Oh sure, be nice towards him and not me, Bastard Kid." Richie snapped.
"The day I show kindness to 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, couldn't come up with another name. Instead, he turns sharply to ignore Ruth again. It was silent for a bit between them. Probably for the better, anyway. Ruth sniffles lightly, 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!" He barks.
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 knew 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, scowling.
"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 sat beside him, silent. 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 silently glances at the others, finding their gazes, not on her. They look irked. Her jaw sets, that feeling of alienation becoming unbearable.
I wish, Ruth thought to herself.
"Are you almost done?" She asks Stan, not looking at him.
He watches her guiltily. "Just about finished. I'm so_."
"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. Bill and Ben remained silent, along with Eddie. Neither of them wanted to get in the middle of it. They do, however, stare at Ruth distastefully. She turns away, waiting impatiently for Stan to finish patching her up. As she sat in silence, an unusual chill runs along her spine. It felt like a prickle. It went from the small of her back all the way down to her toes. The tips growing cold every passing second. Ruth then shivered, jumping slightly from this bitter cold.
"You okay?" Stan asked.
"Hmm, oh yeah, fine. Just had a chill." Ruth answers, rubbing her arm.
He watched her curiously for a moment before continuing his task. "Earlier, before Richie interrupted me, I wanted to ask you something."
"Did you now? 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, astonished. Warmth enveloped her heart from his invitation, touched. She smiles, a deep red swept along the bridge of her bridge. Ruth opens her mouth to answer when Richie butts in.
"No, hell no, 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 festival anyway, so I might see you there. If Jonathan allows me, that is."
She stood then, grabbing her things. Ruth shoots 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.
A/N:
Average the year It was published, 1986 and is Stephen King's 22 novel.