AN - Sorry I've been gone and the fact this chapter is short doesn't make up for it, but I plan on hopefully updating later this week with a longer chapter.
But here's a bit of fluff to try and make up for it.
"No!", mumbled Nora. As much as she struggled under the weight of Bowers, she couldn't help but cringe at the sight of him on top of her. It felt dirty and wrong. She knew how sex worked, but this was wrong. It's not like he wanted her for that anyway; he wanted to scar her for life... literally.
Staring into his eyes made her even more uncomfortable. For the light in his seemed to have faded as he moved his knife against her stomach. Like he was teasing her before he actually caused some damage.
He smirked.
Stan didn't have much luck either. Belch nearly dislocated his arm from him pulling so hard. Even when he received a blow against the side of his head, he couldn't stop trying to break free. Sure, he had heard and seen some of the "tamed" deeds Bowers had done over the years. But nothing like this. And Stan would rather die than see one of his friends bleeding to death. Glaring at Bowers, he couldn't help but continue to struggle harder. "If you hurt her..."
"Shut the fuck up", yelled Henry, glaring at Stan.
As soon as he was distracted, Nora built up all the strength she could and punched Henry, causing him to stumble backwards. He dropped the knife somewhere, nobody knew exactly where. All they heard was the clink, clink, clink.
Figuring it was best to act first, Stan elbowed Belch in his flab and did a football players move on Henry and hurtled him to the ground so that he was off of Nora. She however, scrambled to her feet and ran over to the skinny boy pounding on Bowers like he had imagined so many times in his head. Never would he have thought he could actually do it; he never had a reason to... until now.
"Stan! Stan!", yelled Nora, hoping to get away before Vic or Belch helped their friend out.
He managed to get one more punch in before he was pried off the bleeding boy. The blood mostly came from his nose.
"Stan! Come on!", she yelled, pulling him away.
Continuing to pant and regain his focus, Stan's blind fury disappeared as he looked at the girl, who for a mere moment looked afraid of him. But he would never hurt her... ever.
The two broke into a run; he planned to retrieve his bike in the morning.
Finally making it to the Tozier household, the friends were silent. In the dusty streetlight, they could barely see each other. But it was still evident that there was blood on Stan's face. Not his own of course.
Since he was taller than her, Nora stood on one of the front porch steps so she was at his height, but only just. She enjoyed the fact he was close, close enough touch.
"So, thanks. You know, back there", she started. She noticed the crickets chirping. It was better than silence at this point.
"Yeah, it was nothing", said Stan as he tried to ignore the pain in his hands. "I'm just glad he didn't cut you up."
"Yeah..."
It might have been the heat of everything that happened or it could be that Nora wanted to show she was thankful rather than just saying it.
Her parents never kissed each other anymore, not like they used to. So she wasn't quite sure when the right moment to do it was.
Without hesitation, she grabbed his shoulders and meant to peck his cheek. Stan however must have been thinking the same. For he aimed for her cheek, but their actions ultimately resulted in the two kissing each other on the lips.
Quickly pulling apart, Stan and Nora stared at each other in shock. After a minute of awkward silence, both smiled.
"So, I'll see you tomorrow?", asked Stan.
"Sure", said Nora, smiling. "Will you be okay?"
"Definitely."
Once they said their goodbyes, Nora entered the house and locked the door behind her. She leaned against the frame as she smiled like an idiot.
Thank God her family couldn't see her, especially Richie. She was happy her "crush" maybe felt the same for her. This meant she didn't have to be as beautiful or as slutty as Marsh to get someone she liked to like her back...