AN: Howdy, partners. Sorry for the long wait. It's been over a week! Ah! School is a struggle. I feel like this excuse is used a whole bunch of times but it's legit. I'll try my best to update more, though it isn't guaranteed.

I don't own the Slenderman. That's as simple as it gets. As Andrea says, "Period. End quote."

Reviews are beauty and art and perfection and love and joy and happiness and rainbows and glitter and unicorns. Mashed all together. So if you can, please leave a review! Thanks c:

Chapter 11

After Slenderman dropped me off at my backyard, I ran through the front door, remembering that I didn't even bother to lock it. Looks like my mother didn't either, so I went in the house and rushed up the stairs. Was she in my room? When I got there, I called out for her.

"Heather? Are you here?"

No answer. Maybe she went somewhere else. That's what I thought until I heard a tap. I turned to its general direction and found that it was coming from my window. Tap. There it is again. I went over to my window and opened it to have a pebble hit me on my forehead.

"Ow."

"Andrea!"

My eyes got big at the familiar voice. It was Heather's. I scanned the yard below me. I couldn't see anyone, so maybe it was my imagination. But the pebble definitely wasn't my imagination; it's on the windowsill right now. I check again to see if I can find her.

"Andrea, over here!"

That's when I focus on the shed, and with the door open a crack, I see a hazel eye peeking out with some blond hairs loose. Not believing my eyes, I rub them before looking again. It's really Heather! I signal for her to hold on while I dash down the staircase. Skipping a step here and there, I jump to the bottom and ran for the back door. Once in my backyard, I go in the shed to see my once gone friend, Heather. We stare at each other for a minute, not believing our eyes, until we snap out of it and hug each other. This time, it's tears of joy that fill up my eyes.

"Heather the Feather!"

"Andrea, queen of the Himalaya!"

We laughed a little at what we called ourselves before. Speaking of which, why did she run away? She doesn't even know my situation either, now that I think about it. I have confided to her all my secrets, and she did the same with me. So I secretly told her about my parents, about how they fought and how worried I was for them. She left, though, before the divorce. When we break away from the hug, I look around my surroundings, as if there were an eavesdropper nearby. Then, I turn to Heather.

"Heather, you're going to have to go to my room. And without my mom seeing you. I still don't know how she's going to react."

"But you're mom is really cool! Why would she have a problem?"

"Um… I'll explain to you. But once we get in my room. Let me check if the coast is clear, then you can follow me, okay?"

"Uh, sure."

I go to the back door, and opening it, I peek in the living room. I see my mother on the old couch. Leaning in a bit more, I see that she has fallen asleep, her soft breathing reaching my ears. I signal Heather to follow me, and then we go up the stairs. I would have laughed at how we looked if we weren't trying to be so quiet. We were acting so secretive; the Mission Impossible tune could have been playing in the background. When we get to my room, she takes a look around while I plop on my bed. Satisfied with what she saw, she turns to me with a look of questioning in her face.

"So, what was going on when I left?"

"A lot of things. You may want to sit down for this."

"Pretty severe stuff, huh?"

"That and I'm gonna take a while to tell you everything."

I motion to a spot next to me on my bed. She complies and sits down, ready to absorb whatever I would tell her. I take a deep breath before telling her everything. And I mean everything. Well, except for Slenderman, I'll tell her that part later. But for now I'm telling her about the fights, the screaming, and most of all, the divorce. I tell her about my dad leaving and my mom's depression. By the time I reach the news of the baby and its plotted murder, I'm slurring the words and I'm kind of mispronouncing them too. Not to mention my voice is starting to get sore. I finish off with a period and an end quote. Heather stares at me for a while, and sits there, her brain going on an overload of information. She opens her mouth to say something, but keeps it open, and looks unsure of what to tell me. Until her voice creaks out one word.

"Wow."

Wow indeed.

"I told you that you have to sit down."

"I really wasn't expecting anything like that."

"Expect the unexpected."

She nods at my statement before gazing out my window. Her face contorts to one of confusion and curiosity. Heather leans in closer, and peers at something. Apparently curiosity is contagious, because now I'm leaning in too, playing a game of I Spy. Until I see it. Or I should say "him". Behind a tree, hidden by the shade, at a neighbor's yard is the man of the woods himself. What is he even doing here? Does he want to give Heather a heart attack? I almost facepalm at that thought. Heather never gets scared. Some might call it stupidity, but I saw her as courageous and risk-taking. Well, she was my first friend, so I may be a little biased. Only a little. But back to Slenderman, what was he doing here? I make a face at him that says, "What the heck are ya doin'?"

So I was right. That is Heather.

I was about to yell out loud despite Heather being there until I hear the next message.

Where is Andrea? Shouldn't she be with this friend of hers?

Oh. He doesn't even see me. I gently push Heather out of the way to let him see me. Not only do I send him the look again, but I mouth the words too. The bass chuckle resounds in my mind until he disappears as well. Is this some sort of game? I try to play yet another round of I Spy only to feel Heather tap my shoulder. Lo and behold, there stands Mr. High and Mighty in all his glory. In my room. Not only that, but he has a few tentacles out, waving all around him. I bite my cheek while wondering how Heather is going to take this. I look at her, bracing myself for her reaction. I should have known better. This was Heather, after all.

"Woah! I heard of you! You're that Slenderman dude from the internet!"

The only thing I try to hold back at this point is my laughter. The Almighty Slenderman has been reduced to rubble at her words. One thing caught my attention, though. People already knew about him? Truthfully I haven't been in the Internet much, and that was only to do research for projects my parents assigned me. They emphasized that my studies were very important and that I shouldn't let crap from the Internet ruin it. Which is another reason why I don't have many friends. If I did, then I would have known more about this mysterious man. Enough rambling, what's happening right now is priceless. Slenderman's tentacles stopped waving in his disbelief on her reaction.

What did you call me?

It sounded more like an accusation rather than a question. Nevertheless, my blonde friend was unfazed.

"Calm down tough guy, can't I get excited from seeing you? Geez, you don't have to kill my vibe like that."

I smirk at her statement. Seeing that I was left out, I decided to jump in the conversation.

"Tsk, tsk. You broke one of The Rules Of The Universe."

You're supposed to be on my side.

"Hey, Andrea can be on my side if she wants to be. Wait a minute, you two met before, am I right?"

I confirm Heather's suspicions to be correct. I launch into another lengthy explanation on how I came to know Slenderman. After a while of this I pause.

"Heather, you never said why you were here," I tell her, "Now is the best time to explain."

"Okay, okay," Heather raises her hands in defense as she says this, " I guess I do owe you an explanation. Here I go."

Heather told us that after she moved, a drunk driver hit her mother. She didn't die immediately, but in the hospital she passed away. Her father reacted in anger and took it out on her. He would repeatedly beat her. One day she snapped, and yelled at her father. He said that if she wouldn't comply with him then she shouldn't even be in his house. He kicked her out, and she ran all the way here.

"Now that was the story all about how my life got flipped, turned upside down. The end."

I feel some relief at knowing I'm not the only one with a sad back-story here. Heather still is her cheery self though. Am I? I hope I am, I don't want to be like my mom when she was depressed. No offense, of course. Heather's smile is as bright as ever, not to mention contagious. I'm smiling too, in spite of the severity of her story. Slenderman is just standing there, being his old self. He can't even smile anyway. Heather turns to look at Slenderman.

"Do you have some story to tell? It's your turn being Mother Goose."

Once upon a time I appeared in existence. I had no family that I know of, so I lived in solitude for ages until I met you two peculiar humans. The end.

"Bravo!" Heather cheers and claps, wiping her eyes as if she was crying, "That's such an inspiring story! So emotional, it made me cry! My feels are just pouring out!"

She strikes a dramatic pose, making me giggle a bit. Slenderman would have rolled his eyes if he could have. This is one of the reasons why Heather is an awesome friend. She can make me laugh in the gloomiest of days. And here we are again. Finally good karma decided to shine down on me. As if on cue, the sun shines brighter through my window, now that some clouds moved out of the way. I look back at Slenderman with Heather prancing about, and I wonder what she's up to.

"I have a question!" Heather raises her hand, pointing towards the ceiling, "And you will answer it!"

Not you too.

"Yup, ya better believe it! Okay, this is it!" She strikes yet another pose. "Is it true, Mr. Slender sir, that you stalk little children and suck the souls out of their bodies to consume?"

What kind of question is that?

I don't consume souls. And trust me, it's not limited to little children either.

My curiosity renewed, I listen carefully.

"What exactly do you consume then," Heather the detective asks, "If it's not souls?"

Slenderman hesitates, but he answers.

It's probably time I tell you. I consume fear. Whenever I scare people, I use their fear to sustain me.

"But wait!" Heather pursues, "Is that the only thing you eat?"

It is the only thing I consume.

"Alright, but I know you're hiding something," Heather peers her eyes now, "Do you have urges other than hunger?"

This time, Slender really hesitates, and I'm not even sure if he's going to answer. I'm surprised he answered all her questions. He never wanted to fully answer mine. But whatever, what is Slenderman going to say in response?

No… but that's all you need to know. Don't get into other's businesses.

"Fine. I just wanted to know," Heather says defensively, "No harm done, right?"

Slenderman nods, and now we're standing in silence once again. I hate these awkward silences; the conversation was getting good too. Let's see if I can start it up again.

"So."

"So."

So.

I'll have to work on that.