Hope you'll like this chapter. Enjoy!

Chris's POV.

They couldn't stop talking about that girl.

She was in every conversation since Sunday.

They were starting to annoy Chris. Sometimes he even wondered if staying home would be more pleasant.

Wednesday was their ''adventure day'', as Vern loved to call it. A day where they would go on an adventure and forget about the harsh reality that surrounded them.

The four boys were walking in the forest, not so far from Castle Rock because Vern had to come home sooner today.

''I think she's got beautiful eyes.''

''Fuck off Vern, she just looks like an annoying and rich bitch. We don't need that with us.'' Teddy shouted, angrily.

''Are you guys done with her? You're the annoying bitch here Teddy,'' Chris rolled his eyes, ''are you jealous?''

''Nah, he just realized that he could never have such a pretty girl in his life'' Gordie sneered.

Chris and Vern started laughing while Teddy hit his friend in the shoulder.

Vern suddenly took a wood stick to lean on.

''Ugh dude, I'm so done. I can't anymore.'' He could barely breathe.

"Come on Verno!" Chris encouraged him.

And they started running, snickering.

''Not cool man!'' Vern yelled.

''You lil' pussy!'' Teddy shouted, making fun of him as he always did.

They loved running in the forest. They felt free, unleashed from their tough life in Castle Rock.

From their families who abused them way too many times.

It took them time to realize that they were abused, though.

They never wanted to talk about it.

Every day, Chris Chambers and his friends were dreaming of running away.

Just as they were about to go another way, Chris suddenly ran into a girl, making her fall.

His friends stopped and Vern finally caught them up.

''Oh hey Milana!'' He exclaimed, surprised, as the girl stood up with difficulty.

Milana, how unexpected.

When Chris bumped into her, she fell on some branches which ripped her jeans and wounded her right leg.

It was quite severe, she was bleeding a lot, but she did not even pay attention to it.

"Eww." Vern hid his eyes with his hands.

"Damn we ripped her expensive jeans, we are so sorry Lady.'' Teddy mocked her.

''As if I cared.'' Milana murmured, rolling her eyes.

''You're hurt." Chris pointed the wound to Milana.

''No joke!" She said ironically.

The Chambers kid sighed.

He did not like hanging out with girls, they were always so stupid and whiny. They always brought him problems. At school, at home.

He never had any good experiences with them.

However, Milana did not seem to be like that.

His friends, and himself, had been the ones annoying her first.

She hadn't done anything, and yet, Teddy had been a pure jerk with her.

That was why Chris understood why she was being so rude to them now.

Teddy didn't.

''Just leave, you're standing in our way." Teddy retorted.

"That's what I was gonna do." She pushed Teddy, giving him a fixed grin.

"You little..."

"Shut the fuck up Teddy." Gordie cut him short, irritated by his behavior.

Milana was starting to leave and Chris saw in her eyes how disappointed she was, perhaps she was expecting them to finally accept her.

But Vern held on to her arm. She turned around, frowning.

"What were you doing here anyway?" The chubby boy asked.

"How come you're not wearing some classy dresses, city slicker." Teddy added, provoking Milana.

"Searching for blueberries." She replied, tapping her foot.

Teddy sneered.

Why was he like that with her? Something was wrong.

"Pussy things for rich girls." He said without even looking at her.

Chris didn't know what to do anymore.

He wondered if his friend was actually eighteen or five. His father had severely damaged his brain, that was for sure.

Milana suddenly showed her hands to Teddy. They were covered with cuts.

"I've been picking berries the last few days for my mom, my hands are so scraped we can barely see my skin. This, and the wound on my leg, I bet you would be crying like a baby. And I am the pussy?" She smirked.

Teddy didn't even know what to answer, Chris and Gordie burst out laughing.

Maybe they could give her a chance, after all.

"Well, thanks for the entertainment guys. I should go home now before my leg gets infected." She looked Chris in the eye.

The tanned boy didn't know why, but he was sure that she would not give up on them despite her evident disappointment.

But why them?

Why did she want to become friends with them so badly?

Everyone hated Chris, Gordie, Vern and Teddy. Since middle school.

It had always been like that.

Why them?

Her second name could have been Mystery, Chris thought that she was probably hiding lots of secrets.

And he was now way too intrigued. He was ready to take the risk and break one of their rules.

Milana started walking away, so Chris looked at his best friend.

And Gordie immediately understood because he followed her. Chris smiled slightly and did the same.

Teddy got it and grumbled, but he couldn't do anything, he had to go with the flow.

For the moment.

Vern on the contrary, once he understood what was happening, was so happy.

Chris caught Milana up. She stared at him, surprised.

"What are you doing?" She was being suspicious.

"I'm sorry I wounded you. This shit looks serious."

Milana smiled. A true smile on her face.

"Yeah but I'm used to it. I got lots of them when I went on adventures with Nate and Eden." She explained, with nostalgia in her tone.

Chris couldn't help but smile. She loved to go on adventures too.

"Old friends in your old town?" Vern looked interested.

"Yeah. They were my only friends." Finally, Milana could confess to someone. She needed that.

Her parents were never here for her.

"How surprising." Teddy rolled his eyes.

Chris gave him a dirty look, frowning, and the four eyes immediately shut his mouth.

"So, I guess you like adventure kiddo?" Chambers questioned.

"Of course, I was never home where I lived before." The brunette looked so excited.

Chris didn't know how such a classy and wealthy girl could act like a boy. He had never seen that.

Girls at school were always so reluctant to hang out with boys.

Or maybe their parents forced them to have girlfriends only. It wouldn't be surprising.

That was how it was, in the fifties.

Milana could wear the most expensive dress, Chris would bet that she could jump in the mud with it and not care for a bit.

He hoped he wasn't wrong about her, otherwise he would regret it.

They talked a bit more, but they were mostly silent.

The boys didn't know how to act with a girl, for now. They were definitely not used to it.

Yet, Chris could see in Milana's eyes that she was happy.

Don't celebrate too soon kid.

When they arrived in town, they had to go separate ways.

They all looked at Milana. Teddy decided to hang back.

"We'll see if ya' really an adventurer or not tomorrow, then." Chris gave her a chance to prove her worth.

Obviously, Teddy wasn't ok with it, he immediately left without saying goodbye.

Milana seemed excited but also worried.

"Don't worry about that morphadite, he'll get used to it." Gordie tried to reassure her.

This attention surprised Chris. Usually, Gordie was always shy and silent. Minding his own business.

Vern couldn't stop smiling. It seemed that the two boys were ready to give her a chance too.

Still, Chris had the feeling that it wouldn't be that easy.

But he couldn't stand his friends talking about her every day anymore, so he had to do something anyway.

"Great to see that you guys can change your minds." Milana laughed.

She started walking away, looking satisfied.

"See ya!" They all shouted.

As Milana disappeared from their sight, Chris realized that Ace and Billy were outside the local bar... and they were looking at them.

Ace seemed annoyed. His blue eyes had darkened.

"We should go now." Chris did not want any problem. He was too tired for that.

oOOo

When he arrived home, almost an hour later, Eyeball immediately harassed him.

Chris sighed deeply. He could not get even a second of rest.

"You aware you got on Ace's nerves uh?''

''What do you mean?'' Chris mumbled while he was searching for food in the fridge.

Eyeball abruptly closed the fridge door and looked Chris in the eye.

He smelled like alcohol and that reminded Chris of their father.

''Don't be a dumbass. You know what Ace is capable of. Leave the Russian girl alone.''

''What?'' Chris frowned. ''Oh. Milana. She's Russian?'' He asked, with nonchalance.

''Shut up you idiot. Don't flirt with her. Whatever you are doing with her, just stop. He won't like it.''

''She's not his. He should find a girl his age.'' Chris responded, irritated.

''Friendly advice, brother.'' Eyeball smirked.

With those last few words, he left, slamming the door behind him.

Here it is. What did you think?
Can't wait to have your thoughts on it. Please review, it encourages me a lot to continue the story!
Thanks for reading :-)