Alissa was walking from her car and to the building when she braced herself, unconsciously waiting for that familiar voice to speak up to her. She kept her eyes on the building as she brought her bag with her.

But she's been walking for almost a few seconds now and Paul hasn't called her yet.

She wasn't quite sure whether she was relieved that she didn't have to pretend everything was okay or disappointed that Paul was nowhere to found. Last night was the last straw, she thought. He's been making advances to her and she noticed it because he's done it twice already. It wasn't his usual flirting. It was more action.

Alissa thought she shouldn't be surprised that he's making advances since he's been flirty ever since they met. She doesn't understand why she keeps hanging out with him. It must be his vibe, she thought. He never hurt her anyway, never forced her into something else whenever they were alone together.

Maybe he just really liked her? Alissa asked herself if she did, too. No. Unless she's figured out she liked him, that's when she'd let it all slide. But he can't do anything to her anymore. She had to let him know what she thought.

"There you are." He saw her by the cafeteria before she did,

She felt a little happy he was around, "Hey." but only because she prepared what she was going to say.

"You wanna-"

She cut him off, "I have another test tomorrow, I can't really hang."

"Oh, alright." Paul still smiled at her,

She felt guilty for declining right away. Paul never hurt her anyway. There was no reason for her to be mad. "Sorry, I'm just..."

"Stressed?"

She nodded and sat on the chair at the side of the cafeteria,

Paul looked at her, "May I join you at least?"

She looked up at him and nodded. He sat down, slowly tried to reach for her hand but she pulled away quick, "Paul. We have to talk."

Paul furrowed his eyebrows, confused at her sudden reaction,

"I don't know what it is you want but...the thing is...I don't...know. I don't know what if I want what you do." She told him straight, looking from his eyes and down to his lips. Paul caught this right away. He leaned back on his chair and grimaced, "I understand."

"Do you?" She snapped and leaned forward, "I can't...I can't have you doing these advances."

He stayed still,

"I understand that you feel some sort of things. But I don't think I do."

He stayed quiet,

"I'm sorry. Especially last night. I don't know if you got the wrong signal or what but it can't happen."

"I understand." He said again, "You're not into romance."

"No."

"I see."

"No," she started and shook her head, "I mean not that I'm not into romance but...I just..." Paul was her friend, she reminded herself. She was thankful that he was nice to her. She could not possibly lie to him especially if it affected their friendship, "I'm not used to it. I want to take it slow."

Take it slow, Pennywise repeated in its mind. So that's how this complicated human works.

"I don't want to rush things." She said, "I like you as my friend, Paul. I don't want to lose that."

Paul smiled warmly, "Then friends we shall be."

The bell rang and Alissa was the first person to exit the classroom. The second she stepped out, she saw Paul standing across the corridor. He smiled warmly at her. Paul greeted her and she tried to act normal, "Hi."

"Let me help you with that," he offered as he gestured to take the heavy books she's holding. But she declined.

Paul started walking with her,

"I thought you didn't have classes on tuesdays?" Alissa asked,

"I don't."

"Then why are you here?" her hands were both occupied when she felt a thick strand of her hair fall on her forehead, it bothered her,

Paul shrugged, "I wanted to see you. Let me help-" he insisted and accidentally touched her fingers, but she pulled herself away,

"It's fine. I got it." It was starting to tick her off. She talked to him about this, yet he's still here. "I'll see you tomorrow." She looked up at him. She forgot how tall he was until he stepped in and looked directly into her eyes,

"Can I at least offer to help you to your car?"

She paused. She wanted him to, but she was afraid it would give him a thought that she liked him back,

"That's the least I could do."

He held the books in his hand without a hassle, and she sneaked a glimpse of him when she turned to her car. Paul waited for her to open the door,

She unlocked it and gave way for Paul to place the books beside the driver's seat. He stood there after, his hand inside his pocket, as if he's waiting for something. Alissa walked to the door making Paul move to the other side of the open door. He leaned his arm over it, stopping her from closing it,

"What are the books for?"

"Literature." She answered right away. She didn't know why she didn't get in the car yet, but she felt that she was just waiting for him to ask her out to which she had a decline speech ready.

And just as she predicted, he insisted that he took her out for coffee as 'friends'.

Instead of a speech, Alissa felt angry.

Angry that she couldn't say yes because she was scared it would ruin the friendship, and angry because she knew in her heart that she wouldn't manage a relationship when her head was filled with school thoughts and...that stupid clown that would put Paul in danger.

"Paul," she said sternly, "That's it."

"What?"

"I can't do this. I told you already. We're staying friends."

"Can't friends go out for coffee?"

She glared at him, unable to answer him,

He smirked and tried to comfort her with a joke, but when he reached for her arm, she shouted at him in frustration. "Just stop!"

He looked at her blankly, knowing that she was mad for real this time.

"I can't be your friend if you're gonna keep doing whatever this is." She threatened, slid inside the driver seat and shut her door, leaving Paul outside. He watched her drive off.

Pennywise felt strangely pleased with her anger. It missed her angry like that. Too bad, it was only a part of it's manipulation. It smirked in the distance as it watched Alissa's car drive away.

The whole bedroom is starting to smell like popcorn and Alissa is enjoying it. She keeps throwing popcorn into her mouth and enjoying the taste as she watches a documentary about ancient evils on her laptop. She was learning more than the basic facts she's researched, and if she compared her knowledge about Pennywise from then and now, she would sigh in relief, knowing that she'd done so much research to know whether he's still around or not.

Her eyes were glued on the screen. She ate more popcorn.

She wasn't used to being home so early. She'd be hanging in the dance studio with Paul but she couldn't. Instead, she ended up watching about Pennywise. It started to be a mini obsession, but this didn't really matter to her.

"...these beings are terrifying entities that do nothing but feed and terrorize-"

"And annoy the hell out of you." Alissa mumbles before feeding herself a handful of popcorn and chuckling. She paused the video and tried to remember how it all happened back then, how she handled it. Alissa's surprised on how she actually managed to dodge death. Lucky, she thought.

It was almost 5 in the afternoon when she heard a knock on her door.

Clearly, she wasn't expecting anyone.

Another knock makes her stand up from her seat and walk towards her door. Nobody visited her at home. Not even her parents. Could it be?

She braced herself.