CHAPTER TEN
MATCHING BRUISES

Kimmy stood at Lucas' left as the two waited for the remaining three boys to exit the school building. Kimmy had a look of nerves on her face as she overthought what was to come in the next few hours. Whereas Lucas had a calm expression on his face, huffing dramatically once and a while as he checked his watch.

"You'd think they could make it out at a decent time," Lucas joked in an annoyed voice as he leaned on his bike. "This is ridiculous-"

Lucas cut himself off as he caught sight of the three boys wondering out of the school building, each with a different expression on their faces.

Mike looked annoyed to say the least. His face scrunched up in a sour expression as he looked straight ahead.

Dustin Henderson was stood next to him, in the middle of both Mike Wheeler and Aaron Harrington. Dustin had a nervous look playing on his features  attempting to defuse the tension between the two.

The blond which was to his right had an identical expression to the boy on his far left. Aaron was talking rather rapidly, his hands waving as he spoke.

Kimmy tensed, knowing the conversation at hand was most likely about her.

It was rather uncomfortable when the three boys stood infront of her, a silence falling over the group. While it was awkward, Kimmy wasn't going to be the one to break it.

After what felt like hours later, Mike finally huffed and rolled his eyes. "Come on then, we can't leave El waiting too long."

The three boys nodded in agreement before climbing on their bikes and taking off after him. Kimmy froze, swallowing thickly upon realising she would have to run behind them seeing as she didn't have a bike.

Run behind them for thirty minutes as she tried and failed to keep up.

The three were already peddling away, leaving just her and Aaron, though she caught his arm just as he went to move away.

"Uh-" she began awkwardly, trying to avoid the startled look he was sending her way. "I don't have a bike, so- uh, I'll think I'll just head home. I won't be able to keep up-"

"You can take my bike." Aaron blurted, most likely without meaning too because the look on his face made it appear he was just as shocked as she was. Quickly, he attempted to correct his mistake, though it all came out in one long ramble. "Uh- I mean, you can- you know, sit on the back. If you want to."

Kimmy furrowed her brows after Aaron's nervous ramble had come to a pause. It was obvious he hadn't really thought his answer through, but Kimmy didn't really have any option but to accept, seeing as Aaron had went out of his way to get her invited.

"Alright," she mumbled unsurely, watching Aaron step off his bike but still keeping a firm hold on the handlebars. "So, I just-"

"Just put your feet there," he informed in a rushed voice, staring at his friends who were getting further and further away, pointing at the bars on his bike wheels which were sticking out slightly. "Okay, and then just sit on the seat. We've got to go."

Kimmy furrowed her brows once more, almost one hundred percent sure she looked like a complete freak.

Aaron was quick to sit in front of her, Kimmy moving back far enough so she wouldn't have to sit so close to him and settled for placing her hands tightly under the seat so she wouldn't fall.

"Not being rude or anything, Kimmy," Aaron begun, already taking off slowly. "But you're going to fall off if you hold onto the seat like that."

Kimmy let out a scoff, "no I won't-"

Kimmy cut herself off with a yelp, instantly tipping back slightly and almost falling before reaching her hands out to grab onto Aaron as she tightly clutched onto him.

Aaron was going much faster than the others had been, but Kimmy presumed it had been so he could catch up to the small group which were now way ahead of the two.

"Hey," Kimmy began with a shaky voice due to fear she'd go flying off the back of the bike, her eyes closed tightly as her tight grip on the boy never faltered. "Who's El?"

"Eleven?" Aaron called back at her, the confusion evident in his voice. "The weirdo? I thought I told you."

Kimmy shook her head, before realising that the boy actually couldn't see her.

"Nope," Kimmy replied in a soft voice, her eyes still squeezed shut.

"That's her name- Eleven." Aaron spoke as he let out an airy laugh. "Can you believe that? Who names their kid Eleven? Like, that's another level of weird."

Kimmy shrugged, despite the fact he couldn't see her. Though she couldn't find it in herself to respond, simply too scared that one wrong movement would land her in the hospital room.

...

Not long after, and Kimmy was finally let off of the death trap she now knew as Aaron Harrington's bike.

The six twelve year olds were all walking unintentionally in pairs. Lucas and Dustin walking in front, Eleven and Mike a bit behind, and finally Kimmy and Aaron at the back.

The group had collected the girl from Mike's house, like Kimmy she also didn't have a bike. Meaning she was sat on the back of Mike's as Kimmy was sat on the back of Aaron's.

Kimmy was constantly checking behind her, fearful someone would jump out behind her, safe to say the woods was not a place she would voluntarily walk into. At least the second time around it wasn't dark.

"Do you feel any better?" Aaron asked nervously, trying to fill the loud silence as the two began to realise they could be out for a lot longer than originally expected. "You know, after yesterday."

It took longer than Kimmy would have liked to admit for her to realise he had been talking about her fall.

"Oh," she began unsurely, though quickly recovered and nodded confidently. "Yeah. Not as bad as I thought it would be, thanks for asking."

Kimmy met Aaron's gaze, her confident look almost faltering at the unconvinced stare he was sending back at her.

"Are you sure?" He asked cautiously, pointing to her face with one of his hands as the other was used to push the bike he was walking beside. "That looks like a bad bruise-"

"I'm fine." She dismissed with a forced smile, turning her eyes away from him and to the floor instead. "Hardly hurts anymore."

That was a great understatement, her face hurt anytime she as much as grazed it with her fingertips, but she wouldn't repeat this, she didn't want him to worry too much.

"Alright," Aaron murmured, not sounding totally convinced.

Kimmy was thankful that he dropped the topic, she didn't really wish to discuss it further. No matter how much lies she'd ever spun as cover, it always stressed her out.

Had she been convincing enough?

What if people didn't believe her?

What if she got sent states away while her parents were out to prison?

Or worse, and unfortunately the most likely outcome; what if the cops got told but nothing was done about it?

What if she'd have to live the rest of her life in that house with already abusive parents knowing their daughter ratted them out?

"You don't have to pretend it doesn't hurt if it does," came Aaron's voice again, ripping Kimmy from her thoughts as she flinched at the sound. "You got quite a hard hit."

Kimmy was almost taken aback by his words, looking back up at him as she shrugged.

"I'm fine." She repeated, though she was rather distracted as she caught sight of the bruise growing on his own cheekbone.

A matching bruise to the one on her cheekbone.

Kimmy's blood ran cold for a moment as a dreadful thought pushed its way into her mind.

What if Aaron's parents did to him what hers did to her?

Kimmy went in to a miniature spiral, thinking the worst of the Harrington family before an almost calming realisation creeped into her mind and sort of pushed all of her troubled thoughts back.

Aaron's parents were never home.

Kimmy just about sighed in relief but stopped herself. Instead, she placed her hands in her pockets and looked to the blond with the blankest stare she could muster.

"What happened to your cheek?" She dared to ask, pointing with her hand just as he had done moments before.

Aaron visibly tensed, a look of embarrassment coating his features as he looked away from her and towards the muddy path they walked along.

"Nothing, it's fine," he brushed off with a shrug, his cheeks tinting pink in embarrassment which he tried and failed to hide from the girl. "Just Troy being his usual dickish self."

Kimmy frowned, she didn't know what to say, she felt her eyes filling with sympathy despite doing her best to fight it, knowing she would hate it if she were in his position.

She wanted desperately to ask what had happened and how the boy had managed to get himself a bruised face.

She stopped herself from doing so though, knowing the boy probably wouldn't answer, or if he did it would most likely be forced.

"Oh, right," she muttered awkwardly, not sure on what to do. She was not good with her words at all, especially when it came down to comforting others. "I hate Troy, he's always an ass to me."

That wasn't a lie, but she'd hardly ever seen Troy. Though, anytime she had he had been anything but pleasant to her. Although Kimmy wouldn't have shared this peice of information which she deemed to be useless, but Aaron looked like he could use some comfort and Kimmy didn't know any other way to give it to him.

Aaron's head snapped over to meet her gaze, his eyebrows shot up and his eyes widened in suprise.

"Really?" He asked curiously, surprise evident in his voice.

That surprised Kimmy, she thought it had been a known fact that Troy was downright rude to everyone.

"Yeah," she replied in a calm tone, obviously not as bothered by it as Aaron had been, before continuing with an airy laugh. "He's a dick to everyone."

Aaron let out a small laugh, shaking his head as he scrunched his nose in disapproval. "Someone needs to kick his ass."

Kimmy nodded in agreement, lifting her head to look above her. Finding something oddly calming about the way the clouds moved behind the trees.

There was a long pause between the two, before Aaron broke it again.

"Uh- do you know your phone number?" Aaron asked abruptly, the nerves now returned back  into his voice. "You know, so I don't have to walk all across town to tell you when somethings happened, or when we have to go meet with the party."

Kimmy's brows were knitted together as she listened to him ramble on, however just as she were about to recite it for the boy, he began with his rambles again.

"Or you could get a walkie? You know, if you don't feel comfortable giving out your phone number or something. " Aaron's head was now tilted in thought as he spoke, obviously thinking it over. "We all have walkies. So we can talk without our parents going mad over us hogging the phone."

"I don't think I'll get a walkie." Kimmy murmured softly. "I literally have no money to my name, and I can't imagine that either of my parents would waste their money on buying me one."

Aaron looked slightly disappointed at this, sending her an understanding smile despite the fact that Kimmy knew he couldn't relate to any sort of money struggles at all, his parents were loaded. However, Kimmy was grateful for his kindness instead of snapping on her for something she couldn't control.

"I can give you my number though," Kimmy assured, not wishing for Aaron to think she was dismissing him. "Just don't call at night, my parents will be sleeping. If that's any good?"

"Yeah that's fine," Aaron assured at once with a nod of his head, suddenly throwing his backpack off his back and pushing it into Kimmy's arms causing the girl to send him a puzzled expression. "Sorry, I'll write it down. My memory is shit."

Kimmy snickered, and held his bag for him as he finally managed to rip off a small peice of paper and grab a pen. All while still walking slowly behind the four ahead of them.

"Okay, right," he sighed dramatically while leaning his paper and pen on his bike seat. "Go im ready."

Kimmy laughed softly before reciting the number for the boy.

...

It was dark by the time the small group had reached their destination. A destination which looked completley unfamiliar to Kimmy, but one the others appeared to know as of it were the back of their hands.

It was a house, a small house. One which resided just at the edge of the woods which was coming into light the further the group walked down the muddy path.

Kimmy feared she was the only one confused, though with one quick glance in Aaron's direction she soon learned this wasn't the case.

"Here." Eleven announced confidently while checking her surroundings.

Kimmy sent her a puzzled gaze, not entirely sure how on earth this had anything to do with the missing boy.

"Yeah," Mike, replied in an unsure murmur. "This is we're Will lives."

Eleven looked at him blankly for a moment before partially elaborating. "Hiding."

"No, no," Mike dismissed, very obviously trying to keep his frustrations at bay, "this is where he lives. He's missing from here. Understand?"

It appeared Eleven didn't know what to say, furrowing her brows as her face flooded with a look of panic and confusion.

"What are we doing here?" Lucas mumbled, sounding almost unimpressed as he dropped his bike at his feet.

"She said he's hiding here." Mike explained, though anyone could tell he didn't believe her by the tone of his voice.

"Uh... no!" Lucas exclaimed with wide eyes, understandably frustrated.

"I swear," Dustin began, his own frustrations growing. "If we walked all the way out here for nothing-"

"That's exactly what we did." Lucas confirmed sourly as he cut his friend off, his voice raising as he waved his arms as he spoke. Only emphasising his anger. "I told you she didn't know what the hell she was talking about."

Kimmy knew better than to jump into the conversation, she wasn't there when it had all gone down a day prior, so why would her opinion be of any value to any of them? If anything she'd probably just add fuel to the fire.

"This is bullshit," Aaron mumbled, sounding a lot more disappointed than angry. "I thought you said she could find Will."

"She did, and she can. She just-"

"Well obviously she didn't and she can't, Mike!" Aaron snapped, he too now sounding pissed off. "Okay, she shut a door with her mind. Okay, it was awesome, but that doesn't mean she's suddenly the only person on the globe who knows where Will is- just because she pointed at a photo of him!"

Lucas nodded in agreement from beside the blond, each of the two boys wearing matching expressions of hurt and anger.

"She doesn't even speak in full sentences!" Aaron continued to fume, his brows tugged together as his voice began to rise due to his pent up frustrations which were coming to light. "So how could she possibly do the police's job better than the fucking chief?"

That was something Kimmy had noticed about Aaron, he tended to curse more often than not. It were as if he didn't even realise he did it, like it just came natural to him. Though, it were a lot more frequent when he was upset or angry.

Mike didn't respond, instead he turned his gaze back onto the frightened looking girl stood before him.

"Why did you bring us here?" He questioned, sounding much harsher than he had previously been.

Eleven didn't know what to say, only stammering in response.

"Mike," Lucas sighed, a lot calmer now he had taken the time to gather his thoughts. "Don't waste your time with her."

"What do you want to do with her then?" Mike snapped, rolling his eyes as he unintentionally allowed his feelings to overpower him in the moment.

"Call the cops," Lucas replied simply. "Like we should have done yesterday."

Kimmy wholeheartedly agreed with him. Afraid she had unknowingly been an accomplice in keeping a missing child from her parents.

"We are not calling the cops!" Mike bit back, his worry fairly evident on his face.

"Yes we are!" Aaron injected, his hands now unable to stay still. "I don't think you get how serious this is, Mike. We've practically kidnapped a girl off the street!"

Aaron was about a push away from hysterics, the panic pumping through him at a rapid pace to the point it was obvious he wasn't sure what to do with himself.

"Hey, guys?" Dustin called in a panicky voice, all eyes snapping to him as he pushed between Aaron and Lucas as he walked closer to the road, listening out for something.

Suddenly, it were as if the blaring sirens were all Kimmy could hear. An ambulance and police cars speeding past them as it took off down the street.

"Will..." Mike trailed off, his voice so quiet anyone could have misheard him.

But the five heard him clear as day, the same feeling of dread filling in the pits of their stomachs.

It didn't even take seconds before the small group were clambering onto their bikes again, and chasing down the sirens.

...

Shortish chapter but longer chapters are coming!!🥳
Anyway sorry I haven't updated in a while, I've been really busy with school but I'll be updating more frequently now!!

Feel free to comment any constructive critisms or just how you think the story is doing as a whole :)

-AJ:)