CHAPTER THIRTEEN
ABRUPT PANICS

Laughter of the small group filled the corridors, each one of the twelve year olds hysterical with the incident regarding Troy in the hall several moments prior.

The small group were making their way back to the A.V room, where they had been prior before they had been diverted to the assembly with everyone else in the middle school.

The group weren't really speaking, much to which Kimmy suspected was due to the looming sense of shock which was just beginning to wear off within everyone.

A comfortable silence filling the air within the group which Kimmy presumed would remain until the group had found the boy just as Mike was confident Eleven could. However this comforting blanket of silence was shattered to peices just as Kimmy went to enter the room behind Lucas.

"Do you think we should be doing this?" Aaron whispered with a fearful expression, tugging on her coat gently to get her attention. "What if we get caught? I'll be in so much trouble."

Kimmy turned to face him, furrowing her brows as his face only flooded with further fear and concern with each second past.

"We'll be fine." She reassured with a curt nod, unsure where his abrupt concerns were coming from considering Mike had already explained the plan with the group and they had permission from Mr Clarke. "Mike said that-"

"I know what Mike said." Aaron dismissed quietly, doing his best not to draw attention to himself. "Mike doesn't care about getting in trouble with the school or his parents. Meaning; I do not trust anything he says about trouble."

Kimmy's brows furrowed further a look of utter perplexity washing over her face, though just as she went to respond to his semi-dramatic outburst, his faces dropped further - if possible. And he was talking once more.

"What do you think?" Aaron murmured, his grip on the sleeve of her jacket never faltering. "Do you think we should be doing this?"

Kimmy hesitated, unsure where this fear of trouble was coming from. Yes, Aaron did tend to be one to stay clear of any trouble, much unlike his older brother. But this seemed like a new level. Overthinking walking in the school hallway and walking into a room they had permission to walk into?

"We'll be fine, Aaron." She repeated gently, motioning for him to follow her into the room. "We're just going to see if Eleven can contact Will, then we're gone. Okay?"

Aaron didn't reply, but sent her a reluctant nod as he followed her, making sure to check behind them before doing so.

Due to Aaron's panics, the group were already sat around the small table with Mike setting up the equipment for the young girl whom had already taken her spot in a spare seat.

Kimmy watched with wide eyes and a taken aback expression.

"Now what?" Lucas questioned in a puzzled tone as Mike placed the radio infront of the girl and switched it on.

Aaron and Kimmy shifted in order to be stood behind the girl, eager to see for themselves what Mike had been talking about earlier.

"She'll find him." Mike replied in a firm yet convincing voice, not a doubt to be heard. "Right, El?"

The boy was met with no response, El simply squeezing her eyes closed as she focused on the static coming from the radio and hence filling the surrounding air.

Moments went by, and nothing. Not a single peep from each of the children surrounding the table, and despite not verbally admitting so, Kimmy was beginning to grow impatient.

Apparently, she wasn't the only one, because Aaron huffed from beside her before making his opinion known. "Seriously, guys, what-"

The boy fell silent as a loud smack was delivered to his arm, cutting the boy short instantly.

Kimmy could hear the boy with sandy blond hair mumble to himself while folding his arms over his chest in silent protest.

The lights then flickered off, no doubt Eleven having some sort of impact on his act.

Kimmy stilled, fear shivering down her while clasping her hands together in desperate attempt to remain calm.

Aaron however couldn't help but allow his fear to overcome him, the young boy evidently terrified. And it didn't particularly help that he was already on edge.

Aaron leapt back, his back practically slamming into the wall behind him as he gasped. "What the fuck guys? Seriously, guys this cannot be normal! We have got to go- actually screw that we had to go five minutes ago! Oh shit, I'm panicking guys-"

"Shut up, Aaron!" The three boys hissed at the blond with wide eyes, causing Aaron to snap his mouth closed.

Though just as Aaron seemed to calm, a blaring bang came from the radio sat contently in the middle of the table. Which caused the boy to jolt and gasp once more.

Then came another bang.

And another.

Then another.

"What is that?" Dustin blurted in a whisper, a fearful expression pulling on his features.

Only he was met with no response. Each one of his friends too lost in thought to think straight.

The loud clanging erupting from the radio was heard again, only this time louder. Until suddenly, noise.

"Mom?" A fragile voice murmured through the radio.

Will's voice.

Kimmy felt Aaron still from beside her just as her own eyes widened a fraction, she didn't voice her surprise  however, in fear she would miss something else the boy had to say.

The boys she was stood with obviously had different intentions. Aaron being the one to start the sting of overlapping yells.

"Will?" Aaron yelled louder than necessary as he leaned closer to the radio. "Can you hear us?

"Will, we're here!" Dustin called next. Followed by Lucas and Mike jumping in.

"Will, where are you?"

"Are you safe?"

"Can you-"

The group of boys had their worrisome rambles cut off by the small voice again. And despite never saying, Kimmy felt a sudden feeling of concern tug on the pits of her stomach. With the way the missing boy was speaking, or the way his voice would shake, he was anything but safe.

"Hello?" Will called, though his voice was hoarse and fragile. "Mom?"

"Why can't he hear us?" Lucas stressed, turning to Mike for an explanation.

"I don't know." Mike rushed firmly, his inner frustrations clear as day on his face.

There was silence for a moment, and Kimmy took that as a sign to leave it for now. Seeing as they had already heard the boy alive and it didn't look like they'd hear anymore from him.

She was wrong.

"Mom, it's coming!" Will was shouting now, fear pushing through his voice and resting uneasily amongst the group. "It's like home, but it's so dark and it's so cold and empty. Mom!"

Kimmy's breath hitched and she took the smallest of steps back, unsure of how much longer she could listen to the boy any longer.

Yes, she hoped the group found their friend safe, but it was clear he was hurt and scared. His voice scratching her ears as she reluctantly listened to his screams and sent shivers down her spine and arms.

Kimmy took a shaky breath ripping her eyes off the radio as she injected her opinion within the group. "Turn it off. Mike, tell her to stop it."

"No!" Mike rushed, his frustrations getting the better of him. "We have to find him, don't you get that?"

Of course Kimmy understood that, but she didn't want to listen to the boy's cries for help through the radio when there was nothing the group could do to help. Truth be told it startled her, the desperate sounds the boy was making due to fear was beginning to upset her.

Her next move was an accident, though just as she shifted her gaze away from the boy, she caught sight of the blond and curly haired boys stood to her left. Each of the two boys looking terrified, to the point Kimmy thought they would each break into tears out of fear.

The sound of the cries was obviously upsetting the two, and it probably didn't help that Aaron was already a jumble of nerves before walking into the room.

"Stop it, alright." She yelled over the continuous clanging which appeared to only grow louder. "Can't you see that it's upsetting, tell her to turn it off!"

"No!" Mike countered, standing straighter as he turned to face the girl. "This is our only way to contact Will. And I'm not-"

Kimmy didn't hear the rest, seeing as Mike was cut off by the radio in the middle of the room bursting into flames, setting the school fire alarm off.

The girl in the blonde wig shot up with a jolt, her nose gushing blood. The group of twelve year olds clambering to get out of the room and the school building before any damage was done.

Thankfully, Dustin had grabbed the fire distinguisher and had put out the small fire despite his friends panics before rushing out behind them.

...

Kimmy felt terrible as she stood outside the school building. Watching Mike and Eleven climb onto the boys bike before shooting off in the direction of his house.

She was embarrassed more than anything for the way she had spoken to the boy, she hadn't meant to be so blunt and harsh with him especially regarding the circumstances. But she wasn't sure what else to do. With the two boys whom she could see clearly looking as if they could burst into tears at any moment, she didn't know what he expected. As if she would leave them be in such a state.

She watched as Dustin and Lucas rode away on their bikes also, following the Wheeler boy back to his house where the group had agreed to go to go over what had happened and what they were to do next.

Kimmy felt a little better as she watched Lucas and Dustin talk to one another as they rode their bikes, Dustin looking a lot calmer than before.

"Come on then," Aaron murmured with a sniffle which Kimmy could tell he had done his best to repress. Obviously not as relaxed as Dustin now was. "Don't want to fall behind."

Kimmy hesitated, biting the inside of her cheek as she turned to face him. "You go, I'm just going to head home I think."

To be frank, she didn't really feel like facing the awkward tension which her presence would ultimately bring. It was bad enough that she had snapped on Mike while he was listening to his missing friends voice.

She didn't really feel like pretending she hadn't forced her way into the group and acting like she was particularly wanted on everyone of their hangouts when she evidently wasn't. Despite what Aaron may say, he could speak for the whole group and she understood that. Looking from Mike's point of view she supposed she wouldn't exactly be thrilled either.

Aaron's face fell a fraction, his brows furrowing as he looked to her. "Why? We're all going to Mike's-"

"I know." She assured, hoping to put him at ease as she shrugged her shoulders. "But I think maybe you should go yourself."

Kimmy watched as Aaron stayed put, his look of confusion only growing with each second of silence passed. "Why don't you want to-"

"It's not that I don't want to." She rushed, suddenly worried she may have given the wrong idea. "It's just- sometimes, maybe it's best if I just leave you guys to hang out the four of you. Especially during this, you know. You're all going through the same thing and sometimes they'll need space and I get that."

Aaron didn't know what to say, that much was clear on his face. He did look as if he was going to say something but stopped himself, shaking his head as his look of confusion morphed into that of... understanding? Kimmy wasn't sure.

"You're not... you know," Aaron trailed off, furrowing his brows as he thought over his next words carefully. "You're not... a bother to have around or anything."

Kimmy stilled, staring back at him with a blank expression ignoring the way her brain sprung into action processing a hundred thoughts at once.

"I know," she murmured quietly, just with the look on his face she could tell he didn't believe her. She couldn't say she was surprised, she didn't believe the words which had slipped past her lips.

Despite the disbelief on his face, Aaron didn't push her any further. Simply nodding before getting on his bike.

"Are you sure you don't want to come?" He asked once more with a tilted head.

Kimmy nodded, forcing a smile onto her face which she was sure anyone could see right through. "I'm sure. Thanks though."

"Do you want me to take you home?" Aaron pressed calmly, causing Kimmy to smirk before replying smugly.

"I thought you didn't want to fall behind the others." She teased.

She watched as Aaron shook his head and let out an airy laugh, waving goodbye to her just as he went to kick the stand off his bike.

"Wait!" Kimmg blurted, unnecessarily stretching her hands out to stop him. "Can you tell Mike I'm sorry? About the A.V Room?"

Aaron looked confused for a moment, though his features doon flushed with a calming look of understanding and he nodded. Sending her one final wave which she returned. "See you tomorrow, Jenkins."

Kimmy scrunched her face up at the use of her last name but made no comment on it. "Bye, Harrington."

...

😝😝😝 idk what to say.

Anyway new chapters to come soon!!