Summertime.

Song: Behind the sea, P!ATD

JUNE, 1989.

Ever since that incident, Athena hated the rain. It terrified her. She would refuse to go outside whenever it rained, terrified of the figure in the drain with the mixed fear of watching another innocent child disappear down the dark, damp drain. Athena started to acknowledge Bill's presence a little more at school now since she had to go to Georgie's funeral. She would give Bill an apologetic look every time she saw him, and maybe a small smile escaped her lips, but never the truth of what happened to Georgie.

Athena had never seen Louis so lonely before, and it broke her heart to see the usually bubbly personality of her brother dampened by his best friend's death. What made it worse was how Bill thought he was still alive and would drag his group of friends along to find him, desperately searching for the boy in the sewers under the city. Athena thought that there was a slim chance he could be alive, but what she saw couldn't change what she thought.

The final bell rang on the last day of school. Finally, Athena could escape this hell hole and have three whole months cramped up in her room playing her musical instruments, nobody to pester her and no annoying school. She pushed through the hoard of students and found her locker, and unlocked it and as she emptied the leftover of her almost empty locker, she found a couple of guitar picks and a blue capo she'd lost a little while ago. Athena then threw her bag over her shoulder and started to walk out of the school, feeling like she was walking on air.

On her way out Greta Keene (the school bully) pushed past her to get to the girl's bathroom. Athena shrugged it off and wandered out, still happy that she could leave for three whole months. She started to walk over to the bike rack when she saw Henry Bowers and his goons approach stuttering Bill.

She leaned against a tree, watching the scene unfold. Athena couldn't care less for the other losers Bill was friends with, but she had a bit of a soft spot for the boy. Patrick Hockstetter came up behind a boy with glasses and yanked his school bag, sending him tumbling into a curly-haired boy.

"You s-s-suck Bowers!" Bill yelled. "Oh fuck." Athena sighs and starts walking over.

"Hey Bowers!" she calls out getting closer, ignoring the two boys on the ground and stepping over them. Henry looks up from Bill and then over to her, Patrick licking his lips. "Heya 'Thena, heard your name was something to do with the goddess of war, I hope you're not planning on starting one."

She rolled his eyes at his nasty comments, "You know, why don't you shave that stupid mullet? It makes you look less intimidating, but I don't think that a shaved head will make you more attractive." He rolls his eyes, "Whatever child murderer."

Ever since the incident with Georgie, Athena had to accompany Bill with many police questionings, which started to spread the rumor of her murdering Georgie. Bill, being the person he is never believed this bullshit and neither did the police thank god. But that didn't stop Greta for bullying her about it. All she ever heard were the whispers of the bullies and dumb popular girls about how much of a murderer that she was.

Bill felt the rage burn up in his blood, he stormed up to Henry and shoved him, making him fall, catching everyone by surprise. "Bill!" a boy with a pink Polo shirt yelled. Athena recognized him, Eddie Kaspbrack was the school's' wimp'. His mother forbids him to ever attend gym classes. She remembers in 5th grade Mrs. K. yelling at the gym coach, once she found out he let him attend a swimming class and had the time of his life, the poor boy never got to do anything that he wanted to do. That was a scarring moment for him, as Mrs. K was squeezing his hand and calling him 'Eddie Bear' in front of the whole class.

Victor and Belch helped Henry up. Henry's blood boiled with rage, slowly approaching Bill, Eddie, and Athena; with the other boys watching in the background with fear in their eyes. "B-b-billy wants to help Miss Athena with this war. You know, Athena apparently being the goddess of wisdom, you should be smarter than you are."

The bullies chuckle at him, The two boys from behind were walking up to the group. He then turns to Bill, a sneer on his face. "You got a free ride this year because of your little brother, rides over Denbrough. Same applies to you, 'Thena." Henry spat at the pair.

The older boy stepped closer, Bill felt his hot, horrible breath on his face. Henry stopped and looked behind the group of kids to see his father staring at him rather disapprovingly. He turned back to Bill as he muttered. "This summers going to be a hurt train, for you and your faggot friends."

Bowers then licked his hand and wiped it on Bills face, Eddie gagging in the background. The Bowers Gang then turned and headed towards Belch Huggins car, Victor and Patrick mimicking his stutter while storming away.

"I wish he'd go missing," The curly-haired boy said, as the group watched the blue drive away. "He's probably the one doing it." Eddie says.

"T-th-thanks for that A-Athena. You didn't have to j-ju-jump in." Bill smiles. Athena turns towards the losers and smirks slightly. "Uh, no worries."

"Yeah, what the fuck was that about? You usually never acknowledge our presence-" The boy with glasses rants, Eddie elbows him and whispers a small phrase which shuts the loudmouth up. "Beep beep, Richie."

"Oh yeah, I'm Eddie, this is Richie and Stan." Eddie smiled."Yeah, I know some of you." she sighs. They stand in awkward silence until Athena turns to start walking over to the bike racks.

"A-A-Athena wait!" Bill calls out, she turns on her heels to face the kids again. "Hm?" she hums. "W-we were going to the B-b-barrens tomorrow, w-want to c-come?" he offered with a smile. She rolls her eyes. The last thing she wanted was to be associated any more with these guys "Sorry Billy, I kind of want to stay at home and tune into my guitar or something, I'm not really up for doing much."

"Oh, okay. S-see you around." He says, sounding slightly dissatisfied. She smiles and takes off on her bike, hearing the ending of Richie's rant behind her. "Dude, why the fuck would you invite a weirdo like her to the Barrens?" Richie scoffed, despite the fact he counted as a weirdo and a loser. "Beep fucking beep, Richie!" Eddie shouted and hit him in the stomach, both of them clearly getting aggravated. "What? It's the truth! She doesn't even talk to us. I think that's the only time she had spoken to anyone all year."

"Don't be s-s-so rude R-Richie! S-sh-she is a good person!" Bill argues. "And give me an example of that?!"

"She tried to save Georgie, Richie," Stan whispers into his ear. He looks up and sees Bill looking down at the ground. "Still? That doesn't mean anything-"

"For fuck's sake, shut up Richie!" Eddie hit him, once again. The boys scrambled to the bike racks and mounted their bikes, heading home.