Time ticked by as you decided to focus for once, taking down notes while daydreaming about your upcoming time with Michael. Spending Halloween together after class...it just seemed like so much fun. Carving pumpkins together, putting up decorations, tasting candy - heck, you couldn't wait! Still, you glanced to the side a second time and swallowed nervously - curious as to how you were going to explain to your friends. Then again, Cadence didn't seem to care that much. She didn't seem to mind at all. But Amber and Laura...they were definitely aggravated by your disappearing acts and bizarre behaviour. You'd have to make it up to them somehow. It was just...how?

"Okay, you'd better start explaining. NOW!" Amber interrupted your thoughts fiercely, standing next to your desk as soon as your teacher had finished said lecture.

"Hey! Class literally just ended." You replied awkwardly, feeling stressed when your other two friends both appeared beside her as well.

"So? What does that have to do with anything? Why have you been ignoring us...?" Laura joined in with a sharp tone of voice, placing both palms of her hands down against your desk forcefully.

"It wasn't intentional, I...I swear." You protested anxiously, biting your lip while you attempted to defend your disappearances. "It's...well, it's...just with moving house and all..."

"You've got to be KIDDING me!" Amber exploded in frustration, huffing. "This can't just be because you moved house! I...I mean, you were missing for three whole days!"

"This does all sound rather suspicious." Cadence cut into the conversation carefully. "After all, that Skype call was supposed to explain what was going on - and yet you never showed. Can't you just tell us what's going on? Aren't we all friends here?"

"Apparently not, considering she doesn't want to hang out with us anymore!" Laura coldly chimed in, narrowing her eyes as she stared you down. "Do you have new friends or something? Is it these "new roommates"?"

"Hey, that's not it at all!" You argued defensively, climbing to your feet whilst you watched almost all the other students leave the classroom. "Why would you say that? It's not even been a week—"

"I don't know WHAT to think of you anymore!" Laura bit back bluntly - her harsh words shocking both you, Amber and Cadence. "From supposedly "moving house," to never visiting me at the hospital like Cadie and Amb did - and then missing classes out of nowhere! You NEVER miss classes!"

"Um, Laura, that's a little—"

"I'm allowed to spend time with other people too, y'know." You snapped in return, tears sparkling at the edges of your eyes whilst you wiped them and spoke over Cadence. "My roommates are...different from other people. They're...They're introverts - and that's why I've been so secretive about them, okay!?"

"Amber, Laura, c'mon." Cadence decided to calm the situation down and comfort you at the same time. "All we wanted to know is the truth, and I think we've pushed enough—"

"Your new roommates being "introverted" doesn't explain why you won't tell us!" Laura lost her temper heatedly, her hands slipping to the edge of the desk and gripping it tightly. "In fact, that just makes them sound even more strange!"

"Why can't you tell us anything about them, huh? Their names, their occupations - anything!" Amber sided with Laura, complaining about your roommates and therefore hurting you further.

"Because they don't WANT people to know about them, Amber!" You angrily retorted, shaking your head as you shoved your textbooks into your bag and zipped it shut. "For God's sake, can't you just leave my other friends alone? Or do you always have to go poking your nose around in other people's business?"

"Hey! All she wanted to do was make sure you weren't dealing with something serious!" Laura defended Amber's actions with a fiery attitude, both girls growing offended by this point.

"Poke my nose around in other people's business...?" Amber repeated with a stunned expression, disbelief colouring her face whilst hurt clouded her gaze.

"Yeah! Are you that full of yourself that you didn't even recognise it?" You insulted swiftly, not realising how dark you sounded as you switched personality completely. "You've always been that way! From planning a party and inviting people just because they invited you to theirs last year, to just inviting boys because they're "cute". I mean, sheesh, how shallow can you get?"

"What the Hell, (Y/n)?" Cadence questioned with wide eyes, clasping both hands to her chest as she gasped a little bit. "What's gotten into you? Amber and Laura were just worried about you...You're our friend, and—"

"Well, why don't the three of you just stop harassing me about my new friends and leave me alone!?" Hoisting the strap of your bag onto your shoulder, you pushed past your friends and left the classroom - feeling oddly resentful towards them.

Still...those tears continued to streak down your face as you left them behind. Why...? Why did you say that towards them...? Rubbing at your eyes, you started to softly cry - exiting the building and heading on your way home. What you did...that was cruel. Utterly cruel. But...But you'd felt such irritation. It was like you were forced to argue. Like...Like someone was watching over your shoulder and toying with your emotions. Shaking your head again, you stopped in the middle of the empty street and stiffened up; seeing yet another burgundy balloon. You weren't crazy...! Someone had to be behind this. Someone. Anyone.

"Hello?" You called out curiously, cupping your hands around your mouth and trying to catch someone - anyone's - attention. "Is this a joke? Because if it is, it's really not fun—"

"Hiya, (Y/n)~" A happy-go-lucky voice greeted you in return - said sound coming from the side of the street. With a startled shriek you fell backwards, not expecting to hear someone speak from below the road.

"W-Who are you...?" You wildly demanded, eyeing the golden gaze that stared back at you with dark amusement. "And what are you doing in the sewers of all places...?"

"You look like a pretty girl. I bet you have a lot of friends." They carried on sweetly, their childlike personality throwing you off entirely.

"A few..." You told the person sceptically, narrowing your eyes as you slowly got back up to your feet and bent down. "Five if I had to count."

"What about those other three? The ones you just fell out with?" Said stranger tilted their head to the side and released a little laugh, plainly finding it to be funny,

"How do you know about that?" You quizzed with a doubtful tone, feeling several chills run down your spine while you wondered what to say to this unusual person.

"Well why else would your pretty little eyes be filled with tears? Those mean girls picked on you again, now didn't they?" The stranger cooed in a condescending manner - their words being oddly soothing towards you and what had just happened.

"No...it was me." You mumbled guiltily, shame spreading across your face as you felt humiliation. "I was the mean one."

"And just how are you the mean one?" The individual interestedly inquired, "Being a bit too hard on yourself there, don't'cha think so, (Y/n)~?"

"I said such cruel words...words that I didn't mean." You admitted with a sad sigh, wiping your eyes whilst you struggled to keep your composure and stay calm.

"I bet I could cheer you up. How about I...give you another balloon? Do you want a balloon, (Y/n)?" They tried to comfort you warmly, making another one of those crimson balloons appear and holding it by the pale string.

"No thanks. I uh, don't usually take things from strangers." You mentioned seriously, wanting to behave stern and strict all in one. "Especially from random people down in the sewers. Um...no offence."

"Oh, well, I'm Pennywise. The dancing clown." Pennywise introduced himself with a devilish grin, letting the balloon float past you and into the darkening sky.

"Pennywise...?" You echoed wonderingly, slightly fascinated by said name.

"Pennywise, yes. Meet (Y/n). (Y/n), meet Pennywise. Now we aren't strangers, now are we?" The dancing clown cleverly commented, his mischievous expression causing you to laugh in return.

"I suppose not." Brushing a strand of (h/c) hair behind your ear, you flashed a friendly smile back at him - your mood becoming somewhat lighter. "So what are you doing down in the sewer anyway?"

"A storm blew me away. Blew the whole—"
"(Y/n), D-DON'T listen to h-him-!"