Chapter Three:
The Truth Comes Out
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

      After the strange newspaper articles at Ben's house Maya went home. Of course, Richie decided to tagalog with her.

      "So what did you wanna talk about?" Richie asked, turning his head toward the girl. His tone became softer, more caring and gentle instead of loud and brash.

    "I want to do it in private." Maya responded, pulling at the hairties on her wrist. Richie quickly stopping her, a worried expression on his face. 

      "Oh, ho, ho!" Richie smirked, letting go of her hand. "It's that kind talk, I get it."

     Maya gasped and smacked him on the arm "No! No, it's not! It's important."

      He chuckled but nodded silently. The rest of the short bike home was quiet. No jokes from Richie as he was far too worried about his best friend to even think of any.

      How would she tell him? Would he accept her?

      "We're here!" Richie shouted throwing the door open, slamming it behind him once Maya had entered. "Mr. B! Josh the posh!"

      "Hey, dad, Josh!" Maya yelled, plopping herself on the couch next to Josh and Richie.

      "What's for dinner?" Maya called, turning her head to look into the kitchen from the couch.

      "Tacos." David replied, cutting up some tomatoes. "Richie, are you staying for dinner?" David looked up from the tomatoes and other vegetables.

      "Yeah." Richie nodded and turned towards the tv. They watched the movie in silence until David finished cooking dinner.

      Shortly after the movie, dinner was ready. The family, and Richie, gathered around the table. Although he was definitely considered family to the three.

      The table was filled with chatter and laughter. Maya looked around the table with a soft smile on her face. Though her life wasn't perfect by far, she was certainly happy.

    b "So, Maya, how was the quarry?" Josh asked, after taking a sip of his drink.

"It was good! Richie won the chicken-fight." Maya took a sip of her drink, eyeing her best friend.

      "That's not the only thing I won! Am I right, Josh?" Richie turned to with his hand up, slowly putting it down when he shook his head. "Okay, tough crowd, huh? Got it.."

      "And we went to Ben's house after." Maya finished her taco before continuing,  "Is it okay if Beverly comes over for a sleepover? Like tomorrow or the next day?"

      "If her parents are okay with it. " David nodded, before continuing his conversation with Josh.

      Maya finished her meal in silence and waited for Richie to finish his. When he did she took both of their plates and quickly put them into the sink.

      She grabbed Richie's hand and pulled him up the stairs to her room. She slammed the door and pushed him onto the chair while she sat on the bed. She moved so fast that he could barely keep up with her.

      "Woah, what's so important?" Richie asked, looking at the nervous girl infront of him. "Are you okay?"

      "I-I have something..something to tell you." she whispered and started to fiddle with her hands. Richie was about to make a joke, but he decided against it after he realized how serious she was.

      "Hey, are you okay? Did somene hurt you? If they did I swear, I will fuck them up." Richie stood quickly, but seeing her hurt expression caused him to he quickly sit beside her. "I'm the only one that gets to mess with you."

      "B-before I tell you.. I just.. if you don't wanna.. if you don't want to be friends anymore. Then that's okay, that's okay. I'll understand.." she whispered, looking towards him with teary eyes. "Just please don't tell anyone."

      "Hey, hey, hey, listen, I'll always be your friend, no matter what." Richie reached forward and took her hands into his, giving her a comforting squeeze.

      "Richie.. I'm.. I.. I like girls, Richie. Like, I like like them.." Maya managed before hiding her head in her hands. "I'm a lesbian."

      Richie gently removed them, and looked at her with a soft smile. Maya stared down at her hands, tears staining her cheeks.

      "It's okay, I like girls, too" Richie joked pulling her in for a tight hug. "They're hot."

      "You're not m-mad?" Maya sniffled, looking up at him. "Or-Or freaked out?"

      "No, of course not. Girls are great. When did you realize?" Richie sat her down on the bed beside him.

      "Well, about year..I think.. before we moved here." Maya answered, "But I thought it would just.. go away.. And then I'd start liking boys. But it didn't."

      "Is that why you've been so anxious?"

Maya nodded before hugging him tightly again. She was shocked that he accepted her so easily. It overjoyed her that she hsd someone to talk to about this.

      "Any girls in particular you like?" He smirked, shoving her lightly. Maya went red as she hid her face in her hands.

      "B-Bev.." Was her short, quiet reply. "Beverly.."

      "I knew it!" Maya blushed deeper as she fiddled with her fingers. She took another deep breath. "You were lesbianing all over her."

      "D-Do you think the rest of the losers will accept me?"

      "Duh, and if they don't.. well that's their fault. They lost an amazing girl and an amazing best friend. I'll stay with you. No matter what. We don't need those bitches anyway."

      Maya nodded and she wrapped her arms around him tightly again. She took a few deep breaths and pulled away to wipe her eyes.

      "Thanks, Rich. I'm glad you're my best friend. Love you."

      She stood up and pulled him up with her. Richie laughed as she wiped her face off and turned on her green stereo.
 
      "Alright, now that we got all that sappy stuff out of the way, dance with  me?" She had always used dance to get her emotions back into check, especially after moments like these. That's why she was on the competition dance team at school.

      As Died In Your Arms played the two teens danced the night away, seemingly without a care in the world. For once in her life, Maya felt free. She felt free from the worries about herself and her feelings. She felt free from the chains.

****

      The next day she got a call from Beverly, an extremely distressed Beverly. Maya immediately got dressed and told her dad she was going to Beverly's. He nodded while flipping the channels on the T.V. Maya quickly mounted her bike and started to ride towards Beverly's house.

      As she rode past Richie's house, he was walking out of the door, so she stopped the bike and waited for him. They rode to Beverly's together. The two of them caught up with the other loser's relatively quickly. Maya giggled as she listened to the friendly bickering from behind and in front of her.

      When they arrived at her house, Beverly ran down the metal steps quickly, clearly scared out of her mind.

      "I need to show you something." She said glancing out he building before glancing back at the group, her eyes landing on Maya before drifting to the rest of the group. "Now."

     "What is it?" Eddie asked, glancing at Maya, hoping to see her looking at him. He wanted to be brave for her. He thought she would finally notice her.

      "More than we saw at the quarry?" Richie teased, Maya turned to glare at him and opened her mouth to snap back when Eddie cut her off.

      "Jesus Christ, Richie." Maya scoffed, rolling her eyes. "You're unbelievable."

      "Shut up! Just shut up, Richie!" Eddie snapped, turning to glare at the trashmouth.

     "My dad'll kill me if he finds out I had.. boys in the apartment.." Beverly looked uneasy, as she glanced back and forth from Maya to Bill. Maya felt a wave of worry wash over her. She looked more scared than when they had arrived.

      "W-we'll a lookout. Richie, st-stay here." Bill said, pointing at Richie. They all dropped their bikes and ran towards the stairs.

      "Whoah, whoah, whoah, whoah, what if her dad comes back?" Richie shouted, looking towards Maya for help.

      "Do what you always do. Start talking." Stan snapped, walking up the stairs, Maya following soon after.

      "Sorry, Rich!" She called down, peering over the railing.

      "It is a gift!" Richie called back, letting out a huff and leaning on his bike.

****

      The loser's crowded in the small hallway in front of a door. Maya's heart raced as the hallway light flickered above them, highlighting the eery atmosphere.

      "In there." She said backing away from the door slightly, bumping into Maya. She put a hand on her shoulder in a comforting way, "It's okay, Bev."

      "What is it?" Maya turned her head to Eddie, her eyes softening at his fearful expression.

      "You'll see." Beverly answered.

      "Are you taking us to your bathroom? I just want you to know that eighty-nine percent of worst accidents in homes are caused in bathrooms. And, and, and, and it's where all the bacteria and fungi are.. it's not a very sanitary place.." Eddie rambled on and on. Beverly slowly opened the door to reveal the room was covered in blood. "I knew it." Eddie and Maya started gagging,

      Maya was never a fan of blood. Of any kind. Fake or real. Richie thought it was hilarious when he saw her reactions to horror movies he forced her to go to.

      "Actually, Eddie, there's more bacteria and germs on a doorknob than there is on the toliet seat." Maya muttered. "So.. have fun with that information."

      Eddie's eyes widened as he began gagging again, "What the hell?"

      "You see it?" Beverly asked, looking at the group. Maya nodded, she could see it, and she didn't want to see it.

      "Yes."

      "Uh, yeah, it's like Eddie's mom's-" Maya started, but her voice trailed off, "Nevermind."

      "What happened in here?"

      "My dad couldn't see it.. I-I thought I might be crazy." Beverly said with a sigh.

      "Well if you're crazy, we're crazy."

      "We.. c-can't leave it like this," Bill said. Eddie looked at the rest of the group, shocked and disgusted. He didn't want to clean it, he didn't even want to be near it. Until he saw Maya nodding in agreement he quickly decided to help her. He wanted to impress her, and he thought this might be a good way to do it.

      After the cleaning supplies were found the group quickly got to work. They scrubbed and wiped until the entire bathroom was clean. Because there was seven of them, this happened relatively quickly.

      Maya went to go help get the rest of the bags, but stopped when she heard Beverly's angelic laughter. She stared at the girl in awe, and a tinge of jealousy at Bill. She hadn't even heard Ben walk up beside her. Maya sighed, leaning against the door as she watched them.

      "Do you like him?" He asked quietly, startling the girl.

      "Who? Bill? No, No, I don't." She said after calming her breathing. Her eyes fell back to Beverly. "He's not my... type."

      "You don't?" He asked, louder this time as she had followed him out of the hallway.

      "No, I don't." She confirmed. Ben looked at her suspiciously. Maya got nervous, could he tell that she was looking at Beverly? She didn't want anyone else to know, she couldn't risk being outed. Her life would surely be over if that ever happened.

***

      "No, I love being your personal doorman. Really! Could you idiots have taken any longer?" Richie complained, riding in circles around the group.

      "Shut up, Richie!" Eddie snapped, rolling her eyes. He was tired of his continous comments.

      "Yeah, shut up, Richie." Stan agreed, rolling his eyes as he gripped the bike's handles tightly.

      "Oh, okay, trash the trashmouth, I get it. Hey, I wasn't the one scrubbing the bathroom floor and imagining her sink went all Eddie's mom's vagina on Halloween!"

      "She didn't imagine it. I-I s-s-s-saw something, too. " Bill said, stopping his bike. The rest of the loser's following suit.

      "You saw blood too?" Stan asked, stopping in his tracks.

      "Not blood. I saw G-g-georgie.. it seemed so real. I mean, it seemed like him.. but there was this.." He paused, looking at the ground. "This-"

      "A clown." Eddie finished "Yeah, I saw him too." Bill looked at Ben and Stan, who gave nods of confirmation. Beverly stood beside Maya, focusing on the ground under her feet.

      "Wait, can only virgins see this stuff? Is that why I'm not seeing this shit?" Richie asked, looking around.

      "Richie, listen, you are going to be the last person to lose your virginity." Maya sighed, rolling her eyes. "Especially when you say shit like that."

      Richie gasped, and was about to retaliate when the group heard yelling coming from the woods. "Excuse me, that was impolite!"

      "Oh shit, that's Belch Huggin's car. We shou- we should probably get out of here." Eddie said nervously.

      "Wait, isn't that the home schooled kid's bike?" Bill observed.

"Yeah, that's Mike's." Eddie confirmed, becoming more and more uncomfortable.

      "We have to help him." Beverly said bravely, looking up from the ground and over at Maya.

      "Yeah! We do! I've met Mike a couple times. He's really nice." Maya agreed, "Always compliments me on my hair."

     "We should?" Richie questioned, raising his hand, "Seriously?"

      "Yes!" Beverly replied, dropping her bike. The rest of the loser's following suit.

      "Wait, guys are we just gonna.. leave our bikes in the middle of the street? Yeah? Okay.." Maya asked the group, who ignored her. She sighed and rolled her bike to the grass. 

      Maya quickly caught up with the rest of the group, smiling when she saw Beverly nail Henry in the head with a rock.

      Hot. She thought, thankful she didn't speak it outloud.

      "Nice throw." Stan said, looking at Beverly. Maya nodded in agreement before picking up a rock. The other picking up rocks too when Mike made his way over to them.

      "You losers are trying too hard. She'll do you, you just gotta ask nicely. Like I did." Henry said, grabbing his crotch. Maya felt anger boil in her stomach as she held back the urge to vomit. She looked towards Ben, who let out an angry scream as he chucked the rock at Henry.

      Maya followed suit and hurled a rock at the group, hitting Henry square in the chest. She picked up another rock and got ready to throw it again when Beverly launched one. The Bower's gang and the loser's club all picked up rocks and started trying to hit each other.

      "Rock war!" Richie yelled before getting hit in the face with a rock. Maya cringed, looking down at her best friend.

      "That's gotta hurt." The group of eight started launching rocks at the group of three. Upon seeing a rock narrowly missing Beverly, Maya narrowed her eyes. She picked up rock after rock and launched them at the group. She mainly aimed for Henry and Belch because Victor had never given her any problems. In fact, he was, relatively kind to her. Sort of.

      "Fuck you, bitch!" Belch had shouted at Beverly, before getting hit in the head by her and in the nuts by Maya. They had landed at least three more rocks on Henry when he surrendered.

      The loser's all started to make their way back to the road, but Maya waited for Richie. She wanted to make sure he was okay.

      "Go blow your dad, you mullet wearing asshole!" Richie snapped flipping him off with both hands. On his way out he grabbed Maya by the shoulder and pulled her with him.

      "Is your head okay?" She asked searching his face for any signs of pain from him.

      "Yeah, I got a hard head." He joked and went to knock on his head for proof, but winced when his fist hit it.

      "We'll put ice on it at dinner tonight." She frowned and patted him on the shoulder.

      "Who says I'm coming to dinner tonight?" Richie smirked as he threw an arm around her.

      "Rich, when do you not come to dinner?" She shook her head with a soft smile on her face.

      "Fair enough.." He shrugged as they caught up with the group. Maya's eyes scanned the group until her eyes landed on Beverly. She excused herself from Richie and skipped over to her.

      "Hey, Bev!" She said with a grin on her face. Beverly's face lit up when she saw the brunette.

      "Hey, Maya! Guess what?" She said excitedly, as they walked down the path side by side.

      "What? What? What?" Maya questioned, her voice raising an octave after each word.

      "My dad said I could stay the night!" She grinned and did jazz hands.

      "He did? Oh, that is so great! Tonight?" Beverly nodded happily, and hi-fiving each other.

      "Yes! This is great! You're gonna love my family. Oh, also Richie is coming over for dinner tonight. I hope that's okay." Maya asked nervously, afraid the inappropriate loud mouthed boy would throw her off. "He always does, but uh-"

      "That's fine. Just don't tell my dad." She said, trying to joke, but Maya felt as if something was off. She decided that she would ask about it tonight.

      "Thanks, guys, but you really shouldn't have done that. He'll be after you, too, now." Mike called, glancing back at Maya. He recognized her and raised his hand to wave. She waved back with a smile

      "Oh, no, no. Bowers? He's always after us." Eddie explained with a shrug.

      "I guess that's one t-t-thing we all have in common." Maya nodded, having a flashback to the time he sexually assaulted her after he caught her staring at a girl at the pool last summer. The H that was carved into her back stung at the memory.

      She shivered at the memory and sub-consciously leaned closer to the girl beside her.

      "Yeah, home school, welcome to the loser's club!" Richie shouted from the back.

      "The greatest people you will ever meet!" Maya agreed, throwing her hand up.

      She, Richie, and Beverly parted ways after finding their bikes and made their way to Maya's house.

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{ Word Count: 3069 }

{ A/n: ha thats gay }

{ Edited: Yes }