Chermont Street

Chapter 2

Sam kept running down the straight shot sidewalk. Maybe it was because she only had one eye, but she lost the kid she was chasing. In a split second an arm wrapped around her shoulders and a knife pressed against her throat. "Why the hell are you following me?" The voice was light, airy but soft and present, more feminine but Sam couldn't tell for sure. "Woah hold on!" She held her hands up in defense, she didn't have a weapon but this kid couldn't tell. "I just, I saw you leave school! I-I'd never seen you before!" The tight grip relaxed as the kid stepped around. They frowned "Usually when you want to get to know someone you don't chase them." Sam couldn't hear them "What? I can't hear you say that again" They narrowed their eyes, "I said don't chase people weirdo".

Sam flinched, she hung her head staring at her shoes. "Oh, uhm, Sorry" the voice grew softer, more apologetic. Sam sighed "It's fine, you're right" She looked up shocked at the open hand extended towards her. "I'm Ari, Ari King. I just moved here from Texas." Sam took it and shook twice. "On the last day of school?" "I've been out for two weeks, y'all are the ones who are taking forever". The two stood awkwardly before Ari spoke up, "I live on the end of Chermont street, you should swing by. Big blue house on the left, can't miss it" Sam smiled "I live right next to you, good to know" Ari shouldered their bag, slipping the knife back into a pocket. "I'll see you around uh, What's your name?" "Sam, Sam Jameson" Ari smiled, a bright smile with a few crooked teeth, they pulled it off though. "See you later Sam" they turned, Sam stared as the short kid with evergreen hair walked down that straight shot street, right into the sunset.

"God I know you can't see out of one eye but you can at least stay on the platform Sam?" Tyler hopped up from the bean bag he was sitting in. They were playing Smash bros in Sam's room. Well, the attic as that's where Sam lives. The fairy lights providing a soft glow and the dormers let in a bit of moonlight. Sam was frowning as Tyler was bunching up the carpet on her floor to get closer to the screen. "For God's sakes! Jd is kicking your ass and she has one fucking arm!" Jd huffed and shook the hair out of her face. "Oh c'mon Cogswell I could beat you using only my feet." Tyler flopped back as the end screen flashed "GAME" the booming voice announcing the winner "Meta Knight!" Jd fist pumped into the air "Suck it Tyler" Arthur stuffed cheetos in his mouth "Guys we need more snacks" Tyler shrugged "I just got paid for helping around the house. Jd rolled her eyes "How the hell am I supposed to bike there?" Arthur jumped up, eyes shining "I can build you a carriage!" The trio flew down the attic ladder. "I'll be there soon!" Sam peeled the bandages from her face, sighing she applied new gauze and made her way carefully down the stairs. Poking her head into the door down the hall she smiled "Hey Max, We're going to Sev Elev. You wanna come?" Her little sister sighed "God damn you know I want to. I can't I'm packing for camp but hey grab me a bag of talkies would you?" Sam shot her a thumbs up and ran out to the garage.

"What the hell are you nimrods doing?" Sam watched Arthur attach an old wagon that he'd modified up to Sam's bike hitch. "You gotta take Jd dude, Tyler and I have the legs of a 6 year old" Tyler frowned "Hey, I've been working out"

Sam dumped the food onto the counter as the tired junior popped his gum and began scanning. "Ty how much cash you got?" Tyler pulled out his wallet "Enough, trust me dude I'm loaded" After 20 years of slow beeping the acne faced guy sighed and in the most monotone voice offered up the price; "12.89" Tyler threw thirteen bucks and the group ran.

The Air was cool, blowing her hair out of her face Sam grinned "Dude I fucking love summer!" She laughed before skidding to a stop throwing Jd forward. "Sam what the hell?" She wasn't paying attention, her eyes were locked onto to a familiar saddle bag, lying next to a familiar blue truck. "Sam what is it?" Arthur adjusted his gloves craning his neck to look at her. "Ari" Tyler looked annoyed "Who's Ari? C'mon dude I want to go home and play more!" Sam shook her head "We gotta go help! We can't leave them alone with Styles and Katrina, and whoever else they're running with" Jd huffed "Let's make this quick Sam, I don't want to get stabbed again"

The small platoon inched down the grassy hill, almost slipping on the dead leaves once maybe twice. They winced at the scene unfolding at the bottom of the trees. Two guys were holding Ari up by their arms. They looked out of it, blood caked their nose and poured from in between their lips. Their legs couldn't even hold them up as Styles laughed kicking them to their knees. "New here? I'm not stupid I know" He grinned grabbing them by their hair and throwing their head back. They managed a tired scowl "I beg to differ big man." they spit blood into the leaves. Styles grinned and let go of their head, it fell into their chest. "C'mon Styles I'm getting bored and running out of booze!" Katrina and two other girls sat cross legged on a fallen tree grinning, almost empty bottles held lazily between their fingers. Styles put his foot into Ari's chest causing them to spit blood into the air coughing as they sucked air into their lungs. "Ew Styles! The freak spit their gross ass blood on my new shoes!" Styles turned quickly and the group heard a small click. The reflection of the moon bounced off the shiny new switchblade his daddy must've bought him. "Those cost more than you'll ever be worth" He kneeled down grabbing them by their hair again. Ari smirked,"Good. Maybe you'll put the money somewhere else, like a tutor you half wit". Styles brought the blade across their face, they screamed. Sam looked at her friend's "Fucking hell they're gonna kill him!" Arthur frowned "Dude that's obviously a girl" Tyler shook his head "No way" Sam waved her arms "It doesn't matter! What do we do?" They turned to Jd who sighed. "Well we can't fight them" Tyler rolled his eyes, "Thanks Captain obvious." Jd slapped his arm "So, We scare them. You still got that werewolf howl on your phone from your film?" Arthur nodded "Of course" Jd turned to Tyler "Find some rocks and when I say so, start throwing them into the leaves down the hill" Tyler started searching the ground "Sam on my go I need you to scream as loud as you can" Sam nodded "Sure" Jd turned back to the scene unfolding below them. "Ok, Tyler go" Tyler chucked a bolder down the hill, making as much noise as possible. The group at the bottom stopped. Katrina looked around "Styles what the fuck was that?" the big man stood up "What was what?" Jd nodded at Tyler again who threw several smaller rocks. The entire party backed up towards the hill. "Who's out there? I'll fuck you up!" Jd nodded at Arthur, he hit his screen and a howl shook the entire hillside. "Styles what the hell was that? are there wolves?" Katrina was already a third of the way up the hill. "No Kat, we live in the fucking suburbs!" Jd nodded at Arthur again, he hit play and a wave of panic spread through the teens. "Styles c'mon leave the freak and let's go!" Styles looked around, still not convinced. Jd nodded at Sam, she sucked in a deep breath and let a scream pass through her lips that could've shattered glass. That seemed to do it as the six older teens practically trampled each other scampering up the hill. Sam heard the rev of an engine, then the squealing of tires before running down the hill and turning Ari over. "Oh shit!" Ari didn't look good. Three long cuts ran from their temple to their chin and they were shaking. Tyler leaned over "That's going to need stitches" Jd looked at Sam "I'd carry her but I can't" Sam looked at Tyler and Arthur, they shook their heads. Sam sighed "Tyler give me your jacket, Arthur unhook my pegs, you have to take Jd. I'll get Ari. Go!" The three moved fast as Sam wrapped the coat around the shivering kid, she scooped them up bridal style and scaled the steep hillside.

Using the light of the moon it took twenty minutes to get Jd on the back of Arthur's bike and Ari safely secured in the makeshift carriage. Sam mounted her bike when she heard a small voice from behind her. "Thank you" Sam opened her mouth to respond but Tyler beat her to it. "Don't worry about it, you're one of us now. Welcome to the freakshow" Sam smiled and peeled off onto the road, Arthur and tyler close behind her. "Shit!" Sam blinked, "What?" Jd asked, looking concerned. Sam looked back, "I forgot Max's Talkies".