She, Who Feeds - Patrick Hockstetter

1

Streets of Derry, Maine were relatively quiet as it was pronounced a small town. A population of less than 10,000 people. Sad mourning elders who spent the entirety of their life in Derry. Teenage girls who fantasized about leaving town at 18 to escape to LA or Miami in hopes of finding heartthrobs who looked or acted like men such as Johnny Depp or River Phoenix. Or even teen boys who believe they were god's given gift to Derry.

It's late August, the sun is beaming, and it's the first day back at school in Derry High. Class of 88 is celebrating their last first day as they walk or ride to school with friends. And still, the streets are relatively quiet. That's until the sound of tires screeching and a disturbingly loud noise of a Gun's n Roses song blasting from a car radio turns into the student parking lot. Abruptly coming to a stop and being put into park.

Without even having to look, the car was already identifiable and its owner. A blue Trans Am who is nicknamed "Amy" and belongs to Belch Huggins. Not a typically safe or good driver, but still somehow has his license. Emerging from the car along with Belch are his friends Henry Bowers, Patrick Hockstetter, and Victor Criss. Who are typically known as the Bower's gang. Not to be messed with.

Just their presence alone was enough to ruin someone's day. The four biggest bully's of Derry who were also a part of class of 88. How'd they make it this far to their last year of high school? Who knows... They all lean up against Belch's car, scouting out the school they've spent their last four years at. Looking for fresh meat to pick on or something new and interesting to pick apart in a senseless conversation. Their leader, Henry Bowers, lights a cigarette. Immediately taking a nice long drag as the cigarette was lit.

Henry was rather good looking but a total dick. He was fit enough to pursue a sport, perhaps football. Could've been a heartthrob to every girl in school. But instead chooses to spend his time terrorizing the town with his friends or hanging out in the junkyard as if it was his second home.

And his "best friend", Patrick Hockstetter who wasn't any better than Henry. A tall lanky weirdo who was the worst of them all. If there was anybody to stay away from in this town, it was him. His energy was unsettling enough. There were numerous stories about him that no one dared to speak about. Not even to any newcomers, they'd have to learn the hard way. He was like a bad omen to Derry. Probably the most messed up person to ever live in this town. And he was only 18.

Henry stubbed out his cigarette on the ground beneath him with his boot. He motioned for the boys to follow him inside the building and they did. The air immediately shifted once they walked through those double doors. Smiles turned into frowns, laughter turned into whispers, and people who were approaching their direction turned around and walked the other way. Yes, they were that bad.

They propped themselves up on lockers by a water fountain where a group of freshman boys immediately scattered away from. They all went back to talking, and Henry observed. As more people settled into the school building, the air suddenly shifted into something darker. A feeling that was way worse than the Bower's gang could ever give to anyone. Henry looked towards the entrance of the school and saw her. Josephine Valentine.

It seemed like she had disappeared over the summer and has now come back hotter than ever. Who was this girl? Henry couldn't believe his eyes. He couldn't believe this was Josephine Valentine. The girl he would torment with Patrick since his early days in elementary school. Her newfound confidence was visible along with her new good looks. Henry's head wasn't the only one that turned. Everybody did.

They were stunned to say the least. This "weird" girl who loved the band Queen and reading books had visibly changed so much in the span of three months. Her black hair was now past her butt, maybe even longer. She had way better style than last year, a good face and overall she was just... hot.

"Hey", Henry said to catch the boy's attention. He nudged his head towards the school entrance where Josephine was walking down the hall. And they all looked. Victor's eyes narrowed "is that-", Victor began but got cut off by Henry. "Josephine..." Henry mutters under his breath. The four boys watch as she walks down the hallway, hips swaying, bookbag on one shoulder. "I'm gonna talk to her" Henry announces to the boys, waiting as Josephine gets closer to speak.

"Hey, Jo!". She stops just a little bit past them, turning her head to see who had called her name. Immediately seeing Henry and the rest. "Henry" she says as a form of acknowledgement, turning to talk to him. Henry lets out a low whistle as he takes her in with his eyes. Even her voice had gotten sexier. "How was your summer?" Henry asks, his eyes still lingering over her body.

"It was good"

"Just good?"

"Sure... yours?"

Henry crosses his arms, leaning back against the locker, a smirk painted on his face. "Same here, same here...". Josephine simply nods her head, not up for much conversation. "Cool" she says casually and walks away. "Call me!" Henry calls out. Patrick chuckles as he can almost hear the desperation in Henry's voice. They watched as she disappeared down the hallway.

"When did she get a body like that?" Belch asked, finally shifting his gaze back to the boys now that Josephine was out of sight. "Looks like somebody finally inherited their mother's good genes" Patrick commented, licking his lower lip. Victor finally piped up, having the only positive comment in the group. "She looks great, I'm happy for her".

"Don't get too ahead of yourselves, boys. Cause that girl... she's mine". Patrick snorted at Henry's comment. "Since when do you care about that spaz?" Victor chuckled, "She's hot now so Henry wants to get into her pants".

"Fuck off, Criss", Henry said. Victor held his hands up in defense.

--- --- ---

Twisting her lock a few numbers to the left then to the right, Josephine's locker finally opened. "Ahem?" Greta leaned against the locker next to Josephine's, arms crossed, clearly upset. "And where have you been all summer Ms. I'm-too-good-to-pick-up-the-phone?". Josephine chuckled as she shut her locker. "Sorry Greta, just been a bit busy, I suppose". Great rolled her eyes. "And look at you. We went out of school for three months and now you look like America's next top model. Seriously, did you hang out with Cindy Crawford this summer or something?"

Josephine laughed. "I'm flattered, Gret". Greta sighed, changing the topic. "Anyway, first day of senior year, how you feeling?" Josephine shrugged as she touched up her lip gloss with the help of her compact mirror. "Ordinary" she responded. "Could you stop being so nonchalant and maybe tell me something about your summer. Like how do you even look like that now? I mean... not saying that you can't look good but... how?"

Josephine once again shrugged, putting her lip gloss and mirror back into her bag. "I don't know, guess I got tired of looking the same since middle school". Greta locked her arm with Josephine's as they walked down the hallway. "You have to tell me what you did with yourself over the summer. Your hair, your makeup, your clothes... Everything!"

Greta starts going on and on about Josephine's new look. Her voice slowly tunes out of Josephine's head. Back to school meant back to civilization. And seeing all these boys that they passed by in the hallway made her hungry. And they were hungry for her too. But not in the way that she was hungry for them...

She observed every boy they walked past in the hallway. Scouting out for her new victim. For a week or two, she spent it in Arizona with her family, visiting cousins and whatnot. In Arizona where everything happened. She got to feast on a few mindless boys over there. Boys who most likely only wanted her sexually. But it worked out for her in the end. She was fed and temporarily satisfied. But now that she was back home in Derry, she couldn't wait to see which boys would fall right into her hands.