Cut Your Bangs [S.Barber]

chapter eight

After a long day at school, Forest was not in the mood for discussion. Unfortunately, when she arrived back home, her parents and Allen all sat in the living room. They stared at her.

Beatrice, still in her jacket, set her back down on the floor and put down her headphones. She had been listening to Stanley's playlist on her Walkman.

"What's this about?" She asked. "Everything." Allen began. "Allen, please." Marissa held up her hand to her son. "Let us talk to Beatrice."

Allen rolled his eyes. He stood up and walked upstairs. "Bea..." Began her father. She bit her lip nervously. "Yeah..." She hesitated.

"Allen told us you have been smoking." Marissa murmured. Forest scoffed and looked to the side with an eye roll.

"Don't roll your eyes at us. This is serious." Interrupted her father in an angry tone. "For the last time. I didn't smoke anything. I told him a million times and he wouldn't believe me." Forest took in a deep breath in attempt to remain calm.

"Bea, we're worried about you. Allen is, too." Marissa said softly. "You aren't you."

"And this Stanley boy... he's a bad influence, baby. If you weren't smoking and he was.. what if you get second-hand smoke?" Johnathan worried.

"I was never me. Now I am. So, please, just let me live, okay? Everyone in this house doesn't fucking want me to have fun. I made friends for once! Now you say they're a bad influence." Beatrice complained. "Watch your language—" Began her father.

"No, I won't watch my language! This is bullshit! I paint my room, oh such a tragedy, I pierce my nose, cut my hair, so what?!" She shouted.

"Beatrice—"

"Call me Forest. I hate that fucking name." Beatrice turned around and made her way back out the front door.  So her parents could not follow after her, she ran through her backyard, then the neighbor's back yard.

She ran all the way downtown, where she then made her way to the subway station. She had to get to Sydney's house. She would understand her. She didn't want to see Stanley just yet. In fact, ever since her brother spoke to her about the smell from her room a few days ago, Forest avoided Stanley whenever she could. She stopped sitting with the group, and instead hid out in the bathroom.

This was exactly what she feared from the beginning. Her family does not cope with any sort of change. She walked down the steps of the subway.

On the subway train, she leaned back on the seat, her headphones on. Stanley had great taste in music. She really enjoyed listening. She opened one of her English books which was homework for the next day.

All of a sudden, she felt a presence in front of her. She looked up. Stanley was there. "I've been worried about you." He sighed. Forest looked back down at her book.

Stanley pursed his lips. "Are you just not going to say anything... it's been nearly a week, you know... since you spoke to me.. or anyone." He mumbled. "Did you get in trouble? Are you okay?" He guessed.

She did not respond. "Forest." Stanley reached forward and pushed down her headphones. She finally looked him directly in the eyes.

"My parents don't want us to talk anymore." She explained. "They can't do that." Stanley shook his head. "Plus, we still have the project." He added.

"I know." The redhead nodded. She looked out the window of the train. Of course, it was only just the flashing of the lights on the tunnel walls.

Stanley looked the same way. They stared at each other through the reflection of the window. Forest continued to stare at herself while Stanley turned back to her.

"You look...really nice today." He trailed off. Forest turned to him. "I missed you, Stan." She chuckled. Stanley smiled. "Where are you running off to?" He asked. "Originally Syd's. Unless... you have any suggestions?" Forest responded.

"Well, originally, I was headed to watch s movie.. so if you'd like to join.." Stanley offered. "Sure." Forest agreed.

"Great." Stanley reached in his bag, pulling out the camera. "Of course." Forest playfully rolled her eyes. "Forest Sarrison, how do you feel about going to the movies with Stanley Barber?" He asked in a news reporter voice.

She blushed and looked off to the side in embrassement. There were other people in the cart, staring. "Stan." She covered her face. "Tell me, Forest." He put the camera closer to her face.

She giggled while she huddle up in the corner, against the wall. "Stop." She laughed and held up one hand to cover the camera.

At the movie theatre, they ended up getting tickets for the new Harry Potter movie, Goblet of Fire, which had come out that November.

"That was my favorite Harry Potter movie so far." Said Forest once they walked out of the theatre. "You're only saying that cause Robert Pattinson was in it." Stanley raised his eyebrows suspiciously. Forest scoffed. Stanley began walking out onto the streets back towards the subway station.

"You're one to talk. I saw you smile when Emma Watson came on." Forest teased. "Cant blame you. Shes gorgeous. The clothing designers did amazing with her dress for that Yule Ball part." Rambled Forest. "I really wanna be an actress. How cool would that be?" She added excitedly.

"If you want to be an actress, go for it." Stanley turned to her. "You called my acting bad." She tilted her head and squinted her eyes at the boy, but slowly a smile crept onto her lips.

"Yeah." Stanley simply said. It went silent between them for a moment. They burst out laughing.

They ran down the subway stairs, making it just as the train was about to leave. "Stan, can I sleep at your house tonight? I don't think I can go back yet." She sighed.

Stanley stared back out the window with a frown. "You've got it luckier than you think, Forest." He murmured. She remained silent, staring ahead at the boy.

"You can sleep over. Sure." He faltered. "Thanks, Stan." She smiled sadly.

By the time they reached the subway station to walk back to Stanley's, it was pouring rain outside. It rained more often than it snowed in Pennsylvanian winters.

Forest and Stanley were unsure what to do. They had to walk back home, and Forest wouldn't even have a change of clothes at Stanley's house.

"Shit." Stanley hesitated. Forest pursed her lips. "Come on." Forest took the boy's hand. He stared down at it for a moment. "It's only water." She chuckled.

They ran out onto the street. They continued to run hand in hand, their clothes and hair getting soaked. By the time they reached Stanley's house, he was eager to go inside.

Forest, on the other hand, stood in front of the house. She kept her grip on Stanley's hand, and pulled him back towards her. "You should put the camera on your porch and we can get a video of us in the rain." She convinced.

Stanley grinned. He ran to the porch and took his camera out of the backpack, setting it on one of the porch chairs so it wouldn't get wet.

As soon as Stanley arrived beside Forest, she jumped in a puddle, splashing the water all over him. He scoffed. He kicked a puddle of water in her direction.

She laughed. Forest reached her hands forward, accidentally pushing them both down to a position they always seemed to find themselves in.

Forest held herself up over Stanley. She stared down into his hazel eyes. Stanley's lips were parted slightly. It was darker, now, the sun having completely gone down.

Neither of them would move. Suddenly, a bright light shined at them, then a car honk. Forest looked up at the car which was waiting to pass by, but was blocked by the two teenagers lying on the road.

Forest quickly got up, as did Stanley. They moved off to the side in embrassement, allowing the car to pass.