Blondie | Steve Harrington

I

Eloise

Once an unhealthy family is a forever unhealthy family.

Hawkins Indiana, our new forever hometown that's far, far away from sunny California and its beautiful blue skies and beautiful blue oceans where surfing all day was an escape from reality. The creaking old house sat in a neighbourhood that had leaves and dead branches on the ground making a snap every time your foot touched them, winds that made your skin crawl from the cold. The sky was grey and cloudy and couldn't see a single ray of sunlight peaking its way through.

California was my home.

Hawkins was not.  

Boxes upon boxes piled up into the small dimmed lightroom with old paint on the walls and dust around the rims of the floorboards. Never in my life did I think I'd be not happy about a fresh start even if it was in a new place and town. I was still under the same roof as my fucked up family who I dislike more and more each day.

My mother left us when I was younger and I'll never forgive her for leaving behind her children from the monster I have to call my father.

She escaped and we didn't.

I am not able to find the right time to pack my bags and leave this hellhole I was trapped in for sixteen years of my life. With him finding a new wife and daughter it was like being dumped into a trash can and getting the worst treatment any daughter could receive.  My dad wasn't a person whom I considered a father, Neil was a monster with no purpose in life other than bitching and yelling at his kids and wife.

Bringing the last box inside my new room I sighed placing my hands on my hips and looking around knowing how much I would kill to be back home in my old bedroom and the ocean view outside my window. I hate it here already and I'm not sure if I'll ever love being here.

"Fucking hell!" The young voice from Max echoes in the small hallway of our home when several things clatter onto the wooden floor. "Shit." she panicked with worry in her voice as shattered glass splayed all over the place. Mini pieces slipped into my room scattering underneath my bed and dresser "I'll get the broom, don't move." She stood there frozen afraid of who might enter the hallway and see the mess she had made. "Please don't say anything to him about this," she whispered as I leaned down with a dustpan and a small handheld broomstick "You know I wouldn't." With the reassurance of a smile she gave a small thank you and proceeded to stand still.

I would protect Max with all the power I could if she was in trouble with my father. She didn't deserve to be in a family like this, she was just a kid. She was very young when her mom introduced her to us and vice versa. It was a shame that Susan was tricked into falling in love with my father and she was hypnotized by his words and tricks.

By the time night fell and the sky turned dark blue we all sat down around the wooden table with a warm food smell circling the air. "It's not much but it will keep us all full until we can go get more groceries tomorrow." Susan smiled whilst she pulled her chair away to take a seat and join us.

The silence was loud.

Metal clashed with the glass plates as we all ate slowly.

"School starts for you kids tomorrow." my father states with a clear of his throat and looking up for our reactions. School for us wasn't supposed to start until next Monday.

Neither of us wanted to speak up. I for sure didn't and I feared that if I did, he'd get angry. Something so little can trigger him to yell or do other things that you can not mentally prepare yourself for. Billy cleared his throat "I thought we start on Monday? Get a full week in." in the calmest tone Billy could give he eyed him down until he sucked in a breath placing his napkin down on his lap "We called them today and told them you'd be there bright and early tomorrow morning. classes start at eight." with no emotion on his face Billy remained silent giving a slight nod before looking back down to his plate.

Billy has learned from an early age not to get under our father's skin when he talked or radiated anger toward us. From growing up with Billy as my brother he has changed emotionally and physically.

It's strange how something so little happens in your life can change your state of mind and body to where you're not recognizable anymore.

As a kid, he stood up for me all the time from our dad and his terrorizing taunts. I was a very shy kid which meant that I was an easy target for any inconvenience he could throw my way.

From dropping a plate or talking back as curiosity flooded through my young mind, I was always targeted by him and my unnecessary actions. When our mother left the two of us it was Billy's turn to protect me and for me to protect him but the thing was, the intention of raising my voice and talking back to my father was terrifying. I hated it. I cried myself to sleep every night if something happened to me or Billy and on the nights when he would disappear until sunrise, Billy was the one who made sure I had food in my stomach and got into bed by the end of the night before school the next day.

It wasn't easy being a child and now a teenager but I've had to start standing my ground and standing up for Maxine as she didn't ask to be in this type of household. I don't blame her for being the way she is and how she expresses her anger because I would act out as well.

The one thing that turned around was that I had to protect Max from my protector, Billy.

As he grew, so did his attitude. More trauma from our family meant more for us. It was an equal amount of torment, besides the hitting, he let his anger out on us or sometimes others. I know deep down he is still that older brother I grew up loving and caring for but recently I've lost that trust.

The rest of our dinner was silent. Not even a pin drop could make the silence disappear.

I helped Susan out with dishes and clean up before my father told me to.

By the end of the night, I was sitting in my room writing my journal, preparing for my first day of school the next morning.

more coming soon!