the beginning of the end | fillie

fifteen

CHAPTER FIFTEEN:
• FUN DAY •

"tony, i swear to god if you don't stick by me, you're not getting cotton candy!" millie scolds as he stays still.

she sighs, "finally. now come on," she grabs his hand, "but this is fun day! why are you yelling!?" he whines.

she lets out a breath, "sorry. i have some stuff on my mind. how about let's sit down at a table and just eat some carnival food, yeah?" she suggests as he nods.

"johnny, i can't keep dragging you." she turns to him as he laughs.

shaking her head, she leads everyone to a table that could fit them all, "what do you guys want?"

"cotton candy! popcorn! and hotdogs!" star exclaims with a clap as she nods, "i'll add nachos to that because why not. jason, ethan and leo, stay here with them."

they all nod and she turns around to walk to the food stalls as tommy and robbie follows her behind.

"okay, what's up?" tommy asks her.

"what do you mean?" she asks back.

"you've been off all day. like off off." robbie says, "and clearly something is up because this is not you."

"nothing is up. i'm just really tired." she whispers as she queues up in the lane.

"yeah, no shit but i can tell something is on your mind." tommy says as she sighs.

"i have this feeling that something terrible is going to happen and knowing joseph is getting out soon, it doesn't make it any better. i'm never scared, that's fucking pathetic but.. i don't know." she explains quietly with a shrug.

"when is he getting out?" robbie asks her.

"that's the thing, i don't know. the inside information i got was only to inform me he was coming out, they didn't mention when. which is more nerve racking because i don't know which days i need to be prepared or not hang at the orphanage as much or just not go places quiet." she places a hand on her forehead with a sigh, "i mean, why am i even scared? god, i'm so stupid."

"mills, you're not stupid. it's okay to be scared, we know why you are. did they at least give you an estimated month?" he asks.

"like three months counting from around two months ago. i can't do fucking math."

"so it's somewhere next month. we all will stay by you then, so you won't be alone." he smiles at her, "you'll be fine. he can't hurt you."

"i know that." she lets out a scoff, "it's just, i know i'm stronger now and i can fight him but i know once i see him, everything will come rushing back and i'll turn weak again. he knows my weaknesses." she looks up into his eyes.

"then we will fight him for you!" tommy cuts in and turns her to face him, "we will protect you, 'kay?"

"i hate you." she states as he nods, "i know."

"next up!"

"can i get eight cotton candy's? and four popcorns, two sweet and two salt, and then six hotdogs." millie says.