imagination , dwayne hoover

chapter two

Still very very tired and not very conscious, I was quite rudely awoken by my head being pushed. I tried to open my eyes and adjust to the light so I could understand what was happening, and came upon the observation that my head had drooped right onto Dwayne's shoulder. Of course he had to think the best option was to just shove my head off. So kind. "I'm sorry." I mumbled a bit and closed my eyes again, resting my head against the back of the seat once again and trying to keep it in its place this time. 

It was as if I couldn't just sleep. This time, a honk woke me up. A honk from our car, should I add. Out of reaction, my head jolted forward and my eyes slammed open. No one even really noticed I was there, which wasn't a bad thing per say. It became clear to me they were preoccupied with something else. "What happened at Sunset Manor?" Frank, Olive's uncle, quizzed. Mrs. Hoover rolled her eyes and spoke back towards us, "Frank, don't encourage him." As great as that statement was, it was quickly ignored by Olive's grandpa explaining, "I'll tell you what happened. I paid my money. They took my money. I should be able to do what the fuck I want!" 

I couldn't understand what was going on if I tried. Missing important moments was a specialty of mine. "He started snorting heroin." Mrs. Hoover spoke to Frank, in reference to Olive's grandfather. "He started snorting heroin?" Frank questioned back to him. "I'm old!" Before I could know what else they said, my hearing became fuzzy. My heart dropped to my knees as my body began to feel like it was 90 degrees in the car and I was on fire. My heart continued to sink until it couldn't anymore and my breathing paced as my thoughts raced. 

I didn't like drugs. I never really did them, of course, but the premise of addiction and all was enough to scare me away. You'd probably read this and think, "Ok, so why the fuck are you acting like a crazy person to the sound of drugs then?" and I'll tell you... that I can't tell you. I just can't. I know why, I've seen it all and heard it all. It's not like it's missing from my brain and placed into the thoughtless void that is forgotten memories. No. I just refuse. I don't need pity and empathy. It's boring.  That being said, I couldn't quite stop the ongoing panic attack.

Nobody was looking at me, and yet their eyes burned thousands of holes into my body. They were staring into my soul, feelings and thoughts with their silent avoidant gazes. Digging their claws deep, deep into me and not letting go. I was exposed. I felt like a jar of jelly that had been left out on a hot, sunny day. I would assume it was visible because I felt a tap on my nose, accompanied with a "Boop!" by one miss Olive. The sides of my mouth curled up in a smile. I booped her nose right back, and we grinned at each other before she put her headphones back on and continued to listen to music. 

I had booped back to reality. Nobody cared. No one was watching me. I was by myself in my mind. I didn't feel all that much better because my mind wasn't too kind to me. I had brought a stuffed animal with me because.. you know.. emotional support! A brown bunny from build a bear, who I've had since I was a toddler. She was quite roughed up, but I loved her anyway. I hugged her tight as an attempt to comfort myself and away from a roaming brain trapped in a negative biome. 

This time, someone was watching me. Dwayne. Who did you think? Did you read the title of the book? Anyway, he didn't seem all that impressed with my stuffed-cuddle skills. Crossing his arms in one of the most teen angst forms I have ever seen in my entire life, he looked me up and down and raised his eyebrows to signal he did not approve. Or he was intrigued. I don't really know for sure, there's a reason we communicate with words. He took out his notepad and wrote down, "What are you, 3?" Ouch. 

"That's quite rude. You must promptly apologize to Princess Bunny." I said, holding the stuffed bunny up to him and making a sad puppy dog face. He rolled his eyes with a smirk and shook her hand, forming an alliance between him and the inanimate object. I cracked a smile. "She says thank you. She appreciates your kindness to the bunny species!" With a thumbs up from me and Princess Bunny, he turned away and faced the window again. 

"Aren't you a little old for that, kiddo?" Olive's grandpa asked. I shook my head a simple no and made Princess Bunny wave at him, while I giggled from behind her. He nodded without so much as a smile and faced forward again. He scared me a bit. I guess he doesn't like stuffed animals. Turning back, I saw Dwayne was asleep. Now, if I had a sharpie, you can guess he'd wake up with flowers drawn all over his arms. I don't have a sharpie, unfortunately. Could of made him a little garden. Instead, I put Princess Bunny in his arms. He must've been somewhat awake, because he held her tightly. Who's 3 now?!

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hey guy! (not a typo.) sorry this chapter is so short, it was a bit rushed because i rlly wanted to update :( i hope u liked it anyway. shoutout to princess bunny. next chap will be a lot longer i swear LOL

word count : 931