Radical | A stranger things story

8: Radical

Today is Saturday. It's been two days since I've hung out with Jenny. That also means Billy and I are getting closer to the due date for our project. I walk downstairs and grab the phone and dial his number. The phone rings a couple of times, but eventually, I hear someone pick up.

"Hello?" I hear him call.

"Hi," I answer.

"Ah, L/N. What's up?" he asks.

"Well, as much as I want to forget about it, we still have the project to do," I answer.

"Oh shit, I forgot that existed," he sighs.

"Yeah," I say.

"Well, nobody is here except Max. My parents are out on a business thing. Wanna come over to my place this time?" he asks.

"Sure, I'll grab my stuff and head over," I state.

He hangs up, and I head upstairs and put on a hoodie and sweats. I hear the front door open, and I peek out of my door to see who it is. Oh, it's my mother. I hear her say to Mateo that she is dropping him off at Mrs. Wheeler's house. I spray a bit of perfume in the air and walk through it.

The Wheelers have always been a close family friend. Mrs.Wheeler always treated me like I was her daughter. Like, actually, her daughter. It's always nice to know how it feels every once and a while. 

I slip on my new blue converse hightops and grab my textbook and sticky notes. I get downstairs and make myself a hot chocolate. It occurs to me that I am going to Billy's house and should probably make him and his sister one too. I grab two more cups and pour the mix into them. I pour milk into them and warm them up.

"Who are those for?" my mother asks.

I jump and turn around to see her sitting at the counter. 

"My friends," I respond.

"Who are your friends?" she questions.

"Billy and Max," I respond.

"How are you going to carry all that on the way to their house?" asks.

"They live across the street," I say.

She is silent for a moment.

"Sorry for leaving so long this time," she says.

"Mateo and I have been doing fine. You don't need to apologize anymore," I utter flatly.

"Why don't I need to apologize?" she asks.

"Because you are going to keep doing it. It's not worth apologizing for anymore," I snap.

Just as I say that both of the hot chocolates are ready. I put our hot chocolate on my textbook and carefully pick it up. I open the door with my free hand but I hear my mother quietly call my name. I sigh and slowly turn around. 

"What?"

"I'm still sorry," she responds.

"If you were sorry, you wouldn't do it," I say.

I turn around but figure now it's time to ask the question I have been wanting to ask since it started. I quickly face her.

"Where do you even go?" I ask.

She stares at me but stays silent. I nod and walk out, slamming the door in the process. 

When I get to Billy's house, I ring the doorbell. 

I hear Billy yell, "Max get the door!"

I cringe, remembering my brother used to yell at me for that too. I hear footsteps, and then the door opens. Max smiles when she sees me then her eyes quickly fall to the hot chocolate.