Baby, You're All That I Want

Five

Something hard hit me directly in the middle of my forehead. Disoriented, my eyes fluttered open, blurry images clouding my vision. The something hard came back for a second time, harder this time, shoving my head further back into the pillow.

"Urrrrghhh." I mumbled, leaning up on one elbow, and realizing I was not alone in this bed. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I realized what the something hard was...an elbow. An elbow that belonged to my sister. Elle was crammed onto the small twin bed with me, her arm flung up over her head, which is why I had been gobsmacked by it.

I looked at the lump on her bed, and recognition dawned on me. Max had slept over last night. Doing my best not to jostle her, I moved Elle's arm and climbed out of the bed over her. I pulled the dislodged blankets back over her, and crept out of our room.

Hopper's curtain was pulled, and his snores issued loudly through it. I squinted as the sunlight suddenly cast through the room, from the kitchen window. I quickly made a pot of coffee, watching impatiently as the slow drip drip of the brown bitter liquid hit the glass bottom. My mind was full of confusing images from last night. As details flowed back to me, the more I woke up, heat burned dully in the pit of my stomach.

Yesterday was one for the books. So much had happened over that 24 hour period, and I wasn't sure what all I was feeling today. The ticking clock on the wall read that it was barely 7am, and too early to call Nancy. Besides, Steve had said Jonathan drove her drunk ass home, so she wouldn't be much help until later. Although, my nerves were getting the better of me, and I needed her to talk to.

I tried to push away the embarrassment, and worry of judgment, while I sipped my coffee and finalized my plan. I would bring her breakfast, climb into her bed, and tell her everything. It was the only way I was going to feel better.

I slipped back into the bedroom, threw on a pair of short biker shorts and an oversized cropped Def Leppard Tee. The acid wash color matched my mood, unsure which side it wanted to be; Black or white, or the weird brown mixture where the colors had been bleached and bled together.

I tossed my hands through my wavy hair, and let it flow down my back. Slipping on my socks and sneakers I scribbled a note for my dad and stuck it to the fridge. As soon as my tires touched the paved road outside of Hawkins, I blasted the rock station through the cab to drown out the noise of my thoughts.

Billy Hargrove was bad news, he treated people poorly, had questionable intentions, but for some reason he had shown me a side that I was sure he hadn't shown anyone else. My heart thrummed appreciatively in my chest thinking about him.

I pulled into the diner as I entered town, ordering the largest greasiest breakfast they had. My foot bounced impatiently as I sat on the counter's barstool. I chewed at my bottom lip, watching the first early morning Church goers walk the streets to their designated places of worship.

"Here you go darling." The cook said, placing the big brown paper bag on the counter. "Thanks Benny, I appreciate it." I said smiling, slapping the bills onto the counter for him. He beamed at the tip I had left him, as I exited.

I parked outside of the Wheeler home, and raced to the front door. I could hear Mrs. Wheeler in the kitchen humming, as I knocked on the door. She was shocked to see me, but smiled and let me in. "Nancy is still asleep honey, but you're welcome to hang out with me and wait." she motioned to the kitchen.

I smiled, "Thanks, Mrs. Wheeler, but this is urgent. I'll wake her up."

"Everything ok?" she asked as I made my way towards the stairs. I sighed, and nodded. "No life or death, just typical boy stuff." I laughed, sounding slightly insane I was sure of it. "Ok babe." she said unsure, but allowed me to continue up.