your lips on my red cheeks

all eyes are on me, but mine are on you

It was not okay.

The four of you were now situated in the Wheelers' house, sitting on an incredibly small couch with parents and officers surrounding you. However, you don't know if it was good, but your parents weren't there. Probably busy doing whatever. It was a benefit sometimes; it allowed you to leave home and do whatever you wanted without them pestering you.

"You're the one Jason Carver saw with Eddie Munson during the murder of Patrick McKinney, right?" An officer questioned, but you could tell he already knew the answer. Why else would he ask?

"Fuck off, Phil. Jason has a stick up his ass, from what I know. He's probably going delusional." You commented, leaning back further into the couch with your arms crossed. It earned stern glares from many, as well as gasps from others. You don't know why you made the comment. Your tolerance for the people in this town was quickly lowering, especially if they were some cop that thought Eddie killed people and idolized Jason.

"Now, that is an officer." Mike's dad, Ted, began. He looked at you harshly and pointed towards Phil, "You should have more respect for people like him."

"I should. But I simply don't, Ted." You said bluntly, earning you a smack on both arms from Dustin and Max. With a look towards the girl, you saw her glare and her mouth moving to form the words "shut up." When you focused back on the father, he was red in the face and glaring at you from his chair that he seemed to never get out of. You remembered all your past experiences with him; he always had something to say but never did anything.

"Now, everyone, calm down," Chief Powell said, taking a moment to look at each of you on the couch. "What exactly were you all doing at the lake?"

If there was one thing you were helpful for in the group, it was lying and talking to adults. You could see the other three looking at each other out of your peripheral, causing suspicion to rise in the chief. Ultimately, in the middle of their silent conversation, you said, "We were going for a walk. Planning to swim."

"A walk? At 9 P.M.?" Officer Phil questioned, raising his eyebrows at you.

"To the lake." Dustin squeaked out, making you whip your head at him to glare. Perhaps the pressure was getting to him because he looked down and continued, "Take a little swim. Little night swim."

"Dusty," Mrs. Henderson tenderly said. If you were being honest, you understood why she felt so worried. From what you remembered, she had no one else. "Someone was just murdered there."

"Yeah! We... We didn't realize that 'til we got there." He replied, his voice wavering.

"That's why we didn't swim." Lucas quickly agreed, his words having a slight but noticeable stutter.

"And, Nancy? Was she with you at this night swim?" Mrs. Wheeler asked, her hands moving in an attempt to calm herself down.

"Yeah," Dustin responded, simultaneously with your and Max's opposite reply. It earned him another glare from you.

"No, she wasn't there." You interrupted with a lie and a fake smile, "He just thinks about her a lot, you know? Silly crush."

"Yeah! He's always rambling about her to me." Lucas blurted, making you sigh in relief. You observed the reactions of everyone in the room. It ranged from shot-up eyebrows to suspicious looks. Your eyes landed on Erica, who seemed like she was about to say something. You wished that when you glared at her, she would back down, but she did not. That girl knew what she was sure of. Your attention was soon returned to Lucas, who continued, "That's when you guys came!"

"Right! And, they dared me to say what I said." Max finished, the rest of you quickly agreeing. This lie was awful and clearly not working, but it was enough to stall whatever consequence that may come.