butterflies // stenbrough

~ Stan ~

    Unless he starts lying to you, you have nothing to be worried about.
   The words keep playing on repeat in Stan's mind, overpowering all reason or comments. Nothing else gets it usual turn at the front of his brain, this random thrown out statement fulfills the maximum capacity. Unless he starts lying to you "Unless" has already passed, he has started lying. So what starts now? If the lying has passed, what is the next chapter? More lying, cheating, a steady decline, what? Is this where it starts or where it ends? Stan hadn't a clue.
    "You okay? You're k-k-kinda staring out into space." Bill chuckled at the spacey counsellor.
    "Yeah." Stan chuckled back, awkwardly "Just tired."
    "Fair en-n-nough." Bill swallowed the last of his Cheerios before engaging in a rigorous debate with a new camper on the scientific theory behind a lightsaber. Stan wasn't so involved, even if he'd like to be. Any other day and he'd happily tell you how lightsabers are in fact scientifically accurate but he wasn't in the mood today. Instead, he was switching between staring at Bill, staring at the ground, and staring at June. The latter of which was also staring at Bill, a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her face. Stan hated her fucking smile, and he hated himself for hating her. He saw it happen, he knew she was just kissing a boy she liked and Bill made no effort to stop her.
You can't keep a relationship a secret and then get mad when someone gets involved. Stan knew, he knew it wasn't her fault. He knew she was a truly lovely girl who had done nothing wrong. But he hated her, honestly. A true and horrible hate. It was ugly and he hated his hate, but it didn't stop his face from scowling and insults to form in his head whenever he laid eyes on her. It shouldn't be at her, it should be at Bill, but Stan just could not bring himself to hate Bill. It was impossible! Over the course of two weeks, he had grown to like him more than anyone before. Maybe in a little while he could even love him. But not like this. Stan might not be able to hate him, but he can't love a liar. Growing up, his parents believed lying to keep the peace was an important value. Stan had a different opinion. Lying hurts, lying kills even. Sure it's sometimes necessary, but more often than not, it just complicates things more than needed. Like now. This never had to be a problem. If Bill had just told him that June kissed him, there would have been no problem. He would have comforted Bill, told him he done nothing wrong, got him to talk to June, and then they could all be perfect friends. Easy as pie. But no of course Bill just had to lie, just had too. And this had to become a serious event instead of one awkward moment.
    He couldn't keep staring at June, staring at Bill. Doe eyes and a soft blush was too much for him, he had to get out of there.
    "I'm going to change my shirt, it's itchy." Stan let Bill know before practically running to the doors of the main hall.
    "Hey Stan!" June ran after him.
    "Hmm?" Stan stared forward for a second before turning to face her, trying his best to avoid her for as long as possible.
    "Later today, I'm gonna hang up some posters for the talent show. Around 2:15. Wanna join me?" She said, her genuine smile annoying Stan for no good reason .
    "Sorry, I have to watch the kids."
    "Couldn't Bill do that?"
    "He can't." Stan lied.
    "Why not, is he okay?"
    "He's fine! Some of us just have things to do." Stan exclaimed, hating how his voice raised and his tone sharpened.
    "Oh okay."
    "I'm sorry." Stan hated himself for a moment. "I will be there. 2:15?"
    "2:15. See you then!" The pep in her step returned almost immediately.
    "Fuck." Stan cursed to himself before running to his cabin. Lying wasn't his strong suit but there was no way he was actually showing up to hang posters with her. She hadn't done anything wrong but Stan was in no mood, which made him feel every worse. It really wasn't her fault. The shittiest part of this to Stan was the poor innocent girl who got caught in the crossfire.

//
Hey bros! I'm taking a playwriting class at a local theatre which I'm very excited for. I'm also taking acting classes but they're not nearly as fun. it's mostly just games with kids like three years younger than me. But I'm very excited to learn more about writing and even get some of my own work workshopped!