I wake up and see Billy still asleep. Poor boy, he must be so exhausted. He woke up several times throughout the night due to bad dreams. I get up and put on my outfit for the day. I end up throwing on my brother's hoodie that he left behind and some sweatpants.
I walk downstairs to see my brother sitting at the table. I let out a small scream but quickly cover my mouth with my hand before it echoes throughout the house and wakes everyone. I forgot he was still here. The morning is really getting to me. Maybe I'm still exhausted.
"Forgot I was still alive?" he questions with a slight laugh.
"Yeah, just for a second," I exhale.
"I made coffee. It's in the pot," Mason says.
Almost on queue, the smell of coffee hits my nostrils, and I nod. I walk over to the counter and grab the pot, pouring coffee into the mug. I take a sip and slightly smile as the coffee warms the inside of my body.
I look over to my brother, and he taps the seat in front of him. I nod and walk over, pulling out the seat and sitting.
He stares at me, and I rub the back of my neck in discomfort.
"What?" I chuckle nervously.
"You're all grown up," Mason sighs.
The discomfort goes away, and a feeling of sadness washes over me. I am indeed grown up. From the last time, he saw me at least.
"Yeah, crazy isn't it?" I chuckle.
He looks down at the table and nods his head slowly.
"I'm sad I missed it. I missed everything," Mason mumbles.
"Not everything," I attempt to lighten his mood. "Mateo hasn't even begun life yet. He's only in second grade."
"Yeah, I guess, but I missed you. I didn't get to watch you grow up. I wasn't there for you," he says.
"I haven't graduated, Mason. I still have this year to go. Also, you couldn't control it. It was the Mind Flayer's fault. Not yours..." I trail off.
I never wanted to admit who I was doing this for, but I knew deep down it was for him.
"I... I have a camera," I hesitate.
"...A camera?" my brother questions.
"Yeah, I did things for you in case you came back. I- I don't know why, but I just...did," I falter.
"What's on the camera?" he asks.
"I documented everything important in my life, so you could see it, in case you came back," I sigh.
"Seriously?" he smiles.
"Yeah, I even talked directly to the camera, so you could feel it was real. I wanted you to come back so desperately I just..." I sigh.
"Why?" he asks.
"Excuse me?" I scoff.
"Why did you want me to come back? I treated you like shit. I cussed you out, made you feel worthless, pushed you, came after you with the most anger possible, and I- I always had women over. I knew you didn't like it and that was part of the reason I kept doing it. Why would you ever want me back?"
I think about the answer in silence for a while, and my head seemed empty. Like there was nothing there was no answer.
~~~
"You worthless fuck," Mason hisses.
He grabs me by the shoulders and leads me out of his room.
YOU ARE READING
Radical | A stranger things story
Fantasy*Starts in season 2* "That was pretty Radical and you know it." Billy Hargrove
