𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙮 𝙥𝙤𝙥! 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙤𝙣

SCENE THIRTEEN. babysitting attempt 2? 3?

but when piper awoke in the morning, max was no longer laid as a lump on the ground. the cream sheet was neatly folded on the desk with a note on top.

'gone home.' written in max's hand writing. she could tell it was max's from the wobbly heart beside it. so she just went in with her day, flickering her radio on. the smiths playing as she showered. that familiar vanilla smell lingering around her as she dried her hair.

"self care day." she hummed as she tied her hair into a ponytail, removing the remains of last nights make up. and changed into more comfortable clothes a strapy top and a pair of plaid pants she definitely stole from the box in the attic.

until the clock in the hallway gave a chimed. and she froze stiff. cream half applied to her face as she stared at the door in horror. only for the phone to ring. once. and then twice. humming as she grabbed it leaning against the wall. waiting for an answer. but it never came. until it did.

"piper!" a boy gurgled scream sounded and she slammed the phone down as the door forever to remain close swung open slowly.  as if it were only opened with a gust of wind. it was locked. heart racing in her chest as she stared at the darkness that seemed to seep out. she couldn’t see stairs that go down into the room never to seen. when a knock came to her window. the girl grabbing the phone as it opened. step back. leap forwards and smack. she remebred what her brother told her. until steve's head popped out her bedroom door. her eyes pulling away from the door to look at the ridiculously hair styled boy before flickering back to the door. shut door.

"hi gorgeous."

"go away harrington." she grumbled throwing the phone at him. pushing past him back into her room only to find the three kids stood in the window. one looking as gloomy as could be, one looking extremely tired and one that smiled and gave her a thumbs up. yup that's their kids.

"oh please tell me you are joking." she spat spinning in her heel to look back at the boy leaning on her door. his shirt raised the tab bit as he stretched on the frame. look away. she reminded herself. quickly looking back to the kiddies.

"nancy has this crazy plan about victor creel-" steve stared rushing to pipers side as she flung herself in the bed.

"so we get dropped with the children." she grumbled into the pillows.

"barely a child anymore but okay." max started only for a shit eating grin to pull on her face as piper glared at her.  blowing her a kiss that she only shook her head at.

"even though you didn't even get a choice, the other choice was wear a pink frilly shirt and convince some old guy you are smart." steve laughed as he fiddled with a rock on her desk.

"i am smart." steve only scoffed and the girl's face twisted into a glare once more.

"i am!"

"i wrote you something." max spoke stepping forward, pulling a letter out of the jacket she wore. it was cream coloured, and her name written in a messy scrawl in the front with hearts doodled around it. out of relefex she spun it in her hand to open it.

"no! not yet!" max cried and piper almost jumped. throwing it on her bed out of relfex before nodding. moving to her bedside table where it propped up against the lamp.

"it's for it doesn't work out." she spoke softly and she wrapped her arms around her. bringing the girl in.

"we got this."

and they drove towards the cemetery, max had unfinished business. billy. she wanted to get it off her chest. and before the car could even park max was trying to get out of the car. lucas quickly following her, piper remained in the car. knowing that this is something she wanted to do alone. steve threw a look over his shoulder to look at the girl. she had changed. jeans and a baggy jumper with a strappy top on underneath. she looked cold. so cold. she was practically shivering in the back seat, arms wrapped around herself. she looked out into the window, watching trees sway gently. watched the leaves rustle, watching some as they fell gently. she loved autumn. it was the best time of the year in her opinion. it reminded her of tommy. reminded her of his fiery red hair, reminded her of the thick autumn coloured jumpers he wore. it reminded her of his books, the books he always had on the shelves in his room. autumn was thomas. even his room in the basement smelt like autumn. his room in the basement, the door to remain shut. seven years. it's been a whole seven years yet the guilt never faded. it stuck like gum on a path. she could see a figure, standing there at the tree line. face distorted yet it was screaming. it grew cold, the atmosphere darkened. a storm was brewing.

"piper, do you think she's alright?" steve asked, looking to the ginger girl kneeled at the grave. before checking his watch.before jumping out the car, claiming something wasn't right.ucas looking back at dustin who merely shrugged his shoulders.

"piper, you alright? lucas asked as dustin readjusted his cap. fiddling with his watch. lucas could see the girl slightly through the glass. she stared into the trees, blankly. he elbowed dustin, who slowly moved infront of the girls vision. yet she never moved, it was like she wasn't there. she wasn't there, her eyes were blank staring forward. before pulling their eyes over to steve who was screaming max's name. something was wrong. and the two boys went running over.

uh oh