Addicted (Billy Hargrove)

- ten -

- Stacy Harrington -

Song: Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper

Tonight would not give me a fucking break.

I walked into the house to hear mom and dad arguing.

"Then leave!"

"I will!!"

"Fine!! I'll send the papers!!" I hear my mom scream at my dad. He goes up to his room and slams the door. I sneak up the stairs and past my mom sitting on the couch, still in the living room. I head in the direction of Steve's room. I knock on his door and a moment later he comes and opens the door for me.

"What's up?" I shove past him and close the door.

"Did you hear mom and dad?"

"No, I try not to. Why?"

"They're getting a divorce." His face goes still for a second before the corner of his lips perk up. He quietly starts to laugh. "What's so funny?"

"It's not funny, Stace. It's great! Now we won't have to deal with dads complaining or him yelling at mom!!"

"Yeah" I say and I smile. "Yeah you're right."

"Why, were you upset?"

"No I wasnt upset, I was just shocked for a moment. But honestly, I'm really happy." I bring Steve in with a hug and I start to cry into his shoulder and I hear him quietly sniffle too.

"Wait" I see and peel away from him for a moment. "We will be with mom, right?"

"I would think so" he says. "God, I hope so."

"Me too" I pull him back into the hug.

"Maybe we will have more time with mom now."

"Maybe we will actually be happy." Steve pulls back and smiles at me.

"Maybe."

I smile with newfound hope in me but I become confused when I realize what Steve is wearing. He has on jeans with a gray rain coat on and is carrying gloves. "Where are you going?"

"Oh um" he says and he looks down at his outfit. "You know uh, Dustin Henderson?"

"The middle schooler? Friends with Nancy's younger brother?"

"Yeah that one. Well he asked me for a favor. He's waiting outside. I just needed to grab something."

"Why are you hanging out with a middle schooler?"

"It's hard to explain, but I seriously have to go before the meat gets bad."

"The meat? Why do you have-"

"I'll explain another time I have to go!"

"Steve-"

"Love you bye!!" He runs down the stairs and out the door, leaving me in his room by myself very much confused. I shake it off, planning to ask him later, and go to my room to take a break and think about tonight.

Why was Billy so stand-offish about literally everything? Did he seriously think he could lie like that and me not be suspicious?

I decide that that will be an issue I will think about tomorrow and I grab some clothes before hopping into the shower. Once I finish and am dressed and have brushes my hair out, I decide to go downstairs to grab something to eat.

I go downstairs and see my mother sitting on a barstool on our island with tears running down her eyes. Once she hears me she wipes them away quickly.

"Hey Stacey, when did you get home?"

"Not too long ago." Her face drops for a second, realizing that I was home for the fight before looking back at me with a fake smile on her face. 

"How was hanging out with Tina?"

"It was good" I lie. I stop for a second. "Mom, I heard it earlier. You don't have to cover everything up."

She sighs and tears push at her eyes again. "I'm so sorry, honey. Things with your dad are-"

"Rough." She nods in agreement.

"We're gonna get a divorce."

"I know. I heard."

"Right." She stops for a second to think. "It's gonna be hard, Stacy. With your fathers business keeping this house together, it's going to be a struggle." I nod in understanding.

"That's okay, Mom. We will be happier."

"Let's hope so." She holds her arms out and I hug her. My stomach growls, reminding me why I am down here in the first place. We laugh at the sound.

"Want me to make you something?" I offer, pulling out some chicken nuggets for me to warm up in the microwave. I look back at her smiling.

"Sure, anything you want."

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Me to the dad: Bye bitch 😜

THANK YOU FOR READING BAES

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-Liz<3