Body Bag
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"you're such a baby. too weak to even fight back!"
i stumble back against the lockers as Greta pushes me.
"i don't want to fight you." i sneer back as she laughs
"you probably just can't, not with all those placebos your mom gives you to keep you small and helpless."
"leave him alone you bitch."
i look behind Greta to see a girl with long red hair wearing a floral dress, "pick on someone your own size."
Greta scoffs and begins walking away, "i'm not touching you, i don't want whatever STD you have."
The girl with fiery hair rolls her eyes and walks over to me, holding her hand out, "you okay?"
i hesitate to take her hand, "do you really have STDs?"
she laughs shortly, "no, besides i wouldn't be able to give you one through my hand."
i shyly take her hand and stand up, "thanks."
she smiles at me kindly with her soft blue eyes
"I'm Bev."
i then notice Ben standing shyly behind her.
"you okay Eddie?"
•
as my eyes open i feel something wet on my cheeks. i wipe it away with the back of my hand and realize it's tears.
what have i done?
i follow the sound of a TV through the house as my eyes refuse to stop crying tears.
"Richie..." i stand in the living room doorway, rubbing my eyes.
Richie sits on the couch watching the news. i don't think he even slept last night, he looks tired. he glances at me as i approach him, holding his arms out as he beckons for me to lay on him.
"bad dream?" he asks as he wipes my tears
"yea.." i look up at the TV screen and gasp as i see my house surrounded by police tape, "what's going on?"
"they found Bens car outside of your house. they don't know much right now though, they think he's a run away."
suddenly Bevs face tearful appears on screen
"is there anything you'd like to say?" the reporter asks.
Bev looks directly in the camera, "please, let me know if you're okay Ben. i've lost too many people already," her voice shakes as she begins to cry, "we're all looking for you."
suddenly the screen goes black as Richie turns the TV off, "they don't care. it's just show for the cameras."
i wipe my tears again, "what if—"
"—Eddie," he interrupts me, "they don't."
i sigh and look up at him as he leans his head back against the cushion with his eyes closed. soft snores escape his lips and i realize he really didn't sleep last night. i gently kiss his sleeping face and carefully get up. i was really hungry.
i make my way into the kitchen and see that he had brought the food from my house here. i decide to make a bowl of cereal as to not make too much noise while Richie sleeps.
it was so nice to not have the chain around my ankle. although i almost felt unbalanced without it. i catch my reflection in the window, i do look a lot different without my blond hair and with my overgrown bangs hanging in my face.
