Angelica "Freak Two" Munson

Chapter 29

Angie slams the phone back on the line and covers her mouth to conceal her sobbing. She tries to walk along the sidewalk until she gets to her motel room, but she trips over a crack in the sidewalk due to her tears blurring her vision. Instead of trying to make it to the motel room, she crumbles herself up against the building and lets it all out.

Honestly, she felt that she deserved it. Steve was right about everything, and she just didn't see it until he was gone. Maybe that's why he did it? Either way, it absolutely sucks. She just didn't expect him to leave. Like he said, she really did think they were going to wait around for her. It sounds outrageous out loud, but it made sense in her head.

Suddenly, Angie realized how little thought she put into all of this. She didn't tell them where she was going, what she was going to do, and how long she was going to be gone. God! They must've been so worried! She didn't even call until two days later! Who does that?

She mentally faceplants as she thinks about the huge mistake she made by not telling anyone.

I guess people do know now.

Steve knows everything– Well, kinda.

He knows she's safe, at least.

Angie sobs again at the thought of him. She thinks about what he said,

"I– I thought the absolute worst. You didn't call! You didn't leave a note! How am I supposed to protect you and be here for you when you don't tell me anything?"

He must've been so worried.

Oh God! He probably thought something had happened with the Upside Down!

Those were absolutely terrible memories for both of them. Both Steve and Angie had nightmares about that night. That's why Steve often ended up sleeping in her bed. If he had a nightmare, he could wake up and see her next to him, perfectly healthy. And if she had one, he was there to hold her and make her feel safe again.

Angie honestly doesn't know what she'd do if anything like that happened again. She might not make it... especially without Steve by her side.

She immediately shakes the thought away. That isn't a concept she can stomach right now. Instead, she takes a deep breath, wipes her tears, and continues her journey to the motel.

A man stops her about a block away from her temporary housing.

"Trouble in paradise?"

She looks up to see Jack McCain, the man from the grocery store.

"Oh, no. It's just um an eyelash, " Angie lies swiftly, "there was one poking my eye."

"Oh, well–"

"Actually," Angie interrupts him, "I was hoping that I could find you before tomorrow afternoon."

"And why is that?"

"I was hoping that we could move up the leaving time. I decided that I would go with you."

"Sure," He checks his watch, "I guess we can leave at noon instead. "

"Perfect. Thanks."

Angie swipes a fallen tear off her cheek and rushes back to her room.

[?]

After dropping Dustin off at the bus stop, Steve drives home slowly. He is trying to drown out his thoughts with the music on his radio. As the drive goes on, he begins to lose control of his emotions. Every time he feels them overpowering, he turns up the radio again. There is nowhere to stop if his vision clouds with tears.