The Nightmare On Pine Street: A Short Story

Part Six

The Town

Back once more on Stephanie's porch...

"There, there," Joey said, patting Stephanie on the back as Stephanie sat there in a calmer daze. "It's okay."

"No, it's not," she said. "Do you have any idea what it's like to have someone insult you every day?"

"Actually? ...Not really. No. I ignore it."

Stephanie looked at Joey as if he were mad. "Really?"

"Yeah."

"...And that helps?"

"Most of the time."

Stephanie hummed as she thought about her friends. "I wish it were that easy. Melissa likes to pick on me every day."

Joey, hearing Melissa's name, cringed. "She's not as easy to ignore."

"Heh? Really?"

"...Don't take this the wrong way, but...why are you and her friends if she treats you wrong?"

"Oh. ...We've been friends for years," Stephanie said. "It's just...one of those things, you know?"

"Hard to kick?"

"Something like that."

"Has she always been mean to you?"

Stephanie shook her head. "No. She used to be nicer than she is now. Then, high school hit, and...yeah."

Typical, Joey thought.

"You know, everybody secretly hates her," Stephanie said.

"They do?"

"Yeah. I think they do."

"...Do you hate her?"

Stephanie went quiet. Hate was too strong, but so were the insults Melissa had passive-aggressively slung her way.

"It's okay," Joey said. "You don't have to tell me."

"No, I—"

"I get it."

Stephanie stuck her hand into the pillowcase and pulled out a sucker. "So, you really just ignore everyone? And that helps?"