Tragedy

Chapter 1

My stomach twists and turns as the tires screech against the pavement. 

I squeeze my eyes shut as I tightly grip onto whatever I can to save my life. 

This is awful. Awful, awful, awful. I'm going to die. This shouldn't be how it ends. 

A moment later, I feel the jolt of the van as it comes to a complete stop. My stomach returns to its usual placement as I slowly open my eyes. 

Everyone in the perimeter stares with an annoyed look on their faces. Not surprise, no, who would be? They're used to the outragous driving by now. I should be, too, but somehow I'm left surprised every time. How have I not died already? 

"You alright over there?" 

My head slowly turns to face the reckless driver. I glare with the heat of a thousand fires for a second before I quickly smack him with my book. 

"Ow, what the fuck, Caroline?" Eddie screeches as he rubs his right bicep. 

"You're a fucking moron, Munson!" I hissed. I didn't wait for his obnoxious reply and hopped out of the van. I made sure to slam the door shut, causing Eddie to yell at me for the way I treated his precious vehicle. 

"Don't take it out on her!" Eddie hollered as I marched towards the school. Without looking back, I flipped him off. I heard his mumbled insults even with the distance. I couldn't help but smirk at this as I continued my shuffling. 

I chewed on the inside of my cheek as I made my way inside the noisy hallway. A shiver ran down my spine from the A/C hitting me as soon as I stepped into the building. I always enjoyed how cold they kept the school. I would rather not be sweating while being stuck in this cage full of idiotic lunatics. 

With fall here, the temperatures have fallen outside which means the temperature will be rising inside the building. Somedays it's nice and toasty in here, other days it feels like I'm sitting in an oven. Whenever I feel suffocated by the heat, I tend to keep outdoors. I'll even force the entire Hellfire Club outside during our Dungeons and Dragons sessions. They'll complain, especially Eddie, but they end up agreeing every time. 

"Are you coming over tonight for movie night?" I jump from the lack of focus on my surroundings. I had no idea Jonathon was right next to me. I was too in my head, per usual. Something Dad always likes to call me out for. 

I can't help that I feel safer in my head. It's more adventurous and exciting when I'm thinking of all the things I can't have. Dragons, monsters, lovers, faeries. It's fun escaping from Hawkins. Dull, boring Hawkins where nothing really happens except for- well, I guess a good amount of bad happens here. With Will and Barb's disappearance last year, it has everyone on edge. In my head, I don't have to worry about all of that. I don't have to think about my missing friend or the family I no longer have. I don't have to think about the tragedies that seem to follow me wherever I go. 

"I'll be there." I nod with a small smile. 

"Who's pick is it again?" Jonathon wondered as he leaned against the wall of lockers next to me. "Oh, yeah, it's mine." He teases with a smirk. 

"You better pick a good one." I warn him. He chuckled and shook his head as I closed my locker. "I'm serious. I'm not watching some bullshit movie. I want something scary."

"Your dad hates horror." I groan in aggravation from the reminder. 

Dad, as loving and caring as he is, is the complete opposite of me. It's a shock I'm even related to him. No one ever believes me when they meet him. He's bubbly and sweet. He enjoys helping others and bright colors and board games. I do enjoy a lot of those things, but not like him. I like the dark side of life.