The Spring of Love & Heartbreak

Chrissy, Wake Up!

I wake up. Expecting it to be early morning. Find Steve at home, making coffee or maybe even breakfast. I except to hear the birds chirping loudly like the do every morning, or see the pretty colors in the sky right before the sun rises for the day.

Except... I wake up and it's noon.

I slept for 12 hours.

I sit straight up in bed, "Oh fuck." I've already slept half of the day away.

Slowly I get out of bed, feeling like a truck has rammed into my body a few dozen times. But at least my head feels better.

I pull on a pair of pants and a loose fitting shirt, and make my way into the bathroom. Once I flick on the lights, I find a note taped to the mirror.

"Went to work. Tried waking you up but you flipped me off. I'll see you tonight. -Steve."

Lovely, I get the whole house to myself. Alone. In utter peace and quiet.

Since I have no where to be, I take my time getting ready.

I walk downstairs to make some coffee, and give mom a call.

She picks up on the second ring, "Hey sweetie."

"How'd you know it was going to be me?" I ask.

I hear her laugh on the other end, "Because your brother would never call and I figured you would call eventually. Can't find the coffee can you?"

"How'd you know?" I ask again.

"Because I moved it, so you'd call." I can hear her smirk. "It's by the fridge now."

"Thanks Mom. How's the trip going?" I pull the wire to the phone along with me while I grab the coffee grinds then walk to the other side of the kitchen and start making some.

"You know. Boring. But the city is nice. Mountains are pretty." I hear her pull down a set of blinds, then I hear someone yell, probably Dad, in the back ground. "I'm sorry sweetie. I got to cut this short. Love you. Be safe."

"Thanks Mom. I will. Love you." I walk over and hang up the phone.

After my coffee is all brewed and ready, I go back upstairs to my room and sit down on my bed and take my pants off.

My legs are killing me, and I wonder why when I look down.

They are littered in bruises. At least I've gotten good at covering the bruises up with makeup.

The last one Dad left hurts the worst. It's a nasty shade of blue and purple. It's on the side of my thigh, and the same size as his knuckles.

I rub it and feel the knot.

If only I was out of school, then I could convince Steve to get a place with me. He'd do it. We both have jobs. It'd be like an endless sleep over. Only he'd make me cook every meal. At least he likes to clean.

For the first few hours I just- do nothing. And it's so nice.

Until the phone downstairs rings- when I'm almost done doing this trick with my hair that Addison taught me. It's makes your hair almost pin straight.

I run down the stairs and pick up the phone. "Hello?"

"'Bout damn time you wake up." Steve says on the other end. "You see the news yet?"

I sigh, "No Steve. I haven't. Why?"

"Turn it on."

Okay that vague.

I walk into the living room and flip on the tv.

"A Hawkins high student was found dead this morning inside the sunnyside trailer park. There's no word yet on what happened. Police are informing family." The news lady says.