the channel {fillie}

S T R A N G E A N D U N U S U A L

CHAPTER EIGHT: could I make you feel warm?

-
Finn

"So you've been spending an awful lot of time with that girl Shelly."

My mom looked down at me, her eyes mischievous and happy. I, on the other hand just felt uncomfortable, my mouth stuffed with pancakes and hand reaching for orange juice. "I um," my words came out mumbled due to the food and she glared disapprovingly.

"Finn eat all your food before you talk."

I heard a snicker from behind and I didn't even have to turn to know it was Millie. It took everything in me not to look back and glare at her.

"Sorry." I fumbled for the drink. My mom continued to look expectantly at me as if I would spill some giant secret from my lips but I wouldn't. "She's my friend and also she likes to talk about Abigail."

My father's newspaper rustles as he looks up from it, "isn't that the girl they found what was it? At some park or something?"

My lips form a line. "Westerburg lake," I said and he nodded as if to say yeah that.

"How do you know that?" My mom asked and I shrugged trying to act nonchalant. "They told us and I keep up with the news."

I saw Millie settle in the extra empty chair in front of me, a small encouraging smile on her lips as she tucked her legs up to her chest.

"It's a shame," my dad spoke up again.

"Yeah..." I muttered back towards my plate of pancakes.

"Finn?" I looked up to my mother, a knowing look on her face. "I know how you like to help out and stuff honey but, promise me that you won't stick your nose into this. This is dangerous."

I nodded. "I won't."

She pressed on. "Promise me."

"I won't," was all I said.

After all I didn't promise.

-

Yellow tulip convenient.

The place was practically run down. Bricks were chipped and were turning a nasty brown color, the faded yellow paint pealing and the windows cracking.

"I know it's a dump."

Abigail says from behind and it's hard to not agree with her. "Oh no! No. It's um... rustic?"

"No I'm pretty sure it's still a dump."

I shrug, "sorry."

"It's fine." She says. "I liked that about it. It wasn't trying to please anyone. After all it's only stupid store and the guy who runs it was always so nice."

I nodded taking in her answer just as Noah came running up. "Sorry I'm late!" He squeaked out of breath a bit. "You know how my mom gets sometimes..."

"It's fine man. Come on let's head inside."

He fumbled around for only a moment, straightening up and following me into the store soon after.