the angel; fillie .

the tell.

the next morning, i woke up later than usual. when i checked the time, it was 10:30 in the morning. who let me sleep in? i quickly took off my jacket and set in on the floor of the jeep. i got out and the heat hit my face. july was here and wow it was hot. i looked in jacks car and he was gone, so was sadie. they probably went into town. i picked up my bike and rode out of the junkyard and onto a paved road that would lead me miles away into town.
i never really noticed how small the town was or how small the population really had been. maybe it'll grow in a few years since it's only 1985. there's so much time ahead of us it kind of scares me to think about it too much.
i went the same path i always go, but this time i felt the need to look harder. within the thirty minute ride, i found a piece of a mirror, a gear for a bike, some bolts, and a stray ring with two little diamonds. i stuck my finds in a bag i stole from the orphanage.
i got to town and i parked my bike in front of millie's home. i rang the doorbell and waited for an answer. millie answered and welcomed me in, her smile never left her face.
"would you like some coffee today mr. wolfhard?" she asked me and i laughed nodding yes.
she sat down and handed me a cup of coffee,"what brings you here today, finn?"
i simply said,"company."
"what about your siblings?"
"well i kind of lied, i don't have any siblings i just have friends that are like my siblings. joe, he's 18, sadie, she's 16, and jack, he's 13."
"oh, that's cool. i wish i had friends like that. but they're not your age?"
"that's why they're like my siblings."
"that's even cooler. i wish i had even one friend."
"you have me, mills," i said with all honesty.
she laughed,"that's the thing, i feel like i know you so well but i couldn't tell you where you lived or what your favorite color is."
i smiled,"my favorite color is purple and you don't wanna know where i live or what i risk to see you everyday."
"where do you go to school?"
"i don't go to school."
"so you're homeschooled, that's cool."
"yeah!"

this conversation was our most important and our longest in the past three days we've known each other. when our conversation started to die down, i knew i was ready to tell her who i really was.
i sighed,"millie, you shouldn't know this, but i feel like i have to tell you if this friendship should continue. the truth is, i live in a junkyard with my three best friends. we take showers in the rain, we live off of saved up money and weird things we find on the streets. i could have a job, but i decide to hang out with you because i truly think we could be friends. but i understand if you don't want anything to do with me, i can leave if you want me to. you're the first person i've told but you're also the only person i've known since we escaped the orphanage. you choose what happens next."
tears started to flood her eyes,"oh, finn. if only you had told me."
i told her,"stop crying. i've done this for months now, i'm fine."
she got up from the table,"i can help you, i can provide for you—"
"millie, stop. i don't want money or food, i just want your friendship. nothing else."
she looked me in the eyes,"what if something happens to you? what if the orphanage finds you?"
i grabbed her shoulders,"they haven't found us for three months. we're okay, mills. let's talk real, i'm here, i can take care of myself."
she hugged me,"i accept it, i accept you."
i whispered in her ear as she hugged me,"then treat me just as you treated me before, no different."