the angel; fillie .

the call.

"i thought my children were long gone. i had no idea three still lived here. i heard about you on the news a few months ago, four or five i think. but i thought you left town, that would've been the smart thing, finneg—finn."
i ignored her mistake,"i stayed here for a reason. i knew the town well and when i found millie, i knew i would never leave unless she was leaving."
"it's good to see you have a friend."
"i have four friends. three escapees and millie."
"would you like to know anything else? do you want to stay?"
"i love how you give me up and then want me again. at least that's what i'm assuming."
"i was just being nice," she said innocently although obviously she wasn't innocent.
"i noticed, but i don't think i need you. i've lived my whole life without you and four months in the wilderness with a limited amount of money and three friends. i only discovered millie a month ago."
she completely ignored me and continued on,"what happened to your face?"
i turned to millie and said,"lets go, millie."
we turned away from marie and walked out the door and down to our bikes.
marie pleaded for us to stay but once again we ignored her.

on our bike ride home, it started to drizzle. before it could pour, we made it into the house. but then an idea crossed my mind and i asked millie,"why don't we take a rain shower?"
millie started to say,"not n—"
but i interrupted,"before the rain dies down. please, mills, i want you to experience some fun in this harsh time. grab a bar of soap, and we'll head out."
she took my demand into play and we went out. i showed her that we filled up jugs for drinking water and we washed our clothes and ourselves. she was uncomfortable at first,"come on, mills, it's just me! i'm not some pervert you know. and you've gotta have the full experience."
she turned her head from me like i couldn't see her but she took her shirt off. i kept my distance and tried to keep my eyes to myself.
millie then said,"now what?"
"maybe this was a bad idea—" i started to say.
"just show me what to do, it's okay, finn. haven't you seen sadie's body? it's like the same."
i said truthfully,"no, it's not. but it's okay, i'll show you how to do the homeless way."
moments later we were running around the yard and laughing as we soaked and forgot about all of our problems. when the rain halted, we sat on the back porch still laughing uncontrollably. i loved laughing like that, like you couldn't stop, it felt like you could never. it was an amazing feeling and whenever you looked at the other person you'd just laugh harder.

when we were dry and headed inside, it felt like we'd just stepped back into reality. millie's dad was still dead and jack was still my not-so-long-lost brother.

and then it hit me. i don't know what it was but the room went silent and the room felt shaky. i called for millie who was changing her clothes. she didn't come down and it just got worse. i drank a few sips of water and then i called,"sadie." millie came down the stairs as i fell to the floor and my body started to jerk.

millie's pov:
i watched finn seize on the ground in total shock. i dialed 911 and a familiar voice answered,"what is your emergency?"
i said,"my friend, finn, is having a seizure. what do i do, hopper?"
"is he still seizing?"
"no, he just stopped."
"now that he's calm, turn him to his side."
i accidentally dropped the phone and rolled him on his side. i picked up the phone and i could barely hold it i was shaking so bad,"now what?"
"he should be okay now. when he is able to, get him to drink water. has this ever happened before?"
"i don't think so."
"i'll be right over to check him out."
"thanks hopper, i was really scared."

finns pov:
i sat up and millie looked as white as a ghost and she was trembling as she handed me a glass of water,"what do you think caused it?" she asked me.
"probably stress and anxiety," i answered truthfully.
she gave me a great big hug,"i thought i maybe would have lost you with my luck."
"stop that," i nearly yelled at her.