float | it

xxii. the dream

Chapter 22
The Dream

"AHHHH!"

I screamed as I bolted upwards from my bed.

I put my hand on my head. What the hell was that?

I twisted open the door and sprinted down the steps.

What was real?

What wasn't?

I heard something move behind me.

I spun around and screamed!

"Jesus! Sarah chill!"

It was Stan.

"What happened? Your face looks-"

"I had a dream."

There was a silence as he debated on whether to ask.

"W-Wh-"

"It had Bill and Beverly in it. I-it made no sense. I don't know what was real and what wasn't."

He smiled softly.

"We fell asleep watching tv. I just carried you upstairs and set you on your bed. I hanged around incase... I don't know..."

"Incase Richie came over?"

He blushed and looked at the floor.

"I'm still angry at him."

I nodded and sighed as I sat down on the couch.

"This is all such bullshit."

He sat down next to me.

"I know."

He stared at my cheeks.

His face moved closer to mine as I closed my eyes.

BANGBANGBANG!

I shot up and fell on my butt.

Stan gestured for me to relax as he walked to the door.

"OPEN THE HELL UP!"

He grabbed the knob as he fell to his feet.

The pressure of the door had knocked him down.

Eddie came barreling into the room holding someone.

"GIVE ME A TABLE!"

I sprinted to the kitchen table and slid it into the tv room.

He set down the figure.

Richie.

But it didn't look like him. He had too much blood on his face.

"WhAT THE-"

Eddie was breathing hardly.

I grabbed his inhaler from his pocket and gave it to him.

He nodded and took a hit.

His breathing calmed down.

Was I the only one who noticed this kind of stuff?

But my focus was still mostly on Richie.

A feeling of guilt began to rumble in my stomach.

Was this because of me?

"Gr-Greta hit him."

Bill croaked from the corner.

How long has he been here?

My fists clenched.

Greta?

Hit him?

MY RICHIE?!

My cheeks flushed red and I grabbed Richie's limp hand.

"Richie wh-"

"Please....please don't hurt her..."

He read my mind.

I shook my head and began to walk away, until Richie grabbed my hand once again.

"-that bad."

He smiled lightly at me as I nodded.

I hugged him emotionally.

His blood had made a streak across my cheek, but I didn't care.

I slammed the door shut behind me and noticed Greta's bike parked against a bench in the nearby park.

My eyes focused on it quickly as I cracked my knuckles.

Uh oh.