Chloroform (Billy Hargrove)

Chapter 6: Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)

 After the last period of the day for me, I escaped the school before Billy could find me, not wanting to be stuck in a car with him and Max, I couldn't stand it when they fought, and I hated watching it happen right in front of me without being able to do anything. I walked on the open road, making my way down my street, peering around at the houses. A few kids rode their bikes, the harsh air blowing by me. I held the strap of my backpack with one hand, while searching my pocket with the other, retrieving my keys. Once I looked back up, I made my way up the driveway, strutting towards the house. The wind blew across my face, my hair brushing by my nose, tickling the skin. I unlocked the door, looking behind me before entering the bone chilling house, providing a much needed relief from my overwhelming warmth. I threw my keys into the bowl that sat on the oak table, noticing that nothing had been moved since this morning. Lina didn't come home? That's not like her at all. Usually when her and her coworkers get together for the night, she takes the next day off...But she isn't here right now...I removed my shoes, trying to put my mind at ease by looking for some sort of evidence that she had returned home and just went back out again, but it only made my panic worse. Nothing had been moved, everything was in it's place, just the way it was when I left this morning. I felt a certain unsettling feeling creep up my back, a physical shiver rocking through my body. This wasn't right. I thought to myself looking back at the front door. This wasn't like her. I walked back to the front door, putting my shoes back on. I removed my backpack, chucking it beside the table before grabbing my keys. Once again, I exited the house, locking the door behind me before walking down the street, back towards the school, hoping that I could get a ride to the police station from Steve, since he had a fifth period class. I had stopped at the local convenience store, buying a new lighter, and another pack of cigarettes that would last me for the next two days, then continued my walk to the school. A few people sat on the hoods of their cars, listening to music, as they ate their late lunches. Some of them were dressed in heavy jackets, others were in thin windbreakers, but most of them had a sign of chilliness on their faces, jacket or not it was cold to them. I walked by the group, feeling their eyes on my bare legs, which couldn't help but make me blush. I made my way to the smokers pit, not wanting to get in trouble if I smoked on 'school property' even though the smokers pit was part of the school still. I opened up my new pack of cigarettes, taking one of them out, placing it between my lips before setting it alight with the new lighter. I breathed in deeply allowing the nicotine to fill my lungs.

"God what a terrible addiction." I mumbled, the smoke jetting from my nostrils. I turned around, staring at the crack that I had made in the wall when I had punched it. They were getting out of my control, and I don't think I will be able to handle them much longer. I ran my gloved hand across the deep split, noticing that it was beginning to glow. It wasn't a bright glow, it was very dim, and barely noticeable, but I could see it. I shook my head, as if the image would go away, but it didn't. The bright light glowed, and glowed, turning brighter and brighter, my eyes started to burn from it, my hand going up to protect my vision. I felt like my power was being drained from me, the light pulling me in slowly, almost lifting me up off of my feet. Then out of nowhere I heard Steve's voice.

"Tesla!" I jumped out of the trance, accidentally punching him in the stomach sending him flying into the wall behind him. He let out a low groan, clutching his solar plexus, wincing harshly.

"Jesus Christ Steve, don't sneak up on me like that!" I yelled holding my hand out to him, watching his body curl up into fetal position before recovering slowly moments after. He took my gloved hand into his large one, as I pulled him up, steadying him on his feet.

"You were the one that was staring that that fucking crack you made in the wall. I was just trying to snap you out of it, psycho." He murmured, moving back and forth from one foot to the other, his hand resting on his stomach.