Chloroform (Billy Hargrove)

Chapter 7: Blue Monday

"Will Tesla Forsberg please come down to the main office, Tesla Forsberg to the main office." The secretary's emotionless, almost robotic voice echoed throughout the gym. I stopped my jogging, placing my hands on my knees as I caught my breath. A bead of sweat dripped down my temple splashing onto the floor. I heard heavy footsteps travelling towards me, as someone put a towel over my shoulders. I gasped for breath straightening myself up, tilting my head to look up at Steve.

"Dry yourself off Forsberg; you look like a mess." He muttered winking at me as he jogged back over to another basketball game. I wiped my damp forehead off, dragging the rough towel down my cheeks. Billy stared at me while I walked by him, I almost made eye contact with him, but I avoided the potential of that even happening. I pushed the gymnasium doors open, my sneakers squeaking down the hallway, the sharp scent of body odour and sweat stinging my nose. Right before I even entered the central office, I saw the dull hat that Hopper had in his office yesterday. I was just about to dash by the window, but he had turned around right before I had gotten out of his sight, catching me in the act of trying to escape. I halted, watching him come out of the office.

"Let's step outside." His voice sounded reasonably calm which was kind of troubling since my brain was flashing back to the rage and anger that he had projected towards Eleven in the memory that I had seen. He brushed by me, going towards the nearest exit that was located a few meters away from the office. The cold fall air slammed against my cheeks, a small sigh escaping my lips as it cooled me down from the vigorous sweat that had been almost pouring down my face. Hopper took a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket, holding the box out to me. I glared up at him, shaking my head, refusing to take one from him.

"What do you want?" I ask, crossing my arms, looking up at him. He squinted at me, lighting the cigarette between his lips, taking a deep drag. He exhaled the smoke letting it blow into the sky above me.

"You know exactly why I'm here." He grumbled, I glared up at him. "I did a little research..." He continued, pulling a piece of folded paper out of his chest pocket, unravelling it with his large hands. He turned the picture to me showing the photo of the Hawkins Lab associates. A large red circle encased Lina a few times, and her name was highlighted below, with her age in brackets right beside it. My eyes were wide, as I stared at the page. I had been caught. The ages of Lina and I were pretty close, she was twenty-six, and I was sixteen unless she got pregnant when she was ten the story of her being my mother is not believable.

"I know what happened at the lab a few months ago, and I know a few people escaped...One of them being you, and Lina." My teeth scraped together, and my fist clenched. The feeling of being caught was the most unsatisfying and blood boiling thing in the entire world, and it was happening to me at this moment. "What's your real name kid?" He pressed, squinting at me. I knew what he was asking me to say. I felt violated, knowing that I will only be recognized as a number for the rest of my life. I closed my eyes.

"Fourteen," I muttered under my breath. "But I prefer Tesla...Now if you don't mind, I would like to leave this interrogation and go back to class." I retorted, backing away from him. His eyes following me closely.

"I came here to ask you for your help Tesla...I'm not here to send you back to the lab." He informed, taking a massive drag from his cigarette. I stopped in my tracks letting out a small sigh, my eyes looking towards the door, then back over to him. It was as if he was going to plead with me if I said no.

"Out of all the people in this shitty town...Why would you need my help?" I asked curiously, squinting at him. He inhaled deeply, letting the smoke of his cigarette jet out of his nose. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. The only thing that I could barely hear was Flo's voice saying that Joyce Byer's had been calling the station all morning, and also telling him to hurry up and see her. I snapped out of the little trance, holding up my hand, telling him to stop speaking.