Resilience | Sweet Pea.

7 - Rebellion.

As the house falls silent with the late night having swept the town, Fred and Mary both having gone to bed, Archie takes his normal post on the box by the stairs. I sit across from him on the floor, still in my shorts and singlet, I decided that maybe if I kept him company sometimes, he might be more accepting of sleep. I watch as Archie's eyes start to droop. Poor dude just won't let up. Maybe if he sleeps, he'll feel better.

Just as I think Archie might drop off to sleep, there's a rustling sound like someone's moving around the back of the house. I get up to inspect, walking into the kitchen to see a man in a black hood walking past the back door.

"A-Archie." I say, immediately grabbing a knife from the holder.

Archie pushes passed me, swinging open the back door and tackling him to the ground. The two of them struggle, Archie almost choking the guy.

"Stop it!" The man growls "Stop!"

Archie rips off the mask to reveal Reggie Mantle. What the hell?

"It's me." Reggie growls. "Are you freaking insane?"

"Is he insane? Are you fucking insane Reggie?" I yell at him.

"Well I'm definitely glad you didn't attack me." Reggie says, spotting the knife in my hand.

"What the hell are you doing here, Reggie?" Archie asks, both of them still huffing and puffing on the ground.

"Delivering your uppers, clearly the last thing you need. You've lost it, Andrews." Reggie says, I clench my fists.

"You're the coming around here in this black hood." Archie grumbles.

"It's called a prank! I didn't think you'd attack me! What if I had been the guy, huh? You would've just tackled him?" Reggie says.

"Yeah, damn right I would have!" Archie says.

"He has a GUN, Andrews! He's shot people. Only a dumb ass lunatic brings a bat to a gunfight." Reggie says

"Sorry to break up your fight club lesson, but I'm sorry Archie did I hear that correctly? Delivering your WHAT?" I yell at him.

"Shit, Nova I-"

"What is it, Reggie?" I ask.

"Uh..." Reggie looks at Archie.

"What. Is it, Reggie." I repeat through gritted teeth.

"Jingle jangle." Reggie says.

"You're fucking joking." I growl, my mind going back to what Sheriff Keller had said at the hospital about Fred's shooter possibly a meth or jingle jangle addict.

"Nov, don't freak out, okay?" Archie begs.

"Drugs, Archie? Are you mental? Fred would kill you if he knew." I ask him.

"It's just to keep me awake-"

"No, this has to fucking stop. I get that you're scared and wanna play 'guard dog Archie' to protect Fred but if you're going to start taking drugs then I'm not going to sit around and watch you destroy yourself!" I yell.

"Nova! Would you calm the hell down?" Archie groans, I walk over to Reggie and stand over him.

"Reggie Mantle if I find out you've been dealing drugs to my brother I'm going to cut off your nuts off and choke you with them." I growl. "Got it?"

"Whatever, Nova. You're all talk." Reggie mocks me.

"Remember who's holding a knife over you right now." I tell him, pointing the knife at him. He puts his hands up in retreat.