I need you, I need you, I need you

chapter 3-please stay

August 2nd, 2019
Rachel's p/v
I made Darry and I breakfast. He's still asleep but I don't want to wake him up. I know he's sleep deprived, and I know he's physically exhausted. Having to work two jobs seems so hard, I could never. I worked a job when I was 12 but it was nothing compared to what Darry has to go through.

Our legal guardian pays rent but we pay the bills and our own stuff. Darry gives me $20 a week, but sometimes I feel bad so I put it back in his wallet. He constantly asks me if I need money. I just feel bad taking it. But this time I will need money to buy school supplies. I don't want to ask for money though. I'll see what I can do.

Darry sits up. He runs his hand through his hair and stands up. He turns to me.
"Morning" he whispers.
"Hey sleeping beauty." I take a sip of my cranberry juice.
"What time did you go to sleep?"
"Don't lecture me about my sleep schedule."
"I wasn't going to. I just wanted to know because I never wake up late unless I go to sleep late. And I don't remember grabbing a blanket."
"I gave it to you."
"You did?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, thanks." He smiles.
"Anytime." I give him a thumbs up.
He walks to his room. I really don't want to ask him for money.

Darry's p/v
I turn on the shower. The warm water hits my face. Rachel gave me a blanket? After what I did to her? She can never do any harm. There's a reason why her middle name is love.

Rachel's p/v
Darry sits next to me. "What are you thinking about?"
"Back to school shopping. I need a fresh look."
"Me too. But you know me: black notebooks and a black backpack."
"I usually get whites and blues but this time I want warm colors. I want a light brown Kanken. Those are pretty cute."
"How much do they cost?"
"$60."
"I'll buy you one." He takes a sip of my juice.
"They cost too much though. I think I'll stick with my backpack."
"The backpack with the broken straps? Nonsense, I'll give you money to buy a new one. You've had that backpack since 7th grade."
"But I don't want you to waste your money."
"Rachel, why do you think I work? Please, let me buy you one."
I smile. "Thank you, Darry."
"I'm going to work in 30 minutes. I'll be back around 4:30. What time did you say you were going school shopping?"
"2."
"Here's $90," he grabs his wallet from the table and pulls out a few bills, "I'll be going school shopping too but at 5. You can stay home with Sage and then I'll pick you up at 5. Maybe you can help me update my look for school."
"Ooh, that sounds fun."
"Cool." He smiles. He gets up and grabs his Starbucks uniform from the coat hanger. Our morning routine.

Rachel's p/v
"Beautiful! Gorgeous!"
I giggle. "Thank you, Sage. How are the pictures?"
"Out of this world. You need a modeling contract right now."
"Nice outfit." A passing lady says.
"Thank you!"
"Your outfit is so cute. Model worthy."
"Little do they know I got my dress at Goodwill and that this is a fake Gucci belt."
"We love sustainable girlies! Ready to buy your Kanken?"
"So ready. I will take it to my grave."

We enter the store and the first thing we see are people running to the backpack section. Some guy leaves a burnt orange Kanken on the jeans table and walks away. I grab it before he changes his mind.
"Incredible, beautiful, sexy."
Sage laughs. "You got the whole vocabulary."

2 hours into school supply shopping and we are e x h a u s t e d. I only got 1 notebook and 1 pack of mechanical pencils because I wanted to save money for the thrift store. And the thrift store did not disappeared! I found a black shirt with planets on them, beige cargo pants, white tank top with red horizontal stripes, and black mom jeans. The jean collection is growing!

"Green is going to compliment your eyes. Trust me."
"Rach," Hector smiles at me, "it's a notebook."
"Doesn't mean it won't make your eyes pop out! They can attract anyone."
"They already are." Darry says. I turn around. Two girls are checking Darry and Hector out. Yuck! The girls look at each other and nod. They start heading our way. I just want a normal day at Walmart where these losers aren't getting hit on!
"We couldn't help but notice how cute you guys are. My name is Charis."
"And I'm Taylor."'
I take a look at Taylor. Light brown hair, brown eyes, tan skin, slim body. Then I look at Charis. Dark brown curls, dark brown eyes, glasses, braces, curvy. She's too pretty for Hector, c'mon.
"I'm Darry."
"Hector."
"Nice to meet you Darry and Hector. Taylor says.
"And this is my little sister Rachel." Darry wraps his arm around me.
I half smile. "Hi."
"Well Darry, I'm free almost all the time. Maybe we can hang out sometime." Taylor says.
"That sounds nice. I'll give you my number."
Taylor hands him her phone. He types it in and then gives it back to her.
"Maybe I'll call you tomorrow." Taylor says.
"Maybe I'll answer."
"I hope you do. Something tells me you won't though."
"Well I'm full of surprises."
"Then you'll love what I have to say."
"I think I'm already loving it."
"I have to go now, but I'll definitely call you."
"I'll be waiting."
Taylor and Charis walk away. Hector sighs. "Damn, Charis didn't ask for my number."
"Wasn't mean to be."
"That was the grossest thing I have ever seen."
"Oh yeah? Try watching your little sister being held by some random guy."
"You know his name, Darry."
"Even if I did I wouldn't use it."
"You literally know it though."
"How about we look for that green notebook, Rach?" Hector asks.
I flip my hair and start walking. "Gladly."

I'm helping Darry make dinner tonight. We're making chicken with cheesy baked asparagus, one of Darry's favorites as a kid. Last time we had it was when our dad hugged me for the first time in my life. He only hugged me so the workers wouldn't suspect of neglect. I had told my teacher what was going on. CPS came and checked the house. They believed him. It was the last time they believed his lies.

"Hey Rachel, do you think you can help me pick out an outfit for the first day of school? It's my last first day after all."
"Sure. I know nothing about fashion but I can help."
"But you said you were gonna give yourself a new look. Clearly you know what you're doing."
"I know what everyone else is doing. I'm a follower, not a creator-"
The lights go out. I run to the couch and hide underneath a pillow.
"Rach-"
"Please stay here with me." I whisper.
Darry sits next to me. "I'm not going anywhere."
"My fear of the dark is so fucking stupid but I can't help it. Why did the lights go out?"
"I'm not sure, I paid the bills this morning."
"Maybe Quinn knows what happened. Can you ask her?"
"I thought you guys weren't friends anymore?"
"We just drifted apart. No bad blood."
"Oh, ok. I'll stay here with you until the lights go back on."
"Even if it means we have to sleep in the living room?"
"Well at some point we're gonna have to go-"
"No! Please, I can't leave. Please stay with me."
Darry turns on his phone flashlight and pats my back. "I'm right here, always. I'm never leaving you."

I take a deep breath. Darkness means getting jump-scared by my dad. Darkness means not knowing what's next. But with Darry by my side, I know nothing is ever going to happen to me.