PANDEMONIUM [ 2 ] ↠ STRANGER THINGS

5. HERO IN DISGUISE

PANDEMONIUM
CHAPTER FIVE

➝ HERO IN DISGUISE

         COLLEEN WAS SITTING ON THE FRONT PORCH OUT FRONT OF TINA'S HOUSE, she was cradling an half empty bottle of Jack in between her hands. Taking huge swigs every so often, trying to drown Steve's words out of her head. She had been blaming herself for everything that had happened for almost a year now, and to be reminded of it by her best friend. She could never prepare herself for that amount of pain. It left behind a hollow sting in her chest.

She blew out a long breath, and flicking her cigarette bud onto the ground. She watched as the flame slowing burned out and it blended in with the rest of the gravel ground. She heard a loud car pull down the street and when the ignition switched off, the harsh hum subsided. Colleen pulled the cap off of the bottle and pulled it to her lips, downing a few gulps until a voice caught her attention. She turned her head to find Lizzie standing in the doorway with Heather and Dorean shadowing behind her, "You look like shit."

"Thanks," Colleen stood up but stumbled down the sidewalk for a couple of steps. Her head felt heavy and her eyes were fluttering shut. Heather shot her hand out and grabbed ahold of Colleen's arm, and pulled her back. Colleen's eyes scanning around the party, "Where's Billy?"

Heather pulled the bottle out her hands and rolled her eyes at the mention of Billy. She knew that Colleen was focusing all of her attention on Billy because she was sad and he was an easy distraction. The two girls had many heart to hearts over the past summer about the boy who broke her heart last year, "I think that's enough bad decisions for one night. How about we drive you home, okay? You should get some sleep. Don't forget that we still have school tomorrow."

Colleen shook her head, "No way. I ca— I can't. I can't go home. Not like this. My mom—" She bit her tongue. That's not her mom. "Amelia, she'll... She'll kill me if I go home like this. She won't—"

"Okay okay, listen. We won't go back there yet then, but what do you say we get you out of here? We can head over to the diner... Try to wear all those drinks off a little bit?" Heather rubbed the other girl's shoulder lightly with a reassuring nod, while Lizzie and Dorean hung back. Colleen swallowed hard but her eyes glanced over to someone who was walking towards them.

Immediately Lizzie sighed, "Ah crap."

Colleen pushed away from Heather and headed over to him, "Jon— Jonathan!"

Jonathan's eyes widened once he saw her making her way over towards him. He knew this was a bad decision. He was not ready to face her yet. He swallowed hard, "Hey."

She went to pull him into a hug, that followed with a confused expression from Jonathan directed towards Lizzie. Lizzie mouthed an apology, before the three girls disappeared back into the house. Colleen stumbled, making Jonathan tighten his grip around her waist, "Hey, how much have you drank? Are you okay to get home?"