CHAPTER ELEVEN

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I'm sitting on the smoker bench at the end of the day. I'm avoiding Steve. I can't come up with a convincing lie and I've decided that there's no way I can tell him the truth. He will deem me insane, and I'll go back to rehab and therapy.

We arrived to school and devoured sweaty cheese sandwiches we purchased at the gas station for breakfast in silence in his car. After that we split and I've avoided him since. I can't see him without my conscious gnawing on the back of my neck like a haunting shadow. I feel terrible. He doesn't deserve to be lied to but he also doesn't deserve to be pulled into my mess.

The only thing he said when we pulled into the parking lot was asking; "did you mean it?"

I knew what he was talking about. It was about the promise I made to our father. More so threat.

"No, I didn't." It was sincere. "I say stupid shit like that all the time."

Now I'm sitting on this old raggedy bench, my knees hugged to my chest and my coat wrapped around my body. Richie is not here today, why I don't know, I've been too occupied with myself I've forgotten about the few important people in my life. My only friend today is the cigarette hanging between my lips. I've tried to create a neat pile of ashes on the bench in front of my feet but the wind has wrapped itself around them and brought them with it. I wish the wind would do the same for me. Like Dorothy. But instead of wanting to get home to Kansas I would stay in Oz. I would meet characters based off people in my life. Scarecrow with no brain would be Steve. Tin man with no heart would be my dad. Tommy would make the pathetic scared lion. We would get high on poppies without consequences and I would be too stupid to understand any problems. Fuck I'm disappearing again. It's been a coping mechanism for me. Imagining myself in a different life. A lot through books but mostly just my own head. There's nothing left of my cigarette. My only friend has left me. I pull out a new one. It will be my friend as well.

I'm interrupted from my thoughts when cars pull into the parking lot. Hawkins police department. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. They're here for me. To bring me back to that hell hole. Rehab called and they want their addict back. No no no no no. I run behind the school to hide. They're not taking me. I sneak glances around a corner and watch as Hopper steps out with Powell and Callahan in tow. Shit shit shit. I see how the kids outside cast glances at the officers. Some look worried but most of them look hyped and excited. They're disgusting. It's in these cases I'm glad that I often fade into the background. Nobody casts a glance my way even though I'm extremely suspiciously hiding behind the school building while the town cops are walking into it.

As soon as I think they're inside I sprint towards the parking lot. Fuck I wish I had my own car. Someone must be here right? The school day is almost over. Where is my knight in shining armour? I scan the parking lot to see someone I can approach. Someone who can get out of here quickly. I locate my get away driver sitting in his car. His sister is there next to him. Of course it had to be Billy motherfucking Hargrove.

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A/N: super short I know, but the next part is something I've looked forward to since I began this story so it will be easy for me to write! Get exciteeeeddd.... ;)

Clean cut American kid ~ Stranger thingsWhere stories live. Discover now