- SouthPark high -

Chapter 25.

Honestly I was beginning to get kind of scared on why there was a metal box hidden. I mean what would Eli want to hide?

Its so mysterious..

I was spinning the box around to look at it. It was old.

I opened it and gasped.

It reeked of marijuana. Like strong.
'Jesus'...

Inside the gray, metal box, there was small plastic mini bags of what looked like weed?
There was also a pen with a nicotine cart attached to it. With some used and unused cigarettes, messily were ashes spread in the box.

'What the?...
My mind can't comprehend why she had this stuff. This was like actually bad.
But something caught my eye, it was the big roll of cash wrapped up in clear plastic.
My eyes widen in disbelief.
'That has to be a lot of money Christ'.

I closed the box and put it back. I close the flap and the closet door.
I'd rather not mess with that.
'Ugh I'm so tired of all these secrets and lies'.

I go into the drawer next to Eli's bed and search for the family picture of Eli and her parents.
I feel it underneath all of the socks and pull it out.

It was the picture of Eli and her parents. Now that I take a closer look, I see Eli's eyes are almost dead?.. like the expression Stan had.
Her parents faces were also normal? But the more I looked, the more fuzzy their faces became.

I turned the picture around and saw the date.

My eyes widen... it was a year ago.

So where are her parents? Why did they look familiar?

My brows furrowed.

I just decided to sleep on it. After a nice shower.

__________________________________

I woke up and headed downstairs . I see Eli's grandparents and they greet me with hellos.

The question is still lingering on my mind.

"Eli?" I turn my head and see Ron questioning me. He has a look of worry in his eyes.

I turn to him and stare for a bit before I had the courage to confront him.

"Hey Ron, where exactly are my parents?"
The room is filled with painful silence. The dishes that Elise was washing stopped with a clang.

Ron sighs.
"Look Eli , we can talk about this another time."

My brows furrowed. "I mean why not ? I wanna know now".
Ron pinches his nose in my persistence.
" Eli don't, enough, leave it"
I get up from my seat.
"I just don't know what the big deal is?? just tell me?!".

Ron for the first time raises his voice and slams his fist on the table.
"ELI JUST——". Ron pauses , realizing what he did and sighs.

Ron meets my eyes and he sees my surprised, shocked expression. He becomes guilty and hesitantly speaks up.

"Eli just know your parents are no longer involved so we took you in."