"That's new," Harriet was oogeling a new kid. Piper and I followed her line of sight.
"He looks over zealous," I shrugged, blowing my cigarette in the opposite direction of my friends; they weren't keen on the scent. "Hey can you smell that?" I pretended to waft the air. "Could it be. . .a douche?"
He made it hard not to judge him; his very presence in Hawkins begged for attention.
"More for us," Piper said and the shrill sound of the bell cut their show short. We stood up to get to class and I ditched my cigarette.
-
Weeks dragged on, of all the girls flirting with their new toy, Billy Hargrove. He seemed to play them well, but I had my head screwed on properly to see his flirtations were empty.
Billy this, Billy that. I couldn't breathe without being interrupted by someone fawning over the guy. He was in a ridiculous amount of my classes, there was no escape. Though I did make a point of sitting as far away as possible from him; my gut couldn't settle at the thought of him.
Piper and Harriet asked a lot of questions during lunch and after school. They always wanted to know about him and I always reminded them I didn't have any clue because I was busy participating in discussions. I would shut them up finally with a "If you want to know, then go ask him."
I resorted to sitting with Steve a lot, when Piper and Harriet were being extra tentative to Billy. Steve and I have known each other since I moved here. Our moms were inseparable in high school.
"You gotta cut your hair Harrington, it's really out of control," I tugged at it and placed my lunch tray on the table.
"Hey! It's my best feature," he fixed it.
I brought my Pepsi to my mouth and mumbled, "You mean your only feature," while looking elsewhere.
"Oh ha ha. Very funny, okay Vee," I laughed as he got defensive.
Nancy came to sit with us, greeting me with a smile. I have nothing against Nancy Wheeler; she has simply been distant since the disappearance of Barb, her best friend.
-
"Serve the ball already!" I shouted from the sidelines. Tim couldn't serve the volleyball for the life of him.
"Miss. Carter! You'll have your turn!" The teacher chided. He blew the whistle to signal the start.
My enthusiasm for sports came from my father. He helped me as a kid by explaining that I couldn't hit people, but I could channel it into competition and kick their butts in sports. His sport in high school was basketball, so I loved that one the most.
Steve is in my physical education class; we actually make a kickass team. He became the star basketball player due to my constant practicing with him. We didn't have a girls team, so I lived vicariously through him during the season. My father refused to allow me to join the boys team; I knew he had my best interest in mind.
Suddenly becoming dizzy I held my head inbwtween my knees. I saw something strange, a flat television with basketball playing on the screen, the colors were so vivid and they seemed to look very life like, like a window and not a television.
"Hey hey, just breathe," Steve saw my distress. He knew the drill by heart, after experiencing it time and time again.
I wiped my nose on the inside of my shirt. It was just a little bit of blood.
"I'm good," I lifted my head, taking a deep breath to slow my heart rate. "I'm good," I tried to convince myself.
"That's the first episode in a while now," Steve commented.
It was bad last year. I had an episode nearly every other day. No one knows about the things I see. How do I even start to explain them? I've never seen these things before. Sometimes it was the death of someone or a flash of some technology I couldn't understand. It was always vivid; I was experiencing the event myself and not through another person. Last year I saw a handful of deaths. I didn't know who these people were and I didn't know if I'd be able to stop it. Each death I experienced as the person dying. It was damaging for me, but I have mastered masking the pain since I was young.
I decided never to tell anyone. Not Steve, not my parents, and I placed this cloud of denial around me. I've seen in movies and read the paper about how people are taken to insane asylums for the kind of shit I see.
"Carter and Harrington! Smith and Hargrove!" We were playing doubles.
Steve offered me his hand and he pulled me up and we stepped off the bleachers to face our opponents.
I served hard, but Billy was on his game and proceeded to attack. Steve managed to set it up for me and I approached to spike it.
After many minutes of this back and forth game, the teacher blew the whistle signaling for us to stop. I caught the ball.
"You all passed," he said and checked us off his list.
-
Steve had this way about him that eased my mind. It was just us for so long, we became inseparable until seventh grade started and he found glory in basketball and stopped making time for me so quickly I almost had whiplash.
Piper and Harriet gravitated to me the first day of seventh grade. They were next door neighbors and we started slowly become greater friends, it was different to have other girls as friends. I could tell them about my awful period cramps and my crushes (which was not often). It felt great and I understood how Steve preferred to be with his teammates over me.
Maybe I thanked Billy slightly for coming into this town, he held the attention of the basketball team while trying to isolate Steve, the captain, and provided a distraction to Piper and Harriet.
I waved bye to Steve as we parted ways and opened the door to my 1969 Dodge Charger, throwing my bag in the back seat.
Billy was parked in the spot in front of me. His Chevrolet Camaro was kept in good shape, but it doesn't quite gain the respect my Charger does.
-
"I can't believe you're late," Johnny, my little brother, rolled his eyes. He was a drama star and I couldn't help but smile.
"You're not dead, a little cold will do you some good," I assured him, carefully pulling out of the pick up lane.
Suddenly a loud honk blew up in my ear. I turned my body to see that Camaro again.
"Please don't start drama," he sank in his seat as I rolled down my window.
"It's fine, really, I can keep my cool," I stuck my hand out the window giving Billy the finger and pulling away.
"God, you're an embarrassment," he got out of the car and I laughed. I really loved him with all my heart and would easily die for him.
Our mom and dad were definitely the odd couple out in this small town. They were both gay, and very open about it, but continued to be married to each other, for us. I mean besides the fact that they're best friends.
We aren't their biological kids but they sure love us like we are. They changed my life completely when they adopted me.
My mother decided to be a stay at home mom, despite working hard for her money and going to Yale when they finally allowed women to apply. That's where she met my father. In the last semester she became friends with him and he was a real ladies man (we know why now), they just gravitated towards each other. Simply put, my father, my ever so loving father, was sterile, so biological kids were out of the question. They decided to foster children, of course they just couldn't give me back so they adopted me, chubby, scar ridden Veronica (my name was Patricia before, but they decided I need a new start and that I could leave the broken Patricia behind and become something better, so they changed it). I am grateful they gave me my second chance at life.
"Mom?" I walked into the kitchen, where she usually was planning one of our exquisite dinners. A skill she'd mastered through being a stay at home mom.
"What's up sweetie?" She was putting a meatloaf in the oven.
I loved talking to my mom. She was always ready to untangle my thoughts and help me in any foreseeable way. When I first was officially adopted I had awful fears of people, especially women, because of my previous environment. So my social worker recommended therapy and over time I grew out of it, but I wouldn't be where I am today if I didn't see my therapist.
I told my mom about everything, except the sports things, she didn't really get it; I guess it was something between me and my father.
"But did you at least kick their asses?" She was still cooking as I explained the basics of how P. E. went.
"Of course, you raised a Carter, not a quitter." I smiled like it was our secret. It was our family motto.
"Go shower and then we'll eat dinner," she swatted my hand away from the carrots she just chopped.
"Okay okay," I put my hands up and grabbed my bag off the floor, bringing it to my room.
I closed my bedroom door and was overcome with dizziness. I breathed slowly, trying my best to remain calm and let it pass. I knelt, to avoid falling. My knuckles were strained as I tightened my grip on the door knob.
I stood outside of the Henderson's house. Hearing a distinct noise. A high pitched, almost echo-location sound. I've heard it before. The trash can rumbled.
I winced in pain as my mind quickly snapped back to reality.
Luckily I was still wearing my P. E. uniform and simply wiped the blood on the inside of my collar again.
-
I breathed slowly, to relax as I allowed the hot water to wash over my sweaty body. It helped with my muscle tension in my shoulders. I kept thinking about the scene I saw just a few moments ago. What if the Henderson's were in trouble right now? Impossible, this is Hawkins, nothing ever happens here. I lied to myself, remembering that same sound when I had a vision of Barb's death. I shook my head as if to shake the thought.
My mind was numb as I tried to forget the episode. I dressed and joined my family downstairs.
"The best damn meat loaf in this whole town," my father smiled, laying his napkin on his lap.
Mom and dad always made Johnny and I feel safe and comfortable at home. We all joked around with ease and I gave him the play by play of the volleyball scenario while we ate.
"We haven't seen Steve in a while huh," Johnny spoke thoughtfully. Steve and Johnny were always playing vidoe games together when we were growing up.
"Yeah, he's been busy with basketball and his whole high school fame," I shrugged.
"I heard you're pretty popular at school," my mom looked at me pointedly, wiggling her eyebrows. My face warmed up.
"I've never heard that, like not even once, all I do is hang out with Piper and Harriet. Nothing popular worthy," I couldn't look her in the eye, so I focused on eating my food.
"I heard at the hair salon the other day that a lot of the boys want to ask you to the winter social," I rolled my eyes.
"Who mom? Who said that? Mrs. Travis?" I had to look her in the eye to see what she was going on about. Mrs. Travis is the least reliable source for gossip in Hawkins.
"Mrs. Wheeler actually," she corrected me. "Nancy told her about some of Steve's friends thinking you were the 'bees knees'."
"Firstly, I told you I wasn't going to winter formal anyway, it's not my scene. " In truth I am a very introverted person and I don't require socialization to feel energized. In fact it drains me very quickly. "Secondly, Nancy Wheeler has her face glued to Steve's, I don't know when she would have time to hear thise rumors accurately."
"Honey, it's your last year, maybe one dance with your friends could be fun," she tried to convince me. She didn't care about boys and never pushed me to date anyone, it was more about the fleeting experiences.
"How about prom? I promise I'll go to prom," I compromised.
"Sounds good to me," she smiled warmly and my automatic reflex was to reciprocate the smile. Mom always had that effect on me.
We finished dinner and began cleaning up.
"So for this Christmas I thought we could go to the resort and do some skiing and snowboarding?" Dad suggested. My father, a simple business man, who happened to come from old money and a large trust fund, purchased some sought after land and built malls across the east coast. He built our very own Starcourt mall, but later sold it for a larger profit than he'd like to admit. Despite having plenty of money to live where ever we would like, we lived a simple life, per my mother's request.
She had our home built on the edge of Hawkins on the largest piece of land she could procure, 5 acres. The driveway was long and we were secluded by the surrounding fauna.
"What if we spent this Christmas at home?" Johnny, the most desperate person to constantly leave Hawkins, softly replied. "It's just, I auditioned for the school play and I got the lead, performances are around Christmas time and it would be fun to spend time with my friends." He was rambling a bit and we all were trying not to smile so brightly at his adorableness.
"Of course we can stay home, I'll drive you and pick you up from every rehearsal you have," I grabbed his head and rubbed my hand on his hair, against his will of course. "Knucklehead."
He pushed me off and I laughed. "God, I hate you!" His voice told me he didn't mean it. He stomped off to the living room.
"Love you too!" I shouted, still smiling.
"Go get your work done," Mom jokingly whipped the dish towel at my butt, so I jumped away to avoid it.
"Okay, okay!" I was laughing as I went upstairs.
-
Homework was a breeze, as per usual. I was gifted in school, placed in the gifted program when I moved here. Naturally this meant I had had mostly been with upperclassmen through most of my high school career and this year I took a bunch of random electives I found interesting because why the hell not?
Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring. My landline went off. I had my own personal line, due to Piper and Harriet calling me so often my parents were tired of accidentally answering.
"Vee speaking," I answered.
"It's Piper."
"And Harriet!" Harriet shouted from the background.
"So there's a party this weekend," Piper said.
"Okay," I was drawing in my sketchbook.
"And that means we're going, so wear something hot, I'm pretty sure Steve will be there." From the beginning, Piper speculated I had some secret past with Steve that caused a rift in our friendship. Specifically, that we were in love with each other, so I rolled my eyes.
"Fine, but Harriet better be driving your car, my baby cannot handle another encounter with her." Harriet, poor sweet Harriet, was not the best driver, considering she didn't have her own car, but she was always our designated driver. She's a Mormon and we struck a deal with her parents that if she didn't drink she could attend parties for a maximum of two hours. It was less strict than the other Mormon kids, so we took what we could get.
"But-"
"Then I'm gonna have to pass," I knew she'd cave.
"Fine, she can drive my car," Piper groaned. "It's Wednesday night at Tina's house."
"Tina? You mean the Tucker's house? Why didn't you start with that?" I was being sarcastic. "Oh how I love the Tucker's!" The name brought a sickening feeling to my stomach. Brandon Tucker tried to rape me our Sophomore year. I managed to escape before he could, but I'd kill him if he ever tried to do it again.
"Okay I know it's not ideal, but it's gonna be huge!" We've been best friends long enough I knew what she was getting at.
"You mean, on the off chance Billy might be there, you want to make an appearance," I deadpanned.
"Sheesh Vee just agree to come and stop overthinking every thing, we'll be with you the whole time, and we won't let him anywhere near you," she swore in a cross-your-heart tone of voice. I hated how outgoing my friends were, but they needed my protection from assholes and dickheads, like Brandon Tucker.
"Fine," I said like I was caving. For the sake of keeping up the appearance that I was reluctant to go.
"We'll be over at 9 on Wednesday," she confirmed. We said goodnight and hung up.
-
"Sir, if I may express my interpretation, this isn't about how women only want to marry rich," I didn't break eye contact with my English teacher. He was obviously misunderstanding every word written by the queen Ms. Jane Austen. "The purpose of her writing, historically, is to write about men the way they write about women. To completely objectify her by calling her a sad romantic rudely underplays her power and influence in literature and society."
"All she writes about is how the male gaze seems to affect her and her sisters' well being. Clearly she was illustrating the woes of trying to find a suitor and being picky," he laughed it off like a joke.
"Sir, insulting Jane Austen isn't easy, her character Elizabeth did care about the marriages of her sisters. Of course she did, they were her whole life; she cared for them so deeply, but it wasn't about her being 'picky', it was a statement that the actions of men cannot go unseen or unpunished. Even if they take such a hit to their pride at the uttering of the word 'no', but that's not her fault they're over sensitive," I made steady eye contact with him. This old man, who makes my life a living hell most days, also manages to give me the mental stimulation and lights a fire in me for the remainder of the day.
He simply concluded with saying that I am wrong and a hundred years worth of literature professors' opinions were of greater value than an 18 year old girl.
My point was never to convince him that his opinion was wrong, it was about all the other people in the class, to show them two sides of interpretation.
"Always starting shit," I heard someone mumble with my name as we shuffled out of the classroom.
-
It was Wednesday before I could blink.
I hustled through the endless morning, dragging my feet the whole way; my body more exhausted than usual.
"Hey, I got you a strawberry milk," Harriet said in such a contagiously chipper mood it made me smile sincerely for the first time today. She and Piper decided Billy's table had overflowed with occupants.
"I don't know if I can go to the party tonight." I have seasonal depression and it usually begins right around Halloween most years. I have awful flashbacks of my past. Her face appeared clearly to me as if I was living the day over again.
"Keep up!" She yelled at me, pulling my arm forward.
"Mama, I'm so cold," I chattered leaping to catch up with her.
"If you keep moving you won't be cold," she walked faster to pull me forward.
"Mama, I cant!" I started crying, trying my hardest to keep up with her.
"Stop crying!" She turned quickly and slapped me across the face, I could barely feel it.
"Can you be quiet and follow me now?" She was angry. I breathed slowly to calm myself and before I could think we were walking faster than before.
"You wait here, don't move," she sat me beside a dumpster as she ran off under the bridge. That's her usual spot for buying drugs, I didn't know which ones.
And I waited. I waited until my fingers were blue and I couldn't feel my feet.
Finally a sanitation worker found me the next morning and called the police. I have a scar she left on my face from that night. I didn't even know I had been bleeding.
"Hey, Vee?" They didn't know about my birth mother, I didn't think it was for anyone to know except me. People would see my weakness and it was just going to hurt me.
"Yeah sorry, just feeling down lately," I used a spork to slowly eat the vegetables from my lunch tray.
"Then a party is just what you need! I swear if you just ask any dude you can bum cigarettes all night, I mean not that you need to, but it's one of many fun activities to participate in," Piper attempted to 'cheer me up'.
I knew for a fact nothing would stop them from going to the party and I would not let them be alone in a house full of drunk horny guys willing to do just about anything to get into my friends's pants.
"I'll go, but you'll stay with me the whole time," I made sure they knew it wasn't a question.
"Of course we will, how else am I going to fend off assholes?" Piper rolled her eyes.
We ate and bounced ideas off of each other for costumes. It was decided I was going to be Dally (apparently my short hair was perfect for it), Harriet was going to be Cherry, and Piper was going to be a Soc.
We stood up to dispose of our trays.
"You guys come over to my house to get ready, you can try on some new clothes my mom bought for me," I mentioned.
"I love your mom, she's always buying you the cutest clothes," Harriet sighing at the thought of her closet full of knee length skirts and grandma cardigans.
"Don't worry, I've got you covered, they'll never know," I mustered a mischievous smile, winking.
"Feel better Veronica!" Harriet shouted, smiling as we parted ways.
-
I sure tried to feel better. I just couldn't shake it.
"Hey! Get your head in the game Carter!" Steve shouted at me as we were playing volleyball. I didn't miss the ball, a reflex developed over time, though it was not at all a decent shot.
"Sorry, right," I was overfocused now, to a point where I couldn't focus. I shook my head in attempt to clear it.
-
"That was sad Carter," Billy was on the opposing team, he always seemed to be on the opposing team.
"I'm sorry," I instinctively replied.
"What?" He stopped and looked confused.
"I'm- I'm sorry," I mummbled and went to the showers.
"God, what's wrong with you today, you nearly made us look like fools in front of Billy," Vicki was taking off her clothes to shower. Between her, Tina, and Carol, Vicki was easily the prettiest one in our gym class and not built for sports whatsoever. None of them seemed to put in the amount of effort I did, even on my bad days.
My hands felt tingly at the touch of the rusted locker door on my hands had me in a daze. "I'm sorry," I simply changed my shoes and attempted to change my clothes. I could sense the weight of their eyes on the back of my head. I stopped taking my shirt off, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath to calm my heart rate.
"Just try next time," she grabbed her towel and headed to the showers.
I accidentally forgot to put my shoes back in my locker so I shoved them in my bag and kept my head down as I left before everyone else finished showering.
"Hey, hold up," Steve was waiting for me outside of the locker room. He had basketball practice after school, so he doesnt need to change.
"I'm sorry," I stopped and looked up at him. I couldn't seem to focus on his face.
"For what?" He was confused.
"Ah nothing, I'm sorry," I couldn't catch myself before it slipped out. I cringed at my repetition of words.
"What's up with you? You almost cost us the game, luckily I can still spike half-assed sets," he tried to joke. I laughed and I internally punched myself for how forced it sounded.
"Piper told me in math that you guys were gonna be 'the hottest girls at the party'," he mimicked her peppy, popular voice she used 90% of the time. "Are you sure you're up for that? There's no reason for you to go to a party if you don't feel good." He touched much arm in a sentimental way.
I looked him in the eyes. "It's at Brandon Tucker's house, I'm not letting them go alone."
"Well then I'm going too," he stated matter-of-factly.
I nodded, my mind couldn't focus.
"Hey, you can stay to watch me kick Billy's ass in basketball if it will help cheer you up," he offered.
"I think I just need to take a nap or something," I shrugged it off.
"Okay, well I'll see you tonight." It was awkward, I made it awkward.
"Bye Steve," I waved and forced a smile as I took a step back and went to turn around. He looked like he was going to say something, but I was suddenly falling on the ground before he could. He came over to help me up.
Billy had been getting ready to pass the basketball to someone and we didn't see each other.
"Hey! Watch it!" He raised his voice and I could feel my tears welling up. Stupid me, I'm going to look weak in front of everyone.
"I'm sorry," I choked out, grabbing my bag as quickly as possible so I could relatively run to the nearest exit.
-
I couldn't register a word that came out of Johnny's mouth the entire ride home.
"Mom is there a bruise on my back?" I found her on the couch knitting, pulling up my shirt for her to examine.
"Oh honey, that's awful!" She instinctively went to touch it, I winced at the pain I had been sitting on the whole ride. "How'd you get that?"
"I accidentally backed into someone, this is where their elbow hit me," I dropped my shirt. I couldn't help myself, my eyes started welling up again.
"Oh that's awful!" She put her knitting off to the side.
I nodded, my mouth barely able to voice, "Yeah it was awful," before I broke down in her lap, sobbing uncontrollably.
We stayed like that for a few hours, her assuring me that I'm safe and loved and she would never let anyone hurt me. They'd have to go through her first. That one always made me smile. My mom was a classic small town beauty and she never lost that about her, in other words, this woman was in no shape to fight anyone. But she always fought for me.
"Okay okay, Piper and Harriet are coming over soon to get ready," I wiped my eyes. "Thanks for buying all those clothes for me." I hugged her tightly.
"I'd buy you the moon if you'd let me," she hugged me tighter.
"She's too beautiful to just own," I hugged her another minute. She kissed my forehead and I went upstairs to shower.
I put on my stereo and took a long hot shower, accidentally brushing against my bruise one too many times.
"Veronica! We're here!" Harriet was excited as she came into the room, Piper in tow, as I sat at my vanity table, towel drying my hair.
"Ooo, where your hair dryer? I wanna do your hair!" Harriet has recently been an aspiring cosmetology student.
"Of course," I pointed to the bathroom.
"Oh. My. God." Piper was already in my closet in awe of the new pieces.
"Hey! We both need to find costumes!" Harriet came back with the hair dryer.
"I know, I know," Piper started laying out outfits and Harriet plugged in the hair dryer.
"What about me?" I questioned.
"I'll get everyone the perfect costume, don't worry, don't worry," she waved me off, already laying out clothes on the bed.
It was refreshing, having a long cry about my past, washing it away with tears and a hot shower, and getting to spend my present with my friends who help me live in the moment. I was back to smiling in no time.
"Okay, okay." Piper held up the first outfit, a loose silk button up, long sleeve shirt and a denim not-too-mini skirt, "For our Sweetest girl Cherry, and a more sensible cardigan." Harriet and I smiled and nodded in approval, Piper jumped a little with excitement. "For our Hottest non-Curtis," she held up a black t-shirt, jeans and a leather jacket.
"Classic," I liked it a lot.
"And me, clearly the Richest one of us," we laughed, she held up khakis and a plaid sweater with a button up shirt. She handed Harriet her outfit.
"I think you really out did yourself," I said as she handed me my outfit.
"Of course I have accessories too, so change already!" She excitedly ran to the hallway bathroom to change as Harriet went to my bathroom.
We were dressed and looking bitchin, we admired ourselves in the mirror.
"Love the hair by the way," I told Harriet. She smiled.
-
"Ladies," Steve arrived only a few minutes before we did. He and Nancy had on costumes from Risky Business.
"Steve," Piper and Harriet nearly said in unison.
"Is she feeling better?" He asked them, I rolled my eyes.
"We think so, she probably just made too much eye contact with Vicki or Billy and was upset at how she wasn't allowed to take them down in school without being suspended again," Piper was being overly serious, in a joking way. I was suspended one time for kicking Brandon Tucker so hard I cracked his rib.
"Ha. Ha. You two, I was just having a down day, I'm allowed to feel down every once in a while," I poured myself a cup of beer from the keg.
-
Four cups of beer in and I wasn't even close to drunk. Not even dazed. I wasn't able to get any more beer because Billy, ah yes the star of the night, was too busy trying to beat my record on the keg. So I was smoking a cigarette waiting for the opportunity to get more beer.
"That's how you do it Hawkins!" Billy exclaimed after he was done.
Tommy marches him over to me and the gang to gloat.
"One second more? That's it Billy?" I was unfazed at his 'accomplishment' he so proudly came to me to flaunt.
"Is that a challenge?" Tommy asked.
"Like it's even hard," I was bored, I'll admit. I could see Piper and Harriet start to interject, but it was too late, I had the crowd rioted.
"Hold this," I shoved my empty cup at Tommy, and took my jacket off, also shoving it at him. I took one more hit from my cigarette before flicking it in the grass.
"Nope," Piper stopped some random guy from holding my legs up. I had to do it on my forearms and not as a headstand, due to a previous injury.
"Hey that's cheating!" Billy called out. I dropped my legs, looking at Tommy to explain.
"She broke her hand as a kid, she can't put weight on it," Tommy offered.
I got on my forearms again and Piper held me there, as I drank my way to alcohol poisoning.
They chanted my last name, but I drowned it out with the memory of how I broke my hand exactly.
"My baby girl Patricia here, would like to try on some of your clothes, we're shopping for her new school outfits," we were at the Gap. I was dressed in jeans that were much too big and one of my mom's t-shirts, also large and ill fitting.
And so I tried on the clothes. There was easily about 30 sets of clothes in the dressing room.
My mom layered them on like it was no big deal. Placing my dirty clothes on top of two sets of clothes.
"Oh well, maybe next time Patricia," she acted disappointed as we tried to exit the store but were caught by the security guard, a tag was sticking out the back.
"Excuse me Ms, I think your daughter forgot to take the clothes off after trying them on," he was friendly, not trying to harm me.
"Oh dear! I didn't even realize I guess I just get so distracted by how cute she looks," my mom so easily bluffed.
Outside the store, after I changed one more time, my mom took my left wrist in her hand and slapped my hand with so much force she broke it. Snap. I felt it and began to cry holding my hand to my chest.
"You better stop making a scene, of you want to eat dinner tonight, Patricia!" She pointed her finger at my face and I wiped my eyes on my shoulder. She groaned and grabbed me by my neck. "Let's go, before someone sees you a mess like this."
The doctors later assessed I must have been six or seven when it broke, from the way it had healed so poorly. There was no way for me to see a doctor, I'd never seen one in my life. I did get reconstructive surgery on my wrist later on after I was adopted.
"59! 60!" I came back to reality. A decent amount of alcohol in me now. I dropped my legs and stood burping a little.
"Don't even bother," I deliberately and nonchalantly took Billy's cigarette from his dumbfounded mouth and inhaled some, blowing all the smoke in his face. I leaned into his ear, as if it was a secret, "You're not nearly as empty as I am," I whispered and giggled, hiccuping slightly, which made me giggle more.
Harriet wrapped here arm around my shoulder. She had taken my jacket from Tommy. She started guiding me away from the crowd. I still had Billy's cigarette. I decided to not to waste it.
"Let's find you a nice quiet place to sit," Harriet's time was almost up, we'd be going home soon.
They brought me to the car, deciding it was time to go, rather than drag me around.
"Nancy, girl was drunk after her third cup, what a fucking lightweight, I am only drunk because I drank a third of the keg," I think I accidentally vocalized that, I honestly couldn't tell at this point. "I'm sorry guys," I was sat in the front seat, my legs still hanging out of the side.
"Hey, it's okay, just don't do that again, it's dangerous," Steve was knelt in front of me.
"You're so handsome Steve! I definitely see why Nancy is sucking your face off most of the time," I held his face in my hands squishing his cheeks and moving my hands to his hair, fluffing it up and giggling. I knew I was definitely wasted now.
"Okay, you better get her home," he took my hands out of his hair and stood up. Lifting my legs into the car.
"Yeah her mom's going to be upset, I can't believe we let her do that," Harriet was worried. They closed my door and I passed out.
-
Rolling over in my bed I saw the light of my alarm clock 6am. Suddenly remembering the events of last night, I ran to my bathroom and puked for a solid minute, quickly rinsing the disgusting taste from my mouth.
I puked once more and brushed my teeth, resigned to sitting on my bathroom floor. My head was splitting. Needless to say, I was stupid last night.
After about five minutes of waiting to see if I threw up again, I went downstairs.
We were out of my favorite cereal; a bagel would have to suffice.
"Oh Roni, you're awake," dad came down stairs, still in pajamas and his robe. That was his nickname for me, everyone called me Vee, but only he gets to call me Roni.
"Hey, sorry I scared you last night, some douchebag tried to one up my record on the keg, I couldn't let it slide," I spread cream cheese on my bagel.
"I admire you're ability, but your body can't handle that much alcohol, so next time-"
"Oh don't worry, there won't be a next time, I did a whole minute," I assured him. He got out his Cocoa Puffs.
"Alright, I trust we won't find you in the hospital any time soon," he made sure to look me in the eye for confirmation.
"Definitely not," I assured him. We moved to the living room and ate our breakfast while watching the morning news.
"I heard you were feeling down yesterday, do you need to see Sherry?" My therapist.
"I think I'll be fine, don't worry I won't be out partying any time soon," I took our plates to the sink.
"I trust you, and I know you'll tell me if anything serious is going on," he followed after shutting the TV off and gave me a hug.
"I love you Roni, don't forget that," he kissed the top of my head. I gripped him tightly.
"I know, I love you too dad," I had my face buried in his chest.
"Okay, we better get ready to go, long days ahead for both of us," he didn't let go until I let go.
"Right," I smiled and we went to our rooms to get ready.
-
"You start practice today right?" I confirmed with a Johnny as I drove us to school.
"Yeah, we should be finished in maybe two hours, were reading through the script," he was still a little sleepy.
"Okay, I'll be in the library, so come find me afterwards," I turned on the radio as he rested his eyes.
-
"Oh my god, Vee did you hear? Nancy has a fight with Steve right after you left," Piper was always down with the gossip.
"I didn't have anything to do with that did I?" I winced at the thought.
"She said their whole relationship was bullshit, but she did definitely mention you, Tina was standing right outside the door of the bathroom," she said and I stopped trying to open my locker, closing my eyes and banging my head against it, loudly.
"Ouch," I reached my hand up to touch my forehead.
"Oh dear Vee!" Harriet reached out to make sure I was okay.
"They were walking on thin ice already, nothing you could do," Piper ignored my head banging overdramatics.
"But what if he hates me now? You know he really loves Nancy," I opened my locker finally, sifting through my books.
"He'll get over it," she said nonchalantly.
Suddenly Piper wasn't talking and she elbowed next in the ribs.
"Geeze, what?" I stopped sifting to look at her but she wasn't looking at me. I turned around to see what it was. Billy.
"Veronica," he greeted me with what was supposed to be a seductive smile, I assume.
"Don't tell me you're also a sore loser?" I had a sharp tongue. It was a Carter thing.
He smirked shaking his head slightly. Looking me up and down.
"Excuse me? Can I help you with something?" I looked at him confused.
"Just checking out the competition. I'll see you later, Carter," he flashed a smile. "Ladies." He nodded to Piper and Harriet and walked away.
"What the hell is up with him?" I returned to looking for my very worn copy of Pride and Prejudice.
"Oh my god, you really are the hottest shit in this school, he's totally flirting with you!" Piper smacked my arm with her notebook. I flinched.
"You gotta stop that," I told her seriously. "But yes I am the steaming, hottest pile of shit," I confirmed with a smile. I could visualize the eye roll she was doing right now. Harriet thought I was hilarious though.
"I know you have never dated anyone because you've had the hots for Steve this whole time, but we have some fresh meat on the field, and it wants you." It was my turn to roll my eyes.
"Steve and I having romantic feelings for each other is merely a figment of your imagination, literally all in your head," I pulled the book from underneath some textbooks. "Ah ha!" Victory.
"You obviously don't see what we all see, even Nancy could see it!" We walked to class, they were near to each other, not the same, but close.
"Piper has a point Vee, there is definitely something there, but I personally believe you'd have more fun with Billy, I mean not in a sexual way-" she was blushing. "In a teasing way, he seems to be a match for your wit," she corrected confidently.
"Chemistry that will blow up in your face if ignored," Piper said as the bell rang. We parted ways.
-
I managed to avoid eye contact with Billy the majority of the morning.
For lunch, I sat alone. Steve was sitting with Nancy and after what Piper told me about their fight, I didn't want to intrude. Piper and Harriet were sat with Billy, but I couldn't bring myself to follow.
History was a breeze, but when I got to PE all hell broke loose.
We switched units to basketball, appropriate for basketball season.
"I know you're all probably hungover from your insane parties last night, so we're just going to play a simple basketball game," our teacher was relatively close in age to us and understood how we functioned. "Harrington, Hargrove, are captains, choose your teams." He sat himself on the bleachers.
Steve and Billy stood and rock paper scissored you see who got to choose first. Billy won.
"Carter." They didn't even turn away from each other. I scrunched my face, reluctantly getting up and going to his side.
"Are you kidding me? Carter? She's always on my team," Steve argued.
"Fair is fair, Harrington," Billy shrugged and I sat on the floor, knowing this could be forever. I laid down staring at the ceiling, bored out of my mind. They argued over who got the last of the girls, being that neither of them wanted them.
The teacher blew the whistle and we got into position.
"Forward? Really?" I questioned Billy's instruction like he was stupid. I was always point guard.
"My team, my rules," he shut me down.
I reluctantly assumed my position near the hoop.
The whistle sounded again.
Let the games begin.
Billy showed off, refusing to pass the ball. I had to steal the ball and I scored just as many baskets as him. Unfortunately we weren't keeping track.
The whistle blew. "Half time."
"Sorry I didn't get to choose you," Steve was behind me in line for the water fountain.
"It's fine," I stepped forward. I was pissed at Billy, not him.
"What's up with you?" He was defensive.
"I wish I had died of alcohol poisoning last night, I fucking hate high school," I stepped forward again. My depression was overcoming at this point. I was usually better at concealing these thoughts.
"Is this because I couldn't pick you?" He followed. I could hear the concern in his voice.
"Let's be honest Steve, you never picked me, not when we were younger and definitely not over Nancy, but that's the thing, I'd never ask you to," it was my turn to drink from the water fountain. I took my time, not a whole minute though.
"Of course I'd choose you, what the hell are you talking about?" He took a short sip of water after me so he could follow me.
"Be realistic Steve, I'm your disposable friend," I stretched a bit.
"Who told you that?" He was outraged.
"No one had to tell me, I'm not blind," I felt empty as I spoke the words.
"Nancy has nothing to do with you," he tried to assure me.
"Piper said you and Nancy had an argument after I left and that she mentioned me. Tell me exactly what she said Steve," I finally looked him in the eye.
"It was about some secret relationship she thought we had, which we don't-" I interrupted him by laughing.
"You know Piper says the same thing? She's convinced we were secretly in love with each other before you essentially cut me out of your life." I was laughing with tears in my eyes. He laughed a little and suddenly we were just standing there, laughing uncontrollably.
"Break's over," the whistle blew.
"Get your head in the game Carter," Billy brushed passed me, it seemed to be an endless competition between him and Steve. Over what? Popularity? Please.
-
The bell rang and dismissed us.
"That was really embarrassing Veronica," Carol voiced one the locker room.
"Not my fault you three are such slackers, that no one wants you on their team," I was sick of her shit today. "You could simply try harder, you know, put in effort. Hey, maybe if you put in the same amount of effort for class as you do for Billy to glance your way, you could actually be successful in that front as well," I smirked to myself as I finished changing my clothes. "Or in the back, however it is you ladies like it." I grabbed my bag and left the locker room. They all made sounds of discust.
Steve was waiting for me outside the locker room.
"Vee," he caught my arm.
"What?" I turned to look at him.
"It's not like I didn't pick you on purpose," he was still on about this.
"I get it Steve, I really do," I assured him turning to leave.
"But you don't get it, you're my best friend, no competition," he reached for my hand.
"Steve!" Nancy called out from the gym door.
We both looked over and I pulled my hand from his.
"Go get her," I nodded in her direction and walked away.
-
"So you're not going to give me any hints as to what the play is about?" I asked Johnny on our way home.
"It'll be a surprise," he was excited I could tell.
Johnny was adopted at a younger age than me; he was around six years old. He lived those years in the foster system. He wasn't quite accustomed to living on the streets as me, but being in the system comes with a different perspective on life; I learned that in my group therapy sessions. Foster children don't express their feelings often, which may come from no one being there to listen. So I never pushed him to express his feelings or show how excited he was. I just let him grow at his own pace.
"Hey I almost forgot!" I sounded excited just to get him interested.
"What?" He looked over at me, eyes wide.
I opened my window so I could shout "I love you!" To which he rolled his eyes. Hiding a smile under his jacket collar. I stepped on the gas, hearing the engine rev seemed to relax him.
-
"Mom you will not believe the shit I went through today," I called to her in the living room as I sifted through the fridge for a snack. I settled on an apple.
"Is it boy trouble?" She was very intuitive.
"How did you know?" I walked into the living room, taking a bite of my apple. "Anyway, so firstly, the guy I beat yesterday, in the whole keg thing, well Piper said he's into me now. Then Steve and Nancy had a fight because she thinks him and I have this super secret relationship, but I mean come on, that will never happen, we're too good of friends. Lastly I totally planned on dying from alcohol poisoning, it just seemed like an 'if I die, I die' sort of moment for me and I think I'm just depressed right now," I told her everything.
"That's a lot," she took it all in. "You and Steve aren't compatable in that way, trust me, I know best. Nancy is just insecure, because you have such a steady relationship with him. Is that other boy cute? And it's okay to feel that way sometimes, but you just come see me before you do it, I'll make an appointment for you for tomorrow after school," she acknowledged everything with a level head I did not possess at the moment.
"All the girls sit with him at lunch, even my very own Piper and Harriet." I bit into my apple again.
"Is he a good person?"
"I couldn't tell you the first thing, well except he can't drink for shit," I laughed.
"Maybe you should get to know him, see if he's worthy," she suggested and I thought about it for a second, before getting up to throw away my apple core.
I took a nice long shower. I thought about Billy, what did I know about him? He's from California, he has a sister, he drives a Camero, plays basketball.
I was taken into a vision before I realized. It was the Camero, I saw it crashed, the windshield was hit by something.
I tried my best to pull myself away before I had to experience a death.
"Damn," I washed my nose off, getting out of the shower.
"Hey, Steve's here," Johnny knocked on my door without entering.
"Tell him I just got out of the shower, I'll be down in five minutes," I dried myself grabbing clothes from my closet. I could tell he left.
I threw on a sweatshirt sans a shirt and bra, and some underwear and exercise shorts.
I tried to come slowly down the stairs, trying not to look nervous, because I wasn't.
"We're going to my room," I found him in the kitchen eating whatever my mom gave him. I took the sleeve of his shirt and pulled him to follow.
"Thank you Mrs. Carter," he managed to get out before we disappeared up the stairs.
I closed the door, behind us.
"Nancy and I broke up, I think, I don't know, she said she didn't love me," he lied on my bed. Like we were kids again.
I lied right next to him, both of us staring at the ceiling.
"That's not something you can change Steve," I leveled with him. "And it's going to hurt, until you find something or someone else you love, unless you fight for her."
We had a contract as kids. When we lied on the bed like this we could tell each other everything with no judgement and not another soul would know about it.
"I feel like there's always some deep knowledge you hold, something about you, you haven't told me and that's what pushed me away in middle school, I feel stupid now, because you don't have to tell me everything-"
"But we told each other everything," I finished for him. I wanted to tell someone. Desperately. Anyone. And Steve was here now.
"I mean you don't have to tell me. It's not my secret to know, and if you've kept it this long, there must be a reason," he reached out for my hand.
"The reason I didn't tell you, is because I was scared of looking weak ever again, and I couldn't trust anyone," I interlaced our fingers. He was silent. "I came from a very bad place, about 8 years ago I was found next to a dumpster in Chicago, barely alive." I took a deep breath and he squeezed my hand. "My birth mother was abusive; she's the one that broke my hand. She had a severe drug addiction and couldn't afford to buy me clothes let alone send me to school, so I spent my days in dirty places that rarely had a spot for me to sleep and barely anything to eat, it was meal to meal for me," I felt a tear slip out of my eye. "I didn't tell anyone because then I'd look weak. I would be a joke, the homeless girl taken into a rich family, given the high life."
"A real Annie," he tried to lighten the subject. His voice was tense though.
"Yeah, except Annie had a bed to sleep in every night even in the foster home," I took a deep breath.
"God I'm so sorry Vee," he shook his head.
"I have so much trauma from these events and it's hard for me. It's really hard for me to be this person everyone thinks I am," my eyes were welling up.
"I never asked you to be someone else," he whispered.
"My birth mother, she would hit me for being weak, that's how I have a scar on my cheek, and I can't begin to tell you about all my other scars because I don't even remember how I got them," I took a deep breath to try and calm my sadness.
"I think that makes you the strongest person in the world, Vee. You are the strongest person. Telling me all this, makes you stronger in my eyes. Not weak. I'd never think you were weak." He was soft.
"Harrington I missed you," I told him.
"I missed you more," he squeezed my hand.
We sat up and I wiped my eyes. "Now my Nancy news seems insignificant compared to your news."
"It's not insignificant, it's important to you, I know you love her. What if I started dating someone just to get her to stop thinking we're a thing. To get everyone off their high horse about us," I suggested with a smile.
"I mean it might help, but I don't want to put you out of your way," he was back to himself now.
"Well according to Piper, Billy has the hots for me, so I could give him a shot," it was an awful joke, considering we both had a bad feeling about the guy.
"Maybe if you just showed interest in him, not necessarily dated him, I don't know how comfortable I would be with putting you in that situation," he laughed but I knew he was desperate to get Nancy back.
"We gotta cool it with the buddy-buddy for a while, until you're back in the good graces of Nancy," I broke it to him.
"I hate to do that to you," he was referring to the conversation we just had.
"Trust me I've been worse," I assured him. "If you think she's worth it, who am I to stop you?"
"You're the most amazing person I know," he said and I just melted, hugging him tightly.
"Okay, you better go make a game plan Harrington, you've got a girl to win over," I released him and he was smiling brightly as he left, almost bouncing in each step.
-
The next morning I continued to feel the weight of my depression but I pushed through, as I've done for the last 18 years.
I dressed a little nicer, my mom always suggested to dress better than I felt, to trick my mind. A silk button up and some jeans.
"Oh honey I saw you were out of your Strawberry Shortcake cereal, so I bought you plenty more," mom mentioned when I care down. My eyes welled up and I felt absurd for crying over something so small. She came over to me and hugged me, her tone changing, "Oh honey, that's okay, don't worry. Shh." She held my head to her chest for a few minutes, comforting me.
"Sorry mom, I'm just so grateful for that," I mumbled to her.
"I know, I know, and I love you for it," she was soft with me. "You better quit while you're ahead before you don't have any time to eat any!" She was joking.
"Right," I released her and she wiped my eyes for me. She kissed my forehead and I smiled.
-
Due to the fact we were a month in and I had sat as far away as possible from Billy in the beginning of the year, I couldn't start the flirting until either lunch or PE.
Instead of paying attention in class I thought of all the chick flicks I'd watched with Piper and Harriet. A game plan. Hard to get was a game plan right? I guess the quickest way is to play into his teenage hormones.
God this was so stupid. I'd never done this for any guy, but for Steve's happiness it would be worth it.
Before lunch I went to the bathroom and unbuttoned my shirt one more button to expose my cleavage.
I went to my locker and dropped off my books. Suddenly hyper-aware of everyone's gaze, I kept my history textbook to hold up to my chest.
"Hey, we're sitting with Billy today," Piper found me and I jumped a little, startled by her sudden presence.
"I don't want to sit alone, so maybe I'll join you," I tried to act like it was a spontaneous decision.
"Oh," they were taken back a bit.
"Awesome! Maybe you'll scare away Tina and Vicki," Harriet sounded like she had an evil plot worked out in her head already.
I laughed. "Let's go," I directed them to the cafeteria.
"Ladies," I put my tray right in between Vicky and Tina, who sat across from Billy. I forced myself between the two of them.
"Oh look who it is," Tommy, who was sat next to Billy said amused.
"Let's see what all the hype is about," I shrugged opening my strawberry milk.
Let the games begin.
I over exaggerated all my movements. His eyes constantly glancing down my shirt. Well I had his attention, easily, as Tina and Vicki tried desperately.
We talked about basketball, and how I was going to kick his ass later.
"You can try," he winked.
"Like it's hard," I sounded bored.
The bell cut our dispute short.
-
I tied my PE shirt extra tight creating almost a cut off and I made sure to tighten my shorts rather than have them baggy as I preferred. If we're gonna win this, might as well go big. I mean, this wasn't even that big, all the other girls did it every day so it was normal.
I purposefully tied my shoe right outside the locker rooms, so he would see me bent over. It's the little things.
"You don't have to go all out you know," Steve was sat next to me, but not too close.
"I have him wrapped around my little finger, Harrington, don't you worry," I could see, out of the corner of my eye, Billy was trying to glance up at me.
"So I'm going over to Nancy's house tomorrow, after practice, I'll bring roses, it'll be perfect," his leg was bouncing and he was wringing his hands. I reached out touching his leg, in an attempt to calm his nerves. "I didn't see her at school at all, not even during lunch."
"She's gotta take you back, she'd be crazy not to, your like the biggest catch I know," I was trying to be silly.
"Like? Who's the biggest catch you know?" He challenged, we were both smiling.
"Why it's me of course," I said in a peppy tone, flipping my hair like Vicki or Tina would.
We were laughing when the whistle blew.
"Warm ups, everyone, yes even you ladies," the teacher rolled his eyes at the same shit the girls tried to pull every day.
We started jogging around the gym. I was faster than Steve, so I lost him back with the other guys. This always happened, but this time Billy was right beside me. My competitive nature wouldn't allow him to be a step in front of me. That's how I ended up running full pace for the entire warm up, making me more sweaty than I had originally hoped.
"Putting in a little more effort Carter? love the enthusiasm," I gave the teacher a thumbs up and a half-ass smile as I tried to catch my breath. "We'll start the real basketball unit next week, for now you guys can just scrimmage it," he chose captains."Carter, for the show of effort, and Hargrove." I didn't protest. I gladly chose Steve and I took all the girls -the ones who didn't decide to sit out- with no complaints.
I huddled them up, assigned positions and said, "Let's kick their asses, it'll be fun. And Ladies, if you have the ball, Billy will come after you, just make sure to shoot for our hoop, or better yet pass it to me to shoot. Any questions? No? Great, let's go." Okay that was partly not true, considering we were both point guard he would have to mainly block me.
The whistle blew.
"I'm open!" Steve yelled and Billy tried to block.
"Not today princess," Billy smirked.
"You think you can best me?" I passed to Shannon and tried to get open. "In your dreams Cowboy!" I moved quickly away from him.
She easily passed it back to me and I passed it to Steve who went in for the shot.
We made it, easily. Billy was ready for the competition.
We went back and forth until the teacher blew the whistle for a break. We had a lead of 14.
"Nice work Harrington," I took a breather on the bleachers and fist bumped Steve as he joined me.
"You're the one out here with your fancy foot work, scoring all these points," he complimented me right back.
"I taught you everything you know, but not everything I know," I teased him as we got in line for the fountain.
Billy was drinking out of the fountain a few people ahead of us.
"They don't stand a chance," I purposefully made eye contact with him smiling.
They really didn't. The boys on Billy's team had a dip of energy after the break, and seemed to loose motivation. Even with my smack talking them, they didn't find enough motivation to beat my team.
The whistle blew as I got the ball.
"Great hustle today kids, hit the showers," the teacher went to his office.
"Nice work guys!" I praised my team and headed to the locker room.
I had to shower today, because I had my therapist appointment right after.
"So are you and Steve a thing? Is that why you're flirting with Billy? To make Steve jealous?" Vicki was on the side lines, apparently she just got her nails done, that's why she couldn't play.
"What? That doesn't make any sense, I actually have no idea what you're talking about," my mind wasn't focused at all while she was talking.
"It's not hard Veronica," she was short with me.
"I don't think you understand how crazy you sound, just mind you own business okay?" Sheesh. Why was I being interrogated?
"I hope your shower's cold," she sneered and left the locker room.
"The hell is her problem?" I said to myself as I grabbed my soap and towel.
-
"Hey, Carter!" Someone shouted jogging after me, I could hear their shoes on the gravel as I exited the gym. I turned to face them.
"Billy?" I questioned. He came to a halt in front of me.
"You free Sunday night?"
"Depends," I crossed my arms.
"On what?" He raised his eyebrow smiling, clearly amused.
"What did you have in mind? I like bowling," I prompted.
"I heard the bowling alley was a nice spot, how about, let's say, seven?" He didn't miss a beat. I was impressed.
"I'll see you there," I turned to leave and I swung my ass just a little for him.
-
"Hi there Veronica!" Sherry, my therapist greeted me with a bright smile. "I haven't seen you in a while, your mom gave me a bit of information, but whenever you're ready."
It felt like I had a deep tissue massage after we finished talking. My mind was clear and relaxed for the first time in a while. Things just came off my chest and she explained I needed to reevaluate my relationship with Billy.
I stopped by the Diner to say hi to Piper and Harriet, who were working. They made me a strawberry milkshake and took a break.
"He asked me out, for Sunday," I ate the cherry off the top. "We're going bowling, per my suggestion."
"Wait who?" Harriet was clueless.
"Wait, I know who!" Piper was excited.
"Alright, who?" I raised my eyebrows.
"Is it Steve?" Piper was excited. I choked on my shake.
"Nope," I was still coughing. I grabbed a napkin.
"Oh my god, Billy?" Piper was shocked.
"You managed it in one day?" Harriet was in awe.
"Tits get you anything you want," I smiled and shrugged.
"You didn't show him your boobs," Piper didn't believe me for a second.
"Well I did a little bit of a show for him, of course I didn't show him all my goods," I took a long sip.
"He slept with Vicki then totally ignored her, she tried to brag about it, but he was like 'do I know you?'" Piper and I cracked up at Harriet's Billy impression. "No but seriously!" She couldn't hold her smile back and we sat there laughing.
I loved these moments we shared.
They were already done planning my future by the time I finished my milkshake and they had to get back to work.
-
"Thanks for making that appointment mom, it was really beneficial," I found her in the kitchen.
She smiled to herself as she stirred a pot of what I smelt was stew. "Piper called for you a few minutes ago, she was very upset."
"Oh she figured it out," I gave a sly smile and headed upstairs.
"Figured what out?" Mom called out but I was already gone.
"It's Vee." I couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"You little shit!" Were the first words from Piper. With a shout a second later away from the phone "sorry mom!"
"You guys were so overwhelmed by who I was going with, I swear I was going to break character in the Diner, out of pity," I managed to get out between my laughter.
"He doesn't even know we don't have a bowling alley! What's he gonna do?" Harriet sounded concerned.
"You know, I'm not sure exactly."
-
"I can't believe you Veronica, a cute boy asks you out and you teased him like that?" My mom was a little dissappointed.
"Did you miss the part where he sleeps with girls and pretends they don't exist the next day?" I scooped stew into my bowl.
"I want you to go over to his house tomorrow and apologize and reject him properly or make real plans," she knew it was toxic of me to pull that stunt.
"I'll make amends don't worry," I assured her.
"Good, good," she was content.
Dad left on a business trip to New York early this morning so it was just us three. We still had plenty to talk about.
-
I dreamt a vision. It was dark. I was watching Billy being shoved against his book shelf. "Respect and responsibility," Billy said softly. The man was aggressive. I pulled myself out of it and tried to catch my breath, instinctively wiping my nose on the back of my hand. I got up to go to the bathroom.
I could only stay in the scenario as long as I could hold my breath, but I didn't have to be there very long to see the blank stare Billy gave, one I've seen myself use too many times.
-
I decided to spend the rest of the night reading, distracting myself from the fact that I wanted so badly to rescue Billy. It was no luck. No amount of Jane Austen could distract me.
I threw on my swim suit and went to our indoor pool to swim some laps. A minor luxury my mom said we must have.
I thought of the day my dad taught me how to swim. A beautiful memory, the only kind I wish I had.
"Just get to me, that's all you have to do," he related to me.
He never gave up on me. Not in the years it's taken for a trust to build up between us. Not ever.
-
"Veronica?" Mom stood there in her robe; Not being able too hold back her yawn. "Did you have a bad dream?" She sat on a lounge chair.
"It's fine, I just couldn't sleep, I feel really bad about what happened to Billy," I explained. Putting my head on the ledge of the pool.
"Well it's 5:30 now, so I'm going to get ready, make sure you do rest today though," she came over and bent down to kiss my head.
"Thanks mom," I smiled as she groggily walked out.
-
I swam for another hour before feeling the exhaustion.
"Johnny, do you know Max? I think she's in your grade," I asked him over breakfast. He wasn't even close to ready to go to play practice. His hair was sticking up in every direction.
"She's cool, she did take my seat in science though," he focused on his cereal, still half asleep.
"Lame, but do you know where she lives? I'm trying to get into contact with her brother."
"Yeah, Cherry Road," he had a memory like a steel trap.
"You're awesome, you know that?" I smiled at him.
"Of course I know that," he rolled his eyes, fending off a smile.
-
Procrastinating going over to Billy's allowed me to clean my room and my car, and make lunch for Johnny when he came home from practice.
"So what did he say?" Johnny casually asked when I picked him up from practice.
"I didn't go over there yet," I was being distant. I couldn't concentrate on his voice at all, my thoughts wrapped around the questions: How would I tell Billy? Maybe he already knew? Would he be angry? Would he lash out?
My mind went a hundred miles a minute.
"I'll be fine alone for a little while," Johnny's voice broke through my thoughts for a moment. He didn't get out of the car right away. "Mom would want you to go over and apologize." I knew he was right. He knew, I knew, he was right. I turned the car back on.
"I made lunch for you, it's in the oven," I gave him a soft smile and he said thanks as he got out. His demeanor
I drove past the Henderson's street, I heard the sound. I immediately pulled over, parking in front of their house.
A second later I was knocking on the front door. No answer. It was the first time I'd heard the sound outside a vision so I sat on the porch and waited for someone to come home. Exhausted, I rested my head in my lap.
"Veronica?" Steve's voice made my head shoot up. I stood up
"Steve? What are you doing here?" I asked him, and I saw the Henderson kid right behind him.
"You're Veronica Carter!" He seemed excited to see me.
"I heard something strange, I was worried," I didn't spill the whole truth.
"Oh it's nothing, just the new cat," the kid tried to brush it off. "Quite an animal that one." Laughing to distract me. He turned to Steve and Steve laughed as well.
I squatted down to be eye to eye with him, I didn't find it funny whatsoever.
"I know that wasn't a cat."
"How do you know?" He was taken back.
"I have superpowers," he was a kid, what harm could it do.
"Prove it," he challenged.
"You found him in your trash can on Halloween night," I didn't break eye contact.
"Holy shit, is she for real Steve?" He turned away from me.
"How did you know that?" Steve questioned me. I had to meet this creature, of it was the last thing I did.
"The bloody noses, aren't from anxiety attacks, I have visions, I had a vision as the Henderson kid-" I pointed to him.
"Dustin," Dustin filled in for me.
"Dustin, and heard the thing in the trash can, simple," I didn't want to waste any more time.
Dustin started walking to his back yard, Steve and I followed.
"His name is Dart, I'm pretty sure he's a demagorgen," Dustin informed me.
"Like form DnD?" I was confused.
"You play DnD?" Dustin was stunned.
"My brother loves to play it, Steve knows," I elbowed Steve.
"Steve plays DnD?" Dustin was even more shocked.
"You tell anyone and you're dead Henderson," he seemed to be ignoring me.
"Anyway, I found him and he went from this big," he held his hands up about five inches apart. "To this big," he held his hands about three times the distance.
"But I told him it sounds like he found a lizard," Steve was standing there with his arms crossed.
"It's not a lizard," Dustin and I said in unison.
"Then show it to me," Steve still wouldn't look me in the eye.
"He's right in there," Dustin pointed to the cellar which had a chain and lock around the handle.
Steve went down first.
"You guys better get down here," Steve shines the flashlight in our eyes, making us wince.
-
To see it all unfold in real life was thrilling and crazy. I thought it'd be too late to go see Billy. I didn't want to show up when I knew his father would be home.
I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. And my mind was finally clear enough for a vision to come bursting through. I saw them. I saw the monsters-the demogorgen or demodogs, whatever Dustin was blabbering on about.
I was being eaten alive. I pulled myself out so quickly I was lightheaded. I was sweating excessively. I felt suffocated, trying to shove my blankets off my body and practically ran to the shower, not even bother undressing, trying to wake myself up.
Afterwards, I got dressed and laid on my floor, unable to sleep.
How could I sleep? I close my eyes and experience excruciating pain and see things incomprehensible to the average person.
I laid there, replaying it over and over in my head until it didn't seem real. The screams were simply a figment of my imagination. I halfway convinced myself.
The sun peeked through the curtains.
I made my way down stairs, yawning and greeting my mom, who made her standard Sunday breakfast.
"Honey did you get any sleep last night?" She always knew.
"Not even a second," I confessed and bit into some fresh toast. There's no reason for me to hide something she already knows.
"Did you apologize to that boy yesterday?" She moved the bacon form the pan to the platter.
"He wasn't home," I wasn't ready to explain the visions.
"You go over today, please," she threw more bacon on the pan.
"Thats the plan," I assured her. After I helped Steve and Dustin find Dart, of course.
Johnny joined us and we ate breakfast together.
-
"The plan is to lead Dart to the junkyard," Dustin told us.
Steve cold-shoulder was getting excessive.
I bought twenty pounds of meat before I met up with them at the Henderson house.
"Sounds good, Dustin, you go with Steve, and make a trail from the railroad tracks." I handed him a bucket of meat. "I'll drive my car down there, so we have a getaway vehicle," I put a bucket at Steve's feet.
"The Beast?" He sounded excited, making me smile and nod. That was the name printed on the back of my car.
"Make sure you take care of him, that thing is dangerous," I spoke directly to Steve.
"No shit," he picked up hit bucket and began walking, still not willing to look at me.
"Stop PMSing and grow up Harrington!" I yelled at him.
"No, you don't get to say that to me!" He turned to face me. "You don't get to pretend that this whole time you could've prevented all of the deaths in this town and awful things that happened, and you didn't do shit!" He's angry about that?
"If you get your head out of your ass, you'd see that I've been having these vision my whole life!" I shouted at him. "You think when I would see my mother in visions hitting me that I didn't try to stop her? You don't think I wouldn't try? Steve, I've been trying my whole life, I gave up because I can't change fate! I was assaulted in my visions, and I couldn't do a single fucking thing! I couldn't save myself!" My voice strained and cracked. I took a deep breath, fighting tears. "How am I supposed to save everyone, when I can't even save myself?" I wiped away the few tears I accidentally let slip. "I'm trying now, I'm trying to stop this-whatever this is." I didn't wait for an answer before getting into my car and driving away.
The junkyard was a ten minute drive away. I did it in five.
Before they showed up, I made sure to gather materials for creating a safe area. This kid wasn't dying on my watch.
I had made as much progress as I was capable of but there were certain things I couldn't do by myself.
"Veronica Carter?" I heard a kid say my name.
"You friends of Dustins?" I put down the sheet of metal in my hands, placing my hands on my hips.
"Yeah, I'm Lucas, this is Max," he introduced a red head.
"You're Billy's sister?" They looked nothing alike.
"Step sister," she corrected me.
"I'm Johnny's sister," I took my glove off to shake her hand.
"You two look nothing alike," she was confused as she shook my hand.
"We're both adopted," I put my glove back on. "There are gloves in the passenger seat of my car," I gestured to the car which was a ways away. That was as far as I could drive it in without risking puncturing the tire on something.
"That's The Beast," Lucas was impressed. It made me smile a bit as I picked up the metal sheet again.
-
We were half way through setting up the school bus I had chosen, when Dustin and Steve showed up.
"Wow guys, nice work," Dustin admired our handiwork.
I ignored Steve.
"Veronica's like the most popular and prettiest girl in the whole school," Lucas whispered to Max while they worked on some other things. His whispering was subpar, considering I could hear him. "And she's crazy rich, her father owns like half of America," he was exaggerating, but it made me laugh a bit. It was something to think about while I ignored Steve. These kids must have been through a lot, they seemed unfazed by the idea of Dart being a monster.
It got dark quickly, a perk of November.
We were sitting in the bus, waiting.
Max sat near me as we looked through an opening.
"So you have visions of the future?" She was casual.
"I've had them since I was young," I told her.
"How does it work?" She was curious.
"I can't control it, I'm sucked in, it feels like I am drowning and I have to hold my breath, I see it through the eyes of someone, and it's only for as long as I let it be. When I experience a death, it comes with all of the pain that person is going to feel, but I also feel emotions, and then I come out of it, and it's scary, I never know what I'm going to see or sometimes even where I am. It feels so real." Max held my hand, a small and sweet gesture.
She eventually climbed up to the roof with Lucas. A fog had set in, I wasn't sure he could even see anything up there.
Dustin came over and sat next to me, "So did you and Steve sleep together? Is it true your dad owns like a bunch of property in New York City?" He was intense.
"I'd never sleep with Steve," I made a disgusted face. It wasn't Dustin's fault I was pissed at Steve, so I wasn't going to treat him like it was. "It's true, my family is very very rich, but we don't own half of America, or New York City, or whatever, it's just a lot of property all over the east coast." I shrugged.
"You're so cool," he gave me an adorable smile. "And totally pretty, but why do you hang out with Steve? He's not nearly as cool as you." He made me blush a bit. No ones ever called me pretty, well, Piper and Harriet do, but that's not the same.
"You know I can hear you, dipshit," Steve was on the other end of the bus.
"You're not cool Steve, not when Veronica Carter is around and she has superpowers," Dustin said to him.
"He's fun to beat-"
The sound. Almost a roar.
Steve rushed over to our side.
"Stay down," I instinctively told Dustin.
"He's not taking the bait," Dustin whispered.
"Maybe he's sick of cow," Steve stood up and grabbed his bat.
"Steve what are you doing?" I asked him. This was a life or death situation, no time to be an idiot.
"Just get ready," he threw Dustin his lighter.
He went out there. Calling on Dart like you would a bull in a ring.
I was suddenly sucked into a vision through my own eyes, like I was a child again. There wasn't only one, demodog.
"Steve! Abort!" I yelled as I pulled myself out of it so quickly my vision was blurred. My knuckles were white against the seat.
"I'm kind of busy!" He shouted back.
"Three o'clock Steve!" Lucas screamed.
He came back as soon as he could, I wiped my nose on my sweatshirt.
My mind was fried. I hadn't slept in days and I knew it would take a lot from me if I had another vision, but this was crazy.
The screaming sounded muffled as I shook my head, trying to focus. Max was standing at the ladder when she screamed. I shoved her back from the opening overhead. Pulling up on a rung, with all my strength, I yelled, shoving the ladder into the creature.
They ran. They were gone.
We inched our way out of the bus.
"What. Happened?" Lucas said cautiously looking through the doorway.
"I don't know," Max replied.
"Veronica scared them off," Dustin sounded proud of me.
"No way; they're going somewhere," Steve concluded.
"Get in the car. Now," I started walking in that direction stumbling slightly. I tripped on my own feet, falling on my knees and palms.
"Let's go," Steve took my arm and wrapped it around his shoulders, helping me walk. To the car.
The kids hopped in the back and Steve got me into the passenger seat.
There was a sudden sharp pain in my head.
"No, no, no, please no," I pleaded, my eyes welling up as I tried to fight it, but I was sucked in.
I saw the demodogs coming up in a laboratory of some sort. They chased me around and I was running for my life, there were gunshots.
"Veronica, focus on my voice," Steve held my hands in his. I inhaled sharply.
"We need to go to the lab," I told him, I was shaking. I wiped my nose on my sleeve, I didn't care anymore.
"Just focus on my voice okay, don't worry, everything's gonna be fine," he started the car and drove as fast as he could. I had no idea where he was going.
I pulled my knees to my chest and rested my head on the door.
-
"Is that Veronica?" I heard Nancy's voice, I cracked my eyes open. I must have fallen asleep.
"What are you guys doing here?" Steve was standing outside.
"We were looking for Mike and Will," Nancy sounded harsh.
"They're not in there are they?" Dustin asked.
"We're not sure," Nancy was less harsh.
The sound came piercing through the fog. The roar.
-
I couldn't summon the strength to get out of the car. They were arguing about so many different things at the same time.
"The power's back," Nancy's voice rose above the rest.
Steve came over to me. "Hey we're gonna get inside there, we're gonna save Mike and Will, you did great Vee," he held my hand in his.
I tried to focus on his eyes. "We can't go in there, we'll die, Steve, everyone is dead," it barely came out as a whisper.
I hadn't slept in two days. I needed rest badly. The fear overcame that need and I couldn't manage to close my eyes for too long.
"It will be fine, trust me Vee, they're smart kids," he assured me.
-
We were driving so quickly, my mind focused on the hum of the car and I was whisked away, alseep at last.
"Shh, it's okay," Steve assured me, I was being carried by a much larger man than Steve. I think it was Cheif Hopper.
"It's okay kid, we got you," he laid me down on some blankets on the floor. Someone else was lying on the couch.
I fell back asleep.
"Is that the Carter girl?" I heard a woman's voice break me out of my sleep it was familiar. I guess I had hoped for my mother.
I was too exhausted to move.
"She has visions of the future," Lucas explained.
"She's totally badass; she's like El," Dustin continued.
"No ones like El," a young boy's voice.
"She looks sick," Nancy mentioned.
"She's exhausted what do you expect?" Steve defended.
I was out again.
-
"Hey, wake up," Steve squeezes my hand.
"What is it?" I groaned, stretching a bit.
"You need to eat something," he offered me oatmeal, and water.
"I haven't eaten since breakfast," I sat up and immediately began eating.
"When was the last time you had decent sleep?" He sat with me on the floor.
"The last two nights I had awful visions. I saw someone- well I died, I was eaten by the demogorgens, it was awful," I placed my empty bowl down and downed the entire glass of water.
"You saw what?" The woman's voice came into the living room.
"I saw- I saw you," it came back to me suddenly. "I saw you and then I was being eaten by those monsters." Tears came to my eyes as I remembered the scream and the pain.
"Max said you feel everything that person feels," she was crying as she knelt down to hold my hands in hers.
I didn't know this woman, not even a little bit. I glanced at Steve, who was next to me. He placed his hand on my knee, for comfort.
"They didn't feel too much pain," I knew lying would mean more to her than if I told her of the excruciating pain. I closed my eyes trying to remember every feeling they had. "They we're proud to be a hero." I opened my eyes to meet her very wet ones.
"Thank you," she was barely audible.
"Who are you?" I asked her.
"Joyce, call me Joyce, I'm Jonathan's mom," she squeezed my hands, in an affectionate way.
She excused herself. There was shuffling around the house; everyone seemed to be in a state of commotion.
"What's going on?" I looked at Steve.
He explained the Mind Flayer, and how they planned on stopping it.
I moved to the kitchen, Joyce told me I could eat anything I wanted to get my energy up.
Steve paced as he explained things.
"I wish I had useful visions," I sighed, eating my soup.
"Hey, your visions are useful." He stopped to look at me. "I'm sorry for what I said earlier. I don't know anything, I guess I blamed you for a second, and that was wrong of me on so many levels," he knelt beside me.
"God, I just wish this was over," I stirred the soup. It was such a hectic 24 hours I was overcome with emotions and the visions were kicking my ass.
"It will be, it'll be fine, I promise, it will all be fine," he kissed my forehead to comfort me. It was nice, to feel safe, especially when I was scared out of my mind.
"Eat your soup, I'm gonna go help," he waited for my nod and left.
-
The phone rang, they all rushed to grab it. I was resting on the couch now.
"Shit, shit," Dustin slammed it. It rang again. Nancy ripped it off the wall, throwing it to the ground.
The roar. It was far. But still audible.
"That's not good," Dustin said softly.
"Get away from the window!" Hopper came in with guns, yelling at the kids. Steve pulled me from the couch and we stood by the opposite wall.
"Do you know how to use this?" He asked Jonathan.
"I do," Nancy caught the shotgun.
I was suddenly in a vision, grasping Steve's shoulder. In my own perspective, a girl killed the demogorgen before it could get to us.
"It's okay," I inhaled and said to Steve, who was standing in front of me, ready to take on whatever cane through the door.
"What?" And suddenly something flew through the window.
"She's here," I whispered to him.
And in she walked. A bloody nose like mine.
-
I waited my turn to introduce myself. I couldn't stand for very long, I collapsed on a nearby arm chair.
Her eyes landed on me and she saw me, like no one has seen me before.
"You're like me," she stated.
"I saw you coming," I told her.
"You saw me?" She questioned.
"She can see the future," Dustin was always so proud to announce. "And this is Eleven, she can move things with her mind!" He introduced our powers so enthusiastically.
"I'm Veronica," I held out my hand.
"Veronica," she repeated.
She was just a kid.
-
They figured out a plan for Will. And suddenly everyone's in motion again. Jonathan offered his room to me to rest, which I gratefully accepted.
As soon as I saw Eleven, I was strengthened somehow. The mere presence of someone with my likeness: I had never experienced this before.
It was the kids and Steve left behind. I could hear them arguing about something.
I heard a plate smashing and I jolted awake, hearing loud yelling and what sounded like punching.
"Billy stop! You're going to kill him!" Max shouted as I came to the doorway.
"Billy stop!" I screamed holding my hand out to him. He froze. My mind was on fire. I didn't know what was happening, I felt his feelings, I must be in his head, he was scared of what was happening, or maybe that was me. Max grabbed a syringe with a sedative in it and sedated him.
I let out any breath and fell to the floor at the same time he did.
"Do you understand?" Max had Steve's bat. I was in and out of consciousness.
"I understand," he whispered and Max and Dustin came over to me while Lucas and Mike went to Steve.
"That was so cool Veronica," Dustin was amazed.
"I don't have any idea what that was," I was on my back holding my head.
"Leave me here, I can handle Billy, take my car and get out of here, can one of you drive?" I reached to my pocket for keys.
"Steve has your keys," Max mentioned. "I can drive, you sure you don't need us to stay here?" She was concerned. I knew exactly why.
"He's no match for me," I assured her. "Take some frozen peas for Steve's face, he's gonna need it."
They left quickly, I heard them drive away. I prayed she didn't crash my car.
The pain of my headache became unbareable and passed out right there on the floor. I just hoped I'd have strength to explain everything to Billy.
I woke up thirty minutes later, I don't know what type of sedative Max gave Billy, but he did not wake up for another half hour. I cleaned off my bloody nose and drank some water, waiting for him to wake. I decided to clean off his bloody lip and his bloody nose.
He slowly came to. Trying to sit up and eager to yell at someone.
"Shhh, don't get up too quickly," I held his shoulders down.
"Carter?" He was confused. I couldn't blame him.
"Billy I'm sorry for what I said to you on Friday, I didn't mean to be rude to you, I swear, my ability to lie has been fine tuned from my hideous childhood," I spilled. I had been waiting days to apologize.
"What?" He was confused. He slowly sat up, when he became more alert.
"There is no bowling alley in Hawkins. I lied, and I know about you and your father, I know too much, don't ask me how, it would be simple to answer if Max had told me, but she wouldn't talk about that with me, she just met me-"
"You don't know what you're talking about," I realized he was wearing the same clothes as my vision.
"It was tonight," I whispered to myself.
"What?" He probably thought I was crazy.
I looked him directly in the eye. "Respect and responsibility." He definitely looked at me like I was crazy. "Billy I know about your father. I know exactly how you feel because I - because my birth mother was that way. She is the one that gave me every scar you see, and my broken hand." I instinctively held my wrist. He didn't run from me like I'd expect a normal person to.
"I have to go," he tried standing. I grabbed his hand.
"I really like you Billy, and it might be because you and I have similar experiences, but I like you nonetheless," I stood to face him. My mild dizziness overcame me and I stumbled, but he caught me by the waist.
"You're not my type," he tried to play it cool and brush me off. His hands didn't leave my waist.
"I know you like me, you got all dressed up for me," I looked him up and down, smiling at his outfit. He rolled his eyes, trying to act indifferent.
I put my hands in his hair and pulled him in for a kiss. My mind was at ease for a moment. He kissed me back, his hands tightened around my waist. I definitely lost myself in the moment. The kiss making this whole night worth while. I could think clearly now, maybe it's merely an excessive amount of serotonin, but it was exhilarating.
"Well," I pulled away suddenly. "I guess I'll see you at school tomorrow," I untangled his arms from around me. "I do need a ride home, if you're up for a drive," I bent down to grab the towel I'd used to wipe his bloody face, bringing it to the kitchen.
"You're crazy," he ran a hand through his hair, his eyes wide.
"Let's go, I'm exhausted," I walked from the kitchen to the front door, not waiting for him.
His music was on blast as the car came to life. He reached to turn it down. I grabbed his hand before he could. "No I like it this loud."
-
We reached my house in no time, Billy's driving habits matched mine.
"So I'll see you tomorrow then?" He put the car in park at the top of my driveway and I got out.
"I don't know, you're not really my type," I shrugged and shut the door, walking to the door.
-
"Where have you been?" Mom was worried and embraced me as soon as I walked through the door.
"Mom I have to tell you something, you can send me to the nut house if you want, but I can't keep this secret anymore," I didn't let go of her.
"I already know, it's okay, I know, I'm your mother, you don't think I don't see everything?" And I broke down crying in her arms.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," I managed to get out.
"You didn't have to tell me- you shouldn't have to tell me." She listened to my whole nights story, right up until the ending with Billy dropping me off and a massive weight came off my shoulders.
-
An entire night of nothing. Sweet nothing. I woke up refreshed and ready to take on the day.
"Johnny," I sang his name as I came into the kitchen where he was eating, he groaned, "I love you!" I kissed the top of his head.
"Yeah yeah I love you too," he said and I ate my cereal right next to him.
-
Piper and Harriet would never know about the some things in my life and I guess I'd be okay with that, because it meant I could still be treated as a teenager and ignore all the those things when I was with them.
I told them that my mom made me apologize to Billy and we're on good terms now.
"Ladies," Steve, oh his poor face was still bruised, but he'll heal.
"I hope the other guy looks worse," Harriet was soft on him.
"Oh trust me he looks worse, but I think it's just his natural face," he winked at me while the girls laughed. I smiled.
"Let's go to class," I told them.
-
Billy made a point of looking at me in every class he walked into that we shared.
I gave him a once over while biting my pen, just for the hell of it. I felt like a new person.
For lunch we kept our distance. Steve was sitting with me, Nancy was sitting with Jonathan.
"It wasn't going to work with Nancy," he bit into his sandwich.
"Oh?" I couldn't keep my eyes off Billy, I found myself glancing at him too often.
"She isn't the one for me," his mouth was full.
"She doesn't deserve you anyway," I tipped my head back, finishing my strawberry milk.
"Did you get all your community service hours for this year?" He changed the subject. I carried on with the conversation, but I couldn't focus completely.
PE came and I was back to my regular outfit, baggy shirt, and my shorts were how I liked them.
"We're going to work on passing," the teacher demonstrated with me.
"Now get into partners and practice." He blew the whistle.
Billy was easily flocked, Vicki winning. I was going to pair with Steve, regardless.
The end of school couldn't come fast enough.
"Meet me by my car," he whispered to me as we all headed to the locker rooms.
I couldn't hear anything while I changed, from the way my mind was clouded by thoughts of the kiss last night.
I showered and got dressed, caught in my daydream.
-
I lit a cigarette and waited for him to come out.
"I lied to you, too," his voice was near me. "You're definitely my type."
"Oh really?" I smiled micheviosuly and pulled his jacket pinning his back to the car. His hands held my face and pulled me in for a kiss. It was a desparate kiss. I was starved for the exhilaration that came from the act. I was a desert and he had the water to turn me into an ocean.
-
YOU ARE READING
The Rain Is Gone
FanfictionLiving the high life doesn't magically bring you out of depression, but neither does a town full of monsters from an alternate dimension. Stranger Things fanfiction. Spoilers for Season 2.
