Dollface

Firecracker P.H.

Requested by @whispersinshadows 💕

As I sat in the library, a hearty stack of books piled up next to me. I didn't like eating in the cafeteria, it was always loud and smelled of teen angst and body odor. Most days I came to the library and read my way right through it. Unfortunately today I wasn't the only person to have that idea, not to mention I was incredibly irritable from being on my period.

A group of girls in the grade below me sat at the table behind my own. At first they had been quiet, reading there textbooks and finishing off what I assumed to be that nights homework. They whispered to one another occasionally asking for answers before tucking there assignments  away in there backpacks.

There volume level quickly went from 5 to 50. They began chatting loudly, and laughing even louder. Rolling my eyes I did my best to focus on my book but the sheer sound of there voices was driving me nuts. I got up from the table quickly, grabbing the book and heading for the check out desk.

"Good afternoon babydoll, just the one book this time?" The librarian said sweetly as she pulled out the book stamp. I nervously nodded and gave her a smile. Pushing her reading glasses up she marked down the needed information and stamped the inside cover with the date. "Alright then. You have a good day now darlin'" she said handing me back the hard covered title. I took it and waved her goodbye before exiting the library, much to my dismay.

The hallways where still barren and there was 30 minutes left of the lunch period. Now thoroughly agitated, I took a seat in front of my locker on the cold linoleum flooring. My back pressed uncomfortably against the metal of my locker door, only increasing my discomfort. I opened my book once again and began reading where I had left off.

My eyes raced across the page, finally able to focus on the words instead of the noises around me. I continued to read for about 3 chapter when suddenly I heard footsteps coming down the hallways. I lifted my eyes to see 2 large black boots making there way down the hallway. I immediately tensed and pull my legs closer to my body, hoping that if I didn't move he wouldn't even notice me. Unfortunately for me, Patrick Hockstetter was a very observant person.

His footsteps slowed before coming to a stop only feet away from where I was sitting. "Whatcha readin" he said, his voice was deep and terrifying. I rolled my eyes, biting the inside of my cheek, not saying anything in reply. A low laugh came from above as my heart pounded inside of my chest. "I know you can hear me, princess" he taunted moving closer and closer. I still didn't answer, not that I would have been able to even if I tried.

I gasped and looked up as I felt my book be pulled out of my grasp. I quickly stood up, my blood now boiling from pure rage. "Why can't you just leave the the hell alone?" I yelled, my hands balled into tight fists at my sides. An amused smirk played across the boys face as he towered over me. "Aw, did I make you mad?" He said, mockingly.

I had never been so mad before, how dare he treat me like this. Before even thinking about it I pulled my arm back and punched him as hard as I could. My fist made audible contact with his collar bone and  a crushing pain surged through my hand. The hit was hard enough to make Patrick stumble back a step or two but not much more then that. I clutched my hand to my chest, making a conscious effort to keep a straight face.

"Fuck you" I said, my voice coming out shaky as tears welled in my eyes. Patrick wore a look of disbelief, as if this whole situation was to weird to even be happening. I took that opportunity to grab my bag and quickly head off down the hallway. As soon as I turned away from him tears spilled down my face.

I didn't turn back, to afraid to make eye contact with him. I ended up walking all the way home, not even caring that the school day was only half over. I sobbed in pain and embarrassment all the way there, hoping that no one was home to see me in such a distraught state. Lucky for me my mom was still at work and my sister still at school. I spent the afternoon in my bed, letting myself cry until I felt better.

Seeing as I had never skipped a class before in my life, the office called my mom immediately when they noticed I was gone. She then in turn called the home phone which I picked up reluctantly. I made up some lame excuse about how I wasn't feeling good and how I didn't wanna bother anyone to tell them I was leaving. She told me it was ok and to get some rest. Typical mom response.

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For the next couple of weeks I did all I could to avoid Patrick but he seemed to be everywhere I was, all the time. At first I just assumed it was because Derry was so small, I mean there's only so many places to be. But after a while it started to be come a routine. He would always stare at me from across the room when he was around, just observing whatever I was doing at the moment. It was starting to creep me out a bit, what could he possibly want. If he wanted to hurt me, why wouldn't he just do it already.

The longer it continues the weirder it got. Sometimes I would watch him walk past my house at random times of the day. I lived on the edge of town, on the opposite side of town from where his own house was, so what the hell was he doing all the way over here. The coincidences soon progressed into full in stalking, but for some reason I wasn't as afraid as I normally would be. He had every opportunity to do as he pleased with me yet he kept his distance most of the time.

That was true until one day I was sitting at a booth in the ice cream shop. I had sat down here to read a bit before walking home. My face was so deep in my book I hadn't even noticed Patrick sit down across from me until the sound of him setting something in the table caught my attention. "Hey bookworm" his intimidating voice said from across the table. I closed me book and set it in my lap, just staring at him. "You forgot this the other day" he said pushing the book I had gotten at the school library towards me.

I looked at him hesitantly before grabbing it and setting it too in my lap. I was afraid to say anything to him out of fear that this interaction was somehow a plot to murder me or something. "Is your hand ok?" He asked, seemingly trying his best to get me to participate in the conversation. I looked at my bruised knuckles and gave him a small nod. Nervously I pushed my stray hairs behind my ear. "I think I should get home, it'll be getting dark soon" I said, glancing out the front windows of the shop where the golden tinge of the sunset started to shine in. His face lit up in a smile, more genuine then I had ever seen from him before. "Let me walk you"