The Indigo Lights

Pedestrian and Pretentious

"Dude, she's freaking crazy! That's probably why your mom thinks you're crazy! I mean why do you even hang out with her, like NO ONE else does, man!"

Andrew Micheals is an idiot, in fact Alex doesn't even know why he told the imbecile about the whole 'Funny Farm Fiasco'. But Micheals is right about one thing: not many people do like Indi. Indigo Winters is not crazy. She's just an acquired taste, like beer or sushi. When you're younger the idea of eating raw fish sounds utterly disgusting, but then you get older and its like cool to eat sushi. Actually, Alex could go for some sushi right now. No, what he could really go for is a beer, but he's already on his mom's shit list. He probably shouldn't be so quick to judge Andrew though, considering Alex could probably be just as dumb about this whole local conspericy, the 'Winters Witches'. Thanks to his seventh grade english teacher, Alex isn't a complete dumbass like the rest of this God forsaken town. Before that September Tuesday five years ago though, he was.

Back then no one really sat by Indi because there had been this rumor since fourth grade that her whole family was part of some freaky religious witch cult. But some how it ended up being Alex who was paired up with the weird girl for his english project. So ten minute into class Lydia Hartman and her cronies show up, making some 'feminine issues' excuse for being late. Just like they do every day, they pass by indi while muttering, " Look it's that whitch whore's daughter!" Indi just turned to Alex and in the most serious voice told him, "Poor Lydia Chlamydia, she thinks she's the villian in an 80s highschool drama!" Alex berst out laughing. Before that, they had never really spoken, but the next day in th e cafeteria line he asked her, "So, how'd you come up with Lydia Chlamydia?" She smiled, "I don't know, I guess she just reminds me of an STD. Where ever she goes more of her cronies appear. Shit's popping up everywhere!" Once again, Alex berst out laughing. That's how it continued, Indigo Winters would make some snarky remark amd Alex Barns would crack up about it, until all of a sudden they were friends.

That's when Alex remembers why he'd told Andrew Micheals about his upcoming trip to Crazy Camp, he'd needed someone to tell! When he tried to talk to Indi about it, everything turned into a disaster. But it was his fault, he'd been a dick. "This is just so crazy." He had said while rubbing his temples. He didn't even think anything of it as he made the comment, he was just complaining to his best friend. "This is crazy or I'm crazy?" She'd asked. He knows, he even knew right then that he should have reasured her that he wholeheartedly believes in her sanity. That he knows Indigo Winters is not crazy! But he just had this stupid urge to say ' I don't know.' And thats exactly what Alex did, "I don't know In, maybe I just don't know!" There was a million things he could of said, so of course, being the unlucky bastard he is, he'd said the wrong thing.

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Indigo winters is not crazy. Alex had practically tatooed it to his forhead, Indi knew that. She was well aware that her best friend supported her. He had been upset and said the wrong thing, Indi knew that aswell. She wasn't sure why she had been so dramtic yesterday with the whole 'this is crazy or am I crazy?' comment. That shit had been dramitic, saop opera worthy. But she had been upset and said the wrong thing, too. But god dammit this wasn't about Alex! Indi had the right to be upset! In fact, she had the right to be furious, or depressed, or unconsolable! But she wasn't, Indigo wasn't any of those things and that's what was really freaking her out. That's probably why this whole town thought she was one flew over the cuckoos nest! Most people are pretty damn emotional after their fathers untimely death, or at least surprised. It would be a lie if Indi said she was surprised that her father was killed in a car accident, the man was a drunk! Indi knew her dad wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, he wouldn't think twice about driving off while intoxicated to get a pack of cigarettes. And he didn't.

Indigo's lack of emotion about the whole situation was probably why her mother was sending her to Peterson's overnight camp for teens, a.k.a. CrazyCamp. Indi had no clue why Mrs. Barns was making Alex go too. She had always had this feeling that her best friend's mom thaught Indi's mental stability was a bit shakey, Mrs. Barns was a sweet lady, but she always treated Indi like she was fragile. Maybe she thought Indigo's so called emotionless nervous breakdown was effecting her son. Maybe it was. But what no one seemed to uderstand was that Indi is sad, just not the same kind of sad that she would be if it was her mother or sister who had been killed in the accident.

So maybe Indigo Winters is a little weird, but that's better than being normal, all the normal people in town are way crazier than Indi could ever be! Take Lydia Hartman, the walking cliché of highschool bully, she's crazy enough to think her flawless blonde hair will get her places in life! Or poor Mrs. Benson who walks her yappy chihuahua around town pretending shes unaware of her rich husband's infidelity, and is crazy enough to think everyone else is unaware too. Or Michel Fronta who is crazy enough to think his dad doesn't know he smokes pot by the train tracks instead of attending bible study. Or the junior science teacher who is crazy enough to think Nathanial Turner writes his own papers. Or this whole god damn town which is crazy enough to think they are happy with their pedestrian, pretentious lifes. If that's normal, Indi is sure as hell glad she isn't. And if that meant she was banished to Peterson's for the summer than so be it. If only Alex felt the same.