𝐝𝐞𝐣𝐚 𝐯𝐮 , 𝟖𝟎𝐬

8 = room of triggers

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24th 2018

i felt like shit to say the least. after a week of focusing all my attention on filming and school, the thing i want to do most is go back to the 80s and see my friends. but here i am, sitting in the green room in the back of some bar in downtown la.

hunter and i have been talking more each day on set. he's either always bringing in coffees or taking notes from the director as he watches me on the other side of the camera. but in between us doing our own jobs, we've made a lot of small talk.

i found out not only is he an intern and a film student, but he's also in a band. they're performing tonight and he brought me along for the show - the show that ended approximately two hours ago.

i felt awkward as i watched him drink with his friends and flirt with all the fans who stayed after. i was practically pushed to the corner of the room so i found myself here, in this small room with a killer headache and a girl who won't stop getting high.

the sound of her using the back of her phone to crush up pills filled the room again. i'm surprised she hasn't snorted her nose ring yet.

i was sitting on the sofa as she sat to the left of me in a chair, leaned over the table. i looked over at her. she had dark, curly, unkempt hair and freckles were dotted over her blushed cheeks.

i watched as she held one side of her nose closed and was ready to snort the line she just made when the door opened.

we both looked over. it was hunter.

"hey, uh," i stood up from the sofa following him over to the side of the room that had a table with alcohol on it, "thanks for inviting me tonight, you guys are really good."

"thank you." he absentmindedly said as he picked up multiple bottles and inspected them.

"but i think i'm gonna head out, i've got some stuff to do tonight."

he decided on a bottle of rum and then headed for the door again, not looking at me once.

"yeah, okay hang on." he mumbled quickly and then as if he never even entered the room, he was gone again.

i stared at the now closed door for a few seconds before letting out an annoyed sigh and plopping down on the couch again.

the girl in the room snorted the crushed pills and then asked, "you with hunter?"

i looked at her as she sniffled, dabbing her nose. "yeah. well, we're friends ... sorta."

she raised her eyebrows, creating more lines on the table with her debit card, "i wouldn't be friends with hunter."

"why?" i asked.

"he's known for being a total douchebag. it beats me why my brother's still friends with him."

"you know him well?" i questioned, beginning to bounce my foot as i watched her place a pill back into her script bottle. they were xanax, i could tell even from here.

she laughed, "yeah, went to highschool with him and sadly we both chose the same college."

"well, what'd he do?" i was getting impatient.

"he got suspended for sexual harassment in highschool and now that he's in college i've heard of two assault claims from different girls."

"like ... sexual assault?"

"yeah, the school's reviewing his file and shit so he's on temporary suspension 'til court figures out what they want to do with him."

i felt a chill run down my spine and my heart beating a little faster as i listened.

she pressed her middle finger down on some of the leftover dust and placed it on her tongue. i could almost taste the bitterness as i watched her do it. my mind began to race and i felt like i was back in the 80s, stealing xanax from aunt maggie's room.

this girl probably had thirty minutes give or take until she felt completely relaxed. that is all depending on her tolerance though.

we made eye contact but i quickly looked away, down at her bottle again.

"you want one?" she put two and two together.

i was holding back every urge in my body to say yes. i contemplated it for what felt like forever. to relapse or not to relapse.

"no." i mumbled and then stood up, walking out of the room as fast as i could.

i headed down the dark hallway, passing the room hunter was in. i could hear girls laughing over the music being played on the speakers.

"hey- kennedy!"

fuck.

"wait up, where are you goin-" hunter grabbed my wrist and i turned around.

"i have to go." i said as my heart was pounding.

he cocked his head as he held a red solo cup in his hands, "why, did zoe say something to you back there?"

i didn't say anything.

"she's a lying bitch, always started rumors about me in highschool. if i could detach her from being my bestfriend's sister i would."

"look, hunter i just have to go, okay?" i finally pulled my arm away from his grip, "i'll see you on set monday."

there was high tension felt between our bodies as we stood there.

"okay." he said, way more calm than his little rant just seconds before.

and with that i walked towards the exit of the bar. i could feel his eyes on me the whole time.

i walked outside, breathing in the cool air of the night. hunter was my ride, but i'd much rather uber with a stranger than him right now.

i had one place in mind i wanted to be right now. a ten minute wait for an uber was the longest ten minutes in my life.

i slid into the back seat. "santa monica boulevard?" the man asked, looking at his phone.

"yeah. please."

i was going straight to jason's apartment. but first, i just had to go back to the 80s once again.

___

hii loves i just wanna say thank u so much for the support on this story and the mandela effect, i appreciate it soo much :)

ily