Ghostly Guitar | Julie and The Phantoms

Chapter Five : Running out

Chapter Five : Running out
January 1995

Over the last few months Stephanie and Bobby's mother's drinking had gotten worse. So bad she didn't let her friends at her house anymore. She would find bottles in her room, in Bobby's, in the kitchen. It wasn't just beer her mother could down a whole bottle of wine on her own within an hour.

Her wrist started to bruise around the cut. One of the bottles had broken when she cleaned it up and sliced her wrist. Not that she really cared. Maybe she would just bleed out and no longer be a burden to this world. Even when she really wasn't.

But even with her mother in the room watching as the bottle cut her and she didn't do it her mother thought she was cutting. More so cutting to make people think she was depressed because of her mother drinking.

But Stephanie didn't think she was depressed. She just didn't like anything about herself. And she hated her home life. But that didn't make her depressed right?
    Either way her mother had grabbed her still bleeding wrist so tightly Stephanie actually thought it was about to snap. Because she still hated that she was this skinny, and still thought she was too boney.

Stephanie looked back at the bruising mark. She didn't want this. She wanted to be around the band and Cheryl. She wanted the one thing that still made her happy. A single silent tear rolled down Stephanie's face as she jumped off her bed.

She pulled a duffle bag out from under her bed. Slowly she started to shove her things into it. It was mostly flannels, ripped jeans, and tank tops. A few pairs of shoes as well. She clipped on the only necklace she ever liked wearing. It was from her father  before he passed away, his death driving her mother to alcoholism.

She threw that bag and her school bag out her window before grabbing her guitar and journal. "Where are you going with that thing?" Her mother asked from the couch, sipping a bottle like always.

"Song writing. Just me and Luke. We just have some work to do for the band."
    Stephanie heard the alcohol fall back down the bottle with a swig, "Yeah whatever. You know the rules."
    "Yeah. Back by 11 or call." She felt bad for what she was doing. But not because of her mother. Just for Bobby.

~

    The studio looked empty from the outside but she knew Alex was in there. He still hasn't moved back in with his parents. Stephanie readjusted her strap on her duffle so it wouldn't hurt her shoulder.

    Her guitar felt heavy in her hand as she looked up at the wooden structure. Parts in the back were slightly rotted in places, and the blue paint that was once on the doors has almost completely peeled off.

    She let out a deep sigh pushing open the doors of the studio. Her shoulders slumped at the thought of no longer having a bed. Or not waking every morning to Bobby being a dork.
    Alex fell off the couch when Stephanie walked in, "Steph?"

    "Heyyy......." She dragged out the word dropping her duffle to the floor. "I just-" She didn't mean to but in that moment, watching Alex pull himself off the floor, she broke down crying.

    "Hey- Hey." Alex brought her into a hug. He hated watching Stehanie cry, she was like a little sister. He didn't really know how to make her feel better. But he know why she was crying. Just by the bruise on her wrist.

    "I Just-I" She choked on the tears.
    "Shh. It's okay. I get it." And he did. At first his parents just gave him the cold shoulder. Then started pepering him with questions like 'Why are you gay?' Questions that don't have answers. Till eventually they became unsatisfied with his answers and threw him out.

~

    Three hours later Stephanie was asleep on the couch as Alex softly played the drums in the background. He got used to her being here fairly quickly. It didn't make a difference to him if she was her, as long as she was safe.
    The doors of the studio were thrown open making Alex miss a beat. Cheryl and Bobby stood panting in the doorway. Bobby turned to Alex, "Is she here?!" His voice was frantic as he thought about his sister being missing. Him and Cheryl had been looking around Hollowood for Stephanie.

    Alex put his sticks down and his finger to his lips. "Yeah. But she's sleeping. And from the looks of it. So should the two of you."
    Cheryl fell to the floor, her back against the couch. "Yeah. That would be kind of nice."
    Bobby slipped to the ground next to Cheryl. "Why didn't she tell us?" He pulled off his beanie and ran his hand through his hair, "Why couldn't she just tell me?"

    Alex took a seat in front of his friends, holding his legs as he looked over to the small chair that Stephanie was asleep in. "'Cuase she was scared. She probably lied to even get out of the house."   
    Bobby leaned his head back onto the couch, "I know. I just-I was so scared, that she was just. Just gone."
    "She's just here."

~