[for neil]

[sallyfuckingride]

A week isn't that long to go without hearing from someone. Shit, I forget to check my phone for that long, too. I keep it with me when I go out, not just for Joel reasons. Darrow's fucked up.

For Neil and me, a week's a long time. He'll deny it, but I think he's keeping a closer eye on us since the Purge. He got so pissed at Joel, so scared for us both -- and then a week of nothing?

If Neil is dead, I'm going to kick his ass.

Every day after school, I go to the gas station for a snack. It's the best part of the day; my reward for making it through another day of mind-numbing repetition without punching anyone in the face. Today, it is closed. I kick the doorframe in punishment. Gotta find my snack somewhere else.

My quests merge. Instead heading right to go home, I veer left.

Obviously, I try the door first, but it's locked. No cars in the driveway. Gwennie is probably still at school. And I want my fucking snack.

To Neil's credit, the windows are locked. It's not his fault my knife is narrow enough to undo the latch from the outside. I'm inside in minutes, grabbing an apple from his fridge.

"Green one! Nice." I grab a soda, too and lean against the counter. I cross my ankles, since I can. The boot is finally gone.

I'm well into a bowl of cereal by the time the door opens. I'm stuffing my face at the table, and tracing my finger through a maze on the back of the box.

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[myfavoritedream]

It was an adventure trudging up the steps with my arms overloaded with bags, proud of myself in a way that was pathetic that I made it without the aid of the rail. Fumbling for my keys, I shouldered my way in through the door, gently nudging a cat aside with my foot and getting it shut behind me.

Tossing my keys on the table by the door, I kicked off my shoes, a habit that I'd picked up while Stan still lived here. Lugging the bags towards the back of the house, I nearly jumped out of my fucking skin when I saw the shape of someone sitting at the breakfast table.

"Holy fuckin' Christ," I hissed, briefly shutting my eyes and drawing in a steeling breath. "What the fuck, Ellie?"