Chapter Text
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I've lived with my aunt since I was little, specifically since my parents divorce. My aunt took me in, claiming that having to choose between my parents at such a young age would leave me with a traumatic scar. But my older brother, Henry, stayed with my father. We saw each other often because my aunt lives in the next town over.
As I grew up, I started becoming more aggressive with the people around me, especially at school. I didn't hang out with anyone because all the parents had warned their children not to play with me, that I was a "savage."
With adolescence, it got worse, and I started causing a lot of trouble in my neighborhood. I was getting into fights with the neighbors' kids every other day, and I was getting my aunt into all sorts of trouble. And because of that, she decided to send me to my father's in Derry, until I calmed down and collected myself before coming back.
So here I am now. It's May, and the first petals of summer are beginning to unfurl with the sun's rays. I open the back door of my aunt's car, which drove me here, and close it behind me. I go behind the car and open the trunk to take out my suitcase and my belongings in a small bag. The air is a little humid, and the place isn't too busy except for the sound of a few passing cars.
I look up and see my new temporary home for who knows how long. It's not my first time here, so there's no need to explore every room. I grab my things and head back to the sidewalk. My aunt rolls down the window for me before blowing me a kiss.
"Be careful! I love you, Y/N, please behave." She smiled tenderly at me with her beautiful blue eyes, little dimples creasing her cheeks as her eyes crinkled slightly.
I smiled back and nodded.
"Yes, Auntie, don't worry, I love you too, kisses." I waved goodbye, she waved back, and started the car again to get back on the road. I sighed and turned my head toward the house. "Well..." I tilted my suitcase to roll it and held my small bag with my other hand. I arrived at the door and knocked three times.
After a few seconds, I heard the lock turn before someone opened the door.
"Y/N!" "You're here!" I catch my father's eye. He smiles broadly before pulling me into a hug. I hug him back, feeling awkward and a little tense, before he pulls away.
"Yeah," I reply, still standing in front of the door with an embarrassed smile, before my father steps aside and opens the door fully. "Come in! Your room's already ready; you just need to add your..things."
I nod and go inside. My father takes my stuff and heads for the stairs to go upstairs. My room is on the second floor. Next to Henry's, I suppose, speaking of him. I look around the house, searching for him, but I don't see him anywhere.
"Henry?" I call out to him, but there's no answer. He must be outside. The house hasn't changed a bit; it's exactly the same as when I was little, before my parents divorce.
My dad came back downstairs and gave me a thumbs-up. "I've put everything in your room," he said before settling down on the sofa in front of the TV.
"Okay," I replied simply before heading upstairs. I hurried up to my wide-open door. The bag was on the bed with the white sheets, and the suitcase was at the foot of the bed.
He hadn't done much, really.
I took out all my things and arranged them, filling my closet with clothes, underwear, etc. I stuck my posters on the walls and put my sketchbooks on my desk. It already added something to the room. It felt strange to have to live in this house again, even if it was only for a while.
I sighed and collapsed onto my bed. Damn, I have to go to school tomorrow; I don't even have time to rest. I strain my ear toward the wall separating my room from Henry's, trying to hear any sign of life, but there's none, which confirms he's outside since he can't keep his mouth shut, and it would be strange if he were silent.
After a few hours of napping, I hear someone come home. My eyes snap open, and I sit up. It's Henry. I get up and go downstairs with a slight smile that stretches my lips before meeting Henry's gaze.
"Oh no, you're here," he says, rolling his eyes sarcastically. I reply with a quick "shut up" before giving him a hug.
"You're stuck with me for an indefinite period of time." He pulls me close before giving our father a cold stare, who is now sprawled on the sofa after drinking at least eight bottles of beer.
"Yeah, unfortunately, come on up." He pushes me ahead of him and urges me to go upstairs. He follows me and goes into my room with me, raises an eyebrow, and looks at the changes I've made to the room.
"Horrible." He shakes his head slightly, making a disgusted face, trying to get my attention.
"Horrible what? Your room is full of underwear with shit stains on it."
"Screw you."
He sits down on my bed while I'm drawing at my desk. I'm concentrating on the details of the flower I just drew before I feel Henry's large hand pull me up. The pencil falls from my hand and rolls under my bed.
"YOU'RE A PAIN IN THE ASS"
"Shut up, I'm going to take you for a drive to Derry, I don't want your dumbass to go missing." He said, dragging me to the stairs before letting go. I slapped him hard across the arm before going down the stairs, which creaked slightly with every step.
Henry walked past me and left the house with the car keys of my dad, who was still snoring with his mouth open on the sofa. I grimaced in disgust before putting on my shoes and joining Henry, who had already started the car.
I opened the front passenger door and got in before closing the door. I didn't bother to put on my seatbelt and opened the window to let the cool breeze blow across my face.
We went for a short drive, and honestly, it's just an ordinary town, even if there's nothing to do there.
When I got home and went up to my room, I found a schoolbag on my bed with some things already packed inside. I looked at it for a few seconds before pushing it off. I don't like my dad's behavior since I arrived. I don't know if he's just putting on a good dad act since I came home, but it's starting to get tiresome, especially when he treats Henry like an enemy instead of his son.
The sun sets, and I leave my desk to go to bed. It's been a tiring day. I sigh, frustrated that this room has no color except for the things I've added.
It's going to be so boring meeting new people; it's awkward, and besides, I don't want to.
I close my eyes and adjust my position to be more comfortable before drifting off to sleep peacefully.
I feel hands lightly shaking my shoulder, and a warm light on my face. I groan and stretch, slapping the hand that's my dad's, waking me up for school. I open my eyes with difficulty because of the sunlight streaming through the windowpanes.
I force myself to get up and grab a pair of gray sweatpants and a black t-shirt—basic but comfortable. I open my bedroom door with a creak. Henry's room is empty, and the door is wide open; he must have left before me. I head to the bathroom and pull the handle, but the door resists and won't open.
"WAIT, DAMMIT!" Henry's voice echoes from the bathroom. Okay, I figured it was weird that he was leaving early.
I start banging on the door with my hand, trying to get him to hurry up. He's insufferable. The banging reaches my dad's ears.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" My father yells from the living room, his deep voice echoing through the house. He's really starting to show his true colors.
Henry comes out of the bathroom, a furrow between his brows, and shakes his head, gesturing with his hand. "What does this son of a bitch want?" He whispers before snarling and heading downstairs.
"Hurry up, I'll wait for you in the car, or I'm leaving without you." He says without even looking at me before slamming the door behind him.
I quickly finish what I need to do in the bathroom before leaving and grabbing my bag, which I've leaned against my bedroom wall. I go downstairs without saying a word to my father. He does the same, and that suits me just fine.
I pull the front door handle and step out, slamming the door shut behind me. The fresh morning air caresses me, spreading across my face and hair. I open the door and settle into the seat. I close the door, not bothering to buckle my seatbelt, but instead open the window wide to let the wind ventilate the car, which reeks of leather and is overheating in the sun.
Henry starts the car with a rumble before beginning to drive. I don't even know if my father is aware he's using his car, but Henry doesn't mind letting him know.
I tilt my head back slightly, resting it against the headrest. I close my eyes and simply enjoyed the soothing sound of the car's purring engine.
After a few minutes, we arrived at the school where I'd have to stay. Nothing special, just a building with a grand staircase at the front, "Derry High School" emblazoned across the middle.
This is going to be boring. Really boring.
I got out of the car with an irritated sigh. Henry blew smoke out of his mouth, holding his cigarette with two fingers.
"Smoking first thing in the morning? Your lungs must be purple." I judged, slinging my schoolbag over my shoulder. The first rays of sunlight appeared and reflected off the car's windshield. I was about to go inside on my own before Henry pulled me back by the collar of my t-shirt.
"Nope, you're staying with me for now."
"Am I dreaming, or are you being a doting dad?"
"Shut your mouth before I stomp on you."
I roll my eyes, annoyed at having to stay with him. He's unpleasant enough as it is, but in the morning, it's something else.
"What are we waiting for, exactly?" I grumble, crossing my arms over my chest.
"My friends." He replies curtly, taking another drag on his joint.
"Yeah, YOUR friends, not mine."
He exhales the smoke, glancing at me out of the corner of his eye with a dark look, as if to say, "I'll kidnap you if you don't shut up." Sometimes I wonder if he actually has friends who genuinely like him, or if they're just afraid of him.
A few minutes later, I saw a group of boys heading towards us. They must have been his friends. The first one I noticed was a tall guy with slightly long hair, I'd say. Then there was a chubby guy with his hands in his pockets, and finally the last one, a platinum blonde guy. That's all I have to say about him.
When they finally got in front of us, all their eyes fell on me, confused and interested. I held each of their gazes to let them know they didn't intimidate me and that I could fuck them if I wanted.
"That's her, my little sister. If someone touches her, tries anything, or even has the slightest dirty thought about her, I'll peel the skin off their face with my knife and then make a necklace by sewing each of your faces together. Understand? Watch her, make sure she's safe, and make them know that if anyone attacks her, they attack all of us." Henry threatens them with a murderous look, continuing to warn them and state "rules."
I frown and grimace at his behavior. I can find it cute, but also incredibly annoying and it makes me cringe. I understand he's possessive and protective of me, but there's a limit, not to the point of bringing your friends I barely know. I think I have my answer to the question I was asking myself earlier. They stayed with him because they're afraid of him, that's for sure. He's an unbearable jerk.
I look away and maintain my stoic expression, leaning against the car before feeling a gaze upon me. An uneasy feeling alerts me that I'm being watched. I raise my head and meet the gaze of the tall guy, his eyes filled with a mixture of emotions, and the corners of his lips curl into a small, unsettling smile. I don't let this strange action unsettle me; on the contrary, I hold his gaze until he looks away to look at Henry.
What's his problem? The others are looking at me too, but their gazes are more curious than insistent like his.
Okay, I'm exaggerating, maybe he just wanted to be friendly, I don't give a damn about him anyway.
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Thats all for the first chapter ! Hope you guys loved it lmao this story was originally written in French (by me dw) but since it didn't got any attention due to the lack of hockstetter fans in France I decided to transition it into an English ff.
see you in the next chapter