𝖢𝗋𝗎𝖾𝗅 𝖶𝗈𝗋𝗅𝖽 || 𝖲𝖳𝖤𝖵𝖤 𝖧𝖠𝖱𝖱𝖨𝖭𝖦𝖳𝖮𝖭

𝖢𝖧𝖠𝖯𝖳𝖤𝖱 13

Leah

I couldn't stop thinking about Phil and about what he had told me. About how many people knew everything and chose to do nothing about it. Of how many people chose to side with a criminal.

And, now, I was the main suspect of his disappearance. The main suspect in the disappearance of the man who manipulated and used me for years, the man who took advantage of my pain and fragility.

And what if I really had done something to him? Who could blame me anyway? Who could blame me for getting my revenge? Who could blame me for taking matters into my own hands? How dare he come here? How dare he accuse me and throw in my face that he knew it all along? Throw in my face that he saw my father every single day and could still sleep like a baby knowing what was happening to his daughter?

How could Phil do this?

You should let them burn. Yeah...

I couldn't divert my thoughts. I couldn't think of anything else... They were stuck on Phil, Adam, and Billy. And only one among them deserved it. Only one among them deserved to keep on breathing.

Billy...

I had to see him. I had to look him in the eyes and make him open up to me, remind him that he could trust me. That, whatever it was, I wouldn't go anywhere. And, this time, I wouldn't leave again, I wouldn't leave him behind again. I'd hold him close to me, hold him close to my heart. I'd take him out of with fucking town if I needed to, I'd kill his fucking father if I needed to.

Wait... Kill? Like I could kill anyone... You definitely have it in you... I'd never do that...

So, these last few hours of work were pure torture. Memories kept coming back to my mind.

Memories of when I first met him, the day he helped me despite not even knowing my name. Memories of our first date at Tony's. Memories of how much fun we had at Tina's party. Memories of the wonderful night we spent together. Memories of his smile once he realised he had found someone who was finally able to listen to him, to understand the meaning beyond his words. Memories of his look of relief when he found out I, more than anyone in this damned town, could understand what he was feeling. Memories of our days together.

Memories of how happy we were together. Of how the world could explode, and we wouldn't even care. Of how we should've left this town long ago. Of when everything used to make sense.

Of the day he protected me without letting me know about it.

I owed him everything. I owed it to him to repay back the care and love he gave me. I owed it to him to at least try to help him, no matter what was happening to him. I owed it to be there for him. I owe him my soul. I owe him to save him.

And Billy deserved all the care, the love and the help in the world. They don't know him... But I do.

Steve's gonna hate you. Probably. And I hated every second of it. My heart ached just thinking about losing the love of my life. But maybe... Maybe I was wrong. Maybe if I could explain it to him... Really explain it to... Perhaps he could understand me... He will think you're crazy. You might be wrong, maybe he'd understand me. He won't. Maybe he will. He won't. I need to try... No, you don't.

I wanted to bang my head against the counter over and over again. I was so fucking tired of my incompetence. I was tired of not knowing what to do. Why do I feel so fucking drained, so fucking exhausted?

I sighed and ran through my hair... However... when I looked up... I realised I was in front of Scoops Ahoy. But... How?

How? When did I even leave the store? Did I finish my shift? How did I get here? What time was it? What the hell was happening?