Strange Love • Steve Harrington

Total Mess

Chapter one.
-Total Mess

After being in foster home after foster home, my uncle Lonnie found me and took me in. Im 17 years old and Lonnie decided to take me, some news huh. I later found out that my Aunt Joyce and Lonnie divorced and she went to live in Hawkins, taking Will and Jonathan. I haven't seen them in years.

Me living with Lonnie is hell. He wasnt your average uncle. He has a girlfriend who is like my age, is now a heavy drinker. I cant do anything about it or he hits me.

Wendy wasn't what most people thought she would be like. Honestly some would think that shes a cheerleader, all dolled up, but not really. She was in her punk rock phase, sneaking out with her boyfriend and stealing from the local liquor store. She had smudged eyeliner that hasn't been washed off for days, cut her hair to look like Joan Jett, her idol, and she loves her Doc Martens and lives in her rock band shirts.

She stayed away from Lonnie was much as possible. He was abusive to her. Over the littlest things. He has her pretty much on lockdown, making her work to pay her stiff and rent, not letting her see Joyce and the boys, not letting her be with her boyfriend. As the family services dropped her off at Lonnies, she should've ran away. She had a mattress that was on the floor, all beaten and worn, a poster of the Sex Pistols above the mattress, clothes and shoes scattered around the floor and a little framed picture of her parents on the side. It used to be Jonathans room, it was and still filled with boxes and other shit he had hoarding.

But usually she stayed with her boyfriend until the morning and goes to school and carries on about her day, praying that maybe today isn't the day Lonnie is gonna take his anger put on her. At this point, Wendy is used to it.

"Like what? I can take you in." I rolled my eyes. My boyfriend Freddy, 18, high school drop out, works in his dads liquor store, and now drug dealer. After living here in Indiana, changed me.

"Take it up with Lonnie." We were talking outside of my car, smoking.

"You just dont want to live with me." He clenches his jaw.

"I didn't say-" Freddy puts his hands on me. He pressed me against the car. Freddy has really bad anger issues. Hes really controlling and always had me by the neck. I couldn't get out of the relationship because I knew that I wasn't going to make it out alive. Thats how bad he is.

"Dont lie to me!" He yelled at me. I tried to get out of his grip.

"You're hurting me." I begged him, digging my nails into his hand, but he still didn't let go.

"Wendy?" My neighbor said out loud. "Let go of her!" She came running to help me.

"Back off!"

"Its okay Ms. Jenkins!" I said aloud. Freddy lets go of me. "It was just a game." Freddy stormed off. I was quite shaken. I walked up to my drive way.

"Wendy, dont you ever let a man touch you like that." I shyly smiled at her.

"Thanks for the advice Ms Jenkins." I opened the front door and was hoping Lonnie wasn't awake.

"Where in hell where you." Lonnie came around the corner.

"Out." I walked passed him.

"With that Freddy kid?"

"Thats none of your business." I went to get something to drink but Lonnie took it out of my hands. "What the hell!"

"Wheres rent?" My knuckles turned white.

"Im getting paid next week." I turned to walk away but he grabbed my arm.

"I need it now." I got out of his grip.

"I said next week." Lonnie again grabbed my arm and pushed me back.

"You got to cash somewhere." He pulled my bag off me. He dumped the things i had on the table. He picked up the cigarettes i had. "Really Wendy?" I clenched my jaw.

"Why dont you get a job!" I knew right away i messed up.

"What did you say?"

"Its my money! I can buy cigarettes if i wanted to! Get a job and stop asking me for rent money! Im not your-" then i felt a hard slap across my face. I held my cheek. Lonnie grabbed a plate and almost throw it at my face. A few of the pieces cut my face.

"See, thats why your parents left you! They left you to suffer!" I quickly grabbed my things and ran to my room. I locked it as fast as could when i heard footsteps coming to my door. He kept banging and screaming at me to open the door. I quickly grabbed the phone and dialed the officers. I told them everything and they were on their way. Lonnie was arrested, the foster people came in running to find me.

"Wendy!" I walked out of my room and they saw me. They saw my face. The woman sighed. "We have news." She looked at the other person that came with her.

"We found somewhere for you to stay." They wanted me to pack right away. I put my things in my car. "You follow us." I drove with the woman and the car ride was silent. I turned the radio on and drove hours to our destination.

Once we got there, i got out of my car and looked closely to who was standing on the porch.

"Aunt Joyce?" I chuckled. She opened her arms and hugged me tight.

"Im so sorry sweetheart." I sobbed for 10 minutes. I knew i was gonna be safe. "Oh Wendy." She cried with me. "You're safe now."

"Thank you." I sniffed.

"Dont thank me sweetheart. I got you. I always will."