Chapter 3
A/N: There are brief mentions of verbal abuse in this chapter and we are finally at the Stranger Things portion of the story.
Before Delilah the Harrington’s were as traditionally wealthy as they could get. They went on work trips, owned a massive house, and were particularly old fashioned and just as old fashioned families had male heirs before adopting Delilah they had a son named Steve, a biological one.
“Delilah, me and Tommy are going to go get snacks while Carol and Heather are going to stay here!” Steve yelled to her room upstairs. Tommy was Steve’s childhood best friend while Carol with her obnoxious red hair was Tommy’s girlfriend and Heather was Steve’s, “Then we’re going to watch a movie, so stay in your room!”
Delilah rolled her eyes. This was a common occurrence. Steve’s friends come over, Delilah stays in her room. Steve drives his friends home, Delilah walks home with Will, an underclassman two years below her. It’s been like that since Steve started middle school. She went from being his sister to being his adoptive sister and as far as Delilah was concerned she was an only child. However she knew that Steve still cared. Whenever she was getting punished he would always take the yelling for her. In fact as far as he knew she had never been aggressively scolded her whole life. In truth it was the opposite as Delilah now sat on the bed, her thoughts going through the words and insults in her head under her light blonde hair. The Harrington’s last visit ended with a fight about Delilah’s previous test grade of a C. The school year only started August 1st and it was now August 29th. That was the reason she was working on her homework now. Math included decimals and geometry. Delilah was answering the questions at a steady pace with minimal mistakes until she got to a certain question.
Name the first five digits of pie.
She started to write.
‘3.13’ She flipped over the pencil to erase the last number she wrote.
Scratch
The paper tore a bit. In a small burst of anger she slammed the pencil down on her desk and she walked down the stairs into Mr. Harrington’s office. It was a decent sized room with a desk towards the back of the room with a large wedding photo hanging on the wall behind it. Mrs. Harrington’s hair was yellow blonde and gelled in a prissy hairstyle. Her puffy dress resembled a cupcake. Similarly Mr.Harrington’s hair was gelled back with a side part, he wore a casual black suit with a navy blue tie.
“Hey Orphan-face!” Carol shouted from the doorway, “I thought Steve told you to stay in your dungeon.”
“Orphan-face? Really the best you could come up with.” replied Delilah with venom lacing her voice, “And I am getting an eraser for my homework Carol.” She just then was able to pull out an eraser from the drawer.
“I forgot you have to earn your rent.” laughed Carol, “But don’t worry most orphans become highly successful. When your options are to go big or go home you don’t really have a choice.”
“I mean how horrible would you have to be for your own parents would rather die than raise you?” Heather said, joining in the laughter.
“My dad’s not dead.” Delilah responded.
“So he just didn’t want you.” Carol retorted.
“No he- he- just can’t be around.”
“Oh so your dad is in prison!” replied Carol with a terrible ecstatic smile, “No wonder your mother died she probably hated you both!”
“No, she loved me, she died for me.” Deliah replied, her voice quivering with rage.
“Pffff- She was probably relieved!”
“Shut up.”
“She was able to get rid of her criminal lover and her disgrace of a daughter.”
“Stop it.”
“Or maybe Carol,” Heather said, “Her mother joined in and pinned it all on her husband. It would certainly sound like someone who would produce someone like her.”
“Stop it!”
“Yeah and dying must have finally ended her suffering!” Carol shouted in Delilah’s face as she slowly reached her breaking point.
“SHUT UP!” Suddenly the wedding photo flew off the wall and landed just at the toes of Carol and Heather. Little shards of glass were thrown across the room mostly focused at Carol and Heather but Delilah remained untouched.
“You FREAK!” Carol shouted as her and Heather ran out of the house.
Delilah stood there for a moment mortified. The Harringtons would kill her. They would kick her out or just kick her. The thought was absolutely terrifying to Delilah. It felt more terrifying than death. At least to Delilah the Harringtons were worse than death.
Her feet couldn’t have carried her faster up the stairs. Her clothes and most valued possessions were stuffed tightly in a book bag as Delilah threw on a turquoise jacket.
Slam
The window shut behind her. The cool night air graced her face as she slowly climbed down the tree she had landed on before she was on her way to where she did not know.