A couple of minutes later, the Rink-O-Mania workers made me sit in one of the booths as they called an ambulance to help Angela. I sat there playing with my fingers as i watched them try and stop her bleeding.

"Can you tell me your name?" one of the EMTs asked. "Um, Angela" the girl said. "Good. Do you know where you are, Angela?" he asked. "Rink... Rink-O-Mania, i think" she said. "That's very good. Where does it hurt sweetie?" he asked.

"My head" she mumbled. The EMT looked at me with a disgusted look. I looked up to see everyone staring at me. I tried to ignore it as i stared at the wall.

I was relieved when i saw Argyle and Johnathan walk in to come get us. I ran out to the van without saying anything to them. Mike told them what happened as they got into the van.

We all sat in silence as i looked out the window. "I know this may be like, upsetting and shit, but that future prom queen is going to be just fine. I mean it's just like rubber wheels" Argyle said.

"Plastic. Not like hard plastics. Just... Just the soft kind" Johnathan muttered. It was obvious they were stoned. "Do you ever wonder why the wheels aren't wood, man? Or metal? It's so people don't get hurt when they get shmacked!" Argyle exclaimed.

"Oh" Johnathan said. "Yeah! Because it happens more than you think. Roller skate attacks." "Man. Hey, at least it wasn't an ice skate" Johnathan added on.

"That nose would've been sliced clean off, man!" Argyle said with laughter. They continued talking nonsense as i blocked them out.

Once we arrived back at Joyce's house, we all walked in to see Murray cooking food. "Well, well, well! Aren't you lot a sight for sore eyes!" he exclaimed in excitement.

"Hi Murray" Johnathan said with a smile. "You kids like risotto?" he questioned. "Hell yeah" Argyle exclaimed. I rolled my eyes as i went upstairs to change.

A small while later, we all sat at the dinner table awkwardly eating the risotto Murray made. "There i was, headed down the 1-5 going to see a client in Ventura. I'm looking for a motel to stay for the night, and suddenly, bam! It hits me. 'Didn't the Byers move here?'" Murray exclaimed.

"Small world, isn't it?" Joyce said with a smile. "So i thought, 'Hey, you know what? Why don't i drop in to say hello to old friends?'" he said with a chuckle.

"So sweet of you. And he cooks too!" Joyce said. "And cleans! A regular little house wife" Murray said. "You should just stay" Joyce said. "I'd be tempted too Joyce, except you know you have that, uh..." Murray began and gave Joyce a look to finish his sentence.

"Right! My business trip" Joyce said. "Business trip? What business trip?" Will questioned. "That's right! I almost forgot to tell you guys. This thing came up at work. And it turns out i have to go to a conference tomorrow. In Alaska" she said.

"Alaska?!" Will exclaimed. "That's where they're based. The Britannicas... Joan and Brian Britannica" she said. It was obvious she was being weird about this but i didn't care.

My guess would be she has a secret boyfriend she doesn't want to tell us about. "So Johnathan, Joy, this means you're gonna have to you know, take charge while i'm gone" Joyce said. I nodded unenthusiastically.

"Wait, what? What's going on?" Johnathan questioned. Will put his head in his hands in embarrassment for Johnathan. "Your moms going to Alaska" Argyle said.

"Your going to Alaska? What's going on in Alaska?" Johnathan asked. "The Britannicas are there" Argyle said. "The Britannicas? Who are the Britannicas?" he asked. "Johnathan, what's wrong with you?" Joyce questioned.

"I think i know what's wrong with him" Murray mumbled. "We just had a super stressful day." "Yeah, this girl got shmacked in the head today at the roller rink" Argyle said causing everyone at the table to look at me.

"Shmacked?" Murray questioned. "Yeah, one of those viscous skate attacks" Argyle added on. "But it wasn't an ice skate. It was... It was plastic. Like rubber...Anyways, she'll be fine" Johnathan said.

"She didn't look fine" Mike mumbled. I bit my tongue and shook my head. I dropped my fork and stormed off from the table.

"Wait, Joy, aren't you going to finish your dinner?" Joyce called out. "I'm not hungry!" i snapped as i walked upstairs into the room i was sleeping in.

I dropped down on my bed and stared at the ceiling. I closed my eyes and thought about what happened today. I thought about how whatever i do, whatever i touch, i ruin.

I shouldn't have hit her. I should have just taken El and left, but no. I thought about how i did the same thing with Steve. Instead of talking to him before i left, i just didn't speak to him for months.

And when i did speak to him, i dropped everything on him. And he wanted nothing to do with me. I got up out of bed and rummaged through my suitcase. I went through the pockets of my bag and finally got it.

The dead flower Steve had given to me in a notebook. All the pages of the notebook were empty but i still bring it everywhere.

I looked at the flower and thought of everything before July 4th. How everything was perfect. How one night changed my whole life completely.

I grabbed my headphones and laid back in my bed. I tried to sleep but couldn't. Whenever i closed my eyes i thought about that girl i hit with the roller skate. How i hurt her.

The next morning, i was sitting on my bed, thinking of what i would say to El. I wanted to apologise for ruining her day, but i didn't know how.

I took a deep breath in as i made my way to her room. I gave a light knock as i walked inside. "Hey El... Can we talk?" i asked. She didn't say anything.

I sat down on her bed as we sat in silence. I noticed she was making something. "That's cool. Is that the old cabin?" i asked. She nodded. "So, can we talk about what happened yesterday?" i questioned.

"What's there to talk about?" she asked as she continued on glueing her art project. "I don't know... It's just you haven't talked to me since everything's happened" i said. "There's nothing to say."

"Yeah... I guess i just... I guess i just don't really understand. Why didn't you tell me about everything that's going on here? I could have helped. I'm not exactly fitting in back in England either. I've told you on the phone. I know what it's like not to fit in" i said.

"No. You don't" she said coldly. "Okay... What don't i understand?" i asked. She paused. "I am different. I do not belong" she said.

"You mean, in Lenora?" i questioned. El turned around with tears in her eyes. "Anywhere" she said. "Come on, you can't actually believe that" i said.

"You know, i was actually trying to fit in here. I tried to fit in for you. To make you happy. Because nothing makes you happy anymore. But i can't. I can't fit in here... Or anywhere else."

"El, what do you mean?" i questioned. "Everyone looks at me... Like i'm a monster. They know i am different" she said. "That's just because they don't know you, El" i said.

"You know it too." "What?" i questioned with confusion. "Yesterday. I saw how you looked at me when you heard what Angela was saying to me. You knew i wasn't fitting in because i don't fit in anywhere" she said.

"That's not true. I was upset you weren't fitting in because of those assholes" i said. "No, it's not their fault. It's me. I do not belong. They do. And i was trying to fit in. And now, after what you did to Angela, they'll never like me" she said.

"I'm sorry but El, they were bullying you. I thought-" "That's it. You 'thought'. But you don't know what's going on. You are making it harder to belong."

I frowned and nodded my head. "Well, i'm sorry. I was just trying to be a good sister, alright? I would do it again" i said.

"But that's it, i don't want you to do that. Because when you leave, i'm still here. Angela is still here. And now they'll say i'm a monster just like you."

"I'm not a monster" i mumbled. "You hit her in the face with a roller skate!" El shouted. "I was trying to stick up for you because you obviously can't stick up for yourself. You told me you were fitting in!" i exclaimed.

"I lied because you call nearly everyday asking if i'm 'fitting in'. And you said that you were happy i was. So if i told you i wasn't, you would be sad. And that would be my fault" she said.

"I'm sorry if i made you feel that way. I was only asking so i knew YOU were okay. But you should have told me! I could have helped" i said. "Helped? You aren't helping me by hitting Angela. You made it worse!" she exclaimed. She grabbed letters i had written to her from her desk.

"Dear El, i hope your having fun in the new house. How are you getting on in Lenora? I hope you are fitting in" she read aloud.

"Dear El, have you made any new friends? I hope you did. I haven't been making many but hopefully i'll have some soon."

"Dear Eleven, how is school going? Are you doing well or is it hard?"

"Alright. I get it. I put pressure on you. I'm sorry" i said. She threw the letters on the floor and put her head in her hands. "El" i said standing up and putting my hand on her shoulder.

She brushed me off as she stood away. My mouth slightly fell open. "What? Are you afraid of me now or something?" i questioned. She stayed quiet.

I took a step back trying to hold back my tears. "I'm sorry i hit Angela. And i'm sorry for making you think you had to lie to me about having a good time in Lenora. I'm sorry for being a shitty sister... And i'm sorry for being a monster" i said.

She stayed quiet as she looked at the floor. I was about to go into my room until i heard voices from downstairs. I went down the stairs to see who was there as El followed.

"Is Joy Hopper around?" i heard someone say. "Um... Yeah... What's this about?" Johnathan asked. "Is Joys mother or father here?" i heard the voice say.

"No, why?" he asked. "You may or may not know about an incident last night involving Joy at the Rink-O-Mania."

I walked down the stairs and saw two cops at the door. "That was an accident!" Will exclaimed. "We have a warrant that says otherwise" one of the cops said. "A warrant? Come on, that's crazy. This doesn't need to happen" Johnathan said.

I felt my whole body freeze in fear as i made eye contact with one of the cops. "Hey there. Are you Joy Hopper?" he asked.

I stayed quiet. The cops pushed past Johnathan as Johnathan tried to stop them. They grabbed me and held me still.

"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law" he said as he began handcuffing my wrists.

I looked to El who looked like she was in complete shock. I looked away quickly as tears began forming in my eyes.

They began pushing me outside as i saw all the neighbourhood kids circling around. "Can you at-least tell us where you're taking her?!" Johnathan exclaimed.

The cops stayed quiet as they loaded me into the car. "Can we do something?" El asked. Mike shrugged anxiously.

The cops closed the car door as i sat there, completely numb. I deserved this. "Joy! Joy, listen. I'll get you out. I'll get you out. I can fix this!" Eleven shouted through the window. I didn't even look at her. I didn't want to see her face.

Maybe she was right? Maybe i was a monster. Maybe i deserved to be here. Maybe i deserved everything that was coming to me.