Another side

Chapter 4

I'm riding my bike home when I see Sam's car parked beside the woods which would lead to Billy's "spot."  Which means that Billy might be here because it's obvious, he didn't tell Sam.

I turn and put my bike down and walk into the woods. I look around hoping to find him alone and not with another girl. Finally I find him and he's sitting by himself with his knees to his chest and his head burrowed in his knees. It takes me a second to realise that he's crying.

I sit next to him. "Billy?" He looks up in shock and immediately wipes his tears. "What are you doing here?" I shrug. "I saw your cousin's car. I knew it'd be you so I came to say hi. Are you ok?" Hi sniffles quietly. "I'm fine." Then I look at his face more closely. "Is that a bruise?"

He turns away quickly. "It's not Sam's car." I look at him confused. "What?" "You said you saw Sam's car, it's my car not his." I look at him confused. "So why does he drive it and not you." He sighs before leaning down. "Cause I'm a wuss, JJ. And I can't stand up to him or my dad."

I give him a small smile. "JJ?" He chuckles. "I don't think Jessica, Jess or Jessie fit you. They don't sound as badass as JJ and you're a true badass." I scoff. "No I'm not." He nods his head a ridiculous amount. "Yes you are. You stood up to Sam which is something I usually don't do."

I sit down beside him. "Did he give you the bruise?" He shakes his head. "No." I don't think I believe him but if he doesn't want to talk about it, I'm not gonna force him to. I look around. "So how did you find this place?"

"Sam got mad at me and made me get out of the car around this wood area. I decided to explore it cause I didn't want to go home and then I found this place." I nod. "I'm glad you did, now I can steal it." He chuckles. "There's no one else I'd rather have stealing my secret spot."

We sit there for a few hours until I decide it's time for me to go home. Billy insists on driving me home and just like yesterday he waits til I'm safely inside the house before he leaves. I go to sleep with a smile on my face.

The next morning Steve takes me to school and I'm glad he didn't bail on me again. He's in a bitchy mood so neither of us talks. After his stupid little basketball game he drags me away from my precious food and starts bitching about Billy.

"I hate him. He's literally so rude." "You hate him just because he's better than you at basketball." Steve sighs. "No, he's just a dick." I run my hands through my hair. "He isn't that bad." I feel a presence beside me. "Sing my praises Jessica." I glare at him. 

"Go away Sam. In case you didn't know, I don't like you." He puts his arm on my shoulder and grips it hard. "You should think of treating me with respect." "I don't owe you shit, Sam. So how about you just leave me the fuck alone." He looks me up and down. .

"Is this because you're in love with my cousin?"I roll my eyes. "I'm not in love with Billy. Don't be ridiculous." I stand up and walk away. He yells at me to come back and I just point the finger at him. I'm honestly done with him, like seriously who does he think he is.

I go behind the school outside and find Billy smoking a joint. "Just can't get enough of me JJ." I don't even answer cause I'm frustrated. Billy notices my mood and offers me his joint. I take it and take a drag.

"Who was it?" "Your dickhead cousin." His posture visibly stiffens but I don't comment because I know when to mind my own business. God I hate Sam for making Billy feel this way. I don't know him that well but I know he deserves better than whatever he's going through. We sit there in silence smoking together until it's time for me to go back to class.