Four Letter Word..

Chapter Forty Seven

It was Friday. The day of graduation. I was nervous, sad and excited at the same time. I'd finished getting ready with Stacey and Jennifer at Stacey's house. Stacey had already cried twice, ruining her make up in the process. "Here, let me fix your mascara" I told Stace as we got into the back of Jen's Car "I'm really sad that we're going to different states" she told me as I used my thumb to wipe the smears from under her eyes "It's ok for you two. You're going to the same college" Jen looked at us through the rearview mirror as she drove us to Hawkins High. "It's not like we're never going to see each other again!" she told Stacey "Plus, I'm not leaving till the end of Summer, so you're stuck with me for another month at least"
"Yeah, but Kat.. You're leaving tomorrow! It's so soon!" I smiled sadly at her
"I know babe. But you and Jen should come over to California during the holidays and maybe me and Billy will come over here for a bit. So long as Neil isn't around"We pulled up in a spot in the parking lot outside of the school and all clambered out. Steve and Josh were waiting for us by his car, I hugged him "You guys ready?" He asked
"I can't believe this is it!" Stacey announced
"I know. It's crazy" Steve replied. We all headed to the football field. Jen pulled out a bottle from under her gown "Here" I took it and sipped
"Vodka?" I asked grimacing slightly as I passed it to Stacey
"Yeah.." We all sipped from the bottle as we walked, arms linked to the football field. Jennifer finished it before we found our seats and threw the emptying bottle into the trash can. Graduation went without a hitch and it felt great to hold that diploma in my hands. After photographs and congratulations from our parents we all headed home "You're coming to Carol's party tonight right" Stacey asked me as Jen pulled up outside of my house "Yeah, I'll come but I can't stay late. I'm flying to California early tomorrow" she nodded at me as I opened the car door and got out "I'll come here at six.. We can walk over together" I nodded at Stacey and waved goodbye to the others before heading inside to double check everything was packed, ready to leave.

()()()()()()

Carol's house party was rammed. Our group were sat on the couch drunk flicking through the year book which Carol's parents had left out on the coffee table in the sitting room "Yo... look at us here!" Jennifer pointed out a picture of the cheer squad at the championship final
"Are our individual photos in there?" I asked snatching the book from Jen and flicking through until I found it "Damn Kat, you look wrecked" I laughed at the photo of myself from back in the Fall "I mean, it was taken literally the first week back to school.. I had just gotten back from LA after my excursion" I tried to defend. I flicked further back and found Billy's photo
"Woah.. he actually made it to the year book" Stacey chuckled
"What about Jase?" Josh asked out of nowhere. Everyone went quiet and looked over at him "No one cares about Jason" I replied "He's gone.... Never existed to any of us ok?" Josh looked nervous "Actually Kat can we talk? Alone?" Everyone looked between us
"What about?" I was confused by the sudden mood change
"I'd rather not tell everyone" Stacey narrowed her eyes at her 'boyfriend'
"What can you speak to Kat about but not me?" He sighed "I just don't want to upset Jen..." He replied

"What the hell are you talking about Josh?" Jen asked
"I mean you've gotta say it now dude" Steve interjected
"Ok, well... Jason. He's back in Hawkins" I parted my lips "He's planning on coming here tonight. He knows it was you who planted the drugs in his locker"
"He's coming here?" Jen asked, shocked
"Don't worry he's not going to hurt you.. We're all here" Josh tried to reassure her
"Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" Stacey asked him, clearly upset
"Because I didn't want to upset anyone"
"Well it's a bit fucking late for that" Stacey stood up and stormed off
"Stace?" Steve called after her following
"Shit... Why would you not tell us that Josh?" I demanded "That's why Carol invited us isn't it?" Josh nodded "I mean, yeah. I guess. Now that I think about it" Jen stood up from the floor and shoved Josh "You're a fucking dick! I can't believe you let me come here when you knew he would be making an appearance" I grabbed Jen before she could storm off
"Listen to me Jen... Stay near ok? If we're together he can't hurt you" I could tell she was shaken by the news "I'm really sorry. I should have said something sooner but I only found out at graduation today" Josh tried to defend. We both looked at him
"God, you're such a moron. Do you think we're stupid?" Jen announced "You've probably known for ages. You two were best friends!" Josh sighed
"Yeah we're friends but I didn't know he'd be coming back to Hawkins so soon.. I mean of course I knew he'd be back at some point, but not yet" Jen sat back down and placed her head in her hands "We need to leave, before he gets here" She stood back up frantically and headed to the kitchen. I followed her in and watched as she picked up a bottle of whiskey and opened it taking a swig "We can't go to mine and we can't go to yours he'll know to look there" I nodded in agreement "What about Stacey's?" She shook her head
"He'll look there too" she grabbed my hand and dragged me through the house to the front door "I know where we can go" I followed her to her car
"You can't drive Jen" I told her
"Yes I can. I'm fine" she fished her keys from her back pocket "Im not that drunk" I looked up and across the driveway "Shit, shit, shit" Jen turned to look where I was looking to see Jason. She froze "Get down!" I grabbed her arm and pulled her to the floor with me
"He knows my car Kat..."
"It's ok, I think he's going inside" I told her as I peered around the car before turning back to Jen "Are you ok?" I asked. She shook her head
"What am I going to do? If he's back for the Summer. I'm stuck here in Hawkins with him. How am I supposed to avoid him, in this shitty little town" I grabbed her hand
"Come to California with me tomorrow" she looked up at me
"I can't just leave" she laughed
"Yes you can.. You can stay with me. My Dad won't mind. He's already taken one stray in" I told her referring to Billy "I'm sure another wouldn't hurt" I nudged her jokingly
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure" I peered around the car again to see where Jason had gone. He wasn't on the front so I presumed he'd gone inside "Let's just head back to yours and pack a bag" I told her standing up, putting my hand out for her. She took it, unlocked her car and we got in quickly driving away from Carol's.

()()()()()()

"My mom's working" Jen announced as I followed her upstairs "Do I just leave a note. God this is so fucked" she announced taking another swig from the bottle of whiskey she'd stolen from Carol's "Does she know about what happened with Jason?" I asked as she grabbed a suitcase from her closet "Yeah... I told her eventually" "Ok, how about we head to your Mom's work?" She stared at me "We can't do that" she started grabbing clothes from her drawers
"Why not?" She looked over and sighed, suddenly looking more upset than she already was. She picked up the half empty whiskey bottle and handed it to me "Take a sip" I took it from her and put it to my lips "My Mom's a prisoner officer at the high security prison" I choked"What?" I was confused "What does that have to do with... Oh" it suddenly dawned on me why that would be a problem "Yeah.. I never said anything before because.. well you know""Chris is locked up there? Yeah I get it" My heart was suddenly racing and I had to sit down at the thought of my step dad "You ok?" I took another long swig from the bottle
"We still need to go and tell your Mom what's happening" I told her after a while
"Ok... But you can wait in the car" she told me touching my arm lightly.

We drove to the prison and Jen got out "I won't be long ok?" I looked across at her and then behind her at the prison building. She closed the car door and I stayed there for a moment before opening the door and getting out. I looked over to the direction Jen was walking and took a final swig of whiskey before dumping the empty bottle "Jen!" I shouted running over to her "Yeah?" She asked as I got closer
"I'm coming in with you""Are you sure that's a good idea?" I wasn't sure, but I nodded anyway

"Alright" we walked into the prison and Jen explained why she was here and that she needed to see her Mom immediately. We had to sit in the waiting area for what felt like forever but was only a matter of minutes "Jennifer?" Her Mom, Cathy appeared "Baby what are you doing here?" Jen and I stood up "Mom.. I need you to listen. Jason's back in Hawkins"
"That little shit.. have you seen him?" Jen shook her head
"Not really. Me and Kat left as soon as we found out he was here" Cathy looked at me
"Katrina Carter?" Like she'd just now realised who I was "Hi sweetie"
"The thing is Mom. If I don't get out of here he's gonna get me"
"Not if I get the bastard first" Jen's Mom announced and I knew then where Jen got her tough streak from "I'm gonna go to college earlier than planned. Kat's off tomorrow morning. She said I can go with her" Her Mom looked between us
"You're crazy Jennifer"
"Am I? I don't know Mom. I don't feel safe staying in Hawkins right now" She seemed to contemplate this "And where would you stay?" She asked
"Kat's Dad lives out there, he said it's fine if I stay with them until my dorms sorted"
"Then you should go. But I can probably get this sorted out in a week" Jen smiled and wrapped her arms around her Mom "Thank you"
"And Kat, are you ok?" Her Mom asked me when Jen let go of her
"Yeah..I'm ok. Erm so where is he?" She gave me a sympathetic look
"Locked away in a cell. You're safe"
"Can I see him?" Cathy's eyes widened at my question
"Kat? What the hell?" Jen asked
"I'm sorry Kat but no. Even if he was allowed visitors I really don't think you'd want to see him. Not after everything he's done to you and your family" I swallowed
"I just wanted some closure before I leave Hawkins.. I guess I want to make sure he's never getting out" Jen's Mom came over
"You're a brave girl sweetie. All the shit you've been through the past few years" She hugged me tightly "Don't worry about him. He ain't getting out of here any time soon. Not if I can help it" I smiled up at her "Now, give me your Dad's number" I jotted down the number for her and after Jen said goodbye to her Mom we headed out "What was that back there?" Jen asked as we got into the car "You didn't actually want to see Chris again did you?" I shrugged
"I don't know... Let's just head to mine and get some sleep before tomorrow"