Four Letter Word..

Chapter Sixty

I decided to walk to Mom's instead of asking for a ride from Eddie.. I was causing enough trouble as it was. I didn't think I could cause anymore until a Car pulled up beside me as I walked by the arcade "Well, well, well" I looked over to see none other than Jason "Katrina Carter, what a surprise" I hadn't even considered that Jason would be in town whilst I was here. He got out of the car coming over to stand in front of me "I wish I'd been more prepared.... Fancy a chat?" I looked around not seeing an escape route. The arcade was closed due to it only being 11am "I don't think we have anything to talk about" I told him he grabbed my arm dragging me towards his car "Hey. Let go of me" I tried to kick him but missed stumbling slightly which gave him more leverage. He grabbed me around the waist and was carrying me towards the passenger seat of his car. I kicked back. Hitting him in the balls. He let go of me and I ran. Managing to get so far down the street before he once again caught up to me. I turned to try and fight him off again. I grabbed my lighter from my pocket and flicked it open, burning his arm "Fuck. You bitch" Jason's fist collided with my face and I dropped to the floor. He kicked me in the stomach a couple of times before I heard some other voices and then I felt myself being lifted up "Shit Kat. Are you alright?" I opened my eyes, although my right one felt swollen from the punch. It was Eddie "Eddie it's fine.. Where's Jason?" I looked around anxiously
"He's gone" I looked to Eddie as he opened the passenger seat door to his van, noticing his lip was cut "He hurt you" I wiped the blood away from below his lip he shook his head
"You're lucky I was driving by Kat. He could have killed you" he helped me up into the passenger seat of his van and then went round to the drivers side hoping in "Direct me to yours?" I shook my head "No... No let's go somewhere else" he started the engine as I groaned at the sudden pain in my side "You don't look so good Kat. I think we should get you to the hospital" I shook my head "I'll be fine. I've had worse" I thought back to the crash. The broken ribs I sustained then, this felt the same "Actually maybe you're right. I think he broke my ribs again"
"Again?" I grimaced
"I was in a car accident last year" I explained
"I remember..." Eddie drove me to the ER
"You don't have to come with me" I told him as I opened the door
"Hold on" Eddie got out of the van and turned to me "Stay put" he closed the door and ran over to the exit. He returned a minute or so later with a wheelchair and opened the door for me, helping me out and into the chair. He wheeled me into the building and up to the desk "Hey, yeah my friend got beaten up pretty badly" Eddie told the receptionist
"Ok, if you take these forms, get her to fill them out and return them. We'll try and get her seen as soon as possible" Eddie took the clipboard and handed it to me before wheeling me over to the waiting area "This is bullshit" I groaned taking the pen and filling out my details "I can guarantee they wouldn't be making me fill out all of this if I was dripping blood all over their floors" Eddie laughed as he sat beside me
"Or of you'd lost your right hand" I turned to look at him "Sorry, bad joke" I smiled at him before I started filing out my details "You know, you don't have to hang around... You have work right?" He shrugged "I'll get out of your hair... I just want to make sure you're going to be ok" he took the clipboard from my hands and took it over to the nurses station "Want me to call someone for you?" I licked my lips
"Stacey... Maybe" she would be home now from New York. I gave him her number and he headed out to the payphone.

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

I'd been admitted for a scan, so was waiting around in the hospital bed I'd been given. Eddie had left as soon as he knew I was in safe hands telling me he'd come by later to see me after his shift at the cinema had finished. Stacey arrived "Jesus. I thought it was some kind of prank!" She announced coming over to the hospital bed "Hey Stacey" she wrapped her arms around me softly "God what are you doing here?" She asked
"In Hawkins or the hospital"
"Hawkins... Eddie explained why you were in here. About that?... Why are you hanging out with Munson?" I shook my head at her
"It was a chance meeting" she raised an eyebrow at me "Anyway, how are you?" I said trying to change the subject "I'm great... But I want to know why you're here"
"Thanksgiving" I lied and she shook her head
"Eddie said something about you not being in a great place?" I looked at her
"Eddie said that?" She nodded "What else did he say?"
"Not much... Just that you've been hanging out this week" I swallowed "I take it Billy isn't here with you?" I looked away from her "Are you going to tell me what happened? You two aren't ok are you?" I felt tears coming
"No, we're fine.." I lied. I didn't want to tell her about Jen and Billy hooking up behind my back. I didn't want her taking sides "I'm sure Kat, whatever it is you and him will be fine. You work everything out" I wiped at my eyes frantically
"No. I think we're done for real this time" she shook her head and grabbed my hand
"It'll all work itself out, whatever that is"

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

After I'd had the scans I had to wait around in the room for the results. Stacey had been out to make a phone call whilst I was in my scan "All this waiting around sucks.. Fucking Jason" I groaned "You don't have to hang around here Stacey. You should be enjoying your Thanksgiving break" she laughed
"To be honest I'd rather be here than at home. Mom's constantly around. She misses me when I'm in New York. You know it's a good job Jen didn't come back here with you with Jason being around and all that" I nodded not saying anything. The doctor came in
"Katrina Carter, Hi. I just want to go over a few things with you?" He stood at the end of the hospital bed "Broken ribs right? Just gotta rest up?" He smiled
"That's right... However your bloods brought up some questions?"
"What do you mean?"
"There was a high level of Ketamine in your system" my heart rate accelerated. I flicked my eyes to Stacey who was looking confused "I've erm... I took some last night" I told him "And maybe the night before that" he nodded "Do you have to report this? It's just I've been having a rough time" he stopped me
"No. We don't report things like that" he handed me a pamphlet on narcotic addiction "Your general practitioner can help you if you're struggling with anything though" I took the pamphlet from his outstretched hand "Apart from that. Everything seems ok. You've broken your ribs before so you know the drill. Just rest and come back and get your bandages changed in a couple of weeks" I nodded at him as he left
"Drugs Kat?" I rolled my eyes at Stacey
"It was only a little Stace.." I told her
"When Munson told me earlier I didn't believe it... Thought he was joking around" I rolled my eyes at her as a nurse came in "He told you? And you didn't mention it?" I asked her
"I thought you might tell me in your own time if it was true... Surely after everything your Mom went through you'd be more sensible than this" I closed my eyes
"Stacey you don't understand... I'm really hurting and I just needed something to numb the pain" she closed her eyes in defeat grabbing my hand "
I get that... But like I said earlier you guys will work it out" I shook my head "Whatever happened can't be as bad as any other thing he's done" I swallowed and sat up a bit more in the bed
"I haven't told you what he did because I don't want you to have to be involved" she looked at me lacing her eyebrows together "What did he do Kat?" I closed my eyes
"He and Jen... I caught them fucking" Stacey stared at me
"I don't understand"
"What do you need to understand?" I asked her
"Billy wouldn't do that to you... Would he?" I bit my lip hard to stop the tears from coming again "Well he did... That's why we're through. For real this time" she looked nervous
"Yeah... Yeah I understand" she stood up "Look, it's getting late. I should get going"
"Sure... Stace?" She turned to look at me "Is everything ok?" She nodded
"Fine.... Do you need me to speak to your Mom?" I shook my head
"I'll call her in a bit" I told her, not wanting Mom to know I was in here for the night. I'd come up with an excuse as to why I hadn't been home for two days "I'll come by tomorrow" she waved bye to me from the door.