California Secrets (Billy Hargrove)

- 𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 -

- Katherine Witherfield -

I usher Billy to come to the front porch with me, and Ma takes care of the eggs. I grab his hand and practically drag him outside where we can talk in private.

"What's wrong?" Billy asks, a look of concern on his face.

"Its just-" I start, not knowing really how to start this conversation. I go to run my fingers through my hair, but it gets stuck in the knots yet again. I yank my hand out in frustration, pulling a couple strands out along with it. I take a deep breath, getting my thoughts together.

"Billy, I just didn't tell my Ma you were living here yet."

"Is it a problem? Your mom loves me." He seems genuinely concerned, and I can't help but feel guilty.

"Its just complicated, okay?"

"How is it complicated?"

I stare at him, cocking my head to the side. I look away for a moment, again at a loss for words. I could tell him the truth right now. I might as well, since it seems it would be appropriate for the situation. But no matter how hard I try, I can't get the words to leave my lips.

"It just is, okay? Let me talk to her first next time." He nods in understanding before coming to me and softly kissing my lips. I smile at him before bringing him back inside. "Thank you for making James breakfast for me, by the way."

"Of course. He doesn't always have to be your responsibility."

I swallow at his statement, choosing not to answer him as we make our way to the kitchen table, where James is enjoying his eggs.

"What do you say?" I ask James.

"Thank you," he says in the sweetest little voice ever to Billy.

"Of course, little man," he says with a smile before heading to my room. I follow him in, and we get ready for school. He puts his shirt from last night back on, and I change into something presentable. Soon enough, we come walking out, my backpack on my back and Billy's keys jingling in his hand.

"We're heading out to school," I tell Ma before going over to James and giving him a kiss on the head. I look up to her and she has her eyebrows raised at me.

"We will talk after school," she says to me quietly. Billy gives James a high five before bidding Ma goodbye, and we head out the door.

"Sorry that I got you in trouble," Billy says to me as we walk to his Camaro parked across the street against the woods.

"No, it's okay," I say. "You don't need to apologize. It's really my fault, I should have told you."

More things than one.

We get into his car and head to school.

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"What if we just skipped the first two periods and fucked in the bathrooms?"

I roll my eyes at him. "You're crazy. My mother would kill me."

He shrugs as if it is no big deal. "We are graduating in less than a year anyway. Might as well be a little rebellious."

"Absolutely not."

"Okay, your loss," Billy says, causing me to laugh at his shenanigans.

Walking in with Billy gained more attention than I had hoped for. People whispered and others nudged their friends as we walked by. I should be used to people talking bad about me, but this feels different. It feels worse. It feels like everyone is confirming to themselves that I am the slut they think I am. They all seem to be praying for my downfall- especially the group of girls we walk by that wave to Billy. I shake it off, hoping I will get over it like I usually do.

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SORRY THIS CHAPTER IS HELLA SHORT but its a filler chapter so look forward for the next one!!!!

Thank you for reading!! I love y'all sm!!

-Liz<3