Their week continues as per usual. They didn't talk much about what happened in Billie's room. Vanessa was slightly off, but Billie assumed she felt weird about what happened.
Billie thought after the situation with the young boy, Vanessa would give up and go back to the cute little book worm she used to be.
She couldn't be more wrong. This was proven that Thursday, when she was helping Gabby cook dinner. Vanessa came downstairs, and leaned against the kitchen counter opposite to Billie, who was slicing potatoes.
"Hey mom, can I go to a sleepover tomorrow?" she asks.
At first Billie didn't react. Sure, Vanessa is usually the one hosting the sleepovers, but she figured she must have a new friend who, unlike her other two, had less excuses.
Gabby shrugs her shoulders. "Sure. I mean, your father and I won't be home. And I'm sure Billie would like some alone time." she nudges Billie's arm. "Maybe you can finally do something fun with Delilah."
"Which friend is it?" Billie asks, giving in to her curiosity.
"Uhm..." she exhales deeply, an obvious give away that she was being dishonest.
After not receiving an immediate response, Billie looks up from the vegetables to make eye contact with Vanessa, and she knew instantly.
"Katie." Vanessa says quickly.
The green haired girl furrows her eyebrows. "Isn't her father a raging alcoholic?"
"Yeah, but he won't be-"
"And doesn't he bring like the entire bar to their house? That doesn't sound safe."
Vanessa huffs. "I meant Lauren. I'm going to Lauren's house."
Billie puts the knife down so that she doesn't accidently throw it at Vanessa for lying while looking her straight in the eye. "Her mother has horrible OCD. She'd drench you with bleach and scrub you with brushes before she allows you into her house."
"Well-"
"Billie, enough." Gabby intervenes to put some ease onto her daughter. "Vanessa's growing up. She's been doing great at school, and has done barely anything wrong. She gives us no reason not to trust her."
"But Gabby-"
The woman turns to Vanessa. "If you're going to some kind of party, just be responsible, okay?"
Vanessa nods. "I promise. It won't even be that many people."
"I don't agree to this." Billie says, but neither of the woman seem to care.
"Call or text if anything happens." Gabby says. "We won't be home, but I'm sure Billie will gladly come to your aid, won't you Billie."
"She won't have to. It's safe."
"Can everybody just listen to me, please?" Billie asks.
Both of them turn to her.
"I don't think you should be allowed to go to parties." she says.
"Billie, sweety, she's turning eighteen this year and she'll be in college next year attending a tone of parties that you won't know of."
"Yeah, but-"
"You remember how you were? Chris and I could barely keep you in the house."
"That was different-"
"Atleast she gets good grades. You'd even bunk school to go out with all of these rebellious young girls."
"And you want her to be like that?" Billie asks.
"I know that she won't." Gabby places her hands on Billie's shoulder. "Look, I am thankful to have you care for Nessa the way that you do. I can trust her alone with you without breaking a sweat about a party being thrown in the house because you've always influenced her to be good, regardless of the things you were up to. But it's time to take it a few noches down."
