DEAR BILLY [b.hargrove]

005

|ALLISON|

     I sat on the front of the Camaro no sign of Max or Billy as of yet. I was busy minding my own business doing some homework and trying to forget about that girl I was rudely interrupted. I looked up to find none other than Tiffany Carmichael.

"Can I help you?" I said uninterested while looking back down at my homework.

"You're Ally, right?"

"Maybe." I said not looking back up at her. Only my friends get to call me Ally...

"Billy has told me so much about you." Tiffany said with a smug grin.

"Heard you used to runaway a lot. You planning on doing that again?" She almost sounded hopeful.

I could feel the tears blurring my vision. I couldn't believe Billy would talk about me so freely like he did. No one else knows about my life in California... no one. The girls laughter soon became nothing but an echo as I felt my chest closing up.

"Hey!" Someone shouted in the distance. I blink away the tears a couple drops rolling down my face and see Brody. "Leave her alone!"

Tiffany didn't bother arguing, she smirked before walking off with the other two in tow.

"Allison, you okay?" He asked placing a hand on my shoulder. I wiped my eyes and pushed his hand off me. "Tell Billy not to wait."

I didn't say anything else as I grabbed my bag and made my way to the exit. I passed Max who tried calling after me but only told her I'd see her later. I didn't know where to go but I knew I had to get out of there.

***

I had been walking around for sometime, I was cold and tired and I could only think of one other place to go but it was the other side of town, walking there was taking a while and it was already dark.

I heard a car pulling up beside me and quickly noticed it was a cop car. The window rolled down and I saw my dad sitting in the drivers seat.

As if my day couldn't get any worse.

"Hey kid. You shouldn't be this side of town on your own this time of night."

I froze. I didn't know whether to run again or what to do.

"You okay?" He asked but again but I couldn't get any words out. "Joanne, right? Get in, I'll take you where you need to be."

I still said nothing but relaxed slightly. He still didn't seem to recognise me but I was conflicted. I didn't want to be anywhere near him, but I was cold and tired and hungry.

"That's not an option. You can't be out on your own at this time." I realised there was nothing I could do. It was better for me to get in and stay quiet.

"Where you heading?" He spoke once I was settled in the car.

"Forrest Hills Trailer Park." I said. He nodded turning down the next road towards the park.

"You liking it here so far?" He asked. I rolled my eyes. I really wanted to avoid any sort of conversation with him.

"Yeah."

"What about your parents? What made them want to come here?"

"My parents are dead." Oh and I'm the daughter you left behind so there's that. There was a beat of silence. Bet he wasn't expecting that.