Chapter 3: Tension at Home

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     Savannah didn't mention her interaction with Billy to her friends, partially because she didn't think he would follow through and partially because she didn't want her friends ruining it. She imagined the shock on their faces when she stepped out of his camaro at Tina's party. It would be all anyone would talk about. Savannah couldn't help but wonder if Steve would see them together. She hoped he would.

     All day on Halloween, Savannah casually dodged her friends' suggestions to drive together to the party, and she strategically avoided Billy as well, anxious about what she would say to him. She only hoped that he remembered their conversation the day before. After school, Savannah raced to the photo lab to check on Billy's photos.

     The photos hung carefully along the wall just where she left them, illuminated by red light. She had completed the washing process during lunch and had hung them to dry so that they would be ready by the time she left school. She unpinned them carefully, examining each one as she slipped them into plastic sleeves for protection. There were only five photos, the rest of the roll was empty, which Savannah thought was odd. There was some discoloration, meaning the film was several years old. She assumed Billy found the roll somewhere and didn't realize it wasn't full.

     Every photo contained the same woman, beautiful, blonde, and smiling. They were taken on a beach, and Savannah admired the candid nature of each photo. The woman clearly didn't realize she was being photographed, or if she did, she didn't pay much attention. Instead she smiled towards the sea. Even the dim quality of the photos couldn't hide her radiance. As Savannah studied the face in the photos, she noticed similarities between the woman and Billy: same nose, same eyes. She had a different smile though. Much wider and genuine. Savannah wondered what Billy's true smile looked like. Not the smile he put on when he was flirting or being cocky, but a real, joyful smile. She had a feeling he hadn't smiled like that in a while.

     When Savannah arrived home that afternoon, her stomach dropped as she spotted her father's car in the driveway. He wasn't supposed to be home until late. Immediately, she began thinking up a plan to escape the house for the party. It wouldn't be easy.

      Mr. Denver was strict, and Savannah always had to tread lightly to avoid punishment and grounding, which he would randomly give her without much reason. Parties were completely out of the question. Back when Steve and Savannah were still friends, Steve was her alibi. For some reason, Mr. Denver trusted Steve, and Savannah was convinced that he preferred him over his own daughter. In fact, when Savannah explained to her parents that she and Steve were not on speaking terms, Mr. Denver immediately blamed Savannah, saying Steve was going places and Savannah needed to take her life more seriously.

     Savannah managed to sneak to her room unnoticed, and immediately hid her costume, which had been laid out on her bed. She emptied her backpack onto her desk, and arranged the items carefully. There was strategy to convincing her father she was staying in. Step 1, make it seem like she was swamped with homework and could not be disturbed. 

     Billy's car could be heard before he even turned on her street, and Savannah immediately raced downstairs to open the door before he could knock, hoping her father wasn't alerted.

     "Hi," she said, cracking the door and speaking in a low voice.

     "Hey," Billy smirked, seeming amused. He was dressed for the party, leather pants and jacket, no shirt underneath.

      "Terminator?" she guessed.

     Billy twirled his toothpick with his tongue. "You gonna let me in, or what?"

     "My dad is, um working, so we should be quiet," Savannah pulled the door open gently so it wouldn't creak. "You can follow me."

     The two teens crept upstairs and Savannah immediately shut the door behind them. "I can't go to the party with you."

Crimson Skies | Steve HarringtonWhere stories live. Discover now