DAMSEL IN DISTRESS [SCREAM 1996]

21. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Cassandra pushed open the door to Billy's house, her heart still racing from her conversation with Gale. The house was quiet, and the familiar scent of aftershave and wood polish greeted her. She expected to find Billy irritated at her absence, a reflex from her years of dealing with her father's anger.

Instead, Billy emerged from the hallway with a warm smile. Without hesitation, he closed the distance between them and kissed her softly on the lips. Cassandra felt a rush of conflicting emotions—relief, confusion, and something else she couldn't quite place.

It felt strange to be in Billy's arms after leaving from a conversation with Sidney.

"Hey," Billy said, pulling back and examining her closely. "I got your note."

He looked down at her full body and raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were going shopping.. where's your bags?"

Cassandra bit her lip, feeling a pang of guilt for her lie. "I forgot my purse here."

Billy nodded, his expression unreadable. "Well, I'm glad you're back. I was starting to get worried."

Cassandra gave a small smile, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling in her stomach. "What have you been up to?"

Billy's eyes darted momentarily, a hint of unease flashing across his face. "Oh, you know. Just hanging around town. Nothing too exciting."

Cassandra tilted her head, sensing the evasion. "Around town? Like what?"

Billy hesitated. "Just dealing with some school stuff. 

"Principal Himbry said school was out until the killer is found," Cassandra pointed out.

"Yeah, doesn't stop Principal Himbry from being a pain in the ass."

Cassandra let out a small 'oh', though her confusion was higher than ever before.

The silence between them grew thick. Billy finally broke it with a question that surprised Cassandra. "Do you regret what happened between us?"

"What?" she asked, mentally facepalming at how dumb she sounded.

"Last night," he clarified.

Cassandra's heart skipped a beat. "No. I don't regret it at all. It's just.. I see you in a new light now. A better one."

Billy's expression softened slightly, though he remained guarded. "That's good to hear. So.. uh.. what do you want to do tonight?"

Cassandra thought for a moment, weighing her options. She still needed to gather information on Randy. Gale told her to be safe.. but if Billy was with her, they could take on Randy together if he tried anything.

"How about we go to the video store? I'd like to get a movie to watch."

Billy's face lit up with a genuine smile. "Sure, sounds good. I could use a break from everything."

They both grabbed their jackets and headed out, the evening air feeling cooler and more refreshing. As they drove to the video store, Cassandra's mind raced with the details of her conversation with Gale, Tatum, and Sidney, and the nagging suspicion about Randy.

--

Cassandra and Billy pulled up to the video store and barely found a parking spot with everyone that was there. Inside, the aisles were lined with shelves filled with VHS tapes and people chattering. The store was bustling with activity, groups of people browsing and gossiping- all trying to find some entertainment before curfew started.

As they walked in, Cassandra spotted Randy stocking shelves, animatedly discussing movies with a customer.

"Hey, Billy Boy," Stu greeted. "What's hanging, baby?"