𝗙𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗥, billy loomis & stu macher

38 out of sight, out of mind

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(   chapter thirty-eight, out of sight, out of mind )
❝ 'cause I ain't her and you ain't him, thankfully, but it's gon' be hard to let someone else
in again ❞

april 18th,   1998

"SO, THEY DIDN'T have the detergent we like, but they did have this organic stuff-"

At the sound of Jaylyn bursting into her room, Kathryn shot upright from where she'd been leaning against Stu, her heart plummeting into her stomach.

Without hesitation, she shoved Stu off the bed. He hit the floor with a muffled thud, her mattress now shielding him from view. But it was pointless - Jaylyn had already seen enough.

The bag in Jaylyn's hand slipped to the floor with its own heavy thump, echoing Stu's landing. A groan escaped from where he now lay, breaking the tense silence.

"Jaylyn... I can explain-" Kathryn began, her voice shaky.

"No effing way." Jaylyn's eyes widened in shock, her voice rising as she darted toward the other side of the bed.

Kathryn stepped in her way, blocking her path with a desperate urgency.

"Jaylyn, stop! Let me explain-"

"Move. Now," Jaylyn snapped, her tone hard as she tried to push past. But Kathryn held firm, her hands pressing against Jaylyn's shoulders.

"It's not what you think!" Kathryn insisted, panic thick in her voice.

"Oh, but it is," came Stu's amused drawl, cutting through the tension like a knife.

Both girls froze, their heads snapping toward him. Stu had risen from the floor, brushing himself off with maddening nonchalance before casually settling back on Kathryn's bed as if nothing had happened.

"You must be... Jaylyn, right?" he asked, a smirk curling his lips as he extended a hand toward her. "I'm Stuart, but you can call me Stu. It sounds better."

Jaylyn stared at him, her expression a mix of shock and disgust, making no move to accept the handshake. She turned her head toward her best friend, eyebrows shooting up in shock.

"You have a lot of explaining to do, missy," Jaylyn said, her voice sharp and incredulous.

"And I will!" Kathryn shot back, her tone desperate. But her expression quickly darkened as she glanced over at Stu, who was lounging against her headboard with an infuriatingly smug grin. "Stu, I think it's time for you to leave now, isn't it?"

Stu stretched lazily, his smirk widening. "It's fine. I can handle a little girl talk."

Kathryn leveled him with a blank, unamused stare.

With an exaggerated sigh, Stu swung his legs off the bed and stood, patting his empty pockets as though checking for something. "I guess so," he said, his voice dripping with mock reluctance. He flicked a glance at Jaylyn - who remained frozen in disbelief - before shifting his focus back to Kathryn.

Her glare didn't waver.

"Thanks for tonight, princess," Stu drawled, leaning in close. He pressed a lingering kiss to her cheek, his next words sending an unwelcome shiver down her spine. "I had a lot of fun."

Kathryn and Jaylyn's gazes followed Stu as he swung his jacket over his shoulder and slipped wordlessly out the window. He landed with ease, disappearing into the night.

Jaylyn hesitated before rushing to the window. Peering down at the one-story drop, her eyes widened.

"How'd he make it down there?"