Four Letter Word..

Chapter Five

I opened my eyes and found myself in the front seat of the Camaro still, but it was sunny and we were on a road that was high up and all I could see on either side was the Blue ocean. I sat up straighter and groaned at the kink in my lower back. I looked across at Billy. He had his shades on and a cigarette between his lips "Welcome to California babe" I smiled
"What time is it?" I asked grabbing Billy's arm to look at his watch. It was midday "And we haven't been chased down by the police...we made it!" I announced
"Of course we did.." I bit my lip
"We're not heading for my Dad's right now are we?" I asked

"No. I was going to suggest doing that tomorrow?" I felt kind of relieved at the thought, I wasn't actually prepared to see my Dad yet. "So what are we doing?" I asked as we pulled off of the highway "We're going to crash at one of my mates apartments" 

Billy's friend Damon lived in an apartment block in a place called Van Nuys "Fucking hell Hargrove what are you doing here?" the guy asked as he greeted us at the front door of his place "And who's this?" he asked looking at me
"This is Kat and you stay away from her" Damon moved away allowing us to walk into the apartment only to be greeted by more individuals dotted around the couches and open plan Kitchen. It was smokey and there were cans of Beer everywhere "No way!" someone shouted from one of the couches. He came over "It's the runaway kids! How you doing man?" the guy high fived Billy "We were all here when your face came up on the news at first we thought you'd probably just veered your Camaro into a tree or some shit" These people were strange I turned to get a better look at them dotted around everywhere "You in Kat?" I turned back to Billy who was talking to me "Our... Friend... Tammy is throwing a thanksgiving party tonight" I parted my lips. I hadn't realised it was Thanksgiving. It made sense now that these kids weren't at School right now. "Yeah. Friend" Damon walked by nudging Billy in the ribs with his elbow and winking. I licked over my lips at the suggestion that Tammy was more than just a friend of Billy's "Yeah I'm up for it" I told him answering his earlier question "It will help take my mind of finally meeting my Dad tomorrow" I told him and he wrapped an arm around my waist kissing my cheek. I smiled at the small gesture as Billy kept me by his side as he caught up with the friends he hadn't seen since the Summer.

()()()()()()

The party was at a different location a little drive away. Damon and his Girlfriend Amanda rode with us in the Camaro and honestly I'd never felt so free in all of my life, we were singing along to the radio with the windows rolled down, smoking cigarettes and passing around a bottle of whiskey as the setting sun shone across the horizon ahead of the freeway. The party had already started when we walked into the packed out house. The Girls house it was came over to greet us "Billy? You're back?" she asked looking shocked "God. I've been so worried about you" she lunged at him, wrapping her arms around him tightly and nuzzling her face into his neck. I felt awkward and Amanda grabbed my hand "Lets get a drink" she announced. We'd finished the bottle of Whiskey in the Car between the four of us. "So that's Tammy?" I asked Amanda as she handed me a Red cup of something "The one and only" she said turning to look at her with me. She was bleach blonde, skinny and all leg. She was wearing a tiny skirt and a crop top that didn't leave much to the imagination and her hair was teased revealing some of the darker highlights she had underneath "You know about her and Billy right?" she asked me as I watched the two of them interact "Not really. Obviously they were more than friends at one stage" I stated
"Definitely. Coolest couple at our High School. No doubt about it" she took a sip of her drink and I felt an awful amount of jealousy as I watched Tammy put her hand on Billy's arm and him place a hand around her waist, I wanted to cry "Are you and Billy actually official?" Amanda asked refilling her cup "I'm not sure" I thought we were after he called me his Girlfriend last night. But maybe it was just in the heat of the moment and there was nothing to it. "Don't take it too hard. They dated for a few years right up until he moved away" I nodded "There's a lot of history" Damon came over and grabbed Amanda around the waist making her spill her drink "Hey watch it!" she announced turning around in his arms
"Sorry Kat.. I'm kidnapping Amanda here" they both headed out the back leaving me alone by the drinks table. I carried on watching Billy and Tammy as they talked to each other intently and sooner or later she kissed him on the cheek and grabbed his hand taking him towards the stairs and I watched them disappear. My heart dropped because I knew what was happening. I poured myself another drink and downed it before refilling my Cup and taking it out front. I got into the Camaro that Billy had luckily left unlocked and sat in the front passenger seat watching people come in and out of the party. My mood had dramatically changed from earlier on.