Four Letter Word..

Chapter Seven

The Police sat me down with my Dad at the dining table and started asking me a million questions about why I'd ran away and exactly where I'd been for the last week. I answered all of their questions and then I had to wait for someone from Social Services to arrive to fly with me back to Indiana. "I just want you to know that Billy is innocent in all of this" I told the Cop "I chose to leave, it was my idea. He wanted to come home. That was all" The Cop nodded as the doorbell rang and my Dad went to get it "You want to call anyone before you go?" I shook my head at him and he stood up "Well, thanks for your time Katrina" I nodded
"Billy. He's ok right?" I asked and he turned back to me as a lady walked in
"Don't worry about Hargrove." I bit my lip, not really feeling very comforted by that answer
"Hi Katrina, I'm Holly and I'm going to accompany you on the flight back to Indiana. I'm your social worker" I stood up and went to greet her
"So are you ready?" I turned to my Dad

"Can I just have a moment with my Dad?" I asked her
"Of course, i'll be out front" she left the room

"Are you going to be alright kid?" he asked me placing a hand on my shoulder

"Yes I think so" I told him although my head was spinning

"Here" he grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and jotted a number down "You can call me anytime and I'll be in touch with Penny to see how things are going" I took the piece of paper gratefully "Maybe I could come down and visit sometime?" I smiled

"I'd love that" I told him honestly and he rubbed my hair
"Have a safe flight" Carol came into the room with my suitcase

"See you" I told them as I took the case and headed out front where there was a Car waiting. A man got out of the driving seat and opened the trunk for me to put my case in. I got into the back seats next to Holly "We're glad you're safe Katrina" she spoke as the driver started the Car "You had lot of people worried" I sighed
"I don't regret leaving Hawkins" I told her
"Your Mom's been worried" my stomach twisted

"You don't have to lie to me" I announced "I've seen the television reports. I didn't see her making any desperate pleas" she gave me a sympathetic look
"She's in a rehabilitation facility" I didn't really care "She's doing better" I looked out of the window beside me as California rushed by "When we get back to Indiana you can see her if you want" I shook my head "Not yet" the car pulled up outside of the airport and we got out. The driver got me my case and I followed Holly into the Airport.

It was a commercial plane that we flew on and I was getting a lot of looks from people who probably recognised me from the news channels and papers. I ignored them as best I could as we boarded the plane. As we flew back to Indiana I had this horrible thought that I was walking into a trap. That I'd be put into the care system. That I'd just wasted my time traveling all the way to California to just end up back in Hawkins right where I started. I was also anxious because this was the first time I'd ever been on an plane so I was concentrating on my breathing, trying not to let it show on the surface how scared I actually was when we were up in the air. I snuggled into Billy's jacket and breathed in his scent of cinnamon and Cigarette smoke and I hated how safe and comforted it made me feel. I thought about our conversation last night and the way he'd practically ditched me at that party for his Ex Girlfriend. Maybe he just used me to get back to California and last night was the perfect opportunity to ditch me when I told him I didn't need his help finding my Father anymore.

The flight lasted around four hours and I was relieved to have both feet firmly on the ground, even if the ground was Indiana. We still had another two hours drive back to Hawkins. A police car was waiting out front for us and I recognised the Sheriff lent against the car as the same one who had been on the news reports on my disappearance, the same one who'd been first on the scene when Chris murdered my Brother. As we stepped out of the Airport doors we were swarmed by journalists, photographers and television camera crews "Just keep walking Katrina, don't talk to any of them" Holly warned me as she guided me through the crowd to the Cop car. The police chief as it stated on his sleeve helped me into the car. I actually felt pretty special with all of these people waiting outside of an Airport just to see me "Sorry about that Kid. How are you doing? it's good to have you back" I swallowed "I'm Hopper. You remember me?"
"Yeah, I remember" he turned away to start the Car

"I know you've probably been through an interview with the Police in California but unfortunately we're going to have to take you down to the station in Hawkins to ask you some more stuff" I nodded understanding "Afterwards Holly will take you down to her facility" I turned to look at Holly who was sat in the front seat beside Hopper and she smiled sweetly at me.

Eventually I started to recognise the landscape and we passed the sign that read Welcome to Hawkins. My stomach clenched, I was so anxious about being back here. We pulled up outside of the police station. The same one they'd taken my Mom's ex boyfriend Chris after he murdered Mitch. The same one I'd sat in three years ago when I'd given my statement. There was a journalist outside and Hopper turned to me "Don't speak to him. He's from the local news station" I nodded and followed Holly and Hopper out of the car and into the station before the journalist even had a chance to realise it was me. Hopper took me into a room, Holly had to be there as I was still a minor and he asked me all the same questions as the police had in California at my Dads house. "You've been through a lot kid. Especially with what happened with your Brother" I nodded
"Is Chris still in prison?" I asked him

"Yes" I nodded and looked down at my hands in my lap "Why do you ask?" he looked concerned
"When you handcuffed him and took him away do you remember what he said to me?" I asked Hopper "He said he'd get me one day?" He sighed
"He won't get you kid. He's going to be in jail for a really long time" I nodded "Now, how about we go and get something to eat?" he asked as he stood up. Holly looked at her watch
"I think that's a good idea, I can go ahead to the office and start filling out some paperwork" she told Hopper "I'll drop you off on the way" we headed out of Hopper's office and out to the Car. Obviously word had gotten out that I was back because there was more than just the one local news presenter here now "Katrina can you tell us where you've been for the last week?" someone asked me shoving a microphone into my face "Can you all give her some space please. Thank you" Holly said as she followed behind me. We managed to get to the Car unscathed.

After dropping Holly off at the center Hopper drove us to a diner where he let me choose anything I wanted off of the menu. I ordered pancakes with syrup and Hopper ordered a burger with cheese topped fries "You going to go with Holly to see your Mom this afternoon?" Hopper asked me "No. And if I was why does Holly have to be there?" Hopper sighed
"Because we can't risk you going walkabouts again" I rolled my eyes
"I'm not going to runaway again. All I wanted was to find my Dad and I did. Adventure over" he nodded "I believe you" I took out my packet of cigarettes and grabbed a lighter "Those things aren't good for you"

"Neither is that" I told him as the waitress came over and placed the greasy plate of food down in front of him "Also I'm pretty sure you smoke" I told him as I took a drag of the cigarette.
"I do. But I'm supposed to be setting a good example" he picked up his burger and took a bite out if it "You should think yourself lucky" he told me between chewing "I can't imagine the LAPD have taken Billy out for lunch" I bit my lip
"Is he going to be ok?" Hopper nodded "Because you know he didn't kidnap me whatever the hell that means" I cut up my pancakes suddenly losing my appetite now Billy was the topic of conversation "I know he didn't. Things just got out of hand over here. Someone told the press that he was violent and they were scared for your safety. That's why the LAPD arrested him because they thought you were with him" I stubbed my cigarette out in the ash tray in the middle of the table and started on my pancakes "You love him?" I looked up at Hopper and shrugged "He's a jerk"
"So I've heard" I bit my lip "Anyway, you should hurry up and finish those Pancakes. Holly will be wondering where we've gotten to" I nodded and picked my fork up again. 

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Two chapters today because I didn't post yesterday or Friday due to being out of Town!