Four Letter Word..

Chapter Thirteen

Straight after school we all met by Steve and Jason's Cars "I can't come with you guys" Steve announced as I approached him "Why not?"
"I've got to stay behind. I erm. Got detention in Math" I narrowed my eyes
"Oh.."
"There's room in Jason's Car for you though"
"Sure, I guess I'll see you tomorrow then" he pressed his lips to mine softly
"I'll pick you up" I nodded and then walked over to Jason, Stacey, Josh and Jennifer.

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

The arcade was packed when we got there and there were middle schoolers occupying almost all of the machines. Jason managed to get on the Air Hockey table and was already challenging Stacey. There was a lot of shouting coming from the Dig Dug machine and my eyes drifted over  Nancy Wheeler's younger Brother Mike was stood there. That's when I saw Max. Billy's step sister. She looked over clocking me and stepped away from her friends giving me a nod before walking to the bathrooms at the back of the arcade. I looked at my friend's as they continued to mess around trying there best to put Jason off of winning the match against Stacey. I followed Max into the bathrooms "Everything ok?" I asked her
"No. Everything is not ok. You need to speak to my Brother" I blinked at her
"I can't do that Max" she groaned angrily
"Yes you can! Billy is one hundred times worse than before you guys left the state" I swallowed "He's making my life a living hell" I licked over my lips "Please, can you just come and talk to him?" My heart was racing as I looked at the distressed redhead
"I mean, I guess but I don't think it's going to change anything.." she let out a sigh of relief and came over wrapping her arms around my middle "Thank you Kat. You don't know how much this means to me" she let go of me and looked at the Casio watch on her arm "He's gonna be here to pick me up in twenty minutes" my heart was racing "Be outside" She left the Bathrooms and I stood there for a moment wondering what the hell I'd just agreed to.

When I walked back out a few minutes later and went over to the hockey table it didn't look like anyone had noticed I'd even been gone. Soon the noise of the crowded arcade dimmed as I heard the familiar sound of Billy's Camaro skid to a stop outside. No one else seemed to be phased by the sound. Max was already in the Car when I eventually came outside. I slowly approached secretly hoping he'd just speed off but he didn't. Max got out "I can sort my own god damn problems Max!" I heard Billy shout at her as she pulled the front seat forward and got in the back leaving me to get in the passenger seat beside Billy "Hi" I spoke softly. Billy didn't turn to look at me as I did my seat belt up. He put the Car into gear and started driving "Max, I'm dropping you off at home" she didn't respond and Billy turned the radio up. Once he'd dropped Max off at home he turned to look at me finally "Is your Mom still in the hospital?" he asked me "Kind of" I replied
"We're going to your place" I shook my head
"No. You can say what you need to say in this Car" he shook his head and continued driving until we got to my Mom's house. We both got out and I followed him up the driveway and I had to search in my bag for my set of keys to the place. I eventually found them and let us in "You've got ten minutes" I told him crossing my arms. He sat down on the couch

"Sit down" he told me as I stood in front of him, my arms still crossed
"No. Just tell me what you want so I can move on with my life and you can continue being the asshole you are"
"Ok. Fine. I just want you to know I didn't sleep with Tammy that night" I let out a laugh

"Billy I don't care. Whatever happened it doesn't even matter anymore. I was upset and you couldn't have cared less that night. You walked back into that house with Tammy" he shook his head "Kat please just sit down with me" I blinked at him. It was rare for Billy to look so sincere but right now he was. I blinked not believing I was falling for this bullshit. I unfolded my arms and sat on the couch next to him "It was Tammy who called the cops on me" I narrowed my eyes "Yeah?" I asked not really caring

"Yeah. Because I refused to sleep with her after you left" I bit my lip
"Woah, Billy Hargrove turning down sex"

"Kat I'm serious I'm in love with you" my breath caught in my throat at the statement

"What?" I questioned. My voice strained
"I love you" I couldn't believe the words were leaving his mouth
"Oh my God..." I trailed off my eyes watering with oncoming tears "That's a really low blow Billy. You really are an asshole" I stood up "Just because you can't have me anymore doesn't mean you can lie like that" Billy stood up and stepped closer to close the gap between us and I placed my hands on his chest to push him away "I'm with Steve now. He cares about me"

"I'm not lying to you. Do you really think it was easy for me to say something like that? And what do you mean you're with Harrington?" I swallowed as he smirked at me "Kat. Where is Steve right now?" I looked up into his Blue eyes
"He had detention" I told him
"Yeah. I was in there with him" I felt my heart start to race again
"What did you do to him? Did you hurt him again?" He shook his head
"Nancy was waiting for him by his Car. They kissed" I narrowed my eyes
"See, now I know you're lying. Get out Billy!" I shoved him
"I'm not lying.. Do you want proof?" I swallowed
"Yes" Billy nodded
"Ok fine. Come on" He walked out of the living room and I did as I was told. Anything to get out of this house. We walked down to his Camaro and got in and he drove me to the street Steve lived on, pulling up a little away from his actual house. Billy got out of the Car and I followed him round the back of Steve's house and into the wood that surrounded it and there they were, Steve and Nancy, sat at the edge of the pool just as we were on Christmas Day. Her head on his shoulder "I told you I wasn't lying to you" I felt my blood start to boil. I turned to Billy
"How did you know about this?" I asked him
"I told you. I saw them kissing" I shook my head and charged by him heading back to the Camaro, opening the front door and getting in. Billy eventually got inside "Take me back to Stacey's" I told him, leaning my head back against the door. He took a cigarette out of the box that was sat on the dashboard and then he handed it to me. I looked across at him and then at the cigarettes taking one out. He lit it for me "Thanks" I lent my head back on the seat as Billy drove me back to Stacey's. I undid my seat belt and opened the door "Kat?" I turned to him
"Not now Billy. Please just-" I licked over my lips "Tomorrow, meet me in the library at lunch" I got out of the Car and headed inside.I closed the door behind me and lent against it "Katrina" Penny had just walked into the hallway "Where's Stacey?" she asked
"She, I think she's still at the arcade with Jennifer" I told her
"Oh, where have you been?"

"I was at Steve's" I lied "We got bored of the arcade" she nodded
"Are you hungry? There's leftovers in the fridge"
"Thanks" I pulled myself away from the front door "I think I'm just going to go get ready for bed" I left the hallway and headed up the stairs to my bedroom. I laid on the bed in my night shirt. My mind drifted from Steve and our budding relationship and the fact that he was still cosying up with Nancy. To Billy telling me he loved me until Stacey burst into the room an hour later. I turned to look at her "Where the hell did you go?!" she asked walking in and closing the door behind her "I just came back here... I was bored" I told her
"Without telling any of us? We were worried Kat!" I sighed and sat up
"Damn, I'm sorry I didn't really think it would matter" she sighed
"Well it does" She told me sitting down beside me "Look are you ok?" I thought about telling her about Steve and Nancy. But that would mean admitting I'd lied about where I'd been so I left it "I'm fine Stace honest"
"Ok" she stood back up and walked towards the door "I'm going to heat up some leftovers... Did you want any?" I shook my head
"No. I'll see you tomorrow?" she nodded at me from the doorway
"Jennifer is picking me up earlier in the morning. We have cheer meet so I'll probably see you at break" I watched her leave and then got under the covers.