Four Letter Word..

Chapter Eighteen

The end of the School day came around quickly and I had just left detention. I walked through the parking lot and I spotted Steve sat in his Car. He got out as soon as he clocked me and rushed over "Go away Steve" I said as I sped my walking up and tried to go around him. The sound of a Car horn made me look up and Steve looked over his shoulder. It was Billy. He got out of the Camaro and came over. Steve grabbed my arm "Kat please just hear me out" I shook my head "No. Get off of me"
"You heard her Harrington" Steve's grip tightened around my upper arm as he looked behind me at Billy "Penny asked me to come and get you" I looked up at Steve as he spoke
"You're lying" I replied
"Kat. If you don't come with me I'll tell Penny exactly why you're not with me" I swallowed
"Are you threatening me?" I could see Billy's fists clenching at his sides as I spoke
"I guess I am" My heart started racing. I looked at Billy and bit my lip
"I'm going to go with Steve" I told him

"Are you fucking serious Kat!" he announced angrily
"What do you want me to do Billy?" I asked him as Steve finally let go of me. I rubbed the aching spot on my arm as I walked over to him but Billy walked towards Steve giving him a shove "Billy, please don't do this" I told him walking to him as he stood over Steve who was lying on the floor. He kicked him in the side and I went and stood in front of him just as a teacher stepped out "What is going on here?" she asked charging over to us. I knew we were about to be in deep shit.

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

We were sent to the heads office where we were all made to sit in front of her desk whilst we waited for her to enter. It was silent between us until Steve whispered across to me "If you'd have just come home with me we could have avoided all of this" I ignored him as the office door opened and the head came to sit in front of us "Well this is a surprise" she announced folding her arms across her chest "I was just informed that three students were fighting and causing a scene out in the car park" I wouldn't have said it was that bad I thought to myself
"Look, before we start this conversation" Billy interrupted "I just want to say that Kat wasn't involved. It was between me and Steve" the head sighed

"Billy, you'll have your chance to speak. Please let me finish" she cleared her throat "I've asked Christine to call all of your parents to collect you. Steve I've been informed that your parents are away so Penny will be taking you along with Katrina" she turned her eyes from me to Billy "Me and your Father have become very well acquainted now as you can probably imagine Billy" she raised an eyebrow at him "This is strike one. Two more and you're out of here" Billy laughed
"Really? So I'm getting three chances. Was that your decision or my Dad's?" she looked to Billy
"It doesn't matter who's decision it was. Me and you will be having a separate discussion tomorrow morning" Billy didn't back chat to that, he just sat there rubbing his head with his hand as if he was trying to get rid of a migraine. There was a knock on the door and Christine the deputy head walked in "Parents are here" she told the head and then closed the door again. I stood up to leave "Katrina I didn't dismiss you" I turned around and folded my arms across my chest. She looked up at me "Please, sit back down so we can arrange separate meetings for tomorrow" I sat back down as she pulled three slips from her drawer and started writing them out "You may go" she told us as she handed us each a slip with our meeting times on. We all stood up at the same time and headed for the door.

Penny and Billy's Dad Neil were stood in reception, Penny had her arms folded across her chest and looked really mad. Billy's Dad was looking at me as I stepped out of the room. Billy was behind me and he shoved by me as he stormed out past his Dad and into the corridor. His Dad stormed out after him "I'm sorry Penny" Steve told her as we stood in front of her "Just so you know this wasn't anything to do with Kat. It was my fault" she nodded
"It's ok, are you going to be ok driving home?" Penny asked him. I looked away and into the hallway where I could see Billy having a heated conversation with his Dad. I walked over there "I told you to stay away from her" I heard Neil shout
"I don't want to stay away from her!" he shouted back, throwing his hands up "I love her ok Dad!" my breath caught in my throat. A hand landed on my shoulder and I turned to see Penny "Come on" she told me. I followed her into the corridor. Billy was lent against the wall of lockers, his Dad the opposite side as we walked slowly by them. I turned to look at Billy once we'd passed. But his eyes were glued to his Father "Steve, why don't you drive yourself to ours. I've made a casserole and there's plenty" Penny announced as we walked over to her Car
"Thanks Penny that sounds great" I got into the passenger seat of Penny's Car and she got into the driving seat starting it up "We have got a lot to talk about young lady" I swallowed
"Penny, it's like Steve said.. I didn't do anything. I was just walking out of detention and Billy was there and-" she shook her head as she turned to face me
"We'll give Steve a head start to the house.." she told me "I had an interesting conversation with Billy's Father whilst I was waiting for you... You told me you stayed at Steve's house last night?" I parted my lips "But Mr Hargrove seems to think he saw you sneaking out of his house this morning. Can you tell me what that's all about?" I looked away from her, suddenly feeling sick "It's exactly what he said. I'm really sorry Penny" she turned back to face the right way and sighed "I don't know what to say Katrina honestly" she started the Car up "I thought you and Steve were together? Why are you doing this?" I shook my head

"Me and Steve aren't together, we never were" she drove us out of the parking lot
"Stacey told me you were..."
"Well Stacey's a liar" I replied "And so is Steve" she tutted at me but carried on driving. I felt awful for lying to Penny. But I also felt the need to defend Billy. "He's not a bad person you know?" I told Penny as she pulled up on the driveway
"I find that hard to believe Katrina. He took you across the country without telling anyone. He beat Steve so badly that he ended up in the hospital" she got out of the Car and I followed "Let's just have something to eat and we can talk about this later" I looked down the drive to see Steve's Car parked up at the side of the road. I followed Penny inside the house and into the Kitchen where Steve was helping Stacey lay the table. Kevin, Stacey's Father was stood by the stove ladling Chicken Casserole into Bowls. Penny passed the plates around and we all sat to eat. I pushed my food around my plate. I didn't have an appetite with everything that had gone on over the last twenty four hours "Kat, you haven't touched anything?" Penny stated as she cleared everyone's plates away "I'm not really hungry" I told her "I'll reheat it later" she sighed and picked up the plate, placing it on the worktop "Go and sit with Stacey and Steve in the living room whilst I clear up. Then me and you will talk ok?" I swallowed
"Yeah" I got up from the chair and slowly walked towards the sitting room. Stacey and Steve were sat on the couch laughing about something. I sat down in the chair and fiddled with a strand of fabric hanging from the sleeve of my jumper "Kat?" Steve questioned "Are you ok?" I looked up at him "Will you stop asking me that" I told him. He ran a hand through his hair "I'd be fine if you weren't such a prick" I told him
"What?"
"You lied to me. You both lied to me. I want you both to understand something" I told them standing up to stand in front of them "You can't stop me from seeing Billy" Stacey stood up

"But Kat he's a monster" I shook my head at her
"You don't even know him Stacey. And if anyone's a 'Monster' it's you"
"I know enough about Billy to know he's not good for you to be around" I looked to Steve who was sat on the sofa still. He looked up at me "Is this really all worth it Kat?" he asked me
"I mean, you're pushing everyone else away" I shook my head
"I'm not pushing anyone away. You and Stacey lied. You both hurt me. Especially you Steve" I told him "You're planning on going to live with your Dad in California right?" Steve asked suddenly "Maybe, I haven't thought about it"

"If you do that you'll have to leave Billy here as well. So tell me now Kat. Is this all worth it?" I swallowed "Go home Steve" I told him folding my arms across my chest
"You know I'm right" I shook my head as Penny walked into the room

"Thanks for dinner Penny. I'm going to head home now" he told her, still staring me down
"That's ok Steve.. When are your parents back again?"
"The day after tomorrow" he told her as he stepped around me to the doorway "I'll see you both at school tomorrow" he said looking at me and Stacey before disappearing.
"I'll see him out" Stacey stated walking by me and her Mom
"I guess that gives us the chance to talk?" I sighed
"I don't want to talk Penny. I'm sorry. Billy was drunk last night and I was worried about him so I stayed with him. That was all. I slept on the floor" she narrowed her eyes "And the fight in the parking lot earlier was between Billy and Steve. It had nothing to do with me. Billy just didn't like that I was getting a ride home with Steve" she sighed
"I really hope you're not lying"
"I'm not lying" I told her "Is it ok if I go to bed?" she sighed "It's just that it was a long day yesterday" I pressed on
"Fine, ok"