Four Letter Word..

Chapter Twenty Nine

Wednesday Morning I was back at Stacey's house, Penny would not stop fussing over me and telling me to stay still all the time. I so desperately wanted to get out of here and find my way to the hospital to see Billy. Our brief conversation yesterday had left me extremely worried "Ok, I have to go to work, are you going to be alright until Stacey get's home from School?" she asked me "Yeah of course" she handed me a pile of fashion magazines
"I hope you're still sat here when I get back" I smiled at her
"What if I get hungry?" she sighed
"You can get up to get food, water and to use the bathroom but that's it" I nodded at her
"Ok Penny"
"Me and Kevin will both be back around five. See you later" As soon as I heard her car pull out of the driveway I stood up. There would be no way of me getting to the hospital. My only ride in Hawkins was Billy. I was so frustrated I didn't know what the hell to do with myself. I read through three of the magazines and then turned the television on and watched a repeat of a game show. The doorbell rang at around midday and I got up to go answer it. It was Jennifer "Thought I'd come and save you from boredom. How are you?" she asked pulling me into a hug
"Watch it, I've broken my ribs you know" she let go of me
"Oh yeah, sorry" I let her into the house "I skipped out, Stacey said you'd been discharged. Sorry I didn't come and visit you in hospital. Stacey said I was too much" I laughed as we walked through to the living room "Wait.. Did you drive here?" I asked her and she smirked
"Yeah..." I turned to her and pushed her backwards down the hallway
"I need you to take me to the hospital to see Billy" she raised an eyebrow as I pulled my shoes and jacket on "Oh, ok" she announced as I opened the door and we headed down to her Car.

I explained to Jenn in the elevator up to the fifth floor that I wasn't really allowed to see Billy and that she'd have to go in for me and somehow get Billy to come out. She was well up for it of course, any excuse to be rebellious and Jennifer was all over it. She came back not even five minutes later "He doesn't want to see you" I stared at her
"What?"
"He wouldn't tell me why" I looked down the corridor
"Is he alone?" I asked
"Yeah" I pushed by Jennifer and ran down the hallway to his room before bursting inside
"I told her I didn't want to see you" he announced as soon as I walked in, he was sat in the chair, one leg was bandaged up and elevated with another smaller chair "Why not?"
"I have to go Kat" he told me "I have to leave Hawkins" I narrowed my eyes
"You're going to run?" he shook his head as he looked anywhere but at me "Then what?"
"I'm going to Montana, I'm going to that School" I was shocked by his reply
"Billy. If you tell the police about your Dad they'll get social services involved and Penny can take you in and-"
"No Kat... That's not going to work" he finally looked at me
"So what? You're just going to do what he says after everything he's put you through?" he nodded "Did you hurt your head in the accident?" I asked him walking over and crouching down in front of him so he'd meet my eye "No... But the accident made me realise that I need to sort myself out" he placed a hand on my cheek as I started to cry, the realisation that he was actually being serious about this "I thought you loved me?"
"I do. Kat I love you so much. I've never felt this way about anybody"
"You remember the night we got back together? After you and Steve fought in the school parking lot?" he nodded "You told me you weren't going to let me slip through your fingers again? You promised me Billy"
"I know I did. But things have changed Kat. You need to understand I'm doing this for you" I shook my head "I'm going to Montana, and you, you're going to go live with your Dad in Pasadena" I bit my lip as I wiped away the tears on my face. I placed both of my hands on his cheeks "Please don't do this" I pleaded
"I've made up my mind Kat, it's for the best" I took in a shaky breath
"When are you leaving?"
"I'm not sure yet... I can't go anywhere until my leg's fixed up" he looked down at me
"But that could be a while right?" he nodded

"Could be a couple of months" I smiled slightly
"Which means Neil could have a change of heart and you might be able to stay"
"Kat. Even if he does I'm still going and you'll still be going to California" he stroked my cheek "This isn't going to work Kat... Even if I am going to be in Hawkins for another two months they're taking me out of Hawkins High and getting me home schooled just so I'm away from you. So let's just stop holding onto false hope and say Goodbye now" my stomach dropped
"W-what? Are you breaking up with me?" I asked him he looked away "Billy?"
"Yes... I am"
"You don't want this Billy. I know you don't!" I shouted just as the door to his room opened. I didn't turn to look at who it was "This is your Dad talking" I told him

"Katrina?" I heard Chief Hopper's voice behind me. I turned to him "How did you get in here?" I shook my head as he took my arm and pulled me backwards "You can't stop me from being here Hopper!" I shouted as he pulled me out of the door "I'm going to ignore everything you've just said to me Billy" I stated "I'll be there when you get discharged... We can just carry on as normal" he looked over at me "I love you Kat... You deserve better" he spoke my lip quivered as Hopper pulled me out of the door and down the corridor to a waiting Jennifer. I started crying hard when we got into the stairwell and I grabbed onto Hopper "You're all assholes!" I shouted as he held me tightly to stop me from hitting him "Katrina you need to calm down, it's alright" Hopper consoled me "Jennifer I'm going to drive her back home alright?" Hopper said as he started leading me to the elevator. I shook my head to protest but there was no use protesting 

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

In Hopper's Car I lent my head against the window "You shouldn't even be outside Kid? What were you doing seeing Hargrove" I swallowed
"What did you do to him?" I questioned turning to look at Hopper
"What do you mean?"
"He's been brainwashed or something?" Hopper sighed
"No, maybe he's just realised his behaviour isn't acceptable and is ready to take responsibility for it" I shook my head "Kid, he's a bad seed, you know that... So move on" he pulled up outside of Stacey's house, neither Penny or Kevin were home yet and I was thankful for it "Take care of yourself alright?" I rolled my eyes
"Bye" I got out of the Car and headed up the drive to the front door. My ribs were hurting thanks to all of the crying so I headed straight for the bathroom to find some painkillers. "Where were you?" Stacey asked me as I walked out of the Bathroom and headed back downstairs to get some water "I went to see Billy"
"You look really bad"
"Billy dumped me" I told her flatly "He's going to a boarding school in Montana" she parted her lips "What? You're kidding?" I rolled my eyes as I filled a glass up at the sink
"Why would I joke about that Stacey?" I walked by her and into the living room to sit down and take the painkillers "What are you going to do?"
"I don't know..." I told her honestly "I guess I'll just do what he told me to do, go live in California with my Dad" she tilted her head

"You're still considering it?" I shrugged

"I haven't even really given it much thought. Dad thinks I am but... I don't know if I want to" she nodded "It's you're choice... I mean after this year we're all going to be leaving for college so it's not like you have a choice in leaving us behind" I nodded "We'll all be going to different places" I took the painkillers and placed the half empty glass of water on the coffee table "I know" I told her "I just don't like thinking about it" she nodded
"I'd only just started liking that asshole. I'm going to kill him" I shook my head
"He'll change his mind.. I know he will!" I announced but then sighed remembering how serious he had been. I'd never seen him that serious before. Maybe this was it. Maybe I'd never see Billy Hargrove again.