Four Letter Word..

Chapter Thirty Four

Billy and Jennifer went over to sit in a booth whilst I headed over to the payphones to call Penny. I hadn't been home yet today and I'm sure she'd be freaking out by now. "Penny?"
"Kat where are you? Are you ok? I've been worried sick"
"I'm fine, I went to see my Mom straight after school and I hadn't realised the time" she sighed
"That's fine, as long as you're ok. Where are you now?" she asked
"I'm just at the Diner in town with Jennifer.. We're getting something to eat and then I'll be home" I assured her
"Ok, see you later" I put the phone down and headed over to the booth where a waitress was twirling her hair as she spoke to Billy. I slid into the booth beside him "Why don't you sign it?" Billy asked the waitress as he pulled his leg up and placed his casted calf up onto my own legs. I rolled my eyes as I looked across at Jennifer. She was trying not to laugh. I turned to look at the waitress who was now crouched down in front of us signing Billy's cast "So.. Sherrie?" I questioned as I read the name she'd just written on the cast.. She'd even placed a love heart above the I instead of a dot.. Cute. "Any chance we could get some food around here?" she smiled at me "Of course, what can I get you guys?" we all reeled of our orders and I shoved Billy's legs from my lap "Real nice Billy" he lent over and kissed the side of my face "Look we need to come up with some kind of plan" I stated
"Plan?" Billy inquired
"Well we can't just hide you in my Mom's house for the rest of your life!" he rolled his eyes at my over exaggeration "I'm Eighteen in a few months. Then I'm free to do whatever I want" Sherrie, the delightful waitress came over with our milkshakes and placed them in front of us "Can I get you guys anything else?" she was too cheerful
"No thanks" I took a sip of my milkshake as she left
"I'm going to the airport on Monday but I'm not getting on that plane" he explained, just as he had to me earlier. I looked over at Jennifer on the other side of the table, she wasn't paying attention, it was like only her and that Milkshake she was so desperate for existed. I looked back at Billy "Was it really just Jen that convinced you to stay?"
"Kind of... Plus I realised I'm never going to change... No amount of discipline or whatever stupid school that asshole wants to throw me in will change anything " I swallowed
"But people can change Billy" I told him
"This was never really about me though Kat. It's him, he's the problem" I agreed with him "I was only going to Montana because at least that way I'd never have to deal with his bullshit again" he took a sip of his Chocolate shake "And maybe I was a little pissed that you were heading to California soon and I wanted you to know exactly how it feels" he smirked at me as if he was joking but I knew he wasn't. I changed the conversation, before we got in too deep "What about your car?" his face fell at the mention of his beloved Camaro, Maybe this was the wrong topic
"It was totalled, it's gone" he spoke sadly "It would be no use to me now anyway. I'm banned from driving for a year"
"Shit....I guess that means no more ferrying Max about" he smirked
"Well, I'm sure they've made plans anyway. I'm being sent away"
"True" he pulled me into his side
"I'm sorry I'm such an ass" I nodded
"Like you said. You'll never change. You'll always be an ass" he shrugged, not even trying to defend himself. I looked across at Jennifer as she finished off her Milkshake "God that was good!" I looked at Billy who winked at me "Let's go.. I've got Cheer practice in the morning" I finished the last of my own milkshake and slid out of the booth handing Billy his crutches.

I gave Billy the keys to my Mom's place as Jenn started the Car "What are you giving me these now for?" he questioned
"Because you're living there" he shook his head
"No Kat, I'm staying at my Dad's until after I escape the airport" I shoved the keys into his hand "You'll still need them" he closed his fingers around the keys and looked up at me
"So where am I dropping you both?"
"Penny's" I replied as Billy turned away
"Drop me at My Dad's"

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

The next Morning I went into school early with Jennifer and Stacey to watch their Cheer practice. There was a game tonight which I was going to try and make after going to see my Mom and Doctor Green at the facility to discuss having family therapy. If it went ahead and Mom wanted it, it would give me the perfect opportunity to tell her that I was planning on going to college in California. Jennifer had agreed to help me apply at lunch in the library. I had no idea how to fill out all of the application forms I'd been sent by the colleges. Jenn and Stacey came up to where I was sat in the bleachers after they'd finished practice "Billy and you are back together?" Stacey questioned hands on her hips "I guess" I told her
"He needs to make up his mind. So he's not going to this military school anymore?" I shook my head "And he's back here?"
"No not exactly" Stacey rolled her eyes as the bell rang for the start of the School day
"We'd better go get changed, we'll see you at break Kat" Jen dragged Stacey away and I hopped down from the bleachers and headed to my own class.

The Morning dragged and at Lunch I sat in the library with Jennifer as she helped me fill out three different application forms for three different colleges in California "I can't believe we're in the library together" Jenn announced as I filled out the form for UCLA "Who would have thought?" I rolled my eyes at her
"Well get used to it because we're going to be doing it a lot when we get to California" I spotted Stacey running through the tables towards us "What the?"
"Kat. Billy is here" she gasped as she placed both of her hands on the table
"He is?"
"We were sat out front and he just appeared and was asking Nancy where her Boyfriend was" "Steve?"
"That's what we all thought but Steve was standing right there with her" Jennifer laughed
"I think he was talking about Johnathan Byers right?" Stacey nodded
"Is he up here?" she asked looking around frantically
"He'll be in the weirdly lit room" Jennifer stated and we both looked at her put out
"Do you mean the dark room?"
"Yeah, that's the one, he's always hiding in there" I shoved the application form I was halfway through in front of her "Can you finish this for me?" I asked standing up
"No. I'm coming with you. I don't want to miss a fight" she grabbed the application form and shoved it into her bag before following us out of the library and down to the ground floor. We raced to the dark room and I flung the door open to find it empty "Let's try out back" Stacey suggested "Sometimes he hangs out round there in his Car right?" I nodded and we raced towards the back doors. On the way out though I spotted Billy, he had someone up against the lockers and that someone was Johnathan "Shit" I shoved by Nancy and Steve and everyone else who was trying to either stop them or egg them on "Billy?" I placed a hand on his shoulder "Please. Don't start this" I warned him "Where are your crutches?" I asked suddenly noticing the absence of them "I don't need them. Mind your business" I narrowed my eyes at him. But there was no point in talking to Billy when his mind was so clouded by anger. I stepped back as Billy shoved Johnathan against the lockers again "How'd she taste Byers?" I heard him sneer. Nancy came to stand next to me "This is your fault" she whispered and I turned to her
"My fault? You love him Nancy" I could see Steve approaching from behind her, probably to come to her defence and I couldn't wait for all of this to blow up in her face "Admit it?" I asked "Ok. Yes it's true and when I saw you two together I was jealous.. Is that what you want to hear?" I smiled "No but I'm sure it's exactly what Steve needed to hear" I told her looking at Steve who was now stood behind her. Her face fell slightly and she turned to Steve who looked mad. He turned away and I watched her as she chased after him. Jennifer caught my attention and I stepped over to her. A teacher pushed by me and through the crowd to get to Billy as I got to Jennifer "What's up with Steve?" I smirked
"He over heard Nancy admitting to me that she was in love with Johnathan" Jennifer shook her head "I was all for them breaking up but Steve's really in love with her"
"Like we both said, Karma's a bitch" The teacher who'd pushed by me reappeared with Billy and he winked at me as they headed down the corridor to the head's office. He was screwed. "He never changes does he?" Jennifer said from behind me. I turned to look at her "Despite everything"
"He'll never change" she shook her head
"Come on we have Chemistry" she linked my arm and we headed to the Science department.