To Know Him

part seven

Over the last weeks, Gloria slowly packed her things little by little so that it wouldn't be terribly obvious to her parents half her room was put away. She hated the idea of running away but she was left with no other choice. After the first week of August, she was leaving. She had counted out her babysitting and church money and had enough for a bus ticket and a little to get by before she found a job. It wasn't going to be easy but as soon as classes started she hoped everything could fall into place for her. At least she prayed that it would.

It began to dawn on her that the end of the summer was near and so was her time with Bill. She would mention it but Bill would assure her that it wasn't over when she left. That he could visit her and even phone her. It provided some comfort but every night that she listened to the radio with him from her room away she'd cry. She couldn't help but miss him already.

"Wouldn't you want to come with me?" She asked him one night on Mrs. Robins porch as he smoked, leaning on the porches wooden rail.

"You know I want to..." he said blowing a thin trail of smoke.

"So?"

"I can't," he took a deep drag. "It's not eas-"

"Of course it's not easy Billie?!" She snapped.

"Gloria please don't be upset with me," he rubbed his forehead with the two fingers holding his cig.

"You've been practically pushing me out of here?"

"Because," he said loudly making her jump. He relaxed his shoulders and took a deep breath to even his tone. "Y-you're going to be someone someday. You can't do the great things you're meant to do here. I-I would want anything to go with you but I can't... I'll hold you back," he harshly flicked the cigarette off the porch.

"You won't..." she choked she felt tears coming on. "Do you really like me or is this just uh, a fling to you?"

"I really hope you don't think that," he said visibly upset before he cleared the lump in his throat. "Of course this isn't a fling Gloria. Jesus. You mean more to me than that..."

"I-I'm sorry. I don't really think that... I just, I'm not dumb okay?" She pushed her hair back in frustration. "I just don't know how this works? I've never had anyone like me like you do," she said wiping the rogue tears that fell from her eyes with the back of her hand.

"Don't cry," Bill took her hand and pulled her into an embrace. "I can't see you cry. Not yet. It's gonna break my heart," he said into her sweet smelling hair.

"Sorry," she mumbled against his leather jacket. They held each other tightly for a while settling their emotions.

"We don't have a long time, we shouldn't start fighting now," Bill kissed the top of her head.

Gloria looked up at his pale eyes, her chin rested on his sore chest. She hadn't a clue about the tattoo yet, he planned to show her before she left. Besides, it was still scabbed and inflamed, in no condition to show off to the world just yet.

"What is it?" He whispered noticing she had something on her mind. "Do you love me?"

Gloria grinned. "How did you know I was thinking that?"

"Your eyes," he smirked. "I meet you one night and now here were are."

"Here we are and I love you."

"I love you too," he kissed her.

When Bill walked her home that night, he listened to her speak excitedly about all the things she was eager to see and experience once in Austin. He carefully listened to remember her voice and her joyous expressions. When she suggested that he go with her it took everything in him to not tell her that he'd been thinking about it. But any mention of his plans would only serve in getting her hopes up and he couldn't risk it if things fell through. Besides, it wasn't wise to leave town with the pastor's daughter and leave his family with hell to deal with. He knew the right moment would come and he had to act on it as soon as it presented its self.