Four Letter Word..

Chapter Forty Four

After brunch me and Billy headed back to my Mom's who was back home now. I was finding it strange, my Mom and Dad being in the same house "What time are you heading back to California Billy?" My Dad asked him
"About five... I don't want to be hitting the road too late" my Dad pulled his wallet out of his back pocket and opened it up, pulling out a hundred dollar bill "For gas" Billy shook his head
"I can't take that Sir..."
"Stop calling me Sir, Billy. Jesus" He grabbed Billy's hand and placed the note in it "Take the god damn cash.." Billy smiled
"Thanks Peter" my Dad nodded and I pulled Billy upstairs to my room. I closed my bedroom door behind us and went over to my records, choosing one to play "What do you want to listen to?" I asked Billy as I flicked through my collection
"Nothing" he replied, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind and lifting me up as I held onto the Metallica album. Billy placed me down on the bed and he hovered over me, taking Kill Em All from my hands and looking it over "Great choice baby" he got up and went to put it on. I sat up watching him. The opening track Hit The Lights played through the speakers and Billy came back over to the bed, pulling me so that I was straddling him. I wrapped my arms around his neck "So what did Max say in the Diner?" I asked him
"She said she was surprised to see me.. Said if My Dad saw me he'd kill me" I smiled as Billy moved my hair away from my neck and started inspecting it "The marks shouldn't be there anymore..." I told him moving his hands away
"I fucking hate him" Billy mumbled
"I know... I do too. Do you not worry about Maxine?" I asked him. He shrugged
"I do.. But he's never hurt her before"
"Earlier...You said that you couldn't...." I paused "Actually never mind" he looked at me
"No.. What is it?"
"You couldn't protect your Mom" he looked away from me and I worried I'd hit a nerve "Did something happen? Was it your Dad Billy?" he pushed me off of him. I grabbed his wrist "Please don't do this" I told him "Tell me what happened to your Mom?" he turned to look at me as I knelt in front of him on the bed. He eventually sat back down beside me and I took his hand comfortingly "Dad has always been violent. My Mom left because she couldn't take anymore. I tried to protect her... I really tried"
"So it was your Dad? That's how she.." Billy looked across at me, tears in his eyes
"I..Lied.. She's not dead.. It's just easier to say that. She just left me with a number... For my Grandparents place but she never picked up the phone or the messages I left"
"I'm sorry for bringing it up" Billy pulled me towards him
"Don't be sorry. I always just wanna be honest with you Kat" he held me close to him "You're the first person to see the real me. The good me. Even when I was being a complete asshole" I wrapped my arms around him tightly "I love you Hargrove" I whispered
"I love you" he whispered back.

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

We stayed in my room chatting until my Dad called us down "You kids hungry?" he asked as we walked into the living room "You should eat before you set off" he told Billy "We can go out or I can order something in?"
"Pizza?" I asked hopefully
"Pizza sounds great" my Mom spoke from the living room
"Pizza it is then"

After sharing an extra large pepperoni pizza we headed back to my room "You don't really have to go do you?" I asked him as we laid beside each other.
"Yeah"
"What's this job anyway?"
"Lifeguard" I busted out laughing as the doorbell rang. I rolled over so that I was straddling Billy and he slipped his fingers into mine "BILLY!" I widened my eyes at the voice calling Billy's name from downstairs "Was that your Dad?" I questioned climbing off of him and walking to the window where I saw Neil's car "Do you think Max said something?" I quizzed him. Billy opened my bedroom door and headed out. I could hear my Mom's raised voice. I followed Billy wondering what the hell he was doing "You. What are you doing" Neil charged over to us as we stood at the bottom of the stairs "Kat go back upstairs" I was stood a step behind Billy. My hand wrapped around his forearm "No." Billy turned to look at me sharply as Neil charged over to us. My parents were stood by the Kitchen "Go upstairs Kat. I'm serious" I shook my head at him
"I'm not leaving" he turned to his Father who was now stood in front of him
"Max tell you I was here?" Billy asked him
"How did you get back here?"
"Why do you care?" Billy asked him. As his Father looked to me
"Katrina... I thought you might have something to do with this"
"I suggest you leave" My Mom suddenly perked up from the doorway, stepping forward slightly
"I'll do no such thing. Chief Hopper is already on his way over here" I looked behind Neil at my Dad who was holding up the keys to Billy's Camaro and nodding at me to signal to Billy "Babe..." I whispered into his ear. But before I could say anything else to him my Mom headed over and pulled Neil away from Billy and me "You're scum" she told him before spitting in his face. I gasped "I'm sick of men like you" He suddenly raised his hand, he was going to hit my Mom. I dashed over and got in between them to stop him from hurting her "Come on then Neil.... Let's go again shall we?" he snarled. And went for me but instead Billy's fist came in contact with the side of his head. Neil fought back catching Billy in the side of this face with his fist. My Dad threw the keys to the Camaro to Billy and he caught them rushing past and out of the door. I followed with my Dad "You need to get on the road. Hopper will be around so be careful" My Dad told him "See you soon kiddo" I pushed past my Dad and grabbed onto Billy. He looked like he was going to cry "I'll see you soon babe.. I'll call as soon as I find a payphone"
"You're bleeding" I told him smiling slightly. He lent down and pressed his lips to mine softly
"I love you.. I'll see you soon. I'm sorry. I have to go Kat" I turned around to see Neil charging over "You touch her again Dad! I'll fucking kill you. You hear me?" Neil looked at me as Billy started up the Camaro and peeled away down the street "Fuck you." I told Neil before walking over to my parents "What did you just say to me?" Neilasked as I got to my parents who were stood by the porch steps. MyDad shook his head at me but I ignored his warning and turned aroundheading back over to Neil "I said. Fuck. You." I shoved him hardfor good measure "Billy doesn't deserve to be treated like youtreat him. You don't know how much abuse can affect people... Youprobably don't know this. But my Step Dad murdered my Brother... Thesame way you attack Billy" Neil laughed at me
"You don't get to tell me how I should treatmy Son. Discipline is necessary" I folded my arms across my chest asHopper's sheriff car pulled up at the bottom of the road "MrHargrove, what seems to be the problem?" he asked impatiently likehe had much better things to do
"My Son.... He was here"
"Your Son is not in Hawkins.. You shouldn't benear the Carter residence. So how about we head back to the stationand discuss this matter there?" I was glad that Hopper had turnedup because god only knows how this would have ended "Some how hegot out of there and made his way back here because for some reasonunknown to me he can't get his head off of this no good, waste ofspace girl" Hopper pulled his baton out and put it towards me
"Don't come any closer Miss Carter"
"You're just going to let him say that toher?" My Mom questioned Hopper
 "So he's on the run again?"Hopper asked Neil, ignoring my Mother. I rolled my eyes
"He won'tbe hard to catch up with. Metallic Blue Camaro.. Same as the last one"Neil explained. Hopper turned to me "Let's save us all some timeand effort hey kid? Where's Billy headed?" I looked up at Hopper"How the hell should I know?" I asked
"So he was here then?" Hopper questioned
"Don't you have anything better to do sheriff? Like catching realcriminals?" My Dad asked Hopper mumbled something "Mr Hargrove..I'll head out of Hawkins, see if I can spot your Son anywhere. Butyou need to go home. I'll call you if we find him" Neil flickedhis eyes at me and I waved sarcastically at him "Piece of shit. Ihope you rot in hell" I whispered before turning away and headingover to my parents. My Mom hugged me and kissed the top of my head"You alright sweetie?" My Dad asked
"Yeah... I'm fine"