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BILLY WASN'T at breakfast again the following morning. After discovering the secret Russian liar, Jackie drove home to find that she was the only person there at all. No parents, no Max, and no step-brother. She'd never seen the house empty, not once. It felt foreign to her, not hearing the sound of footsteps or a kitchen cabinet closing.
She spent the night listening intently from her room, hoping for any signs of life. She assumed Max was with Eleven, she knew of their sleepover and wasn't worried. Too worried, at least. And Billy disappearing for days didn't strike her as odd, but.. it had been too many days now.
She called Heather's house again, and it rang. And rang. Jackie hung up, defeated. She'd suspected she and Billy were sneaking around, this felt like a confirmation. Or perhaps their disappearances weren't connected at all.
No. No, she knew better. Nothing would ever be a coincidence to her again. She just didn't know what to do about it.
She'd tossed and turned, thoughts spiraling. It was a lifetime before she fell asleep, and she woke to the morning sun peaking through her curtains.
Steve picked her up just a few hours later—they both had a closing shift at Starcourt, and the car ride was basically just an excuse to get handsy in the parking lot. It was easier like this, anyway. Jackie didn't have to get gas, and she felt safer with Steve driving than she did with anyone else.
He walked her to Scoops, hand in hers up the escalator and as he opened the parlor. He worked long shifts—too long for her liking. Scoops saw more of her that summer so far than she did.
"What're you thinking about?" He asked her, lifting the gate. Robin was quick to duck under it, Jackie hadn't even realized she'd been behind them until she offered a wave.
"Billy and Heather are missing," Jackie said. "Billy's a definite. Heather might just be avoiding me."
He gave her a dubious look. "Why would anyone avoid you?"
"I know," Jackie huffed. "'Cause I'm made of sugar, spice and everything nice."
He rolled his eyes, squeezed her shoulder, and gestured for her to enter Scoops. "Who knows? Hargrove might be having an orgy somewhere."
Jackie laughed, grabbing him. "Hey! I thought that too."
"Don't stress about Heather," he assured her. "She's been known to be flakey."
