Not Your Baby ║ Billy Hargrove

Chapter Ten

            The lingering smell of a home-cooked meal greeted me as I slowly pushed the door open. The inviting feeling of being home wrapped around my arms as I took my first few steps back into my safe ground. I ran up the stairs and into my room, frantically changing clothes into something more comfortable before jumping into my bed and pulling up the quilt from the bottom of the bed to my face and over my mouth. I laid still and silent as my head turned toward the window on the side of my bed. I watched as the branches of the trees swayed with force; hearing the leaves tap ever so slightly on the window. If anything, my chills increased with my hyperawareness of everything around me. The thought of sleeping was so wonderful, but whatever was in the fields loomed over my subconscious. Oddly enough, the thought of Billy crashed into my mind as I thought about how he checked on me while I was wasted. The background noise faded as I replayed what I could remember from the night; how he carried me away to avoid sheer embarrassment and even took me home to guarantee I was okay.

I shuffled to my side as I toyed with the thought of the most annoying boy in high school actually having a soft spot... No way.... I thought to myself as I continued to replay the night. The last "bad boy" with a soft spot who gave two shits about me cheated on me with Layla McMorris within 6 months. There was no way I would even consider going down that route again.

- - -

"Penelope it stinks!" the familiar voice of my brother echoed in my dreams as I slowly came-to. The sunlight streamed through my window, creating a warm glow throughout my room. I groaned as a striking pain shot through my head. I placed one hand on my forehead to try and suppress the pain as I slowly got up with a nauseous mission to run to the bathroom. The overwhelming smell of cheap beer and sweat from my clothes and Billy's black jacket on the floor overpowered my senses, causing my legs to work in overdrive as I bolted for the bathroom. From hardwood to tile, my feet found solace in front of the porcelain rim. I knelt down and threw up the remnants of whatever what is in the punch from yesterday. I let out a long, drawn out sigh of relief as I knew the hungover feeling would soon be over.

"I need to use the bathroom, come on!" Dustin knocked repeatedly on the brown door separating himself from my party regret.

"Hold on!" I yelled, my voice cracking in between words. I forced myself up and looked once in the mirror. "Not bad." I congratulated myself on my appearance. I mean, the mascara smudges were there and my hair was a disaster- but hey, it could have been a lot worse! I turned the shower knob forward and stepped in, rinsing off all the oddity from last night.

I came back into my room and subtly threw Billy's jacket under my clothes from last night. Knowing my mom she will have no problem asking me one thousand question if she saw a boy's jacket in my room. 

Newly dressed in my favorite New Balance sneakers and jean shorts, I made my way towards the smell of my mom's cooking. As I left the second floor and went into the dining room, a spread of eggs, bacon and biscuits lined the table.

"Have some breakfast, honey." Mom patted my shoulder as she put the fruit spread on the side of the table.

"How was Nancy's?" dad asked, his eyes focused on the Saturday paper.

"Yeah, Nel." Dustin paused before putting a forkful of eggs into his mouth. "I didn't know her house had parties." He smiled as my face went white as I mouthed "shut up" to him. Dad's eyes never left the paper and they were now fixated on me. Mom rested one hand on the top of the chair while the other was placed on her hip.

"Why would you say that, Dusty?" mom asked while her eyes felt like laser beams in my head.

"Because her room reeked of bee-,"

"Literally shut up." I scowled at Dustin, who was never happier.

"Penelope Rose Henderson." I hated when mom did that. It was the dreaded tactic of 'use my middle name to make a point and make me confess' thing that literally all parents did.

"It was the first party of the year." I mumbled.

"What was that?" Dustin whispered back as he flipped the middle finger with mom and dad both oblivious.

"It was the first party of the year." I spoke a little louder as I watched dad shift his eyes to his paper one again. Mom readjusted her hand on her hip as she fidgeted.

"Penelope," she began "you're grounded for the next week for lying about where you would be." My eyes shot from dad to mom as I couldn't believe I was grounded.

"You're joking." I began, throwing my hands in the air.

"I'm not." She shot back as he posture grew firm. I shook my head in disbelief. I, Penelope Henderson, was never grounded. Frustrated and annoyed, I headed for the front door. "Where are you going?" I heard mom's voice fading the closer I got to the door.

"I need to take a walk." I shot back; my head never turning from in front of me.