F.O.D., chapter 4
Becky opened her eyes. Her room was dark, the house quite. Her eyes stung terribly, her body was stiff and sore. She slowly sat up, her head filled with a dull ache. She turned, looking in the mirror at the opposite side of her bedroom, discovering she was pale, her hair incredibly messed up.
She tried to remember what had happened. Then it came back to her.
The movie.
Food...
Ben and Danielle. Even the thought made her feel sick to her stomach.
She wondered why she felt so, hung over. Had she been partying the night before? Then she remembered.
No, nothing that glamorous.
She had been lying in her bedroom crying and sleeping for 3 days. No wonder she felt so groggy. She through the covers off her, shifted, placed her feet on the floor for what felt like the first time in years, and walked downstairs.
She discovered Kathryn asleep on the lounge, fully clothed. She poked her in the arm. Kathryn stirred, rubbing her eyes.
'Hey, she lives. Are you feeling alright? ' Her best friend asked her, her voice full of concern.
'Yes. I feel a lot better. Have you been here the entire time? '
'No, I went home the night before last. I've been really worried about you. '
'Don't be. I'll recover. ' Becky laughed her voice raspy from little use.
'Now, I'm hungry. How about... Pancakes? ' She said, opening the fridge.
'Yeah, Okay. Whatever. ' Kathryn replied, yawning.
'C'mon, wake up girl. You look more of a wreck than I do. And that's saying something. '
'Thanks heaps. ' Kathryn retaliated sarcastically, as Becky began to cook them their pancakes.
After breakfast, Becky and Kathryn went to sit out by the pool. It was a beautiful, sunny day. Kathryn decided now would be as good a time as any to break the news to her friend. She seemed better, after all.
'Um, Becky, I've decided to have a little get together thing tomorrow night. Do you feel up to coming? '
Becky thought for a moment.
'I guess so. I have to get over it sooner or later. ' She said, putting her hands over her face. 'Who is coming? '
'Good. ' She said, smiling. 'Some friends from school, and some people we met the other night. '
'Who, from the other night? ' Becky said, becoming suspicious.
'Some guys I met. '
'Just, some guys? ' She probed, narrowing her eyes.
'Yeah. Some guys. '
Becky paused, then relaxed. She trusted her friend.
'Ok then. '
'Good. I've got to start getting the place ready. Want to help me? '
'Yeah, sure. Lets go. '
Soon after, they were walking over to Kathryn's house.
*******************************
It was the night of the party, and Billie Joe was really excited, despite himself. He could hardly wait to see Becky again. He had bought a new outfit, and he thought he looked good. Mike and Tre were over his place, about to leave for Kathryn's place.
'So, how do I look? '
'I dunno. Tre, how does he look? ' Mike said, with a grin on his face.
'He looks, totally, like, HAWT! ' Tre said, fanning himself with his hands, both he and Mike bursting out laughing.
'Shut up you two. That's not helping. At least I've gone to some trouble; you guys look the same as always. ' Billie Joe retaliated, looking in the mirror for the hundredth time.
'That's because we aren't trying to get into Becky's pants, are we Billie Joe? '
'Go to hell Mike. I'm not either. I just want to get to know her a bit better, is all. ' He said, shyly.
'Sure you do Bill. Know her in your pants you mean. '
'Shut up. Let's go. ' Billie Joe said, going red, grabbing his car keys.
'I'M DRIVING! ' Tre yelled, running past Billie Joe, taking the keys.
'Alright Tre, just don't get us killed, okay? '
'Sure, I'll try not to. ' He replied, already in the driveway.
'Let's go. ' Billie said to Mike, walking out of the house. He was nervous already.
**********************
Becky couldn't believe who had turned up. She hadn't seen her friends in so long, it was so great that they had come. Her best friends from school, Rory, Alex, Sarah, Gail, Michelle, and Aaron, had come together, in Alex's car, and each of them had given her a big hug, telling her to get over Ben. It made her feel good to know that they cared.
Ben wasn't going to ruin this for her. He wasn't going to ruin anything again. She wasn't going to let him.
There also was Kathryn's cousins; Anthony and Greg, who had to be the coolest relatives anyone could have.
Becky still felt slightly suspicious about who else Kathryn had invited. She had a pretty good idea though.
They all settled in, with an ice box full of beer and whiskey's, and with the music turned way up loud.
Within about half an hour, the doorbell rang.
It was Mike, Tre and Billie Joe. They walked in, Mike and Billie looking flustered and slightly embarrassed. Mike approached Kathryn, and apologized for their late arrival.
'Sorry we're so late. It's just that Tre decided he would speed on the way here and get us nearly arrested. '
'I'm so SORRY! ' Tre screamed, pretending to cry.
'It's ok. At least you guys made it alright. The drinks are over there. Enjoy. ' Kathryn said, smiling and pointing.
Becky thought she looked rather fond of Mike.
Billie Joe stood in the corner, incredibly embarrassed, which confused him. He was usually never shy or embarrassed, but Becky made him feel strangely... Different.
He approached her.
'Hello Becky. You look great tonight. '
'Thank you. You don't look too bad yourself. ' She said, drink in hand, looking him up and down. She wasn't joking, he looked great.
'Thank you. ' He said, grinning shyly. 'I need a drink. ' Gesturing towards Tre, who was showing Anthony and Greg how to open a beer bottle with his teeth.
'I can understand. Is he always like this? '
'Pretty much, that's Tre, full stop. '
'Great. ' She said, laughing. He loved her laugh.
And so the night went on. Becky made small talk with Mike, Tre and Billie Joe, slowly drinking, and getting closer to Billie Joe, despite herself. By the time that the music stopped, and Kathryn herded everyone towards the television to watch 'Nightmare on Elm Street, ' Billie had his arm around her.
Becky felt strange.
She liked Billie. But, she knew she wasn't ready.
The movie ended.
It was 4 in the morning. Kathryn looked dissapointed, saying
'I'm sorry everyone, but thats it for tonight. My brother will be home soon. '
'Thats cool. ' Said Mike. 'It's been fun. ' Smiling at Kathryn. She smiled back.
'Kathryn, its been great. '
Billie looked at Becky, holding her hand.
'Yeah, it has been fun. '
He could have stood there all night, just looking at her.
They all walked to the door. Each of their friends gave Kathryn and Becky a hug, but Becky seemed deep in thought.
'Hey, everyone, I was thinking. Why don't you all come to mine same time next week. This has been really fun. '
'Good Idea. ' Kathryn said, looking shocked at the sudden change in her friend.
Everyone agreed to come.
Slowly, everyone filtered out of Kathryn's house.
Last to leave was Billie Joe, Mike and Tre. Mike and Tre walked to their car with Kathryn, while Billie Joe stayed behind with Becky.
'Becky, I had fun tonight. '
'So did I. '
'I really-'
'Don't Billie. I like you. A lot. But I'm not ready for this yet. '
Billie was so happy he was about to explode.
'I understand. Because I care about you. I still want to spend time with you, as a friend, I want you to feel better, about whatever it is that has you so upset. '
'You do? Thats so great. I thought you wouldn't want anything to do with me if I said no tonight. '
'Its alright. I'm not that sorta guy. ' He said, smiling. 'Can I kiss you goodnight? '
'Um, ok. '
So, he did, but not in the way she expected.
He held her face, and, gently kissed her forehead.
'Goodnight Becky. See you next Friday. '
'Goodnight. ' She said, as the man who had surprised her in everyway, walked away, into the night.
She tried to remember what had happened. Then it came back to her.
The movie.
Food...
Ben and Danielle. Even the thought made her feel sick to her stomach.
She wondered why she felt so, hung over. Had she been partying the night before? Then she remembered.
No, nothing that glamorous.
She had been lying in her bedroom crying and sleeping for 3 days. No wonder she felt so groggy. She through the covers off her, shifted, placed her feet on the floor for what felt like the first time in years, and walked downstairs.
She discovered Kathryn asleep on the lounge, fully clothed. She poked her in the arm. Kathryn stirred, rubbing her eyes.
'Hey, she lives. Are you feeling alright? ' Her best friend asked her, her voice full of concern.
'Yes. I feel a lot better. Have you been here the entire time? '
'No, I went home the night before last. I've been really worried about you. '
'Don't be. I'll recover. ' Becky laughed her voice raspy from little use.
'Now, I'm hungry. How about... Pancakes? ' She said, opening the fridge.
'Yeah, Okay. Whatever. ' Kathryn replied, yawning.
'C'mon, wake up girl. You look more of a wreck than I do. And that's saying something. '
'Thanks heaps. ' Kathryn retaliated sarcastically, as Becky began to cook them their pancakes.
After breakfast, Becky and Kathryn went to sit out by the pool. It was a beautiful, sunny day. Kathryn decided now would be as good a time as any to break the news to her friend. She seemed better, after all.
'Um, Becky, I've decided to have a little get together thing tomorrow night. Do you feel up to coming? '
Becky thought for a moment.
'I guess so. I have to get over it sooner or later. ' She said, putting her hands over her face. 'Who is coming? '
'Good. ' She said, smiling. 'Some friends from school, and some people we met the other night. '
'Who, from the other night? ' Becky said, becoming suspicious.
'Some guys I met. '
'Just, some guys? ' She probed, narrowing her eyes.
'Yeah. Some guys. '
Becky paused, then relaxed. She trusted her friend.
'Ok then. '
'Good. I've got to start getting the place ready. Want to help me? '
'Yeah, sure. Lets go. '
Soon after, they were walking over to Kathryn's house.
*******************************
It was the night of the party, and Billie Joe was really excited, despite himself. He could hardly wait to see Becky again. He had bought a new outfit, and he thought he looked good. Mike and Tre were over his place, about to leave for Kathryn's place.
'So, how do I look? '
'I dunno. Tre, how does he look? ' Mike said, with a grin on his face.
'He looks, totally, like, HAWT! ' Tre said, fanning himself with his hands, both he and Mike bursting out laughing.
'Shut up you two. That's not helping. At least I've gone to some trouble; you guys look the same as always. ' Billie Joe retaliated, looking in the mirror for the hundredth time.
'That's because we aren't trying to get into Becky's pants, are we Billie Joe? '
'Go to hell Mike. I'm not either. I just want to get to know her a bit better, is all. ' He said, shyly.
'Sure you do Bill. Know her in your pants you mean. '
'Shut up. Let's go. ' Billie Joe said, going red, grabbing his car keys.
'I'M DRIVING! ' Tre yelled, running past Billie Joe, taking the keys.
'Alright Tre, just don't get us killed, okay? '
'Sure, I'll try not to. ' He replied, already in the driveway.
'Let's go. ' Billie said to Mike, walking out of the house. He was nervous already.
**********************
Becky couldn't believe who had turned up. She hadn't seen her friends in so long, it was so great that they had come. Her best friends from school, Rory, Alex, Sarah, Gail, Michelle, and Aaron, had come together, in Alex's car, and each of them had given her a big hug, telling her to get over Ben. It made her feel good to know that they cared.
Ben wasn't going to ruin this for her. He wasn't going to ruin anything again. She wasn't going to let him.
There also was Kathryn's cousins; Anthony and Greg, who had to be the coolest relatives anyone could have.
Becky still felt slightly suspicious about who else Kathryn had invited. She had a pretty good idea though.
They all settled in, with an ice box full of beer and whiskey's, and with the music turned way up loud.
Within about half an hour, the doorbell rang.
It was Mike, Tre and Billie Joe. They walked in, Mike and Billie looking flustered and slightly embarrassed. Mike approached Kathryn, and apologized for their late arrival.
'Sorry we're so late. It's just that Tre decided he would speed on the way here and get us nearly arrested. '
'I'm so SORRY! ' Tre screamed, pretending to cry.
'It's ok. At least you guys made it alright. The drinks are over there. Enjoy. ' Kathryn said, smiling and pointing.
Becky thought she looked rather fond of Mike.
Billie Joe stood in the corner, incredibly embarrassed, which confused him. He was usually never shy or embarrassed, but Becky made him feel strangely... Different.
He approached her.
'Hello Becky. You look great tonight. '
'Thank you. You don't look too bad yourself. ' She said, drink in hand, looking him up and down. She wasn't joking, he looked great.
'Thank you. ' He said, grinning shyly. 'I need a drink. ' Gesturing towards Tre, who was showing Anthony and Greg how to open a beer bottle with his teeth.
'I can understand. Is he always like this? '
'Pretty much, that's Tre, full stop. '
'Great. ' She said, laughing. He loved her laugh.
And so the night went on. Becky made small talk with Mike, Tre and Billie Joe, slowly drinking, and getting closer to Billie Joe, despite herself. By the time that the music stopped, and Kathryn herded everyone towards the television to watch 'Nightmare on Elm Street, ' Billie had his arm around her.
Becky felt strange.
She liked Billie. But, she knew she wasn't ready.
The movie ended.
It was 4 in the morning. Kathryn looked dissapointed, saying
'I'm sorry everyone, but thats it for tonight. My brother will be home soon. '
'Thats cool. ' Said Mike. 'It's been fun. ' Smiling at Kathryn. She smiled back.
'Kathryn, its been great. '
Billie looked at Becky, holding her hand.
'Yeah, it has been fun. '
He could have stood there all night, just looking at her.
They all walked to the door. Each of their friends gave Kathryn and Becky a hug, but Becky seemed deep in thought.
'Hey, everyone, I was thinking. Why don't you all come to mine same time next week. This has been really fun. '
'Good Idea. ' Kathryn said, looking shocked at the sudden change in her friend.
Everyone agreed to come.
Slowly, everyone filtered out of Kathryn's house.
Last to leave was Billie Joe, Mike and Tre. Mike and Tre walked to their car with Kathryn, while Billie Joe stayed behind with Becky.
'Becky, I had fun tonight. '
'So did I. '
'I really-'
'Don't Billie. I like you. A lot. But I'm not ready for this yet. '
Billie was so happy he was about to explode.
'I understand. Because I care about you. I still want to spend time with you, as a friend, I want you to feel better, about whatever it is that has you so upset. '
'You do? Thats so great. I thought you wouldn't want anything to do with me if I said no tonight. '
'Its alright. I'm not that sorta guy. ' He said, smiling. 'Can I kiss you goodnight? '
'Um, ok. '
So, he did, but not in the way she expected.
He held her face, and, gently kissed her forehead.
'Goodnight Becky. See you next Friday. '
'Goodnight. ' She said, as the man who had surprised her in everyway, walked away, into the night.
