Feelings And Scars Are Permanent (Sequel to Why Do Bad Things Always Happen To Us?), chapter 7
We were on the street of my aunt's house when I stopped.
"Steph, what's the matter?" Billie Joe asked.
"Uh.. maybe this is a bad idea." I said.
"What? Why?"
"Because... I don't want her to see me. I mean... with bruises and crap. I feel a little ashamed."
"Why?"
"Because I got beat up somewhat. By my father."
"Don't be stupid Steph. You have nothing to be ashamed of. It's your father who should be ashamed. Hurting his own flesh and blood." Billie Joe said coldly. "Come on."
"Alright."
We walked up to my aunt's house and knocked on the door. I heard light footsteps and then someone finally opened up the door. It was my aunt.
"Hi, Aunt Vikki." I said.
"Oh, hey sweety. Are you okay? You look troubled." She said with a worried look on her face. "Who is this?"
"Oh uh. I'm... okay, I guess. And this is my boyfriend."
"Hi sweetie."
"Hey," Billie Joe said.
"So why are you here honey?" she said talking to me again.
"Oh uh. Right. I was uh wondering. If you'd. Um.. Uh.."
"If I'd what?"
"Um..."
"Spit it out honey."
"I was wondering if you'd take me in!" I blurted out.
My Aunt Vikki looked at me wide-eyed and confused. She motioned for both, Billie Joe and I to come in. Once we were in, we sat down on her couch and she sat in her chair thinking.
"Why would you want me to take you in dear?"
"Because I can't stay with my dad." I said shaking my head. "Not anymore."
"Why?"
"Because. Of the things he... Things he does to me."
She looked at me shocked, and said, "what does he do to you?"
"He hits me," I said looking down with tears beginning to swell in my eyes.
I saw Billie Joe frown in sorrow for me out of the corner of my eye.
I lowered my head more as the a tear fell from the eye onto my hand.
"Why does he hit you?"
I looked at her with a few more tears falling down and said, "I don't know. Because he can? Because he wants to? I don't know."
"Honey there's something I need to tell you," she said.
I looked away because more tears were falling. I didn't want her to see me cry. That's when I saw them. Boxes. Shit. No. Don't tell me she's...
"Are you moving?" I asked looking at her with sadness.
"Yes. Back to Utah. Honey. Don't cry. Please. I was planning on telling you, your sister, and your father the day before I moved. But I don't like California much. I've lived here too long."
"So what am I supposed to do then?" I asked with a few more tears streaming down my face. "I can't live with him anymore. Both, Lexi and I. He hits her too. But she knows when to shut her mouth. I don't."
My aunt sat there thinking for a bit. She scratched her head and looked up.
"The house I'm getting has two guest bedrooms. They're small but they're still bedrooms. Maybe you could come with me."
I looked up at her with hope. Then I thought. Billie Joe. Mike. Tre. My whole life was here. I couldn't leave it.
"I can't. My life is here. Lexi might but I can't," I said looking at Billie Joe, "I can't."
"I don't know what to tell you honey. No matter what though, you need to tell the police."
"I'm going to. But I need to find a place to stay first. For Lexi and I," I said looking down again.
Aunt Vikki nodded. She looked down and thought again. I looked at Billie Joe. He smiled but you could see that he was still sad for me. I smiled back at him but you could see I was still sad as well.
I had to get away. Get away from my father forever.
We all just sat there in silence for what seemed like minutes. But in reality it was only seconds. It only seemed long because I was thinking of something to do. Anything.
"What about him?" Aunt Vikki said after a moment.
"Who?" I asked confused.
"Him," she said pointing to Billie Joe.
"What about him?"
"Can you live with him?"
I looked at Billie Joe with sudden hope. He looked at me the same.
"Well?" She asked.
"I-I-I don't know. Could I?" I asked looking at Billie Joe.
"I'm not sure. My mom comes home today. I could ask her. She likes you a lot. I think if we explain the situation to her she might say yes," Billie Joe said with even more hope.
I didn't know what to do. I smiled and hugged him with tears now falling. They were falling for many reasons though. They were falling because I might have found a home. And they were also falling because his mom could say no.
* * *
Both Billie Joe and I left my aunt's house and went to his house a few hours ago. We were talking about everything that's happened. The good and the bad.
"Why didn't you tell me, Steph. Really?" Billie Joe asked.
"Tell you what?"
"About your father."
"Oh... Because," I said sighing, "I don't know. I was afraid of what you'd think or something. I don't know."
"What did you think I'd think?"
"Truth?"
"No, lie to me," he said sarcasticlly, "yes the truth."
"I thought you'd think I was some... weak little girl. Some weak little girl who couldn't handle getting hit or anything."
"How the hell could you think that?!" Billie Joe yelled. "That's bullshit Steph. The only person I think is weak is your fucking father."
I saw hate in Billie Joe's eyes. I didn't like it when he yelled. Tears swelled up in my eyes again.
"I'm sorry," I whispered putting my head in my hands and sobbing slightly, "I'm so sorry."
Billie Joe's expression softened.
"Stephanie. I'm not mad at you. And you don't need to say sorry to me. I'm sorry for yelling," he said sitting next to me.
I lifted my head from my hands. I had tears streaming down my face still and I didn't know what to do. Billie Joe looked sad. He pulled me into a hug and I cried into his chest. I cried and cried and cried until it hurt. Until I couldn't anymore.
My head hurt so bad after that. My eyes hurt too. I felt like I had a hangover.
"Hey," Billie Joe said after I stopped crying. "Hey. Come on Steph."
I shook as my head was still buried into his chest. I moved it from his chest to his neck and sniffed. I didn't want to let go of him. It made me feel better holding onto him.
"Babe, you can't stay like this forever. Let me see your face," he said again.
I shook my head again and moved it showing my face. He saw that my face hurt from crying and such, so he kissed my nose and cheek. I couldn't help but smile. So sweet.
* * *
About an hour after that, Billie Joe's mom finally came home from a different town in California. She was away because of some problems in her side of the family. Billie Joe and I were just watching TV when she came.
"Hey sweetie. Hey Stephanie." She said as she entered the living room and sat down in a chair.
"Mom, I have something very important to ask you," Billie Joe said seriously.
"What is it?" she asked.
"This is gonna sound like some sorta joke but umm... could Steph move in here?"
"Why would she need to do that?"
"Because... she has no where else to really go."
"Did she get kicked out?"
"No. But umm..."
"I'm not gonna have a place to live once I call the police," I said interrupting.
"The police? Why do you need to call the police? What is going on?"
"I'm going to call the police and have my dad arrested. For... beating me."
"Oh... and you'll have no place to go?"
"No. My aunt's moving away. Lexi will probably go with her but I can't leave everyone and everything. Lexi doesn't have that much here. She won't be leaving much behind."
"Holy shit." She said. "I had no idea this was happening."
"Mom?" Billie Joe said. "Yes or no?"
"Honey, I can't decide all too soon. But call the police tonight or tomorrow. You can stay here until we figure something out. I don't want you living on the streets or anything," she said.
I smiled filled with hope. I got up and hugged her.
"Oh... um," she said as I hugged her.
Billie Joe got up and smiled. He kissed her on the cheek.
"Thank you mom." He said hugging her after I let go.
"I don't know when I should call the police or whatever. I'm a little scared now that I can," I said. "I have to call Lexi and tell her."
Billie Joe nodded. I walked over to the phone and dialed my phone number. After a few moments Lexi picked up.
"Hello?"
"Lexi! It's me. Steph."
"Where the hell did you go?!"
"To Billie Joe's and Aunt Vikki's."
"What? Why?"
"Because I could, anyway Aunt Vikki is moving. Back to Utah."
"Why?"
"She doesn't want to live here anymore."
"Oh. Why did you go there?"
"Because I wanted to know if she could take us in."
There was silence on the other line.
"Lexi? Are you there?"
"What the hell are you going on about, Steph," she asked finally.
"I'm sick of dad. I'm sick of everything he does to us. I've got it figured out. Billie Joe and I asked his mom if I could live here or stay here or whatever and she said yes. And you can live with Aunt Vikki. She's moving back to Utah. Is that okay?"
"You're insane. We're never gonna get away with it. What do we do about dad?"
"Is he there?"
"No. He's out getting drunk I think."
"Okay good. I'm gonna come back and get my shit."
"Okay but I don't think this is gonna work. He's gonna notice we're gone you know."
"I'm gonna call the police once we get out of that hell hole."
"Is this for real?"
"What?"
"Is this really happening? Are we really getting away from that bastard?"
"I know. I'm having trouble believing this too."
"Okay well. Hurry up."
And with that we both hung up and I looked at Billie Joe and his mom, Ollie.
Ollie smiled and left the room. I walked over to Billie Joe.
"We need to get to my house and get all my stuff. My dad's more than likely at a bar. But we still should hurry," I said.
He nodded as we headed outside.
* * *
"Hello?" I said as Billie Joe and I entered my house. "Lexi?"
"Yeah. He's not here, so hurry up," Lexi called from a different room.
"Billie. Grab 3 trash bags. I only have like 1 suitcase so we'll need those."
Billie Joe nodded and grabbed the bags. Then we both headed into my room and started to pack.
"How can we do this stuff really fast?" Billie Joe asked.
"We could just take out the drawers and dump the shit into bags." I said.
Billie Joe smiled and said, "okay."
He walked over to a drawer, which contained my bras and underwear, and dumped them into the bag. However, a bra didn't make it in. He picked it up and made a girly noise before putting it on his head. I just looked at him and took my bra off.
"God, Billie. What goes on in that mind NO ONE should know," I said shaking my head.
"Hey! You know you like it."
He took out an underwear and placed it on his body, it looked like he was wearing it. Then he began to shake his ass and spanked it.
"Billie! No! Give me my damn underwear! This is no time to be screwing around!" I said taking the underwear out of his hands, "this is my damn underwear. So hands off!"
"Whaaaatever, girlfriend," he said in a really annoying voice.
"Oh god. That's annoying."
We finally began to get some work done. And Billie Joe finally stopped trying to wear my cloths. With the 3 bags, we got all my clothes. With my one suitcase I put all my breakable stuff that was given to me by friends and such. I also put my hair stuff in it too.
"Lexi, what time is it?" I yelled.
Lexi was packing her shit too. She called Aunt Vikki and it's been decided. She's moving back home with Aunt Vikki. And I was staying here with Billie Joe. I was gonna miss her. No doubt. No matter how annoying she was. Seems like my dad is causing more problems as time goes by.
"It's 6:05." She yelled back.
"Okay."
"How much time do you think we have?" Billie Joe asked.
"I'd say an hour or three. He normally stays out late, sorta."
"That's good."
I nodded.
* * *
"Yes! We're flippin' done!" I yelled after Billie Joe and I were finally done packing. "I still can't believe it's happening. I'm getting out of this fucking house!"
I looked at Billie Joe and smiled while hugging him. He hugged me back.
"I'm happy for you too. And, we'll get to be together. And then my mom will go to work. And then-"
"Billie!" I squeaked. "What are you, horny?"
He gave me a mischevious grin and put his hands on my hips, still grinning. He kissed the tip of my nose and went to kiss me on the lips but I moved to the side.
"Hold on lover boy. We have a job to do. We gotta get this shit to your house before we can do anything," I said.
He frowned like a sad little puppy then said, "alright."
He removed his hands from my hips and grabbed two bags, bringing them to the front door. I grabbed two bags as well and brought them to the front door. Billie Joe did the rest and we sat on the couch. Just as we were about to call my aunt to give us a ride to Billie's I heard a car pull into the drive way.
"Ah shit!" I said running to the front door window. "It's dad!"
I grabbed my bags and stuffed them into the closet that was next to the front door. Billie Joe got up and helped. Lexi still had her stuff in her room so she just closed my door and turned on the TV trying to make everything seem normal. I looked over at Billie Joe.
"Shit! Billie! Uhh..." I said as I stuffed him into the closet. "Sorry baby."
"What? Oh... Uhh... it's okay." He said with the laugh.
"Quiet!" I said as I ran to the couch grabbing Lexi's hand. "Act as if nothing's happening!"
And within a minute my dad came slowly into the house. Sure enough, he was drunk. Lexi and I just kept our eyes on the TV. He walked through the living room dragging his feet and sat in a chair. He looked over at us.
"What're you girliesh doin'?" he slurred.
"Just watching TV." I said.
"Ahhhs. I shee. I'm gonna go takes a showah."
"Okay," I said adding a fake smile to make everything look okay.
He looked as if he was spacing out and then got up and walked into the shower. I grabbed the phone and dialed my aunt's number. It rang a few times before she answered.
"Hey Aunt Vikki. It's Steph. Hold on a second," I said walking over to the bathroom.
I heard the water turn on and him get into the shower. I walked back over to the couch and began talking to my aunt once again.
"Okay. I'm here. Can you come and pick us up? Dad's in the shower and drunk."
"Okay. I'll come to your house right now," she said.
"Okay. And don't honk or come to the door. Just pull in. We'll do the rest."
"Okay. Bye."
"Bye."
We hung up and I opened up the closet door. Billie Joe came out looking relieved. We opened up the front door being as quiet as we could. We put all our shit, including Lexi's, onto the front porch. I told Billie Joe to sit out there too in case my dad got done quick or something.
Within a few minutes my Aunt finally arrived. Billie Joe put out stuff in my Aunt's car and we were about to leave when it happened. My dad got out of the shower. He seemed a little sober. He saw us standing my the door.
"What're you girls doing now?"
"Oh, uh. We were getting the mail." I said.
"It's Sunday. There is no mail."
"Oh. Duh! I'm stupid," I said giving a quick sign to Billie Joe so he knew something was up, "I'll just close the door."
"Yeah... what-" Dad said but stopped. "What the hell is going on?"
He saw out the window. Shit! What's gonna happen now? Oh god. My dad walked over to me and my sister and pulled us to the ground. He began to kick us.
"Stop! Help!" We both screamed.
Within a few seconds Billie Joe came running in to see both Lexi and I getting the shit kicked out of us. He gave a sign to Aunt Vikki to call the police and jumped on my dad.
"Stupid little shits! Think you're gonna run away?!" He screamed at us.
While Billie Joe was on him, Lexi and I crawled away, but he grabbed Lexi's hair. He pulled her back hard and she went flying back. He kept tugging at it hard and I could see it was hurting her. I ran back to them and tried to get him to let go. I finally just bit his hand as hard as I could causing him to let go.
"Ah! You little bitch!" He yelled punching me with all his might.
I screamed and nearly fell back because of Lexi's body. That pissed Billie Joe off.
"She's not a fucking bitch you little cunt!" Billie Joe screamed forcing my father to the ground. "You're the bitch! How could you hurt your own children! Flesh and blood! Fucking pig!"
Billie Joe began to punch him but my father kicked him and tripped him to the ground. My father then attacked him and was now on him punching Billie Joe. I grabbed my father's hair and pulled back with all my might.
"Stop it! Fucking fuck!" I said as I punched him in the face making him fall on his back.
Billie Joe got up and grabbed my shoulders looking at where my father had punched me.
"Stephanie! Billie! Move!" Lexi screamed.
Both Billie Joe and I looked over and saw my father running towards us with a bat. He began swinging it right when we looked and whacked me in the head with it. I fell to the ground. I was slowly starting to black out. I saw him hit Lexi's arm and Billie Joe grab the bat throwing it somewhere. That's when I blacked out.
* * *
I finally woke up, clueless of where I was. I looked around and Lexi and my Aunt talking to some doctors. I coughed and they came swarming towards me.
"Oh my God. Stephanie. Are you okay?" Aunt Vikki said.
"I guess. What the hell is wrong with my head? And what's wrong with your arm Lexi?" I asked refering to a cast on her arm.
"Dad hit me on the arm with a bat, after... um. After he hit you in the head with it. That's why you have a big bandage thing on your head."
"Oh. Oh I remember seeing that. Ah shit. My head hurts. Where is he? Where's everyone? What happened?" I asked getting frantic.
"Calm down, Steph. Father is in jail. For life probably. And Billie Joe is getting us coffee because we thought it'd be good for him to walk and try to get his mind off the whole situation. He thought you were gonna go into a coma," Lexi said laughing nervously, "we told him you wouldn't."
"Could I have though?"
"Umm, you could've. But you didn't. That's all that really counts now."
I sighed then asked, "so what happened after I blacked out?"
"Umm, well I got hit with a bat. Then Billie Joe grabbed it and threw it somewhere. I'm not really sure. But anyways. He punched our father a few times and then I pushed him into the bathroom and closed the door." Lexi explained, "then both, Billie Joe and I, put a chair underneath the handle and moved the dresser in front of it a little, a minute or so before the police came."
"I see. This was really scary."
"Yeah. It was."
"I'm so glad it's over though."
Both, Aunt Vikki and Lexi nodded. Then Billie Joe finally came back with some coffee for everyone and saw that I was awake. He smiled and walked over to my side.
"How ya feeling, babe?" he asked taking my hand.
"Felt better. How's your face?" I asked noticing a bruise and a small cut, "is your mom here?"
"No. She couldn't leave work. But I called here and she's really worried. She's a mom, yah know? But I'm fine. I'm so glad you're okay," Billie Joe said as he gave me a very gentle hug and a kiss on the cheek.
I smiled and kissed him on the nose. He smiled back at me as I heard a very loud but familiar voice.
"So how's everyone?!" Tre screamed walking into the room with Mike.
"Tre. Shut up. People are sleeping," Lexi said.
"Sorry, sorry, sorry. How's everyone?" he asked in a quieter voice. "Damn. You all got hurt. That dude's a big asshole, hey?"
"You could say that again," I said coldly. "More like a big mother fucking-"
"Babe? Let's not talk about him," Billie Joe said interrupting me.
"Yeah. Probably better," I said looking at my hands.
"How's your head?" Mike asked. "Billie Joe said that you got hit in the head with a bat."
"Yeah. Certainly something that's never happened before. And hopefully, never will. But I'm feeling better I guess. Head still hurts though."
"I imagine it would. How're you Billie? Lexi?"
Lexi nodded and said, "good. Thanks."
Mike nodded back.
"I'm good too, thanks," Billie Joe said.
Aunt Vikki looked at Lexi and said, "do you want to head to my house with your stuff, Lexi?"
"Umm, if Stephanie's okay enough," Lexi asked looking at me.
"I'm good. Go." I said with a nod.
She nodded and hugged me goodbye and said goodbye to everyone. Aunt Vikki did the same. Billie Joe sat down in a chair next to me once they left. Tre and Mike sat down in chairs as well.
"When can you leave?" Mike asked.
"I haven't the foggiest. When can I leave?" I asked Billie Joe.
"Today. But we have to wait for my mom. She's basically your guardian now and she needs to sign you out. You're not old enough yet."
"When will your mom be here?"
"In an hour. That's when she gets off work."
"Okay."
We all just sat there quiet and bored. When you're waiting for the time to go by, it always takes longer. But when you don't want time to go by, fast it always does. After about 15 minutes of this, Tre and Mike left. Billie Joe and I still had 45 minutes left. So we decided to play rock, paper, scissors. When things get boring, anything sounds like fun.
"Rock, paper, scissors," ee both chanted in unison.
"Yay!" I said.
"Will you ever lose?!" Billie Joe shouted.
"Not in this lifetime," I said sticking my tongue out at him. "Face it. You suck."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever."
Billie Joe stuck his tongue out at me too as he got up and walked around the room in boredom. He traced his finger across the wall as he walked. When he finally reached the door, he closed it and locked it. He turned back and looked at me with a smile.
"Billie Joe," I said laughing.
"Yes?" He said as he walked over to me still with a smile.
"What are you up to?"
"Oh. Nothing you'll hate."
And with that he leaned foward and kissed me on the lips. I was able to hold back my smile. His, however, snuck through. That made me laugh. But he stopped me by kissing me again. I moved my hand to his face deepening the kiss. He moved his hands to my shoulder as he moved closer to me. I couldn't help but laugh again as he pulled away for a breath.
"What's so funny?" he asked kissing me again.
"Billie," I said pulling away from the kiss, "are you trying to get into the bed?"
Billie Joe pulled away looking a tad embaressed and said, "Nooooo... Not exactly. Why?"
"Because this is a hospital bed. It's all weird and stupid. And we're in a hospital. People could come in here!"
"I locked the door," he said kissing me again.
"Billie," I said attempting to pull away from the kiss, "people will want in."
He went to say something when someone knocked on the door. I gave him a 'I told you so' look and he kissed me on the lips again. I pulled away again.
"Billie Joe!" I quietly squeaked. "Get the damn door!"
He pulled away and gave me a 'Are you kidding me?' look. He gave me another look with his pleading eyes as I shook my head and motioned him towards the door.
"Get it!"
"Fine." He said giving up and walking over to the door to unlock and open it.
When he opened it his mother walked in.
"Mom? Thought you had to work until 8:00. It's only 7:25." Billie Joe said.
"I told them that my son and his friends got into a car crash."
"But we didn't, Mom."
"Exactly. I won't tell if you won't."
We all laughed and she looked at me.
"How's your head honey? Billie told me that you got hit in the head hard."
"Oh it's better. Thanks."
"You're welcome honey. Ready to leave?"
I sighed, "Yes!" I said jumping out of the bed.
"Is that your stuff right there?" she asked pointing to some bags and a suitcase.
I nodded.
"Billie, could you carry the stuff out to the car? I parked right in front of the doors. And Steph can come with me as I sign her out."
"Okay." I said as I walked over to Ollie.
We both walked to the hospital desk to sign me out. Ollie signed some papers and once Billie Joe got all the bags into the car, we could finally leave. We all walked out to the car and got in. I looked back at the hospital.
"Happy to be going home?" Ollie asked.
"Home? Hale-flipping-ulah," was all I could say as we pulled out of the parking lot to home.
"Steph, what's the matter?" Billie Joe asked.
"Uh.. maybe this is a bad idea." I said.
"What? Why?"
"Because... I don't want her to see me. I mean... with bruises and crap. I feel a little ashamed."
"Why?"
"Because I got beat up somewhat. By my father."
"Don't be stupid Steph. You have nothing to be ashamed of. It's your father who should be ashamed. Hurting his own flesh and blood." Billie Joe said coldly. "Come on."
"Alright."
We walked up to my aunt's house and knocked on the door. I heard light footsteps and then someone finally opened up the door. It was my aunt.
"Hi, Aunt Vikki." I said.
"Oh, hey sweety. Are you okay? You look troubled." She said with a worried look on her face. "Who is this?"
"Oh uh. I'm... okay, I guess. And this is my boyfriend."
"Hi sweetie."
"Hey," Billie Joe said.
"So why are you here honey?" she said talking to me again.
"Oh uh. Right. I was uh wondering. If you'd. Um.. Uh.."
"If I'd what?"
"Um..."
"Spit it out honey."
"I was wondering if you'd take me in!" I blurted out.
My Aunt Vikki looked at me wide-eyed and confused. She motioned for both, Billie Joe and I to come in. Once we were in, we sat down on her couch and she sat in her chair thinking.
"Why would you want me to take you in dear?"
"Because I can't stay with my dad." I said shaking my head. "Not anymore."
"Why?"
"Because. Of the things he... Things he does to me."
She looked at me shocked, and said, "what does he do to you?"
"He hits me," I said looking down with tears beginning to swell in my eyes.
I saw Billie Joe frown in sorrow for me out of the corner of my eye.
I lowered my head more as the a tear fell from the eye onto my hand.
"Why does he hit you?"
I looked at her with a few more tears falling down and said, "I don't know. Because he can? Because he wants to? I don't know."
"Honey there's something I need to tell you," she said.
I looked away because more tears were falling. I didn't want her to see me cry. That's when I saw them. Boxes. Shit. No. Don't tell me she's...
"Are you moving?" I asked looking at her with sadness.
"Yes. Back to Utah. Honey. Don't cry. Please. I was planning on telling you, your sister, and your father the day before I moved. But I don't like California much. I've lived here too long."
"So what am I supposed to do then?" I asked with a few more tears streaming down my face. "I can't live with him anymore. Both, Lexi and I. He hits her too. But she knows when to shut her mouth. I don't."
My aunt sat there thinking for a bit. She scratched her head and looked up.
"The house I'm getting has two guest bedrooms. They're small but they're still bedrooms. Maybe you could come with me."
I looked up at her with hope. Then I thought. Billie Joe. Mike. Tre. My whole life was here. I couldn't leave it.
"I can't. My life is here. Lexi might but I can't," I said looking at Billie Joe, "I can't."
"I don't know what to tell you honey. No matter what though, you need to tell the police."
"I'm going to. But I need to find a place to stay first. For Lexi and I," I said looking down again.
Aunt Vikki nodded. She looked down and thought again. I looked at Billie Joe. He smiled but you could see that he was still sad for me. I smiled back at him but you could see I was still sad as well.
I had to get away. Get away from my father forever.
We all just sat there in silence for what seemed like minutes. But in reality it was only seconds. It only seemed long because I was thinking of something to do. Anything.
"What about him?" Aunt Vikki said after a moment.
"Who?" I asked confused.
"Him," she said pointing to Billie Joe.
"What about him?"
"Can you live with him?"
I looked at Billie Joe with sudden hope. He looked at me the same.
"Well?" She asked.
"I-I-I don't know. Could I?" I asked looking at Billie Joe.
"I'm not sure. My mom comes home today. I could ask her. She likes you a lot. I think if we explain the situation to her she might say yes," Billie Joe said with even more hope.
I didn't know what to do. I smiled and hugged him with tears now falling. They were falling for many reasons though. They were falling because I might have found a home. And they were also falling because his mom could say no.
* * *
Both Billie Joe and I left my aunt's house and went to his house a few hours ago. We were talking about everything that's happened. The good and the bad.
"Why didn't you tell me, Steph. Really?" Billie Joe asked.
"Tell you what?"
"About your father."
"Oh... Because," I said sighing, "I don't know. I was afraid of what you'd think or something. I don't know."
"What did you think I'd think?"
"Truth?"
"No, lie to me," he said sarcasticlly, "yes the truth."
"I thought you'd think I was some... weak little girl. Some weak little girl who couldn't handle getting hit or anything."
"How the hell could you think that?!" Billie Joe yelled. "That's bullshit Steph. The only person I think is weak is your fucking father."
I saw hate in Billie Joe's eyes. I didn't like it when he yelled. Tears swelled up in my eyes again.
"I'm sorry," I whispered putting my head in my hands and sobbing slightly, "I'm so sorry."
Billie Joe's expression softened.
"Stephanie. I'm not mad at you. And you don't need to say sorry to me. I'm sorry for yelling," he said sitting next to me.
I lifted my head from my hands. I had tears streaming down my face still and I didn't know what to do. Billie Joe looked sad. He pulled me into a hug and I cried into his chest. I cried and cried and cried until it hurt. Until I couldn't anymore.
My head hurt so bad after that. My eyes hurt too. I felt like I had a hangover.
"Hey," Billie Joe said after I stopped crying. "Hey. Come on Steph."
I shook as my head was still buried into his chest. I moved it from his chest to his neck and sniffed. I didn't want to let go of him. It made me feel better holding onto him.
"Babe, you can't stay like this forever. Let me see your face," he said again.
I shook my head again and moved it showing my face. He saw that my face hurt from crying and such, so he kissed my nose and cheek. I couldn't help but smile. So sweet.
* * *
About an hour after that, Billie Joe's mom finally came home from a different town in California. She was away because of some problems in her side of the family. Billie Joe and I were just watching TV when she came.
"Hey sweetie. Hey Stephanie." She said as she entered the living room and sat down in a chair.
"Mom, I have something very important to ask you," Billie Joe said seriously.
"What is it?" she asked.
"This is gonna sound like some sorta joke but umm... could Steph move in here?"
"Why would she need to do that?"
"Because... she has no where else to really go."
"Did she get kicked out?"
"No. But umm..."
"I'm not gonna have a place to live once I call the police," I said interrupting.
"The police? Why do you need to call the police? What is going on?"
"I'm going to call the police and have my dad arrested. For... beating me."
"Oh... and you'll have no place to go?"
"No. My aunt's moving away. Lexi will probably go with her but I can't leave everyone and everything. Lexi doesn't have that much here. She won't be leaving much behind."
"Holy shit." She said. "I had no idea this was happening."
"Mom?" Billie Joe said. "Yes or no?"
"Honey, I can't decide all too soon. But call the police tonight or tomorrow. You can stay here until we figure something out. I don't want you living on the streets or anything," she said.
I smiled filled with hope. I got up and hugged her.
"Oh... um," she said as I hugged her.
Billie Joe got up and smiled. He kissed her on the cheek.
"Thank you mom." He said hugging her after I let go.
"I don't know when I should call the police or whatever. I'm a little scared now that I can," I said. "I have to call Lexi and tell her."
Billie Joe nodded. I walked over to the phone and dialed my phone number. After a few moments Lexi picked up.
"Hello?"
"Lexi! It's me. Steph."
"Where the hell did you go?!"
"To Billie Joe's and Aunt Vikki's."
"What? Why?"
"Because I could, anyway Aunt Vikki is moving. Back to Utah."
"Why?"
"She doesn't want to live here anymore."
"Oh. Why did you go there?"
"Because I wanted to know if she could take us in."
There was silence on the other line.
"Lexi? Are you there?"
"What the hell are you going on about, Steph," she asked finally.
"I'm sick of dad. I'm sick of everything he does to us. I've got it figured out. Billie Joe and I asked his mom if I could live here or stay here or whatever and she said yes. And you can live with Aunt Vikki. She's moving back to Utah. Is that okay?"
"You're insane. We're never gonna get away with it. What do we do about dad?"
"Is he there?"
"No. He's out getting drunk I think."
"Okay good. I'm gonna come back and get my shit."
"Okay but I don't think this is gonna work. He's gonna notice we're gone you know."
"I'm gonna call the police once we get out of that hell hole."
"Is this for real?"
"What?"
"Is this really happening? Are we really getting away from that bastard?"
"I know. I'm having trouble believing this too."
"Okay well. Hurry up."
And with that we both hung up and I looked at Billie Joe and his mom, Ollie.
Ollie smiled and left the room. I walked over to Billie Joe.
"We need to get to my house and get all my stuff. My dad's more than likely at a bar. But we still should hurry," I said.
He nodded as we headed outside.
* * *
"Hello?" I said as Billie Joe and I entered my house. "Lexi?"
"Yeah. He's not here, so hurry up," Lexi called from a different room.
"Billie. Grab 3 trash bags. I only have like 1 suitcase so we'll need those."
Billie Joe nodded and grabbed the bags. Then we both headed into my room and started to pack.
"How can we do this stuff really fast?" Billie Joe asked.
"We could just take out the drawers and dump the shit into bags." I said.
Billie Joe smiled and said, "okay."
He walked over to a drawer, which contained my bras and underwear, and dumped them into the bag. However, a bra didn't make it in. He picked it up and made a girly noise before putting it on his head. I just looked at him and took my bra off.
"God, Billie. What goes on in that mind NO ONE should know," I said shaking my head.
"Hey! You know you like it."
He took out an underwear and placed it on his body, it looked like he was wearing it. Then he began to shake his ass and spanked it.
"Billie! No! Give me my damn underwear! This is no time to be screwing around!" I said taking the underwear out of his hands, "this is my damn underwear. So hands off!"
"Whaaaatever, girlfriend," he said in a really annoying voice.
"Oh god. That's annoying."
We finally began to get some work done. And Billie Joe finally stopped trying to wear my cloths. With the 3 bags, we got all my clothes. With my one suitcase I put all my breakable stuff that was given to me by friends and such. I also put my hair stuff in it too.
"Lexi, what time is it?" I yelled.
Lexi was packing her shit too. She called Aunt Vikki and it's been decided. She's moving back home with Aunt Vikki. And I was staying here with Billie Joe. I was gonna miss her. No doubt. No matter how annoying she was. Seems like my dad is causing more problems as time goes by.
"It's 6:05." She yelled back.
"Okay."
"How much time do you think we have?" Billie Joe asked.
"I'd say an hour or three. He normally stays out late, sorta."
"That's good."
I nodded.
* * *
"Yes! We're flippin' done!" I yelled after Billie Joe and I were finally done packing. "I still can't believe it's happening. I'm getting out of this fucking house!"
I looked at Billie Joe and smiled while hugging him. He hugged me back.
"I'm happy for you too. And, we'll get to be together. And then my mom will go to work. And then-"
"Billie!" I squeaked. "What are you, horny?"
He gave me a mischevious grin and put his hands on my hips, still grinning. He kissed the tip of my nose and went to kiss me on the lips but I moved to the side.
"Hold on lover boy. We have a job to do. We gotta get this shit to your house before we can do anything," I said.
He frowned like a sad little puppy then said, "alright."
He removed his hands from my hips and grabbed two bags, bringing them to the front door. I grabbed two bags as well and brought them to the front door. Billie Joe did the rest and we sat on the couch. Just as we were about to call my aunt to give us a ride to Billie's I heard a car pull into the drive way.
"Ah shit!" I said running to the front door window. "It's dad!"
I grabbed my bags and stuffed them into the closet that was next to the front door. Billie Joe got up and helped. Lexi still had her stuff in her room so she just closed my door and turned on the TV trying to make everything seem normal. I looked over at Billie Joe.
"Shit! Billie! Uhh..." I said as I stuffed him into the closet. "Sorry baby."
"What? Oh... Uhh... it's okay." He said with the laugh.
"Quiet!" I said as I ran to the couch grabbing Lexi's hand. "Act as if nothing's happening!"
And within a minute my dad came slowly into the house. Sure enough, he was drunk. Lexi and I just kept our eyes on the TV. He walked through the living room dragging his feet and sat in a chair. He looked over at us.
"What're you girliesh doin'?" he slurred.
"Just watching TV." I said.
"Ahhhs. I shee. I'm gonna go takes a showah."
"Okay," I said adding a fake smile to make everything look okay.
He looked as if he was spacing out and then got up and walked into the shower. I grabbed the phone and dialed my aunt's number. It rang a few times before she answered.
"Hey Aunt Vikki. It's Steph. Hold on a second," I said walking over to the bathroom.
I heard the water turn on and him get into the shower. I walked back over to the couch and began talking to my aunt once again.
"Okay. I'm here. Can you come and pick us up? Dad's in the shower and drunk."
"Okay. I'll come to your house right now," she said.
"Okay. And don't honk or come to the door. Just pull in. We'll do the rest."
"Okay. Bye."
"Bye."
We hung up and I opened up the closet door. Billie Joe came out looking relieved. We opened up the front door being as quiet as we could. We put all our shit, including Lexi's, onto the front porch. I told Billie Joe to sit out there too in case my dad got done quick or something.
Within a few minutes my Aunt finally arrived. Billie Joe put out stuff in my Aunt's car and we were about to leave when it happened. My dad got out of the shower. He seemed a little sober. He saw us standing my the door.
"What're you girls doing now?"
"Oh, uh. We were getting the mail." I said.
"It's Sunday. There is no mail."
"Oh. Duh! I'm stupid," I said giving a quick sign to Billie Joe so he knew something was up, "I'll just close the door."
"Yeah... what-" Dad said but stopped. "What the hell is going on?"
He saw out the window. Shit! What's gonna happen now? Oh god. My dad walked over to me and my sister and pulled us to the ground. He began to kick us.
"Stop! Help!" We both screamed.
Within a few seconds Billie Joe came running in to see both Lexi and I getting the shit kicked out of us. He gave a sign to Aunt Vikki to call the police and jumped on my dad.
"Stupid little shits! Think you're gonna run away?!" He screamed at us.
While Billie Joe was on him, Lexi and I crawled away, but he grabbed Lexi's hair. He pulled her back hard and she went flying back. He kept tugging at it hard and I could see it was hurting her. I ran back to them and tried to get him to let go. I finally just bit his hand as hard as I could causing him to let go.
"Ah! You little bitch!" He yelled punching me with all his might.
I screamed and nearly fell back because of Lexi's body. That pissed Billie Joe off.
"She's not a fucking bitch you little cunt!" Billie Joe screamed forcing my father to the ground. "You're the bitch! How could you hurt your own children! Flesh and blood! Fucking pig!"
Billie Joe began to punch him but my father kicked him and tripped him to the ground. My father then attacked him and was now on him punching Billie Joe. I grabbed my father's hair and pulled back with all my might.
"Stop it! Fucking fuck!" I said as I punched him in the face making him fall on his back.
Billie Joe got up and grabbed my shoulders looking at where my father had punched me.
"Stephanie! Billie! Move!" Lexi screamed.
Both Billie Joe and I looked over and saw my father running towards us with a bat. He began swinging it right when we looked and whacked me in the head with it. I fell to the ground. I was slowly starting to black out. I saw him hit Lexi's arm and Billie Joe grab the bat throwing it somewhere. That's when I blacked out.
* * *
I finally woke up, clueless of where I was. I looked around and Lexi and my Aunt talking to some doctors. I coughed and they came swarming towards me.
"Oh my God. Stephanie. Are you okay?" Aunt Vikki said.
"I guess. What the hell is wrong with my head? And what's wrong with your arm Lexi?" I asked refering to a cast on her arm.
"Dad hit me on the arm with a bat, after... um. After he hit you in the head with it. That's why you have a big bandage thing on your head."
"Oh. Oh I remember seeing that. Ah shit. My head hurts. Where is he? Where's everyone? What happened?" I asked getting frantic.
"Calm down, Steph. Father is in jail. For life probably. And Billie Joe is getting us coffee because we thought it'd be good for him to walk and try to get his mind off the whole situation. He thought you were gonna go into a coma," Lexi said laughing nervously, "we told him you wouldn't."
"Could I have though?"
"Umm, you could've. But you didn't. That's all that really counts now."
I sighed then asked, "so what happened after I blacked out?"
"Umm, well I got hit with a bat. Then Billie Joe grabbed it and threw it somewhere. I'm not really sure. But anyways. He punched our father a few times and then I pushed him into the bathroom and closed the door." Lexi explained, "then both, Billie Joe and I, put a chair underneath the handle and moved the dresser in front of it a little, a minute or so before the police came."
"I see. This was really scary."
"Yeah. It was."
"I'm so glad it's over though."
Both, Aunt Vikki and Lexi nodded. Then Billie Joe finally came back with some coffee for everyone and saw that I was awake. He smiled and walked over to my side.
"How ya feeling, babe?" he asked taking my hand.
"Felt better. How's your face?" I asked noticing a bruise and a small cut, "is your mom here?"
"No. She couldn't leave work. But I called here and she's really worried. She's a mom, yah know? But I'm fine. I'm so glad you're okay," Billie Joe said as he gave me a very gentle hug and a kiss on the cheek.
I smiled and kissed him on the nose. He smiled back at me as I heard a very loud but familiar voice.
"So how's everyone?!" Tre screamed walking into the room with Mike.
"Tre. Shut up. People are sleeping," Lexi said.
"Sorry, sorry, sorry. How's everyone?" he asked in a quieter voice. "Damn. You all got hurt. That dude's a big asshole, hey?"
"You could say that again," I said coldly. "More like a big mother fucking-"
"Babe? Let's not talk about him," Billie Joe said interrupting me.
"Yeah. Probably better," I said looking at my hands.
"How's your head?" Mike asked. "Billie Joe said that you got hit in the head with a bat."
"Yeah. Certainly something that's never happened before. And hopefully, never will. But I'm feeling better I guess. Head still hurts though."
"I imagine it would. How're you Billie? Lexi?"
Lexi nodded and said, "good. Thanks."
Mike nodded back.
"I'm good too, thanks," Billie Joe said.
Aunt Vikki looked at Lexi and said, "do you want to head to my house with your stuff, Lexi?"
"Umm, if Stephanie's okay enough," Lexi asked looking at me.
"I'm good. Go." I said with a nod.
She nodded and hugged me goodbye and said goodbye to everyone. Aunt Vikki did the same. Billie Joe sat down in a chair next to me once they left. Tre and Mike sat down in chairs as well.
"When can you leave?" Mike asked.
"I haven't the foggiest. When can I leave?" I asked Billie Joe.
"Today. But we have to wait for my mom. She's basically your guardian now and she needs to sign you out. You're not old enough yet."
"When will your mom be here?"
"In an hour. That's when she gets off work."
"Okay."
We all just sat there quiet and bored. When you're waiting for the time to go by, it always takes longer. But when you don't want time to go by, fast it always does. After about 15 minutes of this, Tre and Mike left. Billie Joe and I still had 45 minutes left. So we decided to play rock, paper, scissors. When things get boring, anything sounds like fun.
"Rock, paper, scissors," ee both chanted in unison.
"Yay!" I said.
"Will you ever lose?!" Billie Joe shouted.
"Not in this lifetime," I said sticking my tongue out at him. "Face it. You suck."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever."
Billie Joe stuck his tongue out at me too as he got up and walked around the room in boredom. He traced his finger across the wall as he walked. When he finally reached the door, he closed it and locked it. He turned back and looked at me with a smile.
"Billie Joe," I said laughing.
"Yes?" He said as he walked over to me still with a smile.
"What are you up to?"
"Oh. Nothing you'll hate."
And with that he leaned foward and kissed me on the lips. I was able to hold back my smile. His, however, snuck through. That made me laugh. But he stopped me by kissing me again. I moved my hand to his face deepening the kiss. He moved his hands to my shoulder as he moved closer to me. I couldn't help but laugh again as he pulled away for a breath.
"What's so funny?" he asked kissing me again.
"Billie," I said pulling away from the kiss, "are you trying to get into the bed?"
Billie Joe pulled away looking a tad embaressed and said, "Nooooo... Not exactly. Why?"
"Because this is a hospital bed. It's all weird and stupid. And we're in a hospital. People could come in here!"
"I locked the door," he said kissing me again.
"Billie," I said attempting to pull away from the kiss, "people will want in."
He went to say something when someone knocked on the door. I gave him a 'I told you so' look and he kissed me on the lips again. I pulled away again.
"Billie Joe!" I quietly squeaked. "Get the damn door!"
He pulled away and gave me a 'Are you kidding me?' look. He gave me another look with his pleading eyes as I shook my head and motioned him towards the door.
"Get it!"
"Fine." He said giving up and walking over to the door to unlock and open it.
When he opened it his mother walked in.
"Mom? Thought you had to work until 8:00. It's only 7:25." Billie Joe said.
"I told them that my son and his friends got into a car crash."
"But we didn't, Mom."
"Exactly. I won't tell if you won't."
We all laughed and she looked at me.
"How's your head honey? Billie told me that you got hit in the head hard."
"Oh it's better. Thanks."
"You're welcome honey. Ready to leave?"
I sighed, "Yes!" I said jumping out of the bed.
"Is that your stuff right there?" she asked pointing to some bags and a suitcase.
I nodded.
"Billie, could you carry the stuff out to the car? I parked right in front of the doors. And Steph can come with me as I sign her out."
"Okay." I said as I walked over to Ollie.
We both walked to the hospital desk to sign me out. Ollie signed some papers and once Billie Joe got all the bags into the car, we could finally leave. We all walked out to the car and got in. I looked back at the hospital.
"Happy to be going home?" Ollie asked.
"Home? Hale-flipping-ulah," was all I could say as we pulled out of the parking lot to home.
