Chapter 11

Sally and Buck waited as they saw Billy come out of the room. He stormed up to Buck and just looked him dead in the eyes. Buck was getting ready for Billy to hit him, which he felt he deserved. Sally stood by also getting ready for Billy to hit Buck. But, to their surprise he broke down. Billy threw his arms around Buck and cried. Sally knew from the start that he was drunk, and when your drunk you can accomplish a lot more then you think. Sally ran to Velma's room as Buck got Billy to go into his room, Clyde and Eli were still out walking.

"Velma?...Velma?" Sally came into the room, seeing Velma laid out on the couch.

"Oh Velma" She ran to her quickly, shutting the door behind her. Velma wasn't waking up, so Sally shook her until she did. Sally helped her up, and she sat up against the couch. She was dizzy and was swaying.

"Velma? …Are you ok?" Sally tried to get her to stop swaying. Velma took in a few deep breaths, until she finally started to talk.

"I'm… I'm fine" she said as she wiped the blood that ran from under her hair.

"What did he do?" Sally demanded.

"I don't… I don't remember. He hit me once and then… I just don't remember" she didn't sway any longer.

"Oh god Velma. Come to my room, you need to rest" Sally got Velma to stand up and walked her to her own room. Sally shut the door to her room and locked it. Billy went to his room a few minutes later and cried quietly most the night.

Eli and Clyde came in about twenty minutes later then when Velma had gone to Sally's room.

"Everything ok around here?" Eli tried to make it sound like a normal question.

"Of course. Why wouldn't it be." Sally smiled to Clyde, and frowned at Eli as Clyde turned away.

"I'm tired" Clyde told Eli. Eli wasn't sure what to say as Sally came between them.

"Well hun why don't you sleep in Eli's room tonight." Sally smiled. Clyde shrugged his shoulders and obediently went to Eli's room.

"I will stay with him tonight" Buck followed Clyde after a minute.

"Just us too I guess" Sally told Eli.

"You have to tell me what happened" Eli told her. Sally nodded as the two quietly went to Sally's room. Sally told her the whole story that night.

The next morning Sally thought she was the first up, but when she went out in the hall she saw Billy sitting there.

"Oh god! Scare a woman half to death, like what you did yesterday to Velma." Sally stomped off as Billy quickly got up and ran after her.

"I didn't mean to do what I did- I was drunk!"

"That's your fault. Velma says she doesn't remember what you did to her, and I thank god she doesn't- because I know what you did" Sally glared at him as they went out to the main part of the theater.

"She doesn't remember?... Please sally, I need to talk to her. Let me talk to her." Billy pleaded.

"I'm not sure if she's ready to talk to you!" Sally was mad.

"I'm for sure she doesn't, but I need to talk to her. She's my wife" Billy kept pleading.

"And I want her to remain my wife."

"I can't let you do…"

"I will talk to you Billy" Velma came out from the dark of the hallway.

"Velma!" sally was surprised.

"I need to talk to you, Vel" Billy came to her slowly.

"I know. Sally can we use your room?" Velma asked as Billy got closer to her.

"…I guess, but Velma if anything happens I will be waiting right here" Sally told her seriously.

"I know. Thanks" Billy followed Velma into Sally's room. Billy left the door open a crack, just to reassure Sally as Sally watched closely.

"Velma, I was drunk and I was stupid and…"

"Billy, I really don't want to hear it. All I remember is you hitting me. I want to forget this, I don't want to know what you did" Velma told him.

"Just let me say a couple things. I have been working real hard, like yourself, and I have been under pressure and work and… everything. I want us to be like we used to. And I am going to work on that harder then anything else I have worked on. I love you Velma. Your willing to forgive me for what I did, that makes you a better person than I have ever known." He held her hands. She was sweaty and nervous, but she did love him.

"Billy, I love you, but…" she pulled her hands away from his.

"I told you, I told you a long time ago. That at some point I would have to go." He frowned as she continued, Sally could hear them and she knew about what Velma had to do.

"What?" he was confused.

"Go where?" he asked.

"Billy you know I love you and Clyde, but I have to worry about me right now. I'm an actress, I perform. That's where I am most happy. With all the things going on in the world right now, Germany and Nazi's and the depression. I told you I would have to leave, and I am. Me and Sally… and Buck. Were going, going on the road. I know you know that this was going to happen. This is goodbye Billy, I only wish our goodbye would be different then it has been" she got up, went out of the room, past Sally, and outside. Billy was frozen, as Clyde came into the room. Billy turned around to his son, as Clyde came running to him crying.