Invitations
Let's step out into the night
Darling don't you dare think twice
I know all about how hard it is to trust someone
"The One to Hurt You" by The Becoming
____
Music played semi-loudly, but the talking and occasional shouts from the many occupants of the house were enough to drown it out. Everyone was talking to someone and the beer pong games were starting to get a little rowdy, a sure sign that the alcohol was taking it's effect.
Natalie wasn't taking part of the game, choosing to drink a little less and socialize with her friends in a more civilized way. She might have taken more advantage of the free-flowing beer if it weren't for the fact that she had to drive later, but also knew it was important to not to get too carried away at parties like this.
"Hey, Andrea was just telling m--- oh hell no…"
Paige trailed off and her eyes looked away from Natalie, so Natalie turned to look over her shoulder and found what had caught her friend's interested.
The answer was obvious.
Across the room, standing just inside the door now, was Billy Darley; he was flanked by a shorter man with a dusting of facial hair and a beanie pulled down over his head. To Natalie they stood out like a sore thumb but no one else really seemed to notice except for a few people closest to the entrance who were eyeing them up to see if they were familiar.
"Tell me that didn't just happen," Paige muttered, still shocked.
Natalie's eye caught Billy's across from the room for a moment and she quickly turned back to Paige, who'd just said what she was thinking. How as this happening? What was he doing here?
Well, she supposed she had technically invited him…but she hadn't expected him to actually show. She also didn't remember telling him where the part was at…although it might not be hard to find out where the bigger parties were if you asked around on campus. But seriously, what was he doing here?
"Natalie, tell me this isn't happening," Paige repeated, shaking her head confusedly.
"It is"
"…have you seen him again since the thing that the music store?"
Natalie hadn't told Paige about him stopping by the house, though she still wasn't sure why.
"I guess but that doesn't mean I know why he's here," Natalie tried to dismiss the incident.
"You guess? What does that even mean?"
"Ugh, I don't know…just…pretend they're not here…"
"Like that's going to work," Paige scoffed, but she did let the subject drop.
They went off to find some more friends to mingle in with, and Natalie didn't dare to look around to find Billy again. If they made eye contact that could be taken as an invitation to come on over and chat it up.
As Paige predicted, it wasn't possible to pretend they weren't there. Natalie remained acutely aware of the fact that Billy was there somewhere, but tried to keep tunnel vision and not let her eyes wander. She'd almost forgotten that he had arrived with a friend until she noticed Paige in the kitchen with the guy he'd shown up with. To her surprise, Paige didn't look too uncomfortable about it; she didn't look all that excited, but definitely not freaked out…it looked casual.
But then where was Billy?
"Lookin' for somebody?"
Natalie jumped when there was a deep voice just behind her. She'd been scanning the place for Billy only to whip around and find him right there. Great.
"No," she lied with a short shake of her head.
He nodded slowly with an unbelieving look.
"So this is your Friday night, huh?"
"Sure, why not," she shrugged.
She felt slightly more comfortable with him there than she had the last time they saw each other since there was a house full of people around now, many of whom she knew. She felt a little more secure about that, even though she was sure Billy wasn't scared of anyone who was there.
"So what're you doing here?"
"Ya ever notice that ya always question my motives like that? All I did was walk into a house on a Friday night…." he told her as he innocently shook his head, his smirk giving away that it wasn't as coincidental as he'd have her believe.
"Right; I thought you were the guy whose first reaction to a frat party was "fuck no"…or something like that."
"What? I've always been a supporter of Sigma Delta Sigma…" he shrugged.
Natalie shook her head but was starting to think that the couple beers she'd had were keeping her from getting as worked up about this whole encounter as she probably ought to be.
"Ya want a beer?" he asked after a few quiet moments passed.
"Nah, I'm good"
"Come with me to get another one"
It wasn't a question but wasn't exactly a demand either….more like he was just stating a fact. She followed along anyway, glancing around to see that Paige was still in the kitchen with the man Billy had shown up with.
"Who's that?" she asked, but Billy didn't hear her.
Frowning, she grabbed his jacket to tug on the sleeve for his attention and asked again, speaking louder to be heard over everything else.
He frowned down at her, unable to hear, and leaned down closer.
"What?"
Natalie hesitated a moment at the proximity and because of the way his hand slipped around her lower back as he ducked close to hear.
"Who is that?" she asked once again, nodding towards the kitchen where their friends stood.
"Oh," he smirked, straightening up and motioning for her to keep following him to the basement to the keg and quieter space. "That's Baggy."
"Baggy?….seriously, that's his name?"
Billy rolled his eyes.
"Yeah…he lives in that chick's apartment…what'd you say her name was? Paula?"
"Try Paige"
"Right, right. Paige…he's seen her around; thinks she's hot"
"Great…she has a boyfriend; maybe you'll want to pass that information along."
"That's never stopped him before," Billy smirked.
"Ew," Natalie groaned and swatted his side simply because that's how she typically interacted with guys.
Billy started and lost the playful/naughty look he'd had while insinuating that Baggy was going to bed Paige. He looked down at Natalie with a semi-hard look, as if he couldn't decide whether or not that move had pissed him off. '
Natalie's joking face dropped slightly, too, and she looked away sheepishly. She'd gone and let herself forget for a second just who Billy was. Upon actual consideration, she realized people who he didn't know probably didn't typically off and hit him, even if it was meant as a friendly gesture, and get away with it.
When she glanced back up he was just rolling his eyes, apparently deciding to just be annoyed with the event. He moved forward and helped himself to more alcohol without incident, just a few calculating looks from guys who didn't recognize him. He didn't look as though he cared.
The left the basement and almost ran into Paige and this Baggy character in the hallway.
"We were comin' lookin' for ya…Paige was getting' a little worried," he informed them with a grin and a quick wink.
Paige shrugged, unconcerned that he announced this in front of Billy, who was looking amused along with Baggy.
"She's fine…now about that dance…."
"Fine," Paige chuckled.
"Wait," Natalie grabbed her wrist and pulled her against her with a playful smile. "Have you told him about Lance?" she whispered.
"I'll tell him later," Paige smiled, biting her bottom lip in a way that suggested she knew maybe it wasn't right. "Whatever. He's flattering and it's fun. You okay?" she whispered back.
"Yeah"
Natalie released Paige with a small laugh and watched her friend be lead away by this man who she assumed, along with Billy, was a gang member.
A few moments later Joel entered the hall.
"Hey, who's that guy with….hi," he faltered in his questioning, noticing Billy next to Natalie.
Billy nodded a bored acknowledgement.
"Who's Paige dancing with?" he asked, still keeping a side-long eye on Billy.
"Just some guy; she's fine," Natalie shrugged.
"Okay…and who's this guy?"
"I'm right here. Why don't ya ask me?" Billy snapped, frowning at Joel.
"This is Billy and we were just about to grab me something to drink…so, catch you in a few," Natalie told him quickly, grabbing the cuff of Billy's coat to pull him along.
She was surprised he actually acquiesced and followed, but realized he had quite a smug look on his face. He held Joel's confused look until they rounded the corner, clearly trying to rub it in to the younger man that he'd been bested.
Once to the kitchen, Natalie grabbed a Pepsi she didn't actually want and opened it.
"So that's the boyfriend then?" Billy raised an eyebrow, pretty sure he had the pair figured out.
"No," Natalie shook her head; personally she was a little exasperated that everyone assumed that.
"…do you have a boyfriend?"
"…pretty much," she decided to answer; it seemed safe to let him assume she had someone.
Billy nodded, not all that surprised…actually, he wasn't surprised at all. She had her looks going for her for one thing. Then he'd originally assumed that, as she was in an affluent family, she was probably paired up with some preppy rich boy who was as snooty as she was. After further deliberation and observation, he realized he'd been wrong about his initial appraisal of her.
She wasn't just some spoiled bitch who thought she could have any and all guys wrapped around her little finger, ready to bend to her will. Instead she was pretty relaxed and down to earth. She hadn't refused to let him in and called the police when he showed up at her place, and she wasn't making a fuss about his presence now, so she couldn't be too pretentious. She had quiet but nice…didn't push and pry and try to be bossy…
Yeah, it wasn't surprising she had a guy. Even he could see her appeal.
Not that it mattered; he didn't do nice little relationships with nice little girls…okay, he'd never done any kind of relationship before regardless of the chick
"So why'd you come; which frat boy do you know?"
"I know you; you invited," Billy reminded her. "Who do you know?"
"Just some guys I have class with," she shrugged dismissively.
"No sorority for you?"
"No," she shook her head, scrunching her nose up a little at the unappealing idea.
"…so you're here as somethin' pretty to look at," Billy nodded understandingly.
Natalie was a little taken aback but then decided she was a little flattered that Billy thought she was pretty.
"I guess…" she decided. "I don't care; it's fun so it doesn't matter"
"Shepheeeeeeerd!"
Natalie turned to a drunk Seth Peerson calling her name sloppily from what was normally the dining area.
"Yeah?"
"Come play!" he demanded, gesturing to invite her to the beer pong game that was set up.
"No, I'm good," she called back.
"Scared to play the champ, huh?!" he laughed. "I'm not gonna leave you alone til you come play…"
"…only if he's my partner," she grinned, jerking a thumb at Billy; she was sure he wouldn't play and that got her out of participating, too.
"Forget it," Billy declined.
"DO IT!"
A chant rose quickly amongst the drunk crowd and Billy glared at Seth heavily.
"Will they stop?" he muttered.
"….probably not, no."
"This is why I hate frat boys," he shook his head darkly, stalking over to the table.
"I thought you were a fan of Sigma Delta Sigma," Natalie tried not to grin.
"Shut up," Billy snapped.
Billy not wanting to play didn't mean he hadn't seen his way through a few beer pong games in his day, mostly back in his early teens when he'd first started drinking and couldn't get it at most bars. It showed and the game was quickly over, more for Billy's effort than Natalie's mediocre one.
Rather than stick around they both slipped out through the side hall quickly before they were annoyed into another game.
"Sorry," Natalie offered sheepishly for having got him roped into it.
He merely grunted in response and fingered his lighter in his pocket….it was going to be time for a smoke pretty damn soon after that.
"Yo….does she really have a little sister?"
Baggy and Paige found them, Baggy looking a little put-out.
"Yeah, why?"
"Ah, I thought it was a lame excuse ta ditch. Ya gotta go pick her up?"
"Oh, is it that late already?" Natalie frowned. "Yeah I guess we do then…"
"Great I'm ready to get the fuck outta here," Billy muttered, now completely cognizant why his first reaction had been that he wasn't going anywhere near the party if it was at a frat house.
"Ah, it wasn't so bad," Baggy shrugged as the group trouped outside.
They made it to the street and split up to go to their respective cars without much of a grand farewell.
"Shepherd"
Natalie turned when Billy barked her name in her direction to see him paused in the middle of the street.
"Four Roses. Tomorrow."
"Is he talking about the bar?" Paige asked quietly once he turned back around.
"Yeah…consider us invited I guess," Natalie sighed, still not convinced she should go.
____________
"Man, whattcha think of Paige. Fine, right?"
"Sure she's fine…she's got a boyfriend"
"And…?"
"Just fillin' ya in," Billy shrugged, firing his car to life.
"So how'd it go with the other one?"
"Shut up, Baggy," Billy grumbled.
"I'm serious, man…ya gonna fuck her or what? You're into her, I see it. Right?….right?"
"She's just a chick. Who gives a shit"
Through the next afternoon, Natalie contemplated Billy's invitation. She thought about different possibilities and how it might go down if she showed up. Each scenario played differently than the next. Ultimately, she decided not to go.
So it was a wonder why she and Paige were parked at The Four Roses at 10:00pm that night.
"Is this a good idea?" Natalie sighed as Paige shut off her car.
"Probably not," the other girl chuckled.
For as leery as Paige had originally been about Billy, she seemed pretty easy going about the whole thing now. When Natalie pointed this out, Paige just pointed out that since she was from this part of town, she'd know how to be careful. She'd been caught off guard seeing Billy at the school, fearing he was only there to start trouble.
"Don't look like that, Nat; you agreed to this"
"I know, I know," she nodded, getting out of the car with her friend. "…so you've been here before? "
"Yeah, it's nothing swanky but I've been in a few times with friends," Paige affirmed, grabbing the door for them.
'Not swanky' was an adequate way to describe the place. It was dully lit and nothing about the place looked like it had been refurbished anytime recently, but Natalie could see the comfort in that. She suspected that most of the men there were regulars and had been for years; it just seemed like that kind of place.
"Back there…always the same place," Paige muttered.
Natalie followed Paige's gaze to a large round booth near a back corner. She, too, caught sight of Billy; Baggy was across the table from him and the other men with them were similarly dressed and looked as rough as the next.
"Always? How often do you really come here?" Natalie asked with mock suspicion.
"It's a little too unsanitary to be a regular hang out for me," Paige laughed. "Remember how I said sometimes you just pick up on things being from this area?"
"Right right"
Natalie glanced to the table again and saw Baggy catch sight of them. He grinned and reached across the table for Billy's attention, nodding their way. Billy looked over his shoulder and his lips twisted into a smirk as much as they could around the cigarette perched between his lips.
"Now what?"
"What do you think?" Paige rolled her eyes, nudging Natalie with her hip. "We're at a bar…"
And with that she led the way down the bar to the bartender to get a couple beers. Two bottles were set in front of them after a few moments.
"These two are drinkin' on our tab tonight, Sammy," Baggy popped up to announce just before the man behind the bar could tell them the total.
"You got it," the man nodded accommodatingly.
"Thanks," Natalie smiled appreciatively.
"No problem. C'mon," he nodded back, throwing his arms around their shoulders to steer them to the large booth table. "Don't worry, I don't smell; I showered today just in case the two of ya showed up," he laughed at his own joke.
Natalie laughed softly only because she didn't expect light hearted jokes from gang members who did drugs or whatever else.
Whoever had been sitting next to Billy must have left because Baggy nudged her to the space next to Billy before sliding in to sit next to Paige on the other side of the table.
"Woo-wee, look what we have here…ya here to start trouble?" Billy teased, exhaling a line of smoke.
"Me? All I did was walk into a bar," Natalie shrugged innocently, repeating his simple words he used every time she accused him of being up to something or following her.
"Touché," he muttered while rolling his eyes.
"Who're your friends?" the black man on the other side of Billy asked, though the way he asked suggested he already knew.
He leaned forward and extended an arm past Billy and out to her, which she shook quickly.
"Name's Bodie"
"Bodie. I'm Natalie"
"Nice to meet you, sweetie," he nodded, sending a wink her way before sitting back again.
"Right, where's our manners, huh?" Baggy chuckled. "Alright this here's Paige; she's too pretty for all of ya, so don't even try. And that's is Natalie…she's alright, too," he laughed. "Ladies, this is Spink, Heco, Tommy's over there next to him suckin' face with blondie, Bodie, and ya already know Billy….Dog's around somewhere and the rest of our boys are at work….maybe you'll meet 'em sometime."
"Nice introduction," Paige scoffed, elbowing Baggy lightly in the side.
"Aw, gettin' physical already….l like that," Baggy winked down at her, giving her hair a light tug in return for the jab to the ribs.
Paige just giggled and did nothing to dissuade the attention even though she had a man. Natalie laughed on the inside; she was such a flirt.
….. ... ...
"Ya want another one?" Billy leaned in slightly to ask when a barmaid came over.
It really wasn't necessary for him to lean down since they were sitting close enough. She'd noticed some girl walk by earlier and give her a dirty look, at which time Billy draped his arm over the back of the book behind her. No more dirty look.
"No, I probably shouldn't…"
"Shut up, girl. I drove; you can go crazy," Paige kicked her under the table. "She wants one."
The waitress nodded and left to get the whole table another round. In the time they'd all been sitting around chatting idly and shooting the shit, there were already a couple empty bottles in front of her. Granted, there were considerably more built up in front of Billy and the other guys; still, she should probably watch it.
"Okay, so you guys go to college," Heco sighed, leaning forward to drop his elbows heavily on the table and point to each girl.
"Yeah," Natalie answered for them this time since this was far from the first time Heco had repeated this; apparently he was still trying to wrap his drunk-mind around the fact that college girls were in the Four Roses.
"Okay but why? I mean…what's the point? Fuckin'…ya don't need it," he threw his hands up as if it were obvious. "Am I right? Yo, Tommy, you hear me right? Am I right on this one?"
Tommy was far too wrapped up in his whispered conversation with his blonde friend to care and swatted Heco's hand away that was tapping him for his attention.
"Well fuck you too then," Heco frowned, throwing his arms back onto the table in frustration and knocking over mostly-empty bottles in the process.
"The fuck!"
"Heco, ya fuckin' idiot," the guys around him cursed, flipping the bottles back up before they got spilled on.
Heco hardly seemed concerned but also seemed to have forgotten what he was ranting about in the first place.
"Fuckin' halfwit," Billy muttered.
Natalie heard and glanced up. He was taking a drag on his cigarette but looked down at her from the corner of his eye when he saw her movement, daring her to contradict the utterance. She just smiled and turned away.
"I feel a little put down, how about you, Nat?" Paige laughed.
"Oh yeah; breaks my heart"
"Well lets escape Heco and play some darts," Baggy decided, nudging Paige out of the booth to lead her in the right direction.
Natalie watched them go, Baggy plucking two beers from the barmaid's tray as he passed her. She felt slightly less comfortable without Paige there but reminded herself that things were going just fine so far. Everyone was fine and having a good time….it didn't even seem like they were hanging out with gang members. Despite some good natured name calling, they weren't even mean; it was like they were all brothers and it was actually kind of nice.
Some girl took the space Paige and Baggy left as an opportunity to sidle up and get Spink's attention. They were holding some hushed, coy conversation and from the angle of the girl's arm disappearing under the table, Natalie was sure the red-head's hand had to be somewhere on, or tantalizingly close to, his groin. No one else seemed to notice or care, so she tried not to think it was a little awkward.
It was about then that she started to take a different stock of the situation. Why were she and Paige there….why were they even invited? Besides the waitress, the only other girls around were light on the clothes and heavy on the make up. Tommy and his girl were all over each other, this new girl with Spink was clearly out for sex, and if some of the girls who'd come over to the boys, leaning over the booth for a kiss or to whisper in their ears, weren't hookers then Natalie was the mayor.
If girls were just sex objects around here then it started getting Natalie a little worried what she and Paige were doing there. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea…
A tall man with short blonde hair slid into Paige's previous seat, completely ignoring the red-head, and grabbed Spink's forgotten beer.
"Tate took over for you?" Billy checked.
"Yeah. Money's at the office," the man nodded.
This man, who she had yet to be introduced too, did nothing to ease her new thoughts about the female situation of The Four Roses. He was openly eyeing over, maybe trying to decide if he'd seen her around before, but his eyes definitely weren't innocent. She made the decision that she didn't like this guy and shifted in her seat, wondering what would be a plausible excuse to leave relatively soon.
Nothing much ever slipped past Billy; he was too observant of people, he had to be. So it wasn't beyond him to tell that Dog was making Natalie uncomfortable. He tapped her with the hand that was around her and grabbed his beer.
"Let's go play pool"
It wasn't a question and he downed the end of his beer before nodding her towards the nearest table. On his way past Dog he smacked up upside the back of the head.
"Ya know how to play?"
"Sure but I'm not very good"
"We'll see 'bout that….excuse you; you're ass is in our way"
Natalie hadn't known what to say to the skinny little blond who'd parked herself in front of them, leaning on the pool table with a saucy grin pinned in place, but Billy apparently wasn't so shy.
"Aw, I just got back in town and that's all you have to say? Didn't you miss me?"
"Like I miss a fuckin' hangover. Move," he told her firmly.
It was either a testament to the woman's courage or stupidity that she didn't do as he said right away. Instead she straightened from the table and planted her hands on her hips, staring him down as if waiting for him to change his mind. Her barely-there skirt and low-cut top that bared her mid drift fit in with what many of the other girls around were wearing but made Natalie thankful for her cute but simple jeans and black top.
"Let's make it clear," Billy sight, taking the cigarette from his lips. "Whatever ya got down there these days," he spat, waving his hand at her crotch, "I don't want to catch it."
She frowned deeply and finally made her exit, stopping only when was about to pass Natalie.
"What made him start settling for you?"
A smart retort was on Natalie's lips, one that likely came from the bravery of some alcohol, but Billy grabbed the woman's arm and pushed her away before she had a chance to speak.
"Don't talk to her. Go."
She narrowed her eyes at Billy and turned with a dramatic flip of her hair.
"That was…interesting," Natalie observed.
Billy merely grunted and a hand on the small of her back propelled her up to the table. He racked up the balls quietly and Natalie watched contentedly, unable to complain about watching his body. He wore a fitted black long sleeved shirt and dark jeans. His sleeves were pushed up slightly over his forearms, showing the end of his twisting tribal tattoos, the opposite ends of which peaked up past his collar. A chain hung around his neck and she only now noticed it was a cross, dangling away as he got the balls in place.
"Alright, here's a stick," he told her, handing her one before continuing slowly. "And these are the balls. They gotta be broke, then we try to get them in one at a time and--"
"I'm not stupid," Natalie rolled her eyes.
"Don't I know it…only heard about ten times that you're in college," he scoffed.
They played through a game quietly, accepting beers a barmaid offered them. Natalie lost without putting up much a fight compared to his habit-wrought expertise. It was discouraging but she refused to be embarrassed; she had warned him.
"Ya need someone to show ya how to really play?"
Natalie noticed Dog had ventured over and was standing next to the table now, arms crossed and a smile in place to make his offer more tempting.
"…I might be beyond help," Natalie chuckled, trying to decline politely.
"Nah; I got your back"
"I think we got this; how about ya fuck off," Billy suggested otherwise.
Dog held up his hands in defense and sauntered back off before riling up any real argument with Billy. Once Dog was gone, Billy racked up he balls again to get them started a second time.
"You break"
"Oh this will be great," Natalie laughed lightly at herself, stepping up the end of the table.
"Wait, wait; shitty form," Billy paused her once she lined up her stick.
"Don't tell me you're surprised…."
"Alright. First of all ya hold the stick too damn tight; ya don't have to choke it," he instructed. "Now line up a shot real quick."
Natalie did so, very aware of the fact that Billy was still close behind her.
"Aim for the side a little so ya don't hit straight on," he corrected, leaning over her to point her pool stick at a different angle.
Natalie froze, conscious of Billy's body molding closely to hers as he bent over her. Once he'd adjusted her shot he straightened slightly, propping his arms up on the edge of the table. His hips were still fairly tight behind her, though, so it was hard to concentrate on the game.
The shot broke the balls nicely but none reached a pocket.
"That sucked…"
"Couldda been worse," Billy shrugged before sinking a few shots in a row.
Natalie was now much more attune to his body, and she felt a little flustered about it. So when their barmaid stopped by with shots Bodie had asked for, she took hers without complaint. She took another a few minutes later when the haggard woman was back, ignoring Billy's chuckle when she coughed, again, after it went down.
"Hey, umm….where's Paige?" Natalie frowned, finally realizing her friend was no longer playing darts.
Billy's head swiveled back to the table, but she wasn't there either and neither was Baggy. A grin spread across his face and Natalie had a good idea what he was thinking.
"That's my boy," he laughed.
"No way…can I use your phone? Mine's in her car…"
"Leave 'em alone," Billy waved the request away.
"There's no way they're hooking up right now. Can I please use your phone?"
Billy still thought it was pointless but fished his phone from his pocket for her. He'd seen Baggy charm girls before and wasn't too surprised the two were curiously missing.
'Uh….hi?'
"Hey Paige….where are you?"
'My sister called so I had to go pick her up….'
"Without telling me? What were you thinking?"
'You were having a good time and….I wasn't thinking. Look I drank a little too much, Baggy's driving. Sorry….are you okay?'
"I guess….annoyed you just bailed though…" Natalie sighed; she knew she should be much more upset and maybe panicky about this, but she attributed her mellowed feelings to alcohol.
'Sorry….I'll come get you once we get Tanya'
"No I can just catch a cab here in a few minutes. Don't worry about it…"
'Okay, if you're sure….are you going to come here or go home?'
"I'll come over soon. Bye"
'Later girl'
"Forgot about ya?"
"She had to go pick up her sister again…I'll just catch a cab after this game."
Billy nodded and they finished yet another game, which Natalie promptly lost.
"Can I use your phone again to call a cab? Sorry…"
"Nah"
"…okay, then is there a phone behind the bar I can use?" she asked, finding that a little awkward.
"No, I mean I'll give ya a ride over to Paige's place"
"Oh, no, you don't have to do that; I have cash on me for a cab"
"Good for you," he rolled his eyes. "But it's nothing'. C'mon…"
Natalie could see she didn't have much of a choice so she accompanied him back to the table to grab their jackets and then followed him out the front door. To her surprise, he bypassed the parking lot.
"I drove in with Bodie," he explained, seeing that she'd started to turn towards the shabby lot next to the bar. "I don't live far; gotta run into my place to get the keys."
She nodded and pulled her jacket a little tighter because she was once again becoming very aware of where she was. Simply, she wasn't in her part of town where she could admit she was more comfortable.
It was dark and she was out on the streets, and this part of the city didn't die down when it got dark. There were still a lot of people milling around, guys loitering around corners and people bumming around on stoops and in doorways. She didn't know what they were doing and probably didn't want to know. She felt a little safer knowing she was with Billy, a fact that strangely contradicted itself; who the hell felt safe with him? But she made sure to kept his pace and let herself drift over to walk a little closer to him. As with most everything else, he took note of the movement.
"Ain't nothin' to worry about"
Natalie blushed a little, but Billy didn't see any reason for her to be bashful about the way she'd reacted; she'd have to be stupid not to be cautious.
Natalie followed him into what she assumed was his apartment and they stepped into a small elevator. He punched the "3" button a few times in annoyance when the doors didn't shut right away, but they started to ascent smoothly after only a short wait. They ting-ed past the second floor before shuddering to a stop.
"Whoa," Natalie's eyes darted around and grabbed the wall in a quick panic.
"Don't worry; it happens sometimes," Billy muttered, leaning against the back wall to wait.
"It just happens sometimes?…why don't you just take the stairs?" Natalie asked worriedly.
"Well it don't always happen," he shrugged. "It'll fix itself."
"Wonderful," she sighed with some sarcasm, turning to lean against the railing; she hoped they wouldn't have to wait long.
"What? Ya scared?"
She looked at him and he was smirking.
"Of hanging in a metal box a couple stories up?….yeah, sortta," she nodded with a sardonic smile.
"Don't over react… … calm down," he shook his head at her.
"I am, I'm fine"
Billy rose an eyebrow because her fingers tapping like crazy on the railing told him differently; she didn't seem to notice she was doing it.
"…or is it me that makes ya nervous?" he asked smugly.
Natalie looked over cautiously when he straightened up from the wall.
"…no…" she decided.
"Maybe I should make ya nervous," he proposed, crossing the elevator in two long strides to stand in front of her and tower over her. "…guess I do make ya edgy; you're tappin' more."
Her fingers immediately stopped their drumming and he seemed to find this humorous.
"…or maybe you're claustrophobic…" he suggested, tracing a finger down the neckline of her silky top, finger brushing her skin slightly.
"…I'm not," she denied, voice soft as her eyes searched his face.
He smirked some more and she noticed when his eyes flickered down to her lips. That told her what was coming and she wasn't convinced she was ready for it when his lips did crash into hers.
He didn't even bother starting slowly, working her lips open in no time. His hand left her neck line and circled around her waist while his other hand shoved into her hair. She grabbed his side but tried to lean her body away so they weren't pressed together so much, but her back met the wall and he leaned with her so she couldn't get away. His hand was splayed over the small of her back and slowly began to pull her shirt up to push his hand past the hem onto her skin.
Natalie's mind was reeling but she was saved from having to decide how far she'd let him go by the elevator jerking back to life. They stumbled slightly but Billy caught himself on the wall and straightened up quickly. He continued to stare down at her but she averted her eyes and bit her lip, nervous about what they'd done now that they'd stopped for a moment.
Billy found this, too, to be amusing and he stepped away when the doors pinged open on his floor.
"You leave the door unlocked?" she asked, surprised, when he simply pushed the door open for them.
"Sometimes," he shrugged. "People know who I am; they back off."
"Right…can I use your bathroom?"
He nodded and pointed across the living room and she hurried in to take care of business. She was pleased and somewhat surprised to find that the bathroom wasn't hideous… maybe not immaculately clean but it wasn't a sloppy bachelor pad. She straightened herself in the mirror a little and left, pausing outside the door to take in the apartment.
The bulk of it was one large spacious room, though it contained both the living room and the kitchen, which was spaced off by a tall table with several stools around it. The living room had a fairly large TV, a couch, and a few armchairs, all of which looked comfortable in a worn-in sort of way. Off of the living room and straight across from the kitchen there were two other doors, which she assumed would be bedrooms.
"You want another drink or somethin'?"
"No, I shouldn't," Natalie declined, running a hand through her hair.
Billy was standing over by the table with a cigarette in hand, staring her down across the apartment. She suddenly felt a little awkward and on-the-spot; the scare of the elevator stopping had sobered her up, and she realized now that Billy may be expecting something of her.
"Alright," he nodded slowly, dragging in. "Best get goin' then."
He grabbed his keys off the table and ushered her out ahead of him. They opted for the stairs this time and Billy didn't have to point his car out to her because by now she'd recognize it anywhere.
He fired up the engine and Natalie jumped, even though she knew this beast of a car was loud. He turned the radio down, mostly for her benefit, and raced off in the direction of Paige and Baggy's building. Natalie looked over and watched him sitting there casually, one hand propped up on the wheel confidently. She felt a rush of gratitude towards him for not pushing anything physical after they'd gotten off the elevator. She knew the message she may have sent by kissing him back and never once giving him indication to stop, but she was pretty sure it had been good to stop.
Billy wasn't particularly shocked. He figured she'd probably just reacted without thinking in the elevator; her reaction also might've been helped along by alcohol. In retrospect, maybe he was lucky that he hadn't gotten slapped. It was worth it though, he decided, after taking a quick glance over at her.
"Thanks for the ride"
"Don't mention it," he wave away her gratitude. "See ya."
She nodded and reached over to squeeze his arm again in thanks before opening the door to get out and hurry up to Paige's apartment to buzz up. Once she opened the door to get in she heard the engine behind her roar and fade away down the street.