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Chapter 18

Hopper came by himself because I asked him to. I didn't think either Billy or Max would appreciate it if it became a big production. I was waiting outside by my car while he spoke to them.

He came out after what felt like forever.

"Got some fans in there," he said. I watched as he lit up a cigarette and slowly inhaled. I didn't stop him. He looked like he needed it.

"Some nonfans too I bet." I crossed my arms staring at the house. I could see someone in the window looking back out but I couldn't make out who it was.

"Yeah, they claimed you attacked them after they told you to mind your own business."

I scowled at that. "Of course they did."

"I didn't agree," he said. "You did good."

"I did what any decent person would do," I pointed out.

"Yeah, but a lot don't." We stood there in silence for a moment.

"What's going to happen?" I asked. "With them?"

"Same thing that always happens. I'll call in to Child Services. They'll get a visit, talk to the kids alone about it. Talk to you," he said, looking pointedly at me. "Best write down everything you saw and what happened. Date it too so they can't argue that. You calling will look good."

"But they're staying in that house?"

"Got nowhere else to go," he said.

"That's bullshit," I said. I scowled at the house.

"Yeah, it is," Hopper said. "I got to get back to the station. I'll tell Flo to deal with the paperwork. I need you to take a few days off so they can't argue that you tampered with the files."

I leant my head back. "This gets worse and worse."

"Flo will call you when you can come back." He patted my shoulder before he turned for his car. "You got a good punch."

I grinned at him as he walked away. "I know!"

oOo

"You are aware that Billy Hargrove is staring at you, right?"

"Ugh," I muttered. I didn't bother to look back to check. "I know." I had spent all of English feeling his eyes on the back of my head. He had been staring at me since he walked into English. It was the first time I had seen him since I hit his father. I didn't see what the big deal was unless he was upset I got involved in his business and called the cops. Maybe he wanted to know if I was going to tell anyone. It wasn't anyone else's business though.

"Why?" Robin asked. I looked up at her from across the lunch table.

"Who knows."

She smiled at me and I felt myself grow wary of the mischievous look in her eyes. "Maybe he wants to know the girl who keeps upstaging Carol."

I rolled my eyes. "Like that's hard."

"Be careful," she said. "I heard someone say that he's already slept with Amy and Tina is going after him next."

"They can have him," I waved her off. "I have better things to do with my time than waste it on boys." Robin looked at me carefully. I decided it was time to change the subject. "Do you know how to pick locks?"

"What?"

"I told this girl I babysit, Erica, that I'd teach her how to pick locks. Don't actually know how to though."

"And I do?"

"I don't know!" I exclaimed. "You know a whole bunch of languages, maybe you have other skills too!"

"Sure, I'm secretly a spy, out to infiltrate the exciting life of the American teens," she drawled.

"I knew it!" I leaned back and laughed.

oOo

The cabinet was almost finished. I just needed the metal that I had yet to find that would fit. So far none of it had seemed right. Since I couldn't go back to the police station yet, I was going to go to the junkyard.

"So what's a girl like you doing driving around with a sledgehammer." Billy was leaning against the driver's door of my car.

"A girl's got to have her ways of dealing with unwanted attention. Move." I motioned for him to get out of the way.

He blew smoke out slowly. "Is it really unwanted?"

I cocked my hip out and stared at him. "If you move, I'll get in the car and show you. I can always run you over."

"Kinky," he grinned at me. "Does everyone know you're a bit of a sadist?"

"Only the special ones. What do you want?"

He smirked slowly and I watched as his eyes went up and down my body. I tried not to roll mine. He didn't seem the type to actually say what he wanted if it didn't have to do with sex and I had been expecting him to ask about what had happened at his house. I decided to save him the trouble.

"Alright, let's get this over with." I started ticking my points off with my fingers as I said them. "No, I'm not going to sleep with you, I'm sure you think you're great but I have the feeling you're one of those guys who focuses more on your...happy ending than your partner's. The only people I spoke to about what happened was the police and no, I'm not planning on telling anyone because it's your business, not mine and not theirs. And despite the fact that you've only shown me you're an ass, I was serious about what I said. If you or Max need a safe space, you can come to me. Now if I've covered all the bases, fuck off and move away from my car."

He watched me silently but moved. I almost hit him with the door as I opened it. He didn't say anything in response, thankfully. I got into the car and drove off, trying hard to resist the urge to give him the finger. I could see him in the rearview window as I left. Thank god I was heading to the junkyard. Hitting things with a sledgehammer was going to be a much-needed release since I didn't have class tonight.

oOo

"Kate!"

I turned at the sound of my name. I held the thermos of coffee close to my chest as I watched a girl come up to me. She was in one of my classes but I didn't know her name. Least, I didn't think so.

"Yes?"

"Hi! How's it hanging?" She smiled widely at me. I took a sip of the coffee. It was blacker than I liked but I wasn't complaining. I hadn't slept well the night before.

"Fine, what's up?"

She glanced up before she looked back at me. "Right, so I'm totally having a party on Halloween. You can come, right?" She held out a flyer to me. I took it and looked it over. Tina's Halloween bash.

"I'm not sure. I'm taking someone out trick or treating," I said. "I promised."

"Okay," Tina answered. "So come after."

I hesitated. I didn't really want to go. High school parties were mainly kids getting drunk and doing stupid shit. It didn't seem like a good time when I considered that all the people going were kids much younger than me. Theoretically.

"Oh please!" Tina said. "You have to come! It honestly won't be the same without you! You have to come!"

"Why?" I didn't think I was that hot of a commodity.

"Because," she said, looking at me like I was stupid. "If you come, others will come and god, come on, I need more people than just randos. I want people of substance otherwise it won't be a good party!" She grinned at me. "Besides, Steve and Billy will be there."

"That's not an incentive." I took another sip of my coffee.

"It might be. It'll be fun!"

I considered it. I could invite Robin and if nothing else it would give me something to do. I doubted Erica would be trick or treating late. "I'll think about it."

"Great! I expect to see you there!" She grinned at me before turning and walking away. I considered yelling back that I wasn't committed. I turned and went back to something more important: my coffee.

[tbc]