Nancy Screw and the Coming of Age (18+) Chapter 5

Chapter 5

I Spy

The parking lot outside the school’s gym filled with a variety of local fans high on victory. And right in the middle of this group, Billy, with his teammates close beside him, exited their coliseum with a long night of spoils to enjoy; girls, booze, and maybe a bit of this or that.

“Babe!”

Billy took Nancy’s hand and pulled her close.

“Thanks for cheering! You really inspired the winning shot!”

Nancy looked up at Billy and almost forgot her suspicions and paranoia from earlier.

“Awe. Billy Bear!” She leaned in and kissed him.

“You mean it?”

“Like the last shot of the game, I do.”

Before Billy could lean in to kiss Nancy, another teammate grabbed his shoulder.

“Party at Allie’s, champ. Parent’s out of town!”

“Awesome, “ Billy cheered. “C’mon Nancy!”

Nancy fell silent for a moment. She remembered Charles Turner with those men. What were they going to do to him? How could she leave him there like that? He had a daughter to get back to, to love and embrace. She was afraid to not give him a way out. Though they were just words and a book, a work of fiction, she had never felt this strongly to anything tangible that required some thought to appreciate. But it was a party and the guest of honor was her Billy Bear. Could poor ole Charles Turner wait a few hours longer? He’s waited enough, Nancy knew, and she had stuck by him.

“A little more,” Nancy sighed. “A little more will be okay.

Billy shook Nancy lightly.

“Babe, you okay?”

Nancy looked at Billy once more.

“Yea, I…I need to get Beth so we can go together. I don’t think she knows the way.” Billy nodded.

“Probably a good idea. I can meet you there.”

Nancy smiled and gave Billy a kiss.

Beth was almost to her car when Nancy caught up to her.

“Wanna go to Billy’s party?”

Beth though t for a second and shook her head.

“I want to but I can’t. I have to take care of my sister. My parents won’t be home till much later.”

“Come on, Beth. I don’t want to go alone. And besides, you’re my best friend. No one else that cool will be there.”

“But I…”

Nancy thought for a moment.

“What if you took your sister with us? She’s almost seventeen. She should know what a party is.

“Well,” Beth replied. “That is a good point. But she’s more interested in books and studying.”

Nancy paused.

“I do have this book she may enjoy and I could let her take it with us. She’d be there and we could watch her and enjoy the party.”

Beth thought for a moment more. Then she lit up like a Christmas tree.

“Okay. Let’s try!”

Beth’s house was a short drive from where Allie’s house was, but Nancy’s was even closer to where they were now. The two arrived at Nancy’s house in record time. Her parents were home when she walked in.

“Nancy, so good to see you. I hear that we won!” Her mom sounded chipper this evening.

“Sure did,” Nancy replied. “Billy made the winning shot!”

Nancy’s father sat on the couch where she had sat earlier that day.

“Nancy, I put your book in your room.”

Her father turned the page of the Riverside Review.

“Good to see you reading, Nancy,” Her mother added.

Nancy smiled and, as she went upstairs, replied.

“I’m going to be hanging out at Beth’s later tonight. Probably will spend the night.”

“Okay, just give us a call so that we know you are okay and made it there in one piece, okay?” Her father looked up briefly from the Review.

“Sure thing!” Nancy replied, and kissed him and her mother goodnight.

Outside, with book in hand, Nancy met Beth at her car. She slid on into the passenger’s seat and the two took off towards Beth’s.