Rebel Soul (17 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Wed 4th July

It had been about nine days since they had made their first appearance as a couple in public, that day at the river. Although at this moment, thinking about all they had done, and the problems that surrounds them, it felt a lot longer to Emily. They had gotten a few strange stares from people in town but they generally seemed to have been accepted as a couple, except for the families. No one had said to much to them about it, but you could feel the tension in Emily's house so thick, you could cut it with a knife, although Billy hadn’t said, she thought there was probably tension in his house to. But everyone had been civil so far and Emily came and went as she pleased. Today though, it was the fourth of July and both families always had a big celebration.

Emily and Billy after much discussion, had decided to make an appearance together at both homes, then head down to the river, were they could be together without judgment being passed on them as if they were criminals. Emily nodded her head at herself in the mirror at the thought. Well I guess we are criminals, but no one really needs to know about all that.

Emily dressed in a red belly shirt, some blue jeans shorts and a pair of sandals, taking care with her hair and makeup, she was very nervous about the day. How would her family react, was the biggest question in her mind?

Although Billy had picked her up a few times, in her driveway he had never gotten out of the car. Except for the time he was drunk and spouting his love for her, which ended with four guns pointed at his head.

The same also had went for her, she had never, really been on his property, except to go fishing the one time and help Billy with his pot patch. But today that would change, when they walked up to each other houses to eat with the families for the 4
th
. First at her house, then his, and if they survive, they would head to the river, for some fun with fireworks.

She could smell the barbeque outside, drift up into her room through the window. It smelled good. Her dad had hotdogs and hamburgers already on the grill, something he did every 4
th
of July. She had told her Mom, Billy was coming. Emily thought her Mom was going to faint, she turned so pale, but had simply looked at her and said "Ok, honey."

Finished dressing, Emily but her bathing suit in a bag with some sun screen then, and set them on the front porch, ready for a quick getaway, after they ate. Then set in the swing with her cell phone and waited for Billy’s text.

She didn’t have to wait long before her phone vibrated, I'm on my way, the text read.

She text back, K, then watched for him to pull in the driveway. She could see the picnic table already set up with a red and white checkered table cloth, potato salad, deviled eggs, and baked beans, with plastic wrap covering the food, under the large oak tree in the front yard. Emily could feel the hunger in her stomach, as her mouth watered, but also could feel the butterfly’s in her stomach as her nerves rattled her insides.

She saw Billy’s car pull into the driveway and park. He opened his car door and got out all smiles as she walked down to greet him, then she took his hand and led him to the picnic table. His hand was sweaty, she knew that he was nervous. She had never known him to be nervous and looked at him and said "It will be ok." He smiled at her and with a sideways grin, he whispered "Sure it will be.” She squeezed his hand then took a deep breath,

"Everyone knows Billy, he will be joining us for lunch" Emily announced, somewhat loudly. Oh God she though as Jack continued putting hamburgers on the plate from the grill, and didn’t look up.

"Welcome Billy" Judy said as she put a plate of lettuce and tomatoes on the table and smiled a somewhat weary smile. Dan who had his daughter for the day, shook Billy’s hand and said "Hello." Very nicely Emily thought, ok this might not go to bad.

"Let’s set down" Emily motioned her head at the table and told Billy just as Josh and Ricky rounded the house, both stopping to stare at them. Emily gave them a keep your mouths shut look.

"Boy's it's time to eat," Jack announced and set the burgers and hotdogs on the table. Everyone set down and Jack said the prayer, thanking the lord for the freedom of our country, then said "let’s eat."

The meal went well as far as Emily was concerned, even though Josh and Ricky glared at her the whole time. She even got a few glares from Ricky’s wife Amy.  Then out of the blue, with the meal almost over, unexpected to her at the time. Jack looked at Billy and said, “So you love my daughter Hu." His face was sober and unsmiling. Shut up Dad, she said in her mind.

Billy had a piece of potato salad on his fork and was about to put it in his mouth. He stopped then put the fork down, all seriousness now.

“Yes sir, I do." He said, gaining eye contact with Jack.

"And what do you plan on doing with your life Billy?" Jack ask as he wiped his hands on his napkin. All eyes were on Jack and Billy, at that point. Emily fidgeted on the bench, and played with her napkin.

"Well sir, Emily and I haven’t really discussed it yet but I have some money saved up, we have a few options. We could leave,"

Jack interrupted him, “how much money boy?” Jack shook his head “Billy 500 or 600 hundred dollars won't get you nowhere, in this world.”

"Sir, I know that, I have 30,000 saved and although I know that’s not enough to send us to collage or even buy us a piece of land or a house. I figure we can get grants for college, plus I have good credit my dad has credit. I figure we could either leave or buy some property here in Chestnut County, of course I want Emily to finish high school first. I love your daughter and I want to spend the rest of my life with her, sir." Billy talked smoothly with. Jack keeping eye contact.

Emily's phone vibrated and she looked at the text message from Josh. Get him the hell out of here now it read.

"Let’s go Billy," Emily turned her head and whispered. She looked at Josh, who had an evil grin on his face. She glared at him trying to send darts at him through her eyes.

They both stood, as Emily told the family they had somewhere else to be and Billy thanked them for the delicious food and the hospitality, shaking each of their hands before leaving.

"I think that went well" Billy said as they got into his car. They pulled to the end of the driveway and Billy lit a joint. "Shit thanks I need this," Emily told him as he laughed.

"Don't worry my family will be the same. We will eat, hear a few words then leave. Ok, you alright Baby?" He said as he pulled her closer to him.

"Yeah, I'm alright, just nervous." Billy pulled off the driveway, you could see his house in the distance. It looked bigger to Emily now, then it did from the bank at her pond.

"I never told you, that I have watched you from the bank at my pond, leave your house on your dirt bike and working in your yard. Have I?"

"No, you never told me that" he laughed. "You stalker" she laughed with him. "You stalk me then you shoot me, real evil Emily." He grinned, as he pulled a bottle of vodka out and they both had a drink. “You ready to meet the part of my clan you hadn't already met?"

"Let’s get it over with" she told him, staring at the house ahead.

* * *

Billy’s house was different then hers you could tell it didn't have the woman’s touch her home had. The yard was unkempt, a little bit of high grass here and there, flower gardens without flowers, chairs setting here and there, and paint chipping off the house. Although Emily didn't go in the house, she assumed the inside was probably unkempt also, but what can, you expect with a house full of men, she thought.

The smell of the pig roasting in the backyard had the smell of pork chops and even though she had just ate she was suddenly hungry again and her stomach actually growled. Billy took her hand, it didn’t feel as sweaty as before, but she thought hers probably did.

"You ready?" he looked at her and ask. She took a deep breath and smoothed out her clothes.

"Yes," she smiled at him, as his eye's showed desire for her and he eyed her up and down.

They walked to the back of the house, an old dinette table, set in the back yard and was covered with a sheet to be used as a table cloth. On the sheet was some homemade biscuits, mashed potatoes and corn on the cob, along with and apple pie.

"James’ wife, Cheryl cooked, I hope it’s good." He laughed.

Emily had always though James to be the quite brother of the Johnsons. She figured he was about twenty five.

James and his wife Cheryl had a trailer that set almost in the back yard of Billy’s home, there was kids’ toys scattered all around the yard. "Everybody this is my lovely girl Emily," Billy announced, his smile made her instantly feel more comfortable.

"Good to meet you,” Cheryl extended her hand. "Billy’s never brought a girl home before, this must be serious." She smiled.

"Your dad know your here Emily?" Andy Johnson ask without looking at her as he put the plates on the table.

"Yes sir he does," Emily lied, as Ed set down, she felt his eye's move intently down her body.

"Cheryl round everybody up and tell them the pig is ready," Andy told her. "Have a seat," Andy motioned for Emily, then Billy pulled a chair out for her.

Emily managed a weak smile as she set down at the table. Ed's roaming eyes made her feel even more uncomfortable, then she already felt. Just get over it Ed, she thought to herself. James and John came out of the trailer with the kids running behind them.

"Emily" John nodded his head, addressing her by name. James didn't say anything. Then Tim and Steve joined them, "Hey Emily" Tim smiled and waved at her.

They all dug into the food, right off, no prayers of thanks like at her house. Emily helped herself to a large slice of Pork, Mashed potatoes and corn on the cob.

The kids giggled and were interested in who she was, Kendal asking "Who she?" and pointed at her smiling. Emily guessed her to be about three and Chris the little boy, looked just like Billy, and looked to be about two. They both smiled at her and giggled, throughout the meal.

The family talked and laughed throughout the meal. None of them really addressed Emily but she didn't feel entirely out of place either.

They all soon begun leaving the table as Cheryl started clearing it. "I'll be right back," Billy told her as he got up to go in the house.

"Do you need some help?" Emily ask Cheryl, feeling comfortable with her. That’s when Cheryl turned and glared at her, unexpected to Emily she felt taken a back.

"What do you think you’re doing here, Emily Canton?" she said as she set down beside her, then continued talking. Emily was speechless. “You here with Billy, he’s blinded with love for you, he's wild and free loving, everyone he meets loves him, but you are smarter, you know, you will get him killed, you know, he's a home boy, and that he will never leave Chestnut County, but you are selfish.” Cheryl stopped talking for a second, long enough to give Emily time to speak, she opened her mouth but the words wouldn’t come out, then Cheryl continued, “You should be concentrating on finishing high school and going to college cause that's where you should be headed. You and Billy aren't meant to be together, get on with your life and leave Billy out of it, Miss Emily Canton." She said her name slowly, sounding out every syllable.

"You two sharing love stories," Billy walked up and said.

"Yes we are" Cheryl answered him as she glared at Emily.

Billy pulled Emily's chair out for her and as she stood up she looked at Cheryl, with a knowing smile. "Are you sure you don't need any help with the dishes?" Then she narrowed her eyes as if to say, stay out of my way.

"No I don't, thank you," then she continued with her work, carrying dishes toward her trailer.

"Let's go," Billy put his arm around Emily's shoulder leading her to the car then opened the door for her.

Emily felt as if she had been holding her breath for hours. As they left Billy's driveway relief washed over her and she felt drained and laid her head on Billy's shoulder resting her eyes.

Billy patted her head, "Emily I love you."

"I love you too" she answered him back.

"That went better than I thought it would, we are both still alive" he joked. "At least for now." She didn’t speak, just, kept her eyes closed the words Cheryl had said, repeating their self in her head.

     "Whoo river bound baby" Billy squalled as they turned off toward the river. The sun was beginning to set, the day finally coming to an end. As the crossed the bridge Billy lit some firecrackers and tossed them out the window. Emily laughed as she heard some girls under the bridge scream.

"Oh my god, this is going to be fun" Emily said laughing.

There was a big party going on with a large bong fire already started. Joints and liquor was being passed around like candy, the music was blaring. Emily and Billy were a big hit as they danced to (ACDC’s TNT.)

Billy lit a bottle rocket as the sun went down and the skies were dark, and through it in the air, igniting a Hugh bottle rocket fight, as groups of people begin throwing bottle rockets at one another and laughing. Some even going off the rope into the dark cold river water and, an El Camino failing miserably tried to climb the falls. Emily’s side hurt from laughing, the night was so much fun. A great difference from the day they had just spend, but they had made their stand, and show their families they intended on staying together despite, the stupid feud. Despite the disapproval they felt at home. Here at the river they were accepted, made to feel welcome, and even idolized by some.