Fic: RunAway - IV. Alone
Aug. 23rd, 2006 08:01 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
silentdescantChapter Title: Alone
Chapter Summary: Dom is alone, and so is Billy
Ali breathed a sigh of relief when Jack finally fell asleep. She slipped quietly into the bedroom and changed out of her clothes, not turning the light on to let Billy sleep. When she crawled carefully into the bed beside him, he rolled over, wide awake.
“I walked away, Ali.”
“What do you mean, love?”
“I walked away from him.” Billy’s forehead was creased in realization, and his lips twisted into a frown.
“Who?”
“Dominic,” Billy whispered. “He wanted me to stay, but I didn’t. I left.”
Ali smiled. “For good?”
“For good.”
“Are you both…” she trailed off uncertainly. Okay? Still in love? Still friends? She didn’t know which one to ask.
“No.” His voice was barely audible.
“I am sorry about that, but… I’m glad it’s over, Billy.”
“I was tempted. Oh, I was tempted. But I resisted the temptation. I resisted him.”
“That’s good, Billy. That’s good.”
Ali rubbed his back soothingly until his eyes closed and he dropped off to sleep.
***
When the calls start again, Ali makes a habit of waking up before Billy.
“Billy, pick up the phone. Please, Bills. I need you. Evi’s gone. I’m sorry, Billy, I’m so sorry, just please answer the phone… I didn’t mean it, Bill, I do love you, I was angry… I wasn’t thinking, Billy, please pick up. I’m alone, Billy, and I don’t want to be alone. I want you here. I wish you were here, Billy. I love you. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for ruining your life, Billy, but I love you. Please… Please answer…”
The ramblings and apologies continue for another two minutes. Ali listens to the entire message, then presses delete each time.
***
Billy wakes up each morning around two-thirty, waiting for the call. Dom is always drunk or high, or both, and he is always begging. Begging for Billy to take him back, to pick up the phone, to speak to him. Billy never answers. Instead, he wipes the tears from his cheeks and slips back into bed. Ali deletes the messages in the morning.
***
One day, the calls stop. Billy waits by the phone for two hours, then sighs and goes to bed. He does this for three more nights, then starts to wake up earlier. Another week goes by, and Billy stays up from 11:45pm to 5:20am each night, but no call comes. Billy starts to worry.
Next: Away