Jealousy



The next day at school was a blur. I felt like I'd woken up from a really bad dream. It didn't feel real at all, but somehow it was. I walked down the halls of Woodsboro High like nothing happened, I was too afraid to even see Billy or Stu or to even think about what they'd done. I'm sure it would be all over the news if they had murdered someone, especially Sidney Prescott. A small part of me hoped I would see her walking down the hallways of school sometime soon, just so I knew she was safe. Before I could make it to my locker, someone interrupted me.


"ASHLEY!" a familiar voice shouted.


"Randy?" I asked.


"Did you hear the news?"


"What news?"


"Maureen Prescott was murdered!" he said with his eyes wide open.


"Sidney's mother?" I asked looking shocked. I mean I was shocked, I thought they killed Sidney.


"Yes, last night, she was slit from end to end, Ash."


"That's terrible. Do they know who did it?"


"Not a clue, Sidney's not at school today. Rumors are she seems to think it was Cotton Weary, a guy Maureen was supposedly having an affair with," Randy said with enthusiasm. He was always so interested in things.


"Her mother was having an affair?" I asked confused.


"Apparently, Cotton was at her house last night."


Well, we know that's not true, I thought. I never saw Cotton last night, at all. I just saw Billy and Stu.


"Wow, I can't imagine how Sidney feels."


"Me neither, I hope she is okay," Randy said looking off into the distance. He was always so sincere. "Listen, are we still on for tonight?" he added.


Tonight, what was tonight? "Ummm...."


"You forgot?" he asked.


"No, I just I've had a lot on my mind. What was it?" I said, honestly telling the truth.


"I'm working tonight! And you're coming passed the video store to stay with me. I've got the late shift and I don't want to stay alone. You're keeping me company right?"


"Oh yeah sure," I said. I really just wanted to go home tonight, but if I shut Randy down, he'll probably think I'm not interested in him. I wasn't interested in him to be honest, well as a best friend I was. I can't wait for the day he realizes I am not madly in love with him, I love him as a friend and I can't imagine not having him around, but there was nothing more to it. He's great and all, but it just doesn't go there for me.


"Okay, see you at lunch Ashley!" he went off with a smile.


I eventually made it to my locker. I couldn't stop thinking about Sidney and her mother. I can't believe Billy and Stu would kill Sidney's mother. Why? They must have had some sort of reason. And this Cotton guy was going to be trialed for the murder? He didn't even do it. I know that... but there's not really anything I can do about it. I can't tell anyone, not even Randy. No one would believe me anyway. I placed my books in my locker and turned to shut it. Once It was shut, I looked up to see Billy and Stu making their way down the halls. Suddenly everything felt like it was moving in slow motion. They walked like it was any other day, like they owned the school, Billy in particular. For everyone else it was just normal Billy and Stu walking down the hall, but I saw two creatures, two monsters I was afraid of, yet so interested in. I'd seen a whole different side to them, a side I never thought existed but it did. They fascinated me and to think I kind of was involved with one of their secrets, it made me feel special. It was an awful secret, but I felt like I had something, something that everyone in this entire school would dream of having with Billy and Stu. Stu made his way passed me without even acknowledging my existence, he didn't even look at me, its like he'd already forgotten who I was or what happened last night. Billy on the other hand walked directly passed me. For a second I caught his deep, brown eyes. I just stared into them and I felt him staring back. It was quick and brief but it felt like it lasted forever. The minute our eyes parted, he just kept walking, he didn't let anyone know that we had caught eyes, but I couldn't help but turn back and watch him walk off. There was something about Billy Loomis, something I couldn't quite put my finger on and something I really wanted to know about.


After school, Randy picked me up and took us to the video store. We sat in the car playing games with the radio. We often played games together, we'd have to flick through the channels and name the song and the artist. I usually got them all right and Randy got stuck on a few, but it was always fun hearing him complain when I told him the name of the song. We did things like this a lot, he made me happy. The most fun Randy and I had was sitting up all night watching horror movies together, it's something we had in common and I think its why we are such good friends. He gets me.


"Wanna watch a movie tonight when it gets late? No one comes in past 10 so we could turn something on the TV outback?" he asked.


"Of course, as long as it's a horror movie," I smiled.


That night, I walked through the store and tried to pick a video that we could watch. There were so many we'd seen and re-watched but we never got sick of them. In fact the more we watched them, the more enjoyable they got. We always quoted them together and I would always correct him when he falsely identified a certain scene or quote. It was fun making him getting angry, because it was just so adorable.


"The Changeling?" I asked.


"Again Ash? We watched that last week! Give it a couple more weeks and we can watch it again. Any other ones?"


"Umm, we haven't The Howling in a while," I said.


"Perfect! Get it and bring it out back."


We had to keep the door leading to the store open, so Randy could keep an eye out incase anyone decided to walk in. It was rare that any would come in this late, but he would rather be safe, considering he was meant to be working but instead was watching movies with me. I'm glad I had Randy around, it makes me forget how terrible and boring my life is and I honestly had forgotten all about last night.


Around an hour or so passed and Randy heard the front door of the store open. Someone had come in. He sat up quickly from the couch and turned the light on. He paused the movie and looked me strangely.


"Who rents videos at 11:30 at night?" he asked me.


I sat up and looked at him confused. I was a little scared, but I knew I was safe with Randy. He lives by horror movies, if someone tried anything on either of us, he'd be a sure survivor.


The both of us made our way out to the main floor and found none other than Billy Loomis standing in front of the horror section.


"Billy?" Randy asked. "What the fuck are you doing here?"


Billy turned and saw me. He looked at me for a moment and then directed his eyes to Randy. "I'm looking for a movie. Stu's staying over my place tonight and we're bored. I need something that will scare the shit out of Stu," he said.


"At this time of night? Why didn't you get it later?" Randy asked stepping in front of me.


"Don't ask questions, Randy, just let me find a movie."


Randy looked at me oddly and went out the back. I don't think he intended to, but he left Billy alone with me in the store. It was dead silent. If you listened close enough, you could probably hear my hands shaking. Billy continued looking around and he turned to see if Randy was gone.


"Oh you're still here," he said. I didn't answer. What was I meant to say? Yes? I'm still here?


He picked up a movie and walked towards me. There was a tension; I could feel it all over my body. He didn't say anything. He was merely standing in front of me holding a video and I felt so close to him. He waved the movie in front of me and it was Halloween.


"The one with the guy in a white mask who stalks babysitters? That's the best you can do?" I asked him. "I bet you've seen that 100 times."


"I have?" he asked slowly moving a little closer, I felt his eyes looking deeper into me.


"Oh trust me, you have," I said. I didn't have a response, I can never think so well on the spot.


"You must think I'm mad?" he moved even closer. By now he was so close that I could see every small imperfection on his face, I could almost smell his breath. The entire time, our eyes didn't leave each other. Neither of us wanted to break it, I don't think I even blinked once. "Well, Ashley, we all go a little mad sometimes," he added.


Before I could reply, Randy walked in to the room.


"Woah," he said looking at the two us. I broke the eye contact and Billy stepped away.


"Woah what?" I asked Randy.


"Nothing" he said. But I knew it was something. I've known that guy for years, I know all of his faces and his reactions, heck I know what he's thinking half the time. "Billy have you got a movie? We shut at midnight so hurry up," he added.


"I do," Billy said moving over to the counter. When Billy was finished he walked directly out of the store. He looked over at me and a small, evil smile swept across his face. It was small and hidden from Randy but I noticed it. That face was filled with mystery.


There was an awkward silence between Randy and I a few moments after Billy left. That almost never happens between us, we always have something to talk about.


"What was that about?" he broke the silence.


"What?"


"You know," he said scrunching his eyes up.


"I know what? I honestly don't know what you're talking about," I said, nothing happened anyway.


"With Billy," he said looking down.


"Billy? Nothing happened with Billy? We were talking about movies," I was honestly telling the truth.


"You can talk about movies without being inches from each others face," he said in sarcastic tone.


"What?" I said.


"I saw how he looked at you. Did he hurt you? Did he try something on you?" Randy said very interested.


"No no no Randy, it was nothing," I laughed. "He was just asking me about movies and he came to show me the one he picked. That's all."


"Whatever. I don't believe you but anyway."


I sensed some jealousy off Randy, but I couldn't help but wonder what would've happened if Randy didn't interrupt Billy and I?

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