Part 1
"Hello?" she answered.
"Mac it's me, please don't hang up." he pleaded. "Just listen!"
"Okay Billy, I'm listening." she replied.
"Can we please meet at our place? I need to tell you some things!"
"Sure Billy, I'll be right there." replied Mac with a smile. For a moment there was silence and Mac knew he was confused.
"I'll explain everything Mac when you get here, I promise." he said. "See you soon!"
"Bye." she said before she hung up the phone. She crawled of her bed and hurried to pull on a sweater, she knew the bus ride would chill her to the bone. Then she slipped on her shoes and she slipped silently out of her room and down the dark hallway. She crepted down the stairs and froze when they squeaked beneath her weight. When she was sure no one had heard, she advanced down the stairs and soundlessly out the front door. She flew down the driveway and loaded the bus that had just pulled up. The bus ride was long and cold, just as she had predicted, but finally it stopped in front of the Abbott estate. Mac ran as quickly as she could down to the playhouse, and when she reached it she stopped dead in her tracks. 'Was she ready for this? Was she ready to believe her heart, and not what her eyes had shown her?' She slowly approached the door and placed her hand on the knob. As the door opened Mac looked inside and her eyes met with the blue ones she'd come to know and love.
Billy hung up the phone with a smile. She was coming, she had actually agreed to come! He stopped and listened to see if anyone was around when he heard nothing he slipped out the back door into the darkness. As he walked down to the playhouse he relived his conversation with Brittany. 'She had been ruthless, not only wanting to not only hurt him, but also Mac. And he had been furious with her when he'd left Mac's house earlier that afternoon. And when he had shown up at her house unannounced she had been shocked and unprepared. With a little probing and yelling he had gotten her to tell him the truth. To his relief he had never slept with her that night or ever. He couldn't imagine himself with anyone but Mac, his Mac. Now all he had to do was convince her that he would never betray her that way. Why couldn't she see that? He shouldn't even ask that question, because he knew the answer! The way Mac had seen things had said it all! And every one of Britt's hints had fallen into place.'
"G** D***** her!" he said aloud. "She'd ruined everything!" He appoached the dark playhouse and entered quietly. He flipped on the light switch and lit a few candles. He had a hard task in front of him. As his thoughts traveled back to his conversation with Brittany his temper flared. 'How could she be so cruel? He had understood she had never been hurt, she'd even thought she loved him, but what right did that give her to ruin lives? She had thought that had given her every right, but that's where she was wrong! It was now his turn to make her pay, but not the way she'd gotten revenge. He was going to make things right with Mac and then finally they could be together openly! And that's where he'd get Britt, he knew that would hurt her more then anything, to know that she had lost him to Mac. Add in truth, he had never really cared for her, she'd just been a distraction from Mac, but it had only worked for so long. Love could only be denied for so long!' Suddenly he heard noises outside and he knew it was Mac. He turned to listen to her approach and then heard her stop. Was she changing her mind? God no! But then he heard her place a hand on the knob and his heartbeat slowed. And then the door opened and he turned to look into the eyes of the women he loved, and would always love!
Mac was the first to blink and break the indescribable spell that had fallen over them. She slowly walked into the playhouse and stopped a few feet away from him.
"Mac." was all he could say.
"Yes Billy." she replied.
"I...." he said. "Want to explain everything to you, all you have to do is listen!" She walked over to the sofa and waited for him to continue. "After I talked to you and you told me what Brittany had told you, I went to visit her." he said.
"And?" Mac asked.
"She told me the whole truth." he replied as he sat down next to her.
"And what is the whole truth?" she asked quietly.
"I didn't sleep with her that night, or any night." he replied. "She planned everything down to the littlest detail! What you saw was planned, she drugged me!"
"Are you serious?" Mac asked outraged.
"Yes, I can't believe she'd sink that low to seek revenge." he replied. "You see she's known all summer about us and all she wanted was revenge, and to hurt us as much, as if not more then we hurt her!"
"Oh Billy why did I fall for it? Do I really doubt you that much?" Mac asked with tears in her eyes.
"It's not your fault Mac, you have to believe what your eyes tell you and I am sure they gave you a real show." he replied. "But I don't have all the details, and I am not sure I want them! But I wanted you to know the truth."
"I know the truth Billy, my hearts been telling me the truth the whole time!" Mac cried. Billy didn't wait for her to say another word, he just wrapped her in his arms and held her tightly against him. Mac pulled back from him and looked at him. "Do you forgive me?" she asked softly. "For all those things I said to you?"
"Of course Mac," he said into her ear as he pulled her close again. "I never blamed you! The reaction you had was natural, I would have felt the same way!"
"I am just so sorry!" she said.
"Don't be," he replied with a smile. "All that matters is that we can be together now!"
"No we can't Billy, what about Raul?" Mac asked.
"Don't worry about Raul right now, all I want to do is this!" he said leaning close. He leaned in and touched his lips softly to hers. Mac wrapped her arms around his neck tightly and held on for dear life. Billy's hands wandered acrossed her back and finally settled on her hips, pulling her closer. Billy deepened the kiss then finally broke away with a grin. "I've missed you!" he whispered as he looked into her eyes.
The next morning Billy picked Mac up for school and then they headed to face the fight that they knew would be awaiting them. So many things were running through Mac's head. 'Did I make the right decision by going back to him? Should I really trust my heart?' For all she knew Billy had lied again! 'No,' she thought. 'I have to trust my heart! And my heart tells me I should be with Billy!' Suddenly Billy pulled to the side of the road and turned to face her.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked. "Are you having second thoughts?"
"No," she replied. "I know you are who I want to be with, and I trust you, only you!"
"I am glad to hear that." he replied as he leaned forward to kiss her. His lips were soft against hers and she leaned closer to inhale his scent, the scent that stayed with her all day and all through the night. When they broke apart she smiled and Billy pulled back onto the road. A short time later they arrived at Walnut Grove Academy ready to start a new year, a year that they knew wouldn't be easy. They walked into the main hall holding hands and immediately saw Brittany talking to Rianna and JT.
"Here we go," he whispered to her. "Just ignore her and keep walking."
"I planned on doing just that." she replied with a little smirk. As they walked past, Rianna looked at them in confusion and Brittany and JT sent scowls their way. They walked to Billy's locker and then Mac's.
"I'll meet you at lunch okay?" he asked.
"Yeah sure." she replied, her mind elsewhere.
"Hey look at me," he said. "Just remember it's just you and me, no one else!"
"I know." she replied. She leaned forward and kissed him softly. Just then the bell rang and they headed in different directions. One thing they hadn't noticed was Brittany watching them down the hall.
"You may think things are fine and dandy, but they're not Little Miss Prom Queen!" she hissed. "Things are far from over! Just wait and see, the games are about to begin!" And with that she walked down the hall to class.
The rest of the day went fine, but after school was another story! Mac met Billy out by his car and they drove to his house. They walked through the front door and into the living room.
"Today went better then I thought it would." Mac smiled.
"Yeah things were okay." Billy replied.
"What do you mean?" Mac asked.
"Well it's nothing, I am just worried about Raul." he replied.
"I know, so am I." she replied. Just then the doorbell rang and Billy went to answer it.
"Hey Raul," he says when he sees Raul standing there at the front door. "What's up?"
"We need to talk," Raul said as he walked past him into the living room. "Mac...." he says when he sees her. "What are you doing here?"
"Ah I was just talking to Billy about something."she replied quietly.
"Well I guess we can get this over with now." Raul said.
"What do you mean?" Billy asked.
"You know what I am talking about," he replied. "The only problem is that I don't, and I want to know now!" Billy and Mac looked at each other and then at Raul. 'Was now really the time?' They wondered.
"What do you want to know?" Mac asked carefully.
"Fine, you want me to come out and say it?" he asked. "Fine then, I want to know what is going on between you two!" Mac and Billy looked at each other. "This is killing me you two!" he said. "What's going on?"
"I guess you deserve to know." Billy replied.
"Know what?" Raul asked.
"Mac and I have been seeing each other." he said.
"You what?" Raul asked in shock. Tears filled his eyes but only anger showed. "How long has this been going on?" he asked.
"Since prom." Mac replied.
"Since prom, you've got to be kidding me!" he cried. He walked across the room and stared at the fire place.
"Raul we're so sorry, it just happened." Mac replied.
"Do you think that's suspposed to make me feel any better?" he asked. "The girl I love and my best friend stabbing me in the back when all I did was care. "
"Raul it's not like that." Mac insisted.
"Then how is it Mac?" he asked. "You tell me, how is it? You made me think it was my fault you broke up with me when all you were doing was leaving me for my best friend!"
"Raul come on man, we didn't do this to hurt you." Billy said.
"It may have started out that way, but the minute you decided to sneak around you hurt me." he replied.
"Please Raul don't let this ruin things, don't let this ruin our friendship!" Mac pleaded.
"If anyone ruined our friendship, it was you two!" Raul hissed. "I can't believe you two would do this to me! Why would you keep something like this a secret?"
"There's so much you don't know, so much you don't understand." Mac replied.
"Then tell me, help me to understand why the two people I love most would hurt me like this?" he said as more tears slid down his cheeks.
"There's just so much Raul, now isn't the time." she replied.
"Just talk!" he screamed. "Do you have any idea what this is doing to me?" Mac stared at him then looked at Billy who had tears in his eyes. "See you don't trust me enough anymore to share with me what's going on!" he cried.
"Raul it's just...." started Mac.
"Just what Mac?" he asked. "Wait let me guess, it's just complicated? Right! Was that what you were going to say? Wait don't even answer because I know what you're going to say!" Tears streamed down her face and she reached out to touch him. "Don't even try!" he hissed. Then he turned to Billy and said, "You haven't said much!"
"Well when you're acting this way, it's hard to get two words in." he replied.
"How am I suppose to act?" Raul asked. "Am I suppose to give you my blessings and have no hard feelings? If that's what you thought, then you're not as smart as I thought you were Billy!"
"Don't be like this Raul." Billy said.
"Don't act like what? Like you two stabbed me in the back?" he asked. "God Billy, what am I supposed to do? You know what I wanna do right now Billy?" Raul askeed after Billy said nothing.
"What?" Billy asked.
"I wanna knock your lights out!" he replied.
" Raul no!" Mac cried.
"If that's what you want to do, then do it." Billy replied.
"Raul don't." Mac said.
"That would make you feel better wouldn't it?" Raul asked.
"You guys let's calm down," Mac said. "I still love you Raul, doesn't that count for anything?"
"At this point, very little." he replied.
"You know the whole time we were sneaking around Mac was worried about you," Billy said. "So don't talk to her like that, and don't act like she doesn't matter to you anymore because if she didn't you wouldn't be acting like this!"
"Shut up Billy!" he screamed.
"Why because you know I am right, is that why?"
"I told you to shut up Billy!" Raul cried.
"NO not until you admit it!" Billy screamed back. At that moment Raul just lost it. He pulled back his fist and knocked Billy in the nose. Billy stumbled back but steadied himself. Raul just stood there and looking at Mac's tear-stained face and the shock in her eyes.
"Billy are you okay?" she cried, as she rushed toward him. "Raul how could you do that?" she asked. He just looked at her then stormed out the front door. "Billy are you okay?" she asked again.
"Yeah I am fine." he replied as he watched Raul walk down the front steps.
"Billy what are we going to do?"
"I don't know," Mac he replied as he held her close. "I really don't know."
A week later Mac walked down the stairs at the estate and into the livingroom. She walked over and looked out the window and let her thoughts wander. 'Where was Raul? Was he okay? He had been avoiding her all week, she hadn't seen him at school. She was beginning to worry about him. He was taking this so hard, but with good reason. There had to be away to talk to him, to get him to understand. There just had to be!' Just then the doorbell rang and her thoughts returned to the present.
"I wonder who that is?" she said aloud, as she walked over to the door and opened it. "Raul!" she gasped in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"I need to talk to you." he said as he walked past her into the livingroom.
"About what?" she asked, as she closed the door and followed him.
"About last week." he replied, with his back to her.
"What about it?" she asked confused.
"Look I'm sorry." he said as he finally turned to face her with tears in his eyes.
"Raul, you have no reason to be sorry." she replied as tears filled her eyes too.
"Yes I do." he said. "I have every reason to be!"
"Why, why do you say that?" Mac asked. "You've done nothing wrong, if someone should apologize it should be me!"
"That may be, but I should have listened to your reasons for keeping your relationship with Billy a secret." he stated.
"That may be true, but Raul....." she started.
"No buts Mac," he said. "I want to know your reasons!"
"I'm not really sure you do." she replied.
"Just tell me Mac." he said as he sat down on the couch.
"Fine," she replied, sitting next to him. "If you really want to know!"
"Oh my God Mac, why didn't you tell me?" asked Raul, when Mac had finished explaining. "I could have helped!"
"I know that now Raul, but at the time things were so crazy that I wasn't thinking clearly." she replied. "I'm just sorry you were hurt in the processs!"
"Mac, I'm more hurt that you didn't tell me." he replied. "Not that you're dating Billy. I want you two to be happy and if you're happy with each other then you belong together!"
"Raul, I jsut feel so bad," whispered Mac. "It tore me up inside having to lie to you." she said. "That's why I broke up with you, so at least that way I wasn't leading you on."
"Just stop it Mac, if I'm mad at anyone now it's Mrs. Abbott." he replied. "We'll get through this, I just want you to know that no matter what happens, I'm here for you!"
"I know Raul, I know." she said quietly. Raul drew Mac into his arms and held her tightly. She just started to sob and he held her till she settled down again. "I'm so happy you're not angry anymore." she sighed.
"I never really was, it was more shock than anger." he replied.
Mac pulled back and said, "I do love you Raul, but it's different than what you feel, or what you used to feel."
"I know." he said.
"See I love you more as a brother, someone who's always there for me." she said.
"I understand that Mac and I have a feeling you've always felt that way," he said. "It's just now that you're realizing it!" Mac smiled slightly at him and then looked down at her hands. "Look I have to go now, but I'll call you later okay?" he asked.
"Sure." she replied, looking up at him again. She walked with him to the door and hugged him goodbye. And as she pulled back she placed a soft kiss on his cheek. "Thank you Raul." she said softly. He smiled and then turned to walk down the steps. Mac watched him walk down the driveway and then load the bus. And as it drove away she wondered if he was telling the truth or just putting her feelings first. "I guess only time will tell." she told herself as she closed the door and walked back into the living room to call Billy.
"He really said all that?" Billy asked when Mac had finished telling him about her talk with Raul.
"Yeah." replied Mac. "I was really surprised, but relieved at the same time!"
"I know what you mean," he said. "This makes all the difference!" Just then Billy's doorbell rang and he said, "Hold on, I'll be back!"
"Okay." she replied. Billy walked over to the door and his heart leapt when he saw Raul standing on the front steps.
"Hey Raul." he said when he opened the door.
"Can we talk?" he asked as he walked into the living room.
"Sure, just a minute." Billy replied as he walked over to the phone. "Can I call you back?" he asked Mac.
"Yeah, who's there?" she asked.
"I'll tell you later." he replied.
"Okay." she said. "Talk to you soon!"
"Bye." he said before he hung up the phone.
"Who was that?" asked Raul. "Wait let me guess....Mac?"
"Yeah it was." replied Billy.
"Then I guess we really don't need to talk." said Raul as he walked to the door.
"Wait Raul! We do need to talk." said Billy.
"Yeah, I guess you're right." replied Raul, as he walked back to the couch.
"I never meant to hurt you, and neither did Mac." he said.
"I know tou didn't, but you did." replied Raul. "It kills me inside knowing that you two didn't feel you could tell me!"
"I know it does Raul, but at the time we didn't want to cause anymore problems, we had enough of them to deal with." said Billy. "All I can say is that I'm sorry and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me someday."
"Like I told Mac, I'm more upset that you didn't tell me in the first place than the fact that you two are together." Raul replied. "I want you two to be happy and if you're happy together you should be together!"
"Do you really mean that?" Billy asked.
"Of course." he replied. "All I want is Mac's happiness, I always have! But know this Billy, if you ever hurt her in any way I'll hurt you myself!"
"I promise you that I'll only make her happy." Billy replied.
"Good, now I have to go," said Raul. "I'll talk to you later."
"Yeah, I'll see you at school." said Billy, as he watched Raul walk down the steps and towards the bus stop. 'Was he really that okay with things?' Billy wondered.
"Hey Cody!" Mac said.
"Hey Mac, what are you doing here?" he asked.
"Don't I have a shift today?" she asked.
"Not that I'm aware of," he replied. "But let me go check the schedule." he said.
"I could have sworn I worked today." she said as she followed him to the counter.
"Let's see....." he said to himself. "No, I'm sorry Mac you don't work until Thursday." he said.
"Oh that's okay, my head must be somewhere else today." she replied.
"Don't worry about it, we all have those types of days." he laughed.
"Well while I'm here, can I have a cup of coffee?" she asked.
"Sure, coming right up." he replied. Mac smiled when Cody handed her a cup and then she walked out to the patio and sat down at one of the tables. And when she glanced up, she saw Brittany walking towards her.
"So Mackenzie," she said. "How's life?"
"Fine." replied Mac quickly. "Why?"
"Oh, just wondering." Brittany replied. "You and Billy seem to be getting along quite well these day!"
"So, what's it to you?" Mac asked.
"It just seems weird that he can change girlfriends so quickly." she replied.
"Why, you change boyfriends like you change your outfits!" snapped Mac. "And if I remember correctly, that's the third outfit I've seen you in today!"
"Funny, very funny Mac." Brittany said with an annoyed smile. "But that's not what I meant!"
"Then what did you mean?" asked Mac.
"Well after what he and I shared...." she started to say.
"Save it Brittany," interrupted Mac. "I know all I need to know about that night!"
"And what do you know?" Brittany asked.
"Not much, but I do know that I trust Billy more than I'd trust anything you'd say!" Mac snapped.
"Suit yourself, but if I were you I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss what I'm telling you." replied Brit.
"You know what Brittany?" Mac asked. "Ever since that night you've been pushing me very hard to believe that you slept with Billy that night, now why is that?"
"Mac I was just trying to show you what kind of guy Billy is, I wanted you to know what he was really after." Brit replied.
"Well you know what?" Mac asked. "I know what kind of guy Billy is! He's caring, loving, handsome, and smart enough to know when to dump someone like you!" Brittany stared at her in disbelief and was then shocked when Mac suddenly stood and pushed past her. Brittany turned to watch Mac storm out the door and smiled to herself.
"It still bothers you Mackenzie, and you know it!" she said to herself.
Billy was sitting on the couch thinking of Mac when the doorbell rang. He snapped back to the present and stood to answer the door. His face lit up when he saw her standing there and opened the door quickly.
But before he could say anything, she pushed past him and said, "You'll never believe who I just talked to!"
"Who?" he asked in confusion as he closed the door and walked into the living room.
"Brittany." she said with a frown.
"Oh great." he replied as he sat down on the couch again.
Mac sat down next to him and said "Yeah you'll never guess what she said to me!"
"You're right, I never can guess. What has she said now?" he asked.
"She tried to tell me you two slept together." she replied.
"Again! She's saying we slept together again!" he cried.
"No Billy she was talking about the time in the pool house. But I told her that I trusted you more than anything she'd ever say to me!"
"Good show her you don't care, that you don't believe her!" he replied as he took her hand in his.
"She said she was trying to show me what type of guy you were." she replied.
"And what did you say?" he asked.
"I told her you were handsome, caring, loving and smart enough to dump someone like her!" Mac replied.
"I bet she didn't like that." he said with a smile.
"No, no she didn't." she replied. "She also told me you were quick to change girlfriends, once you got what you were after!"
"What a witch! You don't belive her do you Mac?" he asked.
"Of course not Billy." she said with a smile. "I asked her what her problem with that was because she changed boyfriends like she changes outfits! And I think I've seen her in three different ones today!"
"You actually said that to her?" he laughed. "Now I know she didn't like that!"
"No, but do I care what she likes?" Mac asked. "Not one bit! She's pushing so hard for me to believe that you only want sex from me!"
"But I don't Mac, not to say I don't think about it, but I'd never push you to do something you weren't ready for!"
"I know that," she replied. "You've never pushed me and I am happy about that!"
"I am willing to wait for you to be ready." he said.
She leaned forward and kissed him softly and then a voice from the doorway asked, "Wait till she's ready for what Billy? They both turned quickly to see Jack standing in the doorway!
"Ah...." stammered Billy as he looked from Mac's face to Jack's again.
"It's okay little brother, I was just kidding!" laughed Jack. "Somehow I'm not sure I want to know what you two are talking about!" Mac and Billy both let out the breath they had been holding. "But anyway, how did the first weeks of school go?" he asked, as he poured himself a glass of water.
"Pretty good." Mac replied, as Billy took her hand.
"We told Raul last week about what's been going on between us." smiled Billy. "Actually he sort of asked us what was going on!"
"Oh really, and how did he take it?" Jack asked.
"Oh really bad at first, he didn't talk to us for a week, avoided us completely." Mac replied.
"But the other day he talked to both of us and we've got things straightened out." Billy added.
"That's great, but I have to ask how is Brittany?" Jack questioned.
"She's still trying to make me believe she and Billy slept together." frowned Mac.
"That sounds like her." Jack replied.
"Yeah, but hopefully she'll get over it." said Billy.
"I wouldn't count on it." Mac replied.
"Well one can hope," said Jack. "Well if you'll excuse me, I have something to attend to!"
"Talk to you later Jack." said Billy.
"Bye Mr. Abbott." smiled Mac as they watched him disappear into the den. "I should be going too."
"Really?" he asked.
"Yeah, I have homework in almost every class." she replied.
"Well okay, but call me later." he said as they walked out the door.
"I will." she said. Billy leaned forward and kissed her on the lips softly and then watched her hurry down the driveway to the bus stop.
"Brittany." he sighed. "We've got to talk!" He closed the door once Mac had loaded the bus and then walked to the phone. He picked up the phone and dialed her number.
"Hello?" she answered.
"Hey Brittany, it's me Billy. Can we talk?" he asked.
"I guess, about what?" she asked.
"Great, can you come over here?" he asked, ignoring her first question. "We'll talk about it when you get here!"
"Yeah, I'll be right over." she replied, a little confused.
"Great, see you soon." he said before he hung up the phone.
'What do you want now Billy?' she asked herself. 'Could it be that you know the truth, that we didn't sleep together?'
A few minutes later, the doorbell rang and Billy walked over to answer it.
"Hi Brittany." he said seriously.
"Hello Billy." she replied as she walked into the living room. "What is it you wanted to discuss?"
"I hear you're still insisting we slept together." he said.
"And where did you hear that from?" she asked.
"Where do you think?" he hissed.
"I haven't a clue." she replied.
"I heard it from Mac." he replied.
"Oh that's right I did talk to her today, didn't I!" she smiled.
"Damnit Brittany!" he cried. "Why can't you let this drop?"
"Because Billy it meant alot to me!" she yelled. "Obviously more to me than it did to you!"
"You're damn right, that's the way I feel." he replied. "I'd never slept with you and you know it, you knew I was seeing Mac and you took advantage of me when I was nearly unconscious from exhaustion!"
"That's not true Billy and you know it!" she cried. "I loved you and I thought you felt the same way! We made love! We didn't have sex, we made love Billy!"
"Don't say that!" he said. "I'm not even sure it really happened in the first place!"
"How can you say that?" she asked with fake horror.
"Because Brittany, don't you think I'd remember something like that?" he asked. "Then again it could have just been the partner!" Brittany looked shock and hurt, he'd really hit home and he knew it!
"How dare you?" she hissed once she'd recovered. "I guess I wasn't enough for you!"
"What do you mean by that?" he asked.
"Even though we hadn't been sleeping together all summer," she began. "I could tell you'd had practice!"
"What are you saying?" he asked.
"Well I can't help but wonder if Mac was the one you've been sleeping with all summer?" she asked.
"Don't even go there Brittany!" he hissed. "You know darn well Mac isn't like that!"
"Do I?" she asked.
"Yeah you do." he replied.
"If you say so, but we did sleep together Billy, you know we did." she said. "Whether you're willing to admit it, you know we did!"
"Get out Brittany!" he yelled. "Just get out, I've heard enough!"
"But Billy!" she said as fake tears ran down her cheeks.
"No Brittany!" he said. She looked at him again and then hurried to the door. As she opened the door she glanced back and saw that his back was to her.
'You still don't know,' she said to herself as her tears suddenly stopped. She walked out the door and down to her car. "This is better than I ever hoped!" she said aloud. "I may have lost you, but I'm still ahead!"
Mac called Billy that night as she layed stretched out on her bed studying for a history test.
"Mac, Mac are you listening to anything I'm saying?" he asked.
"Hmm?" she asked. "I'm sorry what did you say? Sorry I'm listening, go ahead!"
"I was saying I talked to Brittany today after you left." he restated.
"What about?" Mac asked, still not fully paying attention.
"About what she said to you earlier." he replied.
"And what did she say?" Mac asked.
"Oh the usual." he answered. "Only this time she asked me if you and I had been sleeping together all summer!"
"She said what?" Mac cried. "I can't believe her!"
"I know, I know." he said. "And I told her she didn't know what she was talking about!"
"Do you think she believed you?" she asked.
"I really don't know." he replied.
"Doesn't she ever give up?" Mac asked with a sigh.
"It doesn't look like it." he replied.
"Ah look Billy, I have this huge test tomorrow and I can't concentrate if I talk to you." said Mac. "So I'll have to see you tomorrow!"
"I understand beautiful!" he replied with a smile. "How about we meet at Crimson Lights in the morning for coffee?"
"Sounds great, I'll need the coffee to stay awake in the morning." she laughed. "So, I'll meet you around seven?"
"Yeah, see you then. Bye!" he said.
"Bye!" she said and then hung up the phone. Mac tired to read the words on the page that was in front of her, but she couldn't focus on anything except what Billy had just said. 'Did Brittany really believed she and Billy had slept together all summer? Would she cause trouble by spreading rumors that were untrue?' Mac didn't put it past her, not one bit. 'There had to be a way to stop her, there just had to be or Brittany could ruin her life as well as Billy's. And she wouldn't let that happen, she couldn't!' Mac sighed and returned her gaze to the page in her history book and she forced herself to concentrate, she couldn't let Brittany get to her, she just couldn't!
After Billy hung up the phone his mind thought of the same questions! 'There had to be a way to stop Brittany, there just had to be! Of course he'd never hurt her, there had been enough of that and there was no need for anymore! But still there had to be something he could do.' He thought carefully for a moment, but nothin popped into his head. 'For now all he could do was sit back and watch, but he'd think of something and when he did he'd put a stop to Brittany for good, he promised himself that!'
The next morning Mac walked into Crimson Lights and spotted Billy out on the patio. He waved to her and she smiled as she walked towards him. He looked gorgeous in his khaki pants, a gray buttoned up shirt, and a black leather jacket with black boots. His smiled reached her eyes and she knew he was happy to see her. The moment he spotted her walk in, his life had brightened up. She looked beautiful in her knee length denim skirt, maroon sweater, and brown sandals. Her hair was braided down the back of her head, but once it reached the nape of her neck it was tied off and left to flow freely down her back. Her smile lit her face and he couldn't wait to kiss her. As she approached, he stood and swept her into his arms.
After he'd pressed his lips to hers he said, "I've been wanting to do that since I woke up this morning!" She blushed and sat down in the chair next to his. "I ordered us coffee, it should be here soon." he said.
"Great, I could use some." she replied. "I was up till three studying!"
"Ooo I'm glad I didn't take that class!" he said with a grin.
"Yeah like you really took anything worth taking." she laughed.
"Hey, I thought kissing 101 was a required class." he teased. She just giggled and then her eyes widened with pleasure as a cup of coffee was placed in front of her.
"Mmmm." she sighed after she'd taken a sip. Just then Brittany walked through the door and they both groaned. They tired to remain unseen, but she spotted them with a mischievous smile.
'Wonderful.' she thought as she walked towards them. "How are the lovebirds doing?" she asked.
"Great, thank you." Mac replied.
"That's nice," she replied. "Did you know that Billy and I had a nice chat last night?"
"Actually I did." Mac replied.
"Then I guess you know I figured out your other little secret." Brittany said with a sly smile.
"And what secret would that be?" Mac asked.
"Oh you know what I'm talking about," she replied. "I know all about the fun you two had this summer!"
"And what fun would that be?" asked Mac.
"Oh you know." said Brit.
"No Brittany I don't know!" hissed Mac through clenched teeth. "Why don't you share this new knowledge of yours with me?"
"Oh it's not new." Brittany smirked. "Well it will be to the kids at school when I tell them!"
"That's enough Brittany!" Billy said firmly.
"What Billy, don't the students of Walnut Grove Academy deserve to hear the new gossip I've discovered this summer?" Brittany asked.
"No they don't, because its none of their business." he replied.
"But I think they need to know that Little Miss Prom Queen and Mr. Billy Abbott have been sleeping together all summer, maybe even longer since the prom." Brittany replied with a satisfied smile.
Mac stared at her in horror and then a familiar voice asked "Mac, Billy, is that true?"
They all spun around to see Raul standing in the doorway of Crimson Light's "Raul......" Brittany smirked. "What are you doing here?"
"I came for a cup of coffee before school," he replied, questions filling his eyes."Now what are you guys talking about?"
"I think you heard us," Brittany said with a sly smile. "And I think you know exactly what we were talking about."
"I think I asked Billy and Mac a question?" he said ignoring her completely. "Is it true?" Raul watched Billy and Mac look at each other then back at him.
"Of course not Raul!" Mac cried with tears filling her eyes.
"No way man!" Billy said. "I would never go that far at least until the truth was out in the open!"
"Oh yeah right!" Brittany said. "Don't believe them Raul, of course they will tell you it wasn't true!"
"You know Brittany this doesn't involve you!" he glared at her.
"It doesn't?" she asked. "See Raul that's where you're wrong, they not only lied to you, they lied to me too! So of course it involves me!"
They all stared at her and then Billy said, "Raul I promise you nothing has gone that far, you have to believe me!" Raul looked at the look on Mac's face and the look in her eyes said everything he needed to know!
"Come on Raul the truth is right in front of you," Brittany said. "Just open your eyes and see for yourself!"
"You're right Britt, I know the answer." he replied. "Do you know how I know?" he asked turning to her.
"How?" she asked triumphantly.
"Look in Mac's eyes," he replied. "All I need to know can be seen there."
"Oh my G** you believe them!" she cried.
"Yeah Britt, I do." he replied.
"Well the rest of the school won't." she said.
"You're going to tell the whole school?" Mac cried. Brittany only smiled smugly. "You can't do that! You just can't!" she cried and then she ran through the back gate.
"Mac wait!" Billy called. "Brittany I swear, if you say word!" He didn't wait for her to reply. He just took off after Mac knowing that she'd head for his jeep. Bittany smiled to herself and then turned and walked back into the coffee house.
"Wait a minute Brittany!" Raul said as he grabbed her arm.
"What?" she asked annoyed.
"You'd better not spread a rumor like that about Mac!" he said with a scowl.
"And who is going to stop me, you?" she asked.
"I'll do anything in my power to stop you!" he replied.
"Oh, I am so scared." she replied.
"You should be Brittany, you see I know more than you think." he replied before walking back into the coffee house and out the front door.
"What was that about?" JT asked from the gate. "What did the loser have to say?"
"Non of your business JT!" Brit snapped. "Just leave me alone!"
"Hey wait!" he called grabbing her arm before she could walk away. "We have to talk."
"About what?" she asked.
"Us." he replied. "Now that Abbott and Little Miss Prom Queen are back together, we can be together!"
"In your dreams!" she laughed.
"You're still hung up on Abbott, aren't you?" he asked angrily.
"Of course not, but I'm not done with him either!" she replied.
"Look Brit, we could be together and I'm not going to be on the market very long." he said. "So...."
"So what?" she asked.
"Fine Brittany, you want to play it that way?" he questioned. "I guess I could go talk to Abbott right now!" He turned to leave, but Brittany grabbed his shoulder.
"JT wait! You wouldn't be stupid enough to do something like that." she said. "If you were, I'd ruin your life!"
"You know what Brittany, when you don't have anything to lose it doesn't matter and right now I ain't got nothin!" Brittany stood there in shock and watched him walk away.
"You wouldn't dare!" she hissed between clenched teeth. "You're not that stupid JT, are you?"
Billy caught up with Mac out front of his car and wrapped his arms around her shaking body.
"It's okay Mac, everything will be okay." he reassured her.
"But she'll ruin my life, ruin our lives." Mac sobbed. "I'm not like that, I wouldn't do something like that!"
"I know that Mac and so do all your friends." he replied as he wiped away her tears. "And those who believe her, aren't your friends!"
"But it's just not fair!" she cried. "Things are just way out of hand!"
"What are you saying Mac?" he asked.
"Nothing." she replied quietly. "We need to get to school!" Just then Raul walked through the front door and over to them.
"Are you okay Mac?" he asked, giving her a hug.
"No." she cried into his shoulder.
"It's going to be okay." he replied, rubbing her back. "We'll think of something!"
"I'm so glad you didn't believe her!" Mac sniffed.
"Why would I?" he asked. "Don't you think I know you well enough? Wait don't answer that!"
"Do you need a ride to school?" Billy asked as he opened the car door for Mac.
"Yeah sure, it's too cold to ride the bus." Raul replied as he crawled into the back seat. As Mac began to crawl into the front seat, JT walked up to them.
"Hold on a minute you guys!" he called.
"What do you want JT?" Billy asked.
"Oh there's just something I think you need to know." he replied with a grin.
"And what is that?" Mac asked.
"Well..." he started.
"JT!" cried Brittany from just outside the front door of the coffee house.
"What is she so worked up about?" Billy asked as Brittany walked towards them.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked.
"In a minute I was just about to tell Abbott something." he replied.
"Well that can wait, this is important!" she hissed.
"Fine, I'll talk to you at school Abbott." he said as Brittany drugged him to the car.
"Come on let's go." said Mac. "We don't want to be late!"
"I wonder what that was all about?" Raul asked once they were on the road.
"Who knows with JT." Mac replied.
"You know he was acting kind of funny." said Billy.
"Yeah and so was Brittany, it was almost as if she didn't want him to say what he was going to say." replied Mac.
"But those two are both weird." said Raul.
"Yeah you're right," said Billy. "But I wonder....."
"You wonder what?" questioned Mac.
"Oh nothing." answered Billy.
"Hey you two, I think I've just thought of a way to deal with Brittany!" said Raul suddenly.