CHAPTER ONE:
OLD RESENTMENTS..

▬▬ ☯︎︎ ▬▬

BILLIE HUFFED, CROSSING HER ARMS AGAINST HER CHEST. Standing behind her mother for more than ten minutes while hustling through New York City's airport was possibly the most boring task that Billie had ever been faced with; other than math, of course.

"I heard that."

"What? Me breathing? What's so bad about that?"

Maria Rodriguez sighed, turning around to face her annoyance-ridden daughter with a sympathetic gaze. "There's nothing wrong with breathing, Billie. I would be insane if I thought that, but what you did wasn't exhaling. It was huffing. So what's bothering you, Billie-Jean?"

"Billie, Mom. Just Billie."

"Fine. Just Billie, what's bothering you?"

  Billie rolled her eyes, watching as her mother cracked a small, amused smirk. "Very funny, Mom. But if you must know what's bothering me, it's really—you know—easy to figure out," Billie said, stuffing her hands into her orange leather jacket.

  "Hmm. Easy to figure out? Alright, gimme some hints," Maria asked, looking on at Billie with a knowing twinkle in her dark brown eyes.

"Okay. Greying hair, brown eyes, ass clothing choices, and a really small—"

"Billie Marie!"

"What! I'm just telling the truth! If he's got the dumbass personality it makes sense that he wouldn't have—you know—anything down there," Billie defended, hands shooting out of her jacket as she waved them around while speaking.

"My lord, Billie. Who raised you?" Her mother questioned, clearly already knowing the answer, but just throwing it out there for talks sake. Billie smirked as she heard the slight twinge of a laugh surface in Maria's words.

  "Well, technically it was you, but I mean, he was at least there for what? Thirteen years?" Billie rambled as they moved up the airport line; now only about three people away from getting their belongings and bags scanned. "I don't know. I lost count and care after we moved."

  Maria shook her head, examining her daughter with knowing eyes. "Billie, I know what you're doing. Stop pretending you're alright and talk to me. I know this is hard on you—trust me. But you can't hide behind sarcasm and indifference forever, Billie. One day your feelings will catch up to you."

  Sure they will. Billie thought sarcastically, arms once again crossing against her chest. I haven't cared in five years. I don't think one day is going to change anything. Billie forced herself to look her mother in the eyes, almost physically cringing at the pity in her irises. "I'm fine, Mom. Just a little pissed, alright?" Billie tried to convince as they walked forward again. "So, please. Just drop it, okay?"

Maria just pursed her lips, sighing before turning around and giving a kind hello to the security guard stood by the conveyor belt. Billie took a deep breath, visibly glad to have her mother off her back. She wasn't keen on having her mother's pity. Or really, she wasn't keen on having anyone's. She was strong. Billie Rodriguez didn't need pity to survive whatever she was walking into. She was determined to brave it on her own, like she always has.

Bringing her suitcase up and placing it on the conveyor belt with loud thump, Billie-Jean promised herself something. That she wouldn't let anyone or anything take her freedom. Billie-Jean Rodriguez would be unbreakable, unbridled, and unconformable; nothing would take away her prerogative. Not even him. She thought, trailing behind her mother towards the waiting room. Especially not him.

▬▬ ☯︎︎ ▬▬

BILLIE GRINNED WIDE AS THE WIND WHIPPED THROUGH HER CURLY BROWN HAIR, HEART RACING WITH ADRENALINE AS SHE GRIPPED HER MOTORCYCLE'S HANDLEBARS. Though she was cheap and quite clunky, Billie's orange motorcycle was a solace for her; a show of her determination and resilience as she had saved up for three whole years just to be able to purchase her. It was something she had done all on her own, and Billie was proud. Even if she was a bit old and crappy.

  Billie was currently stuck behind her mother and her car, forcing her to keep her motorcycle at a slower pace than Billie normally likes. It was no secret to anyone that knew Billie-Jean Rodriguez that she was, well, quite the reckless driver. Billie thrived in the rush of her motorcycle flying down roads and the feeling of the winds whipping through her hair. But Billie was willing to compromise her preferences for this trip, since she had absolutely no clue how to get to the Valley from the airport they just stumbled out of; and Billie guessed that she wouldn't be able to read a map whilst also steering a motorcycle, so she and her mother agreed that she would be the navigator while Billie followed behind.

  Billie glanced over towards her right for a moment, gazing at the orange-ish sands and bright, glaring sun beating down on her, her motorcycle, and her mother's car. Billie wasn't the biggest fan of the extreme heat that the sun's rays were currently sending her, but luckily for her, her mother was going fast enough that her motorcycle was picking up wind; so, in reality, all Billie needed to worry about was whether or not the sunscreen her mother clabbered her with was strong enough.

Turning her attention back to the road, Billie squinted in confusion as her mother's car suddenly turned down another road, forcing Billie to quickly turn as well. For some odd reason, Maria had decided to pull them from the route they'd been following; meaning they would be set back in time however long they wasted on this road. Billie's brows furrowed, inching her motorcycle a little closer to the car. She was for sure that her mother had to have a decent reason, since she'd been bugging Billie about hurrying ever since they got on the plane in New York last night.

  Billie's father was a man of extreme control, and liked to know and have every little detail planned and acknowledged; which meant that Billie was supposed to arrive at his house no later than 7 PM. Apparently, he had guests coming over for dinner to celebrate Billie's return. Which, honestly, confused Billie. Why would you invite people over to your house the first night your daughter who, by the way, you have a disastrous relationship with and are supposedly actively trying to improve said relationship with is staying over? To Billie, it makes no sense. Maybe he's just trying to defuse the tension. Billie had thought upon hearing this. Nah, he's just too stupid to care about anything else other than himself and his reputation.

Still curious over their sudden change of course, Billie maneuvered her motorcycle around her mom's car; speeding up so she was at level with the drivers seat window. Looking through the glass, Billie's gaze caught that of her mother's, and she motioned with her hand to roll down the window.

  Poking her head slightly out of the window, Maria looked at her daughter in confusion. "Billie? What's going on? I thought we agreed you would follow me!"

  "Yeah, we did! But I also thought we were in a hurry! You know, since my dad is a control freak!"

  "Billie, we're just stopping by a gas station I found on the map! You know, since vehicles need gas to move!"

"Okay! God, Mom. You don't need to get so defensive!" Billie snickered, smirking as Maria let out a sigh and sent Billie an annoyed but obviously amused glare.

"Just get your butt back behind me, Billie-Jean Marie! Or I'll ram you into the hot-ass sand with my car!"

"Alright, alright! I'm going!" Billie yelled before abruptly slowing down, pulling her motorcycle behind her mother's car once again.

  After getting comfortable behind her mother again, Billie began laughing to herself; letting out a couple of snorts along the way. She had always got a kick out of messing with her mother, and she was sure that Maria did as well. It was just how they worked: constantly joking and messing around with each other despite whatever circumstances they were currently facing. It was how they survived, and Billie wouldn't have it any other way.

  A few minutes of quiet passed by, with Billie enjoying the breeze that waved through her hair and tickled her skin. It was much less harsh than the winds she was getting on the main road, and it helped her relax. She'd been stressed for weeks now over her inevitable return to the Valley, and so relaxation has been basically nonexistent for her. Billie had only kept herself sane by keeping herself as busy as possible; like working extra shifts at her job, going out on dragging motorcycle rides, and staying up late watching whatever crap rolled on their cheap TV. So this fleeting moment of calm was a breather—an eye of the storm if you will. Billie knew that her life was about to change majorly. That was for sure. But what she didn't know was if the change would be good or bad—maybe a little of both—who knows.

  All that Billie-Jean Rodriguez knew was that her life was about to be flipped; whether it was upside down or right side up or whatever was the middle ground of the two, that was up to the fates to decide.

  Billie was snapped out of her quick moment of euphoria as she caught glimpse of the gas station her mother found, situated rather pathetically in what seemed to be a little ghost town.

  Following her mother's lead, Billie pulled into the parking lot of the gas station and parked beside her mother's car. She swung her leg over the side of the motorcycle, then let her feet hit the gravel with a breath of relief. No matter how much Billie loved riding her motorcycle, she did not love the feeling of stiffness that came from sitting on the saddle for too long.

  Billie stretched her arms out and shook out her feet, suddenly feeling the heat of the day as the wind from her motorcycle wasn't there to protect her anymore. To accommodate for the heat, Billie shrugged off her leather jacket and tied it around her waist; leaving her in just her silky tank top and her darker blue mom jeans.

  Finally, her mom exited her car and walked over to her. For some reason, she was eyeing Billie's head with disappointment.

  "Billie! What did I tell you about letting your hair down while riding your motorcycle!" she exclaimed dramatically, bringing her hands up to attempt to calm Billie's raging curls. "Look at it! It looks like your some kind of hoodlum! You're lucky I keep a spare brush in my purse, or you'd keep looking like a bird nested and crapped on your head."

"Love the kindness, Mom. Really encouraging." Billie teased as Maria continued to try and smooth out her hair.

"Are you really sassing me when I'm trying to help you?"

"You said my head looks like a bird shitted in it, I think I have some reason to be a little annoyed."

Maria rolled her eyes, telling Billie to stay put so she could go grab the brush from her purse. Seconds later she returned, immediately stepping forward and practically thrusting the brush into Billie's grasp.

"Alright. I want you to go fix your hair while I fill up the car and motorcycle, okay?" Maria explained, almost starting to walk off before turning around, "also, could you get me a water and a Snickers? Thank you, honey." Out of seemingly no where, Maria handed Billie five dollars from her jean pocket walked over to the car, getting in and driving over to the gas pumps.

  Billie shook her head and smiled to herself, shoving the money into her back jean pocket and waltzing up a cement step before pushing the door to the station open. Her eyes immediately searched for the bathrooms, quickly finding them slightly hidden in the back corner.

  After Billie fixed her hair and bought her mother a water and a Snickers, Billie walked back outside to see that her mother was waiting in the car with the window rolled down; clearly finished with filling the vehicles. With a playful glare, Billie handed her mother her things and made a snarky comment about if Maria was finally pleased, to which her mother merely gave her a look that said 'I love and hate you at the same time' and waved Billie off.

With that Billie grinned and jogged off, hopping back onto her motorcycle and following her mother as she drove off.

▬▬ ☯︎︎ ▬▬

THE VALLEY HAD BARELY CHANGED SINCE BILLIE LEFT IT FIVE YEARS AGO. It was still palm tree infested, hot as hell, and oddly bright in mood; to the point that it confused Billie. Maybe I just got too used to New York. Billie thought as she and her mother rolled up to Maria's new apartment place in Reseda, that was very conveniently far from her father's stupidly big house.

  The South Seas apartment complex's beige coloring almost glowed from the California sun's rays as Billie dismounted her orange motorcycle, taking a long glance at its stature. It surely wasn't the most amazing place she'd seen, but she supposed it would please her mother. After all, it did meet the requirement of being far from Diego Rodriguez, and Billie knew that fact would please her mother more than anything.

Billie almost jumped when she suddenly heard her mother's voice from beside her.

"Ah, Reseda. It's good to be back here. I grew up here, did I tell you that, Billie?" Maria said softly, gazing fondly out at the apartment.

  Billie raised an eyebrow. "No, you didn't. I thought you grew up in the Bronx. Well, that's at least what you told me."

  Maria put her hand on her daughter's shoulder. "That is true, but I moved here at the start of my sophomore year. I guess I forgot to tell you."

  "Sophomore year? That means you didn't grow up here, you just lived here," Billie corrected, turning her head to give her mother a look of tease.

  "Are you always going to try to correct me at every chance you get?"

  "Yup."

  Maria just rolled her eyes for what seemed like the hundredth time and walked off to collect their belongings. "Come on," she motioned as she opened the trunk, "come help me lug this stuff upstairs and then we'll get your things strapped down onto the bike."

  Billie listened, jogging over softly and grabbing her mother's dusty suitcase from the trunk and hauling it to the ground. "What room?" she asked as she also grabbed her mother's bag full of family keepsakes that she was planning on decorating the new apartment with.

  "Room 21," Maria told, "here's the keys, don't loose them."

  Billie caught the keys from the air and dug them into her leather jacket's pocket before heading off for the gate, eyes still wandering around the new area in curiosity.

Billie sat down the bag that was in her right hand before pushing open the gate, getting her first glimpse of the South Seas courtyard. To be honest, it wasn't very impressive. The pool wasn't even half filled, and there were overgrown vines scaling up some the walls; but it was a significant upgrade from their apartment back in the Bronx. That one had a roach infested garbage—so Billie was quite glad that she wouldn't have to deal with that ever again.

"Holy shit, is that who I think it is?"

Billie jolted, eyes darting to find the source of the sudden sound and being met with a face she had seen a few times before. Freddy Fernandez, one of her mom's friends kids whom she'd hung out with a few times with her mother when they were having issues with her father. Billie let a surprised smile form on her face as she looked at the Hispanic boy.

"Yup, it sure is, Fernandez."

Freddy smiled, shaking his head in pleasant surprise. "I didn't know you and your mom were moving back."

  "Really?" Billie questioned in confusion. She'd jumped to the conclusion that her father had already berated the whole town with the news of her return. Maybe just the rich people. Billie concluded in her head.

"Yeah, I had no clue. To be honest, after you and your mom's exit five years ago, I didn't think there was a chance at you coming back."

"Well, that makes two of us then," Billie said in a smaller voice than usual, taking a quick breath as a small, awkward silence set in for a bit. "So," she started, eager to change the subject, "how's everyone?"

"Pretty good. Though my abuela passed away two weeks ago. Other than that, it's good," Freddy rambled, giving Billie an awkward grimace.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Freddy. Tell your family I wish them the best," Billie replied courteously as she readjusted Maria's bag; it had began to start weighting down on Billie's shoulder.

"Thanks, I will," Freddy said, "here—wait—let me help you with that." Freddy stepped forward and pulled the bag off of Billie's warn out shoulder.

Billie exhaled a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Freddy. That thing was killing me."

"No problem, Billie. Hey, since you're back now, would you be up for a beach party tomorrow? Everyone's gonna be there. It would be a good way to announce your presence back in the Valley," Freddy asked as he began walking towards the metal staircase.

"A beach party, huh? Maybe, I don't know if I'll have enough energy tomorrow. After all I have spent the last night and half of today traveling, so you know, I planned on taking the day off tomorrow."

  "Ah, come on, Rodriguez. Don't be a downer. Just come on out tomorrow, even if it's just for a bit," Freddy pressed on, now hauling the bag upstairs while Billie followed suit with her mother's suitcase. "You know we all missed you. It would really brighten our sour moods to see you again."

  Billie rolled her eyes. "Fine. You've convinced me, Fernandez. I'll come brighten your stupid sour moods."

"That's more like it, Rodriguez!" Freddy exclaimed, helping Billie up the last step and twisting his head to look for Billie's new apartment. "By the way, if you really do need your beauty sleep, you can show up whenever you want. We're pretty much just chilling out there the whole day, so just pop in when you please."

  "Alright. Thanks again, Freddy. I can take it from here." Billie gave Freddy a thankful nod before he handed over the bag and Billie threw it over her shoulder once again. Billie bid Freddy a goodbye before craning her neck around, searching for the apartment. Billie remembered that it was apartment 21, but as she looked around she couldn't seem to spot it.

  "Billie!"

  Whipping around, Billie gazed down the hall and found her mother standing by a door that read 21. Billie marched down the hallway, meeting her mother at the front door.

"Who was that?" Maria asked, sticking out her hand to ask silently for the keys.

"Oh, sorry, here." Billie set the heavy bag down again and snuffed out the keys from her jacket pocket, reaching over and setting the keys in her mother's palm. "Oh, and yeah, it was Freddy Fernandez."

"Freddy? Oh! We haven't seen him or his family for ages! How's he doing?" Maria blabbed as she unlocked the door, smiling as she pushed it open.

"He said that he's doing good, other than his abuela dying," Billie responded as she wobbled into the apartment with the suitcase and bag, practically throwing them to the floor in exhaustion.

  "Oh, gosh. That's terrible—did you give your condolences?"

  "Of 'course, Mom. I'm not evil, you know."

  "Good. Now, let's get your motorcycle ready and then we can finally relax a bit before you head to your dad's, alright?" Maria told as she walked over towards Billie with a tired, but happy grin.

  "Okay." Suddenly, Billie was reminded of the whole reason she was even here. Him. The night that she had been dreading all summer was here, and there was no going back, no running away. Billie's life of little to no stress was officially gone; she was going back to the living hell that was her father's presence—and there was absolutely nothing she could do to stop it.

▬▬ ☯︎︎ ▬▬

THIS IS IT. Billie thought, feeling a wave of nerves waft over her. It's time.

Sitting in the saddle of her motorcycle, for once Billie-Jean Rodriguez did not feel free. No, she felt heavy, shackled, chained. Not at all like the weightless, freeing feelings she normally soared on. But maybe it was fitting. She was going to the one place she'd never been allowed to be free. The one place where she really was chained—chained by the wrists to the very man she was about to see in less than five minutes.

Just breath, Billie. She told herself. It will be alright. You don't even have to interact much with him. Just say hello to him and the guests and head off to your room. It'll be just like old times. And it would be. The only ounce of freedom Billie ever got over there was hiding; hiding in her room, in the backyard, and if she could get away with it, her bike. But that was only when she got lucky, and Billie wasn't known for her luck.

  It's not like he beat her, or anything of the sort—but it sure felt like it. The constant pressure, distance, and apathy was mind-numbing enough to emulate that sort of feeling. At least to thirteen year old Billie, it did. Her father wasn't a man of unconditional love, he preferred to pick and choose when he showed affection—which mostly resulted in him not showing any. In fact, her father really only seemed to care about her when she was either being a mindless zombie and taking all his crap without question, or when she was accompanied by friends, and by friends, she means Johnny.

  Johnny Lawrence, her ex-best friend and the boy that her father seemed to like more than he liked his own daughter. When Johnny was around, Diego Rodriguez turned into a kind man, smiling, cracking jokes, and treating Billie with some inch of care. But once Johnny, or one of his rich friends was out the door, whoosh. The real Diego Rodriguez was back, cold and distant to default.

  Of course, it wasn't Billie who suffered the most at her father's hand, it was her mother. Billie had no clue how Maria Rodriguez survived nearly 14 years married to that man; especially when he cheated (At least twice, if she could remember correctly.), lied, ignored, manipulated, and even almost hit her, once. Through the abuse he showed her mother is where Billie's true distain came from. She didn't care if he treated her like garbage, but if you treated her mother like garbage, she would hate you forever.

  Billie really didn't know where the line for hate started and dislike ended with her father. It wasn't like she wanted to hate her own father, no, of course not, but she wasn't sure she wanted to like him, either. She wanted to believe that Diego Rodriguez had at least somewhat changed, she really did, but Billie's hope for her father had died out years ago. If she was going to believe that Diego was any sort of a man he should have been years back, then it would take a miracle for Billie-Jean to believe it.

  Her breath hitched as Encino Hills, her father's neighborhood, or what Billie would call it, rich people land, sign came into view. She pulled in through the fancy, silver gate, gulping as she straightened up her back and forced her face into a neutral frown. She didn't need anyone seeing her distress. Billie knew how to play the part, and she would.

Driving through the various lanes in Encino Hills, Billie caught a glimpse of Johnny's house; still as grand and white as ever. She took another deep breath as she droned closer, feeling a certain hardness in her throat build up.

  Finally, as Billie's hands began to tighten their grips on the handlebars, Diego Rodriguez's house came into her vision. It looked almost exactly the same, expect for a few new bushes here and there. The front door was still the same golden and white, the windows still looked as tacky as ever, and even the flowers; still as dull as she last remembered them. If the house had barely changed, then Billie had no doubt that her father hadn't either.

  With shaky hands, Billie drove up the driveway, stopping next to her father's white Cadillac and dismounting her motorcycle. Her feet felt like rocks as they hit the ground, echoing off the perfect cement. She walked around to the back of her bike, unchaining her two bags and plopping them down onto the ground. And with one click of the front door, Billie's eyes were locked with the almost identical pair of hazel irises that belonged to her father.

"Billie-Jean," he spoke first, sounding excited. Billie wasn't so sure that the excitement was real. She watched as he stalked over to her, stopping in front of her and her bags. She suppressed a shudder. "It's—it's been so long, how are you?"

Its okay. She comforted herself. Just reply coldly. "Good. By the way, I prefer to be called Billie, not Billie-Jean."

She watched as her father's eyebrows ruffled, a swirl of emotion emanating from his eyes. He looked as though he was trying to figure her out, trying to find something he recognized in his daughter he barely even knew anymore. It would have made her sad if she was an onlooker, but she wasn't. The only feeling she felt at the moment was justice.

This is what you get when you don't care about your daughter in till she's almost an adult. Billie thought. A stranger who just happens to look somewhat like you.

  "Oh, okay," he said in a smaller voice. "Look, Billie. I know I messed up, but I'm here and I'm trying now. So, please. Just give me a chance."

  "I'll give you a chance when I feel like it. You know, how you treated me. And you know what? I don't feel like it," Billie basically snarled, gripping her bags and pushing past her father's shoulder.

She didn't even look back as she stormed to the front door, prying it open as quickly as possible. Billie could hear her father behind her, yelling her name in anguish.

Billie walked into the boring, lifeless kitchen, about the skirt upstairs before she heard her name boom from the dining room table.

"Billie!"

She bit the inside of her lip, trying to keep herself together. Turning to the voice, her eyes were met with the now standing figure of Johnny Lawrence, and seated behind him was Sid Weinburg, his step-father, and Johnny's mother, Mrs. Lawrence.

  Great. Billie thought as she gazed blankly at Johnny. Now I have to deal with him too.

▬▬ ☯︎︎ ▬▬

^^^^ Billie the second she saw Diego lmaooo.

Anyways, sorry if this chapter was boring—I just decided that I needed to dedicate a chapter to just Billie and all her emotions before introducing Daniel and starting the whole main romantic plot. So I hope I didn't bore you to death 💀😀!!!

But anywhores thank you guys for 250 reads!! It really means a lot to me!!!

Alright bye 😘 👋 ✌️