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All disclaimers in Part 1

There's something in your eyes

Makes me wanna lose my self,

Makes me wanna lose myself in your heart,

There's something in your voice

That makes my heart beat fast

It feels like home to me

It feels like I'm all the way back where I come from

It feels like home to me

It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong

-'Feels Like Home: 'Chantal Kreviazuk

I can feel both of their eyes glancing down on me, Billie's more so than Kendall's though. I have no idea how to explain the sensations she stirred in me the moment she snuck up on that little dirt bike of hers. And the fact that her mere presence made me flash back to one of the most memorable nights of my life, the first step in my relationship with Bianca. I can't explain, and I'm not sure I even want to try. There's just something about Billie that is incredibly familiar and completely unsettling, all at the same time. She's a complete paradox, I can tell that already, even from the few minutes I spent with her.

Unfortunately I can also feel the weight of Jonathon's stare beating against my back as well. I honestly think if he could get away with it, he'd strap a collar and leash on me. The part I hate most though, is that I just don't care anymore. Not about myself. I could never be happy again without Bianca, so if my misery keeps her family safe from him, then so be it, it's a very small price to pay.

I look down and see that Billie is laying out on a blow up raft towards the little inlet that runs into Willow Lake. Looking over my shoulder discreetly I can see that Jon is far too busy with his little band of hoodlums to notice if I disappear for a little bit. I'm being inexplicably drawn to the raven haired woman, surely a little swim over in her direction wouldn't be too obvious.

As I drift over towards her on my own inflatable inner tube Billie smiles a bit in my direction. Again I can't help but feel a strong pull of familiarity, it's almost like I've known her in another life or another time.

And damn can that girl wear a bathing suit! "I see leather isn't the only thing you own." I flirted a bit, immediately feeling ashamed with myself. It's only been a year since I lost Bianca, I can't believe I could even feel myself being remotely attracted to a woman I really know absolutely nothing about.

The sound of her softly chuckling does nothing to help me though. "I like leather, what can I say? But yeah, Pine Valley in the summer really tends to roast a girl sometimes."

I look at her for a moment, wondering how she seems to be so familiar with our infamously odd southeastern Pennsylvania weather. "I thought you weren't from around here?"

Now I know something's up, because the expression on her face looks like she just got caught with her hand in the cookie jar, sneaking some chocolate chips before dinner.

"I'm not from Pine Valley exactly, but I grew up in the area. We've always had some of the strangest weather. I used to think Mother Nature had set up a bull's-eye right over my house some days, just waiting to see what she could throw at us next."

I laughed a bit at that, knowing exactly what she means. Still though, I can't help but feel a little unsettled by her reaction.

"So who was the brute that nearly busted the back of my bike earlier?" Billie's eyes are locked on Jonathon's form on top of the embankment, her stare that of pure ice.

For a moment I feel comforted for some inexplicable reason. I can literally feel a wave of pure protectiveness coming off of her. But as much as I'd love to hold onto that feeling, something that's been missing from my life for the last year now, I absolutely cannot let her go anywhere near him. For her sake and for the sake of Bianca's mother and sister. The very last thing that I need to do is make Jonathon jealous. He loses what little control he normally does have, and anyone in his path is in for more trouble then they can comprehend. And I'm certainly not worth it.

"Jonathon is someone you don't want to mess with."

"You've already told me that much. And I kinda picked up on it myself, wasn't real hard to notice he's a fifth grade bully in a twenty five year old body."

I can't help but chuckle a bit at the image that popped into my head. Big bad Jonathon Lavery lording over the jungle gym, arms crossed over his chest, chin stuck out, pushing off anyone that dare touch 'his' playset.

The image is amusing, but the reality of what he's really like is anything but. "No, he's a grown up bully, in a very grown up, and dangerous body. When he makes a threat, he follows through." I shudder at the thought, knowing what he's more than capable of doing to Erica and Kendall.

Billie's eyes harden even more. "Has he threatened you?"

I blink a few times, surprised at her perception. "No, not me." Not really a lie. "I'm telling you Billie, stay away from him." I don't want to see her hurt, and not just for the normal everyday reasons. She's gotten through a bit, somehow, and the last thing I want is someone getting hurt because they care about me. Never again.

"MAGGIE!"

It's like he has radar or something. I'm out of his sight for more than a few minutes and he automatically drops whatever he's doing to hunt me down. I'm pretty sure it's equivalent to stalking. I turn my raft around, heading back towards the shore. "I better go." Before I have a chance to start paddling, Billie grabs onto the plastic side.

"You don't have to go."

I shake my head sadly. "Yes I do."

Not giving her a chance to protest, I quickly pull myself along to the bank where Jon is standing waiting impatiently for me. "What the hell were you doing?"

"I went for a swim, what did it look like?" I know I shouldn't push him, but my control is slipping more and more. Before I was completely apathetic to his bullying me around, I honestly didn't care. I didn't care about anything anymore. Now though, for some reason, I'm starting to feel again. Sure, anger isn't the nicest emotion, but it's at least something. My temper seems to be returning to me in spades. That actually might not be a good thing, if the look on his face is any indication.

"Sarcasm isn't something I tolerate Maggie, you know that."

Blah blah blah.

He glances down to the inlet, while I'm really hoping Billie decides to stay out of sight and not try and play hero or something. I totally get that vibe off of her, from the moment she introduced herself. Thankfully she seems to have stayed where I left her because his gaze returns to me a minute later. "Lets go, Braden wants me to help him fix the suspension on the Mustang before his drag tonight."

I rolled my eyes, so typical. Jonathon may think he's leader of their little pack, but Braden has him wrapped completely around his finger. It's actually kinda creepy. "And that means I have to go why?"

Yep, I'm really having trouble keeping the anger in check. Definite trouble.

His eyes harden even more so. "We're leaving. Now." He stresses the 'we're', letting me know that staying without his supervision is not an option. I shake my head as I bend down to collect my towel and bag, knowing that I'm really going to have to start picking and choosing my battles when it comes to him.

As we head back up the hill I glance down towards the lake, wanting one last look at my new mysterious friend. My eyes immediately find her, still sitting stomach down on her raft, watching me intently. Our gazes lock for a brief moment, the strange intensity of the moment taking my breath away. I know there is more to Billie Monroe than meets the eye, I can feel it down to my soul. Much more. Now all I need to do is find out just what it is she's hiding.