Time to move forward.

[golden_bill]

Nearly two weeks had passed, Billy had been spending most of his time in his room, being quiet, not drinking, not doing much at all, only wanting to earn trust and respect again. Hank had continued to work overtime communicating with people. It was the people in his very house, however, that he hardly interacted with. Billy was reading for a change

Comments

[lost_spiritus]

Mac looks up from the photo's she's got arranged on the dining table and nods "Of course."

[golden_bill]

Billy smiles, he loves to see his mother work, she's so careful about each detail.

His eyes focus on hers, the seriousness showing through, his usually happy go luckiness notably missing. "Thanks."

[lost_spiritus]

Filing the pictures away she sets them to one side to give him all her attention.

"What's wrong?"

[golden_bill]

He smiled gratefully. "I just wanted to talk about the stuff that's been going on lately."

[lost_spiritus]

She nodded slowly and motioned to the empty seat waiting for him to continue.

[golden_bill]

He moved over to the chair and smiled up her, the same smile he had when he was little. No matter how old he was, she was still his mother.

"Well. I've been doing a lot of thinking these last two weeks. I've talked with a lot of people."

[lost_spiritus]

Mac nodded slowly, it wasn't herplace to interrupt him.

[golden_bill]

"I'm getting back on track," Billy told her. "Working on college applications and everything. I've been laying low here and at school, just like you wanted. I've not had a drink since... well you know."

[lost_spiritus]

"That's good," she smiled at him slowly, "Billy, I'm proud that you're trying to undo what you've let happen."

[golden_bill]

He nearly cried, he was so happy she noticed, that she'd been paying attention after all. "I am, I really am. I've been trying to convince Hope too, but I don't think she wants me anymore." He looked at her sadly. "I let her down."

[lost_spiritus]

"Your actions hurt a lot of people and it will take time baby."

[golden_bill]

"I know Mom," he looked down shamefully. "I'm trying to go day by day to make up to people, especially you and her."

[lost_spiritus]

"And it will take time. Just give people the chance to heal."

[golden_bill]

He nodded, she was right and he knew it. He pulled a crumpled brochure from the pocket of his jeans, setting it on the table in front of her. "I think I want to go to college here, http://www.columbia.edu/, at Columbia. It's right in Manhattan. They've got a great Med School and acadamics and baseball. What do you think?"

[lost_spiritus]

"I think it's completley up to you because in the end it's your decision and your life."

[golden_bill]

"I want to apply there," Billy said confidently. "Maybe we could go to there visitation weekend next month?"