Summary:Billy and reader celebrate the first Christmas with their baby.
Likes, reblogs, comments are all much appreciated. I am German. Sometimes I get the tense wrong or make mistakes. I am useless when it comes to punctuation. Go easy on me, please.
The air is thick and stuffy and Billy feels like every breath takes twice as much effort. There’s screaming, crying children at every corner, snot-nosed and red-faced and headache-inducing.
If anyone had explained hell to him like this, he would be thoroughly inclined to believe every word of it and yet Billy finds himself here on a Friday afternoon of his own free will.
His eyes wander across the crowd standing in line to meet a fat old man with a fake beard as the mall keeps playing cheesy Christmas songs, everyone looks positively miserable.
A shiver runs down his spine as his mind wanders to another day at another mall. His body still bears the scar and sometimes, when life gets hectic and he gets too in his head, he can still feel the sharp sting going through his chest.
The soft touch of a hand against his arm shakes him from his grim thoughts and as he turns his head, he’s greeted by a comforting calm that always seems to rest in (Y/N)’s eyes.
She knows of his scars too, traces them every night when she rests in his arms, safe and warm. Sometimes she kisses them. “They are part of you,” she says. “ They are a sign of your strength. You survived and that’s something to be proud of. “
He doesn’t see it that way but he tries to. It’s a nice thought. That despite everything, a shitty dad, an absent mother, a possession, and a fucking spike through the chest, he came out alive and — and life seems to be gentle on him these days. It lets him find good things, good people, and keep them.
Maybe all of the hardships and pain have led him here and maybe they are worth it.
“ You excited to meet Santa? “ (Y/N) chuckles and looks up at him with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
“ So fucking excited, does my face not show it? “
A tut sounds from the woman behind them in line. “There are children here, watch your language. “
There’s a before Billy and an after. Before he was given a second chance and after. Before Billy would’ve replied with a smartass comment, would’ve picked a fight wherever he saw the chance. Fighting was familiar. It was comforting in a way. If he fought other people, his mind would let off and he didn’t have to deal with fighting his own demons.
After Billy sees no point in it. He will fight if he has to, but more than anything else, he wants peace and quiet and to not deal with more shit than he gets on the regular. So he just nods and murmurs a sorry before throwing a smirk at (Y/N) who reciprocates it back to him. For sure, he thinks, they’ll bitch about this lady together later at home.
“ Can you believe it, “ (Y/N) whispers, softly nudging his side. “ There are children here. “
“ I’ll do you one better, “ Billy replies. “ There’s even babies here. “
His eyes lower to her chest where a pair of blue eyes stare back at him from the face of a red-cheeked, smiley little boy. Eyes the same as his. Smile all gums, the two single teeth he has hidden in the back of his mouth.
“You hear that, Jack?” (Y/N) gasps in mock horror and looks down at the 8-month-old strapped to her chest. “There are babies here.”
The little boy lets out one of his cheerful baby laughs, the one that always sends Billy’s heart soaring. When he was younger, Billy promised himself that if he were to ever have a child, there would be no pain and suffering, no wondering if they were good enough, if their father loved them. Every time he sees his own son laugh or smile or even just breathe, an immense sense of happiness and pride fills him. Like everything good in the world lies in the face of his child.
Exactly a year ago he and (Y/N) were standing at this very place watching overworked and stressed-out parents standing in line to take a picture of their kid sitting on Santa’s lap. She was pregnant then, images of their family just a vision on the horizon. A beautiful dream about to come true.
It’s better than he could’ve ever imagined. For so long, Billy felt like there was no place for him in this world. Like all he could do was drift from one disappointment to the next. Heartache to heartache. Trying to stay afloat when anger and pain kept pulling him under. Kept trying to drown him.
Now, he thinks, he is exactly where he’s supposed to be. Maybe if nothing else, he’s meant to be a dad.
Even if he hates the music, the crowds, the other snot-nosed brutes. He loves his son, he loves his girlfriend, he loves spending time with them, making memories with them.
His son deserves to get the life he never had and if that includes cheesy overpriced Mall Santa pictures, Billy would gladly suffer through it with a smile on his face.
“Welcome to Santa’s Workshop. Santa is ready to see you now, what’s this little one’s name?” an overly friendly teenage girl greets them, the bells on her hat and slippers ringing with every move she makes, quickly catching the baby’s attention.
“This is Jack,” (Y/N) answers and takes him from the carrier, holding him up in her arms now.
“Oh hi Jack, are you excited to see Santa?” The teen asks, her voice raised up to a squeaky cheer.
And while Billy doesn’t go looking for trouble anymore and tends to walk away from confrontation these days, he’s still a sarcastic little fuck with a mouth too quick of this brain.
“Eh, we mostly brought him to take the picture of us.” He replies and shrugs his shoulder nonchalantly, earning him a chuckle and a nudge to his side from (Y/N) and a questioning look from the Christmas elf, clearly signaling him that his joke didn’t land with her.
A few seconds later they are led over to meet Santa. The big man sits on a huge red suede chair with gold trimming. Everything is decked out in tinsel and ribbon and garlands. It’s like Hallmark has thrown up in here.
Billy wants to hate it, he really does. Wants to resent every bit of the commercialized crap they put out for desperate parents to relish in.
And yet, when he looks over at his girlfriend holding their child, his child, and sees her smile and the way it matches the one on the baby’s face, he can’t help but feel an unfamiliar warmth spread through his chest.
Maybe love makes you see things differently. Put a different meaning even to the things you can’t stand.
“Does daddy want to be in the picture too?” The elf questions and shakes Billy from his daydream.
Without a second thought, without even a hint of hesitation, he goes to stand by his girl and his baby to take a picture with Santa. If someone had told him years ago that he’d be here, he would have called them crazy.
Every time someone reminds him of the fact that he is a dad now, his heart grows 3 sizes. If there was ever a title Billy was proud to hold, it’s the title of Dad.
This is never something he particularly wished for, never believed he would ever have this, and yet it’s all he could ever ask for.
Sometimes the most wonderful gifts are those you don’t even ask for.
The tree stands tall and proud in the corner of their living room. It is decked out in lights and tinsel and ornaments.
Looking at it transports Billy back to the past. It reminds him of many Christmas trees much like this one. He remembers his dad going out to get it on December 15, always December 15. Mom and he would stay home and watch a Christmas movie and wait for dad to bring the tree so they could decorate it. He loved their tradition. Maybe because it was one of the only times Neil took part in any happy family activities and there was no screaming and throwing plates. Maybe because his mom seemed genuinely at peace then.
Well that went to shit faster than he can remember
When mom left, Neil stopped bothering. There were a few years with no trees and then Susan and Max came along and while with them the trees came back, it was never the same.
This tree in all its kitschy, tinsel-covered glory, brings this feeling of peace and joy back into his heart. Makes him remember the good times.
There’s an ornament on the tree with his mother’s initials on it. She left it behind and for many years it had been stuffed into a box and left in the basement. That was until Billy moved out. It’s one of the few things he owns that belonged to his mom, and while his heart will forever hold some resentment towards her for leaving him behind, she was still his mother and there were good times. Good times he finally wants to remember again.
“He loves the tree,” (Y/N) exclaims as Billy rounds the corner and sits down on the floor next to her and their son. “He’s mesmerized by the lights.”
Billy hands her the mug of hot chocolate before taking a sip of his coffee. No milk but several spoons of sugar. She always makes fun of him for it. He says he likes it sweet, just like his women. It makes her laugh and blush so he’ll never stop saying it.
“You think it’s time for presents?” Billy asks and though their little one has no concept of what that means, he can see the sparkling of excitement and euphoria in (Y/N)’s eyes.
“You ready to see what Santa brought you?” (Y/N) directs the question and the baby who only looks back at his mom with a smile, all gums, no idea what any of her words mean but glad to be involved.
He loves ripping the paper off of the packages and soon enough the 3 of them are surrounded by an ocean of colors and patterns. Swallowed by a wave of wrapping paper.
Billy knows what’s in each of the boxes. When (Y/N) told him she was pregnant he promised himself he’d be that kind of dad. The one who’s involved. The one who knows what their kid is getting for Christmas, who helps buy and wrap the gifts.
“Should’ve just gotten him some rolls of wrapping paper and bows,” (Y/N) jokes once the baby has unwrapped all of the boxes and resorted to playing with the ribbon. They don’t have a lot when it comes to finances. Billy works as a mechanic while (Y/N) splits her time between being a mom and a waitress. Nevertheless, they tried to put as much money aside to make this first Christmas a special one, even if their kid doesn’t know the value of any of these gifts, they do and it is as much for them as it is for Jack.
“You did good. I think he’ll love the toys once he’s done staring at the tree.”
Billy knows that while he’s very vocal about his insecurities when it comes to being a dad, she keeps her fears about being a mom safely hidden inside her chest. They only break out every once in a while. So he tries to take every chance he gets to reassure her of the phenomenal job she’s doing.
“Thank you, baby” she replies and places a soft kiss on his lips. She tastes like hot chocolate and warmth. “I know we said no gifts but uh - I got you a little something”
She pulls a small box from under the tree, cheeks blushed from her confession.
“Well that’s good cause I got something for you too,” he replies and holds out a gift to her in exchange.
“Billy,”she gasps as she pulls the wooden frame from the paper. “I love this!”
It’s a photograph of them 3 at a garden party one of their friends invited them to earlier in the year. Jack is but a few months old, bucket hat and baby sunglasses perched on his head. His parents smiling at each other. Its love captured in a photograph.
“We don’t have a lot of family photos around. Thought maybe we should start. ”
“I love that. I really really do, Billy. And I love you! ”
She grants him another kiss before it’s his turn to unwrap the present.
At first, he’s not even sure what he’s looking at and then he turns it around. It’s a shiny blue Christmas ornament with his initials written on it in delicate calligraphy and the words “world’s best dad” on the other.
“I know you don’t like to talk about it but I see how much your mom’s ornament means to you so I thought maybe you’d like one for you. And you deserve it. You are the world’s best dad - and the world’s best boyfriend.”
It feels like he imagines being struck by lightning feels like. But in a good way. Like a switch has been flipped. Like suddenly everything falls into place right before his very eyes.
This is where he belongs. Where he’s meant to be. If all the hardship and pain have brought him here, he’d live through it all over again.
His next words aren’t planned. He hasn’t thought much about it. He wonders if she has. If so, she hasn’t mentioned it. But it feels right. It feels perfect.
Jack holds in his tiny hands a thin piece of ribbon, shiny and red and perfect.
“Can I have that,” Billy asks the baby, prying the ribbon away from his hands and replacing it with another piece of paper for him to rip up.
“What are you doing?” (Y/N) asks as Billy lifts himself up to one knee.
“I love you. I have loved you from the moment we met. I love you even more since you’ve given me the best present I could’ve ever received. Our baby. You made me a dad and you made me find my place in this world when I felt lost. I’m meant to be here with you and Jack. I’m sorry I don’t have a ring but I’ll get you one, I promise. Will you let me upgrade from best boyfriend to best husband? Will you marry me?”
She doesn’t say yes, not with words, but she doesn’t have to. She says it in many different ways. In the kisses she places all over his face. In the way she nods her head as their lips are connected. In the smile that takes over her lips when he wraps the ribbon around her ring finger.
There’s love in everything she does. There’s a yes in every little thing.
Sometimes the best Christmas gifts are the ones you didn’t even know you wanted. The ones you didn’t ask for but the ones you’ll never give back for anything in the world.
Sometimes the best Christmas gift is the love you receive from the people you love most and the knowledge that you’re right where you’re supposed to be.
Scratched up skateboard wheels rolling across the pavement fluttered through the three-inch crack of the front door as Billy sat at the kitchen table. He’ll be met with a stern lecture from a mustached lip if a fly managed to wander into the home like a tourist upon their first breath of the A.C. at a hotel lobby, but Billy had much more important business to intend to. Report cards were just around the corner and with his sweet talking skills, Billy’d convinced the math teacher into giving him a passing grade if he turned in 200 solved problems by the end of the week.
He had seven days. Seven whole days to answer some textbook questions that they’ve gone over in class. It should have been easy, except it wasn’t. Billy was failing the class for a reason. Day five only had two hours left of sunshine, yet Billy’s currently stuck on problem forty-six. With each tick of the clock mounted behind him, his frustration grew.
One of his temples rested in the cup of his left palm as he beat the eraser head on the other before tossing the pencil at the book pages. Words were merging into numbers and numbers were blurring into letters.
Fuck it, he thought, I’ll just ask for a tutor. Yet he knew if he kept this mindset he’d fail, receive a smack across the back of his head, and still wouldn’t seek out a tutor.
He could hear the skateboard’s wheels beat relentlessly against the cracked concrete while Max explained the footwork behind the technique to you, who was sitting on the grass with your white cane last he check. Jealousy picked at the nerves in his forehead as frustration clenched his eyebrows together.
His mind began running off of the book pages and onto the blue sports car in his driveway. Would he have enough for the wash and the wax. Would there be enough leftover for a tip? Billy was an asshole to a lot of things, but he knew what it was liked to be stiffed.
Page 267 was beginning to give him more trouble than it was worth, and those pointers the geek with the lisp in his class gave weren’t helping at all. The rim of one of Susan’s good glasses touched the plush of his bottom lip, the cool water streaming down the well of his parched throat―
A gasp bordering along a yelp burst through the door, clawing its way into his ear. He nearly choked on his drink; some loose water dribbled down his chin.
Pushing out of his chair and the table he was leaning on, not caring if the polished hardwood caught a couple scratches, he was out the front door in five seconds.
Under the shade of his palm, which he planted against his eyebrows to fend off the sun’s brightness, he scanned the situation for clues.
His step-sister’s skateboard lied planted on the other side of the street. Upside down. Wheels spinning lazily under the shade.
The little redheaded runt’s wide eyes met his. Laced with alarm. Her bottom lip wobbled in search for words. Her hands held out below her…toward you, who was slowly lifting yourself by the skin of your elbows.
Raw. Blood beginning to clot around the loose gravel that clung to the wounds.
Billy marched through the grass, nearly tripping over your forgotten cane. “Max, what’d you do?!”
Max took a deep breath, crouching down to you. Her small fingers brushed your palm before helping you to your feet. “I’m sorry.”
As soon as you were back on the safety pads of your feet, Max turned to face her fuming step-brother.”I didn’t mean―”
His hand landed on her slender shoulder, shaking her like an earthquake rattles a brick foundation. “No, of course you didn’t mean to, you little twerp.”
A couple specks of spit landed across her freckled cheeks and nose, prompting her to screw up her face in mild disgust. “She wanted―”
“How many times do I have to tell you? You need to be careful with her, she’s―”
“Stop talking about me like I’m not here, Billy.” You dusted off the debris from your stinging cuts. “I’m blind, not fragile. How many times do I have to tellyou?”
You would have walked off in the direction of his house if only you knew wherever the hell it was. Trying to land that kickflip Max had spent the last half hour explaining to you really messed with your sense of direction, but you weren’t about to tell them that. Your mother didn’t call you a stubborn mule for nothing plus you were getting really sick of Billy thinking you were weak, so you turned around and started stalking off without the aid device your parents payed for.
“Y/n, where are you going?” Billy called after you. “You can’t just leave.”
“Watch me!” You called over your shoulder, continuing your trek into the unknown.
Billy watched you walking down the street, and for once he appreciated living down such a long road miles away from the populated center of town. If it wasn’t one of his neighbors pulling into their cracked driveways after a long 9-to-5 shift or pulling away for a hearty meal at Benny’s Diner, cars rarely ever raced down this street.
Turning to Max, his grip loosened on her shoulder. “Grab your board and get inside.”
Max didn’t argue. Out of the two of them, Max had a more leveled head. She knew she could just check out the damage on your elbows and apologize again once Billy convinced you to come back into their comfy abode. Yanking away from her older step-brother, she ran for her precious skateboard.
“Babe, come on,” Billy tried to reason with you as his long legs neared you. “You know I didn’t mean it like that. You just―”
His warm hand gently latched onto your arm, turning you to face him. “I just what, Billy? You know people here either pity me or they stand feet apart from me like I’m made of glass,”the pressure in the center of your forehead begins to make itself known in the form of a headache, “I just thought things…here…were different.”
“They are, babe.” His chin bounced with quick little nods to reassure you. Sometimes he forgot that you couldn’t see these small actions. “Okay? They are. Max was teaching you one of her stupid tricks, and I just freaked, okay?”
Memories flicker through your mind, sounds and touch alike. When one of the mean girls at school had purposely stuck her foot out in front of you for taking “her man” away, you had bashed your head against a locker and were knocked out cold. You had woken up moments later in Billy’s arms as he carried you to the nurse’s office. You hadn’t bent over and died when the concussion symptoms came at you in full force; you had just taken the standard amount of sick days at home. Not any less and, definitely, not any more.
Other memories came at you, but none were as extreme as the concussion. Yet, with each scrape or nick that life threw at you, Billy reacted like blood was seeping through your clothing at an alarming rate or your lungs were restricting from lack of oxygen. Whatever it was, Billy acted like it was the end of the world for you.
“I didn’t cry when I fell off a tree branch and broke my arm in fourth grade, “ you began the recited verse you’ve told almost every member of your family, “so, I’m not gonna cry because of some stupid scuff marks on my elbows. I’m fine.”
“But, when I was sitting at the kitchen table, loss in thought, I heard it.” His thumbs were stroking the bones of your cheeks. “I heard you fall, Y/n. How was I supposed to know it wasn’t anything worse? When my dad first introduced me to Susan, Max walked around in crutches after a bad skateboard landing snapped her shin bone.”
You sighed, allowing his outlook on the situation widen the scope of your mind. Maybe you were being a little too harsh on him. After all, you couldn’t pour salt to the sizzle off the worry that ate you up inside whenever Billy decided to hang out with one of his pals. It would steal the sleep from you knowing he’d be driving around drunk. Him cradling you to the nurse’s office and you phoning him to make sure he made it to his bedroom safe were two sides of the same coin.
“I’m surprised Susan still lets her ride around on that thing.” His fingers carded through your hair. “I was just scared the same thing might of happened to you, or worse.”
“I understand, Billy.” You spoke so softly, Billy wasn’t entirely sure if it was just one of your breaths. A shuddering gasp forced its way out of your throat as you fought off the burning sensation of tears from the corner of your eyes. “I just get so frustrated sometimes.”
Your face met the soft cotton of his shirt as he brought you into the protection of his arms. “I know, baby,” He kissed the crown of your head. “I’m sorry I overreact sometimes.”
You sniffled a couple times before pulling away from him, “It’s okay.”
His lips brushed against the center of your forehead first then dipped his head to land another on your plump lips, but your fingers caught him. “You still have to apologize to Max first before you can kiss me.”
He took a deep breath. “Deal.”
Your fingers fumbled for his before before successfully latching on. You sighed as your palms melded together like ironworks as Billy led the way to his house.
As you both grew closer a loose thought struck you. “Wait. Don’t you still have homework to do?”
A/N: I hope I did alright in characterizing a blind reader.
Dating Billy was like dating one of the many attractive rockstars plastered on the pale walls of your bedroom, except only with slightly less screeching girls and more bloody knuckles. Billy hated when other men, many who are older, would try to propose to you some sort of midnight deal involving money and their hotel rooms and you hated when girls would reach up and twirl bits of his hair or rub the lapels of his jean jacket with their fingers every time you left to get more booze or for a quick bathroom break.
This was the Sunset Strip, Hollywood’s most popular spot for metal musicians and whores with fishnets that run up the expanse of their thighs, and it was a dangerous combo when the two of you were thrown into the mix. Yet, it was a drug that provided cheap thrills, and you and Billy were just teenagers without a whole lot of money lining your pockets. This was your amusement park. This was where parts of your D.N.A laid to rest. Billy’s too.
They say one loses fifty to about a hundred strands a day and you cannot imagine any other area in Los Angeles, other than your home, that’s collected all 54,750 of your fallen hair since the age of fifteen. No other area’s collected your fingerprints as much or your littered cigarettes. No other venue outside of the Whisky A Go-Go have you and Billy carried out most of your sloppy quickies in the public restroom—usually because Billy dragged you after a guitarist or singer couldn’t keep their eyes off you.
Billy’s jealousy has gotten you guys into more trouble than sometimes it’s worth. You’ve gotten kicked out of clubs for smashing beer bottles against the wall just centimeters away from his target, a musician’s most precious asset—his pouty face. You were surprised that you could count all scuffles Billy’s gotten himself into with band members, some from bands you actually enjoyed watching, on one hand.
You still haven’t forgiven him for banning the two of you from ever attending an L.A. Guns gig again.
“This place blows.” Billy slams his glass on the counter in a huff and the bartender gives him a pointed look before shaking his head to himself.
His attitude tonight was wearing down your placid features faster than a clock counted minutes. And, he’s hardly glanced in your direction to at least make it easier for you to hear him among all the other noise that penetrated your ear drums.
He slid off the stool and doesn’t apologize when his shoulder shoved into your chin. Sometimes you swore you could wrap your hands around his throat and strangle him.
All the trouble with security and other patrons you both been in hadn’t just been because of his loose tongue and quick fists. No, you were pretty sure you’ve been in more altercations that involved a split lip or black eye than he had. There were too many bimbos that rubbed you the wrong way and too many guys who thought they had a free pass to grope you just because you sometimes wore mini skirts and low-cut tops.
You knew Billy’s itching mood meant you had to turn down alcohol and provide the role of babysitter because if you didn’t, he’d do something that even he’d regret. But, you’ve never been one with much patience. It’s why you hardly knew the three-year-old stranger who lived under your parents’ roof and called you “sissy” in passing. You didn’t feel all that bad for the cold shoulder she often received, your mother and step-father provided plenty of warmth. They preferred her over you anyway.
“Wait up, jerk!” You called after your boyfriend, though he didn’t slow down. You weren’t doubtful that it was due to him ignoring you over simply just not hearing you.
The effort in teasing your hair and painting your face to near perfection had gone to waste so far, but you didn’t mind. The ever prideful girl in a leather skirt and jean jacket, though that alone couldn’t define you.
The bartender’s glare was glued to you, waiting for the payment of Billy’s whiskey glasses. You searched through your pockets, only finding a couple loose bills and some change of mostly pennies you knew wasn’t not nearly enough to cover the tap. You set it on the counter and chased after Billy’s direction before you could be flagged. Luckily some drunk was hassling the bartender for another serving and you caught the wisps of Billy’s dirty-blond locks leaving through the back exit.
Barging through the door, you found Billy already sucking on a Marlboro—your Marlboro.
You marched through the dirty alley. “Hey, stupid, I could’ve gotten arrested back there! I haven’t any money on me you know!” Just inches away from him, you continued, “He knows my freakin’ face.”
“Tough luck.” The smoke harbored in his mouth was blown into your face.
You swiped at him, knocking his, well, your cigarette on the ground. “I’m so sick of your pointless attitude, Billy. Grow up!”
With a flared nose, Billy scoffed, “Everything’s fuckin’ pointless, babe. Don’t you get it?” The point of his burning finger touched the chilled skin of your chest, pushing you. “You’re pointless.”
“No,” you shook your head, “you don’t mean that.” Focusing on the golden pendant that’s hung around his neck, you could feel the suffocating heat of his blue irises. “Two years can’t just go by and not mean anything,” you mumbled.
“Yeah? Well, it did!” A bit of his spit landed on your cheek as he puffed a breath down your face.
You knew this act almost too well. Billy may be the biggest asshole who ever lived, though you knew you stood in a place well below a pedestal to look down upon him, but whenever this sudden bout of anger was directed at you, you knew it was displaced. Billy had a fishermen’s nest worth of loathing in the pit of his stomach, directed at his father and things that couldn’t be undone from the past.
You’ve spent about 730 days together so far. You weren’t just some cheap date nor an easy lay. Billy’s shown you too much—given you more—to be able to take it back straight out of the blue. Damaged goods. That’s what the two of you were, and he found comfort in the thought that he wasn’t alone.
But, even when your brain knew better, your heart found it difficult to differentiate truth from impulse. And right now, the beating beneath your breast bone was thumping a very low, and foreboding note.
You tongued at the rim of your upper back molar, a nervous habit since preschool, before stating, “I don’t believe you.”
“Just get out of here!” Billy pointed at the dark street as if you hadn’t rode here as his passenger for the millionth time. “Find your own way home.”
“The hell I’m not,” you ground between your teeth. Your palms met his chest a couple times before he snatched your wrists.
But, when you glanced up at him, his face was turned into the deeper end of the alleyway. It’s almost too dark to see, but when you squinted you made out the shape of a figure, presumably a guy. And upon closer inspection, you noticed he was about your age. Maybe younger if going by the pudginess of his cheeks. You’d never seen him around before.
“Hey, asshole, what are you staring at?!” Billy’s voice rang in your ear like the beating of heavy church bells, or worse, thunder.
The lone boy looked stuck in a crossfire, and immediately you knew he was in fact younger by a few years based on the softness of his eyes despite the glow of a cigarette between two fingers. Hell, even at fourteen you’d been smoking for at least a year.
His knee jittered, ready to bounce if Billy proved too big of a menace, but he stood at a dead end. He had no where to go.
“Billy,” you warned, but Billy had already succumbed to the role of a predator. Tense muscle pulled out of your grasp as he stalked towards the wide-eyed deer. “Billy!”
“That’s it! I’m outta here!” But, this was what he wanted. If he couldn’t shoo you away like a pigeon picking at crumbs on a sidewalk, he’d ignore you like a lone cat skittering in the neighborhood.
Making up your mind about hailing a cab and then raiding your step-father’s study to pay for the ride, you’re about to reach the sidewalk when suddenly your blood ran cold. You could recognize the clinking of the sheathing of a pocketknife, you’ve carried the same one you found just hours before the first day of fourth grade on you since. Right now, it fit snug inside your leather boot and it bumped against your ankle with every step.
Which meant Billy somehow hadn’t slipped your knife in his pocket.
Yelping, Billy fell against the bricks and slid down until he reached the littered ground of smokes and shards of glass. The boy had already been running away by the time you’d turned to watch, shoving past you with sweat beads above his brow. Some of the glint of the metal in his hand was obstructed by a thick, red consistency and the steady thumping in your chest stuttered.
Running after the boy was a lost cause, especially since the streets tended to be busier at night than in the daylight. Yet, by the time you knelt beside your fallen boyfriend, his breath released in puffs and the tear of his white T-shirt across his abdomen contained stained blots. The skin beneath raw and wet, but not deep at all.
“Oh, thank God,” the breath swooshed out of your lungs, “It’s just a nick, Billy.”
“Fuck,” he chuckled as he inspected the cut. “Way to go world, just kick me when I’m already down!”
Your shaped eyebrows knitted together. “Jesus, have you gone mad? You just got shanked and you’re laughing?!” Your hand hovered just inches away from his wound. “What should we do?”
While you’d been too worried, the pads of his fingers grazed the slice. He winced. “Tonight, I was supposed to be some pissy prick, not escape death from the hands of some scrawny freak.”
“Does—Does it hurt?!”
“It’s not that bad, actually.” Yet, he grunted, “Little fucker,” under his breath as he got to his feet. You followed his lead, still shaken. “It just stings mostly. I’m more worried about the questions someone might ask when they see this,” he gestured to the gash of his ruined shirt, ”but we gotta clean it, babe.”
“We?” Arms crossed beneath your chest, you remembered the things he’d said just moments ago. “Don’t pretend you didn’t just tell me that I’m pointless! Clean it yourself.”
“Hey. Hey,” Billy reached for your arms, gently uncrossing them until your hands were enveloped in his. Somehow even when it was just above fifty degrees, Billy’s body was a furnace that radiated heat. You think it was the anger he could never quite let go of. “I didn’t mean any of it.”
You sheepishly glanced towards the side with puckered lips before you spoke. “You sure you didn’t mean it?”
“Never mean it.” He kissed at your hairline before pulling away.
“Then, why were you being so mean?” you questioned him, still a little insulted.
He sighed and brought you into his side, almost forgetting about the tenderness of his stomach but your were mindful. You knew this trick of his, tucking your head under his chin to hide the plain emotions he failed to bar behind a careless façade.
“Because of my dad… He—uh,“ his adam’s apple bobbed against your temple. “We’re leaving. He’s moving us to Indiana.”
Just when you thought tonight couldn’t get any worse, Billy dropped a bomb on your head.
A/N: You wanted chaotic and I couldn’t think of a more perfect place than 80’s Sunset Strip. Sorry it’s not 100% what you wanted, the story just seemed to go in this direction.
Summary:You meet Billy during summer, and the deal was to have a good time before the season is over, before you go back home. But what if the only thing you’re scared of - love - starts to flourish?
Tomorrow this time, you’ll be in a plane, flying away from California. Away from him.
Billy was supposed to be just a fling, someone to hang around and have a good time with. Looking out the window, you recognize the familiar Camaro even in the darkness. Bily is so much more. You didn’t want to fall, but what could you do? He was like a fever dream in the quiet of the night, and you caught it. The perfect bad boy should be just a new shiny toy with a price.
But he’s so much more. He’s killing you slowly, down there standing next to his car, out the window, always waiting below. Biting your lip, you catch his eyes, the wink he send your way making you smile. Taking a deep breath, and with the usual burning sensation in your stomach, you push the window open, using the ladder you placed next to it to climb down.
It’s always like this. You come back home, just to sneak out again. Devils roll the dice, angel roll their eyes, and there you go, for another night in his arms.
“Come! Come!” He suddenly whisper-yells, and you increase your pace as he does the same, going to the driver’s seat.
“(Y/N)!” You hear your father’s thunder voice, and it makes you rush inside the car, pulling the door close. “What the hell do you think you’re going with this lowlife?”
“Drive!” You tell him, but you’re still speaking when he speeds away, a laugh escaping your lips. Looking back, you see your father taking a few steps forward, gesturing and yelling something you can’t hear.
“He’s gonna be mad,” Billy warns you.
“What doesn’t kill me makes me want you more.” You tell him winking with a bright smile, the adrenaline making you breathe fast. “Where are we going?”
“I wanna show you a special place.” He gives you a look, and you don’t quite understand.
“Why is it special, Billy?” For some reason, your voice comes out a little weak, as you try to push back the only thing that’s in your head.
The sirens, the warning signs you’ve been ignoring until now.
This is the last day.
This is the last time you’ll get to see Billy. Touch him. Kiss him.
You shouldn’t feel like this. It was obvious you’d end up missing him, like you’ll miss Heloise, Nathan, Mike, all the friends you made here. But this is different.
Love wasn’t the point here. Love was the only thing that couldn’t happen. Not like this, not when you’ll have to leave. But summer is a knife, and it cuts to the bone.
“(Y/N)?”
“Huh?” You mutter, looking through the window and wiping the tears away. You didn’t even notice you were crying.
“Hey.” He touches your thigh, but you can’t look at him. “Why are you crying? Wasn’t it good? The time we spent together?”
“Of course.” You’re quick to admit. The time you’re spent with Billy was amazing. And for that same reason, you feel your heart breaking. It feels like you can’t breathe, like there’s a weight on your chest, pressing your lungs. You’re bleeding, but he will be the last to know. “You gave me exactly what I wanted. We had a nice time, no strings attached and-” Clearing your throat, you take a deep breath. “-and I will certainly miss you.”
“I will miss you too. Very much.”
“Yeah. But you’ll find some other girl and then, well, you’ll be just fine.” Pushing his hand away, you keep looking away. “And so will I.” That’s not true. That’s very far from the truth. He stops the car, and by what you can see from the surroundings, it’s a cliff. You can hear the waves crashing down there, violently, as the night takes over, the last traces of the day vanishing.
“(Y/N), please, don’t do this. It’s our last day together.” There’s something in his voice too. Sadness? Maybe. He’s probably a little touched by your state. “Talk to me. Tomorrow morning I’ll leave you one block away from your house and I’ll have to watch you walk away for the last time.” He steps out of the car, pushing the door quite violently.
Gasping, you bite your lip. This isn’t how it was supposed to be. Today was supposed to be amazing. Now it’s ruined, because of you. Maybe you should’ve kept your mouth shut, to have him for one last time, all smirks and laughter. But you don’t want to keep secrets just to keep him. Holding your breath, the anger, mixed with way too many feelings to describe, you get out as well, pushing the door close just as violently as he did. “What do you want me to say?” You suddenly yell, many tears rolling down this time. There’s no way to hide it now, you’re crying like a baby. “That I snuck through the garden gate every night this summer to seal my fate?” Walking over him, you keep your hair away from your face when the wind pushes it against you.
“Only yours?” He snaps back, furrowing his eyebrows. “Stop acting like you’re the only one suffering.”
“Oh, yeah.” Throwing a hand in the air, you pace around, running a hand through your hair. “You just had a good time, Billy. But I? I got used to the shape of your body. You’re eyes, blue. So damn blue, Billy. How am I ever going to look at the ocean again without thinking of you?” The words just flow out, and you’re seeing everything blurry, a lump in your throat making it hard to keep your voice straight. “And I told myself this is cool. That we have no rules in our personal, breakable heaven, bound to break apart. With a goddamn expiration date.”
“You–”
“It was amazing, yes. It was freaking amazing, but it has been a cruel summer with you, Billy Hargrove.” Cutting him off, you move to stand right in front of him, looking up into those eyes you’ll never forget, letting him see your tear-stained face. “I love you.” You scream for whatever it’s worth, the one sentence that has been terrifying you. But it doesn’t matter. You’re leaving anyway, it won’t change anything. Then you step back, look down and once again wipe the tears away. Breathing a little, trying to calm yourself down. “Ain’t that the worst you ever heard?” This last part comes out a whisper, barely heard above the wind.
“Definitely.” He mumbles, and when you look up, he’s grinning.
“What–” You’re cut short by a sudden motion, when he wraps an arm around your waist and pulls you against his chest, placing a kiss on your lips.
It tastes salty from all your tears, but you don’t care. You just throw your arms around his neck and deepen the kiss, holding him. Because that’s the last time you’ll do it.
He only pulls away when the air is short, but he keeps you close, secure in his embrace. “Billy, I–”
“Don’t go.” He whispers, his chest vibrating. “Please.”
Shaking your head, you pull away, just enough to look up at him again. “You know I can’t, Billy.”
“Why?” With a hand on your face, you can understand what’s in his eyes now. Desperation, fear… And love. It makes you furrow your eyebrows, wondering if this could really be. If Billy Hargrove could have fallen for you. “You don’t like living with your father, you don’t like living with your mother. You don’t wanna be a lawyer. Stay here, with me. Take that photography course and you’ll have lots of jobs. This place is bursting with tourists, and you’d make enough money to get your life started.”
Everything he says makes you cry again. But this time, it’s because you’re imagining it. Living in California, building an actual home, doing something you love. It’s paradise. “I-it’s a lot of work, Billy. I-I’d have to pay rent and–”
“I’m asking you to move in with me.” He says with a giggle, his forehead touching yours. “I fell in love with you during summer… And all summers end, but I don’t want us to end. I tried so hard not to because I knew you’d leave, but… It happened. You stole my heart and I can’t lose you. I don’t know if someone can die from a lost love but I don’t wanna find out.” Billy speaks his heart, and you’re holding his shirt, like holding on to dear life. “You can leave and go on with an unhappy life, forever scared of love. Or you can stay with me, and let me show you what love truly is. It’s real, and we’ve been living it.”
“Billy…” You beg, closing your eyes, your own heart claiming, begging, pleading for him.
“We’re not going to make your parent’s mistakes. We’ll make it right, you and I. Please, (Y/N).” With a finger under your chin, Billy makes you look at him, so you open your eyes. “Don’t leave me. Don’t throw away a chance of happiness for a miserable life.”
He’s right. Billy is so damn right, and having this, knowing this, that he wants you, that he loves you, you know you can’t do it. You can’t go back. Not when you can stay with the man you love, <who loves you>, in the city you also fell in love with. “All my stuff is packed up.” You mutter, chuckling lightly. “We just need to go get it.”
“A-are you for real?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you going to stay?”
“Yeah!” You jump on him, legs wrapping around his waist. Billy is quick to hold you up, his lips crashing on yours.
And it’s perfect. The wind, the waves, the view of the city down there. And Billy, kissing you, holding you. You wouldn’t change a thing about it.
Soon enough you’re back home, and it’s a mess. As you run upstairs with Billy to get your things, your father says that if you do this, you’ll be dead to him. But you don’t even answer. The only thing you do is hug your stepmother, and whisper in her ear the name of the lover your father had here, and advise her to divorce him. Then, you’re out.
On the next day, in the evening, you’re not in a plane with your heart broken, flying away. You’re in Billy’s arms, watching an awful movie that only makes you laugh. Summer is almost over, but other summers will come. And you want to have Billy for all the seasons.
“Billy.”
“Yes, princess?” He asks, placing a kiss on your shoulder. You’re the little spoon on usual, your back pressed against his chest.
“I think it’s gonna rain later today.”
“…Alright?” He chuckles, and so do you at his confusion. “And what about that?”
“I wanna you to kiss me in the rain.” The mention of the cliche makes you blush, but since you’re looking away, he won’t notice.
“I’m down for it, but…” Billy makes you turn around, thumb and index finger under your chin. “…Only in the rain?”
“When it rains. When it’s sunny.” Turning your body completely towards his, you wrap your arms around his neck. “During the day, and during the night. On every season.”
“Mmm… Sounds like the perfect idea.” And once again, he kisses you. And as it is every time, you feel that familiar, delicious burning sensation in your stomach.
You’re his, and he is yours. Love is real, and this summer was the best summer of your life. Until now, because you’re sure the next ones will be far better.
Summary:You meet Billy during summer, and the deal was to have a good time before the season is over, before you go back home. But what if the only thing you’re scared of - love - starts to flourish?
Billy felt frustrated before. When he couldn’t get the girl he wanted or when he had put way too much effort just to be left hanging.
But this time is different.
He understands perfectly now where the line is draw with her. Where the girl who wants a quick, meaningless relationship ends and where the hopeless romantic starts. That’s why she doesn’t want to get intimate. Well, that’s why she doesn’t want sex. Because it’s too late to question intimacy now. Not after they’ve been sharing the bed every night, not after she has half her wardrobe here. Not after they’ve spent all this time together, on one another, making out until they’re out of breath.
But, for the very first time, Billy isn’t frustrated.
It’s been a long year, a long night. He didn’t get much sleep tonight, looking at her sleeping face on his chest, feeling her soft breathing, and thinking. Billy took a shot of love for the first time, and he’s been trying to keep it together inside.
This was supposed to be an agreement, one he was more than happy to make. (Y/N) caught his attention from the very first moment, and after that, everything pulled him to her. Not only her looks since he’s convinced he has never seen someone so beautiful, but also her voice, her eyes, her smile. How kind she is, the gentle way she touches him, the silly jokes she makes that never fail to make him laugh. She awoke something inside Billy, something he didn’t even know was there.
“Good morning.” Her sleepy voice mutters, hand moving on his bare chest. “I know you’re awake.”
“I am.” He answers, a smile on his lips. “Good morning princess.” Billy moves, pushing her on her back and climbing on top of her. Her smaller frame was just one more thing he liked. God, even her flaws made him like her more. How’s that even possible? “You know what day is today?”
“No…?” (Y/N) mumbles, furrowing her eyebrows and wrapping her arms around his neck.
“My day off. Which means we have the entire day for ourselves.” He says right before kissing her, a soft peck on the lips before he moves to kiss her neck. The girl giggles, hands moving to touch his side.
“I wanna go to the beach.”
“Mhmm…” He only mutters, biting her soft skin.
“Billy! I thought we agreed on no biting.” She makes that cute voice, the one that almost sounds like a little whine.
Billy stops, a smirk on his lips as he looks at her once again. “You’ll ask for it one day.”
“Let’s wait and see.” She sits up, stretching her arms above her head. Billy can see the soft skin of the nape of her neck before her hair hides it from him. “You promised me a beach day, so let’s get our things ready.” (Y/N) stands up, walking to the bathroom.
“You need to stop home.” He forces himself to say, even though he doesn’t want her to go. Both because he starts missing her the moment she’s away and because he’s well aware of how she hates being home. But it’s better this way, better than her father pissing her off.
“I’ll tell dad I went for a morning walk with Heloise.” Her voice comes from the bathroom, and then the water starts running.
“I know, princess. Just stop by and I can pick you up so we can watch the sunset. I don’t want you to get in trouble.” Tension is building up, (Y/N) told him, with the new lover and her stepmother suspicious. She won’t say anything, she doesn’t think she can. Or should. Billy wants her to stay with him all day long, every day. But he has to think about the place she has to go back to.
“Alright.” She agrees, but he can tell by the tone of her voice she’s doing it because she has to, not because she wants to.
But this is just how life is right now, and it’s up to him to look after her even when she doesn’t look after herself.
Billy leaves her a block away from her place, watching as she walks the rest of the way. And his heart, at least half of it, goes with her. Driving back home, he has one hand hanging out the window, hair being messed up by the wind.
He’s struggling to give her up. Billy knows this has an expiration date, that he will lose her, and that’s killing him. Suffocating him. He never fell in love, and it happens to the very girl he knows he can’t have. Not forever, like he wants. Like he needs. Back home, he goes on with his day, waiting to see her again.
Hours later, too late for his taste, he meets her on the same place he left her earlier. She’s wearing a light white dress, see-through, giving away the bikini underneath. (Y/N) leans over him the moment she gets inside the car, placing a kiss on his lips.
The sun is starting to make its way down when they get to their favorite part of the beach. There are a few people around, and when they reach the sand, (Y/N) takes her dress off, pulling it over her head. And Billy can’t help but stare. Not only stare but admire her beauty. She turns around, wind messing her bleach blonde hair, and a smile on her face like she knows what’s up. Like she knows what’s in his head. “Are you going to get rid of that shirt and join me in the water or will I have to rip it off and pull you with me?”
His heart is restless, and there’s a pressure in his chest that grows every passing day. But right now, if she don’t care, then he don’t care. “Right away, princess.” Billy takes his shirt off, leaves it on the sand next to her dress, and starts running to the ocean. She starts running as well, but he reaches her, an arm around her waist as he lifts her up. God, she smells amazing. She looks amazing, tastes amazing. Her sunkissed skin shines on forever, almost blinding him, driving him insane.
They swim for a while, and Billy has her in his arms the whole time. They make out, chat and laugh. And feeling her this close is paradise. Heaven. She’s this and that, and everything in between, a secret word only he knows the meaning. And Billy has no idea how he could go so long without her. And how the hell is he going to live when she’s gone?
And as the night falls, they keep walking through the beach. He took her to the same deck they met for the first time, and they stand there, taking in the moonlight. Holding her hand, his thumb caresses her soft skin. “Same routine today?” (Y/N) asks, looking at him.
“I’ll be waiting below.” He answers, lost in the stars of her eyes. Blinded by the light. “I wish you could stay with me longer.” The words come out, as a hand cups her cheek.
“We already spend all the time we can together.” The girl giggles, closing her eyes under his touch.
“I know. But it’s not enough.” He admits, sighing.
“I’m sorry.” She whispers, arms encircling his midsection, her head on his chest. “We still have time.”
“We do.” But not too much. He’s counting down the days, waiting for the heartbreak. Him, who broke way too many hearts, will have his broken for the first time. Billy wants an endless summer, asking as he gets to spend it with her. Maybe if he prays hard enough… Maybe.
Summary:You meet Billy during summer, and the deal was to have a good time before the season is over, before you go back home. But what if the only thing you’re scared of - love - starts to flourish?
The sun is setting, but there’s still quite a while until night comes. But it’s not like it matters. You just got here, and you’re still getting to know California and everything it has to offer. And you have time, summer has just started. The fresh wind, the golden shine, and the sound of the crashing waves make you smile, close your eyes, and take a deep breath. You love this place. After only a week, California is making you wish you lived here, near the ocean, always smelling the salty water everywhere you go.
“(Y/N).” Your newfound friend, Heloise, calls, and you open your eyes, looking her way. She walks over you, hand in hand with a dark-haired guy. “This is Natan, aka the love of my life.”
“Hi, Natan.” You say, shaking his hand politely, pushing your hair out of the way when the wind messes with it. “It’s nice to finally meet you, she’s talking about you a lot.”
“Only good things, I hope.” He giggles, looking down at Heloise.
She looks at him too, and you can see it, on both of them, that they love each other. It’s crystal clear. “Let’s go, I want a sundae and I invite both of you.”
With a polite smile, you nod, follow them, walking at a certain distance, giving them some privacy.
They take you to an ice cream parlor, and you sit on a table on the outside. Natan gestures at some waiter, and as you wait, you listen to their talking… There isn’t much to do while the couple chats about their family, laughing, giggling, happy. It’s not like you’re angry at them for being together, but you just don’t see the point.
You’ve seen how it ends. Both your parents cheated on each other, repeatedly, and even before that, it was always a nightmare. The fights, the yelling… And all that because they told you they were in love when they met. When they started dating. When they got married… But you saw how it turned out. So you wonder why they bother with love if it never lasts.
Sighing, you give them a small smile when they tell you something, but you weren’t paying attention. Looking at the inside area of the parlor, a guy gets your attention. He’s waiting tables, walking around the place. He’s tall, strong for what you can see through the light blue T-shirt. His hair is cut in a mullet, and when he suddenly turns at you, you get only a glimpse of blue eyes before you look away, trying to seem casual.
“What was that?” Natan asks, raising an eyebrow at you. “I saw that.”
“What?” Heloise furrows her eyebrows.
“Nothing. Just a handsome guy.” You say, shrugging your shoulders. “No big deal.”
“It’s summer, (Y/N). And you’re here on vacation. Go get yourself a guy to hang out with.” She says, winking at you. You met her the day you got here, walking on the beach, and you’ve been inseparable ever since. You know you’ll miss her when summer is over. “I’m not saying to fall in love with him, just–”
“Good afternoon. What can I get you?” The voice, deep and strong, makes you look at the image approaching your table. And the air leaves your lungs when you see him, a small notebook in his hand. His eyes find you again, and this time, you can’t pretend you’re not looking.
“We’d like to have two peanut butter chocolate sundae and my friend over there would like a date with you,” Heloise says, and you look at her with wide eyes. You shake your head a little, trying not to look stupid as you try to get your heartbeats to slow down, the sudden warmth on your skin to cool off. “When is your shift over?”
“An hour.” He answers, and you try to come up with something to say, but your mind is blank.
“Meet her on the old docks.”
“I don't–” You start, raising your head to look at the guy. “Please, ignore her. You don’t have to”
“I’ll be there.” He simply says, writing down their order and winking at you before turning around and leaving.
“You’re welcome.” She says after he’s gone. “Have fun and don’t be late.”
Sighing, you decide not to say anything else. Well, he wants to go, why not try and see how it plays out?
So, about an hour later, you’re alone at the docks, which is a bit crowded. But further into the sea, it’s quite empty, and that’s where you go. Standing near the edge, you look down, resting your elbows on the wood railing. The sun is halfway down the horizon this time, and the few clouds are painted orange and pink. This landscape deserves a picture, and you’ll make sure to take one before summer is over.
“Pretty girl from the parlor?” A voice makes you turn around, and you stand up straighter when you see him. Hair still damp and a different shirt, a dark red, the light fabric being messed up by the wind, making you notice his muscles… That and the buttons left open.
“Hi.” You say, clearing your throat. “Mmm… Y-you don’t have to do this, I mean… My friend, Heloise, she’s crazy and–”
“I would invite you out anyway.” He cuts you off, walking closer, too close, leaning over your to place a soft kiss on your cheek. “I’m Billy Hargrove.” He says in a low voice as he pulls away. “It’s very nice to meet you.”
Blushing, you raise your head a little to look at him. The man is tall. “(Y/N).”
“That’s a beautiful name.”
“Thanks.” Billy moves to where you were, sitting down with both legs hanging over the water, you do the same, the wood railing standing above your heads as you have a clear sight of the ocean. “So… How’s your libe apart from selling delicious ice cream?”
He giggles, and you glance at him. “That’s just a part-time job when I’m in college. But since I’m on vacation I work full time.”
“Mmm…” You mutter, swinging your legs. “Are you from here? You do look like the perfect Californian guy.”
“Yeah. Left a small town, never looked back.” He says, and his arm touches yours lightly. “Spent a year on Hawkins, Indiana. Shitty place. Finished High School and came back home.”
“Why did you go there?”
“Long story.” He says, looking at the ocean.
“Alright.” You nod, shrugging your shoulders. “I’m here on vacation. One summer and one summer only.”
“And where are you from?”
“Long story.” Using his own words against him, you giggle when he scoffs. “What? You don’t tell me your story, I won’t tell you mine.”
“Fine, princess, you win.” Billy raises both hands, in defeat. And you can’t deny your stomach burns a little at the pet name. But you don’t let him notice. “My father got married again some years ago, shit went down eventually, he forced everyone to move there.”
“Okay.” You mutter, and it’s clear there’s much more to the story than just that. But you won’t push him to say it. “I live in two different sides of the country. My parents are divorced so I spend six months in New York and six months in Washinton.”
“Sounds rough.”
“It is. I don’t enjoy living with neither of them.” You don’t want to get sentimental, so you sigh, changing the subject. “Heloise says I need a guy to hang out with, and since it’s just a summer thing, it doesn’t have to mean anything.”
“Sounds like my kind of relationship,” Billy says, and you look at him just to find him already looking at you. Of course, that’s his thing, you know a bad boy when you see one. But since that’s what you’re looking for, there’s no problem. “But you don’t look like that kind of girl.”
“What do you mean?”
“I know romantic eyes when I see them.” He smiles, and you bite your lip, a nervous laugh escaping. “I’m good at reading people. Especially girls.”
“Romance means love. And love does nothing but hurt you in the end. And I wanna safe myself the heartbreak.”
Billy stares at you for a while, as if analyzing you carefully. “No questions asked.” He nods, an arm coming around your waist, pulling you closer to him. “For one summer, and one summer only, we’ll be together. And then…”
“And then it’s over.” You finish off for him, eyes on the blue water, as blue as Billy’s eyes.
•••
The days pass fast, mostly when you’re with Billy. After the first date at the docks, it didn’t take much until you’re spending way too much time together. And it didn’t take much after that, for you to find yourself at his place, over and over again, and soon enough, you’re escaping through your garden gate every night, always finding Billy waiting behind the house. And you get into his Camaro and he takes you away.
You never thought you’d get so close to someone so fast. Or that you’d enjoy someone’s company so much. But even though, you try not to think. You try to stay close to Billy as much as you can, but keep your heart out of it. Both because you know the type of guy he is, and because you know this won’t last long. You have a date to go back to New York, and whatever you have here, will be nothing but a warm, lovely memory. And you don’t talk about it, none of you. The expiration date draws near, closer and closer with every sunrise, but you don’t talk about it.
You’re both living as if you’re a thing. Together. He’s yours, and you’re his. For as long as the summer lasts. It feels like you’re taking on the world together.
Tonight, you’re both getting ready for a fair. You just took a shower and once you’re ready, hair dry and brushed, you go out, stopping by his dresser and pulling your drawer, the one he gave you to put your things since you spend too much time here. You pull a shirt and put it on before joining Billy in the living room.
“What was that you said about Amanda?” Billy asks from his place on the couch as you move to sit next to him, making sure to kind of drop on him, pulling your legs over his lap. He’s ready, but he welcomes you with open arms.
“She’s suspicious my father is cheating on her.” You shrug your shoulders, enjoying those blue eyes settled on yours.
“Well, is he?”
“He found some woman. The same day we got here.” Rolling your eyes, you shake your head. “She’s stepmom number two and he’s still doing it.”
“He’s a son of a bitch. But you already know that.” Billy says, and you chuckle. In the very beginning, he tried not to say such things about your father, but when he learned how you feel about him, he doesn’t hold back anymore. And you don’t mind. He’s one hundred percent right. “But how are you so sure about it?”
“Mmm… My mother taught me to read the signs a long time ago.” She mutters, a hand on your hair as you bite your lip at the memory. And at all that comes with it. That feeling of your old, childhood, and teenage dreams of finding love. Someone who would love you, only you. “So I’d know when I’m being cheated on. Because just like her my destiny is to have an unfaithful husband she thinks it’s my gate as well.” A humorless laugh escapes your lips, and you try not to let him notice the tears gathering in your eyes. So you stand up, pretending to fix your hair. “I think we should get going by the way.”
“Hey.” He says, and you feel him taking your hand, forcing you to face him. When you refuse to look up, he lifts your chin with his index finger. “You know you don’t have to fake it with me, right?” Billy keeps his voice low, and you weakly nod. The bad boy transforms a little, mostly when you feel like this. And it amazes you how he learned your secrets, finding out why you’re guarded. “Don’t think about this. Remember we’re living in an alternative universe, just you and me.” He leans down to place a soft kiss on your lips. “And we’ll never make your parents mistakes.”
That makes you smile, wrapping your arms around his neck and tiptoeing to kiss him once again. “You’re right, as usual.”
“Yeah. Now let’s can go, princess.”
The drive to the fair lasts only half an hour, and you get there just when it’s opening. It’s quite empty then, but as the night falls, it gets more crowded. You meet Heloise and Natan there, and also some of Billy’s friends. But after a couple of hours walking around and getting some prizes, you both walk to the deck above the ocean, with Billy lighting up the necklace he got you now and then. It’s a pinkish plastic heart, with a button on the back that makes it glow. He doesn’t leave your side, not even when his friends invite him somewhere, he rather stay with you.
And for the whole night, you try not to think about anything else than what you feel now. Happiness, so much you wish this never ended. The way Billy looks at you makes your stomach burn, tingles your skin… It’s different, you’re not sure why.
The night ends, but you still have time. Precious time, that you make sure to spend with him as much as you can. The clock is ticking, the days are passing. But for now, you still have him.
•••
It’s raining today. Pouring. But not only outside.
You didn’t know calling back home would be so expensive, and Billy just got the bill. He started yelling and so did you. Of course, you’ll pay for it, it doesn’t matter if it’s half your budget for the month. But the argument got heated fast, since you’re both hotheads and don’t know how to let things go. The yellings at 2:30am will surely have some neighbors complaining tomorrow, but neither of you care right now. You both say things you didn’t mean, but Billy rubs the wrong way, which sends you off his apartment, into the rain, burning with anger.
Everything is slipping right out of your hands. You made a mistake, but after everything that was said, whatever you had is over. And that’s what hurts the most.
You’re on the sidewalk when you hear the building door banging, and you quicken your pace. Billy’s footsteps get louder, and you brace yourself for the goodbye. Because that’s all you’ve ever known. Love breaks, and it hurts, and it destroys. It doesn’t matter what type of love it is.
“(Y/N).” He calls, and you stop, wiping the tears away, even if they’re all mixed with the rain. “Would you listen to me for a moment?”
“I’ll pay, Billy. I’ll have the money tomorrow.” You mutter, raising your voice a little to make yourself heard above the rain. “What else do you want?”
He’s silent, shrugging his shoulders and avoiding your eyes for a while. “I’m sorry. I shouldn't–”
“Just say it, Billy. If we’re over, just say it.”
He steps closer, and you step back. But Billy holds your shoulders, forcing you to stay close. Your heart is breaking, and it hurts like nothing ever did before. “I remember that day at the fair.” He starts, a hand touching your cheek, wet fingers caressing your skin. “The purple-ish lights from the necklace illuminating your face, the city lights on the water…”
“Billy, what–”
“That day I… I saw it in your eyes, (Y/N). For a moment you started to believe.”
“Believe on what?” You ask, more tears rolling down. Billy has this thing with you, he always makes your heart melt, or maybe burst into flames.
“On us.” That makes you cry even more, and you collapse against his chest, both your soaking clothes attached to one another. “Do you remember when we were sitting there by the water? I put an arm around you for the first time.” He rubs your back, strong arms holding you tight. Billy’s heartbeat fills your ears, and you close your eyes, the summer storm not bothering you one bit. “Every time I look at you it’s like the first time, when I caught your stare on the parlor. And now, we’re together. Only for a short time but…” He pulls away, just enough to look down at you. “ You’re the best thing that’s ever been mine.”
A smile takes over your lips, and you don’t think, you just jump, wrapping your legs around his waist, feeling his hands grabbing both your thighs to hold you up. “You made a rebel of a careless man’s careful daughter.”
“That I did.” He smiles as well, and the kiss that follows tastes like Summer rain. “Let’s go back home.”
“Let’s go back home.” You agree, and he carries you back as you cling to him.
Summary:You’re the extreme opposite of Billy Hargrove. The good girl, with perfect grades, the child every mother wants to have. And you don’t want to have nothing to do with his kind. Ignoring Billy – and his constant, lingering stare – became an habit. But after you’re put together for a special school program, you’ll have no choice but to get along with him. And soon enough you’ll find out that Billy is so much more than just Hawkins’ bad boy.
“Billy, I can’t close this one.” You whine, pushing your baggage and trying to pull the zipper.
“Do you really need all that?” He asks, gesturing at your two huge pieces of baggage, and the one you can’t close, a bit smaller.
“Yes. These are my clothes and stuff. We’re moving out, I’ll need all of it.” Batting your eyelashes, you take Billy’s hand. “Just help me close it, please?”
He rolls his eyes dramatically before working on your stuff. And there’s a small pile of clothes that won’t let it close. “I’ll rip the zipper if I push it further.” As he speaks, he takes off what’s on the way and the thing closes down easily.
“What am I going to do?”
“I have a bag you can use. But we’ll have to drive back to my place before hitting the road.”
“Hitting the road…” You mutter, sitting on the edge of the bed.
“Something wrong?”
“No, I just… Can’t believe it.” Looking down at your hands, you sigh. “I was expecting this moment for so long and now is actually happening. I’m going to college. We’re both going to college. Together. And this is–”
“Amazing.” He finishes off for you, sitting by your side. “(Y/N), I… I’ve heard from some people that I’d never be anyone. That I’d have a miserable life and I swear I didn’t care. I was fine with it but now it’s different. Now I have you and I want to give you the whole world.”
“You already do.” Tracing the outline of his jaw, you stare into his blue eyes. “And the future that waits for us will be great. You’ll be an amazing Marine Biologist…” As you speak, you move to sit on his lap, arms around his neck. “…And I’ll be an awesome Architect. And our kids will know their parents are soulmates, meant to be together.”
“Pretty girl, you couldn’t be more right.” And he claims your lips on a kiss, fast and needy, that has to be cut off way too soon because of the footsteps coming towards the bedroom.
“Kids, it’s getting late.” She says, and before she can come in, you stand up. “I don’t mean to kick you out but the road to California is long and you have a certain time to reach the hotels you’ll be sleeping in and–” She stops talking suddenly, swallowing hard. “Baby, I’m gonna miss you.” She pulls you into a hug, way too tight. “Call me from the hotels and the moment you set foot in California, hear me? I’ll visit you as soon as I get my days off.“
“Alright, mom.” Giggling, you pull away. “We’re ready to go. We’ll have to stop at Billy’s to get another bag but that’s it. I’m officially leaving Hawkins.”
“Dear God, I thought this day would never come.” She mutters but helps you with the baggage anyway.
At the sidewalk, she hugs you and Billy once again, holding you for way too long. But you don’t blame her. One day, it’ll be you saying goodbye to your kids, and you know you’ll feel the same.
“Hargrove, take care of her.” She says, finally letting you go. “Make sure she’s eating well, and watch out for her allergies and–”
“Mom, Billy will take care of me just fine. And I’ll take care of him as well.” You assure her, giving her one last kiss on the cheek before getting inside the car.
And then, Billy starts driving.
It’s not like your leaving Hawkins yet, but you are leaving your house and your mother.
Holding back the tears, your take Billy’s hand. “The first day of the rest of our lives.” You mutter, looking at the houses passing by.
“It’ll be wonderful.”
Nodding, you smile. “It sure will.”
Twenty minutes later your stopping by his house for the last time. But there’s something you notice immediately. And so does Billy, as all his body gets tense.
Neil’s car is here.
“Wait here, alright?” You quickly nod, but before he can leave the car, you pull him towards you, just to kiss him.
You’ve never met Neil. Billy doesn’t want you anywhere near that devil of a man. And you’re alright with it. As you watch him leaving the car and getting inside the house, you regret making him do that just to get you some stupid bag.
On the day Billy finally told you everything, about who his father really is and what he did, you saw your boyfriend cry for the first time. And on that night you held him, not giving a damn to what would happen if your mother caught him in your bedroom. He needed you.
>>>>>>>>>>>> And maybe he needs you< now.>
Taking a deep breath, you step out of the car, and when you reach the porch, you hear a yell. Your heart skips a beat as you run for the door, but on the moment you open it, Billy is already coming out, a black bag in his hand. He stops when he sees you, eyes going wide.
“B, are you alright?” You ask in a soft voice.
“I am, pretty girl. C'mon.” He walks out, taking your hand.
“So this is the plaything you’re using this time.” The voice, harsh and loud, comes from inside the house. Both you and Billy stop, turning around. “Sweet little thing. Don’t ruin her life as you did with yours.”
“I’ll never understand what kind of sick pleasure you have on stepping on me!” Billy yells, moving forward, but not letting go of your hand. “There are a lot of things I should say to you but I just realized it doesn’t matter. You don’t matter.”
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> “You won’t say anything because you know I’m right.” Neil laughs, eyeing you up and down as if you were nothing. Neil thinks everyone is nothing. < Because that’s what he sees every time he looks in the mirror.>
>>>>>>>>>> “I won’t say anything because it doesn’t matter. Because <you> doesn’t matter.” Billy says, squeezing your hand a little. Stepping closer, you lay your forehead on his shoulder, just so he knows you’re here, with him. “There are much more important things in my life right now, and it finally made me see who you are and who I am. And I’m so much more than you.”
You can’t believe the words coming off his mouth.
And you can’t believe you have a part in it. In this change, in this strength.
“You’re just a–”
“He’s just an amazing man.” You decide to speak, locking eyes with Billy before looking at Neil. “Billy is everything, and you’re nothing. Just a sad, mediocre man, who needs to make others feel bad just so you feel better about yourself.”
“I’m leaving now, father.” Billy spits the last word as if it was poison in his mouth. “And I don’t want or need you in my life. In our lives.” And he starts walking again, and just before you turn around, you notice a bruise forming on Neil’s face. “Hope I’ll never see you again.”
A river of profanities leaves Neil’s lips, in yells and curses. You keep an eye on Billy, checking if he wants to go back there. To kick him in the gut or something, but Billy is oddly… Peaceful. As he drives away. For good.
“…B.” You say in a low voice, reaching out a hand to touch the nape of his neck. “Are you alright?”
Sighing, he glances at you. “I am.” There isn’t a hint of doubt in his voice. “Today I just… He started yelling and I started to feel like before but them… Then I thought about you. And it just clicked.” There are tears in your eyes, and you don’t even try to hold them back. “You showed me how good life can be. And the man I want to be, for you. Because you deserve all the love world and I’ll give it to you. Through studying, having a good job, and building a life together. Getting married and having kids. All of it. I want all of it… With you.”
“I love you.” You whisper, wiping some tears away. Luckily, he’s forced to stop at the red light, and you get the chance to lean on him, kissing all over his face until your lips finally meet his. “I love you, B.”
“Love you too, pretty girl.” He replies, looking up at you on your awkward position, kinda on him, but not really. “I–” He’s cut off by some idiot blasting the horns behind.
Rolling your eyes, you go back to your seat as Billy starts moving again. “Don’t even bother, we’ll have a lot of time to make out.”
“I’m counting on it.” With a wink and a sassy smirk, Billy makes you blush and smile again, as you both cross the sign that says ‘Leaving Hawkins’.
The road is long, and the next years will certainly be difficult. But as long as you’re together, you can take it all.
Summary:You’re the extreme opposite of Billy Hargrove. The good girl, with perfect grades, the child every mother wants to have. And you don’t want to have nothing to do with his kind. Ignoring Billy – and his constant, lingering stare – became an habit. But after you’re put together for a special school program, you’ll have no choice but to get along with him. And soon enough you’ll find out that Billy is so much more than just Hawkins’ bad boy.
That are no words to describe what Billy is feeling. Hate, rage, fury. None of them gets near enough.
If it wasn’t for Steve and Jonathan, he’d have killed Tyler. But he’s glad the asshole ended up with a broken arm and a broken nose.
After that, everything was a mess. Luckily, the Principal was the first one to walk out of the office, so he saw what happened and witnessed to the police. Nancy, Steve, and Jonathan did the same, and only thanks to that, and to Hopper, he didn’t get arrested. The asshole’s family tried to turn it around, but the Principal made a formal accusation in the name of the school.
He wanted to be with her since she got a whole week off school, but she insisted with him to go and take the homework for her. And Billy just couldn’t say no.
In school, people knew something happened, they just weren’t sure what. For (Y/N)’s sake, everyone who knows about that disgusting bastard won’t let the word out. Part of him wanted to, so the whole town would know who Tyler really is. But if it’s to keep (Y/N)’s name off their gossips, it’s worth it.
It’s been two days, but his love is still isolated at home. Barely leaving the bedroom, as her mother confirms. So he spoke to Mrs. Martinez to let him skip that period, since it’s Biology and he’s doing pretty good on it.
Once he got the permission, he basically ran to his car and drove off.
Everything he wants, everything he needs, is to be with her. In the beginning, when he took her home after the incident, he said he’d be away if she wanted. He’s a guy and maybe she wouldn’t want a guy near her after… That. But (Y/N) begged him not to. She almost cried asking him not to stay away from her. And God, he won’t.
If she needs him this bad, Billy will stick by her side. For as long as she needs.
The low noise of the door being open makes you raise your head to look. A small smile takes over your lips when you see Billy. Without saying anything, he comes and lies down next to you, and you immediately move closer, your head on his chest. This has been a routine since the thing happened.
“Isn’t it a little too early?” You ask him in a low voice, a hand caressing his chest.
“I was allowed out, don’t worry.” He answers, placing a kiss on the top of your head. “And I have news, pretty girl.”
“Tell me.”
“Tyler and his family left today. They’ll move back to Georgia, and he’ll be going to some juvenile center there.” Billy keeps his voice as soft as silk, barely a whisper. “They told me during lunch.”
“Good.” Muttering, you move a little, pulling him to lie on his side, facing you. “I know I should… Get over it. I mean, it’s been a while and it was just some… Some grabbing but…” Your voice fades as you remember it. Tyler’s hands all over your body, as if you belonged to him. Closing your eyes shut, you grab the collar of Billy’s shirt, just to ground you. “It was awful.”
“(Y/N), don’t treat it as if it was nothing. What he did was very wrong.” The anger is back, and he rubs the small of your back. “I should’ve killed him.”
“No, B…” Opening your eyes again, you look at him. “That would definitely put you in jail and I need you here. With me.” Some tears start pooling in your eyes, and Billy is quick to dry the one that escapes with his thumb.
“I’m right here, pretty girl. And I won’t leave, I promise.” And he kisses you, slow and sweet, as he has been doing. The taste of his lips soon overcome everything, and the rest of the world fades away. You bite his lip a little too hard, just to mess with him, and he laughs. But after the short break, the kiss comes back more intense this time, and you wrap your arms around his neck, urging him closer.
“Holy shit!” A very familiar voice says, and on the moment you recognize it, you pull away from Billy, sitting up. “I was going to invite you guys for a snack but now it’s an order.” With a hand on her hip, your mother gestures at the door. “You two drag your butts downstairs right now.”
“Yeah.” You mutter, stumbling to get off the bed and rushing to the dining room, following Billy.
“Shit.” You whisper to him, cheeks burning.
“We lock the door next time.” He says with a sassy tone.
“Jerk.” Playfully pushing him, you laugh when he grabs your arm, pulling you close just to kiss you again.
You only got back to school on the next Monday, with a very protective Billy with you. It would be good to stay home another week, but Tyler is gone, in some jail in Georgia and life goes on. Summer is coming, and with it, the end of senior year. And important exams and projects are approaching. Billy reached the third and last stage of the program, which means he does all the tests and quizzes alone again. And he’s doing amazing. He only got two Bs so far, and you’re very proud of him.
There’s only one thing on the horizon making you both nervous. The letters from the University of California will be coming anytime now. You’re alright, of course, because you know you’ve had good grades all your life. But Billy’s situation is delicate, and you want him to get into college even more than you want to get in it yourself.
And that has been driving you insane as the days go by.
Today, after looking around your bedroom for ten minutes for a book that was on the desk, you sigh, jumping on the bed next to Billy.
“You need to relax.” He says, putting an arm around your shoulders. “Neither of this will make the letters get here faster.”
“I know, but some people already got it and this wait is killing me.” You pout, moving to lie your head on his chest.
“Look, we have only one exam left, and it’s over. You have to relax.”
“I’m trying, B.”
“Alright.” He sighs, suddenly getting up. “Where’s your swimsuit?”
Furrowing your eyebrows, you sit up straight, staring at Billy. “Why do you want to know?”
“Because I’m taking you somewhere you’ll need it.”
Rolling your eyes, you sigh. “B…”
“Look, if you don’t move, I’ll search every inch of this place until I find it.” He crosses his arms, looking down at you.
And you know your boyfriend well enough to know he’s not kidding. So rolling your eyes again, making sure he sees it, you stand up, moving to the dresser. When you find it, you turn around, showing him the pink one-piece swimsuit. “Here it is.”
“Good. Now put it on.” He says, walking to the door. “I’ll be back in twenty minutes with strawberries and Chantilly. So if you can make some sandwiches…” And he’s gone, leaving you alone with a hundred questions in your head.
But your impulsive boyfriend is crazy, and you’re always into his crazy ideas. So you head to the bathroom to take a quick shower and dress up. You pick a light blue dress before going downstairs and making the sandwiches. Billy only buys insane amounts of strawberries because you love them, so you make the sandwiches exactly how he likes it.
You’re ready to go when he’s back, getting into the passenger seat and giving him a look. He won’t say anything, that much is clear, so you won’t ask.
“If you take me to that filthy place Lover’s Lake, I swear to God, Billy–”
“I’m not taking you to Lover’s Lake. Chill.” He cuts you off, smiling. Billy used to take his flings there, so it’s not a place you’d like to go. “…I’m taking you to Hawkins Community Pool.”
“Hawkins Community Pool is closed. It’ll open around next week, I think.”
“I never said it’s open. Just that I’m taking you there.” With that smug smirk on, Billy takes a turn before stopping the car. “C'mon.”
“I’m going to jail.” You mutter before stepping out, waiting for Billy to take the basket. It’s obvious what he’s planning on, but for some unexplainable reason, you just follow him. “I’ll laugh so hard if the pools are empty.”
“I worked here last year. I know how it works. Come.” Billy guides you to the very back, and, with a pin and some pushes, he cracks open the locker and opens one of the doors.
“That’s it. I’m an accomplice now.”
“Would you chill? Nobody comes here in the afternoon.” He closes the door and takes your hand, pulling you with him. “When it’s not open to the public, the lifeguards come to clean the place and treat the water. But only in the morning. So there’s no reason to worry, we’re completely alone.”
“Mmm.” You mumble, looking at the place. You’ve never seen it like that since it’s always full during Summer. “So what’s your idea?”
“Plain and simple.” He begins, putting the basket down near the pool and opening it. “A date.” You watch as he takes a towel and puts it on the floor, fixing the bowl with the strawberries, the Chantilly, and the sandwiches.
“Dear God.” You say, a smiling taking over. “You’re completely insane, but I freaking love you.”
“Great.” He stands up, taking off his shirt and jumping on the pool, splashing water on you. He quickly comes back to the surface, but you know his feet aren’t touching the bottom. “Lose the dress, pretty girl.”
“Mmm… B, we might have a problem.”
“What problem?”
“I can’t swim and this pool is pretty deep. And… I’m just a tiny little bit scared.” As you speak, you take the dress off, throwing it where Billy left his shirt. Carefully, you sit on the edge, putting both legs in the water.
“You know I’d never let you drown, right?” He says in a much lower voice, coming to stay by your legs. “And I can’t leave it unsaid. You’re absolutely stunning.“
Blushing, you look down, biting your lip. “Just hold me, alright?” You ask before staring at him again.
Billy nods, and you use his shoulders as a support to get into the water. His hands are quick to hold your waist, arms firmly pressing you close to his body. You close your eyes for a moment, wrapping your arms around his neck. The water is a bit cold, but the weather is quite hot, so you don’t mind. Once the rush is over, you relax a bit, eyes opening to find Billy’s face, very close to yours.
“Are you alright?”
Nodding, you smile. “In your arms? Always.”
As if taking the hint, Billy starts moving further away from the edge, and it doesn’t take long until you’re in the middle of the pool. But you feel perfectly fine. It doesn’t take much until you start making out, sweet, soft kisses mixed with more intense ones, making you lose your breath over and over again.
After a while you sit on the edge, giggling and making silly jokes as you feed each other the strawberries.
“I know you hate this town but I’ll miss it when we’re gone.” You say as the darkness starts to fall. The sun is already gone, and Billy already turned on some lights, but only the ones that won’t be seen from the outside. You still feel like an outlaw, but you noticed you kinda like it.
“I learned to love it. Because I love you and if I never came here, I’d never have met the love of my life.”
“…So I’m the love of your life?” You ask, smiling and leaning over him, pecking his lips.
“Oh, you are.” Billy caresses your cheek, those soft blue eyes burning through you. “You’re the girl for me. The one I’ve been waiting for, even when I didn’t want to admit it.”
Blushing, you bite your lip. “Whatever comes next, I’m excited about it. Because I know that if I’m with you, it’ll be amazing.”
“It will, my pretty girl.” Winking, he kisses you again. And it tastes amazing, probably because of the strawberries, but also because of the promises. Because of the future that’s ahead. And you want it. You want all of it.
•••
“(Y/N), if you don’t open up this door right now!” Your mother yells from her bedroom, as she moves around, getting dressed to go to work.
“Coming!” You shout, rushing downstairs. By the obnoxious knock, you know it’s Billy.
The moment you unlock the door, Billy pushes it open so suddenly that it almost hits you in the face. “Hi. Sorry. It’s here.” He speaks fast, showing you a white envelope.
Freezing, you look at it for a while before taking it from his hands and walking back inside. “Why isn’t it open?”
“I took it and got inside the car. Now I’m here.”
“Billy, breathe.” You remind him, taking your letter from the coffee table and taking it to the dining room. Yours got here last week, and as you thought, you were approved and the University of California is waiting for you when Summer ends. “Alright.” Putting both envelopes on the table you take a deep breath.
“Good luck.” Your mother says, and you both look at her at the door frame. “You both deserve to go. You worked hard.” And she leaves with a smile.
“Let’s do this.” You say, taking the envelope and ready to rip the top off.
“Wait, wait.” He grabs your wrist, taking the paper off your hand. “Listen… If–”
“We’ll be on the road anyway.” You reassure him, cupping his cheeks and placing a kiss on his lips. “We’ll find a way. You and I.”
“You and I.” He repeats, arms encircling your waist on a tight hug. “I love you, (Y/N).”
As always, you blush, smiling and kissing him once again before reaching out of the envelope.
Slowly, you open it, pulling the paper off and eyes quick to read it.
Billy grows impatient, you can feel it, looking down at you as your eyes focus on his papers. “And?”
Summary: working at the video store along side Steve and Robin had its ’disadvantages’.
Word count: 3677
Warnings: Billy lives au and I cannot remember if the video store was next to the arcade, anyways. Language, undressing. Sex references.
A/n: Please, I am having intense feelings about Billy, and I have not wrote fanfiction in months, I apologise. I ended a bad relationship a couple of weeks ago, which distracted me from writing. ( Why ikr reading fanfiction is so much better.) BUT IM HERE and I love men with long hair. Pls michael and billy are the same.
Aka you’re loud and tough and have a cool car and for Billy that means love at first sight. I might have written him too sweet here but idc, this was supposed to just be a short little thing and then it took on a life of its own and here we are. Sorta follows the start of season 2 but then does its own thing lol
He hadn’t even been at the new house for a full week yet, and he hated it and everything around it. Hawkins was a little shithole, as far as he was concerned, full of hicks who couldn’t tell their left asscheek from their right. And the worst part? It was October, and it didn’t even look cool outside.
God, he wanted to go back to California. At least it was sunny there. At least he had the beach. This place was just gloomy and beige, the townspeople all boring and normal. Nice, conservative families, who dressed in nice, conservative clothes, and drove nice, conservative cars.
Love Changes (Everything) | Billy Hargrove x reader
Request: What about where Billy has been acting weird; like Max noticed that he has gotten more lenient with her and stopped snapping at her and she tells the gang how he has been weird lately, only to find out he got himself a girlfriend (reader) and is all lovey-dovey?
Billy Hargrove wasn’t exactly known for being a nice guy.
His reputation was built on a lot of things—his cool as hell attitude, the brutal punches he could throw when he was pissed off, that charming smile and deadly smirk that broke hearts every day…the list went on and on, but nowhere on it was the word nice.
He sneered. He shouted. He fought and he raged and he tore through Hawkins High girls without a second thought, and nobody ever, ever, described Billy as a nice person.
Especially not his stepsister.
“Billy!” Max called, stomping down the hall towards her stepbrother’s room. It was a Friday afternoon, and both of their parents were still at work, giving the two of them the freedom to do what they wanted.
For Max, that required a ride, and Billy was usually the source.
She expected yelling, but when none came, she tried again.
“Billy! Where the hell are you?”
There was a click as the doorknob turned, and Max immediately braced herself. Billy appeared, wearing a muscle tank, a can of beer in his hand. Max was still expecting yelling, or at least an angry glare, seeing as how she had just interrupted him and he always told her how much he fucking hated it when she bothered him…but he just stood there, leaning against the door frame, looking down at her with an unreadable expression.
“Yeah?” He asked.
“…I need a ride.” Max answered, staring at him. “To the arcade.”
Summary: Reader likes Steve and is friends with Billy. Billy wants to be “helpful” and teach virgin!reader a little about the anatomy of a guy. Obviously he’s only doing it for himself ‘cause he’s a selfish prick.
Word Count:4.9k
Warnings: Manipulative Billy, talk of virginity, and handjob.
A/N: o.O I feel like I made the man excessively douchey, but it’s kinda hot tho.
You stood in line at Scoops Ahoy while digging around in your purse to make sure you had your Lactaid. Whenever your fingers wrapped around the bottle, you exhaled a relieved sigh.
But then it was your turn to order and your nerves went into overdrive.
“Hey, Y/N.” Steve grinned. “Here for your usual?”
You nodded your head pretty quickly with a blush. Robin glanced over at you and gave a sly, but knowing little smirk.
As Steve was scooping out your preferred ice cream, he said, “You know, you’re probably our best customer.”
You felt your face warm up drastically. It felt kinda embarrassing to be called out on how much you frequented the store…because, yeah, it was a lot. But you liked Steve, you liked him a whole bunch. It’s just that you had yet to tell him, and you weren’t sure if you were going to. You’d be mortified beyond belief if he rejected you, so you just stuck to visiting the store every Wednesday and Friday evening. You hoped that maybe Steve would grow interested somehow, by some means. Maybe he’d be impressed with your faithfulness and ice cream choice.
You were still waiting for that day, though.
“I’m happy to keep this place afloat.” You smiled, but then looked around at the busy and packed parlor. “Not that you guys need it, obviously. It’s just…I mean, it’s a joke.” You said while gesturing to his outfit. “…’Cause sailors.”
A/N- Hope you guys liked this chapter!! Let me know what you thought :)
Warning- Long chapter, smoking, swearing and talks of panic attacks, death, and blood .
Pairing- Steve Harrington x Hopper!reader, Billy Hargrove x Hopper!reader (you’ll see)
Episodes - 2x03, slight of 2x04
(Let me know if you want to be tagged)
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“Here?” Billy slowly asks as he leans towards the passenger window to take a better look at the dark, eerie forest line you stopped in front of.
You look out the window and nod with reluctance over the fact that you had to go home.
“Yeah,” you agree, “here.” You grab the door handle and before you pull it to open the door, you turn your head to look at Billy with a faint smile. “Thank you for the ride. I’ll see you tomorrow morning, right?”
Billy smirks and agrees. “I’ll be here.” He leans in expecting some goodnight kiss, but you only tease him by leaning and whispering to his lips.
“Goodnight.”
Rather than getting upset, Billy shares a half grin while you lean back and open the door to then climb out of the car. You proceed to watch him leave before you head home.
