Chapter Text
Music fills the air without effort, like the waves filling holes in beach sand; the sound rushing in and around every person in the room. Some react to the beat, others continue in chatter, but always it speaks to them in some manner. A lively tempo can lift them, elevate the spirit, or move them to dance, whilst a slow one can relax the mood. Before the notes filled the air every person was an island, with it they all feel the same tidal flows and the beginnings of togetherness feels warm. It was loud and drummed through my skull. Leaning against the door, Nancy beside me, I watched as Tommy, his mates and the new kid, Billy I think to walk towards me. Billy climbing over the drunken and sex-driven teenagers, shirt showing underneath his open leather jacket. The way he walked and looked around stuck something in my chest, hate? Lust? jealousy? I wasn't sure. Billy locked his eyes through mine and I pulled off my sunglasses, meeting his stare,
"We got ourselves a new keg king Harrington" Tommy sneers,
"yeah that's right. Beat it, Harrington!"Another calls but I wasn't paying attention,
When I met his gaze, I felt drawn into his eyes. The icy blueness generated a feeling like I was being pulled into a lake of frozen emotions. It was like all the myriad shades of blue swirled together to form a whirlpool of apprehension. I could tell by his body language that he did not like him, and those flickering azure orbs confirmed his thoughts. Billy was good looking, there was no denying that, and he knew it. The way he held himself so sure of himself, hips pushed out. His sun licked skin shone with sweat in the light. Tearing my eyes away Nancy was gone. Without looking back, afraid of being caught in his eyes again, I walked away and found Nancy with a cup in her hand, dripping into the red liquid and drinking,
"Hey, hey! Woah, woah! Take it easy!"I say, putting a hand on her shoulder, "Nance, Nance..easy"
"Just being stupid teenagers for the night, wasn't that the deal?"
I sigh as she takes another dip and downs the drink, a few bits of the liquid dripping down her face. She walks away and lifts her hands in the air, joining the mass of dancing teenagers. Groaning I turn and place my hands on the counter, my head dropping between my shoulders. A hand touches my shoulder and I jump, turning around I'm greeted with those same blue eyes,
"Harrington, right?"His lips curve into a smirk,
"What do you want?"
He shrugs and leans against the counter, next to me, speaking close to my ear,
"Where did your girl go? Argue already?" he asks the question smoothly, the baritone of his voice reverberating through my bones,
"She's out their dancing"I roll my eyes at him,
"Not much of a dancer then?"
I push up from the kitchen side and turn from him,
"See you later pretty boy"He winks, laughing,
Shaking my head I make my way through the sea of people, looking for Nancy.
Pulling her into the bathroom she stumbles and wets a towel, trying to use it to wipe off the red stain,
"Nance...Nance..I'm sorry..it's not coming off Nancy"
She stares in the mirror, almost glaring, "It's coming off"
Moving around her I put my arm on her shoulder, trying to get her to stop rubbing at her ruined jumper,
"Come on let me just take home, okay? Come here, let me take you home, okay?"
"You wanted this!"
"No didn't want this, I told you to stop drinking"
"It's bullshit."
I try and push her hands but she fights against me, "No it's not bullshit"
"Bullshit!"
"No, it's not"
"Bullshit."
"No, it's not bullshit, Nancy-"
"No, you. You're bullshit"
Stop and look at her, "w-what?"
"Y-You're pretending like-like everything's okay..you know like-like-like we didn't kill Barb"She slurs, "like its great, like we're in love and we're partying. Yeah, lets party huh, we're partying, yeah we're partying. This-it's bullshit."
"Like we're in love?"My voice wobbles as I cup her face,
She looks up at me and glares, "Bullshit."
"You don't love me?"I ask I feel my insides tear, and the blood drains from my face. I thought we were okay, she lied to me? Was she faking our whole relationship? I thought everything was fine with us, I don't understand?
"It's bullshit"
Staring at her my eyes blur slightly and I shove past her, slamming the door as I left. Pushing through the teenagers I storm out of the house to my car. Sitting down I slam the steering wheel, my eyes blurry. My chest tightens as the heartbreak sets in. Fighting the need to throw up I drive away, I can't do this. Why is it me? I thought we fixed things..I love her..
"Shit!"
Turning the ignition I press my foot down and head home.
My shoes squeak against the sports hall floor as I jump from foot to foot, bouncing the ball. Turning Billy's in the path and he grins at me, I move and turn and suddenly his chest is against my back, bumping against each other,
"Hey Harrington, I heard you used to run this school. That true? King Steve, they used to call you huh?"Tilting my head I looked at him, he was smirking, "Then turned bitch"
"Hey, maybe you should just shut up and play the game."
His face twisted with anger and he placed his foot forward. Tripping I fall to the floor onto my shoulder. Sliding to a stand a run but Billy jumps and stores, high fiving another player. He turns and looks at me, his tongue sticks out and wiggles, the sides of his mouth twisting up.
"Steve?"
Nancy's voice pulls me out of the stare and I look at her. Sighing I walk out and stand in-between the two blocks.
"What are you doing here?"I ask, crossing my arms,
"What do you think? Where were you this morning? I missed the first period!"She hisses,
I shrug, "I figured Jonathan would take you"
"What are you talking about?"
"Jesus you really can't handle your alcohol."I scoff, "Ah so you remember going to Tina's party last night, right?"
"yes"
"Okay and then what?"
"Ah, I-I remember dancing..and then spilling some punch, you got mad at me because I was drunk and then you took me home"
I laugh and turn away from her, "Hm, yeah no that's where your mind gets a little bit fuzzy"
I look down at her and wrap the towel around the back of my neck, holding it, "That was your other boyfriend, that was, that was Jonathan"
"I don't understand"
"I should just tell it like it is then. Ah apparently we killed Barb and I don't care and everything bullshit, bullshit, bullshit, then more bullshit and our whole relationship is bullshit, pretty much everything was bullshit and oh yeah, you don't love me"
"I was drunk Steve! I don't remember any of that!"
Shifting on my feet I turn my head from her, "So that just makes everything you said what, bullshit too?"
"yes!"She shouts,
"Then tell me."
"Tell you what?"
The last pieces of my heartbreak as the realisation hits me. "You love me."
Her eyebrows raise and she acts like shes shocked, "Really?"
The gym doors open and one of the players comes out, "Harrington! Dude come on we need you man, that douchebag's killing us! let's go, come on!"He yells,
"Alright!"I wave,
I look back at Nancy and she can't look me in the eyes. I shake my head and walk away,
"Sick of your bullshit, "I say walking back into the gym, leaving her behind.