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The blond doesn’t like to admit it, but he now believed in safe havens. He had ever since he met you. Billy once thought he would never be able to feel safe again. That option hadn’t been given to him for the longest time.
He also knew he was an asshole. He couldn’t control his anger therefore his mouth got him into trouble frequently. Thankfully for him, he usually could back it up. He didn’t care for explanations or overall emotions unless it was rage. That one seemed to pour out of him quite easily.
When he first met you, he had a feeling he needed to either ignore you for the rest of the school year or else he would be done for. At first, Billy had done just that. He successfully ignored you when you parked your car near his, when you laughed in the hallway with your friends and in class when you seemed to always know the right answer to everything. ‘Till one day he couldn’t anymore.
You two had been paired up in a project together, since it was for extra credit (one he desperately needed it) he had no choice but to actually speak with you. When you first introduced yourself, you were greeted with a scoff and a glare at your extended hand. You just smiled in response, not letting his demeanor get to you. You were determined in making this work. You had seen him in fights, on the court being unnecessarily aggressive while playing, and flirting his way out of everything. You were not letting a few scoffs get in the way of your grades.
That being said, he doesn’t know how it happened but one day he found himself in the library actually contributing to your project. No one seemed more surprised than Billy himself. From that day forward, he learned that you always had your way. And he didn’t mind one bit.
•••
It was late at night, you were laying on top of the hood of his car, stargazing. The best part of not living in the city was the fact that you could see the stars exactly as they were.
“Watcha thinkin’ about?” You asked, while your fingers played with his hair softly. You two laid there, mostly in silence, his arm was serving as a pillow for you undoubtedly numb by now. He hadn’t complained once, and you knew he wouldn’t anytime soon. After a while, Billy grew tired of looking at the sky and turned to you, his brain replaying the days when you two were just getting to know each other.
If there was one person in this world he wanted to think of him as good, it was her. He wanted to provide you that same safety he felt.
“I was just thinkin’ that I don’t mind how everyone sees me” he paused. “I put that shit there y'know? I’m just glad you looked past it sweetheart” You frowned, not quite understanding where this was coming from. His fingers touched your forehead where your eyebrows met. “Don’t do that, it’s nothin’ bad. I’m just happy to be here - with you”
Your heart leaped as his words sunk in. He wasn’t usually this open. “I’m happy too” You said truthfully. He gave you a smile, real one that reached his eyes and leaned in capturing your lips in his. He kissed you gently, taking his time. Your lips responded automatically, oh so familiar with his mouth. His free hand cupped your cheek, holding you close.
“Stay with me tonight,” He asked in the middle of the kiss. “I don’t wanna wait 'till tomorrow to see your cute face again” A giggle escaped your mouth as you leaned back to get some much-needed air.
“Billy! What’s gotten into you?” Billy thought your laughter was more addictive than nicotine. His fingers gripped the back of your neck gently but tight enough to leave a mark. Instead of replying, his eyes suddenly turned serious.
“If anything were to happen to me.. do you promise me you won’t forget me?” You had no idea what the hell he was thinking about, but it made your throat close up.
“Billy… nothing is going to happen to you” Your tone was stern but lanced with concern, you knew Billy had a lot going on with his dad and his family. Sometimes you wanted to ask, but never knew how. “You’re stuck with me”
His expression showed you he wasn’t satisfied with that answer, so you sighed and sat up watching him follow suit. Your hands grabbed his face, turning him towards you, as your lips met his. “Billy Hargrove, I love you. If anything were to happen to you I would miss you everyday. Since that’s something I don’t need to worry about anytime soon, I want you to kiss me and forget about whatever’s going on inside that head of yours”
A grin took over his face as your confession hit his ears, he almost looked like a little boy on Christmas morning. “Yes ma’am” He never thought he would be happy to have moved into Hawkins of all places, but you proved him wrong everyday. Everyone in that town knew everything about each other, it was a small one so it was inevitable. Billy thought that was the scariest thing about it. No one should know a thing about him, if it was up to him the only words attached to him would continue to be rude and an obnoxious flirt. Just as long as you knew the real him.
He loved you, for what you were and for allowing him to be seen.