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“Hargrove?”
Steve watched as the startled teen turned to look at him.
His wide eyes soon narrowed as he exhaled slowly, flicking the butt of his cigarette to the ground before grinding it with the heel of his boots.
“You following me Harrington?”
Steve rolled his eyes.
“What are you doing out here at this hour?” Steve asked with a smirk.
He took a step closer, leaning back on the trunk of a tree.
“I could ask you the same thing,” Billy replied as he pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his back pocket, offering one to Steve who declined, before lighting one himself.
Steve watched as he slipped the pack back into his jeans and he wondered how on earth they fit when the material almost seemed to be painted onto his body. Not that Steve was complaining, mind you.
Steve blinked as he looked up, realizing he had just been staring at Billy’s ass for who knew how long.
“There’s these kids…” Steve started but stopped.
It wasn’t really like it was easy to explain his relationship with Henderson. By all accounts it was weird to have a little kid as pretty much your best friend. He decided to try again.
“My ex has a little brother…”
Great, why in gods name had he brought up Nance?
Lie it was.
“I was babysitting some kids, they went off to do god knows what and I saw you over here,” Steve finally said.
Billy raised an eyebrow but let it go.
“My house is down there,” he pointed down the hill towards the distant street lights. “Sometimes I hike out here to clear my head.”
Steve’s gaze did a once over of Billy.
“In clothes and boots like that?”
Steve wasn’t convinced.
Billy exhaled a cloud of smoke again, toungue licking his lips before he bit down on his lower one.
There was an awkward pause that hung in the air and Steve knew he’d asked something personal.
Billy cleared his throat, “Look, my dad is a complete asshole, it’s not like I choose when I leave. Let’s just say when the yelling starts I get the hell out.”
Steve was at a loss for words. What exactly did you say to someone who had pretty much just admitted to being abused at home? Did you express sympathy? Concern?
Billy didn’t look like the type to enjoy being patronized and he also didn’t seem up to talking about it more so Steve decided to let it go, at least for the time being.
“Yeah, okay,” Steve gave a slight nod, “but why up here though?”
Billy’s lips were parted, tongue sliding along his upper lip before he gave a click.
“I like to look down at Hawkins and wonder how such a small crap town could cause me so much misery.”
Steve couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped.
Billy stiffened, “You think that’s funny Harrington?”
“No,” Steve shook his head, “it’s just I feel the same way?”
Billy scoffed, “Steve ‘The Hair’ Harrington? King Steve?”
Steve rolled his eyes, “First of all, I hate those nicknames.”
Well that wasn’t a complete lie. Sophomore year he had loved the attention and popularity and praise. But then everything went to hell and suddenly all of that felt so shallow and superficial.
There were bigger things to worry about.
“Secondly, you don’t even know me.” Steve finished.
“Alright then,” Billy flicked the ashes of his cigarette at Steve, a coy smile on his face.
“Educate me.”
Steve was glad it was dark out, he could feel a blush rising on his cheeks.
“My ex’s best friend died and for some reason she blames me for it, Hawkins is literally a portal to hell…”
It was hard to explain why he hated it here so much when he couldn't exactly be truthful. How exactly did you explain to someone on the outside about the upside down without getting yourself institutionalized?
“She dumped me for this other guy because I was, and this is a direct quote, bullshit. ” Steve looked away. The fight with Nancy was still raw.
And why the fuck was he explaining all this to Billy Hargrove of all people?
“So why don’t you leave?” Billy finished his smoke, dropping it to the ground beside his other butt and extinguishing it in the same fashion.
“I could leave here, you know?”
Steve couldn’t help himself, “And go where?”
Billy’s smile widened as he gave a laugh, “Oh god, anywhere but here. Back to California?”
Steve nodded with a shrug, “Alright then, let’s go.”
Billy laughed even harder, “Us? What you got a car around here?”
Steve pulled out his keys, jingling them in front of the other as he took a step towards Billy, effectively closing the distance between them.
“It’s not exactly your Camaro but I’ve got my BMW.”
It was Billy that took the final step closer, their chests almost touching.
“You wouldn’t,” there was almost a daring look in Billy’s eyes.
Steve held his ground, “Try me.”
“Alright, then let's go,” Billy smirked.
He studied Steve’s face for a moment, taking in every last detail and Steve couldn’t help himself doing the same in return.
There was a scent of cigarette with a hint of menthol and Steve found himself breathing deeper.
The moment was broken as they heard noise not too far off.
“Steve?”
That was Mike, he was pretty sure of it.
“Come on Harrington, let’s get a move on it,”
That, that was Henderson. No doubt about it.
The moment was shattered and Billy took a step back, shoving Steve’s chest with two fingers as he did.
“Sounds like duty calls,” he shrugged, “It was a nice thought Harrington.”
“Uh… yeah…” Steve nodded as he started to move towards his car, “I guess see you at school?”
“Whatever,” Billy shrugged as he faded back into the tree line.
He must have been heading back home.
Steve couldn’t help wondering what waited for him when Billy got back. He hoped he would be okay.