Chapter Text
It's the first day of sophomore year, and students are spread out in the building, looking for their assigned classrooms. The building is filled with murmurs and questions on which way they should go and what their first period will be.
Billy sees Alex and Tod walking towards their classroom and approaches them, asking if they are classmates. The two giggled at first, then scanned through a list of names posted on the door. Alex found Billy's full name written on the paper.
"Looks like it, Hitchcock. You're with us," Alex says calmly while nodding.
A wide grin formed on Billy's face while voicing out a scream whisper: "YES."
"Let's go then, classmate," Tod says as he pats Billy's back. He trails behind the two, not looking back at the crowd of students in the hallway.
The three of them sat next to each other, with Billy being sat on the aisle.
"You sure you don't wanna sit on my left side instead? Being on the aisle means being prone to sudden recitations," Alex asks, a little concerned about Billy.
"Don't worry, man. I prepared myself for whatever this school year may throw at me," Billy answers with an assurance on his face.
The classroom is slowly being filled with students as time passes by. Suddenly, there is a familiar presence that walks through the door in a maroon letterman jacket. It was none other than Carter Horton himself.
Billy's mouth went ajar as his eyes follow Carter's movements. They didn't really talk last school year since they were seated across from each other, but this couldn't prevent Carter from liking him. He never bothered showing signs, though. Carter has always ignored and even taunted Billy just to show everyone that he couldn't stand a Hitchcock's presence.
"Looks like we got a Horton for another school year," Tod jokingly comments.
Billy giggles nervously.
2nd period
The students have introduced themselves to everyone and made conversations with new faces. Billy has been trying to familiarize himself with the classroom and his new settings.
The humming of the AC is the only noise circling around the room since the teacher was busy writing down something.
Suddenly, Carter notices Billy's eyes wandering around. Carter recalls all his memories with Billy last year—all the teasing and taunting that had created undesirable interactions between them.
He also remembers that those were all just pretentious acts to keep himself close to Billy. Carter has been asking himself, "Should I step up my game?"
At lunchtime, Billy is seated in front of Tod and Alex across the table. They were about to eat lunch when suddenly, Carter sat beside Billy as if he just wanted to annoy the trio.
"Dude, what are you doing?" Billy asks, annoyed at the sudden presence beside him.
"Is this how you greet an old classmate? Come on," Carter sarcastically answers with a hint of exasperation in his tone.
Alex and Tod glance at each other, then at Carter.
"How was your summer break, Horton?" Alex asks tiredly, almost sarcastic.
Carter's hand secretly makes its way to Billy's thigh under the table. He gently squeezes it, but still with a bit of aggressiveness just to ease his desires.
"As interesting as it gets," Carter answers slowly to give time to whatever he's doing.
Billy jolts a little but forces himself to control whatever it is that wants to come out of his mouth. He awkwardly starts eating his food just to keep himself looking occupied. He thinks of it as another pestering from Carter, just like freshman year.
Carter is already putting effort just to keep the conversation with Tod and Alex going so he could continue messing with Billy.
His hand is gently making its way to Billy's knee, fingers brushing and strumming on the skin. A red flash is emerging from Billy's cheeks that he has to hide right away.
"Uhh, I think I wanna buy something." Billy suddenly stands up and makes his way to a long line of students, leaving Carter alone in front of Tod and Alex.
Carter has lost his sole reason to keep sitting at that table.
"Alright, I'll have to go now, nerds," Carter says, unamused, quickly standing up and walking out.
At the end of the class, Carter went straight to his car just to wait for his Billy to exit the building, hoping that he's alone.
A few moments later, he sees Billy walking all by himself, giving him the opportunity he needs.
Billy walks towards the pavement, and Carter frantically starts up his car to drive quickly, scared of losing the boy from his sight.
He slows down his car once he catches up to Billy, the car's window rolling down, giving sight to Carter's face.
"Heya, Hitchcock. I think I'm sure it'd take years before you reach your neighborhood without any vehicle," Carter comments loudly enough for Billy to hear every single word.
"Don't mind me, man, I'm used to this, but thanks for your concern or whatever," he answers with a grin as he stuffs another group of Skittles into his mouth.
The once calm sky boomed as thunder hit the ground far away. Carter smirks at the continuous cooperation of the universe.
"I don't think you're used to walking miles under a thunderstorm though. Get inside," Carter insisted.
Billy is still unsure of what was happening, but he was already expecting a prank later on.
"I'm serious, Hitchcock," Carter adds, with dominion already obvious in his way of speaking, forcing Billy to follow his command.
Billy opens the passenger's door absurdly wide and slides himself in. Carter just rolled his eyes.
"Are you sure this isn't a prank or some shit?" Billy asks, looking at Carter while munching.
"Pranks after class aren't really my favorite. I'd rather do it during class hours," Carter answers back, glancing at Billy. Carter is hesitating if he should add more to his comment, fearing that he might come off as a total freak to Billy.
Fuck it, Carter says in his mind.
"Besides, I might have weakened your leg earlier during lunch break, don't you think?" he added with a hidden smirk on the corner of his mouth.
Billy didn't really listen to him, as he was busy reading the nutrition facts printed at the back of the Skittles bag, but he quickly hummed.
Carter found it annoying, yet he ignored the lack of response. Droplets began pouring down the car's windshield, with breeze blowing through the slightly open windows.
It was moments of silence inside the car, and the only sounds were from Carter's random movements, the rain, and Billy's bag of Skittles.
"Thank you for giving me a ride, Carter," Billy comments a little too loud, scared of not being well heard because of the rain.
He still can't believe that Carter is being serious about giving him a ride to his house. It almost sounds like a sci-fi concept, but he accepts whatever it is that's happening.
Carter found the unnecessary loud volume hilarious and cute, but he couldn't let himself laugh in front of Billy. He doesn't wanna break his mischievous flirting demeanor yet.
"You can pay me with another squeeze on your thigh," he half jokes, wishing that this already gives him a hint of what he is doing.
"Oh, earlier, Cynthia Pastor squeezed my left thigh too during last period, though it wasn't as hard," Billy talks back with innocence and amusement present in his tone.
Carter's brows almost met each other from what he had just heard. He knew Billy had mentioned before that he likes that girl.
"I don't think you should keep entertaining her. Heard she does that to a lot of other boys," Carter snaps back with a touch of bitterness.
"Really?" Billy asks immediately, with a bit of disappointment.
"Yes, really," says Carter.
"Well, I guess I'm gonna have to find out myself," Billy responded.
Carter didn't answer. He just made that up.
The words were followed by complete silence from the two again. Billy shoves the last group of Skittles into his mouth.
Carter, on the other hand, is still busy remembering where Billy lived, but he managed it.
Moments later, they arrived at Billy's house. Carter pulls over to the side of the road in front of the boy's house.
"Take this umbrella. It's still raining," Carter offers and hands him the umbrella.
Up to that moment, Billy's still confused on what was happening, but Carter's offer confirmed it was not a prank or something.
"Thanks again, man. I guess you're really onto this redemption thing now," Billy jokingly says, a little impressed.
"Don't make it a big deal. Now walk your ass to your house carefully before you slip," he talks back with authority.
Billy waves goodbye as Carter hits the road again, still thinking about what Carter had said about Cynthia Pastor.