͏b͏r͏o͏k͏e͏n || ͏b͏i͏l͏l͏y ͏h͏a͏r͏g͏r͏o͏v͏e

T W O

𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐀 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐎𝐍

Halloween, my least favorite day of the year. Don't get me wrong I love dressing up, but after all the crap we went through last year trying to save Will, it just makes me realize how scary the world we live in is. As usual Tina was hosting her annual Halloween party tonight, I really didn't want to go but it's better than sitting alone at home, eating my weight in candy. Plus someone has to drive Steve home after he gets wasted.

As usual we picked up Nancy Wheeler, headed to school, and went on about our days. I died when I had seen that Mike, Lucas, Dustin, and Will dressed up in their ghostbusters outfits, losers. I love them. Nancy and Steve were off being secretive in the library, they ended up leaving so they could talk in private. Meaning I have to walk with Mike and his buddies to the Wheeler residence.

I was left alone studying in the library. As always. I try to focus on my textbook, but I was sitting right in front of the window that had a clear view of Billy Hargrove's smoking spot.

I don't know what it is about this boy that fascinates me, maybe it's his long golden curls, his sun kissed skin, those gorgeous ocean blue eyes, or maybe it was the fact that he has trouble written all over him. Either way, this boy has sucked me in and I don't know how to escape. I really want to figure him out.

I've been staring for a very long time.

I blink and come to my senses, and see that Billy has just caught me staring at him. Crap. A smirk spreads across his face as he lifts the cigarette to his mouth.

I look down and try to refocus on my book. Suddenly Little Women isn't as interesting as I had thought. I glance back up and see Billy has disappeared. Shows over I guess. I close my textbook. I decide to leave, to avoid further embarrassment. I quickly make my way to my locker to prepare for the day's end. When I get there I try to get everything put away as soon as possible so I can leave this hell hole. I glance at the clock and watch as the hands move slowly. "Come on, come on, come on!" I slide my books into place and grab my skateboard, I'm definitely not riding on one of the boy's bikes. Before I can grab my backpack, someone slams the locker door shut, making me jam my finger in the process.

"Ow!" I curse under my breath. "What th-" I cut myself off when I see Billy Hargrove holding a hand on my locker, keeping that same grin as before.

"For your information Anastasia, it's also rude to stare. Did your parents not teach you manners?" Billy tilts his head at me like a dog. I hold my injured index finger and start stuttering. It's also rude to slam people's fingers in doors.

"T-They did, but clearly they didn't do a good job." I say nervously.

"Obviously.." He says quietly, his eyes wander down.  I suddenly become self conscious of my flannel shirt and blue jeans. I look down at my shoes but I can still feel Hargrove's eyes wandering on me. "Where you off to in such a rush?" He asks.

"Wheeler's house. I have to walk some kids home. Well technically in a way they're walking me home but that's neither here nor there..." I mumble as I meet his gaze.

"Wow, a loser hanging out with losers. Can't you find friends your own age?" He teases. Wow, that was such a Tina insult.

"Can you not be a d!ck?" I say in my most innocent voice. Billy's demeanor changes, it scares me but I don't show it. He bites on his tongue and shakes his head. "Cat got your tongue?" I quirk a brow at him before I shrivel up in fear.

Billy leans in closer, his eyes darkening. "You got a lot of nerve, Harrington." His voice is low and menacing, but there's a flicker of something else in his eyes. Something almost... impressed?

I swallow hard, refusing to back down. "I just don't like bullies."

He chuckles darkly, his breath warm against my skin. "Happy Halloween, Harrington."

As he walks away, I finally let out the breath I didn't realize I was holding. Billy Hargrove was more than just trouble. He was a storm I wasn't sure I was ready to weather.

I head outside and find the boys waiting for me.

"About time you showed up." Dustin huffs looking at his watch.

"Sorry I got held up." I rush over to them.

"Doing what?" Mike scoffs. "You chose to walk us home clearly you have nothing better to do?" I despise children.

"Let's go losers." I say as I drop my board down on the ground. I glance back at them and snort. "I can't believe you guys dressed up."

"I don't want to hear it, Harrington," Lucas scolds. "We're embarrassed enough as it is."

"I can't believe no one else dressed up. Everyone dressed up last year," Dustin yells, clearly frustrated.

"No one dressed up!" I yell back, laughing. "I thought it was hilarious seeing you guys walking around in your Ghostbusters costumes. You do know it's high school, right?"

"Yeah, well, at least we had the guts to show our Halloween spirit," Mike retorts, trying to sound defiant.

"Sure, sure," I say, shaking my head. "You know, you guys are the reason I have hope for the future. I mean, if the world can handle you four, it can handle anything."

"Very funny," Lucas mutters, but I can see a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

After some time, the sound of a roaring engine catches our attention. It's Billy Hargrove's Camaro, and it's barreling down the road straight toward us.

"Hey, guys?" Dustin says, signaling to the Camaro approaching fast.

"Get out of the road, you idiots!" I yell as I hop off my board and jump towards the grass. Tires screech as the Camaro whips away, narrowly missing us.

"Whoa!" Dustin curses as he collapses into the grass, the boys scattering in all directions.

My heart pounds in my chest as I catch my breath. I look up and see the Camaro speeding away. Anger surges through me. I cup my hands around my mouth and yell into the distance, "Learn how to drive, psychopath!"

The boys gather themselves, looking shaken but unhurt. "Was that..." Mike starts, trailing off.

"Mad Max," Lucas whispers, eyes wide.

"Who?" I ask, still catching my breath.

"Billy Hargrove's stepsister," Dustin says as he stands his bike back up.

"Oh, so a whole family of psychos. How charming," I reply sarcastically.

"You know him?" Mike asks, curiosity piqued.

I nod. "Yeah, we have a few classes together, and we're locker neighbors." I start to skate back down the road, trying to shake off the adrenaline.

"You poor soul," Lucas says, shivering as he walks alongside his bike.

"That guy's crazy," Mike says, picking up speed.

"Yeah, no kidding," Lucas adds, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"I can't believe he just did that," Dustin says, still panting.

"Believe it," I mutter, glaring at the retreating taillights of the Camaro. "Billy Hargrove's trouble, plain and simple."

Yet I still can't get him out of my head.