Help Me | Harringrove

Chapter 3

"Pretty boy, wait up," Billy calls to Steve as they leave the locker room.

It has been only two days since the new kid has been here, and Steve already has had enough of him. He has been walking around the school like he owns the place and everyone is acting like he does. The girls are flocking him like crazy, and the guys are getting envious. But not Steve. He's just pissed off.

Steve continues walking, ignoring Billy as he runs to catch up to him.

Billy grabs Steve's wrist, forcing him to look at him. "I'm talking to you," he says.

Steve pulls his wrist out of Billy's grasp, and cocks his head. "Really?" he asks sarcastically. "I hadn't noticed."

Billy shrugs. "I don't blame you for ignoring me. You're feeling threatened because I destroyed you on the court today... and yesterday."

Steve subconsciously begins to make a fist. "What's your issue, Hargrove?" he demands.

"I don't have any issues," Billy responds while stepping closer to Steve. He leans into his ear and whispers, "I simply enjoy watching you squirm."

Billy smiles slightly as he walks off to his blue Camaro, leaving Steve standing there confused. And blushing like a tomato.

———

When Steve gets home, he immediately notices that Tommy and Carol are in his driveway. They are sitting on the hood of Tommy's car.

Crap, Steve thinks. He forgot they were coming over after basketball practice.

Carol gives Steve a look of disgust as he steps out of his car. "The paint on your house is peeling. Wouldn't want people to think you were poor or something," she says.

Steve gives her an obnoxious fake smile. "Well, thank you, Carol. I'll get right on that," he remarks sharply.

Tommy gets off of his hood and goes to hold Carol's hand. "What's with the attitude?"

Steve groans as he runs his hand through his hair. "Sorry, I just had a bad day."

Carol lifts her hand up as she begins to examine her cuticles out of boredom. "Are we going swimming, or not? My dad is getting our pool fixed right now, so your pool is, like, the only one available. Besides, it's much bigger," she says. "Lucky you."

"Yeah," Steve mumbles. "Lucky me."

———

He closes his front door as Tommy and Carol leave. Finally. They decided to stay for dinner too, so now it's 8:30 and Steve can finally breathe.

He walks upstairs to his bedroom and lays down on his bed. A recap of the day plays in his head, but one moment stands out the most. I like to watch you squirm, Billy had said. He had gotten pretty close too. Steve shivers. Billy was just messing with his head. He shouldn't let him get to him. But Steve can't help but smile when he thinks of Billy's breath on his neck. The warm air, the scent of cigarette smoke, and the feeling of Billy's hand on his wrist.

Stop it! Steve yells in his thoughts. One moment of affection shouldn't make him feel like this. It shouldn't make him want more. And... No!

Steve quickly gets up and walks to his backpack, taking out his bag of pills. He takes one and frowns. Soon, his thoughts are gone. No Tommy or Carol. And no Billy.

He is truly alone.