𝑩𝑳𝑼𝑬 - Billy Hargrove [1]

THREE

THREE|CHEERLEADER PRACTICE

Bernadette stood on the sidelines, watching each of the cheerleaders work through the newest routine. Her voice boomed through the gymnasium as she corrected small errors and kept the girls in time to the music.

"Birdie!" A voice yelled out as they walked into the gymnasium, stopping cheer practice as all the girls turned to watch Eric walk over to Birdie. "We need to talk."

"I'm busy right now, Eric." Birdie raised a brow at him, unamused by him interrupting practice. "We can talk later."

"It wasn't a request." Eric folded his arms over his chest, waiting impatiently for her to follow him.

"What the hell is this about?" She mirrored his actions, raising a brow as she waited for him to tell her why he was suddenly being so rude after everything he had done.

"You are really going to act all innocent after spreading those rumours about me?" He scoffed.

"Rumours are unconfirmed gossip." Birdie informed him, a smug look on her face. "I was just telling the truth when people asked me questions about why we broke up. Are you really coming all the way here to force me to tell people that you didn't cheat on me with Trish?"

"I didn't."

"We were still dating." She threw her hands up in anger before noticing everyone watching the exchange between the two. "Follow me."

"Even if I did sleep with Trish while we were dating, that doesn't mean you can go around telling people I have a small dick and I was shit in bed." Eric followed her out of the gymnasium, backing her up against the brick wall. "I didn't go around lying about you."

"I wasn't lying and I only told my close friends." Birdie defended herself, suddenly regretting moving away from the safety of people as a hostile look made its way on to his face.

"You're such a fucking bitch!" He shoved her back against the wall, her head slamming against the brick harshly. "If we are going around telling the truth then I'll let all of Hawkins know you're just an easy cheerleader who opens her legs to any guy that even looks at her."

"You're one to talk." She fired back, her hand moving to the back of her head, worried he had made her bleed.

A hand grabbed Eric's shoulder, throwing him backwards before stepping between the pair. Birdie instantly recognised it to be Billy, pressing her shaky hand against his back to show him she was okay.

But the gesture wasn't enough. Billy slammed his fist into Eric's cheek, shoving him to the ground. Eric tried to stand, stumbling up on to shaky legs as he stared at Billy with surprise.

"What the fuck are you doing, Hargrove?" Eric spat the blood from his mouth. "This is none of your business."

"If you ever lay a hand on Birdie again, I will break both your legs so you can never play soccer again." Billy threatened him, raising his fist to punch the boy again as he refused to back down.

"Trust me, he's not worth it." Birdie grabbed Billy's hand, pulling him away from the bleeding boy. "I have a first aid kit in my locker, let me look at your hand."

"What the fuck did you ever see in that guy?" He questioned once they were away from Eric, walking to Birdie's locker hand in hand. "Or do you just have shit taste in guys?"

"I kissed you." She chuckled, smiling up at him cheerfully. "But I think it was more because I am the cheer captain and he is the captain of the soccer team so everyone at school expected us to date. I was young and fell under the pressure of our peers. My best friends did warn me he had a history of cheating before I started dating him but I ignored them."

"Couch is talking about promoting me to the captain of the basketball team because I'm just that good." Billy hinted, looking down at her as they stood beside her locker.

"Real smooth, Hargrove." Birdie giggled, unlocking her locker and grabbing the small first aid kit. "Luckily you're not bleeding so it will probably only bruise but I'll put a bandage on just in case."

"Is that a dinosaur bandage?" He questioned, staring at the small yellow bandage with little dinosaurs on it. "I have classes after this."

"Are you trying to tell me you think you're too cool for a dinosaur bandage?" She pursed her lips, teasing him as she placed the bandage on his knuckles. She leaned down, kissing the small bit of plastic on his hand before standing straight. "There, all better."

"You're a strange one, Harrington."

"I take that as a compliment." Birdie beamed, looking up at him brightly. "Thank you for stepping in. I never thought he would become violent because I told my two best friends about how bad he was in bed. I also didn't know they would tell their boyfriends."

"I'm just glad I was there." Billy leaned down, pressing his lips on hers lightly before standing up straight. "I'll see you at the Halloween party."