DEAR BILLY [b.hargrove]

001

|ALLISON|

The lights beamed through the slit in the curtain waking me up from my slumber. I groaned while trying to turn away from it and was met with a bare chest from the figure who has his arm securely around my waist.

Billy Hargrove...

Otherwise known as my boyfriend.

I have recently moved back to Hawkins from California with him and today was our first day of school. I snuggled closer to him taking in his warmth as I thought of the past year we had together. It was tough but Billy was there for me and I always tried to be there for him. Yes he was a bit of a dick, but I understood why. I was one of the few to witness the abuse Billy had been through. But who was I to judge? We both have our flaws but he saved my life.

I studied him as he slept thinking how lucky I was to be able to have a life with him.

God, I was so lucky!

I remembered when he asked me to leave with him to Hawkins. My deadbeat dad left when I was 12 just after her my sister died and my mom and stepfather died in a car crash just over a year ago where I was shoved into a foster home. But I'm a runner, always have been even when mom was alive. We were never happy when dad left.

Billy and I have known each other since I moved to Cali back five years ago and he found my one night after having his fun with some blonde back home. He was known for sleeping around. Was. He's not like that anymore! He's changed. He took me back home with him and took care of her until I was ready to talk. I couldn't deny he didn't flirt with me at the time. He did... big time! But he was patient with me and convinced me not to run anymore. He gave me a reason to want to live my life, he made me happy.

We got closer and started officially seeing each other. When he broke the news to me that he was leaving, it broke me. I ran again.

He spent all night driving around looking for me and when he found me he tried taking me home to my foster parents but I begged him to take me with him.  To this day I still don't know how but he convinced his father and did just that. I'm sure he will tell me one day how that went down.

I turned to look at the time and saw 10 minutes had already passed since I woke up. Time was ticking by and it was our first day of school, unlike Billy, I cared about making a good first impression. I thought on how I could wake him up and kissed his nose making his face scrunch up causing me to giggle at his reaction. I'm the only one who gets to see him like this. Out in the real world he puts on a hard front, but behind closed doors with me, I see the real him.

"Morning." I smiled.

"Morning, gorgeous." He replied, his voice rough from only just waking up sending shivers down my spine.

God, I was lucky. Out of all the girls he slept with he picked me. I still question myself as to why.

"Times getting on, we need to make a move." I whispered as I moved to get out of bed when i suddenly felt his arm around my waist pulling me back. I squealed as he hovered over me and started peppering my face with kisses.

"I'd rather stay here all day doing this." He whispered into my neck kissing up towards her jawline, my eyes falling close from the sensation and finally kissing my lips.

I loved how he treated me. I wrapped my arms around his neck deepening the kiss when the door slammed open.

Billy quickly rolled me as I threw the blanket over my head knowing exactly who it was. Only one person in the household didn't have the decency to knock.

"Get up!"

Neil.

I peaked up from the blanket and got out of the bed rushing off to my room. Come on, did you really think his dad would let me live in the same household and the same room as Billy? Definitely not. I had to share with Max. Not that I minded, I loved Max like my own little sister. Billy sat in bed quietly and I tried to run out past Neil but before I could he slammed his hand on the door frame blocking my path.

Shit.

I froze and stared straight ahead. Billy and I both knew Neil wouldn't touch me, but that didn't mean Billy wouldn't face any consequences.

"What have I told you about whoring around under my roof?" He whispered to me still loud enough for Billy to hear. He knew I wouldn't answer him. He knew I was scared of him and he just liked watching me squirm under his stare. He liked having control of me, but even more he liked having control of Billy.

"You keep this up and I won't hesitate to kick you back onto the street." He removed his arm to let me go. I ran off to her room getting a quick glimpse of Billy. His jaw tense staring daggers into Neil's soul. He always said that once they graduate we were out of here. He promised and he put up with his fathers beating for me. I felt so guilty about it but whenever I tried to intervene it turned out worse for Billy. I hated herself for it but there was nothing I could do apart from be there to comfort him.

I ran into my room and shut the door letting out a breath I didn't realise I was holding. Max was still in there putting a jacket on, she gave me a soft smile, I can tell she was feeling guilty because I could see her teary eyes as she apologised. I would sneak into Billy's room whenever Neil was working. Mine and Max's window was right next to the driveway so we could always hear when the Neils car was pulling up. We had a deal that she was supposed to run and knock on Billy's door when he arrived home. I consoled the redhead the best I could and told her it was okay. Billy may have changed around me but he still treated his sister like shit. I knew deep down he cared, I could see it. But every time I told Max she always replied with 'yeah well sure has a funny way of showing it.'

"Sorry Ally, I didn't hear him." She mumbled.

"Don't worry about it, I bet he parked across the road again to try catch us out." I pulled Max away and brushed her hair behind her ear smiling at her. "Come on, don't want to be late for our first day."

She groaned and rolled her eyes. They may not be related by blood but I could always see the similarities between the two.

***

The car ride was filled with awkward silence on the way to school. I could tell by the way Billy was clenching onto the steering wheel he was pissed. At least this time he got away without a beating.

"What the hell was that stunt you pulled today?" He spoke up in an angry tone.

"I didn't know he pulled up." Max replied without making eye contact.

"Billy it's ok-"

"Nothing about her behaviour is okay Allison!" I flinched at his tone and he seemed to notice by the ways his eyes softened. He didn't lose his temper with me much but when he did it was usually because he was already riled up and he always regretted it after. He reached over and gently held my hand bringing it up to his lips and kissing my knuckles. Billy was never one to apologise, but when he apologised to me he did it by showing affection like this.

I smiled in return knowing he didn't mean it and intertwined her fingers with his and the rest of the car journey was filled with comfortable silence.