Addicted (Billy Hargrove)

- fourteen -

- Billy Hargrove -

Song: Your Love by The Outfield

I'm laying next to Stacy, my arm around her shoulders as her head rests on my chest. We have been sitting like this for a while. It's about to be midnight, but I have no motivation to leave. I smell her long brown hair and it smells of mint and coconut. The smell is comforting and for the first time in a long time, I feel calm.

"Billy?"

"Yeah?" I reply as I stroke my fingers through her soft, messy hair.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure gorgeous."

She hesitates, thinking on her words before she says them. "Why does your dad, uh, you know.."

"Hit me?"

"Yeah."

My body grows tense and I almost get up and flee but decide to tell her. I like this girl, I mean really like her, and if I don't want to chase her away, I will need to open up. My hesitation makes her nervous and I feel her shift a little.

"You don't have to answer" she says cautiously as if she says the wrong thing I will get mad. Which happens a lot, so I can't really judge her for thinking that.

"My mom" I answer vaguely. "Kind of."

"Susan?"

"No, not Susan. That's my stepmom."

"So Maxine is.."

"My stepsister." I clarify. She nods slightly in understanding. She doesn't ask any more questions, just sits in silence to let me talk.

"My mom left when I was young. He would hit her too, make her cry and stuff. Cheat on her. So she fled but left me behind. I think he blames me for it. He also drinks and it adds onto his anger issues." She doesn't answer for a moment, and I hold my breath.

"I'm sorry Billy."

"No no its fine" I shrug it off. "I would rather it be me than her so.."

Tears threaten to pour out of my eyes but I push them back. I refuse to cry anymore about this shit. But the fact that she is willing to sit and listen and not give me any more sympathy 'sorry's' means a lot and one tear escapes but I use my free hand to wipe it away. The rest of the night, she lays quietly in my arms and we fall asleep.

🚬🚬🚬

An alarm is blaring through the room, causing me to groan and throw the covers back over my head.

"Ugh turn it off" I complain and I feel her shoot up. I peek out and I see her sitting up, her hair a beautiful mess, sticking up all over the place. I laugh at the sight but clearly she does not think the situation is funny.

"Shit shit shit shit shit" she repeats as she gets out of bed and throws some clothes on. She begins to brush her hair before she turns and stares at me. "What are you doing? Get up!"

I laugh at her panic.

"Looks like you can walk, gorgeous. Maybe I should have done a better job" I wink at her and she shakes her head as she smiles. I finally cooperate and slowly get out of bed to put on my clothes from last night. I walk towards her door and she stops me.

"What are you doing?"

"Uh, going downstairs" I say obviously. "Why can't I?"

"Um, one; Steve will see you. Two; my parents would be pissed I had a guy over."

She is not in the mood for my bullshit I guess.

"Okay, sorry" I defend. "I'll go out the window."

"Thank you" she sighs out. I go over to her vanity and fluff out my hair. The curls look good enough for me so I pull a cigarette out of my pocket. "Nuh-uh, outside please." I smile at her and then open the window, stepping out onto the roof and lighting up my cigarette. I breath it in then blow it out before calling out to Stacy inside.

"Good bye, gorgeous."

"Good bye, handsome" she replies, smiling at me as I get off the roof and begin the walk to my car I left down the road. I pull out of the side street a bit later and drive towards school, smoking my cigarette and smiling at the first really great night I had in a long time.

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Billy deserved better but he's still an asshole :(

Love you baes, thank you so much for reading!!

-Liz <3