FIRECRACKER || Billy Hargrove x Male!Reader

Mall Time-Chapter 3

3rd POV, Perses
TW; None
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After the final bell rang, you walked through the very crowded hallway towards your locker. There wasn't much you needed, just your backpack, and even then it didn't have any school stuff in it. You always took it everywhere though, it was useful.

When you finally arrived at your very decorated locker, you saw Billy Hargrove leaning on the wall with one of the popular girls - Vicki with an 'I' - clearly and very shamelessly flirting. He didn't seem too interested, but you minded your own business until you had all of your belongings.

You closed the locker door before walking up to the pair. "Hey Billy, when you see Max, just point her towards the White Jeep. A bunch of boys and my brother will probably be there." Billy simply nodded to show he was listening, before you turned to Vicki and whispered something he barely caught, "Next Wednesday at the picnic table, I'll give you a discount if you're early."

Vicki nodded politely and waved you off, you nodding to both her and Billy. You were on okay terms with most people in this school. People didn't spread rumors about you, or gossip, and boys kept it in their pants in fear of getting the Terry Barker treatment. You were even on good terms with Jason on the basketball team and his cheerleader girlfriend Chrissy, surprisingly.

Soon walking out the front doors, you were snapped out of your thoughts by Dustin shouting your name from across the parking lot. You chuckled softly before rushing over so he wouldn't annoy any of the other people. "Alright, shut up. They heard you over in Russia dude, chill." You ruffled his hair slightly, affectionately of course. Then you did a double take. "Where's Will?" The younger Byers brother was not with the three boys in front of you, Eddie just shrugging and trading a look with Dustin instead of answering.

"Jonathon is driving him home," Mike piped up.

You nodded, letting out a soft 'ahh'. "Alright, we're waiting for one person then. You boys can get in, Mike you're incharge of music because I don't trust either of you two to not break it," you gave pointed looks at both Eddie and Dustin, them lettiing out groans of annoyance, "Don't touch anything near the driver's seat. I'll wait out here for the other passenger. It's a girl, by the way, so be decent."

All three boys traded looks, before shrugging and climbing into your Jeep, Mike messing with the radio soon after. You leaned back against your car, revelling in the peace now that the boys we're semi-gone.

You waited a few minutes, whisteling to yourself, before you saw the same fiery girl from this morning walking outside, looking rather confused. You put two fingers up to your lips, whisteling once very loudly to get her attention. It seemed to work as she jumped before looking around, seeing your raised hand and speed-walking over.

You smiled softly and pushed off the car when she was close enough. "Hey, I'm Perses. You're Max, right?" She nodded hesitantly and you smiled wider, "Your brother was a bit busy, so he asked me to watch after you. My brother and two boys your age are inside the car, you can either sit in the back with them, or I can kick Ed from the passenger seat and you sit with me."

Max thought for a moment, before she spoke softly, "Do you think your brother would mind? I don't really like boys. No offence,"

You chuckled softly, before composing yourself, "Oh, none taken. Boys are horrible." You rolled your eyes, thinking about how many boys you spent every day with. Girls were nicer. "Let me go tell my brother about the change of plans." You winked at her, before walking around to the passenger seat and pulling it open. "Alright Ed, get in the back. Seating change."

"What- Are you serious?" Eddie's eyebrows pinched together before he looked over at the small girl near the back of the car. He let out a groan when you just arched an eyebrow, before begrudgingly climbing in the back. Dustin screamed a bit, but eventually they settled in.

You turned back to Max with a smile on your face, "Come on girly, I gotta drop the dorks off, then you can hang with me and a girl about your age. Her name's El." Max quickly stepped forward and hopped in the front seat, smiling just a bit when you closed her door and climbed in the driver's seat a moment later.

You took off a minute later, dropping off each boy at their home, Eddie at your own, before heading to the Byers house. Along the way you explained the plan to Max, who seemed pretty happy with a day at the mall - on you, of course.

When you pulled into the driveway to the Byers home, you put the car into park and turned to Max. "I'm gonna head in to get El, you can stay in here and sift through my music if you want. I won't be gone long." You smiled at her before climbing out and heading up to the door. You clipped one of the many keys off of your keychain and opened the door up for yourself.

"Perses, is that you?" You heard a voice call from the kitchen and you chuckled. "Hey Joyce, yeah, it's me." You smiled as you walked towards the kitchen, to see Joyce standing near the stove. She smiled and hugged you close, fretting over how messy your hair was, and how tall you were getting. "Joyce- Joyce, you know I love you like a mother, but I gotta pick up El. Do you know where she is?" You gave the older woman a smile as she sighed at you, but told you that Eleven was in her room. You gave her a loving kiss on the cheek and moved down the hall towards Eleven's room.

You knocked in a certain rythm, one the both of you had made so that she could identify when it was you, and soon enough the door was pulled open and you were wrapped in a very tight hug. You laughed and reciprocated it with just as much force, smiling when you saw the excited look on her features. "Hey bug, you ready to go?" Eleven nodded eagerly, before pulling away from the hug. "Give me one minute to put my shoes on." She then ran to the front door and slipped her tennis shoes on, kissing Joyce goodbye before dashing outside, you hot on her trail. You stopped at the door though, popping your head back in, "Is it alright if she stays the night at my place? I can kick Eddie out." You grinned mischievously before Joyce swatted you out the door, "If you want her to stay over, then you gotta take her to school tomorrow,"

You laughed softly, closing the door and calling out a 'Yes ma'am!' before you caught up with Eleven.

"Alright bug, you're gonna have to sit in the back, you know the rule with new passengers." You patted down Eleven's hair, seeing her sigh before climbing in the back. She really liked the front seat. You smiled at her and hopped back into the driver seat, putting the car in reverse so you could back out of the driveway.

"Max, this is Jane. She also goes by El, don't question where it comes from. She's in a few of your classes, I think."

El immediately piped up from the back seat, "It is nice to meet you, Max. I don't have many friends that are girls!" Max laughed a little at that, the sound making a grin spread accross your face.

"Alright, here's the plan. We'll spend some time at the mall, maybe go bug Robin and Steve at Scoops A'hoy, stop by The Gap for a bit, probably go to the arcade after, and Max, you have the choice of a sleepover, I already know El's answer." El giggled at this and nodded eagerly, leaving you to turn to Max with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, that sounds cool. We'd have to pick some clothes up from my house though." She looked a little guilty, like she should have thought of that.

Sensing this, you answered immediately, "Yeah, no problem. We can do that after the arcade. Either that, or you can borrow some of my stuff. El does it anyway."

Max seemed grateful for your offer, and nodded hesitantly, "You wouldn't mind, would you?"

You shook your head at her question with a chuckle, "Of course not, I don't even wear half the stuff in my closet."

Max smiled at you and settled back in your seat, leaving you to turn the music up just a little bit, just so that there was no awkward silence as you drove the girls to the mall.