Don't Panic - B. Hargrove

TWELVE

With the soda under his arm, David arrived at the basketball training precisely five minutes later than usual, and Steve's gaze immediately flickered over to him in worry. David just waved with the soda and took his favorite spot.
The limp in his wavy steps didn't go unnoticed by the team, and while Tommy snickered, Billy frowned. But David wasn't showing any sign of pain; he just directly stuck his nose into some English literature as if nothing ever happened. Regardless, Steve Harrington paused his warm-up to jog over, hair whipping with the movement, and Billy rolled his eyes at that. It was ridiculous how sickly sweet Steve was looking over David's face for any injuries while holding his chin in place as if the boy was made out of porcelain.
David squirmed under his touch, clearly telling him over and over again that he was fine. So Steve ended his inspection with a firm pad on his back and returned to the training. Tommy snickered once again, and Steve glared at him.
"Why can't you just let him be? He never did anything to you."
"He's existing; that's enough." Tommy shrugged, and for a second, Steve looked as if he wanted to smack that grin off his face.
But he didn't. Although he had deserved it. Billy's gaze flickered back to David. He was sitting there, back with his book, giving Tommy no reason to hate him. He was really existing.
Billy felt a wave of anger starting to build in him, getting more intense by the minute. So it was a relief when the real training game finally started, and he could let it out. It was the same teams as yesterday, skins against shirts or Billy against Steve. They wrestled and fought for the ball, clashed, and bickered. It made Billy's temper roar.
"King Steve, King Steve, everyone," Billy mocked the other boy trying to get the ball back rather unsuccessfully.
"I like it. Playing tough today." Billy coed, and Steve rolled his eyes.
"Do you ever stop talking? Come on!"

The other boy laughed out loud, his voice dripping maliciously as he said: "What? Afraid the coach is going to bench you now that I'm here? Huh?"

Steve leaped forwards, but Billy dodged the attempt to get the ball with ease and run him over once again. It was the exact same situation as yesterday.
Steve ended up on the floor; Billy passed him to score and returned to smirk down at him. It felt so good being superior to that particular boy. It made the anger wash away.
"You move your feet. Plant them next time," he told the boy, who glared daggers at him.
Billy wasn't bothered by that. He was better; that was all that mattered. As he left the captain on the ground, not even caring to pretend to help him in this time, his gaze flickered to Byers on the bleachers.
His focus lay on Harrington, his body anxious and blue eyes full of watery worry. He was tearing up, close to weeping, and Billy did not like it. Why would he cry because of Harrington? He wasn't worth a tear, especially not from the boy who hadn't spent any on himself. As if he had felt him staring, David adjusted his gaze, meeting Billy across the hall. And he glared at him accusingly through the veil of wetness, both arms going up to cross in front of his chest.
The intensity of it was sharper and harsher than Harrington had sent towards him, and Billy could feel how it entered his skin and pierced his heart like a slim, jagged blade. The boy wanted to scream at the other to stop making him feel like that. It wasn't fair.
This wasn't between them. He hadn't hurt the boy at all. It was just about Harrington. Stupid Harrington. David loved him. And Billy didn't understand why nor why he felt betrayed by it. He just knew that it had to stop. Steve Harrington wasn't allowed to be that close to Byers. It wasn't right.

At the showers, Billy eyed Steve once again and observed his slender hands that touched David as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
He needed to tell him to keep them off.
"Don't sweat it, Harrington. It's not your day." he began, suppressing the need for a malicious smirk on his behalf.
And for the first time ever since he knew him, Tommy had something to participate in that wasn't dumb. "Yeah. It's not your week. You and the princess break up for one day, and she's already running off with your loverboy's brother." 
Steve didn't know as he did his best to hide the shock written all over his face. Tommy, the little snake he was, caught up on that.
" Oh shit. You don't know. Jonathan and the princess skipped yesterday. I still haven't shown up. Didn't the retard tell you?" Billy looked after Tommy in satisfaction as the other boy left with another cackle
. That was just the cue he had needed. "Don't take it too hard, man." he addressed Harrington again.

"A pretty boy like you has got nothing to worry about. Plenty of bitches in the sea." For his final point, he killed the water, then glared at Harrington with the intensity of the urgency this message had to come across.
"Am I right, Harrington? Bitches. Not dudes. It would be a bummer if I had to kick your ass for touching the wrong kind. The wrong one; you aren't supposed to."
He didn't look at Harrington when he walked by him, but he could feel his glare on his back and hear the water running again.

Outside, David was sitting on the hood of Steve's car. He would have preferred to skate home today, but his board was still trashed, and he had to take the offer of Steve driving him around until it was fixed with much dislike. It wasn't the waiting he minded. It was the potential of meeting someone he didn't want to see. There were two of them in total. Tommy, for apparent reasons, and Billy, for even more substantial reasons.
But today wasn't his lucky day, and while he had successfully dodged Tommy, Billy was the one strutting out of the door next. His hair was still wet, and his fingers were already searching for the pack of smokes in his jeans back pocket. He looked handsome, but David was too aware that he was a rose with especially prickly thorns.
Of course, Billy's eyes met his, and this time, David had no wave to offer. He was furious with the boy for bullying his best friend so mercilessly. David couldn't stand it. His idea of justice was too strong and so offended it pained him psychically.
Much to his dismay, Billy made his way over, flicking his tongue over his bottom lip. David didn't want to talk to him. They weren't friends. Just two boy's who had made out by accident.

"Byers." Billy clicked his tongue and stopped in front of him, so close David could wrap his legs around his hips if he just scooped an inch closer.
Maybe he should do that. To strangle the boy.
"What do you want?" David hissed. Billy smirked at that.
"Careful, tiny boy. Or you might get hurt." "Is that a threat? Did you send Tommy to beat me up for the last?"
David had pushed a button, and Billy leaned closer, gaze boring into David's.
"Don't associate me with that prick. Ever." he snarled so close David could feel his warm breath on his skin.
"The idea isn't too far of. Two assholes make a good team." The boy didn't know why he kept risking a punch to the face, but he was done with Billy treating him like this.
But Billy didn't punch him. His gaze just shifted focus between David's eyes and even, for a brisk moment, wandered to his lips.
" You're living dangerously." he stated calmly, his big hand sliding up from the knee to David's thigh, where it settled to dug fingers in.
David enjoyed the sensation a little bit too much, especially given the current situation. But unfortunately, Billy's name was still written on his heart, and that stupid crush had a mind of its own.
"Hey! Don't you dare lay hands on him!" a voice called that belonged to Steve.
"Look,your knight in shining armor." Billy snarled, pulling his hand back.

"Leave Steve alone."David hissed, already suspecting another clash between the boys, and he did not need another one of those.
Behind Billy, Steve got closer, brows furrowed in a suspicious frown.
"See you in class, Byers." Billy huffed and turned just in time to come face to face with Steve.
"You better do better next time, Harrington," he smirked at the boy before strutting away.
Steve looked after him.

"What did he want?" David shrugged.
"I have absolutely no idea."