Don't Panic - B. Hargrove

THIRTY

The next day, David waited anxiously for school to end. His stomach had been giggly and bubbly in excitement all morning, remembering him of the day he eat all the sherbet he had gotten for his birthday at once. He was even equally close to throwing up. Once again, he was faced with so many possibilities, so much that could happen and he really hoped that there was another kiss down the line, being curious if it would feel just as good again. And as the last bell rang, he was the first to jump to his feet, hurting into his winter coat before speeding down the hallway and out into the parking lot. The baby blue Chevrolet Camaro was almost melting on with the first snow surrounding it, perfectly fitting the winter scenery as if it had always belonged there. David sighed in disappointment as he had to notice that Billy wasn't already waiting for him.

He had hoped to find the boy having ditched last period like he often did, so he could wait to lean lazily against his car with a smirk and a cigarette between his lips. Now David was in the awkward position to find himself a spot to wait for the other boy to turn up that didn't look too eager or weird. He felt a slight embarrassment as he stood next to the trunk, wagging back in forth to keep himself busy and warm. In Hawkins, winter always came without a warning and the temperature had dropped significantly overnight, leaving the boy shivering once again. Or maybe it was still the anticipation, he wasn't able to tell he just knew that his heart bounced in excitement as the doors opened and Billy strutted out within a wave of his peers.

He frowned as he looked around but it quickly resolved as his gaze found David. The tiny boy raised a hand out of his pockets for a wave and Billy immediately made his way over. Different than David, he had not adjusted his wardrobe to the harsh weather and was still sporting his Jean jacket over another plain shirt. As he walked, a hand wandered into the pocket of his tight jeans to pull out the keys.
"You look freezing," he commented as he unlocked the doors for David to enter.
"It is very cold." David agreed meekly. "Luckily, I run hot." the other boy winked at him, effectively causing the smaller boy to blush madly as he made an effort to climb into the back of the car but Billy pulled him back, gently pressing him into the passenger seat.
"That's your seat. I don't like you in the back" he hummed and his hand briefly lingered on David's shoulder, which made him turn an even darker shade of red.

He even forgot that he would have to get up again as soon as Max turned up. He was just happy in the seat Billy had chosen as his spot and watched as the boy leaned next to the door, lighting a cigarette between his lips. "You still look like shit. Pale, I mean," he said without looking at David.
"I thought you might be a little rosier by now."
"I'm never rosy." David responded, highly confused.
"No, you're not." Billy hummed in agreement.
"But you don't look like a walking corpse either. Normally, there's more of a Victorian ghost child look to you." The tiny boy shrugged.
He didn't see where this conversation was heading and that was stressing him out.
"I'm usually a little anemic." he mumbled, and yes, he was aware that was most likely not what Billy had meant. But the other didn't mind.
"I have no idea what that means, but I like you better that way. " "Better?"David asked, leaning out to look at the other boy who eyed him from above.
"Healthier.Like I don't need to be careful to break you." Billy's voice was just a low drawl that went right under David's skin while blue eyes pierced into his soul and pink lips turned into a smirk and the tiny boy was sure his whole body was lit aflame, so much the heat had spread. Even he had recognized Billy was flirting with him again and the boy really was a master at that art.

But David still had no idea how to respond, Steve hadn't been really helpful in that department.And while he was feeling the vibe his best friend loved to reference, that didn't mean he suddenly knew what to answer. So he adjusted his gaze to the floor and picked at the loose threads of his sweater that were hanging out of the jacket.

"You're late!" he heard Billy sign in accusal.
"I know, the teacher just wouldn't stop rambling." the voice of Max answered, then her red hair popped up in David's view.
"Hello Doodle," she greeted, eyeing him skeptically.
"Hi Madmax," he responded with a small smile. Billy behind her rolled his eyes.
"Get it over with already.I don't have all day."
"We got something for you.Me and the boys." with that she skipped to the back of the car, unlocking the trunk with the keys Billy had thrown to her. David heard how she pulled something out before pushing the trunk shut again.
When she returned, he held out a skateboard. Carefully, she handed it over to David, who had jumped to his feet in excitement.
"Oh, it's awesome!" he exclaimed while stroking over his brother's painting. He really missed skating and that board looked like it was worth every penny .
"Thank you so much!" "Get in the car, loser" Billy spoke up again and both Max and David looked at him simultaneously.
"Maxine,"the boy added and Max grunted.
"Can't you really give us a moment?" "You can nerd out in the car," was Billy's simple answer, and he nodded to the seats in the back.
With a roll of her eyes that were so similar to her brother, she climbed in and David followed as soon as she proper his seat back up again. Content, Billy leaves back in the driver's seat and started the engine.
"The deck is flexible and rigid, you could do ollies on it without any breaks," Max immediately began rambling.

David held the board between his hands, gently testing its weight.
"It's so light!" he responded happily, his eyes glowing.
"We also made sure it's the right size for you," Max smiled along.
"And Will took hours with the paint job."
David turned in his seat so she could look at her.
"It's beautiful. I'll have to hug him when I see him tomorrow"
"You really need to do that," Max nodded.
They engaged in a lively discussion about how a skateboard should feel and how much Max took into consideration for picking the right one with David throwing in a surprisingly detailed history lesson on how the boards were first made and neither of them noticed when the car pulled up to the Hargrove house. Billy frowned at them while opening his door extra loud. They didn't look up. Only when Billy smashed the door shut behind him they followed behind eagerly, still chattering.

Billy found himself highly pissed at how David wasn't paying any attention to him anymore. He was supposed to spend time with him, n with his sister, and with every word the two exchanged, he got more and more impatient.Until he finally had enough and grabbed David's arm, gently but very firmly dragging him into his room and closing the door with termination.David looked at him, eyes wide and confused.
"You're here for me, "Billy reminded him.
"Oh yes!"David immediately responded.
"I got a lot of notes we have to work through ." He then turned and looked around.
"Your room looks like you." he pointed out, le the backpack slide off his shoulder and opening it.
"I like metalica too. Not everything.some tracks are just too loud.But I like some." he muttered on while unpacking, nodding at the metalica poster above the bed once. Billy observed him sort his notes and pencils, a warmth spreading in him at seeing the boy acting so natural in his room.
But he really did not want to study and when David looked up at him with those soft eyes, signaling how he was ready for work only made his desire to change the direction of this meeting worse.
"This is not the kind of chemistry I was hoping to work on today," he chuckled lightly as he approached, enjoying the other boy's puzzled gaze on his face as he sat down next to him on the mattress. God, that boy was making it way too easy.
"There is only one kind of chemistry in school."David tilted his head and Billy chuckled again as he moved closer, leaving only inches between them.
"I've been waiting to do this all day," he hummed and that was a complete understatement. There had been nothing else in his mind since yesterday and he enjoined the sizzle on his skin way too much as he closed the gap, connecting their lips sweetly and cupping the other boy's face with closed eyes.
He liked how David just followed his lead, not questioning a single move and he was spurned on by David's arms clumsily found their way around his neck, pulling him tighter. And he fucking loved how David gasped as he grabbed his thigh.