Don't Panic - B. Hargrove

THIRTY-TWO

For the first time in years, David Byers was completely content with his life. Maybe his recent discovery of physical attraction was playing its part in that, as he was now, officially the object of Billy Hargrove's desire. Two days had passed by since Billy had dropped off David at his house and a curious chain of events had kept them from seeing each other since. Due to that, yesterday's school day had been more than interesting with Billy's gaze darkly glued to David's body whenever they would meet in the hallways.
The boy had never been desired like that and he was beginning to enjoy the extra attention from the boy he liked so much. And to him, it was a miracle that no one caught Billy biting his lip and winking at him most suggestively even David could read, and made him blush every, single time. It was a completely new way of living that gave him a slight, happy bounce at every step while he roamed through the school, going on with his day. But that sudden happiness of flappy hands and goofy smiles didn't only attract the boy he liked but also the boy that hated his guts. So when David wasn't flanked by Steve or his brother, and the hallways emptied towards the afternoon, leaving only the unfortunate behind who actually enjoyed extracurricular activities, the boy's efforts to get to the parking lot were cut short halfway.
"Uh, looks like a caught myself a retarded fairy," Tommy snarled as he stepped into its way, making David instinctively freeze in place.
"What's wrong with you?" the teen added, mimicking David's hand gestures and pacing, mocking his happiness and hurting his feelings deeply.
Of course, on a day like this, Tommy had to point out what a weird boy he was, and without any of his friends or Billy around, he was easy too easy to play. Like an expert, Tommy kept poking at his self-esteem.
"Too bad lover boy isn't around to pick you up today."
For a tiny, second, David thought he was talking about Billy, but it became quickly obvious how the boy was still coping with Steve leaving him behind.
"No one's here to protect you. No Steve." he grinned mischievously.
"Must be hard to go without his dick for that long."
"You tell me." It was stupid how he kept making the same dumb mistakes but that response had just slipped into his mind and right off his tongue, smacking Tommy right in the face just as the boy did to him with his fist just seconds later.

Oh, there it was, the familiar ringing in his ear and the pang of pain spreading and throbbing. Tommy took his time finding those spots that hurt like hell, savoring every whimper that would escape David's lips. He was only satisfied when the boy was a trembling mess and flinching at every movement he made. Just that view made a cruel smirk form on Tommy's lips. "Pathetic," he spat out, saliva hitting David once again straight in the face. With that, he was left alone. It was humiliating, the way he got here and the situation itself, he didn't allow himself to move.
Maybe part of him thought he deserved it. He was too dizzy to actually know. He could hear the blood pumping through his veins in the rhythm of his own heartbeat as if it was mocking him and his existence. He was so fucking done.
After what felt like an hour, he finally had enough strength to gather himself together and stand, although his legs wavered with every step. The worst part was that Tommy had been right about one thing: Steve wasn't here to save him. Neither was Billy or his brother. Because he had to spend an extra hour researching in the library, there was no one left with a car. He was on his own, only able to rely on his board that had been shuffled against a locker, but was still intact, having escaped Tommy's anger. He sighed as he grabbed it, rips screaming at the movement.

Billy had paced through his room all afternoon, glancing at his bed from time to time, almost bursting in longing. Maybe he should have just jammed David into his car after school, kidnapping him to find a place where they could be alone. He had never been desperate for someone's touch, but with all that had happened yesterday every glimpse of the boy had been almost too much.
If David would be a girl, he would have just grabbed and pulled him into any classroom to get all over him, not a single thought wasted on getting caught because he was exactly doing what was expected of him. He wouldn't risk that with a boy, for the sake of both of them. So he was left once again doing what he never thought he would ever do: pining for a boy.

Oh, he wished he could hate this feeling, but it was too bittersweet. He could call, and hear the boy's voice on the other end of the line, but that was still too far away. He wanted to see him. Feel him. No, calling wasn't enough, he needed to get over there. He could tap against his window, hoping the boy would smuggle him into his room and his bed. The longer he was thinking about it, the better he liked that idea.
Until he finally grabbed his leather jacket and left his room, walking by Max and her mother, quickly muttering how they didn't need to wait for him.
The sun was setting as he entered his car, quickly checking his appearance in the rear mirror before starting the engine. Anticipation was rising with every mile he got closer to Byers's house and when he spotted it in the distance, his heart filled with happiness.
He had no idea when he got so cheesy or when exactly he had started to feel this way, but he couldn't put into words how much David had grown to mean to him. So much, he didn't even mind the blue balling. Although that didn't mean he was going to say no if David offered a special plan for tonight. Biting his lip, he pulled to the side of the road, parking a little behind the actual driveway, out of sight from the building just to make sure he didn't accidentally start any rumors that could hurt David.
So he walked the rest of the way, running a hand through his locks to put them back in place and as he stepped onto the Byer's property, he stopped, having caught sight of movement out of the corner of his eye. He squinted down the road and funnily, he knew that tiny figure approaching with weak steps and a skateboard under his arm.
"What the hell?" he muttered under his breath, then jogged towards the tiny boy, who looked more than surprised to see him, a fresh bruise blooming under his left eye.

"What are you doing here?" the boy asked meekly as he tried to dodge Billie's gaze, but the other boy grabbed his face to get a better view anyway.
"That's definitely not the question here. What happened to you?"
David winced under his touch.
"It's not important."
"It is very fucking important! It was Tommy, wasn't he? I'm going to kill him!"
David flinched at the way Billy's voice had risen and the other immediately tried to soften his tone when he said: "He's not allowed to do that to you, David. I won't let him."

"It's fine. It's always been like that,"
David hummed. Then he stepped forward, leaning against Billy for a hug the other boy gladly granted. "You're so warm," David whispered against him.
"And you're freezing," Billy sighed in reply, rubbing the tiny boy's arms to warm him while pressing a kiss to his forehead.
"Am I at least allowed to talk to Tommy? Scare him off a little?" David hummed, which Billy took as a positive answer.
"Did you come to see me?" the tiny boy then asked as he peeled his face off Billy's chest.
" No, I came to see your mother. Of fucking course I'm here for you," Billy clicked his tongue, slightly annoyed that was even a question.
" So you come in, and spend the night? I don't want to be alone." Billy looked down at him, holding his blue gaze.
He wasn't the boy to spend a night cuddling. But for David Byers, he would make an exception, certain it wouldn't be the last.