Don't Panic - B. Hargrove

THIRTY-THREE

"I should kill him," Billy stated as he eyed  Tommy H through his windshield. David, seated on the passenger seat followed his gaze with his own, shaking his head tiredly,
"Don't bother. I'll be laughing when he's working at McDonald's next year."

Billy chuckled at that, his blue eyes settling on the other boy with a fondness that made David feel warm inside. It was a feeling strangely familiar after all the cuddling and sweet kisses shared last night, a cozy little flame lit by fingertips softly roaming over fresh bruises, cursing their creator. David had fallen asleep and woken with a protective arm around his hips and a forehead pressed against his. In some weird way, it had been beautiful. Just the two of them curled up and covered under all of his blankets, hidden from the world. Billy had even considered ditching just to stay a little longer that way, but David's sense of responsibility had won over his plans.

And just like they had struggled to leave the tiny rooms bed, they were struggling to leave Billy's car.  Billy sighed as he pushed his pair of shades onto his nose.
"Let's get this over with," he huffed. David just nodded fingers curling around the door handle anxiously.
He was still convinced it was a bad idea yet Billy had talked him into it. Said boy stepped outside, stretching his back dramatically, well aware that a dozen pair of eyes had immediately glued themselves to the bit of skin he was exposed as his shirt rose.
David asked himself if someone would notice that the black t-shirt did not belong to the boy and was not fitting his aesthetic at all. How could it? David had secretly snatched it out of his twin's wardrobe and to him, it screamed Jonathan Byers.

But Billy had insisted it was less telling than him showing up with the same shirt as yesterday, David didn't know much about stuff like that, so he had trusted him. Now he was seriously considering if it had been the right decision. Anyways, he slid out of the car unnoticed or ignored by most, clasping the straps of his bad as he followed Billy like a lost dog, staying a step behind to leave no room for rumors.
"Relax," Billy told him as he lit a cigarette between his lips.
" That's against my nature," David shook his head. And so was confronting Tommy who Billy was darting towards, every step filled with pure confidence.

"Hagan!" he barked out and Tommy immediately turned around to look at him.
"What's up?" he asked, a nasty grin on his lips. Every fiber of David's body hated being that close to him. Luckily, the asshole hadn't noticed the tiny box hiding behind Billy's broad shoulders yet.
" Not much," Billy huffed as he put a hand on Tommy's shoulder. David wouldn't touch that boy with a stick.
" I was just wondering, "Billy added, leaning in as if he wanted to tell a secret to the other boy who was as usual, starstruck by the boy's presence." If you are boycotting my chances at a scholarship on purpose or just by being stupid.
"I have no idea what you are talking about, man, "Tommy responded, his entire body language submissive. David held his breath.

This was his cue. With his free hand, Billy dragged him out of his shadow and into Tommy's line of sight, the action way more gentle than it looked. More than confused, Tommy eyed the tiny boy up and down, unsure how to place his presence while David was oddly fascinated with how the tips of his Converse blended with the muddy snow covering the ground.
"You think he's of any use broken like this? The exam period is coming up and he's barely able to write. That's a good premise for my grades, isn't it? I don't see what could go wrong, can you?" with that, Billy shoved Tommy back, glaring at him with all intensity he had to offer. Just how they had planned.
Tommy needed a moment to process what had just happened and David could swear the wheels on his brain were turning even slower than usual until he finally understood, "He's tutoring you?"
Billy let out a snarl, "That's right. He's under my protection and I don't want any more disturbance for my graduation, are we clear?" 

David hated himself for it, but it as he peeked up at the two boys and saw how fearfully Tommy looked up at the taller boy, he couldn't help but feel himself even more attracted to Billy than before, so much even, his brain solely focused on his face and not the rest of the conversation.
And he was only aware that it was over when Billy pushed him towards the entrance, leaving Tommy flabbergasted behind.
"That was fun," the boy grinned widely, his hand briefly touching the small of David's back reassuringly as they entered the school.
"Thank you, I guess," David whispered loud enough for the other boy to hear.
"You are very welcome," was the soft, hummed reply.  "But I would have enjoyed beating him up a tiny bit more." 
David huffed at that.
"See you later, babe" Billy grinned, then parted to head for another part of the building. David looked after him, shaking his head, frowning but internally bursting with admiration and pride.
That idiot wearing a jean jacket in the middle of December, smelling like a whole bottle of cheap men's perfume and cigarettes he also sometimes tasted of, the pretty boy right there strutting down the hallways, was his. And David was his babe. That was a realization he had to wrap his head around every time he looked at him.
"Doodle!" a voice pulled him out of his thoughts as Steve leaned against the locker beside his

. "Oh, hi Steve," David answered, blinking a few times before looking at his friend. "I just asked you what you are doing the Friday after Christmas, "Steve said, dark eyes tired.
"Probably what I do every Friday, stay home, read," the tiny boy shrugged.
"Really? Your mom,  Jonathan, and Nancy are chaperoning the Snowball and you stay at home to read?" David cringed.
With everything going on, he had completely forgotten about the upcoming event his little brother was attending. To be fair, he had missed his own Snow Ball on purpose, maybe his brain was still wired to just ignore its entire existence.

"Are you going?" he asked to which Steve replied with a violent shake of his head.
"I promised Dustin to help him with his outfit. I thought about going to the movies after, maybe getting some burgers. Wanna join?"  David busied himself with the contents of his backpack while overthinking the proposal. He liked going to the movies with Steve. But his entire family seemed to be engaged in the dance and that meant a lot of quietness for him to enjoy at home and that was even more tempting than burgers.

"I think I could use some time alone, recharge after Christmas chaos. But thanks," he politely declined after having sorted his books twice. Eagerly, Steve tried to convince him otherwise, "You're unbelievable. They are playing Raiders of the lost ark, Doodle. You could spend your night with Harrison Ford trashing Nazis."

David chuckled at the very pathetic try that was so typical for Steve. And if it wasn't for the last two months, the offer of going to see one of his favorite movie stars in one of his favorite movies of all time would have been a delight.
"I had enough monsters for a lifetime, Steve. I really just want some peace," he repeated his decision.
"Whatever. You do you. If that means living your best grandpa life, I'm happy for you," Steve gave in with another sigh.
"But we're still spending New Year's together, right?"
"Of course. Mom's baking extra cookies," David confirmed with a nod. "Chocolate chip?" Steve looked ridiculously hopeful posing that question.
"Sure," David nodded again.
" With the gooey core.Just how you like them."