HEART FLAYER | b. hargrove

CHAPTER 017.

February 8th, 1985

Arwen couldn't shake the good mood she carried with her ever since her time with Billy last night. She'd sat with Eddie this morning and told him all about it, with them laughing at the fact her dad had intervened before the boy could make an actual move on her. She couldn't help but notice that Billy had looked a bit grumpy this morning when she'd smiled at him, but frankly his mood was always kind of unpredictable so she didn't put too much thought into it.

She'd actually decided to participate in gym class today and was jogging laps around the room with a few other girls while the boys played basketball. But she was starting to regret it since whenever she thought about yesterday or glanced over at Billy, she'd felt this weird sensation in her stomach. It was all squirmy and fluttery and made her a little nauseous, but it wasn't... unpleasant? It made no sense to her. Did she get some kind of stomach bug?

It happened again as she watched Billy for a moment while she jogged and thought about how he really seemed to be changing lately. Without the constant fear of his dad looming over his head, he appeared more relaxed. More care-free like a teenage boy should be. He'd been kinder to Max without looking like a gun was being held to his head while he did, he beat the snot out of one of his own asshole friends when he'd threatened Arwen, and genuinely cared about her birthday (even if he tried to pretend he didn't). 

But today, for whatever reason, that dark cloud seemed to be hanging over his head again. Billy had that vexed, slightly unhinged look in his eye like he used to as he positioned himself to stand right behind Steve who had the ball currently. 

Arwen's jog slowed down a bit as she kept a close eye on the situation. Anxiety creeped up in her organs as she watched Billy mutter something to her friend. Steve's eyes landed on her for a moment before he said something in response to the guy behind him. Billy snapped at whatever was said, grabbing Steve's shoulder and turning him around before punching him in the face.

Gasps sounded out from around the room and Arwen was in between Steve - who was now on the floor - and Billy within an instant. She used just a tiny, almost undetectable amount of her powers to push Billy back a bit as she shoved her hand into his chest. She'd known she wasn't physically strong enough to actually affect him, so she had to make do. 

An almost psychotic laugh came from Billy as he stared at her with wide, enraged eyes.

"What the fuck is your problem?!" Arwen shouted at him, eyes narrowed and a bit of blood leaking down from her nose.

Billy smiled maniacally at her and spoke in a hissed tone filled with venom. 

"Mind your business... and don't ever touch me again."

She blinked in surprise at his words... they'd blindsided her completely. What an absolute contrast in his attitude today versus yesterday. Why...?

The gym coach finally came over and broke up the scene. He'd bid Billy to go to the principal's office immediately, so the boy stormed off and exited the gym with a loud slam of the doors. Arwen helped Steve to his feet.

"Hey, we're twins." Arwen made an attempt at a joke and gave a weak half-smile as she gestured to their matching bloody noses. 

Steve rolled his eyes at the comment, but it still had made him grin just a bit. The coach instructed Arwen to walk him to the nurse's office, so she did as she was told. They grabbed an ice pack from the nurse but didn't linger in her office. Instead they walked out to Steve's car and sat themselves on the hood. 

"I didn't expect that today," Steve said with a sigh, holding the ice pack to his nose. "I thought that guy was being more tame lately."

"So did I." Arwen responded with a brief, humorless laugh. She'd been staring off at the school building in thought but turned to Steve. "What did he even say to you?"

"He, uh..." Steve's eyes darted to her for only a second before casting downwards towards the ground. "Asked if I ever had a 'thing' for you, which I said no. Then he started going on about how you and Munson were looking pretty cozy this morning."

"The hell?" Arwen's eyes widened slightly and she shook her head in incredulously. She reached over and began to wipe some dried blood off of his upper lip. "So how'd you piss him off?"

Steve gave a proud chuckle. "I accused him of being jealous."

She gawked at him, but was a bit distracted when she noticed a figure walking through the parking lot. School wasn't out yet, so she got curious and looked over. It was Billy and he was completely avoiding looking in their direction as he stalked towards his car. He'd probably gotten suspended. Taking a deep breath, Arwen got to her feet. 

"Arwen, don't -"

Steve had started, but just ended up sighing and watching as she'd already begun walking towards the blue Camaro. Billy had his back turned to her when she approached.

"Okay, what's your deal, Hargrove?" She asked with her arms crossed over her chest as she stared up at him fiercely. "I thought you were past the whole 'beating the shit out of Steve' thing."

"Leave me alone." Billy said coldly, barely turning his head to glance at her sideways.

"Fuck no," Arwen scoffed, eyebrows raised at him challengingly. "What happened? Everything was good. I thought..." her voice wavered a bit as the hurt took over. "I thought we were friends."

"Well you thought fucking wrong." He replied harshly, turning to give her the coldest look she'd ever seen.

Her eyes stung a bit, but she refused to let him see that he'd gotten to her. She'd fucking cared about him. She cared about him. She took a chance on him despite him being an asshole and this is what it got her. She blinked quickly to rid herself of any sort of sadness as she said her next words.

"Fine. Stay away from me." Arwen said firmly as they shared intense eye contact. Her face deadpanned to avoid showing that she was hurting at her own words. "And stay away from my friends."

Billy stepped forwards to put his face directly in front of hers, his eyes full of malice and malevolence. 

"Gladly."

With that, he turned and got into his car. He revved his engine loudly at her as if telling her to get out of the way and so she did. She raised her middle finger for him to see in his rear view mirror as he sped off. Arwen's lip trembled as the Camaro disappeared into the distance and she dragged her feet back over to Steve. Her friend stared at her in concern, his brows furrowed together. She avoided his gaze.

"Is there, like... something going on between you two?" He asked quietly.

Arwen rolled her eyes and quickly wiped any wetness from them with her thumb. 

"Hell no. He's a piece of shit."

Steve looked at her as if he didn't quite believe her, but decided not to push it. He nodded and placed a comforting hand on her back.