Don't Panic - B. Hargrove

ONE

David eyed a sunbeam shine on Billy Hargrove's tanned face and watched his boyfriend's dark lashes flutter during his sleep. He wished this moment could last forever, that he could just lock it up in Tupperware and stick it into the freezer where it could last forever like all the eggs that were made for eternity. He knew it was stupid, a childish, maybe even a bit creepy thought, but if there was something he hated more than the upside down, it was change.
He could barely deal with seasons changing, and that was just because they would come back eventually, but with Billy and Steve leaving graduating in just a week, he was well aware that they would never come back. They would leave him behind as much as he was happy for them to move on, his heart was selfish and he wanted them to stay by his side forever.
Luckily, Steve hadn't received a single acceptance letter yet and most likely wouldn't get into a college outside of Indiana, but Billy was set to become a golden bear since the team's match in February. And David loved for him to move back to the place he loved most, back where he grew up, yet it seemed as far away from him as possible. All the hours of tutoring, every good grade Billy had scored had just made it more and more clear that they would part ways soon and it didn't matter how many times Billy told him David would follow him in less than a year, he was a realist. People leave. That was how the world worked. So he had sworn to make the best out of every single little second he'd had left. Even if that meant watching Billy sleep in his bed, imprinting the memory deep into his prefrontal cortex as much as possible while he felt Billy's arm around his hips right where it belonged.

Sadly, his alarm clock was set, and it barred its despite full tone through the room, making Billy grunt in annoyance before his eyes opened. He used his spare hand to reach for the alarm and made it stop, more forcefully than necessary. He grunted again, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"I swear I'm going to trash that thing tomorrow," he announced groggily, his gaze now meeting David's.
"You won't," the boy simply said, well aware of how right he was.
Billy sighed. Meanwhile, David had swung his legs out of the bed and was more than ready to get on with the day. Billy watched as the boy collected his clothes to disappear into the bathroom before any of his brother's got there first, shaking his head. When David returned, fully dressed, Billy was still in bed, positioned like a starfish, eyes squeezed shut.
"Quit procrastinating, I don't want to run late", David told him.
"We still got an hour," was Billy's response.

And so it was time for the same procedure as every morning they spent together, and so David leaned over him, then grabbed his hand and pulled with all his might, which was just enough to make Billy move to the edge of the mattress. As usual, that silly ritual sparked something in the other boy and Billy finally moved. Slowly and still not very motivated, he peeled himself off the bed to stretch his limps like a cat, completely naked, sending David a confident wink. The boy rolled his eyes and then turned to pack his bag.
"It's annoying how well you function in the morning," Billy said as he collected his boxers off the floor to put them on.
"It's annoying you're not done yet," David replied and he knew Billy was grinning as he approached from behind to grab the duffle bag next to David.
He always kept some spare clothes at the boy's house, in case he wasn't in the mood to go home and potentially face his dad. But today, there was no clean shirt left, and borrowing anything from David's brother wasn't on the table, especially since neither Jonathan nor Joyce had been officially informed about the boy spending most of his nights at their house. In fact, David hadn't told them about Billy at all and as much as he was sure Jonathan was well aware of what was going on, his mother was very much oblivious. Most likely because she associated all the noise with the the girl in his twin's bedroom.
"Guess I need to stop by hell then," Billy sighed heavily as he jumped into his jeans and the smelly shirt from the night before.
"You could use a shower," David nodded, a frown on his face.
He hated that Billy still needed to get back there, but the boy had declined his offer to talk to his mom about moving in many times. He wasn't ready, and David had to accept that. "Didn't you promise to pick up Max anyways?" he asked.
"I would rather pick you up instead," Billy grinned, as he snug a hand around David's waist and leaned in for the first kiss of the day.
And as much as David enjoyed kissing his boyfriend, he couldn't endure his odor of old summer sweat and cold cigarette smoke for long." You reak," he stated the obvious and Billy chuckled," You're the one who made me sweat, babe."
David turned bright red at that blunt innuendo," Will you leave already?"

" You're kicking me out? "his boyfriend smirked as he grabbed the last of his things."Yes!" David nodded violently as he pushed the boy towards the window.

Billy laughed lowly as he opened it, highly enjoying the view of David just as red as a ripe tomato and he couldn't resist leaning in once again to leave a kiss on his hot cheek.
"See you later, princess," he grinned, then swung himself outside. Before jumping, his gaze fell on a pair of shoes splattered on the porch. He looked to his left where none other than Nancy the Prude herself was trying to leave Jonathan's bedroom in the very same fashion. Her blue eyes stared at him in shock. Billy just grinned. It was just too funny how they kept meeting like that.

"Need help, Wheeler?" he drawled in a whisper but her shocked expression just turned into a glare.
"Don't spook me like that," she hissed, then let herself drop.
Billy followed effortlessly, landing on his feet just as elegantly as a cat. And while Nancy was keeping her head low running by the other windows, Billy just strutted ahead towards the car he'd parked in the woods, shaking his head at how ridiculous it was for the girl to leave in secret. She didn't have much to lose when someone found out about her spending the nights with Jonathan. He was her boyfriend after all.
But luckily, she wasn't prude in all manners as she'd never mentioned their encounters to anyone, not even David's twin. Billy was thankful for that. Maybe she had the same sense of support for them as his sister, who was still eating her breakfast as Billy arrived at their house early. Usually, he'd wait outside for her to jump in the car.

"Neil's at work," were her first, and probably most important words as he walked by, ruffling her freshly braided hair on his way to his room. Her words of protest were loudly audible while Billy searched his closet for an acceptable shirt and some new boxers.
" Be ready in 10!", he called to her before the bathroom door closed behind him. It was just enough time for a quick shower and to style his locks and as he emerged, still wet but dressed, Max was already waiting for him.
"I'll be at Mike's later," she announced on their way out. "Neil's on a work trip 'til Monday and Mom's allowed me to stay late."

" Just call when I need to pick you up," he replied.
"Our house or Doodle's?" she smirked and he just glared at her as she got into the passenger seat.
"Seriously, you're such a priss," Max said as he started the engine.
"And you are dangerously close to walking your ass to school." Max dropped the topic as he looked outside the window instead.
"Neil thinks you're with a mystery girlfriend," she then said. "He's talking about how you need to finally man up and a girl is a step in the right direction. He's still pissed at you though. Sometimes I think he wants you to hit back."
Billy snarled, "Fuck him."
"Fuck him," Max agreed.
"Which reminds me.... Mom gave me some gas money for you."
She shuffled in her seat, reaching into one of her shorty's pockets, and pulled out a few dollar bills she placed in the cup holder like she always did. Billy eyed the money in distaste.
Despite Susan giving it to him, it was still his and Billy didn't want a single penny of that asshole. Luckily, he'd be starting a summer job soon and the savings would get him all the way to California and far away from Neil. But as always when he was thinking about California, he was also thinking about David and how lost he'd be without that strange boy having his back.