Don't Panic - B. Hargrove

TWO

"What's the matter?" Steve asked, pausing to eat his friend halfway as he noticed the weird look in his best friend's eyes.
"I think I'm going to miss your disgusting eating habits," David answered truthfully, slightly squinting his eyes at Steve, who just glared at him.
"Charming as always," he hummed, then pushed the rest of his meal in his mouth to chew extra loudly. David cringed at the misophonia, which only made Steve grin sadistically.
"You are going to miss me so badly," he said when he was done, and David rolled his eyes at him.
"Well, we certainly will see each other less often when you work at the mall." Steve glared at him.
"As my best friend, you're obliged to visit me at least once a day," he then pointed out, grabbing onto his empty lunch tray to stand up.
"You can be lucky if I make it into those nightmares once a week," David begged to differ as he followed closely behind, picking up the other boy's gym back in the process.
"Fair enough," Steve hummed while returning the tray. He then took over his bag, hoisting it over one shoulder lazily as he strutted on and into the hallway.
"Does Loverboy still work at the pool?" he asked after glancing around to see if anybody was close enough to listen into their conversation and deeming it safe.
"Unfortunately, yes," David responded, scrunching his nose in disgust.
The community pool was one of the places he hated most in Hawkins, and the summer sun didn't help the level of hostility for his gentle skin and ears.
"Sucks," Steve agreed. "At least he'll be there to kiss your sunburn better. I'm completely on my own in that shithole."
"You'll live," David said as he stopped in front of the vending machine, putting a dollar in like he always did, wishfully glancing at the bottle coming out as the last of its kind.

It's the last drink he'll ever get Steve for basketball practice. It kind of felt wrong how he could hand it straight over, the boy so used to cradling the soda and taking it to the bleachers with him. This time, it went with Steve into the changing room, leaving David behind. And a second wave of melancholy hit as he entered the gym and aimed for his favorite spot, sitting down to swing his legs back and forth while the team was getting ready.
For a strange moment, it was just him, and it hit him like a bus that this was what his senior year would soon look like. Luckily, that time hadn't arrived yet, and the doors swung open again to reveal the first boss Jogging in, including Billy, who briefly looked at him and winked. And watching him, David figured that it really was best for Billy to become a professional basketball player as he just looked perfect in those shorts.

Steve followed just a second after, hair whipping with every movement as he offered Billy a nod. That was the best David had gotten out of the two, and he was still proud that they weren't bashing their heads in anymore. Just looking at them made him feel warm as he loved those two idiots to pieces. Hawkins High would be a worse place without them.
But he was undoubtedly the only one thinking so as he could see that Jason boy was eager to take over the title of the school's king finally. David didn't like him, but he wouldn't have to deal with him or the basketball team ever again, so it wasn't necessary. In that spirit, he watched his boys bicker on the court, leading the two teams against each other with the glee of two people who were still no friends.

David had high hopes that without the competitive energy, they would make up eventually. So he was thankful when the match ended with a final victory for Steve, an apparent courtesy of Billy, who had sent his boyfriend a conspirational wink after announcing the final score. So David left the gym with a bittersweet smile on his lips and a happy bounce in his step.
As usual, he sat down on the hood of Steve's car, fumbling with his fingers and dangling his feet while he waited for the sports boys to appear.
And, of course, it was Billy. Different from Steve, he didn't care to style his hair in the summer, just trusting his locks to try on their own, and David was in love with the way they framed his face.
As soon as his boyfriend spotted him, he strutted over, gaze already skimming over David.

"Princess needs a few more minutes," he announced as he stepped in front of the hood, right between David's legs, a hand casually resting on the boy's knee.
"Thank you for granting him one last win," David said as he looked at him.
"You know, I did it just for you," Billy drawled, his hand moving upwards.
"That's good enough for me," David responded, enjoying the little shiver running through his body. With a smirk, Billy leaned closer," You know, I'm very much in the mood to kidnap you for some take-out and sex in my car."
Playfully, David kicked him back.
"I won't let you come between Harrison Ford and me again," he announced sternly, using his Converse cladded feet to keep Billy at a distance, who just smirked as he leaned into it," But you'll let me come into you later, baby"

For that, David kicked him again, this time dangerously low, a bright pink blush blooming onto his face in seconds.
"This is still the fucking parking lot!" he exclaimed in embarrassment, but Billy was in a good mood and very much enjoyed teasing his boyfriend mercilessly, so he responded in a sly drawl, "I wouldn't say no to fucking in the parking lot."
Just how David looked like he was about to scream in frustration was absolutely worth it, although he needed to dodge the next kick that was shamelessly directed at his balls. He laughed, highly amused by his boy's awkwardness, one of the perks of being his first boyfriend. David glared at him, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"Ah, yes," he said. "Keep teasing me, and I'll lock my window tonight."
"You won't do that to me," Billy huffed confidently, yet David just glared at him, which was enough to make that assumption crumble. "You would never."
"I'm just pointing out that I could," David quickly took back the threat, and his kindness was enough for Billy to be flooded with adoration for the boy once again.

"You're cute when you're feisty," he said while his hand itched to return to its favorite spot but was denied the pleasure as David shook his head and glanced around suspiciously. With a sigh, Billy stepped back again just to pull out a packet of cigarettes from his back pocket right at the same time as his teammates stepped outside. Like this, they looked as if they had just had a friendly little chat, leaving no room for speculations. So Steve was the only one who eyed them funnily as he approached, "Did I miss something?"
David shook his head as he jumped off the hood. "Nothing special."
"Alright," Steve sighed. "Can we go now?" David nodded again.
"See you tonight," he told Billy, then skipped to the passenger door. Billy looked after the car, casually lighting a smoke between his lips.
"Yo, Billy!" a voice called out to him, and he didn't need to turn to know it was Tommy approaching. That boy really was a pain in the ass till the very last day. Billy glanced at him without much motivation, "What do you want?"
"Me and the dudes will have dinner after the graduation ceremony. I wondered if you'd like to join us. Of course, you can bring a girl if you want to. I'll bring mine."

Billy glanced at him, and that look was, in his opinion, more than enough interaction between them, but Tommy was not getting the hint.
"There will be an after-party at Tina's with lots of booze," the boy added with the audacity to pad Billy on the shoulder. He had still no idea why Tommy still thought of them to be friends; they'd never been in the first place, and since David, that boy was just a walking red flag and Billy the bull focusing it. He took another drag of his smoke, then exhaled in a sigh.
"Hagan," he said, voice dangerously calm. "Do I look like I care about some high school party?"
Tommy grinned widely, "So you're already going to a frat party instead?"
Billy sighed again, snipping his unfinished cigarette away, not in the mood for its taste anymore.
"I have better things to do, dipshit," he huffed and turned around, not sparing another glance at the other boy.
"Your loss. It's going to be the graduation bash of the century!" Tommy called after him, but Billy had officially parted ways with him forever. Tomorrow, he would grab his stupid high school diploma, get to work by Monday, and be gone when the summer ended. And in the meantime, he was about to spend any damn minute with his babe.