Down Under

Chapter 4

"I just don't understand why I have to be here?" you whined, slightly pushing Tatum's shoulder away from your oww. The blond teen dramatically rolled her eyes at you while she adjusted the sleeve of her cheerleader uniform. The night sky did little to accentuate the light glitter makeup she applied around her eyes, but they at least matched the uniform. Thin silver glitter lines also lined the pine green coloring that served as the border for her sleeves. Despite the glitter eyeliner serving its purpose, her eyes still managed to shine brighter under the night sky.

"Because... Stu is really nervous about this game okay. It's the first of the season and he just wants our support. Randy and Sidney already couldn't make it, so imagine how sad he would be if you were also gone?" The pom poms that waved around while following the movement of her hands failed at making her any more serious than she was trying to be. You had learned rather quickly how clingy Stu was with just about anyone. His character was comparable to that of a new puppy (ignoring his future actions). Tatum was just about to continue fretting over your appearance just as a heavy hand made its way to your shoulder.

"Has the game started?" His voice was discernible from anybody else's in the word. The raspy voice that was tittering over the edge of representing a smoker never failed at sending chills down your back despite his friendly nature with you. Billy was wearing a thin sweater in the same pine green color as Tatum's uniform. It was his cheap way of representing his school against the yellow of the opposers.

Tatum huffed, gripping her pom poms tighter as the starting whistle penetrated the air. She rushed over to stand with the other cheerleaders leaving you on your own with Billy. The previous friendly feeling had been stifled by his obvious stare. While his resting face was already creepy enough, having all of his attention on you made it that much more terrifying. Despite the warm smile he wore, his eyes were only boring holes into your face. His hair had been brushed back so that his signature middle part wasn't active.

"So... nice game, huh?" The silence from the field made your comment that much more embarrassing. It was almost as though everybody decided to shut their mouths the moment that you wanted to alleviate the tension. Billy's staring grew heavier as he raised his eyebrows at you. You could see him trying to push down his laughter at which he failed terribly.

Billy's shoulders shook with each breath of laughter that escaped him. His giggles were small and quick but the joy on his face was brighter than anything else. The thin sweater that he donned did little to help against the cold as he huddled closer to you when another gust of wind attacked him. The players were lining up at their respective ends, ready for the game to begin while the cheerleaders watched.

A heavy hand on your shoulder distracted you from paying attention and brought you back to Billy. His stare had finally grown softer and more inviting. "Glad to see you relaxed with me again," he started. "You would have thought that I was in your nightmare with the way you avoided me." His hands were shoved into the pockets of his pants, but he still managed to be animated when he spoke. With eyebrows furrowed and eyes practically begging you to respond with a joke instead of your nervous answers, it was clear that he was worried.

"I mean... you would make an amazing Freddy Krueger if given the chance but I doubt you're as scary as the guy from my nightmare." That was the biggest lie you had ever spoken. There was no doubt that his character was the instigator for the first movie with Stu being a tag-along. A mad boyfriend convinced that his girlfriend was to blame for her mother's actions - yeah, nothing scary about that. Billy seemed to accept your joke, relaxing into his slouched posture rather than standing straight up.

You could sit here and stare at all his features until the game ended. Mapped out the innocent face of a boy that would soon turn into a killer because he didn't know how to control his emotions. The soft gleam of excitement in his dark brown eyes. The redness on his cheeks as he rubbed his hands against them when the score wasn't in Woodsboro's favor. His new habit of biting onto his thin upper lip rather than cursing. How long would it take for all of this to fall apart? When would this seemingly innocent boy turn his back on his friends and gut them open with no remorse?