Games| B. Hargrove

25

Nicole Moore made it out of her last class of the day, the string of students pushing through the door like maniacs. She was getting shouldered left and right, impatient students unable to wait their turn to leave the classroom. She huffed in annoyance, thinking she was finally in the clear once majority of the students had made their way out of the classroom. Her thoughts were quickly interrupted by someone gripping her arm and practically tearing her a few feet from the door.

"What the fuck?" It was Billy, and he seemed in a rush to be somewhere.

"Nicole!" She heard a familiar voice shout from down the hall.

"C'mon." Billy ushered, not slowing his pace.

"I can walk on my own." Nicole shouted, ripping her arm out of his grip.

That got Billy to finally turn and face her. Nicole's eyes widened in shock as she came face to face with Billy's battered face. It wasn't rocket science to figure out he had got in a fight, she just wondered with who. Just as the thought crossed her mind, Steve showed up as well. A cut lip and bloodied knuckles.

"You don't want to be with this douchebag." He snapped, giving her no time to ask questions.

"Don't act so fucking innocent." Billy growled, his eyes darkening.

"What is going on?" Nicole questioned, he brows furrowed.

"This piece of shit is saying you two fucked while you stayed at his house."

"Billy's psychotic. He's fucking insane Nicole." They spoke in unison.

"So did you? Did you fuck him?" Billy demanded an answer.

"What? No. I wouldn't do that." Nicole defended herself, and Steve got a good look at her neck.

The hickies she tried to hide showed up front and center on her pale skin. It angered him to see it.

"Really? After he humiliated you, you parade that shit on your neck?" Steve scoffed.

Nicole brought her shirt up to hide her neck before continuing, "did you tell people that? You told people we fucked?"

"You don't understand. Billy is using you, he's a no good piece of shit—" Billy had enough and took a swing on Harrington, the boy falling into the lockers.

Billy took his chance to pin him there, shoving his body into them once again, "you keep my girls name out of your mouth, you hear me Harrington?"

With that he shoved himself away from Steve's body, not breaking eye contact. Though he wanted to continue to teach Harrington a lesson, his body was gentle with Nicole's. He grabbed her hand as carefully as he could, beginning to walk away. Steve gave the girl a look that said are you serious, to which she shook her head at, disappointed in the boy. Nicole tried to keep her pace with the boy as they made their way to his car.

Billy held open the passenger side door for Nicole as she climbed in, closing it a little harsher than he meant to before rounding to the drivers side of the car. The engine roared to life at the turn of a key, and the boy sped out of the parking lot. Nicole immediately knew that they weren't headed toward Cherry Lane. She just stayed quiet as Billy blasted his music and lit a cigarette while trying to keep his steering wheel straight.

It wasn't long before they pulled off by Lovers Lake, the secluded spot they usually went to. They were only parked for about 5 minutes before Billy's emotions began to overtake him. Memories from California flooded into his head, remembering a similar situation. His breathing got heavy, before he struck his steering wheel with his fist. Nicole jumped at the sudden movement, and tried to reach for the boys forearm to stop him from doing it again.

"Don't touch me!" The boy shrugged her hand away, but Nicole tried again.

"Billy.." she spoke gently, seeing the tears well up in his eyes.

She was confused, but unbeknownst to her, Billy had been cheated on in his past relationship. That's why he vowed to never love a girl again, why he'd refused relationships left and right. Steve pulled up old memories with his claims, ones that just sent Billy over the edge.

Before she knew it, he began to break. Sobs fell out of his mouth, which only angered him further. His head fell into his hands, his fingers pulling at his messy locks. Nicole sat and watched for a moment, not entirely sure what to do. She then awkwardly made her way across the center console, and sat herself in Billy's lap. She tried her best to not hurt him, and once she was comfortable she wrapped her arms around the boy.

His grip on his hair loosened as he cried into her chest. A few minutes passed before he allowed himself to wrap his own arms around the girls small frame. Nicole streaked her fingered through the boys hair, being gentle when she came across a small tangle. After a while, Billy's cried turned into sniffles and huffs as he tried to regain the air he lost through his violent cries.

"I don't want to love you." Billy whispered, defeat evident in his tone of voice.

Though it stung to hear, Nicole knew there was a reason as to why. She only tightened the grip on the boy and sighed, "I know."

Billy pulled his face away from the girls tear soaked shirt, looking her in the eye, "why did you stay?"

She took a moment to answer, pushing some hair behind his ear before she spoke.

"Because you need someone who will stay."

He only nodded before he cleared his throat, "I'm sorry. I was just— I was being a bitch."

Nicole rolled her eyes before she smiled, "if that was being a bitch, then I've got you beat by a million."

Billy smiled, cracking a small laugh. His hand cupped the girls face, his thumb gently rubbing her cheek. He gulped as he thought about what to say next. He didn't believe Harrington for a moment, but he had to make sure no body else could spread a rumor like that again. At least not without major punishment.

"Nic', let's go out." He proposed, earning a confused look from the girl.

"Go out? Like, to a movie?" That earned a laugh from the blonde.

"No," he sighed, "I want you to be my girlfriend. I'm asking if you'll go out with me."

Nicole blushed immediately, embarrassed by her mix up. Nonetheless, she couldn't help the smile that made its way to her lips. Those same lips gently pressed against Billy's pair.

"I'd like that a lot."