Underwater (Wonderful Nothing)

Waves

November 2nd, Friday, 1984
08:32

Billy had slid into his usual parking spot, the one he'd claimed for himself weeks ago, right next to the front entrance. Harrington was still nowhere to be seen. Billy only notices because they share the same classes—standard ones, nothing special. It's not like he cares, though. Harrington's empty seat is just another detail in a blur of faces and desks, something his eyes skim over without a second thought.

Now, he's stuck in math class, staring blankly at the chalkboard, where some equation he doesn't understand is smeared across the black surface. He zones out, eyes drifting to the window. Outside, the wind rustles the trees, sending leaves tumbling to the ground before the breeze picks them up again. It's the only interesting thing going on, more engaging than whatever the teacher's droning on about.

Billy shifts in his seat, licking his lips as he straightens his jacket. The bell finally rings, and he watches a few people pack up and bolt for the door. Same fucking crowd. Same shitty day. The whispers and side glances from the other students never stop, like they think he can't hear them. Whatever. He slings his bag over his shoulder and pushes through the door before it can shut behind him.

In the hallway, he nods at some of the basketball guys as they pass—Charles Smith, Marcus Lewis. Hagan falls into step beside him, grinning like an idiot.

Billy gives him a quick glance. "What's up?"

As they head down the hall, Billy spots Tina leaning against the lockers, surrounded by her gaggle of friends. She smiles at him, smacking her gum with a loud pop, making sure he notices.

"Hey, Billy," she says, her voice sweet, teasing.

Billy gives her his usual grin, that smooth one he's perfected. "Hey, ladies," he replies.

"I'm throwing a party next Saturday," she continues, leaning forward slightly. "You and Tommy should totally come. It'll be fun."

Hagan doesn't need any convincing. "Oh, we're there," he says, shooting Billy a look. "Right?"

Billy knows his old man would want him home, probably with some half-assed excuse about chores or keeping an eye on Max, but that had never stopped him before. "Yeah," he says, giving Tina a once-over before turning away.

They keep walking, and Billy's gaze zeroes in on Byers standing by his locker, head down like he was trying to disappear into the metal. Hagan, naturally, can't resist. "Hey, Byers! Where's Harrington? You scare him off? Maybe he's off with the princess, huh?"

Byers doesn't even flinch, just shoots Hagan that cold, dead stare. His satchel, that ugly thing he drags everywhere like a safety blanket, is slung tight across his chest. Freak. He slams his locker shut with a bang that echoes down the hall, then brushes past them like they're not even there.

"Whoa, moody much?" Hagan calls out, laughing under his breath. "The princess dump you, or what?"

Byers disappears into a classroom without a word.

Everything feels wrong, out of place—like the world is some crooked picture hanging on a wall, just begging to be straightened. Fragments of Harrington's life are everywhere, surrounding Billy like a fog he can't shake: his friends, his girls, his perfect little life all wrapped up and served to him on a silver platter. So damn easy. Too easy.

It gnaws at Billy, the way it all falls into place without him even lifting a finger. Like life has been rigged from the start. And here he is, caught in the middle of it, choking on the simplicity of it all.

━━━━━━━━━━━━

12:01

Billy slumps back in his chair, arms crossed, barely suppressing the urge to leave. He doesn't even know why he let Hagan drag him here in the first place. The cafeteria's a joke—loud, annoying, and full of people he couldn't give less of a shit about. And now he's stuck, sitting across from Hagan and Carol, the dynamic fucking duo of shit-talkers. They're going at it, as usual, swapping insults and gossip about everyone in sight.