lover boy

seven

The bell rings and I pack my stuff, so I can go home. I still haven't smoked since the Saturday Steve and I kissed, and it's currently Friday. The need for nicotine is making me irritable. This morning Dustin asked me if I could drive him to the arcade after school and I snapped at him, I still feel guilty.

I push the memories aside and walk out the school doors, but I feel a hand on my waist. I turn around to see the familiar blue eyes.

"Damn, you ran out like a bat out of hell." He laughs.

I give him a small smile, "It's been a long week."

I watch as he sticks his tongue out and runs it a long his lips, something so simple, yet so captivating.

"I was wondering if you still wanted help in science?" His thick eyebrows furrow, and he's stiff with nervousness.

Before I answer, I take in his facial features. His jaw clenches, and I can see the muscles contracting. His blue eyes search my face. Billy is undeniably attractive.

"Um...sure," why not? "is tonight fine?"

He looks down and thinks for a moment, "Yeah, I'll pick you up around seven?"

I nod my head, "Okay, see you then!" I smile and walk to my car.

What am I getting myself into?

-

I hear a knock on my door, and I rush to get it before my family does. I'm barely in the hallway when my mom opens it, I let out a sigh.

"Hello, Mrs. Henderson." I hear Billy cockily say. I roll my eyes immediately.

"Oh hello, are you here for Diana?" I hear my mother.

I walk out of the hallway and lock eyes with Billy, I watch as his face lights up.

"Yeah, I am. We're studying at my place, if you're fine with that."

I walk up behind my mom, making my presence known. She turns her head and gives me a wide smile. My mother isn't used to boys knocking on the door asking for me, especially ones as attractive as Billy.

"Of course! You two stay safe." She calls out as I head out the door to Billy's car.

"Always. It was a pleasure meeting you." Billy says, shaking my mom's hand, and holding for it for a little longer than I'd like. I clear my throat making Billy turn around and wink at me. He says one last goodbye to my mom and walks towards the drivers side.

He unlocks the car doors and I get in. We're silent, and I decide to break it.

"Can you not flirt with my mom?" I say, and stare at his side profile.

He lets out a cocky laugh, "Would you rather be the one I flirt with?"

I scoff, "You wish."

He chuckles lowly at my response, but doesn't say anything back.

Billy's cockiness infuriates me. Even though everything in my mind tells me to be disgusted by him, something about him makes me heart flutter. It's sickening.

We pull up to what I'm assuming is his house. There's another car in the driveway and in the corner of my eye, I see Billy tense up. That's odd. What could possibly make him so nervous about going into his own house?

"When we go inside, stay behind me." He gives me a look that's unreadable, but I nod my head. My heart is in my throat. We both get out of the car, and I stay behind Billy like he told me. Billy tentatively opens the door and slowly walks in.

"Billy?" A woman's voice call out, I hear footsteps walk toward us revealing a woman with fiery red hair. I think back to Max. I see the similar facial features, I wonder where Billy's dad is.

"Hey, Susan." Billy says shortly. I notice slight hurt in her eyes, but they slowly light up when she sees me.

"Hello, I'm Susan, Billy's stepmom." She steps forward, extending her hand. I move from behind Billy, and kindly take.

"I'm Diana." I smile.

"That's a beauti-" Susan is cut short when a deeper voice yells through the house.

"Who'd he bring home this time?"

Susan's expression changes to an apologetic one. I feel Billy move behind me and slightly pulls on the belt loop of my mom jeans. I turn my head to look at his face, but he's looking at where the voice came from.

How often does Billy bring home girls?

I watch as a tall figure walks into the hall. I see the familiar bone structure, and know it's Billy's dad. He looks at me top to bottom and gives me a judging look.

"I'm tutoring her, Diana, I mean." Billy speaks up after the seconds on uncomfortable silence.

Mr. Hargrove scoffs and looks at me, "I don't think you'll be passing anytime soon, lord knows Billy isn't the brightest."

How could someone speak so awfully of their own son?

I step forward slightly and I feel Billy take my arm, but I shake him off. "Actually, Billy is incredibly intelligent. You should see him in class, he knows every answer. His test scores are close to perfe-"

Billy cuts me off, "Diana."

I turn to face him, giving him a puzzled look. Billy should be proud, he's exceeding his fathers expectations. He almost looks ashamed.

"We'll be upstairs studying." Billy mutters, placing his hand in the small of my back and leading me upstairs. As soon as he closes the door of his bedroom, I explode.

"What the hell was that? Why does he think so low of you? He treats you like some...some dumbass! He gives you no credit what so ever, he looked at you like shit on the bottom of his shoe! Why do you take it? I tried to tell him and you stopped me! You should be pr-"

"Can you please stop!" Billy exclaims, keeping his voice low enough so the rest of the house wouldn't hear.

I observe as he sits on his bed and places his elbows on his knees, resting his head in his hands.

"You don't think I've tried to show him I'm better than how he perceives me? Don't you think I've tried to stand up for myself? I've tried...so so many times. He doesn't care about me. He doesn't care about anyone." I hear Billy's voice crack, and my heart drops. This is the side of Billy I didn't think existed, but everyone has a side of vulnerability.

I sit down beside him and place my hand on his back, rubbing it soothingly. He doesn't move from his original position. I don't force him to move, instead I rest my head on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry," I whisper. Billy moves to look at me. I stare into his ocean eyes. I see tears fighting to spill out, but he keeps them in. In a blink of an eye, his lips are on mine. They move together in synchronization, and my heart beats in my chest. Close to exploding out of my ribcage.

Billy is more aggressive than Steve. Instead of Steve's cherry chapstick flavored lips, Billy's taste of mint and cigarettes making a delicious cocktail.

Billy pulls away abruptly, "I'm sorry, I shou-"

I place my hand over his mouth and laugh lightly, "Hey, hey it's okay."

Steve wouldn't think it's okay.

His flashes me a smile, a real smile. Not his usual cocky one.

"Well, should we get to science?" He says, reaching for his book bag and placing it on my lap.

I laugh and nod my head.

God, I'm so fucked.