"princess" // billy hargrove

t h i r t e e n

words: 1717

"dad? pops wake up" i shook dad who was sleeping on the couch, and he shot up. he looked around and squinted at me, confused as to why i was dressed and crying at almost 4 in the morning.

"lacey? what happened?" he sat up and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"steve's in the hospital, dad. and i don't know why" i was panicking, nearly ripping my hair out of my scalp. he stood up and ran his fingers through his hair.

"okay, okay, calm down baby, let's go" he kissed my head and i cried.

"jane?" i went into her room and woke her up. "we have to go to the hospital"

"why?" she got changed into jeans and a sweatshirt, fixing her hair.

"steve's in the hospital" i sniffle and her face drops. "you okay?"

"mhm" she hums and i head out into the living room, dad hugging me tightly as we wait for jane.

-

i laid in my bed, staring out my window at the stars as i held the bear close to my chest with tears in my eyes.

"lacey? are you okay?" jane's voice was soft as she tip-toed into my room, slightly startling me.

"no" i sniffle, shaking my head. "no i'm not, jane"

"what's the matter?" she pouted, crawling in front of me against the wall and placed her cold hand on my arm, looking at me with concerned eyes.

"i don't think.. steve and i are friends anymore.. be-because i'm happy with billy" i can barely get the words out, hiccuping a few times.

"but that doesn't make sense, lacey. you should be very happy with billy and steve should accept that and still be your friend" her eyebrow knit together in confusion.

"that's what i said, but s-steve said ever since billy c-came he's take me away from him-m" more tears fell from my eyes and i held the bear tighter to my chest, shoulders shaking. "i just want to be alone right now, okay jane?"

"okay" she sighed and gave me a quick hug, rubbing my back and leaving me in complete silence.

-

i couldn't stop fidgeting as we waiting for an update on steve. dustin's head laid in my lap, my head back against the wall behind me and i softly ran my fingers through his curls. dustin was the only one here with steve because the event happened outside of his house, he was the one who found steve.

from what he saw, he described that he saw steve in the driver's seat, looking lifeless with blood dripping from his forehead and lip, and arm looking broken in half. i felt terrible, dustin shouldn't have seen his friend in that situation.

jane, on the other hand, looked as if she has something to do with what happened with steve, and there isn't a doubt in my mind that she didn't. she's very protective of me, as i am of her, but i would never go as far as to hurt anyone she cared about because they hurt her.

"mr. harrington?" dad and i stood up, and i laid dustin on the chairs. dad said hello to the doctor, exchanging some words before the doctor gave us the update. "he's going to be fine. there is a cast on his arm, and the gash on his head was stitched. we had to carefully shave a patch of hair on the side of his head to get to a cut. here is the paperwork for his medication, and i'll need a parent or guardian to sign these release forms. he'll be able to leave in three days" the doctor explains and dad took the papers.

"his parents are out of town for two weeks, and he's been staying at my house since. i'm gonna sign these papers and you're gonna let me take him home, yes?" dad clicked his pen and tapped his 'sheriff' badge, the doctor nodding.