the scientist // billy hargrove

T w e l v e

After she had gotten her tears out and wiped her now bloodshot eyes she went back into the classroom with goosebumps painting her arms. She sat next to Steve and messed with the ring on her finger.

"Are you okay?" Steve whispered. She looked up at him, knowing her eyes were still red but tired of crying.

"I'm fucking fantastic."

"So nice of you to join us thirty minutes later, Ms. Henderson."

"Great to be back," she remarked.

"You are aware that you will have after school detention for what you missed?"

"No shit."

"Language."

"Whatever." Mr. Rossir continued his boring lecture for another hour then the bell rang for lunch. Everyone rushed out of the classroom except for the three friends she had.

"I've got detention with you, babes, for language," Beverly put an arm around Jade's waist. Alex still had his sunglasses on.

"Are you hungover?" Jade sniffed.

"Kinda hungover. Kinda high." Alex walked in front of the girls and acted as a bodyguard to them. Steve walked on the other side of Jade.

"Was fucking all the guys in Hawkins not enough, slut? Going for the girls now?" Gretta called after her. Jade pushed through her friends and ran to the janitors closet and was surprised to not find a couple. Jade shut the door and put the trash can on the ground. She reached into her bag for her scissors and started cutting the trashcan apart.

How could one month go so wrong? How did Gretta manage to ruin something that meant so much to me? Why do I care about him so much and feel like my heart has been ripped from my body? A month ago he told me as long as I'm with him I'll never get hurt but I guess all of that is just bullshit to him now.

The trashcan was now torn apart and Jade pulled her knees to her chest. A soft knock sounded at the door.

"Go away." The door closed and Jade felt someone sit on the floor next to her. Jade wiped her eyes. "I said go aw-" Max was sitting on the floor of the janitor's closet with her skateboard in her lap.

"I usually come here to think. Are you okay?" Max obviously knew about the relationship considering they sometimes went to his place with takeout for a date. "I noticed Billy's car was gone."

"Yep, I'm great."

"Your eyes and the crime scene of this trashcan say otherwise." Jade sniffed and pulled the crumpled piece of paper out of her bag and handed it to Max. She took it carefully then read the note. "At least they used proper grammar. How could someone believe this?"

"Everyone believes it," Jade wiped her eyes again and sadly laughed, "everyone except you, Steve, Alex, and Bev."

"Is that why you're in h-"

"Billy dumped me."

"He always does that."

"Does what?"

"Ruins things he cares about. Did he ever tell you what happens at home?"

"I made a few assumptions but he would never tell me."

"Friday night, spend the night with me, but bring your textbooks so you could pretend to tutor me. That is if you're comfortable with it."

"Yeah," Jade wiped her eyes, "I'll be there. If you want a ride after school or something I'm sure Alex could take you. He's working on fixing up my Impala. There's nothing wrong with her but I want her to go faster."

"Cool. I should get back to school," Max reached over and hugged Jade which she gladly accepted.

"See ya later." Jade reached behind the bleach and grabbed the pack of cigarettes she hid in the closet and began to smoke. The more Jade thought about Billy the more she could feel him. She could feel that day at the diner and she started scratching at her neck and waist trying to forget the way he felt. She tried forgetting how warm and comforting he was whenever they would sleep in a motel together or lay together just so they could touch. She bit and wiped her mouth from feeling his lips and tongue. She kept scratching and biting until there was blood on her waist, neck, and lips.

What did he do to me?

Jade started to cry again and buried her face in her hands. The door opened and Alex sat in front of her with his legs stretched out next to her. He reached into the inside of his leather jacket and handed Jade a flask. She took the flask as a shot.

"That's not normal, babes, that was all liquor."

"Well, I wasn't supposed to cut a trashcan up with scissors but here we are." Jade didn't bother hiding her tears from Alex.

"You need to eat something."

"I'm fine."

"Stop saying you're fine when you're not."

"Yeah, well, why'd you have to ask when you already knew the answer?" Jade handed him the empty flask and folded her arms. "I'm going to his house on Friday for a sleepover with Max. I love that kid and just because of him doesn't mean I don't get to see her."

"You have interesting mood swings, J."

"You know what he called me when we were arguing at his car? A slutty bitch and a cock sucking whore. The fact that he would believe that we could have sex is disgusting. You're like my brother."

"You're like my sister and I've been in a pretty damn committed relationship with Beverly."

"The worst part is I feel like I'm suffocating. We dated for a month and I feel like I'm being strangled alive right now. Why?"

"I know that was a rhetorical question but you both were in love with each other, even if it was only a month. Beverly noticed it too. The way you guys look at each other is as if that is the one thing in life that matters. I think the real Billy knows the rumors aren't true but he's hurting because he loves you."

"So then what do you suggest?" Alex stood up and held his hand out.

"This is all up to you, babes." Jade hugged Alex and they walked out of the closet which Steve had been standing in front of with Beverly. Alexander wrapped his arm around Jade and kissed her forehead. Beverly got on his other side and Steve went to Jade's.

"Thanks."