AT LAST, I COULD BREATHE | billy hargrove

making friends is fun.

chapter song: Heaven's on Fire - KISS

making friends is fun.

"Bo!"

I turned to face Nancy as she jogged up to greet me. "Hi, Nance."

"Were you just flirting with Billy Hargrove?"

"Yeah, but I flirt with everyone and I have a boyfriend back in Chicago, so I'm not gonna do anything. I just think he's interesting," I answered.

"Oh. I've never talked to him, but Steve says he's a real douche."

"Who's Steve?"

"Steve's my boyfriend. Steve Harrington. He has gym now, too, so when the bell rings, you can meet him. Your next class isn't far, so you won't be late."

"Okay," I obliged.

I honestly thought something was going on between Nancy and Jonathan, but I was intrigued to meet this "Steve". Nancy may not have had the balls to leave him because there was definitely something up with Jonathan—a blind person could see that. So Steve was either really cute or a complete sweetheart. Or both, you never know.

Nancy and I sat on the bench outside the gymnasium and waited for the bell to ring. When it did, the gym class filtered out led by Billy. He winked at me after giving me an obvious scan up and down, while Freckles—who was next to him, sulking—glared at me.

"Maybe you should let Billy know you have a boyfriend. He looks interested," Nancy suggested. "And what does Tommy Hagan have against you?"

"Eh, I'll let him find out for himself. He's a big boy; he can take it. And as for Freckles," Nancy chuckled at the nickname I gave Tommy, "He doesn't like me because I just beat him in a one-on-one game."

"Of basketball?" I nodded. "Damn, you must be pretty good then."

"I'm alright," I said humbly. I'm pretty good at the game and Freckles just didn't impress me. "But, I know. He was so cocky until I royally kicked his ass. Talk about a hit to the ego."

"Trust me," Nancy said, almost gratefully. "He needed it."

Just then, a tall, lanky boy—the same one who Billy stole the ball from earlier—walked over to us. "Hi, Nancy." He nodded at me, "New Girl."

"Hi Steve, this is Bo," Nancy introduced.

I stuck my hand out and shook Steve's sweaty one. "Hi, Bo, I'm Steve." I was right, he was both cute and nice.

"Nice to meet you, Nancy's boyfriend," I replied. Nancy blushed and Steve flashed me a smile. We released hands and Steve took Nancy under his arm, as she was decently shorter than him. I was even shorter than her, so I was glad I had my heels on or I would've looked pretty awkward next to the two of them.

"Were you talking to Billy Hargrove earlier?" He asked, out of the blue.

"Seems like everyone noticed, huh?"

He nodded and I rolled my eyes. "What's his deal, anyway? He does not look like he's from a place like this," I asked.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Steve asked in a fake-accusatory tone. "He's from California. He and his stepsister got here a few days ago, I think. He's a dick, though, stay away from him. I've seen him with like six different girls already today."

I raised my eyebrows in slight surprise. "Noted. Can't say I didn't expect that. And don't worry Harrington, I'm taken."

"Been here not a day and already have someone wrapped around your finger?"