PANDEMONIUM [ 2 ] ↠ STRANGER THINGS

9. HIDDEN SECRETS

PANDEMONIUM
CHAPTER NINE

➝ HIDDEN SECRETS

IT WAS A QUIET FRIDAY NIGHT IN HAWKINS, COLLEEN ONLY HAVING A HANDFUL OF CUSTOMERS ON THE SLOW EVENING. She was finishing up cleaning the lobby, and getting ready to close in ten minutes. When the bell rang through the store as someone entered. She turned around to greet the customer but an eye roll immediately followed when she found Billy waltzing into the store. He glanced around the building before leaning up against the counter and dinging the bell that was on top. Colleen threw the damp rag down on the table and snapped her head in his direction, "Are you serious? What the hell do you want, Hargrove?"

Billy's eyes widened as he looked around the room bewildered, "I mean, I was looking for some friendly service. But I guess I clearly must have walked into the wrong store?"

She walked back behind the counter and over towards the register with crossed arms and an agitated look on her face. But Billy only found amusement in this torture, he gave her a wide grin which made her roll her eyes. "Did you actually want something, or did you come in to ruin my night? Because hint, it's working."

"Now why would I do that, doll?"

Colleen crossed her arms over her chest firmly and tilted her head to the side, "You know you left me after school today. And you completely avoided me after gym, and around the halls. And when I called your house earlier, your dad hung up on me."

He shrugged, "He's a dick."

"No, you're a dick."

Billy leaned forward on the counter and grabbed her chin in his hand, her brown eyes hardening on his. She went to pull away but he tightened his grip, "I'm tired of these stunts you keep playing with Harrington."

"I'm tired of you treating me like shit," She reached up and yanked his hands away from her. And took a step away from him, "I knew what I was getting myself into with you. But this paranoid, jealous asshole. I didn't think that would be you," She extended her hands out towards him, "But low and behold."

He chuckled darkly at her assumptions, "Jealous? Of Harrington? Please, I'm not worried about the two of you. He is a giant pile of mush... He's a bitch. That's why I don't worry about Jonathan either."

"What a load of crap, you're jealous of anyone until you deem yourself better than them. You asked me about Tommy H... fucking Tommy, like let me throw up in my mouth," Colleen gagged as she walked around the counter and locked the door. Turning the open sign off and looking back over at Billy, "But none of that excuses the way you've been acting."

Billy walked closer to her and she stared up at him, "All right. Well then let me make it up to you." She sensed a needy tone in his voice, "Come over tonight and we can watch one of your sappy movies, or listen to some music in my room. I'll make it up to you."