the scientist // billy hargrove

T w e n t y S e v e n

There were a few seconds before the pain and memories came into Jade's head. A few seconds of peace and comfort before life flooded into her mind. Hotel. Fighting. Billy. Whiskey. Swearing. Music. Conscience debates. Smoke. Then reality showed up after remembering recent events. Billy was sleeping next to her. The comfort of his arms wrapped around her in a protective manner and his face in the crook of her neck, hot breath hitting her then being pulled back in. Their legs entwined like a complicated sailor's knot. His warmth, his body, his smell, it was all so intoxicating and soothing to Jade. He was her kind of perfect. Imperfectly perfect.

Get off of him.

No, pretend to be asleep or, even better, go back to sleep.

You aren't together anymore.

Come on, you know you miss him. He's all you ever think about.

Shut up. Be smart.

Go back to sleep. You love each other. This is what love feels like.

Move. There's no such thing.

Jade opened her eye that wasn't swollen and slipped out from his grip. She limped to the restroom, took off her clothes and winced as she stepped into the shower. The water was hot, so hot that it had stung her skin, but she supposed it was better than being bitterly cold.

She heard shuffling around in the flat and decided it was time for her to get out. Jade was in the process of pulling on Billy's button down when she heard a knock at the door followed by a bunch of inaudible arguing. She didn't have to hear the words to know Billy and the other person were arguing because you really only had to focus on the way they were speaking. She cracked open the door and continued buttoning the shirt to eavesdrop.

"Look, Harrington, it's unfortunate what you're going through, but Jade's not here.... and don't worry about that whole Nancy issue.... plenty o' bitches in the sea."

Steve? Jade wondered why the brunet was there, looking for her. Sure, she stays with him occasionally, but why would he do that? No one knew about the 'ex issue' except for Billy and Eleven so that couldn't be a reason. Then again, she didn't know what Billy had told Gretta in what Jade had perceived as a relationship when it was really Gretta putting herself onto Billy. No matter the circumstances, she wouldn't be surprised if he had told people about it or if he had assumed her friends knew about it and discussed it with them. There is the possibility that he was just looking for her because she never returned with the promised beer, which Jade hoped was Steve's reasoning for showing up and not that he feels the need to keep an eye on her.