Sky is the limit / Billy Hargrove

Chapter Ten - The Concert (2)

By the time Billy shows up I have gotten completely ready for the concert. I am wearing my worn combat boots, black skinny jeans, a white Minor Threat t-shirt and my leather jacket. I even did my makeup and volumized my hair even though it will just get ruined by the end of the concert.

While I wait for Billy, I try to do the English homework I have been putting off, but I can't concentrate on it. I only responded to three of the comprehension questions before I hear a knock at my door. I raise my eyebrows, a little surprised he came to the door and didn't just honk his horn.

I open the door and he is standing there smoking a cigarette, leaning on the railing of my front porch. I don't understand how he can always look so effortlessly cool. I greet him quickly before shutting the door and locking it.

"Thanks for agreeing to come, I know it was last minute." I say smiling at him as we walk to his car. The smoke of his cigarette makes me crave one and I do my best to resist asking for it, reminding myself I need to stop smoking.

"Not a problem, this sounds pretty cool." He says, blowing the smoke above us so it doesn't go in my face.

"It's amazing, I don't want to talk it up too much, so you don't have high expectations, but this is the highlight of every month for me." I explain now sitting in his car, guiding him how to get there.

"How long have you been going to these things?" He questions after turning down the cassette tape that was playing.

"For about two years now, more or less. I honestly don't remember. One of my friends took me and I've been going ever since." I tell him, avoiding the fact that it was Dylan who introduced me to this event.

Dylan is a boy I was unofficially dating for a while, we both don't want to be in relationships, but we can't help and be gravitated towards each other. I think of the countless nights we have brought other people with us to a bar or party and we end up ditching them for each other.

Most of the regulars who go to these concerts know the history of Dylan and me. None of them bother trying to hit on us anymore because they know it's useless. It almost guaranteed that if Dylan is there and I am there, we will leave together. 

The regulars and I are acquaintances at best. We mainly just go to concerts and parties together, they are my escape from Hawkins.

I look over to Billy and find myself comparing him to Dylan. They look nothing alike but are both extremely attractive. Dylan has short black hair, brown eyes, and he's covered in tattoos. Since he doesn't do any sports like Billy he isn't as in sculpted, but he still appears to be strong especially with his height. Dylan is more outgoing and funnier, while I find Billy to be outgoing but still reserved and mysterious.

Billy looks over at me and laughs.

I look at him confused, "Sorry. What?" I ask not knowing why he is laughing.

"You just zoned out for so long there. I've been trying to get your attention for a few minutes now." He says smiling at me.

"I tend to do that a lot. Usually Steve has to punch me in the arm or something." I admit smiling back at him.

He nods his head. "I don't hit women so I will need to figure something else out to get your attention."

"I'm sure you'll think of something, you seem to be very clever." I respond. "We are almost there, maybe like 5 more minutes." I inform him before turning the volume up to a song I like.

We attempt to sing along to a Led Zeppelin song, but I end up laughing for most of it because of how horrid we sound. If I could change one thing about myself it would be that I could sing. I love music so much, but I have to work really hard to be good at it and singing is one thing I cannot improve on with practice unfortunately.

We arrive while a band is already playing, and I attempt to guide us closer to the stage to be more in the crowd. There are more people here than last time, but I can quickly recognize the regulars who show up each time.

I am relieved when I don't see Dylan, I don't want to tell Billy about him. I'm not sure why it's a big deal to me, it's not like there is anything to tell. I just would rather avoid the entire topic.

I nod my head along with the music quickly allowing myself to get lost in the beat. One thing I love about punk rock is the fast tempo and the length of the songs. They might be sweet and short, but they are able to connect to your emotions within the time.

During the third song I turn to Billy and rest my hand on his shoulder so I can get on my tippy toes to yell in his ear so he can hear me. "What do you think? You like them?" I ask, wanting to know his opinion.

He shakes his head yes before bending down so he can yell back into my ear. "Yeah, they are good. I liked their last song." He tells me, his breath tickles my ear and I try to ignore the sensation it causes my body.

I smile and nod my head agreeing with him. I face the stage again and get lost in the music once again. They first band finishes their set and I point to the bar, letting Billy know I want to get a drink. He follows behind me and I guide us there.

"They were alright, but I see why they are the first band to perform. There isn't anything too special setting them apart from every other punk rock group you know? They sounded like every other generic band." I rant, ordering us two beers.

Billy simply nods his head and I assume he is agreeing with me. "How many bands perform?" He asks before taking a sip of his beer.

"Uhhh, usually like 4 sometimes 5. Each band only plays for about 20 minutes, they can't play an entire setlist or we wouldn't be able to see multiple ones which the whole point of this is to hear new bands." I explain while paying for the beer and thanking Josh the bar tender.

"Sometimes you get unlucky and none of the bands are that great, but I have a good feeling about tonight. I just feel like one of them are going to be phenomenal, ever get that feeling?" I ask.

I sip my beer and wait for his response. "What feeling exactly?" He asks, making eye contact with me.

"You know that feeling when something great is going to happen? I don't know how to explain it, it's like this electricity that flows through your body and you are just waiting for the moment to happen. I have that feeling tonight, I know something great is going to happen." I admit, probably sounding crazy.

Billy starts to respond but I am distracted when I feel someone pinch my butt. I let out a small squeak, surprised at the action. I turn around ready to tell off whoever did it, but I hear his laugh before I see it's even him.

My stomach churns and the feeling I had earlier about this being a great night has disappeared. What I was hoping to avoid is about to happen in this exact moment, introducing Billy and Dylan to each other.