Just a friend (Billy Hargrove)

Introductions

Aleah Johnson

Two years ago

My back ached badly, I was hunched over the library table finishing up my homework for History. I'm not usually one to stay after school to do my work, but I thought I'd use the text books here. By the time I've finished writing down all of my notes, all of the students surrounding me have vanished, leaving the only sound in the library being the sound of the rain drops hitting heavily against the windows, and Mrs.Ford typing away at her computer.

I decide it's time to head home and I push out of my seat and gather all of my belongings. I return my books to the desk, causing Mrs.Ford to look up at me and give me a warm smile.

"Get home safe Ms.Johnson" She says and I nod.

"You too Mrs.Ford" I say before I leave the library and head for the office. I ask to use their phone and dial my mother's work number. I sigh heavily as the thunder grows louder outside and the rain pounds down on the school roof. She finally picks up and I tighten my bag strap as she talks.

"Hey mum, would you be to pick me up? It's pissing down outside" I say but I hear someone on the other side tell her to file some papers, and already I know the answer.

"Sorry honey, I'm super busy right now and I won't be home until later, can you ask Steve if he can drop you off- or catch the bus?" She says and I curse as I remember Steve has a date with Nancy tonight, so he was out of question.

"That's fine mum, I'll figure it out, I'll see you later. Love you" I say before hanging up and putting the phone back down on the desk. I curse as I pull open the door and the wind whips me in the face. The rain pelts against my skin as I pull the hood of my sweater over my head and prepare to walk to the bus stop.

I step in a large puddle as I try to navigate my way to the bus stop, causing my shoes and socks to become drenched with rain water. I curse as I carry on walking, and force myself to endure the discomfort. If I had a choice I would've drove my car to school today, but unfortunately the fucker broke down on me last week, and it's still getting fixed. The thought causes me to become more irritated, and I find myself frowing as I avoid the puddles on the road. As I'm walking I hear the sound of a loud engine, and obnoxious rock music playing, it gradually comes closer until it's following right beside me.

"You're the Johnson girl right? Where're you going?" The boy in the car yells out to me, and instantly I recognize his blue eyes and blonde hair that's styled in a mullet. Billy Hargrove is the new guy in town, who completely managed to run Steve out of the title of King of Hawkins, and has gotten with nearly every girl at our high school. He's been the talk of the school for weeks, and from what I've heard, he doesn't sound like a very nice person.

"Yeah, name's Aleah, and I'm walking to the bus stop" I say loudly so he can hear me, I watch him as he reaches for the volume button and turns his music down.

"Isn't that far from here?" He questions and I nod.

"Well it isn't that far if you walk fast" I say.

"Get in, I'll drive you home" He offers, and I squint at him causing him to roll his eyes.

"I'm not going to kill you, it's either a ride home with me or a long walk in the rain to the bus stop" He says, and I sigh as I weigh out my options, a ride home with him is better than a ride home on a bus. So I move to the passenger side and get into the car, before I buckle in my seat belt and Billy starts to drive.

It's quiet at first, due to the awkward air that surrounds us. This isn't how I imagined our first interaction to happen, I didn't expect us to interact at all actually. But I decide that since he's giving me a ride home, I'd break the ice first.

"So you're new here, I heard you moved from California" I say as I avert my attention from the trees outside to the boy sitting next to me.

"Yeah, I'm from sunny California" he says.

"How do you like it here in Hawkins?" I question him, and I watch as he hesitates before answering my question.

"It's uh- good. I like all the trees and roads I guess" He says and I can tell by his tone of voice those were just lies.

"You don't need to lie, just admit it. Hawkins is a tiny shitty town compared to California, I can only imagine how hard it would be adjusting from living somewhere so big and sunny to somewhere that's smaller than a shoe box, and is always overcast" I say causing Billy to chuckle as he looks over at me with a smile on his face.

"You read my mind. Do you hate living here too?" He asks.

"Sometimes, only when I feel like there's nothing to do. But it's my home, all my friends and family are here, it's what I'm used to" I answer honestly.

"I'm guessing you've already heard about me?" Billy questions and I scoff.

"You're all that everyone's talking about nowadays, you sound like quite the trouble maker" I say with a smirk on my face.

"If I was such a trouble maker, would I be giving you a ride home on such a shitty day like this?" Billy questions and I laugh as I admire the gray clouds above us.

"Well, why are you giving me a ride home? We haven't talked before, and for all you know, I could be a murderer" I say jokingly, which causes Billy to laugh.

"You? A murderer? Yeah right, we may not know each other well, but I bet you couldn't even kill a fly, let alone murder someone" Billy states.

"Clearly you don't know me, I've killed a fly before" I say triumphantly, causing Billy to laugh at me.

"Yeah I'll need proof for that statement.  And I've seen you on my street, my dad's wife is friends with your mum. I was leaving school and saw you walking on the side of the road like a lost puppy so I thought I'd drive you home since it's storming" Billy says, and he sounds genuine.

"Well aren't I lucky you decided to stop then. Thank you for giving me a ride home Billy, I appreciate it" I say and he nods at me.

"You're pretty decent you know" Billy says as he looks over at me, and I swear his blue eyes make me sweat. They're so intense and I can't help, as cheesy as it sounds, but get lost in them as he makes eye contact with me.

"Gee thanks, which is also known as above average I'm assuming" I say.

"Yeah pretty much" Billy replies.

"Well you're not as much of an asshole as I thought you'd be" I say, my response causing him to smirk as he continues to drive and tap his fingers against the steering wheel.

"Gee thanks" he responds.

It goes quiet for a bit, but it's not an awkward silence. We're both just sitting there, Billy looking foward at the road while I watch the gray clouds out the window.

"I feel like we're going to be really good friends" Billy states, breaking the silence and I snort at his statement.

"That sounded so cheesy" I laugh.

"This is what I mean, I've only known you for like what- twenty minutes and already I know you're different from the other girls. You don't want to get in my pants, which is why I think we're going to be really good friends" Billy explains, and I laugh.

"I'm probably one of the only few who aren't interested in getting into bed with you, so I guess I am pretty special" I say smugly with a smile on my face and Billy nods, his eyes still focused on the road, but I see the small smile that's on his face.

"Yeah, I guess you are" Billy says quietly.

After a few minutes he turns up his music and I rest my head against the window and shut my eyes, internally enjoying the warmth of the car and the sound of Billy humming to the song playing.

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So this is like the first time they meet type of chapter, to give a background of how Aleah and Billy officially met. Also I've changed the years a bit so that they moved to Hawkins two years ago, so Billy and Aleah are in their last year in highschool in the next chapter. Hope it's not too cheesy fucksks.