billy hargrove imagines

psychoanalyze

summary: the one where he's sad and you can tell.

word count: 1,397

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billy hargrove was a player. at least that's what everyone around town said. it had been approximately six weeks since the boy moved in from california, and he was already causing a ruckus.  he'd slept with two girls so far: jodie campbell and scarlett gallagher. both girls couldn't stop talking about what a magical experience it had been. they both hoped he'd keep in touch with them. you knew he wouldn't.

he'd already moved on to ruby ellis. ruby was ecstatic that the california hotshot had found interest in her. she could barely contain her excitement as she recounted her flirtatious encounter with him.

"oh my goodness! he's so dreamy, y/n!" her voice was filled with the softness of a girl in love. or, at least, a girl infatuated.

you refrained from rolling your eyes, knowing it would only upset your friend. "ruby, you realize he's only going to move on when he gets in your pants, right?" you didn't want ruby to be used. she was a good, honest girl. more than that, she was your best friend, and you'd do anything to protect her. you knew billy was trouble.

ruby shook her head vigorously, the grin never leaving her lips. "no, y/n, you don't understand! i'm gonna make an honest man out of him. i won't let him anywhere near my zipper until we're official."

she sounded so giddy, so hopeful in her plan, that it almost hurt you. you didn't know billy personally, but you knew him well enough to know that he was not a dating kind of guy. if he didn't bed ruby soon enough, he'd move on to a looser girl. you didn't say that, though. you knew better than to crush ruby's dreams like that. you'd wait until he ultimately broke her heart, and then you'd pick up the pieces.

"i'm sure it'll all work out," you replied.

one of the jocks from school had decided to throw a party on friday night. there were rumors billy hargrove would be there, and that was enough motivation for ruby to go. she hadn't heard from billy in a couple days, and she desperately wanted to see him. of course, that meant you'd be dragged along, too.

you didn't mind high school parties, but you weren't exactly one to attend every single one. you only went when ruby went. you were getting ready at ruby's house. she'd asked you to curl her hair, and you'd obliged.

"so, why do you think billy hasn't talked to me at school? i mean, i've tried approaching him in the halls, but he's always too busy." ruby looked at you through the mirror.

you didn't meet her gaze, instead choosing to focus on the hairdressing task at hand. you shrugged slightly, unsure of how to respond without hurting her feelings. "i don't know. he is a bit hot and cold, though."

ruby frowned. "so, what? he's moved on? already? we only made out a few times in the back of his camaro."

you cringed. you did not need to imagine your friend and the new bad boy making out. it was too late now, though. the image was already in your head.

"well, i don't know. i've seen him around with paige lewis, though," you offered quietly.

that didn't seem to help at all. ruby's frown only deepened. you cursed yourself mentally for mentioning paige. ruby had always been jealous of paige.

"i'm gonna talk to him tonight. see what's going on," ruby said decisively.

you nodded slightly, a hum of approval slipping past your lips, even though you didn't think that was a good idea at all. "yeah. confront him. you deserve answers."

just a couple hours later, you and ruby were ready for the party. it was only a few blocks away from ruby's house, so you'd both decided to walk there. that was a somewhat unwise decision, since ruby had worn heels. she'd complained the entire walk there, but refused to take the heels off. sometimes you really didn't understand that girl.

as soon as you approached the porch of the house, you could feel the pulse of the music inside. you didn't bother knocking, and instead just entered through the unlocked front door. ruby immediately began searching for billy's figure, and you suddenly realized this party might not be so fun.

with a deep sigh, you weaved between the dancing bodies, making your way to the kitchen. you'd assumed there'd be alcohol there, and you were right. you spotted a case of lukewarm beer sitting out on the island.

you reached for one and opened the can. you looked into the golden liquid in the can for a moment, before chugging it in one fell swoop. you crushed the can under your fingertips and threw it into the trash can. you went to grab another one when a husky voice stopped you.

"you might want to take it slow on the beer. i'd hate for that pretty face to black out."

you turned slowly to face the owner of the voice, and found none other than billy hargrove. you couldn't think of a single reply to a line like that, so you just stared at him like a fool.

he raised an eyebrow at you. "want a smoke?"

"sure." your voice almost cracked. you felt guilty, like you were somehow betraying ruby by smoking with her crush. maybe, in a way, you were.

billy led you into the backyard of the house. he pulled out a packet of marlboros. half the cigarettes were already gone. he handed one to you, your fingers barely brushing against each other's. the slight contact made you jump.

he chuckled. "why're you so nervous?" he placed the cigarette carefully between his lips. "am i that scary?" he mouthed around the cigarette as he pulled his lighter out. you watched, perplexed, as he took his first drag. smoke curled away from his lips as he looked at you expectantly.

"i just..." you trailed off, allowing him to light your cigarette, too. you took a long drag before responding. the nicotine eased your nerves. "it's just my friend. she really likes you and i don't think she'd take too kindly to this whole situation."

he tipped his head to the side. "your friend? who's that?"

you swallowed. "uh. ruby. ruby ellis."

billy rolled his eyes. "oh, that prude."

you furrowed your brows, offense written all over your face. "she's not a prude, kid. she just really likes you. she didn't want to be used, is all."

billy looked at you from behind the embers of his cigarette. his gaze held a strange emotion, one you couldn't decipher. "yeah, and what about you?"

that isn't what you were expecting to hear. not by a long shot. "what about me?" you played dumb.

he chuckled again. "do you like me?" he made the question sound almost like a joke. you took another long drag, but the nicotine wasn't calming you down anymore.

"i think you're interesting." you chose your words carefully, unsure of where this conversation was heading. "you're... you're weird."

he scoffed. "weird? what do you mean by that?" his tone turned more aggressive, and you felt fear shoot through you momentarily.

"you're just different. i don't know. i've never seen anybody like you. your whole life is a movie," you paused, "it's all pretend."

he didn't say anything, just kept on looking at you. you noticed now that his hand was shaking, only a little bit. his eyes had dark bags under them. he looked sad. sadder than anyone you'd ever seen.

he barked out a laugh. "yeah, sure. whatever you say." you could tell he was desperately trying to change the subject, to move away from the rawness of the moment, but you saw the despair, the anger, the pain hidden beneath it all.

you took another drag, letting smoke slip past your lips. "you don't always have to pretend, you know. it makes you lose sight of who you really are. you'll feel lost."

he swallowed thickly. he threw his cigarette on the ground and crushed it beneath his boot. he took quick steps back into the house, leaving you alone. you chewed your bottom lip.

you suddenly realized the appeal of billy hargrove. he was a broken boy, and everybody wanted to fix him.