Knee Socks | Billy Hargrove AU

5

I pull up the soft cotton material of my black high knee socks, my stomach in knots at the thought of school starting today.

Knee socks weren't a fashion statement, but I thought they were cute so I always wear them. A plaid skirt with a black short sleeved shirt tucked in completed my look.

I brushed my dark hair into a ponytail, letting my slight bangs hang down.

I didn't eat anything for breakfast because I simply didn't have time.

My dad drove me to school every day, today being no exception.

"Good luck on your first day of junior year, bud. You're going to do great." My dad reassures me with a kiss on my forehead.

"Thanks, dad. I'll see you after school, I love you!" I say as I exit the car.

Nikki is smoking a cigarette in the parking lot in front of the school next to a nice looking car. I shake my head and make my way to her.

"Nikki, you have to stop smoking! It's such a bad habit-" I am cut off by the realization that she is passing the cigarette to the one and only, Billy Hargrove.

His smirk appears instantly when he sees me staring at him blankly.

"Hello again, Lacey Myers." He says after taking a big inhale of the cigarette.

"Smoking is bad for you, you know," I say, forming my lips into a line.

"Aw, are you concerned for me, honey?" He replies sarcastically, making me roll my eyes.

"Not one bit. Maybe I would be if you didn't beat the shit out of someone for no reason," I fight back. "Come on, Nikki, let's go." I say, waiting for her to walk with me, but she doesn't move.

"I'm sorry, Lace, but he's not that bad. I'm going to stay out here for a little longer. You're more than welcome to join us." Her words surprise me and also anger me. She's going to choose the new guy over me already?

I scoff, not wanting to walk into school alone but also not wanting to stay out here with them. "Fine, I'll stay." I agree unwillingly, leaning against what I assumed to be Billy's car.

"I must admit, Lacey, you look ravishingly sexy in that skirt." Billy says bluntly, causing me to choke on the air in my throat.

"W-What? I mean, uh, thank you, I guess." I ramble, not knowing how to accept such a different compliment.

"Why don't you compliment me like that, Billy?" Nikki whines. Of course she can't stand being the center of attention for five seconds.

"Because, Nikki, you don't even have an ounce of beauty that Lacey encompasses." He says, staring dead at me, making my jaw fall to the gravelled pavement.

Her jaw drops and she makes a shocked noise. "Fuck you, Billy." She drops her cigarette to the ground, stomping on it and walking away.

"Nikki!" I call after her but she's basically running away from me. I know I should follow her but something stops me, a need to defend my friend.

"You didn't have to be so rude, Billy. That was extremely uncalled for!" I scold him, crossing my arms across my chest.

"If that's what you think rude is, you need a reality check, sweetheart. I was just being honest." He tells me with an unphased look on his face.

"It still hurt her feelings!" I exclaim, feeling bad for my friend.

"She's fine, she just can't stand when she doesn't have the attention." He says, and I can't disagree because he was right. I love Nikki, but she really does love attention.

"Whatever, Billy. Next time just be a little nicer. Just because she likes attention doesn't give you the right to be an ass," I tell him, hoping he's paying attention.

"I'll do whatever I please, princess." He stands from his position in his car, making my heart immediately drop. He grabs his backpack from the passenger seat, closing the car door. "Now, come on, give me your bag."

"What?" His request bewilders me, partly because he doesn't seem like the type to offer this, and also because nobody has ever asked to carry my backpack before. 

"Your bag, Lacey," he repeats, eyeing my black backpack. 

"O-okay," I respond hesitantly, slipping my bag off my shoulders and placing it in his empty hand. 

"I'll walk you to class, come on" He states, throwing a piece of gum into his mouth. 

I don't have time to hesitate because he is already walking ahead of me. I scurry to catch up with him, not because I wanted to but because I didn't want to look like a loser walking in alone. Maybe I wanted to a little but I wouldn't consciously admit it. 

"By the way, Lacey, I didn't beat Steve up for no reason. He was saying shit about you that I didn't like." Billy says randomly, still walking at a slightly face past as I struggle to catch up.

"He was talking about me? In a mean way? What did he say?" I ask, surprise evident in my tone. If Billy is telling the truth, that means I let an asshole who was rude behind my back in my house.

"He saw us talking and he called you a loser. He said, 'Of course, the new guy would go for the ugliest girl in Hawkins because he can't do any better.' So, I beat the fuck out of him." Billy explained as we enter the school.

There were still five minutes until classes started, and I hated being late but this conversation was too enticing.

"I don't believe you," I say weakly, feeling embarrassed for letting myself trust Steve.

"You don't have to believe me, but I was there and I know what happened. He deserved it." Billy says plainly, and I couldn't think of a reason he'd lie about Steve saying that.

"Why didn't you say that earlier? I let him sleep at my house! In my bed!" I say a little louder than I should've, but I couldn't help that I felt betrayed and offended. 

"You what?!" He shouts, anger already surging through him. He looks around the hallways, scouting for Steve, I assumed. "I could fucking kill him, fuck. That piece of shit. Did he touch you? Hurt you?" He's suddenly inspecting my face, my neck, my body. 

"Stop, stop, I'm fine!" I push him away from me slightly. "No, he didn't touch or hurt me. You're going to cause a scene." I tell him, hoping he would calm down. It seemed like it worked because his face was less red, his breathing contained.

"If he ever goes near you again, I won't hesitate to hurt him," he says protectively, and despite my anger towards Steve, Billy's words weirdly comforted me.

"Don't do that, I can defend myself. I still want to know why you didn't tell me last night what he said. If you did I never would've let him step foot in my house!" I exclaimed, starting to feel annoyed at Billy again. 

"Because you stormed off before I could get a word in, sweetheart. Where is your first class?" He asks, closing the conversation about Steve.

"It's this one." I point towards Mrs. Metz's class which was a few feet away.

"I'll be seeing you, Lacey Myers. Have a good day." He places my bag back around my shoulders, winks, and walks off.

My whole body gets goosebumps and I knew I would be nothing but distracted for the rest of the day.

~~~

The picture attached is what I imagine Lacey to look like. I know that particular actress was referenced in the actual show but this story is completely different. It's an alternative universe, where Billy isn't like his exact character in the show. Just the looks and some of his aggressive and forward personality are.