the scientist // billy hargrove

T w o

Giggles floated through the room as the girls both plopped into Beverly's squishy mattress. Nanook growled at Billy as he followed them soon after and he ignored him. Jade was attempting to put Beverly into bed but they both fell in together and couldn't stop their laughter.

"Will it be safe to leave her here by herself?"

"Holy fuck, Jade, you managed to give your boyfriend a heart," Beverly gasped, sending the girls into another fit of giggles.

"Really? I don't even have one myself," she responded in her best, and drunken, English accent. Without even thinking, Billy found himself rolling his eyes and crossing his arms. "Aw, me boyfriend's a big ol' babee."

"That's where you're wrong, JJ, you're his babee and he gave you a heart too." Jade immediately scoffed and sat up.

"You've clearly had too much to drink tonight, Bevvy, Billy and I are going to leave and you're going to sleep it off so you can stop being psycho."

"Drunken words are sober thoughts."

"Where'd you get that from? A milk carton?"

"Nah, they put missing kids on that, perhaps I am the next Einstein."

"Einstein didn't- oh, my god, y'know what? Go to bed. Goodnight. I'll run by tomorrow. Go to sleep, psycho," she got up and scratched Nanook's ears then started to leave.

"You can't deny your obvious love for him, Jade, everyone can see it, now leave so I can call my boyfriend."

"I'm leaving because I feel like it, not because you asked me to."

With that, Jade laced her fingers with Billy's and pulled him towards the kitchen where she decided to leave Beverly a little "sober up gift" which was simply preparing coffee to be brewed and setting out Advil.

Afterwards, she turned off the lights and locked up her house, walking over towards hers to get clothes. Billy went out to his car and waited for her, knowing how much she hated whenever he would flirt with her mum. It didn't take long for his jean coated doll to jump back out of her window with a small bag and climb into the passenger side. He stared at her, watching as she placed her bag in the backseat and sat back, refusing the safety of her seatbelt. She looked over at her arrogant beau, acknowledging the smirk and the way his tongue was tracing the inside of his lip.

"Is everything alright?"

"Everything's perfect."

"D' I got somethin' on my face?"

Billy felt himself smirk at her hostility, at this point, he couldn't try to contain it. She made him feel something he'd never felt before. He had only ever wanted a fuck. That was it. He hadn't expected to be caught up by the girl who couldn't care less. His emotions, he tries to throw them away. Not with her. He tried, dear god, how he'd tried, but he just couldn't.

"Bil-" He reached out and held her chin in his hand, slowly running the pad of his thumb over her cheek. He ran his tongue over his bottom lip, never dropping his smile and continuing to study her features. "Are you gonna kiss me or not?"

"Jade?"

"Yeah?"

"You're beautiful. And I like you. A lot."

"Okay... Um, Billy, are you alright?"

"Yeah," he smiled, "I'm just fine. Are you?"

"I dunno, I'm a little worried you're on crack or something."

"Nah. You're perfect, I'm happy. I am so in love with you, Jade."

"Billy, you're drunk," she laughed, trying to convince herself that what was happening was simply the liquor even though he hadn't had a drop. He was speaking, knowing that she was drunk and it was doubtful she would remember. It was hard for him to say something so kind and affectionate, considering he wasn't familiar with the feeling except for with Jade. He'd wanted to try with Max, he cared for her as well, it's just that he didn't want her getting hurt the way he is so he pushes her away. He's learned that if he's close to someone he'll lose them.

"You know I'm not, Jade. I haven't had anything to drink tonight. You know that."

"You're psychotic, come on, let's go," she said, running her hand through her hair and tuning the radio, stopping once it got onto Mötley Crüe's Too Young to Fall in Love. He waited a moment, taking in her features before twisting the key, interlacing his fingers with Jade's, and speeding away.

There was an eeriness in the Hawkins air, the cavernous sky was dark and ruby coloured. Black clouds inked over the moon and stars, creating an almost supernatural gloom. Rats crawled through tunnels and buildings, chasing after the darkness that stretched over the small town in Indiana. Everything was peaceful up until the old Camaro's engine began stalling.