Not Your Baby ║ Billy Hargrove

Chapter Three

Minutes felt like hours as I stood in the middle of the empty hallway. Just as it spiked, the adrenaline suddenly came to a screeching halt, reminding me that I was now late to my first class. I finally came-to and shook off any and all fight or flight feelings and quickly jogged to a few rooms down where my Honors English class was already in session. Without hesitation (or checking what time it was) I opened the door to find my teacher, Mr. Wharton, already mid-sentence of his first paragraph on the chalkboard.

"I am so sorry! I got a little mixed up with numbers!" I exclaimed as I watched him shake his head in disapproval. He motioned with his hand to take a seat. I scanned the room to find any available seats in the front, as that was my initial goal before I ran into-, Billy. My eyes sharply focused on the blonde who's smile was wide with a chair open right in front of him. I sighed as I looked for any other open option besides from in front of that asshole.

"Penelope, I'd like to continue. Take a seat." Mr. Wharton mentioned once more at the open seat, seemingly agitated at my hesitance.

"Right, sorry." I mumbled as I made my way to the back of the class to the open seat in front of Billy.

I quietly slid into my seat before trying to pretend that this was all a bad dream and I would wake up to a normal first day. I rummaged in my backpack for my notebook and began writing down the date and getting started with the notes on the board. It wasn't long before I felt what seemed to be warm air on the back of my neck. Uncomfortable, I shot upright.

"So, it's Penelope." Billy cooed, trying to play nice-guy. My eyes scanned around, trying to find out how he got my name. Mr. Wharton. I pursed my lips with irritation and shot back, facing his stare with mine.

"Didn't your parents ever teach you not to stare? It makes you look like you're begging, and I'm not one for beggars." I hissed as I felt my adrenaline rush again with mostly fear with a little empowerment. I watched as his lips curled up into that wide smile. He began tapping his pencil against his desk, making it hard to concentrate on not breaking gaze.

"Then make me stop," Billy crept forward in his chair, "Penelope." I scoffed in disgust at how he said my name. I had only met his curly-headed asshole this morning and I already hate him. I turned around in my chair, trying to focus all of my attention on Mr. Wharton discussing Grapes of Wrath but I felt another set of eyes on me from the front of the class.

It was Steve.

Bug-eyed and looking directly at me, Steve had the face of "you better explain why you are talking to my rival" written all over him.

"Don't." I mouthed to him as I mustered up all of my willpower to concentrate ahead of me and not at the jerk behind me. And then it dawned on me. That's what he wants. He wants me to give him all of the attention like every other girl at school. If I don't give him that attention, he will be forced to go find some other chick to bother. A smile crept on to my face as I looked at Steve once more, who was still staring in confusion. His facial expression turned to worry, as he knew the face I was making was not one of kindness.

The bell rang in what felt like an 8-year class. I quickly shoved my notebook and textbook back into my bag and b-lined it for the door, not looking back. I met Steve at the front who wasted no time in asking what the hell was going on.

"Are you going to ex-plain why you were casually chatting with the local playboy?" Steve looked like his head was about to explode with confusion and anger. I let out a subtle laugh, trying to keep a straight face as this was a serious conversation for him. As I was about to speak, Nancy and Jonathan came up on our sides, fresh from chemistry lab. Nancy noticed Steve's concerned look on his face and suddenly had all of the color removed from her face.

"Steve," she muttered, "what's wrong?"

"No, uh..." he realized that he was a little "too" serious and realigned his posture. "It's uh, nothing, really. Well, Nel over here has made conversation with our newest school member." He quickly redirected the conversation to me. I let out a large sigh as I realized the conversation was getting too much traction for it was.

"Listen," I started "he's an asshole."

"Obviously." Steve chimed in.

"Steve!" Nancy and Jonathan cut him off.

"He came up my locker, all unannounced, and wanted to know my name. He seemed arrogant so I didn't give him it and tried to lose him in the halls but he knocked some kid to the ground because he was in the way." I leaned against the wall to remove myself from the oncoming student traffic. Nancy, Jonathan and Steve huddled around.

"I heard there was almost a fight." Jonathan recalled.

"No," I corrected him, "no fight. But this guy kind of got in my face and so I might have gotten in his."

"Nel!" Nancy complained, "What are you doing!"

"Thanks, mom." I rolled my eyes. Before they could correct my actions, I interrupted their next words, "His name is Billy, by the way." All three fell silent.

"Looks like a Billy." Steve scoffed. "Jerkoff."

"But yeah," I looked around to make sure Billy was nowhere to be seen, "he tried to annoy me in class which is what Steve saw. He's a pain, guys. Don't even try to befriend him." Nancy and Jonathan nodded in agreement while Steve looked into the distance.

"Wasn't trying to, anyway." he muttered as he caught eyes with a friend down the hall. "Gotta run, I need Matt's homework before History." Just like that, Steve was back into the flood of students trying to get to their next class.

"Well," Nany began, "I know what will get your mind off of wannabe popular boys." She looked at Jonathan and back at me. "Jess Baker is throwing a huge party this Friday to welcome everyone back. Tell your mom you're coming to my house to do a book report or something."

"I'm in." I smiled, knowing that any party that Jess threw was an absolute mess-in a good way. Nancy squealed and gave me a huge hug in excitement.

Thankfully, I had a Billy-free day after first-period. The rest of the day went smooth. I was able to meet about student council, head the cheer tryouts and finish the day back at Nancy's car. The week went similarly to the first day. Nancy and I drove together each morning as we sang to hits on the car ride over. I endured the new boy in first-period and then dealt with hiding from his glares for the rest of the school day. Cheer tryouts in the afternoon with student council every other day. 

With Friday afternoon finally making its debut, Nancy and I fled the parking lot and flew to my house. What a relief it was to hop in the car and drive home after such an eventful day. The fall breeze was in the air as it nipped at my fingers that I had resting outside the window as we drove. It was the perfect temperature for a party.