Chapter Text
When you moved to the little town called Hawkins or as you called it ‘bum fuck nowhere’ your arrival became a thing. You had always seen it in the movies when a new person moved to these small towns they automatically became talked about. You just never thought it would happen to you. You never thought anyone would take interest in you. Not to say you weren't interesting but out of all the towns you've moved in an out of it was never a big deal. You guessed it was east coast thing. You never thought it was a big deal when new people arrived in your old town. Your family moved around the tri-state. You lived in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. Hawkins was something you’ve never seen before. You actually thought the population was probably 500 or less.
The first day of school had you anxious as always. You felt honestly insecure, so you did what you usually do. You strutted your way into the school, your anxiety was kicking in harder. But you always tried to hide it, so you carried your fake confidence proudly worn on your face and your new clothes. You would fake it till it was real. You did get a real confident booster when you pulled up in the student parking lot in your dads 1965 White Mustang.
When you headed to the main office to get your schedule, the secretary told you to sit on a brown chair next to another student.
“Welcome to the small town of boring people,” the person next to you said quietly. His voice was a bit deep and rich like dark chocolate.
“What? Are you talking to me?”
Before he replied, someone stepped in front of you.
“Hey, new girl right? I’m Steve, I’m suppose to show you around.”
The person next to you glanced up at Steve with a glare and Steve walked out of the office expecting you to follow him. The school was decently small compared to your old high school. Remembering the rooms and hallways shouldn’t be a problem. When the bell rang the empty hallway you were being escorted in filled with students and you couldn’t help but notice people staring at the both of you. You quickly glanced up at Steve to see if it was him.
“Don’t worry, it’s cause you’re new. Where are you from again?”
“Everywhere. Well mostly the east coast. The last state we lived in was New Jersey.”
“Oh like Springsteen?”
You let out a small laugh. “Yeah like Springsteen.”
Steve walked you to your first class, you slightly peaked in the door way and everyone’s eyes look dull and bored. Steve went up to the teacher to say something. “This is where I leave you,” he said smiling as he exited the room. As you walked in front of the classroom, just as you hated, everyone’s face looked up at you. To make matters worse the teacher actually wanted you to introduce yourself. After what felt like eternity the teacher assigned you to sit at the only empty desk. As you got adjusted trying to keep up with the teacher’s monotone teaching, you prayed for the day to go by faster.
You stared idly at the paper on your desk before you felt a pair of eyes on you. In the corner of your eye you saw someone actually staring at you. You do a full turn and quietly asked, “Can I help you?”
The boy just grinned at your question. “You look bored. I told you, small town. Boring people,” he said.
You gave him a full observation, you recognized that voice from the main office. He was dressed in double diem with a pack of cigarettes poking out of his jacket’s front pocket. “You mind if I bum a cig?”
You weren’t really a smoker. You more likely would call yourself a 'casual smoker' but you were so silently stressed out over moving and seeing his fresh cigarette carton poke out, really got you craving. His eyebrows perked up and to your surprise he isn’t stingy. He takes a single cigarette out of his case and scribbles something on it before passing it to you. “Do you want it?”
You ignore his question, taking it quickly to inspect the cigarette, it had his name ‘Billy’ and what you assume was his number on it.
You let out a quiet laugh as you put the cigarette in your pocket sacredly. You didn’t want to crush it. The day went by like a long drag. Once that final bell rang you began walking to your car. You noticed that guy Billy inspecting it, he noticed your presence right away.
“Nice car,” he said before heading back to his own car where a small group of girls gathered by. He chatted with them for a short minute. You inspected your dad’s car to make sure nothing was damaged. Was this guy fucking with you or what? You watched as Billy and the girls around him exchanged grins and laughter. It was as if he knew your eyes were on him, because he turned around.
What's his problem? You took that cigarette he gave you out of your pocket, lit it and took a quick drag before tossing it on the ground to make a strong response while he watched you. With one stomp the smoke was out, you got in your car and drove away. You watched his reflection in your rearview mirror. He looked puzzled and amused by your statement.
When you got home, you couldn’t stop thinking about him. Even through dinner and through your nighttime skin care routine, he stayed on your mind. He had such a smug grin when he was talking to those girl and they smiled at everything he said like he was actually charming. “He seems like a dick,” you said to yourself. He probably wanted to make you one of his groupies. Yet as you laid in bed his dumb smug face lingered on your mind.
The next day you almost froze as you walked into class. There Billy was sitting in his desk, surrounded by girls who weren’t even in your class. As the bell rang, they ran out and you were able to sit at your desk. You focused on what the teacher was saying despite his boring monotone voice.
“Okay guys, I want you to find a partner to work with. I’ll write the text passages you have to read and review on the board. Please study them.”
As girls began approaching Billy, he put his hands up. “Sorry, but Miss Puddin Pie asked me to be her partner,” he said as he glanced at you.
What the fuck? You took a deep breathe and rolled your eyes. Was he serious? What made him think you wanted to be his partner? Wasn’t it obvious that you weren’t interested. You basically lit his number on fire with that little cigarette he gave you and threw it on the ground.
“First of all, don’t call me that. I have a name. Secondly, why would I want to be your partner?”
“You’re new, you don’t know anyone… I’m a genius,” he said as he pulled his desk right closer to yours.
“Doubt that.”
"You're so sweet," he said sarcastically as he opened up his text book.
You looked up at the board and began writing down the pages you have to read onto your notebook. You felt a tickle of breath close to your ear. It was Billy leaning in and you just froze at the sensational closeness. “Don’t be fooled by my boyish charm I've got brains too.”
You give him an automatic side eye. “Are you serious?”
The two of you spent the next thirty minutes of class actually doing work. From time to time Billy would poke you or did whatever he thought was cute. Boy did he try hard to make you giggle. Too bad it didn’t work because you thought he was annoying. When the bell rang you got up, picking up your things and Billy waited for you. “We should study. How bout I stop by your house?”
You closed your eyes slightly irritated but before you could open your mouth to say 'no, never, leave me alone' your monotone teacher butt in.
“That’s sounds like a great idea, Billy can help you catch up with what we already went over.”
You felt annoyed but decided to brush it off. The day went by like a breeze after that. You attempted to talk to some of the girls in your classes but all they kept mouthing about was Billy and how hot he was and how his ass looked great. You already needed a break from this dude. It seems you couldn’t escape him or the guys that would come up to you. They would attempt to hit on you. Freaks, geeks, and athletic douche bags. You suddenly felt like Molly Ringwalds character in Sixteen Candles when she’s sitting on the bus with bunch of freaks each time someone would come up to you.
When you walked out to the student parking lot you felt even better to breathe the fresh air and you were dying to drive fast out of there in your father’s car. But something- no, someone was leaning against your car with yet another small group of girls. When you got closer you heard his voice and you knew who it was.
“Excuse me ladies, but I gotta talk to my study partner.” The girls looked your way and walked pass you, clinging arm to arm with whispers and grins.
“You are so lame,” you said as you threw your bag and books into the passenger seat. Yup you went there, you said it and you didn't care.
“So we gonna study or what?” He stood in front of you expecting an answer.
“Wow, you’re so charming.” You open your car door, getting in and looked at him. You thought he’d give you a glare for your sarcasm but he just smirked.
“Ugh. Fine. Follow my car.”
“You are one bossy girl. I kind of like it,” Billy winked at you before walking to his car. Why was he playing this game with you? You knew you’d regret having him come over but something inside you was curious. Even though you know curiosity killed the cat.