Arwen frowned heavily and pursed her lips. As if Aragorn heading back to school was bad enough, other things that included her stupid cousin were happening. A grunt escaped her and with shaking hands, she ripped apart a flyer that had been hanging on the bulletin board and threw it in the garbage. She let out another great grunt and tore the other flyers off the board, bunching them up and trying to rip them apart.
Thorin stopped behind her with a curious but concerned look. "Everything okay?" he asked carefully.
"Don't talk to me," she snapped. "Where's Billa?"
He shoved his hands in his pockets. "Well, you shouldn't ask me questions if you don't want me to talk to you," he replied, thinking what he said was very amusing.
She turned around and thumped his shoulder, harder than Thorin hoped she meant to. "I don't have time for jokes, Thorin. Where's Billa?"
"In the classroom."
"Go get her," Arwen growled out the demand, folding her arms over her chest and scowling at the bulletin board.
Thorin returned with Billa moments later, the girl not aware of Arwen's fury. "Hello," Billa greeted simply. Then she took in her best friend's deep scowl, folded arms, and all the crumpled papers on the floor and in the garbage. She glanced at Thorin who shook his head and shrugged. "Why're you tearing the flyers down?"
Arwen glared at her with wild eyes. "Have you seen these?"
"N-no... Should I have?"
She grunted again and grabbed Billa's wrist. "We'll be back for fifth period!" she called behind her shoulder.
Billa stumbled. "W-we're missing fourth?"
Arwen ignored her and pulled her down the hall. Billa still didn't see what was written on the flyers because Arwen ripped them off of all the bulletin boards they passed. She tightened her grip on Billa's hand and pulled her into the empty art room, shutting the door quickly behind her.
"What is the meaning of this, Arwen? Why're you tearing down every single paper in sight?" Billa huffed, putting her hands on her hips. She glared at Arwen incredulously.
The brunette tried to take a deep breath to keep from combusting. "My cousin," she began in a tight voice, "has set up flyers around campus saying there will be an assembly today after school. Apparently, he wants to point and laugh at every person that has done him wrong in this life."
Billa pursed her lips in thought. "And you care about all this because...?"
She sighed in defeat and sat down on a chair. "H-he threatened to humiliate me because... because I have ruined our family."
The other girl frowned and sat beside her best friend. "Did he say why?"
Arwen looked up at her. "Because I stayed friends with you. Because I met Thorin. Because you lot introduced me to Dwalin and Bofur." She sighed heavily. "I just... I've been taunted by him before, and I know what he's going to do. Except he's going to do it in front of the entire school. Th-that's the one part I'm dreading."
"Now who says he's going to hurt you today?" Billa smiled slyly. "No. I promise you he won't do that to you. We'll think of something. Besides, I have my own revenge to get too."
"Thanks, Bills," Arwen said, giving Billa a small smile
Thorin sat with Dwalin and Bofur during lunch though he occasionally watched Billa and Arwen a few tables away. They were intently scribbling on a piece of paper and whispering and laughing. It's not that he wanted to know what they were talking about, he just wanted to know what they were talking about.
"Why don't you go over there and ask instead of sitting over here brooding," Dwalin grunted. He elbowed Thorin's side. "Or do you not want to, eh? Think they're talking about you?"
The other man looked at Dwalin and narrowed his eyes. "Shut it."
"Well, then whatdya suppose they're talking about?" Bofur asked.
"Probably something that has to do with those flyers," Thorin grumbled, picking at his food.
Bofur nodded. "Yeah, I'd be pretty upset too. I mean, the guy makes fun of them for a living practically."
Thorin's head snapped up. "What?"
Bofur looked dumbstruck. "Oh. The fl-flyers, yeah? You're talking about the flyers Thranduil put up this morning. The ones about the assembly...?"
"What?" Thorin growled, standing up instantly. With barely a moment's hesitation, he crossed the cafeteria and leaned over the table Billa and Arwen were sitting at.
"You do know it's quite annoying with you just standing there," Arwen said blandly. "Do sit down, Thorin."
He did so reluctantly and looked over Billa's shoulder. "What are you writing?" he asked in a stern voice.
She blinked and glanced at him. His eyes were focused on the paper in her hand. She turned it over and pushed him back. "Why must you know?"
"What's on that paper?"
"Thorin," she began, "why are you over here? I told you Arwen and I wanted to sit alone today."
The man growled. "What're you planning?"
She scoffed. "We're not planning anything."
Thorin reached forward and snatched the paper, ignoring both disapproving gasps as he did so. "You're seriously going to this?" he asked, his voice upset.
"It's not what you think-"
"Even if you're going to stand up to him, I won't let you do that."
"It's not your choice," Billa argued. "I'm doing this for my best friend, alright? Not for me. I don't care what he does to me. I care what he does to the one person that I have cared about for the last thirteen years of my life! You don't get a say in how I protect my own friends."
Arwen looked down at her nails as the argument happened next to her. In the corner of her eye, she saw Thorin's jaw clench and his eyes narrow coldly. She gulped. Well, this would be their first fight...
"If he tries anything on you-"
Billa smiled stiffly at him. "We'll be going to different places soon, Thorin. I can take care of myself."
He tossed the paper back to her and stormed off.
"I'm sorry," Arwen said in a quiet voice. "It's my fault. Don't tell me it's not because it is."
"Just shush. We still have Plan B and C to do if this doesn't work," she replied. "Let's just focus."
Thorin and Billa managed to stay mad at each other until that afternoon. After ignoring each other throughout the rest of the day, he met her at the steps before the courtyard in brood-mode. He was silent but took her bag from her as she caught up with Arwen. He followed the two and took his place to the side of the crowd, by the stage. He folded his arms and scowled at the blond barbie on stage. He still wasn't happy about their plan, and he watched with disapproving eyes as Billa stepped onto the stage.
Thranduil had been in the middle of discussing all the "misfits and freaks" of the school when Billa joined him. "Ah, here is my favorite one," he exclaimed in a sarcastic tone. He extended his arm to the girl standing with her hands in front of her. "Just the girl I wanted to see. Come here, Billa, and let the school finally know who you are."
Billa stepped closer, glancing at Thorin whose jaw was clenched and his eyes blazing with cold hatred. She knew he was still upset with her, but it was her decision to be the one to face Thranduil - and Arwen's. She reached for the microphone that the blond held out for her. "Now, Thranduil, are you sure you're not talking about yourself?"
He blanched, obviously not expecting her to say something so forward. "I beg your pardon?"
She somehow managed to keep her grin at bay. "Is the school finally going to know who you really are?"
Thranduil scoffed. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"No? Hm, then who was the bloke that took me to prom? He stood me up, remember? Had at least a dozen girls at a table across the room. He even tripped me as I passed." She looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Are you sure the school knows you, Thranduil? Do they know how scared you are of becoming unpopular? Do they know you'd do anything to keep your reputation up? Do they?"
The crowd was murmuring and Thranduil began to sweat.
"Billa Baggins, telling lies again are we?" he countered.
"If I'm lying, why is half the school nodding in agreement with me," she smiled sweetly at the boy.
He huffed and stepped closer to her, towering over her. She noticed, in the corner of her eye, that Thorin had moved closer as if he were preparing to charge onto the stage. "I never wanted to do this to you, Billa. I never wanted to make your life - and everyone else's for that matter - miserable. Never!"
She narrowed her eyes at him, ready to not believe a word that comes out of his mouth. "Then why did you do it?"
He lifted his hand to her face. She flinched and flinched again when he began to caress her cheek. "You didn't accept my proposal when we were thirteen. You laughed at me! I loved you. I loved you and you didn't feel the same way in return. You turned down a great guy..." he trailed. His lips were suddenly on hers.
She gasped in disgust and raised her hand to smack him but Thorin's fist beat her to it. The blond tree-hugger landed on the stage with a great thud, a horrified look on his face as he stared up at Thorin. Billa bit her lip and glanced at Thorin who was nothing short of fuming. She huffed quietly and extended her hand to Thranduil. Thorin growled and grabbed her other hand, trying to pull her back. She wrenched her hand away. "Get off the stage," she hissed under her breath to her boyfriend.
Seconds after Thorin reluctantly retreated, Thranduil accepted Billa's outstretched hand. "Thanks," he muttered once he stood up. He avoided eye contact with her. "Why- why did you do that?"
"Because I'm a better person than you will ever be," she sighed. "But you threaten Arwen again, I will make no promises as to who pounds your deserving arse."
Thranduil nodded quickly.
Billa smiled stiffly at him and stepped off the stage, mildly to extremely happy about what she just told Thranduil. Arwen scurried after her with Thorin and Dwalin following.
"That was AMAZING!" Arwen squeaked once they were halfway to Dwalin's car. "Oh my gosh! You finally got your revenge on him!" She jumped up and down all around Billa who was laughing. "How did it feel? Tell me how did it feel to see that know-it-all perfect barbie doll look at you with such fear!"
"More satisfying than I expected," she admitted with a grin.
"I for one, wasn't expecting him to plant one on you," Dwalin grunted.
Thorin abruptly snarled. "Can we not talk about this?"
Dwalin elbowed him. "Please tell me you're not jealous," he laughed. "Jealous of Thranduil? Princess of the cheer club?"
Billa sighed internally.
This was their first fight, but she knew he was the type of person to close off if she pushed him. She glanced at him and found he was staring at her. She quickly faced Arwen again.
"So," she began, lacing her arm through the other's elbow. "Ready for graduation?"
Arwen snorted. "Now that you've practically kicked my cousin's arse? Hell no!" she cackled then shrugged. "But yes, I suppose. Going to the military base in four weeks. And then I'll have to wait another eight to see Aragorn again." She exaggerated her sigh.
Billa smiled. "You're going to the same base as Thorin?"
"Yep," she nodded. "Ugh, three more years with him and Dwalin as classmates. Grr. So, when're you starting at Imladris?"
"Four weeks from now too," Billa puffed. "I signed on for summer classes."
Arwen cringed. "Ooh, that sucks."
"I think I'll enjoy it," her friend smiled.
Both fell into a comfortable silence as they thought about the future ahead. Then Arwen took a breath and spoke in a hushed tone, "So how was it having your first fight with him?"
Billa let out a small groan. "I hate it. I just hope he's not still so upset with me. I mean... he's going to the base and I'm going to University. It's not like he can always protect me."
"He's just going to get really buff and come back and scare everyone off by being intimidating," Arwen laughed.
The other girl snorted. "He's already intimidating."
"So you're not scared about your relationship with Thorin? How you guys will suddenly have to communicate long distance? How he may possible brood the entire three years at the base? How he will get jealous over any little thing?"
Billa glanced behind her at said man who was glaring at her. She turned to Arwen again. "Firstly, I think he'll always brood. Secondly, he'll always be jealous. And thirdly, I think only time will tell."
Arwen gave Billa an exaggerated shocked look. "What? Billa? Miss Optimistic is actually giving a realistic answer? Oh, I must remember this the next time you tell me to lighten up." She squeezed Billa happily. "Well, my friend Eowyn - you know, the one who introduced me to Aragorn - says we get two weeks of winter and spring break off. She's been going there for two years. I'm sure you two'll find some time together, not just the summers."
"I hope."
A thick but gentle arm snaked around her waist and tugged her away from Arwen. She gasped in surprise then looked at the owner of the arm. Her mouth opened and closed as she stared up at Thorin. "H-hey," she managed in a small voice.
His eyes were dark and his shoulders hunched; he was brooding - as usual.
"Trouble in paradise," Arwen remarked loudly. "Come on, Dwalin. Let's leave the two lovebirds alone."
"Aye," he grinned.
Thorin stopped walking and watched the two continue on to the car. He cleared his throat and looked down at Billa. "Listen, I'm-"
"You're still upset with me, aren't you?" she guessed.
He gave her a half-smile. "A little, but I understand why you had to. You know, for Arwen. I get that..."
"But?"
A groan/sigh escaped him and he put his hands in his pockets, looking down at the ground as he spoke. "I didn't like that you- you seemed inconsiderate of my feelings."
"Oh."
"You acted without thinking," he continued.
Billa huffed, feeling the familiar burning of when she told Thorin off at lunch. "You never told me of your feelings. You just didn't want me to do it."
He opened his mouth.
"No. You should have explained yourself. I'm sorry I didn't tell you the whole plan. I knew you'd be against it. But you don't know what it's like for someone to look down on you every day. You didn't have that one chance to turn the tables. I did. Arwen did. And I'm sorry if I seemed inconsiderate, but I wouldn't be happy with myself if I didn't do it."
"He kissed you," was Thorin's response.
Billa huffed. "Really? That's all you answer with after I've told you-"
"He kissed you," he growled. "He had no right to!"
She gave him a soft smile.
"What?" he grunted, a heavy frown on his face.
"Nothing."
"Billa."
"You look handsome when you're jealous," she grinned. She touched his cheek and almost immediately, he leaned into her touch, his frown disappearing instantly. "Thorin Oakenshield, you must know that I do not care for him. He didn't win whatever game you think he's playing. You're mine, not him."
Thorin leaned in closer to her. "Say it again," he breathed.
"You're mine," she said softly.
Thorin kissed her.
