A/N: Y'all have NO idea how amazing it is to get comments telling me that you like how I write Billy. I've been so worried that I wouldn't do him justice. And thank you for all the comments in general! I'm so so glad you all like reading this as much as I like writing it!
"Alright guys, let's- hey! Warren, what'd I tell you? You pick your nose one more time and you're mom's gonna be teaching you to swim out at the quarry!" Billy snapped, pointing to a guilty looking six year old boy. Billy had his class lined up at the edge of the shallow end of the pool. Teddi watched in awe as they each hung on his every word. Trying to keep the little ones under control at the Arcade had been like herding cats for her. Now she almost wanted to offer Billy a job there.
"Didn't a kid die out there?" Warren asked, his eyes wide.
"Not my problem." Billy said casually. Warren gulped loudly, folding his hands behind his back obediently.
Teddi scoffed. "You are the worst, Hargrove."
Billy grinned at her. "You got no idea, baby." Teddi rolled her eyes.
A girl that was standing at the end of the line and closest to Billy raised her hand. "Billy?" he turned to the girl, his eyebrows raised. The girl looked up at Teddi with a suspicious look. "Who is she?"
"This is Teddi. She's gonna be helping me keep you little monsters under control-"
"Is she your girlfriend?" the girl interrupted. Teddi's nose scrunched up as she shook her head wildly.
"Aw, come on, Sophia. You know you're my girl." Billy said with a wink and a smile that Teddi was sure drove all the girls at school crazy. Sophia gave Teddi a proud smile, and Teddi had to resist rolling her eyes.
"Are you flirting with a six year old?"
"Jealous, Larsson?" now Teddi rolled her eyes. Billy snickered, turning back to the kids and blowing his whistle. "Alright, how about we show her what you guys can do? Everyone get into formation," Teddi watched with a near chill up her spine as each of the kids held their hands into the air almost simultaneously, prepared to dive as if they'd done it a million times. "On three!" he said, counting to three and blowing his whistle.
All seven of the kids dove down into the water, quickly returning to the surface and doggy paddling their way to the edge of the pool. "Good job guys! Now backstroke!"
Teddi looked between the group of kids in the pool and back to Billy, blinking rapidly. "How did you do this? They're practically olympic divers!" this was one of those moments where Billy almost looked like a different person. He wasn't angry. He looked almost proud as he watched his class gracefully swim back and forth in the water.
He only shrugged. "They're like dogs. They're easy to train." and just like that, cute but dickly Billy was back.
Teddi shook her head. "Well, it's super impressive."
Billy cast her a quick glance, an amused smirk on his lips. "Was that a compliment? You goin' soft on me, weird girl?"
Teddi crossed her arms, tilting her head to the side and smiling at him. "I think you're the one going soft, Billy. I think you might actually like those kids."
There was a very subtle shift in the smirk on Billy's face, but Teddi caught it. There was a mischievous glint in his eyes that made her wish she'd kept her mouth shut for once. "You think so?" he asked cooly, his eyes flickering quickly towards the pool.
Teddi pointed a finger at him. "Don't you dare, Hargrove." she warned. Billy stepped closer to her, her finger meeting the center of his chest.
"I don't think I know what you're talking about…" he said, matching her steps as she tried to back away from him. Before Teddi could say anything more, Billy picked her up and tossed her into the pool as if she weighed as much as one of the six year olds in his class. She let out a scream before she hit the water, her mouth immediately filling with water. She kicked off of the bottom of the pool and emerged from the water, coughing almost violently and was immediately met with Billy watching her with a devilish grin.
Teddi coughed and sputtered, paddling over to the edge of the pool and glaring up at him. "You are so lucky there are children present." she snapped.
"Y'know, you should really watch that mouth, Teddi. It sure does get you into trouble," he teased before blowing his whistle and dismissing his students. Teddi pulled herself out of the pool, slapping Billy's hand away when he offered to help her up. "You sure can't take a joke can you, Larsson?"
Teddi looked at him cooly before letting out a shaky breath. "Sometimes I think I actually hate you, Billy."
He only rolled his eyes. "Join the club, babe. You should dry off. It's a cold one out there." he said evenly before walking off. Teddi glared at the back of his head before stomping off to the locker room. She hated that he could so easily get a rise out of her. She couldn't stop huffing while she showered and changed back into her clothes. Her hair was still damp, but it was as dry as she was going to be able to get it. Thanks a lot asshole, she thought bitterly.
She stomped back out of the locker room, her boots thumping against the concrete. Thankfully Billy was nowhere to be seen, only Heather. "Teddi!" She called waving her over to where she sat in the lifeguard's chair. Teddi bit back another huff and walked over. "Are you busy this weekend?" she asked.
Teddi raised an eyebrow. "...Why?"
"There's this Christmas party! You know that guy David in our English class? His parents are going out of town for the weekend for some work conference thing. It's on Friday, you should totally come!"
Teddi's nose scrunched up. "I don't know, Heather…"
"What's the matter, Larsson?" Teddi's jaw clenched as Billy sauntered up behind her, leaning against the lifeguard chair. "Do you even know how to have fun?" he had this challenging look in his eye that made Teddi want to punch him. She knew that he was trying to bait her and yet she was falling for it anyways.
"You know what? Sure, I'll be there. I'll see you tomorrow, Heather." she said with a wave and ignoring Billy completely. She threw her middle finger up over her shoulder, knowing Billy was smirking after her. She let out a loud huff when she heard him chuckle.
Teddi was emptying quarters from each of the games in the arcade, still irritated from the events at the pool. She could practically feel a cold coming from walking around in the snow with wet hair. If she didn't need the money so badly she would've quit. It definitely wasn't really worth having to put up with Billy and his confusing behavior. And now she was stuck having to go to some party.
She supposed that she didn't have to go. She could make something up about Keith not giving her the night off. Even though she knew he definitely knew that he would. She knew that her life was truly pathetic when even Keith was telling her she needed to get out more. But she felt like she had something to prove to Billy. He didn't know her. She could totally have fun...or at least she thought. With what little free time she gave herself she didn't do much. Not since she'd moved to Hawkins at least. There was this spot by the lake she liked to drive to and read...okay, so maybe Billy actually had a point.
Teddi huffed, shoving the door to the coin slot shut loudly. She hated that he was right. "Uh...you okay, Teddi?" she looked up to see Max looking at her with an amused expression.
"What? Yes. No...yes. Is Billy always so…"
"Awful?" Max finished for her. Teddi only sighed. "Pretty much. I mean, he has his moments lately but even then he's still sort of…" she took a moment to think of the right words.
"A complete dick?" Teddi asked. Max laughed and nodded. "You're a saint for putting up with him, Max. I might actually kill him pretty soon."
Max didn't say anything for a moment before shrugging. "...He's not so bad. Things could be worse. He's getting better. Kinda." Teddi gave her a disbelieving look, but didn't push the subject.
"Uh huh. So how'd you like those movies?" she asked, kneeling down in front of the next machine and making quick work of the screws keeping the coin slot's door shut.
"Oh, they were totally awesome," Max grinned. "I was gonna have El over for a sleepover this weekend. You want to come over and bring some new tapes? She'll freak. And plus it'll get Billy off our backs."
Teddi couldn't help but smile. Max was sort of like the little sister she had always wanted. They both liked all the same things, and Max actually thought she was cool. "I'd love to Max, but I have this stupid party to go to."
Max looked more surprised than disappointed. "You're going to a party?"
"Trust me, no one's more surprised than I am. Your big, dumb, stupid brother talked me into it. What about the next weekend? School'll be back and I won't have to work as much." she offered.
"Yeah, sure...you're not gonna start dating Billy are you?" Max asked. Teddi almost knocked over her coin bucket. She whipped her head over to look at Max incredulously.
"What?"
"You're going to a party with him." Max said with her arms crossed.
"I'm not going with him," she scoffed. "Max, Billy is an asshole." Teddi argued.
"Yeah, and plenty of girls still go out with him."
Teddi shook her head wildly, locking the machine's door shut and picking the coin bucket up. "No way. Look, he's cute and all. But that's totally not gonna make me date him. I can barely even stand being in the same room as him." she nearly shuddered at the thought.
Max opened her mouth to speak, but a voice that came from behind Teddi cut her off. "You think I'm cute, Larsson?" Teddi jumped at the sound of Billy's voice. Her eyes widened as she turned to face him. He was leaning against one of the games, smirking at her.
"Are you stalking me, Hargrove?" she said, grateful she was able to recover quickly from the embarrassment.
"Don't you wish. I'm here to pick up Max."
Max rolled her eyes. "I told you I didn't need a ride."
"Yeah, well, your mom doesn't trust that you'll come home on your own." he said, his voice had just a bit of bite in it. He looked back at Teddi. "Do you hang out with anyone your age, Teddi? Or do you just hang around lame ass kids all day?"
Teddi crossed her arms. "I could say the same for you. You're either harassing me or teaching six year olds to swim. What was it you were saying the other night? You're swimming in pussy?"
Billy's smirk just barely twitched, but Teddi noticed. It felt so satisfying whenever she could get a jab in on her end. It was crazy to her that just a few days ago Teddi hadn't even known Billy's name, and now he was practically the bane of her existence. "You know, it kinda sounds like you're the one that's obsessed with me, Ted."
"Oh my god you two are annoying," Max huffed loudly. She looked between the two of them as they shot dirty looks at each other. "Can we go home now before I barf?" she pulled on Billy's arm. He jerked his arm away, but said nothing. "I'll see you tomorrow, Teddi." Max rolled her eyes and headed outside without him. For a moment Teddi thought they would be there all night. Neither would budge like it was some sort of sign of weakness. She almost felt like she was in some old western standoff.
But Billy was the first to crack. He let out a humorless chuckle, pushing off of the game and shooting one more smirk her way before sauntering outside. Teddi let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding in. "Boy," Teddi jumped at the sound of Keith's voice beside her. "That was some Gone With the Wind tension." he said, crossing his arms as he and Teddi both watched Billy head back to his Camaro and drive off.
"...Don't think just because you're my boss that I won't shank you with my screw driver."