BAD BOY GONE GOOD - A STRANGER THINGS BILLY+FEMALE OC MIXED FANFIC

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thank you to all those who faved, read, reviewed, and supported me to continue. Without you this fic wouldn't still be going. I appreciate it. :D

I do not own Stranger Things, Billy, or any original character from the show. This fic is purely for entertainment and is making no money and is completely free. The Duffer Brothers own everything and a big thank you to them for inspiring this. :D

Enjoy.

-BAD BOY GONE GOOD-

Chapter 4 - THE ESCAPE - GIRL TALK BOY TALK

Summary:

After showing off in the gym for Mandy, shes upset about him tormenting both her and Steve in his own little annoying way. Flirting openly with her in front of Tina, Carol, and Tommy enrages her and because Nikki mentioned what he might look like all wet, her rage-lust makes her have visualized fantasies about it much to her anger.

Now she just wants to go home with Nikki giving her a ride before he can track her down after showering and changing from practice. She doesnt want them to run into him on Old Cherry Road so she begs Nikki to take a different back country road so they won't be anywhere near where he drives. When they do make it to the house, Nikki stays and comforts her friend having girly time to talk about many things.

Meanwhile, Tucker calls Alex and asks him to come over, hangout, play video games. They talk about whats bothering him, Mandy, girls in general. Angsty unrequited love stuff.

Billy makes the mistake of pissing off Steve on the court and taunting him in the showers when its HIS pool party. He would crash but he wants to be welcome so he can scope out Mandy if she shows up. He offers to buy the booze to make ammends. Tommy freaks about this co existing crap.

NOTES: LOL Steve and Billy bonding. Who knew? :P Enjoy :D

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Finally having her fill of Billy, his cruel antics and perverse comments, and Tommy staring her down as well, Mandy stormed off out of the gymnasium and made her way to the main parking lot with Nikki trailing helplessly after her.

Nancy had called out to them but decided to stay with Steve who was plenty pissed almost as equally as Mandy was at Billy if not more. He had been antagonizing them both just in different ways but bullying was bullying regardless.

Mandy ran because she didn't want to hang around for him to come out to his car and see her standing there to further humiliate and antagonize her. Although she would guess that would be impossible unless he was superhuman fast at changing before leaving the gym.

Nevertheless, she rushed, angry that he really got his kicks out of making her blood run feverishly with his out of line comments and his lustful bedroom eyes turned on her. She went red just thinking about it and it absolutely boiled her blood.

Mandy was supersonic in her pace, not slowing down for anything not even her friend who struggled to keep up calling after her, wanting to get to Nikki's car before Billy could wind up chasing her down.

But she wrote that off as silly knowing he probably had to shower off after practice first before he would be at his car, if he had finished tormenting Steve for the day, that is.

Billy had looked so happily and positively insane while showing off for her and moving fast against the other guys as well as Steve on the court. His tongue hanging out of his mouth wagging from side to side like he was in ecstasy over her watching him. It made him look like a famished wild animal crouching excitedly while getting ready to dominate and chase down it's prey to devour it.

Then she recalled what Nikki said about the sweat that covered him while he was half naked out there. The way he had bent over to have his little drink from the fountain made his strong back look so incredible.

It was like nothing she had ever seen before on any guy when he walked over to Steve, his large athletic body looking positively sinful in the atmosphere of the gym. All his muscles, angles, and curves, contouring in shadow and light.

Even in her anger she recalled how his sweat looked doing it's thing on him making him glisten and shine like a well oiled body builder as he moved around the court. She had witnessed his strong bare back twisting and flexing while slamming the basketball in the hoop time and time again.

She noticed his powerful legs as they were running, jumping, standing strong when firmly planted so his calves looked rock solid. The look of his amazing hips, toned abs, his tight round ass, and his thick groin nestled in those tight green gym shorts and how he moved in them.

She shook her head still powerwalking as she fought to forget all of it. She would forever have those images engraved in her mind every time she looked at him now.

Damnit, Nikki. Uggghhh. Thanks.

If sweat did that then she could only guess how much more attractive he would look dripping wet from head to toe as water rained down all around him while he flexed his muscles to scrub himself in the shower. She could bet that's what he was doing right now.

Mandy thought of the boys locker rooms and showers. She thought of him being in there. She pictured helplessly what Nikki had said about how good he would look in the water if he were on the beach or in a pool.

She practically saw the water dripping off of him over his handsome face while his eyes closed with long lashes hanging down glistening and wet. Saw it dripping from his strong wide button like nose, over his sensual dark red lips and his blonde mustache, eventually working its way down to his equally strong impressive chin. Just thinking about it dripping off his fingertips and running in crystal clear lines down along his stomach and his thighs as well as other parts of him she dared not try to imagine even further down.

Stop it, Mandy, Jesus!

She mentally scolded herself while trying to regain control of her wandering wicked thoughts and reign herself back in to reality. It wasn't like her at all to be so full of an odd mixture of pentup rage-lust like this which was clouding her thoughts, making her angry and turned on, all in one.

What the hell was wrong with her? What was happening to make her feel this way and why did it have to be him to cause it? Him out of all the guys in the world let alone in this school?

Picturing him in the shower and feeling herself getting hot over it. Good Lord, that was a new low for her. Those thoughts didn't make it any easier in her mind to hate him as she let her anger drive her further away from the place where he most likely still was, far behind her, having the imagined wet and wild moment that was now seeded in her brain searing hot and stuck on replay.

She clenched her fist and tried to calm her breathing. It made her angry because she didn't think of ANY boy, least of all him, in this way. What had come over her?

But she could still see it in her minds eye. It was too late to take it back now. The image of him dripping wet in that shower and those blonde curls soaked while hugging and conforming to him, sticking to his gorgeous face and on the sides of his cheeks as well as his lovely forehead. Curling and curving hair darkened while dripping around his strong jaw and his thick powerful neck and shoulders.

She could practically see it as if he were right there in front of her grinning sensually while she watched him do it.

Mandy could even hear the sounds of the shower water spraying over him as it dripped deliciously down in drops and beads over his tanned and toned chest. She could hear and see it cascading over his fit pecs and gliding along his equally chiseled abs. Heading down... down... down...

"I'll be sure to get myself all ready for you, sweets." She recalled him saying in that deep seductive voice of his. He had fully known what kind of images that would put in her head.

Images of him undressing, showering, then dressing up and putting on his strong cologne. Images of him fixing his gorgeous hair up for the night that he believed was their night together.

But it wasn't. She knew that and she could face it. He had said it as a joke. A tease. Nothing more. He was taking Tina not her. None of it meant anything. None of ANYTHING he said to her meant a damn thing. Just all fun and games at her expense and most likely many others before and after her. Again she felt bad for Tina.

What a horrible horrible person he was to make her think and feel this way about him and to make it sound like he was doing it all for her.

She just needed to get home and put this day in it's grave long forgotten and buried never to be resurrected ever again.

"Mandy! Mandy, wait up! I'm sorry, okay? I thought you would like my surprise, honest! When I saw you take off I immediately ran to follow you out, alright? Mandy, please wait up!"

The sounds of her friends guilt ridden voice snapped her out of it. She could hear Nikki calling after her trying to apologize for seemingly putting her in an uncomfortable situation.

She was seriously just trying to have fun with her and get her an eyeful of Billy in his gym attire to further inspire her to make this party. It was beginning to finally sink in that maybe Mandy truly did not like this guy after all and she was starting to feel bad.

Mandy turned to look at her and stopped her jogging to face her with her hands on her hips and breathless.

"Nikki... I just thought I had made myself clear to you several times that I wanted nothing to do with him. I understand you feel he is sexy and that you are into him. But can you please just leave me out of it from now on?"

Nikki saw how surly she was being and it made her lift a brow. But when Mandy made that face, that one face she knew all too well as her best friend of three years, she immediately dropped her suspicion of Mandy's weird behavior and nodded in agreement to respect her wishes.

She tried so hard not to be mean to Nikki but it was sort of just spilling out of her and she couldn't control it very well. Nikki looked down at first but then she came over and hugged her tight. Mandy hugged her back then dropped her arms lazily down to her side.

"I'm sorry. I won't tempt you anymore with him. Forgive me?"

She looked her in her eyes truly feeling bad and now Mandy felt bad too for being a bit snappy when explaining. She would talk with her more about it once they got to her house.

"It's okay, Nikki. I know you mean well. I'm sorry too. Look I just... I will explain it when we get to my place and we can talk in my room before you have to go home."

Nikki nodded and hugged her again feeling bad for tricking her into going to a place where she knew Billy would be. Especially the pool party.

She would just have to keep an eye on Mandy and make sure she was happy at the party undisturbed by Billy as much as she possibly could manage. She knew she couldn't fully control his actions to keep him away but she could at least try to be supportive and keep Mandy by her side so she wasn't intimidated by his presence.

"I'm still having you wear that bikini though."

Nikki curled her lips up in a playful smile and Mandy couldn't help but laugh even through her ire. Good ol' Nikki always finding a way to get at least something she wanted with Mandy after they made up from a disagreement.

"If it's too revealing, I'm not wearing it. That's final."

This made Nikki laugh knowing that eventually once Mandy saw how pretty it was she would cave under the pressure to wear it if she insisted enough and told her how good it looked on her. She knew Mandy's only true problem was lack of self confidence in her body, how others saw her, and how to carry herself.

Mandy considered wearing it spitefully out of a need to flaunt in Billy's face what he could not have, what she would not EVER let him have. If Billy was messing with her so bad like this constantly causing her to be out of breath around him when showing off his body, maybe it was high time she GAVE HIM something to look at and drool over.

Hopefully, it would cause him to be as breathless as he had made her in return to mess with his head making him back off. She seriously doubted it would but it could be worth a shot. Maybe tease him and make him not want her so bad by overcoming her shyness, since that seemed to be a major factor in why he enjoyed toying with her so often. Take that away and what power would he have over her?

It had only been ONE day and he was already throwing chaos into her organized comfortable little world. ONE damn day. Mandy could inject a little chaos into his and see how he liked it after this week was over and they both met at the party.

Hopefully it would piss him off if she flirted with other guys in front of him to drive home the point that she was NOT his, causing him to back off a little bit. She needed him to see she was not an easy victim nor his plaything to corner and manipulate. To see that she could just as easily dish out what he was forcing her to take from him.

It would be pretty funny to see his eyes pop out of his head if he wound up liking what he saw and then shy away from her if she could call his bluff. To find out that he would be unsure what to do with her if she came on strong to him and annoyed him was tempting.

She saw Tina do it in the gym before she ran off and saw him get a slightly bored look in his eyes so maybe if she acted like that he would piss off. Maybe make the predator run from the prey for a change by becoming overbearing on him.

"Well... maybe I will. I don't know yet." She added on making Nikki smile.

Seeing an image in her head of him drooling over her and running like a coward made her practically cackle out loud and Nikki wondered for a moment if her best friend was cracking up.

"You okay?" She asked her, concern thick in her voice, and Mandy nodded waving it off.

"I'm fine. Don't worry about it. We're cool." Nikki smiled a dazzling smile and was happy to know her Mandy wasn't mad at her.

When they made it to where all the cars were parked, she tried hard not to even look in the direction of the blue Camaro. They were looking for Alex and Tucker before they would be taking off. If she couldn't fix the Billy and Tommy problem she at least ached to fix the Tucker problem as soon as possible.

She frowned when she saw that Tucker had not joined them out front of the school but Alex was there standing alone messing with his fingernails and waiting on his dad who had the car today instead of his son evidently. He looked bored and agitated at not being able to drive himself there and back on his first day of school and it made him appear listless.

"Hey, Alex!" They cried out to him waving and he looked up blocking the sun with his hand so he could see them better. Once he saw who it was his face lit up and he ran over to them.

They met up with him at Nikki's car and he was all smiles as they briefly told him they weren't going to the arcade or mall today like previously discussed at lunch, but going to Mandy's house instead. Change of plans.

Alex understood and didnt seem to be too upset. But he told them he was hoping they would all go to Scoops Ahoy in an hour or so at least so they could check out Steve's legendary and impressive sailor outfit while using the ice cream as an excuse to tease him about it. He HATED that.

Mandy suspected Alex also had a thing for Robin, she was almost sure of it. Whenever they went to the booth making Steve roll his eyes at their teasing questions for his new job, Robin would smile enjoying their company cracking jokes on Steve with them. Mandy saw Alex looking at her as if he had never seen a girl before. It was cute.

"Where's Tucker? Isn't he riding with us today?" Nikki asked pouting.

"Nawww, he said to me in art class that he would prefer to go home alone. Said he wanted to clear his head over something but he didn't say what."

Mandy's heart dropped in her stomach, the familiar pang of guilt resting there like a dead weight.

"Oh well, that's a bummer. He will contact us when he's ready, I'm sure." Nikki replied.

"If he does get in touch with you though, will you tell us please, Alex?" Mandy said trying to conquer the guilt about what was going on between Tucker and herself hoping Alex might be able to talk with him and get him to come around.

"Yeah, sure will." Alex grinned and hugged both his friends.

"Want a lift? I can drop you off before I take Mandy home." Nikki asked him blowing her gum into a big bubble and Alex nodded enthusiastically with a relieved smile.

Ignoring her better instincts she glanced over at the familiar Camaro resting in the parking lot looking sad and incomplete without Billy in it or driving it. Somehow he and his car both accented one another. Complimented each other. They fit together just as much as his denim outfits and leather jackets did.

He had an interesting personality, Mandy couldn't deny that, despite being a total pervert. In all this, Mandy couldn't help but smile thinking back on his strange behavior on the court. If it hadn't been upsetting Steve it actually would have been hilarious and she probably would have laughed.

At least for now, Nikki agreed to give her rides to avoid him. That way she wouldn't be walking that back road with Billy hot on her tail roaring down the street with his Camaro as fired up as he was.

Nikki unlocked the car and they all piled in. Alex in the front and Mandy in back since he was the first stop. Alex talked to them about the new machines and games coming to the arcade and how excited he was that they would be getting Dig Dug and Dragon's Lair as new additions.

The ride home was almost an uncomfortable silence, since Tucker was missing to fill that gap, and had been peppered with makeshift small talk here and there. Nikki didn't probe into the Billy thing while driving them and she was greatful for that. Now just wasn't the time.

Mandy's mind wandered to Tucker and how upset he had been earlier in the library. He was irritated with Nikki and Alex for interrupting him, of that she was certain. But why avoid and ignore her? What did she do wrong? She couldn't wrap her head around it.

Tucker only lived a few blocks over from her house and around the corner. Sometimes he would give her lifts and they would ride together if she wasn't walking or didn't feel like it but that was rare.

She kind of missed riding with him and blasting the radio often singing tunes together being silly in the car. She missed his close friendship. She blamed herself for it waning over the summer due to her lack of contact with him or the outside world. Mandy thought of how weird he acted earlier and how upset he got and assumed that being close like that would be out of the question for a while until they could make up and talk.

Mandy supposed Tucker had always been fond of her in his own way. Eager to talk to her and spend time with her whenever he could and always asking for the time of day. He was always calling her up offering for her to hangout with him and the group over summer break but she just had other plans that got in the way.

Now that she thought of it, those plans had been a tad bit selfish, resulting in her hiding away from everything and doing her own thing. She now realized that it had actually hurt him with how little he had seen her over the summer. Mandy had just thought he was moping just to mope. Going through teenage growing pains for a boy. But she had also seen first hand just how depressed he would get whenever she wasn't available to him or their friends.

Mandy guessed he had deep down really liked her ever since they first met in freshman year but just never had the courage to tell her, only to show her in subtle ways. Just how explosive would this get if Billy started openly flirting with her in front of him? Tucker would either blow up or just storm off and avoid her even more than he was now. It would be a mess because she would have to explain to him that she didn't even like Billy, but knowing Tucker, he wouldn't listen he would just assume.

Mandy frowned and looked out the window resting her chin on her hand watching the trees, cars, and people go by along the drive. She noticed the atmosphere of the town as it was preparing to go through the changing of the seasons.

She undeniably hated change. She loved the familiar and change often scared her. Tucker had changed but Mandy was still the same, at least as far as she could guess. Despite her unwanted attraction to Billy Hargrove, she felt as though she were frozen in time with Peter Pan syndrome while everyone else was growing up, maturing, and learning to move out of their comfort zones adapting to life and their hormones. But Mandy was still the same girl, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The same shy girl she would always be. No sexy guy would change that, not even Billy.

After they dropped Alex off, promising him before he left that they would go to the mall tomorrow after school, Nikki made small talk with Mandy to pass the time as they drove trying to alleviate the uncomfortable pockets of silence. Neither one of them talked about Tucker. That was a tender subject at the moment to be avoided at all costs.

They took a different road at Mandy's request. It was aback way drive more scenic than the other one with thicker trees and vegetation as well as less farms. This was done so they would not chance running into Billy in his car. However, Mandy seemed to forget that if he was already home, whether outside or sitting in his car, it wouldn't matter either way because he would see them pull up.

When they arrived and parked at the curb in front of her house, she checked the opposite driveway real fast and saw his car was in fact there. Damn he drove fast. He must have been pushing at least eighty miles per hour in that thing to get there before they did seeing as how they had a head start due to his practice session in the gym after school.

Her heart instantly dropped into her stomach causing her to quickly duck down in the seat trying to hide as Nikki pulled up and put it in park shutting off her engine. She looked at her crouching down and gave a smirk trying to repress a bit of laughter.

"It's okay, Mandy. His car's here but he's not. I don't see him outside. He must be in his house and busy. Let's just get you inside okay?"

Nodding and counting to three in a childish way timing herself to get her courage up, Mandy climbed out of Nikki's vehicle shutting the door as quickly and quietly as she could running to her front door at break neck speed looking like a track star.

When Nikki shut her door and locked her car up to walk up the driveway where her friend was freaking out, she saw she was an absolute mess fumbling for her key. Nikki covered her mouth so as not to laugh while watching her struggle anxiously to get the door open.

Sighing and rolling her eyes at her inability to function, Nikki gently pushed her aside and produced her own spare key that Mandy had give her a while back and lifted it up presenting it magician style as if to an audience. She then unlocked the door for her and pushed it open no longer able to keep from laughing.

Mandy grumbled and rushed inside pulling Nikki in by her hand behind her. Once the girls were in the house Mandy closed the door and locked it frantically. She then pressed her back up against it with her eyes closed as Nikki took a seat on the couch in the living room getting comfortable.

"Girl, you need to chill. It's all good. He didn't see us." She grinned watching Mandy press herself flat to the door and then whirl around looking through the small glass window in the middle of it. She was spying across the street to Billy's house in full panic making sure Nikki was right.

"How do you know, Nikki? He ALWAYS seems to know where I am and always finds me. It's really creepy."

Nikki sighed and rolled her eyes. Getting up she took Mandy's hand and tugged her towards her stairs.

"Come on girl, let's go to your room so we can talk and help you work this out. You are a mess and you need Nurse Nikki to check your vitals. It's time for a friend checkup. Tell me EVERYTHING and I will try to help you as best as I can."

Mandy nodded happy that her friend was there for her now more than ever. She just had so much going on she didn't know how to juggle it all. This was the roughest year she had ever had and it was only the first day. How would she survive the rest of the year if things kept going like this?

She groaned and followed Nikki up the stairs ready to lay it all out on the table and get some much needed relief by venting all the pent up thoughts and feelings she had been holding onto. It would give them a chance to talk about Tucker's outburst, about Billy, about Tommy, and of course without saying, give Nikki a chance to dish on all the hot guys she was interested in and Steve's big party this weekend.

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Alex had been lounging on the couch at home pigging out on chips and salsa while playing one of his favorite games in front of the T.V. His parents weren't home yet so he figured he could hook it up to the sweet sound system and television set in the living room for the ultimate gaming experience.

He was playing a very frustrating game called Dragon Slayer on his third gen Nintendo Entertainment System. The Nintendo Family Computer in all it's red and white glory was pretty boss. His parents had gotten it for him last Christmas but he was really excited for the new NES that would be coming out soon in a year or so that was still in development.

He had almost beat the level when he got blind sided by an enemy and taken out making him grumble at the T.V. screen in frustration and put his controller down for a break.

Rethinking that break and driven to win he picked the controller right back up stuffing a few chips in his mouth and tried again. He was just about to beat it when the phone rang in the living room and he tried to single handedly play his game as he grabbed the phone. Leaning it into the nook between his neck and shoulder he answered it letting a cuss word slip out.

"Welcome to Hawkins Mortuary, you kill em we chill em, you tag em we bag em." He said still focusing on the game trying his best to get back to the place he was before.

"Yeah, I'd like to order six cadavers for a banquet this evening." Alex said over the line in a morbid tone of voice playing along with his friend.

"Awww, sorry, pal. Fresh out. I do have some chips and salsa though." He button mashed the controll and cursed under his breath when he failed the level again. This was just as horrible as playing Ghouls And Ghosts. You get far enough, you die, you start all over again at the beginning of the map. Taking a big gulp of his sprite he burped loudly into the phone and sighed.

He knew he was depressed but this was definitely not like him. Normally he enjoyed his video games even when he wasn't always the most skillful with them.

Deep down Tucker also knew what was bothering him but there was nothing he could do to fix it unless he could talk to Mandy. She was always so busy being wrapped up in her own life it was like she no longer had any more time for him, even as a friend.

Try as he might he couldn't get her off his mind and all he wanted was a chance to tell her how he felt about her. It had been growing within him over the years getting harder and harder to ignore the older they got. But she was an oblivious wall he was unable to scale.

"Sold! Hey, dude! What are you up to tonight?" Tucker wasn't really in the mood for company but he humored him and answered anyway.

"Not much, man. I'm just taking out my teenage aggression using some good old fashioned videogame ass-whoopin therapy. You know, what all the wholesome kids are doing these days."

Tucker tried to concentrate but died again and started grumbling getting upset and Alex laughed when he heard him let loose a torrent of profanity.

"Sounds like you're losin', bro. Hey, want me to come over and bring some of my horror movies I rented from Family Video? They're pretty raunchy! Lots of boob shots going on."

They were wonderfully dark and deranged together as the best of friends and absolutely shared an intense love of horror movies. Their parents always said it would warp them and rot their brains but if his mom and dad could sit watching game shows and sitcoms all day well then they were no better off than he was.

"Or if that doesn't sound appetizing, maybe we could chill and play some games together? Your system is pretty sweet and I have a few games for it we could try out."

Alex was being abnormally cheerful and uplifting towards Tucker but he smiled none the less shutting off his console giving up entirely. He wasn't mad at him but he was causing a bit of a distraction making it hard for him to keep dying all over the place with style.

"I appreciate it, Alex, but I'm not a charity case. I will be okay."

He didn't mean to snap at him but he knew what he was trying to do. He figured that because Alex talks to Nikki who talks to Mandy and all of them were present for his blowup episode in the library that through a chain of communication they may have asked Alex in person to hang out with him to try and cheer him up. Basically he was their man on the inside to check on him to make sure he was okay. Sort of to assess and scope out the situation or damage.

Girls. They were never up front they always had to have some sort of way of going around things instead of being direct. He just couldn't for the life of him figure out why they did what they did. Especially Mandy.

If she was that concerned about him she could have just walked over and talked to him in person as they lived practically on the same block. But no, she wouldn't do that. That would make things too easy. Mandy avoided she didn't confront. He sighed but softened his tone up as Alex continued trying to get him to hang out.

He was throwing all kinds of fun activities at him, even going so far as to offer him a lift to the Starcourt Mall to pick on Steve's uniform and visit with him and Robin for a bit. That always cheered him up.

"Alright, yeah I guess. Come on over and bring your horror movies with you. We can make some popcorn and watch your flicks. I'm down for that. Hey... BYOS, fool. Bring your own soda. You have a bad habit of going through all mine within an hour. I'm surprised your teeth haven't rotted out of your head yet with all the caffeine and sugar you inhale."

Alex laughed agreeing and he smiled as they joked on the phone together before getting off the line. Maybe he really could use company from a good friend to feel better. Another thing he hated about girls... they were often right more than he cared to admit it.

Hopping up from the couch he decided to change out of his school clothes and into something more comfortable worthy of an afternoon lounging in front of the T.V. with a friend being a couch potato.

When Alex arrived he eventually worked out what was bothering Tucker. He knew that his friend had guessed correctly that was his entire aim and goal of coming over but with time he managed to get him to open up about it anyway.

The only advice he could give him was exactly what he had been thinking. He needed to talk to and confront Mandy about his feelings so they could move past it. He resolved to do that tonight and come to her like he used to. He would climb up and tap on her window asking her to let him in so he could get it all off his chest and confess his feelings. Hopefully, she felt the same.

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After practice, Billy looked around the gym but Mandy and her little friend were gone. Tina was all over him but he told her to save it for the party tonight.

Wrapped in his towel he headed for the showers and noticed that Tommy was there and Steve was just beginning to lather up.

"Well, well, Harrington, how did you like practice today, pretty boy?" He jeered while lathering himself with some soap and clearing out his nose with the shower water.

Tommy laughed, his wide freckled grin spreading, as he watched the new top dog Hargrove come in to replace and torment Steve. He knew it would only be a matter of time before Billy would be King pushing Steve out of the spotlight. He chose the winning side, clearly, him and Carol both.

"Fuck off." Steve said while washing his hair.

"Oh, fiesty today. You can ease up now, tough guy, your girl isn't around to impress right now. Sorry about making you look like shit out there. Consider it incentive for you to improve your game." Billy began to lather his hair with a very expensive shampoo and thoroughly scrubbed his luxurious golden locks.

"What do you want, Billy? Didn't you get enough blood out there on the court? Come to bust my balls in here too?" Steve shot back trying to hurry up and finish bathing so he could leave. This act was getting old and he was tired of Hargrove's shit.

"Not much there to bust." Tommy jumped in and Billy eyed him narrowing his blue intense orbs in a glare as if to tell him never to speak out of line again around him when he was in charge and having fun. Tommy zipped his lips and looked sorry for interrupting. Billy grinned.

Good lap dog.

He turned his attention back over at Steve and faked like his feelings were hurt at his accusation.

"Nah, man, you got me all wrong. I'm here to HELP you. Why do you think I gave you those pointers out there?" He smirked and rinsed his hair and stood there watching Steve's face to see if he would lighten up or not.

"Yeah. I need your help like I need a fuckin' hole in my head." Steve barely audibly whispered it and Billy leaned in as if he didn't hear him properly.

"Come again?" He put his hand to his ear making a menacing face.

Steve didn't answer and Tommy simply smirked as he washed himself.

"So, there's a pool party. Heard it from a couple of little birdy's that it's going to be pretty wild. You going? Could knock back a couple of drinks and check out all the bitches in the sea."

He was washing the soap and shampoo out of his eyes so he missed Tommy's expression. Didn't he know it was Steve's party? He could have sworn both he and Carol told him that. Ooops.

"Well, I guess I kind of have to seeing as how it's MY party. And no, you're not invited."

Billy froze. It was Steve's? What a small world, wonders never cease. Had he really hounded the very same guy that was throwing it unwittingly?

He wasn't sorry for taunting him on the court and playing better than him but in the showers he tried to ease up on him. Maybe he could give him some more Billy pointers only this time about which alcohol to bring, what music to play, and attempting to make amends by offering to buy the booze for his party. No hard feelings, right?

"Really? Interesting. Well, I would crash it then. But were both adults here, right? Why don't we make a deal."

He grinned as he rinsed his hair thoroughly, wiping water and shampoo from his eyes while sliding away his long curls from his forehead that covered his face from the water running down lengthening it considerably. Steve turned to glare at him.

"No. No deal. You're not welcome." Steve said coldly finishing washing himself and rinsing. He went for his towel. He was about to walk away.

"Awww, come on, Harrington. Don't be sour. Tell you what, you let go of your anger over today's ass whooping I gave you on the court and I will help you buy the BEST damn alcohol for your party. What do you say?" He leaned his arm over the shower spigot waiting for an answer.

Tommy looked back and forth between them as they all wrapped their towels around themselves to head over to the lockers to dress. What the fuck was this?

"Bullshit." Steve said turning to him as he wrapped himself up in his towel and Billy was getting irritated. Steve looked at him as if he were nuts or just a habitual liar. He couldn't possibly score that.

"You're underaged. Unless you have an adult buy for you I don't see how you'd manage that. Nice try." He turned to walk away and go to his locker.

Billy and Tommy followed him as he opened it pulling out his regular clothes starting to change. Billy looked impatient but kept a straight face as he pulled out his clothes as well.

Tommy just sat silently in his towel on the bench to see how this would play out. He was hoping Billy would replace Steve not make nice nice with him and become bosom buddies. He frowned slightly but stayed quiet. If he interrupted again Billy would most likely go off on him.

"Not bullshit. I've got the hook up, my man. If you want it I can get it. All I ask is you make me welcome to this little party of yours and we can let bygones be bygones. Deal?"

Billy held out his hand to Steve waiting for him to accept. His face was hardened in an alpha stare the longer Steve took to shake on it.

Steve looked at his hand then to Billy before flitting his eyes away angrily. The last time he offered it and Steve accepted he pulled back and dropped him on the court. He wasn't falling for it this time.

"Yeah? How?" Was all he asked as he slipped his shirt over his head and towel dried his hair.

Billy rolled his eyes and sighed then reached into his gym bag, got his wallet out, and pulled out a little plastic card. Steve's eyes got wide as he realized what it was.

"A little elbow grease and flirting with a female cashier and it's no trouble at all. They never ask or bother to look twice at it because they're too busy looking at me. I guess I look older than my actual age so they never guess I'm in high school. It's all in how you carry yourself, Stevo."

He winced at Billy calling him that nickname. But he had a good point. Billy smirked clearly full of himself.

He impulsively took it the card from Billy's hand inspecting it and lifting it up into the light.

"Holy shit, you've got a pretty convincing fake I.D. here. How the hell did you get this?" He held it up and Billy snatched it out of his hand.

"Not one word about this, Harrington, or you're dead. My little secret and no I'm not telling. So what do you say? You want the shit or not?"

He truly did have the perfect hook up and wasn't lying after all. Steve looked impressed and even a little bit excited. This solved his biggest problem because he had no idea where or how he was going to score the alcohol. His usual contacts weren't getting back to him. He was desperate. He had to be if he was considering taking Billy's help.

Billy locked eyes with him and for a minute Tommy was expecting Steve to say no and walk away. To his surprise he nodded and raised his hand to shake with Billy on it.

Steve said he could come but if he started any shit he would throw him out on his ass himself. Billy chuckled humorlessly giving him a funny look and sighing knowing full well he would not be capable of doing that physically. Not with judging by how horrible he moved against him out on the court earlier. But he humored him nonetheless telling him he would only be there to drink, pick up chicks, and party hard.

Steve wasn't too sure about him and if he was telling the truth but he decided to let it go and agree.

"Deal. I'll write up a list." He began to list off in his head what kind of alcohol he wanted but was cut short by Billy's protest.

"Fuck no. I'll make the list. You'd pick the weakest shit, I'm sure. Allow me. I've got damn good taste so don't worry. Also, I have some tapes I can bring over for music but if you ruin them your ass is grass, Harrington."

He grinned and slapped Steve on the back and after pulling up his jeans with a hopping motion and putting his socks and boots on he combed his hair snapping his fingers for Tommy to hurry up so they could go. Tommy rushed to get his clothes on not wanting to piss Billy off.

He was pissed that Steve and Billy were getting along. How long would that last cuz he was itching to see them actually fight. He knew Harrington couldn't fight for shit, even Tommy was able to take him on. Even that pathetic Byers kid took him down. Billy would destroy him. And yet here he was being restrained and trying to make amends. Why?

"Thanks." Steve said and slipped him the cash from his bag for the drinks before he left.

"Don't. This isn't a favor. This is an agreement. A business transaction if you will. I don't fuck with you, you don't fuck with me. Co-exist as long as we can but I make no promises I won't break some of your records."

Billy ran his fingers through his hair and grinned grabbing his stuff and walking out. Looking back he called to him before he left.

"I'll get your address from Tommy and Carol. I'll meet you there with the goods after I drop off Max. But then I have a date after so don't expect me to stay and do any sappy male bonding with you. I don't swing that way, pretty boy."

Steve scoffed at that comment narrowing his eyes and closed his locker grabbing his things to go home.

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Nikki sat on Mandy's bed listening patiently to her talk all about how she felt about Billy Hargrove. The look her friend got on her face as they talked told her it was much more dire than she had originally thought.

"So... you really don't like him then? Absolutely no feelings not even lust?" Nikki asked as Mandy paced in her room.

"For the umpteenth time, Nikki, no. Not a single one other than pure loathing. I need to make the feeling mutual so he will back off and leave me alone." Mandy groaned and flopped on her bed with Nikki frowning at her and then petting her head gently to comfort her.

"But... I read in cosmo that sometimes when a boy and girl tease each other, like play games with one another, it actually means they like each other. Even if it seems mean or hostile sometimes anger cloaks the desire they have for one another because they are too shy or confused to admit it."

Mandy groaned at her friend loudly.

"Okay... okay. You don't like him. I got it. Loud and clear." Nikki put her hands up surrendering and folding to her friends point of view. Deep down she didn't fully believe it but for Mandy's sake she went along with it and didn't question it."

"I don't know how to describe it, Nikki. I mean of course my normal teenage hormones are present for this but that doesn't mean I like it or want it. It's sort off.. involuntary and it just happens. I hate it. I really do. I don't want to feel this way. Feelings suck!" She lightly yelled into her pillow and then lay still basking in the feeling of being completely lost.

"Speaking of feelings... what are you going to do about Tucker? I mean, Mandy, it's so obvious he is into you as well. My goodness, my baby is growing up. She has two boys all vying for her affection!" Nikki laughed sounding like a proud mother talking to her daughter.

"Try again. Three. Tommy still won't back off from staring at me either."

"He's still on that kick? I would have thought he would drop it since he has split with Carol and has been hanging around with Vicki a lot. He sure loves his redheads." Nikki pondered on this seeing just how opposite Mandy was from Carol or Vicki."

"Yeah well, he apparently hasn't gotten that memo yet, Nikki, because yes he still stares at me every chance he gets. As if Billy isn't bad enough, and the trouble with my eventual slicing and dicing of Tucker's feelings, Tommy is a flat out creeper. I detest him and it really makes me sick to my stomach every time he stares at me."

Nikki patted her head and sighed putting her finger to her lips looking up at the ceiling as if thinking about what she could do to fix it for her friend. She really hated seeing Mandy this distressed. Any other girl would feel blessed and honored to get so much attention but for a shy girl like Mandy this was obviously putting her on emotional overload.

"Yeah... I got nothing. I don't know what to do about Tommy. But I do know that if he doesn't stop I may have to kick his ass." Nikki flexed her arms as if to prove her point and Mandy looked up finally able to smile and laugh a little bit.

"My hero!" She said sarcastically making Nikki beam.

"I guess I will just have to let Tucker tell me what he wants to say and then let him down as gently as I possibly can. But... if he gets weird about it, will that ruin our circle of friendship, Nik?" Mandy was distraught over that and she could read it all over her face.

"No, of course not. Alex and I will still love you both and be fully supportive of your time trying to sort this all out. I promise. It won't be weird at all. I will try and help and talk to Tucker too if I can."

"Thank you, Nikki. You're the best." They pulled each other into a tight hug and sat there like that for a moment.

"But Billy..." Nikki started and Mandy stiffened up just hearing his name.

"Sorry." Nikki said feeling sheepish for bringing it up again.

"I will just have to push him away over and over again until he finally gets the hint that I am not interested." Mandy sighed and moved out of the hug sitting on her bed with her hands in her lap looking down.

"It was so wrong of him to openly flirt like that with me. With Tina being no more than ten feet away." She ran her fingers through her long dark hair and felt herself getting worked up over it again.

"Yeah, that is pretty crass. Well... stick to your guns, Mandy. I am sure eventually he will get bored and saunter off to go steal another heart. I know yours is an impenatrable fortress and that you won't give it out easy." Nikki winked and Mandy nodded. She knew her so well.

"Now, come on. Let's go raid your fridge. You NEED ice cream and you need it FAST. You can swim if off later at the pool party." Nikki giggled and took her hand pulling her towards her bedroom door to go downstairs and dig into the Cherries Jubilee ice cream they both loved so much.

The rest of the night they watched a sitcom together to laugh over ice cream that melted almost as fast as Mandy's troubles. After a few hours she said goodnight to Nikki and then headed upstairs to check on Calvin. He was fast asleep in his bed worn out from his first day back at school. She shut the door smiling softly and went to her own room to read for a little while and think on everything.

Mandy would have to figure out a way to push Billy away, dodge Tommy, and try to maintain her friendship with Tucker. This was absolutely testing her limits but she would do her best.

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