"I don't know about this anymore..." I spoke nervously as I stared at myself in Jess's mirror.
"Oh no no no! You're not doing this now!" She started to scold me and I stared at her, in her Cyndi Lauper costume, in the mirror. "You're not changing your mind because of Billy Hargrove. Nope."
I stared at myself and groaned as I regretted choosing Madonna's VMA performance outfit of 'Like a Virgin' for my costume.
"You did not spend a little over a month slaving to put this together just to back down now!" She exclaimed.
She wasn't wrong. As soon as I saw that performance I scrapped my other costume and started putting the outfit together. I stared at myself as I fluffed the tulle polk-a-dot skirt around. The lace gloves, that came up to just below my elbows, matched the same lace that was on the corset lingerie style top. The veil wasn't as long as hers, but it was enough that I knew by the end of the night I was gonna throw it somewhere.
"You're right." I groaned and she smiled big in victory.
"Yes!" She screeched. "Are we ready?!"
I chuckled at her excitement. "Mom, we are leaving!" She called as we rushed out the door before hearing a response.
The music was loud as we pulled up. The street and Tina's house were packed with people. She found a spot to park and I felt a twinge of anxiety fill me as I looked around for Billy. I hated myself for getting so nervous around him. I don't like him. I don't even know him.
We walked inside and were greeted with 'Hungry Like The Wolf' as well as a bunch of teens drinking and dancing. I took a deep breath as I looked around. For the first time, I felt out of my element like the kid who didn't fit in. I hated it. I needed a drink.
"Shall we get drinks?" Jess shouted slightly so I could hear her over the music and people.
"You read my mind!" I said as I matched her tone.
She grabbed my hand to guide me to the kitchen as we walked through the crowd. I waited, cup in hand, as she filled her cup. I looked around and saw Billy standing with a couple of the guys from the basketball team.
"Shit!" I said as I turned my back toward him.
"What?!" Jess exclaimed. She looked up and rolled her eyes and sighed. "Seriously?! You're acting like a child with a crush!"
"I definitely do not! I'm not into the 'Try hard' attitude." I replied as I air quoted.
I handed my cup toward her and she raised an eyebrow. "Please?"
She shook her head as she realized I was afraid to turn around and he would see me. "Child!" She scolded as she filled up my cup.
"I see Keith." Jess said as her eyes lit up. "Have some drinks. Dance, talk to people. Please try to have fun."
"Okay..."
I walked over to a wall in the living room area. I was enough in the party to not seem like a weird misfit, but enough out of it to be out of prime sight. I didn't see Billy anywhere and I sighed in relief. I tried to push the weird anxiety of seeing him out of my mind and continued to drink.
"Excuse me." I said to the guy standing in front of the punch bowl as I filled up my cup for the second time.
I turned my head to the direction of chanting coming from outside. "Billy! Billy! Billy!"
I watched him being paraded into the house like he was the King of something. I rolled my eyes as he walked cockily around the living room. I watched him as he walked to Steve and Nancy walked off annoyed. I chugged my drink and filled it for the third time. I walked into the crowd heading toward the backyard. Billy stopped me as he stepped in front of me, smirk plastered on his face.
"Well, well, well... If it isn't party girl Eli." He spoke in his cocky tone. "Like a virgin Madonna... Tryin' to tell me something?"
"And who are you supposed to be? A wannabe rock star who didn't make the cut?" I smiled sarcastically as I took a sip.
He let out a chuckle as he took a drag off of his cigarette. "More of a King."
"Sure...Alright, well I'm gonna go be anywhere else but here."
"What's wrong? Not up for some harmless small talk?" He smirked as he inched closer.
"Funny thing, I hate small talk." I said as I gave a small fake smile and dropped it back to serious.
"What are you so afraid of with talking to me?" He asked with that cocky smirk.
"I'm not afraid. I have nothing to talk about with you, Billy. I'm not interested."
"So you keep telling me. Not sure I believe it."
"I've seen you flirting with countless girls in the school. Why don't you find one of them here?" I asked annoyed.
"Keep tabs on me?" He asked with an eyebrow raised.
"Don't flatter yourself."
"I mean you said it yourself. Saying you're not interested yet watching me... Maybe a little jealous even?"
"Billy!" I heard a familiar voice before I could be snarky back. We both turned toward the direction of his name called and my heart sunk as Tommy approached.
Tommy looked at me and I looked away as my cheeks flushed. "Don't waste your time on this one if you're looking for a good time." He said and slapped Billy on the back of the shoulder. "Come on!" He said and headed back into the crowd.
As if I wasn't feeling awkward enough, Tommy sure had a way of making me feel small. Little over a year later of him dumping me and spreading rumors and I was still dealing with the aftermath. I held back as tears threatened to fall. Tommy walked off into the crowd and I refused to look back at Billy.
"Looks like you're being summoned, King." I started to walk away and I felt a grip on my wrist. I could feel the callouses on his palm through my wristbands. I looked up at him slightly. His expression seemed... slightly concerned. Almost like he partially wanted to care, but was too cool to show people he had emotions. I took a deep breath and pulled my wrist from his grip. "Don't want to keep your peasants waiting."
I walked through the crowd as I chugged my third drink. Things were starting to feel more warm and numbing as I dunked my cup into the punch bowl for the fourth time.
I felt free and careless. Bold even. My body swayed as I danced within the crowd taking sip after sip. I lost count of how many times I had dunked my cup into the bowl. All I knew was I was feeling good and I lost Jess. I saw her earlier sucking face with Keith and then she was gone again. Normally I would be concerned, but I was feeling too good to care. I just wanted to dance and drink.
I dunked my cup into the bowl again.
"Probably should slow down there." I looked up slightly to my left to see Billy had leaned on the counter beside me.
"I'm good thanks." I slurred as I went for another gulp. I felt the cup leave my hands before the alcohol touch my tongue. "Hey!"
He dumped it and tossed the cup into the sink. "Come on, I'm taking you home."
"Well that's very forward of you." I said in a flirty version of a slurred voice. "Does that line work on all the girls?"
"You're drunk. Come on." He said stern.
"No! I'm not going anywhere with you." I said pulling away from his grip. "I need to find.. Jess..."
"She left an hour ago."
"What..?" I slurred as I cursed her under my breath. We had a girl code that we would never leave without the other.
"Eli! Where the fuck are you going?"
"This party is lame! I'm going somewhere else."
"Stop being stubborn and let me take you home."
I swirled around quickly, instantly regretting it as I felt the urge to throw up, and held my composure as best as I could. Billy stopped short almost running into me.
"Did Jess put you up to this?!" I accused as I wobbled slightly trying to stay up straight.
"What?" He asked.
"Did Jess tell you to do this?" I hiccuped slightly. "Is that what you guys were talking about? Scheming some way to get us to talk?!" I slurred angrily as I jabbed him a couple times in his sweaty bare chest.
I crossed my arms stubbornly and looked at him expecting an answer.
He shook his head slightly and chuckled as he licked his bottom lip. "I asked Jess, and she agreed."
"What in the actual... What am I? Just a toy that can be traded?!" I said muttering to myself as he lit a cigarette for himself and exhaled the smoke.
"Didn't expect it to be this difficult honestly." He said leaning on his car.
"Why cause I'm so easy?" I said unsteady yet angry.
"No, I just didn't expect you to be this drunk and unreasonable."
"You can't take me home." I said "confidently" as I wrapped my arms around myself and rubbed my upper arms to warm them.
"Why not?" He asked.
"Cause I don't want to go anywhere with you."
"Elizabeth, it's getting cold. You can't just stay out here. You're drunk and dressed like Madonna. Get in the damn car." He argued.
"You called me Elizabeth." I stated as I raised an eyebrow.
"That's your name isn't it?" He said like a smart ass as he exhaled more smoke.
"I'm not getting in the car." I slurred my words angrily.
He nodded a few times annoyed as he tossed his cigarette butt. "Alright."
I turned to walk away and my feet came off the ground as I was hoisted onto his shoulder. "Billy! Put me down!"
He walked to his car and put me down. "Get in the car." He growled.
I felt the coldness of the metal of his car pressed against my back as I stared into his eyes. There was a ferocity behind them. His face was stern and serious. I felt a slight chill go up my spine.
"No." I replied stubbornly and crossed my arms.
"Get. In. The. Car." He took a step closer and closer until his warm breath tickled on the tip of my nose. I swallowed hard as I maintained eye contact with him. His arms were placed on each side boxing me in.
"Or else what?" I whispered. "Are you going to kidnap me?"
"You're an infuriatingly stubborn drunk."
"I just don't like taking orders from people. Drunk or not." I shrugged.
"Get in the car, Eli." He snarled in an annoyed tone.
"Get in the car, Eli." I mocked matching his tone. "Say please."
"Just get in the fucking car."
"Do you beg every girl this much?"
"No typically they just get in."
"How many girls have you had sex with in this car?"
"A lot. Get in the car."
I looked in disgust at the backseat doubting he had ever cleaned it.
"I'm going to have to say no. Goodnight, Billy." I said shoving his arm out of my way and stumbling down the road. I heard him growl again and I was hoisted again, this time being putting in the seat despite all of my protests.
"Why do you even care? I can just walk..." I slurred.
"You can barely stand. And I don't care. The last thing I need is seeing you missing in the paper."
"That sounds like caring!" I singed mockingly and laughed again.
"Elizabeth!" I opened my eyes slowly as the sun peeked through my curtains. I groaned as my head throbbed. I could barely think. I couldn't remember majority of what had happened last night or how I even got home.
"Elizabeth, you're going to be late! You better be up!" I heard my mom calling from downstairs.
"I heard you! I'm coming!" I shouted and instantly regret it.
I put my hand to my head and felt jean material rub against my arm. I looked down to find myself wearing a jacket and shirt that didn't belong to me and the shorts I had worn under the skirt. My costume was laying on the floor next to my bed. I slowly got out of bed and made my way downstairs.
"Mom? Do you ..." I stopped dead in my tracks when I got to the kitchen.
"Morning hun! Breakfast is ready!"
"Morning Eli." Billy smirked as he raised his mug toward me.
What... The... Fuck...
A/N: Hey guys! Thanks to everyone who has been following and faving! I really appreciate it! I'm feeling very mixed about this chapter, but I hope you guys like it! I want to build their relationship, but also don't want to have it move too fast. I'm planning to have some flashbacks in the next chapter that will answer some questions of the missing blanks in this chapter! Maybe potential fluff? Nothing too crazy. I want to keep Billy to character as much as possible, but I also want to try to show a side of Billy no one ever really got to see. Hope you guys continue to like it!
