CHAPTER 4 – WOULD IT REALLY KILL YOU IF WE KISSED?

~Soundtrack: Billie Eilish – Bad Guy~

Penelope rolled into school in the last two weeks of classes before graduation, already knowing she didn't want to be there. She was late for two of her classes, she had not eaten, had nearly forgotten her pack of cigarettes at home, and she knew exactly what was going to wait for her as soon as she walked down the hallway,

Questions about Billy Hargrove.

Ever since that little moment of theirs in the parking lot a few days ago which had apparently had an audience, everyone had been all over her with questions about her and Billy. It was as if they were the new scandal of Hawkins High, which should not have surprised Penelope in the slightest, considering the most interesting thing to ever happen here was an Under the Sea themed prom. But still, it bugged her to no end. People with whom she hadn't talked to in years, or maybe not at all ever, had come up to her to ask for how long had her and Billy been a thing, or how many times they had hooked up, or how big he really was.

Even the other day she had just erupted when a girl from English class has asked her how he was in bed.

"Maybe if you weren't so fucking ugly, Karen, you'd know," Penelope had told her, unable to control herself.

And she was not even bothering to deny it by this point, because everyone had seen that little show of theirs in the parking lot, and saying that had been just play and they hadn't done anything, as true as it was, it would've sounded so ridiculous everyone would just laugh in her face.

They should've too, she thought. Because she had played a game of cat and mouse for 5 minutes with Billy Hargrove, and it was extending into a whole elaborate joke that everyone got the punch line but her. And she had realized it was becoming a real issue, too, when she had gone at a party the night after and tried to flirt with a guy she had just met, only to have him mutter something about her being Billy's girl and how he didn't want to get in trouble before he'd skipped like his life depended on it.

It was just unbelievable, really. Billy's girl. How fucking ridiculous was that, and how sexist, too? She was no one's, and in the past four years of high school, she'd made sure to implement that idea into every single mind of any stupid pervert who thought they could hit on her how they liked. She belonged to nothing, not to this high school, not to this city, not to any man. But now here she was.

Billy's girl.

She was beyond frustrated with the entire situation. And she'd created it with her own hands, and her own stupid imagination gone wild, and especially, with her own mind going crazy by looking at Billy and allowing herself to get all hot and bothered. Maybe that was what pissed her off, no matter how much she tried to push it in denial. That it had been her fault. Yes, Billy had hit on her and yes, she had turned him down, but he'd stayed in his lane. It was her that had stepped out of it and gotten caught up in her game, like a spider that got caught in its own web while trying to catch a fly.

And she'd liked it too. The way she had gotten the best of him, the feeling of his ridiculously perfect chest under her hands, his sharp cologne and heavy breath. It was the most fun she'd ever had, and it had only lasted five minutes. But that was another thing to push into denial.

Because today, Penelope decided it was time to end some of those rumors. She had a reputation to maintain, and she was going to be damned if she let some attention-whore like Billy Hargrove ruin that for her. So, without thinking twice about whether this was the right call or not, as she often didn't, Penelope made her way down the high school halls after one of her classes, and looked around.

There wasn't much to look at though, in the crowds of sleazy teenage boys, with hormones and a desperate vibe about them that most of the time turned her off. She'd had a few minor hook ups here and there, she remembered, and she'd picked the most decent out of all of them, so it would have figured that by now, there were really few options to begin with. Still, Penelope looked around for a potential play toy.

And God how she loved this game. How she had missed it too. Hunting, the spotting, the circling until she always got what she wanted, whether that happened to be just casual flirting that left them confused and turned on at the same time, or an actual fling.

And because the odds were in her favor today, Penelope finally spotted someone that fit her general criteria. A few steps away, grabbing some books from his locker, stood a tall boy. The first thing she noticed about him appreciatively was how dark everything was about him, from his clothes to his hair and eyes and skin. He wore a baggy shirt that had a subtle V neck and a black cardigan over it, along with a dark grey scarf, which Penelope would've normally rolled her eyes at because of the whole artsy-misunderstood vibe he was trying to pull off, if only he hadn't looked so damn good. His face was serious and focused, and he had a well-kept, but still a little scruffy looking beard, which added to his entire look. Oh, he looked like someone who could play along with her game. And she loved it.

The next thing Penelope did was to make her way over to him, walking confidently and letting a smirk tug at her lips. She was going to end that rumor today, or so help her God.

She arrived just in time when the guy was putting his books in his backpack, so she took the opportunity and put her hand on the locker, pushing it closed in his face abruptly.

"Hi."

She smiled up at him in the way she knew it always had guys hooked, and for a split of a second, Penelope did the terrible mistake of remembering Billy's infuriating blue eyes looking at her lips whenever she did that, but with a scold for even thinking about him right now, she focused on the guy in front of her.

He stopped whatever he was doing and turned sideways, looking her in the eyes a little lost. Again, almost out of instinct, Penelope thought of the way Billy's eyes travelled up and down her body slowly and without an attempt at subtlety, while this guy's eyes stayed fixed on her. Good, she thought again, feeling already mad at herself for comparing. She needed a nice guy for a change.

Slowly, the guy seemed to recover as he let a smile of his own form on his lips. "Hi."

His voice sounded soft but steady, and not at all hoarse and rough. Penelope told herself again this was a good thing.

"I'm Penelope," she spoke again after a moment of studying him and of letting herself get rid of any remaining thoughts of Billy. She was here to flirt with other people in an attempt to shake off whatever that moment with Billy had done to her in the parking lot. She had to focus.

"I know," the guy said almost immediately, sounding more confident than Penelope would have given him credit for. "We have History class together."

"And how rude of you that we're just now talking."

He gave a short laugh, and Penelope let herself admire for a second his bright and contagious smile, that still stayed on his lips as he looked at her more intensely now and extended his hand. "I'm Penny."

She took his hand and noticed another good thing about this Penny, his handshake, firm and sure but intimate at the same time. "What a coincidence, people call me Penny too."

He leaned in just a little and changed his tone, going from normal to playful. "So much we have in common already."

Oh, Penelope had to give it to the guy, there was more to him than the eye could catch. He was playing along without seeming like the misunderstood loner she had initially taken him for. The puppy seemed to have a bite.

She let the rush of this back and forth ping pong game of flirting get a hold of her as she leaned in and met him halfway, already in each other's personal space.

"I'm sure we could have more," she dropped her voice and gave it that huskiness she knew guys loved. "Like for example, we both look bored, and we both secretly want to get out of here."

Penny clicked his tongue. "Too bad we have other classes left before the day is done."

"Oh, come on now, Penny. Don't act like you're secretly not a bad guy, wanting to skip just a few classes. And I'm in terrible need of a smoking partner," she nudged him with her shoulder, letting the dare in her eyes show. "So what do you say, huh? Penny for your thoughts?"

Penny narrowed her eyes for a few second, looking like he was thinking it over, before another grin lifted one corner of his mouth. "What's in it for me?"

Gotcha, Penelope thought, feeling already like she'd won.

"I think you'll find out more about that later."

And she had him right where she'd wanted to, hooked and intrigued and definitely interested to follow wherever she would lead him, and she was now just as entertained with this whole situation that she was ready to consider this as something more than just some casual flirting. After all, she had to get out somehow all that sexual frustration that had been building up in her since that moment in the parking lot, and she could not think of a better candidate for that than this Penny, who looked like the exact opposite of Billy. Yes, she figured, maybe today could prove to be useful.

But just like that, she jinxed it. Because as soon as she opened her mouth to suggest again that they both get out of there, Penelope heard a voice behind her just as she felt an arm drop over her shoulders all of a sudden.

"Lopes, hi! I was looking everywhere for you, sweetheart."

The universe hated her. That must have been it, Penelope thought. The universe hated her because the voice belonged to none other than Billy Hargrove, and his arm was now wrapped around her shoulder casually. And it took every ounce of patience Penelope had in her not to punch the asshole square in the nose as she looked up and saw Billy's smug face staring down Penny, with a glint of amusement shining in his eyes.

"Who's this?" he asked, and that was it for her.

In seconds, she shrugged his arm off abruptly and turned around to face him with what she was sure must have been the angriest expression.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" she told him, feeling ready to make a scene if needed. She had nothing to lose, and she was pissed.

But still, Billy completely ignored her as he kept staring at Penny, the smile now gone from his face.

"Can I help you with something, buddy?" he asked Penny, even his voice taking a more intimidating tone. Oh, she was so close to punching him.

"I'm sorry, man," Penny held up his hands, backing away a step. "I didn't know she was your girl."

"I'm fucking not –" Penelope hurried to say, only to be cut off by Billy again.

"Yeah, clearly," he spat, not even trying to hide the hostility in his voice anymore. "Then how about you beat it, before I change my mind about being nice?"

What the hell was going on here? Penelope could just stare now between the two of them, trying to figure out what in God's name was Billy trying to do and why. And why was Penny backing away like that?

But once more, before Penelope could open her mouth and clarify the situation, the school bell rang loudly, cutting her off, and everyone started heading towards their classes.

She saw Penny roll his eyes exaggeratedly before he dropped his backpack over his shoulder and half turned around to leave. "Whatever, I don't care," he muttered before turning around for good, leaving Penelope alone with Billy.

She stared at Penny's figures as it got lost in the crowd for a few seconds, as one by one everyone walked down to their classes and vanished around the corner, leaving the entire corridor empty and silent.

She released a breath and turned around slowly to face Billy.

Oh, this was not going to end well, she thought before unleashing hell.

o-o-o

~Soundtrack: Marian Hill – No Hesitation~

"What the fuck is your problem, you piece of shit?" Penelope spat at him, her voice ringing down the empty hallway, and Billy could not say he was surprised in the slightest by her reaction.

"Woow," he held up his hands and let out a laugh, sarcasm clear in his voice. "Is that the thanks I get for saving you from that ugly motherfucker?"

But Penelope was having none of it, because she took a step forward and pointed her finger threateningly at him, her eyes lightening up with a fierceness that took Billy a little aback. "You picked the wrong day to piss me off, Hargrove," she said, voice just as venomous.

Still, Billy was not surprised at all. He could tell how much this would piss her off before he'd even went ahead and done it. He could see himself walking towards them as soon as he'd seen them, could realize this was a really bad move to make, but could still not stop his feet from taking him there. And whether it was the fact that Penelope was there flirting with a stranger, or his own internal reaction at seeing them that had gotten him angry all of a sudden, Billy could not tell. All he knew was that there was Penelope, flirting with some random guy like she was close to shoving her tongue down his throat.

And his blood just boiled at the sight. The guy could not even have been her type, he'd noticed, given that he looked like he had bought his clothes from a homeless guy for five bucks. He looked ruffled and not at all kept, and Billy knew the kind of type he was in an instant, that kind that could just flash the misunderstood genius card, too visionary for this world, and dumb girls would eat it up. But why was Penelope falling for it? Why was she leaning up against him, the same way she'd leaned up against him just days ago in that parking lot, like it was all just a choreography she used on everyone?

Next thing he'd known, there he was, all but hoping the guy would put up some sort of fight so that he could throw him against the locker and let out his anger. Unfortunately, he hadn't, and now Billy was left alone with Penelope's rage. He could not really say he blamed her, she had a point. What he'd done had been ridiculous.

Still, he didn't act like that.

He rolled his eyes and used the most bored and casual voice he could pull off. "Jeez, what are you so worked up about, Lopes? I did it as a joke, I just thought it was funny."

"Well it wasn't. And don't fucking call me that," she yelled at him, throwing her hands up and then letting them drop again at her sides. "The entire high school thought we're a thing now. Wasn't that enough, now you have to come and ruin my chances with someone else, too?"

Chances with someone else. Billy tried not to let that get to him but in vain, because he wanted to understand, if she were to go around and find hook ups, why couldn't she have done that with him? Why was he the one she wanted to turn down?

But because he couldn't ask that, Billy decided to yell at her, too.

"I did you a favor, he was clearly an idiot," he let out a humorless laugh. "I mean come on, did he have his head up his ass when everyone talked about the two of us, or was he just trying to piss me off?"

"We are not a fucking thing!" she raised her voice even more this time, and if Billy wouldn't have been so caught up in the argument, he would've worried about some teacher coming to see what the yelling was all about. "Don't make it look like we are."

"So what, the whole high school thinks we fucked, what's the big deal?"

"Because I never fucked you, and I have no intention to either, I'm pretty sure I made that clear."

And that was exactly the thing he'd been waiting for, the opening he needed. Because that must have been a lie. He was sure Penelope had felt the intensity they'd shared a few days ago, when her body had been so pressed up against his that everything he'd wanted was within reach. The tension had been so thick he could've cut it with a knife, and it all made sense now. She wanted to deny what had happened.

But he was not going to let her.

"Well, you see, if that's true," he spoke normally now, letting his anger fade, only to be replaced by the same old game of theirs they always seemed to end up playing. "Then you did a pretty job of making it look like you did want to in that parking lot."

And he hoped she would take the bait, just like he hoped he wasn't wrong about his assumption. He couldn't have been the only one still finding himself remembering that moment between them, the way her hands had run up and down his chest or the way her body had felt under his hands. No, he was sure she remembered it just the same as he was, the only difference being that she wanted to forget it, while he didn't.

But still, Penelope didn't take the bait, and instead she squinted he eyes at him, shook her head and let out a puff. "Is that what this is about? You're jealous."

She didn't ask, didn't doubt, she simply stated. And because Billy refused to admit even to himself that might have been it, the tables turned and he became the one in denial.

"No, no, no, sweetheart. Jealousy implies I care, and I don't," he took a step forward, and let his voice drop as he got into her space again. "And neither do you. But we're both adults here," he licked his lips once, slowly, making sure Penelope noticed the move. "C'mon. You're into me, I'm into you. Why waste your time with guys who can't make it worth your while like I can?"

Of course, he knew he was bluffing. Penelope wasn't the kind of girl who didn't go for the things she wanted, in fact she was the exact opposite, something that had been proven by her little moment with that guy from minutes ago. She was bold enough to be a go-getter, but whenever it came to him, it seemed like she wanted to do the exact opposite of what he would expect from girls. But it wouldn't kill him if he still tried, would it?

Her response came seconds later, after she studied him intently. "Is that what you really want?"

"I'm pretty sure that's what we both want," he said confidently.

"Okay. Say please."

And just like that, his confidence was gone. He blinked once, sure he didn't hear her right.

"What?"

"You heard me," Penelope told him this time more convincingly, and also took a step closer to him, crossing her arms against her chest as she prompted him with her firm gaze."Say please."

Still, the only thing Billy could do was stare. What the hell was her game here? Get him to beg?

He let out a short laugh, ready to tell her he would never beg for anything in his life. "I don't –"

But nothing could have prepared him for what Penelope did next.

She grabbed his collar quickly and pushed him backwards into the locker so that his back was pressed into the cold metal, and her body was hovering over his.

And just like that, every coherent thought disappeared from Billy's mind. All he could feel was her and his body becoming so painfully aware of how close they were, closer than they had been in that parking lot. He could feel every part of her pressed up tight against him, and if his brain hadn't been so dead, he would've reached out and brought her even closer to him.

But for the first time in his life, it was like he could not move.

"Is this what you really want?" Penelope finally whispered, pressing even closer to him if that was even possible. "To just get out of here, go back to your place or mine and let me have my way with you?"

Her lips were so close to his, that he had a hard time even processing what she was saying. They were mere inches away, and she was taunting him by bringing them as close as possible without touching,

"I –" he tried saying, and even if he could have finished that sentence, Penelope went on.

"Or maybe to just go over to your car right now, and show everyone how true those rumors are? Tell me, is that what you want?"

Jesus Christ.

What was this woman doing to him? He'd never been in a position like this, not with a woman, just pushed against the wall and taunted with words that made him even more of a mess than he already was. He'd never had someone corner him like this. Billy could not even decide if he liked it or not. But one thing was for sure though, and that was that his body was on fire again, and that whatever he'd hoped would happen since the parking lot moment was happening right now, and he could not process it. She was playing him however she wanted, and he was letting her.

And so lost in those thoughts and in how close they could be, Billy didn't realize how for a few seconds, he hadn't said anything. She was just staring him down, with the challenge still fresh in her eyes, and when his hands were finally ready to get out of that frozen, intimidated state, Penelope let go of his collar abruptly and stepped back.

His body felt cold all of a sudden.

"That's what I thought," she said, all traces of tension gone from her tone and replaced by bitterness and the satisfaction of a won round.

He opened his mouth to protest, to say that he did want this, but before he could do any of that, Penelope turned around and walked away from him, leaving Billy alone and confused and wondering what in God's name had just happened.