Soz for my lack of knowledge on California weather, I'm from Illinois so I can only go by what I read on the interwebs, but that's kinda hard when you hear different stories.. but audino, sorry.
It was around 4 when they finally got to Spencer's house, but there was a bit more money than Spencer'd thought there'd be.
What kind of emergencies do they think there'll be?
"There's about 900 bucks," Spencer announced, handing the money to Billy.
Billy looked confused. "What's this.."
Spencer shrugged, he didn't know how to explain it. Billy'd spent quite a bit of money on Spencer, more than the brunette was comfortable with at least, and he wanted to pay him back. Besides, it's not like Spencer needed the money.
"Keep it, its yours dude, besides I've got enough money," Billy assured.
The brunette then felt stupid.
"Don't be like that," Billy coaxed, seeing Spencer's face go red, "you've done a lot for me and I appreciate it."
He was quiet for a moment, then walked over to Spencer.
"Thanks," he muttered, giving the boy a hug.
In that moment he realised how much smaller Spencer was than him, and Spencer noticed how much taller Billy was than him.
Spencer didn't feel awkward or tense, he hadn't gotten a hug in a long time, he barely even hugged Rajeev and Shanilla, but now he felt like he'd actually done something right. That was the best part about being a fuck up your whole life, once you did something right, it felt great.
Billy was confused, he'd been alone for so long, and now that he'd been hanging out with someone he was doing the same thing that drove people away in the first place.
Billy was a really friendly, loud child, but he was also a really touchy person, and when you were that kind of person things were weird, when you had no boundaries it was kind of hard to know when you'd gone too far; and when you were kids that was fine, but once you got older, it was fine for girls, but most guys didn't like clingy. Billy understood that, but what he didn't understand was why after years of being alone he was doing the same things that got him to where he was right now.
He didn't want to scare Spencer away, but that was inevitable. If he and Spencer were going to be spending anymore time together it was a given that he'd get attached to the boy, it was what he'd do after that though, and he had a feeling that it wouldn't turn out good.
….
"So, not that it's any of my business, but you said you had all the money you needed, but you can't get that on minimum wage, right?" Spencer questioned.
They'd been sitting in Spencer's room talking about nothing in specific and decided to spend the night at Spencer's house, and then leave tomorrow. It was kind of like they were starting all over again. So obviously they had to find a way to pass the time.
"I'd been planning to leave a long time before I actually left, so I had multiple jobs, and I just saved my money since it's not like I really have things to buy. And then sometimes I make money off my guitar playing. I've played a few local shows here and there, and. Uh, yea," Billy explained.
But why'd you want to leave?
Spencer wanted to ask Billy why, he wanted to know what could drive someone to want to run away, but instead he just replied with an 'oh.'
"Oh yea, remember how you said you'd show me one of your movies?" Billy recalled.
"You said they were all here, so you'd show me one of your short ones, but now you can show me a real one."
Spencer had totally forgotten about that, and he'd hoped Billy had forgotten about it too, but apparently life didn't want to be nice to him.
"They're all really bad," Spencer mumbled, his face turning red. In reality the only people that have ever seen his films were his parents, and Rajeev and Shanilla. Jessica was definitely a no no, she'd never let him live them down, but what about Billy?
Would he laugh?
But he did sort of promise he would, even though he technically hadn't promised, but.
"They can't be that bad if you've been doing this for a while," Billy pointed out.
Spencer stayed quiet.
"Come on," Billy whined, nudging the brunette in the arm.
"Okay.." Spencer mumbled, going over to one of his shelves.
"This is, I guess, my best one," he announced holding up a CD case.
"Whoa, this is totally neat," Billy applauded.
Instead of a whole DVD case, they used a CD case.
"Yea, the cover art is a lot better than the actual film, my friend Shanilla's a great artist, so she designed it."
Shanilla. Billy had talked to her earlier today, he began contemplating whether or not he should tell Spencer about the call. He convinced himself that she'd call again, and that they could discuss whatever then, but for now it was fine.
Billy didn't hate the film, he didn't love it either, but a part of him did. It wasnt hid style, he hted horror films, but when people worked hard on things it was better to focus on the good things and appreciate it. Criticism was a good thing, but sometimes it was better to just enjoy something someone worked hard on, and like it for what it was, not dislike it for what it wasn't.
Spencer's face was red the whole time, this was so embarrassing, it was always embarrassing to view your old work, it was just a cringe attack central. Almost like listening to youright own voice on record.
"That was so bad," Spencer groaned.
"Agreed," Billy joked .
Spencer threw a quick glance in Billy's direction.
"Kidding," Billy assured, putting his hands up.
Spencer gave an annoyed sigh, but smiled.
"Anyway, you can sleep on the couch downstairs, or," Spencer hesitated here, "you could sleep in here."
"I mean, not in here, but," he stuttered, his words were a mess.
"I'd be honored to sleep on your floor," Billy interrupted.
Spencer let out a sigh, why am I like this?
He went into his closet and pulled out a bunch of blankets.
"You can sleep on those," he suggested, "and don't worry, they're all clean."
"Why do you even have these?"Billy asked, gathering all the blankets in his arm, and hugging them. "I mean it's not like it'll ever get cold enough to need them."
Spencer thought Billy looked small next to the blankets, not because the boy was small, but because the blanket were overly big.
"I dunno, we've always just had them," he explained hesitantly, he honestly didn't know.
After a few minutes Billy's small, makeshift bed was finished.
"And you can use one of my pillows, I'll get a clean cover for it," Spencer finished.
Eventually they'd gotten ready for bed and were each in bed with only the light from the tv to light up the room
"So why'd you ask me to sleep with you?" Billy asked once they'd gotten settled in.
"I- I didn't," Spencer stuttered.
"I mean, it was a suggestion."
"For your sake."
"Are you implying that I'm afraid of the dark?" Billy asked with a laugh.
"No, I just-"
"Cause I am," he confessed.
"Remember Saturday night? It was me that couldn't sleep, I was terrified; being out there all alone in there middle of nowhere in the dark. I was totally freaked out."
"Really? I thought you could sleep like a baby in the dark?" Spencer joked.
Billy groaned.
"It's okay, I'm scared too," Spencer admitted sheepishly.
"Of the dark I mean, in my house."
"But this is your home, why are you afraid of your own house?" Billy questioned, he was confused.
"When I'm all alone like this, at night it gets kind of creepy. There's the basement and the attic which are pretty weird places on their own, and I'm big on horror movies, so all those things in addition to the dark don't really mix well," the brunette explained.
"Which is why I asked you to sleep up here."
Billy didn't know how to respond to that. It was cute, like a little child. Billy didn't mind the dark when he knew his surroundings, he felt safe; so in a house he probably wouldn't be scared. But the situation they were in two days ago was freaky scary, but Spencer didn't seem to be scared then, he'd even gotten out of the car while it was dark.
"Can you play a song?" Spencer asked, sitting up from where he lay. Billy could see him vaguely due to the tv light.
"You still need a song even though Im here? That's rough Spencer," Billy accused.
"No it's not that, I just-"
"It's fine, I'll play you one," he answered with a small laugh. It wasn't normal how offended Spencer got by his jokes, but he found it amusing.
He sat up and thought a moment.
"Okay, this is a 'Short Song'," Billy joked, "but I think you'll like it."
Spencer didn't understand why Billy was laughing, but he lay on his tummy facing Billy, waiting patiently for him to begin the song.
Then Billy began to strum slowly. Spencer liked how Billy always slowed the songs he played down. It made them more enjoyable, so you could feel every line; his music wasn't over as soon as it started, it was able to live on as long as possible.
-
"I found myself in a late night drives without a destination.
All I had were thoughts about the past.
And a list of my favorite songs to keep me company, but I still struggle and lose myself everyday.
I always find myself lost in every line of all these songs
But I felt better when I saw that this is life
And in life were gonna cry
In life were gonna lose sleep
Were gonna feel helpless
But thats how its got to be...
But that's how it's got to be...
When you lose yourself you'll find what you're looking for…
But that's how it's got to be...
I'm growing past who I used to be...
But that's how it's got to be.."
-
By the time the song was over, even though it'd only been a couple of minutes, Spencer was fast asleep.
"Night, Spence," Billy whispered before lying back and closing his eyes. He fell asleep with his guitar in his arms, like he'd done so many times before.
….
Waking up felt so right, but so wrong at the same time. Spencer was used to waking up like this every morning, but the past couple of days he'd woken up on an uncomfortable couch and on Billy's lap, so part of him kinda of expected to wake up feeling confused, or uncomfortable, but it was the opposite of that.
He got up at around 5:30, pretty usual for him, which made him wonder. He'd woken up pretty late the past few days, he wondered if when you woke up depended on the place you were in. Like now he was at home he'd gotten up at his usual time, but yesterday he'd gotten up around 6, and the day before that it was even later- it was just a thought.
Billy was still asleep, on the floor, he'd had one arm stretched above him, and the other on his guitar, which was lying on his chest. Spencer then realised he'd fallen asleep in the middle of the song Billy was playing, the song he asked Billy to play, and he suddenly felt bad.
He grabbed his glasses and glanced at the boy on his floor. Billy looked soft in his sleep, that was the only way Spencer could explain it. He was surrounded by those gigantic blankets that made him look small. Billy's skin was so clear, unlike his with all those stupid freckles. The way his bangs lay to the side of his forehead, and how his hairline was still a little curly…
Spencer sighed, and walked to the bathroom.
Why can't I be like him? He wondered, running his toothbrush under the faucet water.
Billy was so great at a lot of things; he knew how to talk to people, he was a great singer and guitarist, he was great under pressure, and most of all, he was doing this. He was leaving his shitty life behind to find something better; to start over; only something Spencer could ever dream of doing. Billy was great.
Why me though?
Spencer still didn't understand why Billy chose him to live his temporary adventure with. Was it just a spur of the moment thing? He wanted to ask, but he didn't know how, or rather, he wasn't sure if he'd like the answer.
"Hey, Spence you in there?" Billy called from outside the door.
"Oh, y-yea," Spencer started, rinsing his mouth out, then walking over to the door, "if you need to use it I'll-"
"Nah, bro. I'm good, you just weren't in your room, but it was really early, so," he trailed off, stretching, he wasn't sure what he was trying to say, he was still half asleep.
"Oh, no. I usually get up early," Spencer explained. "You can go on back to sleep if you want."
"Okay," Billy concurred, scratching his head, "Just wake me up when you're ready to go."
"Oh, yea, you can take my car if you need to go anywhere," he added, then disappeared back into Spencer's room.
The brunette made his way down the stairs to his fridge, nothing.
He was supposed to go shopping Saturday, but we all know what happened then, so there was no food to fill his tummy.
He did say I could use his car.
But what would he get? Spencer hated traditional breakfast foods: eggs, bacon, sausage, and biscuits, and preferred the fancy type stuff that the WiFri and other restaurants sold. Even though it wasn't technically 'quality' food, what it was made of was what got Spencer.
He needed something simple enough for him to be able to cook, but not eggs, bacon, sausage and biscuits simple.
I'll see when I get there.
He walked back up to his room to change his clothes, but was instead met with Billy's guitar playing.
"Sorry," he mumbled, standing awkwardly in the doorway.
"Its cool dude, it's your room, you ain't intruding, Bill assured, sitting the instrument in his hands down.
"I thought you'd gone back to sleep."
"I was gonna, but I couldn't," Billy explained, falling backwards onto the blankets under him.
"These blankets are so neat," he praised, sitting up, gathering the fabric up in his arms, " you think I could keep one, you know for when I'm gone?"
"If you want," Spencer responded, amused. Billy was always in such a good mood, which made Spencer think of yesterday, when Billy wasn't in such a good mood.
"So what are you up to, you've gotta have something exciting to do in this room," Billy asked curiously.
"Actually, I was gonna make breakfast, but I forgot to go to the store, so there's no food," Spencer explained, grabbing a pair of pants.
"Oh, you're going to the store? I'll go too," Billy announced and ran out the door.
He came back a few minutes later, his hair had been combed, the only noticeable difference, but he'd also washed his face and brushed his teeth.
"You're not gonna change," Spencer asked.
"Nah, I'm fine. Besides nothing wrong with wearing your pj's to the store at this time of day," Billy assured, walking down the stairs.
"Isn't that a bit dirty?" Spencer questioned.
"Depends on when you go," Billy started, opening the front door.
"If it's early like this then it's fine, cos you know people are just getting up," he paused to get in the car.
"But if it's like noon and you're still in your pj's, and going out like that you've got problems, dude."
"Same when it's late at night, if you've wasted the whole day in your pj's you could at least look a little presentable when going out to the store."
"I guess that makes sense," Spencer mumbled, starting the car.
"There are exceptions though, like if you plan on spending a lot of time at the store this early, wearing pyjamas is not okay," Billy clarified.
"Or if you're planning on spending like 10 minutes in the store it's acceptable anytime after morning."
"So if you're only gonna spend 10 minutes in the store then pj's are okay, but if you're literally going shopping, then you should really change your views on life."
"And is that socially correct, or just a Billy thing?" Spencer joked.
"Its a Cobra thing, but it should be accepted socially now that you mention it."
Spencer only laughed, he wasn't good at talking without sounding incredibly awkward, but he was good at laughing at things that may or may not be funny.
Billy flicked through the radio stations, muttering something about how nothing good was playing, and eventually settled on a station playing City of Angels by 30stm.
….
"So, what are we searching for?" Billy asked walking besides Spencer with one of those baskets you got instead of carts.
"Well, what do you want?"
"Hmmm?" Billy thought for a moment. "Dunno, let's just get whatever looks good," he then suggested.
They grabbed stupid things like yogurt, and chips; things that weren't even breakfast. And in the end they just settled for PB&J.
"Remember Smooth, never crunchy," Billy'd said.
"PB- smooth, jam-strawberry, yogurt- vanilla, chips- doritos, milk- whole, and bread- potato; that's a great breakfast right there," Billy listed
"If you say so."
"And grapes, and strawberries," Billy added.
So Spencer ended up having yogurt and fruit for breakfast, while Billy had a sandwich or two.
When they finally decided to get going it was around 7.
"So, uh, since this is probably the last time I'll see your house, how about you give me a little house tour?" Billy suggested. He felt weird, being in this house twice, but not seeing everywhere, it was super unfulfilling, that added with the fact that he'd most likely never see the place again left him feeling empty.
"Uhm, okay."
And that's how Spencer ended up giving Billy a tour of his home.
"So, you know where the bathroom, and my room are," he began.
"This is my parents room," he introduced, holding the door open, so Billy could see inside.
"That," he said pointing to a black door, "is Jessica's room, I'd show you inside, but she'd probably notice and end up killing me."
"How, she's not even here," Billy asked in disbelief, putting his hand on the handle.
"She will," Spencer assured, pushing Billy's hand away.
"That's the attic I mentioned last night," he explained, gesturing towards a string that hung from the ceiling.
"We don't go up there…"
He then led Billy down stairs.
"Living room, and kitchen, as you know, and that's the basement," he pointed to a grey door, "I don't go down there either, and then there's the backyard, but I don't think that's really part of the house."
"Can I still see it?" Billy asked.
"If you want."
So Spencer lead Billy to his back yard, and they sat in the grass. It wasn't fancy or anything, just a small, fenced, field of grass with a few dandelions, chairs and a table; it looked cute and homey.
Billy pulled out his phone and snapped a picture.
"Its nothing special," Spencer said softly, pulling up a dandelion.
"Yea it is," Billy argued, " 'cause it's yours."
Spencer's face turned red. He thinks I'm special?
"You're really cool for helping me you know, Spence, and I want to remember you," Billy admitted, pulling up his own dandelion, " You may not think you're special, but you're special to me."
He thinks I'm special.
Im also sorry for my lack of knowledge on everything in this story tbh. I'm bad at development & i move things way too fast, but thanks you guys that do like this and read it, you guys really mean a lot to me. Soz if I offended any of you pyjama wearers, don't hate me :p