Chapter 7: Star Wars
When the two teens finally decided to put themselves together Steve and Alex picked up the kids from the arcade. Dustin, Mike, Will, and Lucas were going on about how they were finally back at the top of the scoreboard for most of the games. "We were talking and the guys wanted to know if we could do a movie night at our house." Glancing behind her and back at Max.
"If they get the okay from their parents then I guess that's fine." Looking to Steve she smiled watching him alternate between looking at the kids and the road. "You want to join us?"
"Sure,"
Nodding her head "Lets stop at my house! I have to grab Star Wars."
"Which one? Four or Five? I like Five personally because Yoda." Alex threw back smirking to herself when Steve gave her a shocked expression. "I have four and five! Steve's never seen it." Dustin pointed with an accusing tone. "You haven't?"
Shaking his head Steve kept his eyes on the road. "I never had a reason to."
"How could you not see it? I've seen it!" Max called out in shock. "Which is why we're stopping at my house!" Steve rolled his eyes "Dude come on, we don't need to see Star Wars."
Mike shook his head "Episode Six is coming out at the end of the month, we need to get ready for it!" Giggling Alex nodded her head "Yeah I gotta agree with Mike here, I'm gonna go see it with a friend of mine when it comes out, I'll have to get a refresher."
"You're going to see Star Wars in theaters?"
Nodding her head she smiled hugging Max around the middle. "Course I am, I 've been waiting three years for this to come out. They left us on a cliffhanger and I need to know that Han's okay." Steve felt a laugh escape his lips. Staring at the road he couldn't process what she just said. "Alright…I guess we're watching Star Wars."
Dustin cheered with the boys "Fuck yeah!"
"Whoa!" Steve yelled, snapping his head back to stare at Dustin only to turn around. "Dude! You can't be dropping the 'F' bomb like that!" Alex hissed glaring at the teen.
"What come on, you curse worse than I do." He points back. "He's right, you do." Lucas nodded in agreement.
"Shut up Lucas," she hisses glaring at the other teen. "I don't curse that much." she huffs facing the front. "Do I?" she whispered the last question to Max who shrugs before nodding. "Agh alright I'll try to tone down on the cursing."
Giggling Max shook her head "You don't have to, it's not a bad thing." Rolling her eyes Alex glanced at Steve who had a small smile on his lips. Slowly he pulled up to the Henderson household where Dustin practically ran out of the car up to the house and didn't come back for another five minutes.
"So besides the games did you guys have fun?" Alex asked Will.
"Well besides having to deal with Keith wanting a date with you for unlimited gameplay," Lucas laughed looking away.
"Gross!" Scrunching her nose in disgust "He's my boss, why would? Just no!" Max snapped her head to Mike and Lucas. "I told you she wouldn't go for it."
"Come on! Unlimited game play." Mike exclaimed, "We were so close to beating our high score on Zaxxon." shaking her head disgusted she buries her head into Max's hair. "No way! He's so weird! We get along to work but I'd never want to date him!"
Lucas looked over at Mike "He literally tried this last year for a date with your sister." he shot out. "Yeah but Nancy wouldn't take one for the team for us. Come on Al, you know how much we could get away with from him?"
Rolling her eyes Alex faced out the window "Look there's no way I'd ever date Keith, and who's to say as soon as he got his date he would even hold up his end of the bargain? He's cheeky like that to get what he wants." Another shiver ran down her spine with disgust at the thought of dating Keith. Just the thought of being alone with him on a date made her stomach turn.
The car door opened and Dustin quickly shot back inside the cramped car. "Got them!" he exclaimed excitedly as he looked over the car. "What I miss?"
"Just that Alex won't help the party get unlimited game play." Rolling her eyes again she scoffed. "Why don't you go on a date with Keith if you find him so attractive. I have some standards."
"You literally just went on a date with Steve."
"Hey!" two voices shouted. Snickering she glanced at Steve again "I did and it was fun. Anyway why are you all so interested in my dating life?"
Max shrugged "Since the demodogs there isn't much to pay attention to." flicking her little sister in the head she smirked hearing the small ow she let out. While Steve drove the debate on whether or not Alex was hurting the party for not going out with Keith.
"Come on, you do realize I give you my discount every time you guys come in to get movies." The boys glanced at one another and had a semi hushed conversation before they broke apart. "You don't have to go on a date with Keith."
Shaking her head they finally pulled up to the Mayfield/Hargrove residence and thankfully Billy wasn't home. Both girls' shoulders seemed to relax. Everyone was quick to get out of the clown car, Alex and Steve were just walking at a slower pace. Steve easily enveloped his arm around Alex's waist "Ready to watch Star Wars?" he asked not sounding excited at all.
"Oh course you can see me gush over how hot Luke is." Scoffing loudly at her proclamation he puffed out his chest "Please he's got nothing on me." Max unlocked the door and let everyone inside, showing the boys to the living room where Dustin had gotten to work on setting up the TV for movies.
"So this is what the inside of your place looks like, funny I was thinking there'd be more…" he couldn't find the right words to describe what he was thinking. "Gruesome, dungeony?"
"Eh…sure."
Sporting a half smile Alex and Steve walked to the kitchen to make some popcorn for the kids. "We really shouldn't have people over today. Neil would have a conniption if he knew Max and I let you guys come over." Steve snickered standing behind Alex placing his larger hands on her hips quickly noticing the way her body shifted closer.
"I'm willing to take the blame," he grinned, leaning down to place a kiss on her neck, her body shivering under his touch. She was smiling like a goof but she didn't seem to care. "I wouldn't let you do that,"
The two teens seemed content to just stand there in each other's presence. The faint popping of kernels went off in the background, the tinfoil bag expanding the more it popped. "So really, am I going to like this movie?"
"Totally, it's like one of the best movies out there." his arms circled around her waist now leaning more of his weight onto her. "I doubt that,"
"Just wait and see, pretty boy. It's a spectacular movie." snickering Steve reached out and pulled the jiffy pop away from the heat "If you say so."
And she did say so. Alex prided herself in forcing any and all her friends in watching the movies she liked and forcing them to like them as well. Maybe it's why she loved hanging out with the kids so much, she could corrupt their little minds into being just like her.
An hour into the movie Steve was hooked, his eyes never left the screen as the kids started to quote certain sections of the film but everyone seemed to be having a fun time. Max and Lucus were snuggled up on the floor while Alex and Steve had taken over the couch.
Her head resting against his chest, a small smile on her lips having him watch one of her favorite movies. He wasn't even making fun of it. She knew Billy would. He hated anything science fiction related but liked zombie movies which honestly didn't make sense.
"So Luke's your favorite?" Steve mumbled.
Nodding her head her grin seemed to grow. "Yeah he's a little whiny but he's adorable." snickering, she felt his arm tighten around her middle. "Those sabers are really cool, I wonder how they did that."
"I know they're awesome. One day I'm going to have one and hang it on my wall." His low chuckle sent tingles down her spine. "You really are a nerd aren't you?"
She sent a small smack to his chest refusing to look up at him "Shut up," Another chuckle escaped him as he kissed the top of her head. "It's okay, it's cute watching you talk about this stuff."
A familiar loud engine could be heard outside the house, Max and Alex almost instinctively jumped away from their partners just waiting for the explosion that's to come. Steve glanced worriedly toward his girlfriend watching her back go ridgid.
Time seemed to be running in slow motion, it felt like hours hell days even but in reality it was only four minutes tops. The girls watched Billy walk in hands in his pockets "Who the fuck…" His blue eyes narrowed staring at Steve. "The fuck you doing here Harrington!"
Max leaned against Alex's legs holding Lucus's hand as everyone stared at Billy. "We're just watching a movie geeze." Billy glared down at Steve's uncomfortable form. The kids were all uncomfortable being around Billy from their own past experiences. The blonde was seeing red. He couldn't believe her bringing his enemy to their home. Billy didn't care about Max and her bratty friends but Alex knew how he felt about Harrington.
She knew he didn't want her anywhere near him. God she could be so stupid sometimes. "Get him out of here." He growls directing his gaze to Alex. "For fucks sake." she grumbles standing from the couch and walking over the kids shoulders. "Tell me what happens." she called to Max who nodded mutely as Alex dragged Billy out of the living room and up towards their rooms.
"Well that was terrifying."
Max never took her eyes off the hallway. Ever since she found out her suspicions were true, that Billy did indeed like Alex. She didn't trust him. She couldn't when it was clear that Billy wasn't over her sister.
"Should one of us go with her?" Will mutters glancing around the group. "I can check on her." Steve spoke standing from his seat. "No offense dude but last time you two were in a room together he kicked your ass."
Steve glared down at Mike. Obviously he remembered what had happened last time he was in the same room as Billy. It didn't mean he wanted her to be alone with the guy. That was his girlfriend for crying out loud, he should be the one to protect her not the other way around. After seeing those bruises on her arms he didn't trust her brother in the slightest. Alex was protecting someone, why else would she have hand shaped bruises on her arms. It had to be Billy.
Alex had dragged Billy all the way to his room where he easily slammed it shut. "Why would you bring him here?!"
"We were just watching a movie! Why's that so bad?" she crosses her arms over her chest. "It's bad because you know how I feel about him and you still being him here!" running his hands through his hair Billy walked over to his window closing the blinds so no one could see what was going on. "I swear I don't know whats gotten into you lately. You're always getting pissy and fighting with me." he snapped.
"You're one to talk." she huffs glaring at her feet. "You're always mad at pissy. Not to mention you know how much I hate seeing you with those tramps yet you parade them around all the fucking time. Not to mention if I even try to talk to my friends on the phone you throw a fucking temper tantrum."
Rolling his eyes Billy clenched his jaw. He was furious. "Those idiots just want to get in your pants. For fucks sake use your head Lex!"
"Oh please just because you fuck around all the time doesn't mean everyone's like that!"
"Harrington is!" rolling her eyes she chose to keep it to herself that she already slept with him. "Think about it, before I stole his 'title' he was notorious for being a playboy. Stevie boy isn't as innocent as you think he is." Billy couldn't wrap it around his head why she just wouldn't listen to him! He was right about this.
Throwing her hands to her side she refused to move from her spot. "I already know about his past, Carol told me all about everything when we first moved here. I don't care about his past. I care about how he treats me!"
"Whats that supposed to mean?!"
"He treats me like I'm the only girl in the world, I don't have to fight to get his attention." she snapped moving to sit on his bed. Her head was swimming from arguing so much. "I treat you that way, idiot." he snapped back following her so he was standing above her. He was just so furious, he was hoping that the two of them could spend the night together and not be interrupted like last night. Fucking Jason.
"No you don't." Frowning Billy sat beside her grasping her hand in his. "Ever since we moved here you've been different." she was biting her bottom lip anxiously. "Lex…" she wouldn't meet his gaze.
"I get that it's weird for us to be together here in this town but…it's painful. Watching you go out and do single things. With Steve we can go out and be a couple."
Squeezing her hand Billy felt his heart breaking, he knew that he had started acting differently with her but he's always loved her. Nothing had changed that. "You know I love you. I've always loved you Alex." he mumbles softly. "If Neil and Susan weren't in the way I'd be railing you all over town. I'd let the entire world know that you're my girl." he tried searching her eyes. He needed her to know that if the circumstances were different he wouldn't hesitate to show the universe that she was his girl. "I know…"
"I just can't see you with anyone else Alex, you're my girl, you've always been my girl. I want to be with you and only you." he leans his head close, resting his head against her shoulder, kissing the exposed skin as he moves closer. "It doesn't feel like it though, we should…" her pulse quickened, feeling his teeth latch onto her neck. "We should really…" he moved her to be lying down. Hovering over her as he continued his assault on her neck.
"You love me don't you?" he whispered so softly she could barely hear him. Nodding slowly. She loved him she did but she could feel herself falling out of love with Billy. "Thats all that matters. We love each other." he moved away from her neck, choosing to stare down at her now. "I don't want to lose you. I'll do whatever it takes."
She didn't know what to say. She was officially dating Steve now, and as much as she enjoyed Billy's kisses and touches she didn't want to hurt Steve. "But Billy…we can't." she felt tears well in her eyes. It was all too painful. "Neil would kill us, not to mention it's just…" she took a deep breath trying to calm herself down a bit. "We aren't dating anymore Billy."
Billy had been in a lot of fights in his life, but none of them hurt as bad as hearing her say that. He felt as if his entire world was crashing down on him. "Why would you say that?" she could hear the panic in his voice as he leapt to his feet once again pacing his room. "How can you say that?!" Slowly sitting up she watched the panic attack slowly start. It wasn't often that Billy Hargrove had panic attacks but in the rare chances he did Alex would usually do what she could to help him through them. She hated that she was the reason for this one.
Raising from the bed she pulled the boy in for a hug, resting her head against his chest as his arms caged her in, tightening his hold till he was sure she couldn't leave him even if he wanted her to. "Why? Alex you're the only girl I've ever really wanted. For fucks sake you're my best friend."
She felt her ribs cracking; she was having trouble breathing. "I know," she squeaked.
"We have a plan for fucks sake. We're moving out of this shit town after we graduate." Pulling back he grabbed her face squeezing tightly, his nails digging into her skull. She cringed hating this feeling. "Was all that a lie? Everything?"
"No," she mumbles reaching out to grab his hands "We just…"
"No. Shut up." he growls, pushing them towards the bed. "We are dating, damn it. I'm not giving up on us." he slammed his lips on hers forcing the woman in front of him to understand. She wasn't getting away, not ever.
He wanted to show her over and over again just how perfect they were together. He didn't care if this shit town knew they were fucking. They weren't related so why should it matter? She was his and thats all that mattered.
Her small hands pressed against his chest pushing him back some. "Now you're pushing me away?" he frowns feeling his heart break even more. "You're hurting me." she grumbles waiting for him to let go of her face.
As soon as she was free she started rubbing her jaw. Cringing at how her face still hurt, she really hoped that there wouldn't be any bruises later. "Sorry…" he mumbles stepping towards her again, grasping her jaw softly and angling her face up to meet him. "We're a team Lex, all we have is each other and soon we'll leave this shit town and take Max with us." he promised her resting his head against hers. "Just please be patient, it won't be much longer." he mumbles against her hair wrapping her in a tight hold.
"I need to get back." she mumbles softly, she didn't want the others to worry. "Fine but I'm coming too. I won't let Harrington try anything with you." he grumbles grasping her hand in his and walking back towards the living room.
It had surprised everyone to see Billy Hargrove join them in the living room, plopping himself in Neil's chair watching the film bored as Alex sat beside Steve again. She wished she could snuggle up next to him like they were but feared he would blow up again, and her headache was not asking for more screaming. Not to mention her face and ribs still ached from Billy's strength.
Steve gave her a small smile reassuring her that everything would be okay. He'd ask her what happened when they were alone, he just hoped that she would tell him. He could see the faint red marks on her face and feared for her safety. Both girls safety honestly. Their pinkies touched the remainder of the time though halfway through episode 5 Steve decided to take the kids home leaving the girls and Billy. "See you tomorrow?" Alex sounded hopeful staring up at Steve.
She didn't know what was going to happen tomorrow but she knew that they would see each other in class.
Steve nodded leaning against the doorway. "I can pick you up and we can drive to school together." She was very aware of Billy's harsh gaze watching the two of them from his chair. She wanted to laugh and agree almost instantly and if Billy wasn't around she would have leaned up and gave him a kiss. "You just can't get enough of me can you?" she whispered snickering to herself.
He shrugs his shoulders leaning closer towards the girl "What can I say? I wanna show you off to the world." she felt her face flush with delight "Maybe I can convince you to spend the night Friday, hmm?" he mumbled tracing his eyes across her face. "I can teach you more of my dance moves." snickering she shook her head, running a hand through her hair. "Watch it Harrington." Billy growled narrowing his eyes.
Letting out a sigh Alex leaned up placing a kiss on the boys cheek "See you tomorrow." she mumbles stepping away from the door. "I'll pick you up at six." he whispered, smiling to himself. "See you." Closing the door she tried to stop the small smile from growing. He really was adorable.
Standing from his seat Billy went to the window watching Harrington drive off with a car full of kids. He was fucking weird, someone like him didn't deserve to be around his Lex.
"Twerp. Go to bed." Max looked offended glaring at Billy as she stood beside Alex. "You honestly think I'm going to listen to you?" She barked out a laugh stepping closer to Alex. Both girls watched the irritation wash over his features. Giving a pointed look to Alex as he clenched his fists. "As the oldest you have to do as I say or else I'm telling Neil you let boys come to the house." he snapped giving out an empty threat. He would never tell Neil anything that goes on while they were gone. Not only would the girls get in trouble but so would he. He was technically man of the house right now and if they weren't following Neil's rules and Billy wasn't enforcing them then all three of them would be receiving the belt.
Biting her bottom lip Alex placed a hand on her younger sisters shoulder pressing her to move forward. "It's almost one nugget. Let's go brush our teeth at least."
Alex watched the red head grumble but nodded all the same as the two walked towards the shared bathroom. "What happened earlier?" Max asked, referring to how Billy started watching Star Wars with them. Ruining the vibe they had. "I got him to calm down about Steve but I'm not sure... Maybe he just wanted to watch the movie?" She shrugged knowing that it was total BS.
Max didn't believe it either.
"Did he try anything while you two were alone?" shaking her head Alex rubbed her jaw inspecting to see if there was any damage. "Don't worry nugget, he didn't do anything." she swore. "Now brush your teeth we need to get to bed early morning."
"Think he'll throw a fit when Steve picks us up?" shrugging her shoulders she smiled to herself "I don't know, but it is different having Steve drive us than Billy."
After brushing their teeth Alex and Max got ready for bed. The older teen could see jut how tired her sister was. It was good that Steve had taken the boys home when they did. If they had stayed to watch the full film they would all be exhausted in the morning. Turning the lights off she listened to her sisters breathing hearing her fall asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.
Slipping from her bed Alex rushed to the living room to clean up whatever little mess they all made. She would not leave any evidence of there being anyone here. For all she knew Neil and Susan would return a day early and beat all of them for leaving the house a mess.
So to save everyone from his possible wrath she set to cleaning the living room and kitchen. "I'll finish in here if you do the dishes." Billy called keeping his voice low to not wake Max. "Deal."