Tumgik
#he needs to decorate it with cute dangly charms
hesbianyaoi · 9 months
Text
when people draw atsushi with a phone they always give him an iphone or just a phone with a touchscreen and it hurts my heart so much. we have to stop ignoring his little flip phone. he doesn't need social media either we have to keep him as chronically offline as possible. atsushi doesn't know what discourse is. if you showed him a meme he'd stare at it for a bit and go "i don't get it" while handing the phone back to you. when he sat in front of an agency laptop for the first time he holds his head in his hands because he doesn't know what the hell to do
113 notes · View notes
Text
Class 1B headcanons but its just about their jewelry and piercings
because jewelry is fun. this is the whole class so its bit long. sorry.
(if any artists wanna draw these please 👀 go right ahead 👀)
-you know those bff necklaces where one friend gets half a heart and the other friend gets the other half and the two halves connect? the common sense kings have that but the pieces are "The" "Common" "Sense" "Kings." you decided who has which word. 
-Awase has the top and bottom of his ears pierced. he wears the small loop earrings on top and simple dangly earrings on the bottom. also this isnt jewelry but he totally has a headband for every occasion. 
-Sen has a lip ring and i dont feel like i need to explain why i think that. 
-Togaru has snake bite piercings bc of course he does. he also has his tongue pierced and wears a solid black choker. are chokers jewelry? unimportant. Togaru also also wears small rings with chains on his mandibles. 
-Shihai doesnt wear much jewelry but he does have this.....its called a slave braclet but let me explain. Its the five rings attached to a bracelet. Shihai has that. for both hands. 
-Kendo has a lot of jewelry she doesnt wear. but when she does she goes for a flower shaped mood necklace and an ankle bracelet. on really fancy occasions she wears big ol’ gold bangles.
-Kodai keeps all her jewelry in a specific matryoshka set. shes got a butterfly necklace, a hematite ring and candy bracelets. but her favorites are her tomato earrings :) 
-Kinoko has a lot of dangly earrings and necklaces and rings. this girls likes to deck herself out ok? she also got this cute mushroom charm bracelet for christmas i wonder who got her that 👀👀 its a mystery.
-Ibara of course has the cross necklace but. she also has pretty rose earrings :)
-Jurotas family has given him the most luxurious jewelry over the years but he never wears any of it. he prefers the friendship bracelets from his classmates.
-’Geki has plain black earrings. hes a simple man and i respect that.
-WHEN I TELL YOU THAT PONY HAS A MASS ASS AMOUNT OF HORN JEWELRY I MEAN IT!!!!! that image lives in my mind rent free and is the reason im making this post in the first place. also belly button piercing.
-Kosei keeps the rings from ring pops. Kosei: fully pierced the outer part of his ears. wants an eyebrow piercing. probably got it. wears metal necklaces to bite on. has a lot of those rubber bracelets you get from like hot topic. or camp.
-Tetsu and Setsu both have bull rings. i refuse to change my mind on this.
-Tetsu also has those square diamond earrings. the dumbass pierced his own ears and no one thought to stop him.
-Setsuna has her tongue and an eyebrow pierced. she wears thin metal bracelets bc she likes the jingle jangle sound
-Miraculously, Manga has a snake bite piercing. Hilariously, its placed just so that it looks like a period on him. 
-Juzo has both of his ears completely pierced he likes the earrings that are connected by chains. he has a nose ring, tongue piercing and a lot of skeleton jewelry.
-Not only does Bondo make friendship bracelets for the whole class (that they all wear bc they would) this man also runs his own etsy shop and we love him for it. he doesnt wear any jewelry himself but he loves making it for his friends ❤️
-Neito cant stay out of Claires for the life of him. have you seen his hero costume tie? homies a bedazzle addict. no facial piercings outside of his ear lobes but he loves his rings and necklaces.
-Reiko has a necklace with a crystal on it. im not well versed in crystals in regards to spirits so ill leave that to experts. She also has a hematite ring.
-Hear me out. hear me out. you hearing me? ok. Rin has some of his moms old hair sticks. the decorative ones. i pray im calling them the right thing. Rin also also really likes flower jewelry and has a dragon ring. 
-Vlad has his nips pierced and i will physically fight you on this. Bull ring, eyebrow piercings. with an s. Tongue piercing and he clicks it against his teeth. thank you and good night.
130 notes · View notes
alias-b · 4 years
Text
sins of my youth. 004
Tumblr media
Billy Hargrove x OC! Evie Fenny~ Also posted to my AO3
Summary: It was common knowledge that Billy Hargrove hated Hawkins. Hated Cherry Lane. Even loathed the strange girl next door. Evie Fenny wasn’t too fond of the chaotic Cali transfer either. An awful high school tradition sparks a chain of events that changes everything, ultimately bringing two frayed souls together.
A/N: Hello all! Pushing out a baby chapter early so I can focus on my other fic! Thank you so much for the support on this fic. Billy goes to dinner and Tries It. That's the chapter. :D  Tag list open!!!
Chapter 4: No Day But Today
   “Claudia, do you have the keys?” Mona crossed the salon floor.
   “I do, we’re fine here, go on. Dusty is spending the night at the Wheeler’s place. Having some castle and dragons party.” She'd gushed.
   “Feel free to close up early if we’re dead the last hour. Thanks, sugar.” Mona patted her back as she followed Evie out the door.
   “Can I drive?”
   “I was hoping you’d ask.” Mona smiled.
   Evie was saving for a car. And college. And her future. 
   And it was a lot.
   Truthfully, she didn’t care for school. It was in the way. Wished her lyrics could carry her straight to the red carpet before all those flashing paparazzi.
   Wanting to unwind, Evie hid in her room when she got home. Shut the curtains and prodded at herself before the vanity. Sorted dangly earrings in a mesh metal display. Huffing to lean over when Bourbon swept into her legs. His little body shivered and she plucked him up.
   “Okay, BB, you’re my best guy. You can’t let me down.” She scratched under his chin, gave him a little boop on the nose. “You take one look at that walking Def Leppard poster and you hiss and run. Got it?”
   A purr.
   “Good boy. You’re my only hope here. We can’t lose. Not to Billy Hargrove.” Arms let him down. She'd feel this sentiment often about Billy. A sigh. Evie applied a fresh lip color and paused. “Ugh.” She pushed up and didn’t change. Did her school work to get it out of the way and wandered out, turning the TV on to some game show. The savory smell of dinner wafted. “Need help here, Mom?” One tug and the ceiling fan spun, cycling cooler air.
   “No, I have it. You can set the table for me.” Mona drained some noodles.
   “Got it.” Plates and cutlery clicked around. Evie slid everything into place, perked up when the doorbell rang. Mona turned and smiled as her daughter adjusted fabric and fixed curls into place all the way to the door.
   Evie half expected Billy to not even show. But, there he was. Sly smile and all. Billow of date night cologne. A vision in moonlight.
   “Hey.” Evie said slowly. The surprise evident.
   “Hey." He mirrored it.
   "You're here." An exhale out. He blinked, found himself again.
   "I was gonna steal flowers from the old lady’s garden across the way, but there’s a huge opossum in her trash guarding it.” He tilted his head, earring catching the porch light and she cracked a grin.
   "Big Ben? Yeah, he's the neighborhood menace. Chief Hopper's nemesis because they get so many calls about it. You'd be a hero if you took him on." Evie persuaded lighter. His face fell.
   "I'm not trying to die in Hawkins, Indiana. That thing was bigger than anyone on our football team."
   “Color me impressed. King Billy didn’t want to do battle for the first time?” She actually teased him. Her nose crinkled when she smiled. Cute. “Shock and awe.”
   Billy felt this tug pulse up his ribcage. Pulled a genuine chuckle from his lips. He had to look away to give it. Glowy in starlight.
   “Sometimes I surprise people. I know my weight class and the pests here look like they were grown and mutated in some lab.” He shrugged into the door frame with one fist lifted, clicking his lighter shut. Hooded eyes all over. Evie went still as he leaned forward to her face with his tone lowering. “Am I allowed inside? Pretty please?”
   “With cherries on top?" Bright, wet lips parted. His lashes fluttered, a baritone sinking. Bringing her with him.
   "With anything your heart desires on top." Smooth.
   "Huh. I guess. For now.” Evie stepped out of the way. “We go to school with plenty of those lab grown pests by the way.”
   “No kidding.” Billy shrugged his jacket off and she awkwardly reached to take it. Hung it up behind her.
   Evie turned to see him staring again and swallowed a hard lump down. Thought maybe he saw all the begonias blooming behind her eyes and up her throat.
   “Billy.” Mona came out of the kitchen, arms out. “So glad you’re here.”
   “You saved me from a sad date with a TV dinner.” Billy winked, charming Ms. Fenny to bits. She giggled and shook her hair out.
   “Dinner’s got about ten minutes. Why don’t you show him around, baby?” Mona hurried back off, leaving them alone again.
   “Tour? Great idea." He peered behind Evie. A mission at hand. "Where’s the cat?”
   “Hiding from you, clearly.” Evie beamed, gesturing. “Welcome to the living room. Mom's showroom is a better word.”
   “Your mom like tchotchkes or what?” He came to the full mantle. Scanning.
   “How’d you guess?” Evie reluctantly trailed to his side.
   It was strange to let this boy wander around and see little bits of her life. Guess things about her as he went along, trailing deft fingers about the fireplace. She wondered what was blooming within the pit of his stomach, if anything.
   Mona Fenny's house overwhelmed.
   Photographs, plants, and crafts. Little porcelain figurines. Too many handmade candles. Crochet projects. A full dollhouse on a table in the corner.
   “My grandma passed a lot of craft skills down. She owned this amazingly strange trinket and voodoo shop in New Orleans that my aunts run now after Nana died."
   "Your mom didn't stay for a piece of that?" Billy let his eyes trail over every little thing.
   "Ah, I don't know. She was the baby and married pretty young. Seemed like she wanted something new," Evie peered behind her and whispered. "Never really got along with Nana like her older sisters did."
   Billy hummed a little. Decided not to pry with Mona in the next room. Evie brought him to the corner and flicked a lamp on.
   "Mom’s dollhouse is her pride and joy. Lights up and everything.”
   “Tell me why your mother has a framed photograph of Dolly Parton next to a picture of you two on the fireplace. And the same photo shrunk down in the dollhouse?”
   “Science may tell us the truth one day when the world is ready. And I fear for that day.” She replied in all seriousness and Billy snorted. Laughing.
   A truly enchanting sound Evie decided she liked.
   “And I have to say,” he plucked a photo off a bookshelf with a broad grin, “this one is my favorite.”
   One of Evie on Halloween. Had to be about six. Dressed in the campiest pink daisy costume with a huge toothy smile.
   “Gah,” she cringed and swiped it from his hand, “this house is a museum of embarrassment.”
   “You’re into the museum shit, guess this is like our first-” Billy stopped himself from producing the damning word when Evie turned. Blushing. Oof. He scratched the back of his neck. “So, uh, you got a bedroom in here or do you sleep in the dollhouse?”
   “You won’t find the cat that easily.” She caught him peering around again and led him past the kitchen. “C’mon, not much to the rest of the house. Garage. Spare room.” That used to be her dad’s office space. “Mom’s room. Attic up there and on this end. My cat's room that he lets me stay in too.”
   The door was open so Billy prodded it to peek inside. Evie exhaled and flicked the light on.
   It didn’t feel like a teenage girl’s bedroom. Not covered in decorations and pictures like the rest of the house. No posters cut from magazines covered in pink lipstick kisses.
   A vanity full of disorganized makeup. Desk. Overfilled bookcase of novels and tapes. Crafts and trinkets she collected in labeled tin boxes. Dresser covered in jewelry. Music player. Bed. Closet. Couple of pictures taped by the vanity and headboard. Mostly Evie and Heather laughing and bright. Her beloved acoustic guitar propped in the corner. 
   It felt like it was decorated by one trying to take up as little space as possible. Everything was compacted. Billy eyed the wall by her bed. Realized most of the papers were notes with random lyrics and words patched together.
   “Yeah, I tend to jot every little thought down even when I’m half asleep and hope it makes a song eventually.” She peered aside. It felt too intimate, letting Billy shift about the space.
   "Hey, everybody has a method." Two fingers traced over a note taped up to straighten it. She caught the ring gleaming on his middle finger. “My-”
   “Ah, don’t read them aloud, I may combust.” 
   “Oh?” Billy slunk toward her, licked his lips. A hungry way about it. Mouth watering fangs full of sweet venom. Wonder how they'd feel sinking into her throat. “Because I make you nervous, Angel?”
   “No, it’s just...just…weird.” Evie pressed up into her desk. Billy closed the distance. Got within inches of her. “It’s weird.”
   Repetition didn’t ease the sear of those ocean eyes drowning her too sweetly. She felt her chest fill and flutter all the way down. Flowers unfurled to be plucked and caressed. Billy pushed into the space until she was seated there on the desk. Scrambling further. Unable to climb the wall.
   “You do seem nervous though, Evie.” His tone hushed. Fingers brushed her thighs and palms came to rest there. The bunched fabric of her dress barely separating them. She inhaled his cologne. Smelled peppermint from his breath. Chest heaving.
   Billy knew this wasn’t part of the quest. If that’s what this was, maybe that was a nicer way to put it. Maybe rationalizing it a thousand times would help him get some sleep at night. Just show her a good night, cash in, and go home.
   It still sounded shitty. Wasn't doing Evie any favors. This girl painted too many iridescent colors. They could bleed and Billy wouldn't step away if it pooled too close.
   He liked to watch the blush spread across her freckled cheeks. Rose petals falling into a cool pond. Liked the way her nose scrunched when she smiled and when she was cross with him. 
   Billy didn't want her because she was a conquest. A challenge. Sure, she challenged him, that was part of it. And she also made him smile like he was looking at the rocking ocean waves again. Sand and wind kissing his warm skin. There was a mystery in those molten eyes he wanted to taste for himself. Maybe it was possible to just enjoy a person without strings.
   To let colors bleed and swirl. To just watch it happen without fear or judgement. To not step away from it either. Just sink right in and create those echoing ripples.
   It was too sweet and peculiar, how soft Evangeline Fenny was against the hard edges of his steel frame. So sharp, it warded everyone off.
   But, not Evie, she fit perfectly against him. Fire with fire. It gave them so much in this world that had forgotten them both. Freckles to count. Eyelashes to wish upon. Flesh curves and razor angles to explore.
   Hell, he even enjoyed how shaken she got as he neared and how still she went when his fingers trailed up her legs. 
   Evie watched his muscled chest rise, the saint pendant caught the light. Looked up at his eyes and then his mouth because it couldn’t be helped. Billy Hargrove filled Evie's space and lungs with sugary smoke. He was too many colors in one soul. So, he pushed further because those painted lips were big and full and right fucking there.
   One curious taste, that couldn't hurt.
   Brought his hand up toward her chin and leaned forth when…
   “Dinner!” 
   Evie practically shoved Billy back. Scrambled up so the desk gave a rut. Bright red as he stumbled.
   “Sorry.” She shuddered, passing him. Smelling of amber perfume. “Coming, mom.” Billy stared at the back of her hair. Blinked a couple times to pull himself together. To rationalize some.
   Curiosity. A deadly thing and so sweet too.
   It felt like he was dreaming and woke up sitting at the dinner table. Evie clicked a Coke in front of him, flashed a knowing expression that made him smirk before she sat down.
   “Now, I left a bowl in the kitchen to cool. We always bring extra to Miss Abigail, she’s three doors down.” Mona was setting plates about.
   “It looks amazing, Ms. Fenny.” Billy even shifted a dish to help make room for another.
   “Please, Billy, just Mona. Ms. Fenny was my mother and she was a harder woman.” She set a glass of water down and smoothed her dress out, sitting. Billy went for his fork and his hand was snatched. Evie shot him a look as Mona reached out. “I always say grace. Don’t feel pressured to join, sweetheart.” 
   Billy peered at Evie’s warm hand in his and accepted her mother’s. Bowed his head a little so Mona could say her prayer. 
   “Bless us, oh Lord. For this and all we are about to receive, make us truly grateful. And thank you for bringing Billy to our humble table, may he truly feel welcomed in our home. Please guide and protect him. Through Christ, we pray. Amen.”
   “Amen.” Evie offered softer. Lips lifting when Billy peered at their hands again leaving each other. Clearly not expecting such words from a neighbor.
   “You’ll forgive me, Billy, some people say they leave their hearts open. I just let mine fill the room.” Mona settled a napkin in her lap. “May I ask, if your family is religious at all?”
   “Dad’s Lutheran.” Which meant Susan was by default now whatever she believed before. “We don’t go to church or anything.”
   As if Neil Hargrove could drag his son under a steeple without one of them spontaneously combusting.
   “Well, that’s perfectly fine.” Mona cut each of her meatballs into smaller pieces which Evie mirrored. “Evie doesn’t attend with me when I go. Although, the choir sure misses her voice.”
   “Mom...” A teenage whine, near silent as she prodded at noodles.
   “She get all the solos?” Billy encouraged the pink spreading Evie’s cheeks.
   “Oh, every single one. She’s even been asked to come sing the national anthem at minor league baseball games.” Mona prattled and Evie’s head fell back.
   “Mom!” Another drawn out groan. Evie sunk down lower.
   “Oh, Evangeline, let your mother brag about you.” Mona ignored her.
   "Yeah, Evangeline." He chimed in, earning a harder glare.
   “Now, Billy, you’ve been in Hawkins just over two months?” Mona continued. Blue eyes lifted from the plate before he gave a nod. “How are you liking it? I’m sure it’s such a huge change from California. You must miss the beach.”
   “Getting used to the cold.” Billy speared a meatball and didn’t sound convincing.
   “I’ll bet you’ve never seen snow before, your poor sinuses aren’t going to know what to do. Anyone in your family takes ill, just give us a ring.” Such a mom. “It took me a few years to get used to the cold here too. We moved when Evie was just a baby straight up from N’aw Lins.” 
   Billy bit his tongue.
   “What type of music do you write?” Billy asked and there was a beat when Evie realized he was looking at her. Addressing her pointedly. Maybe to make conversation and suck up to her talkative mother. Evie’s back grew taut, lips opening.
   “Evie’s gonna be a folk singer.” Mona had cut in. “Voice of an angel, she’ll make it big. She’s been in competitions, just one look from any talent scout and she’s sold.” Evie sank down again to go back to her food. Billy watched her roll a meatball around her plate like it was the most interesting thing in the room. 
   Mona Fenny struck Billy as a woman who always meant well. Frilly like a lace doily. So well, she steamrolled over you because she knew best. Evie barely got two syllables out before her mother was flicking her hair and boasting. A doll that constantly had the string in its voice box yanked.
   Billy learned a great deal about her.
   That Mona had been arrested twice in her life for marching and protesting. Civil and women’s rights. She joked that she hadn't been arrested for gay rights yet, but looked forward to the inevitable. She was a pageant queen too. Stopped when she found out she was pregnant and couldn’t compete after that. No bitterness there of course. She had a daughter to mold and complete the legacy now.
   Mona insisted on taking the plates away. Grabbing her own, Billy’s, and a side dish. 
   Evie was still rolling that meatball around until Billy plucked up a fork, stabbed it, and swallowed in one bite. She perked with flushed cheeks. Glared again.
   Billy wanted attention.
   “Your mom is friendly.” Statement of the fucking millennium.
   “Just wait til she busts out her old pageant scrapbooks. You'll never see home again.” Evie quickly flashed a smile and picked up her own plate to follow her mother off. Billy stood too, peered around. That cat had to be close. “Give it up.” Arms crossed when she leaned into the doorway working a melting ice cube around her mouth. Swallowed it whole instead of crunching. Water ran in the kitchen behind her.
   “We agreed on an hour of television.” Billy matched her stance, saw her hip cock.
   “Half hour.”
   “Hour.” Billy went in to sit on the couch like he owned it. Legs spread. “Come on in, the water’s fine, Evangeline.” Evie plucked up the remote, sat as far away from him as she could. Turned the TV on to something campy just to make him suffer.
   “Fucking Love Boat. Really? Susan watches this crap.”
   “You said the full hour.” Evie flashed a smug grin. “I think The Golden Girls is on too.”
   “Love Boat is fine.” Billy lifted his hand. Swiped the remote from her to set it on the other side of him. They both sunk in there. Eyes on the screen. Mona left them alone to bring the plate to their neighbor, stayed for conversation.
   Billy fidgeted. Stretching to scoot closer so he could nudge his knee into Evie's. Her face remained at total peace. She pushed back at his leg which drew slow smiles upon them both.
   “What kind of music do you really like, or does your mother always do all the talking?”
   “Doesn’t matter.” Evie felt him peer back over and held herself. A beat.
   “Yeah, your dreams. They don't matter." Came sarcasm. "A girl who wants her name in lights. Don't spend too much time feeling for the switch in darkness, Angel."
   "Why do you want to know?"
   "Just asking. You really want to sit in silence to this cheesefest? Young actresses paired with old ass grandpas playing love sick.” Billy put his arm up over the couch. Missed Evie twitch. Got his hand smacked for tugging her curl like a giddy little boy. 
   “I don’t know,” Evie faced him with a shrug, “somewhere in the rock and pop area. Maybe with a touch of soul. Not the hair metal I’m sure you’re into."
   How beautiful she looked when she hoped.
   "And my name in lights won't ever be enough, I need people to chant it too.”
   Lips curled at Evie.
   “Better than folk music.” Billy decided. Pride welled because she smiled too. Genuinely. Evie fiddled with her necklace. Delicate little music note caught the technicolor glow. Brown eyes turned to see him, she tried to bite the smile down. Failed.
   “So, what’s the deal with this party thing? A dance?”
   “One of many in the city. Bunch of high schools will probably run drunk through the streets with everyone else. No one will get carded because no one cares on New Years. Dancing and whatever. Watch the ball drop, it’s just the feral thing to do that night.”
   “And you could score with any girl, but you’re asking me. It won’t be like a date or anything.” Evie dropped the charm in her fingers to see Billy’s eyes linger.
   “You mentioned that. I know how to get out and have a good time without fucking. I have all sorts of tricks.” He noted the word didn’t make her wince. “Not looking to break your seal.”
   “You’re gross.” Again, no argument on the details of it.
   “You’re too tightly wound.” He paused, whispering. “Maybe not, but you hide it.”
   "Nothing to hide, I'm an open book."
   "A never ending record," Billy pushed into her so their legs pressed flush, "not nervous around me though."
   "Nope." Her lips popped, fingers curling into the hem of her dress when his arm snaked behind the couch. "Not nervous."
   "Not running either." That realization seemed to hit them both.
   "Why would I? I can handle you just fine." She hissed at that because it came out sexual. Billy licked his lips and snickered, shifting to face her head on.
   "Oh, I like the sound of that." He'd murmured, inches from her face. Evie found herself wondering how he managed to weasel his way in this close. Wondered why she was drinking him back in. "Picture this. You and this perfume enjoying a couple free drinks and some fireworks in the city. No strings attached. Not a date. Just those exploding lights and that chilly wind cooling your cheeks down, because you'll be blushing and you won't know it."
   "Uh huh. I guess I can see it." Evie sized him up and crossed her legs to lean back into him. "You and the roar of a Camaro commanding the city to its knees. Glam and hairspray working their magic."
   "I love an audience, Angel." Billy shook his head and froze because her palm came to his knee. Bold move. "But, I don't mind the front seat to see you blush too."
   "What about you?" She whispered with a hum. "What makes King Billy blush? Does all the noise you like to make hide it?" A spark flitted up her eyes. Made his chest heave. "Is that your secret?"
   "Come to the party, I'll tell you all my secrets." Fingers grazed up her arm when soft digits gave a rhythmic tap against his thigh. Billy went for it. "Do this dance with me."
   "You don't play as hard to get as you let on."
   "Not when I want something bad. Better to just play harder." Lips parted to hit that word. Her brows lifted at such an admittance. "You're sizzling up a fuse, aren't you, Evie?" She shook her head with a lazy smile. Eyes finding his again after. Near sultry.
   "You have to light a fuse first, Billy, for it to sizzle." Her hand crept along denim. Felt him go rigid and part his thighs just a little bit wider before she sat back. "And the fire's out anyway. I'll make good on the deal. If you win."
   "I hope you have a dress picked." Billy scoffed, breathless and still intent on her while she looked ahead at the screen.
   “Time is ticking. As if you taking me out will do me any good." Evie rolled her eyes and reclined back into his side. Quite comfortably like she wasn't thinking about it. "Give me cool points so Tommy and Carol leave me alone.”
   “They’re assholes to everyone. It’s not you.” Billy replied dismissively. Curled his finger into her locks behind the sofa.
   “You don’t notice who they target because you’re too busy chasing skirts and fighting others yourself. Also haven't seen the writing about me on the bathroom walls. School hierarchy rules. Open those pretty ocean eyes and see the world for what it is. You're untouched because of your front. Everyone wants to be Billy Hargrove or screw him.”
   Evie looked at him there, blinking.
   "What side of the line are you on?" He bit his lip. "I can guess."
   She plucked his hand from her shoulder and placed it back into his lap. Patted it for good measure.
   “So, you really think my eyes are pretty?” Billy laughed when a square pillow nailed him in the face. "You said it before too! When we were drunk and you still think it now that we're sober. Telling."
   Tension shattered. Evie glittered right back at him, teeth flashing. Still chuckling, he tilted his head back to create the magical sound. Quieted.
   “Fine. I’ll pay attention if it helps you sleep at night.”
   Evie blew air out her lips, let a curl fly up and bounce down. They watched the screen again. Shared a space. Maybe it shouldn't have felt so intimate. 
   “Episode’s almost over. Thanks for playing.” She about sang. Triumphant.
   “I guess you have me, Fenny.” Billy pushed up. “Mind if I take a leak?” He was already pacing off so she said nothing.
   Just watched couples go hand in hand into the sunset.
   There was a flush, the sink running, and then Billy’s huge smile crept back down the hallway. The boy was gone all of three minutes.
   Bourbon in his arms. Purring. Perfectly happy. Evie’s jaw dropped open.
   “Guess who crawled out of the shower to eyeball my junk? Not that I blame him.” Billy quipped, scratching the cat’s chin. Bourbon rubbed back into the touch. Rasped his scratchy meow for more.
   “Traitor...��� Evie muttered, coming to her feet. “Damn it.”
   “Oh, yeah. You’re mine now, Evie. Seven o’clock. Wear something short if you like.” Billy’s lips were pressed up. Such an ass.
   "I call foul." Her finger lifted.
   "And I'll be calling on you. New Years Eve. Just an annoying dance. It'll be fun and free." His chin gestured at her. "Just say yes, Evie. Get out of this small town and see some lights for once. You want your name in them so bad, you gotta look at the damn things first. No day but today. Right?"
   "Right," a lengthy sigh, "but, the fire's still out. Bourbon, why? First, mom and now you. He's just hypnotizing you both.” Evie took the cat from Billy, watched his face scrunch.
   “Your cat is really named Bourbon?” He said flatter.
   “I found him when we visited family in New Orleans. Bourbon street.” She let the feline nuzzle into her chest.
   “God, Angel, I hope your lyrics are more creative than that.” Billy lightened, chest shaking as he peered away shaking his pretty head. “Well?”
   She pouted and if that cat wasn't between them, Billy didn't know what he would have done. Another time or place. Another pretty dress. Another shared beat of bleeding together.
   That itched him the rest of the night.
   “I’ll go. Seven. I’ll dress nice. It’s not a date, so don’t try anything and get me home in one piece. I reserve the right to leave you if you act like too much of an ass.” Evie grumbled some about it, defeated.
   But, she wondered about the lights and what it might be like to share them. Suppressed all urges that longed to hope.
   “That much I can do, I might even keep my ass in check. Don’t flake, we have a deal. I’ll be your Mr. Darcy or whatever.” Billy made for the door, plucking up his jacket as she opened it.
   “That’s an impossible standard, but keep dreaming.” Evie sighed out. Watched him turn to beam. Offered a pet to Bourbon. “Least you got his name right.”
   “Quick learner, I get points. New Years Eve. Don’t make me chase you, Evie, because I will.” Billy stepped off the porch lighting a cigarette, idly waved behind him.
   Game. Set. Match.
   “I’m not gonna be nice about it.” She called.
   “So, you’ll be your normal, cheery self with me. Great. Won't ask for anything else, we have a good thing going.” He turned to wink, curling a final smile. Evie stilled, petting her cat before sighing into the cold air. “See you then, Fenny.”
   “Whatever you say, Hargrove.” She shut the door as he climbed his own porch. Looked at her cat.
   “You did this to us, I hope you’re proud.” 
   Bourbon blinked. Another rumbling purr in response.
** ** **
   “The world...” Evie plucked an idle cord. Sang soft to not disturb her mother down the hallway sleeping. Nestled into the wall on her bed next to the window. “May think I’m foolish. They can’t see you like I can...”
   Darkness shrouded save for a small set of twinkling lights around her bed frame. Eyes kept averting to the clock.
   “Oh, but anyone...who...” 
   Another pause to see the clock. Eyes flickered out along the street marked with lamps. Cracking her window to see out. Nothing. Evie settled. Changed the tune to something original and plucked another heart string.
   “Those ocean eyes… Drowning me out. What I wouldn't give to...” Her palm caught the vibrating cord to snuff the sound. A groan as she set the guitar aside. “Shit.”
   That was not happening.  
   A car went down the street at the exact moment the clock struck eleven. Evie grabbed her coat and locked her bedroom door. Checked her hair and makeup before hitching one leg over the window. Felt the naughty thrill pulse into her heart as she snuck out.
   Billy peered to see beyond his own window near the foot of his bed. Unseen in the pitch black space. Thought about catching her. It was always a Saturday night. Evie Fenny crept out like clockwork. Wearing something nice under a jacket she held close. Sometimes with the guitar on her back. Lips painted red. Went down the street and returned as the sun rose. He’d observed it often. Sometimes it happened on school nights. Two to three times a week. Never asked because it didn’t seem important enough before. But, now…
   Billy knew a teen girl didn’t paint her lips red at eleven o’clock on a Saturday for just anyone.
   Evie hurried down the street toward the woods at the end. Got into a shiny car. Disappeared until sunrise.
~~~~~
Chat with me about Evie & Billy and the impending Skirt Safari Dance! Thanks!
TAGGED:@80sbxtch​ @nottherightseason​ @orxhidshavana​   @alagalaska​ @alongcamedolly​
43 notes · View notes