Nicole walked her way back home, early. After gym she couldn't stand to be at school, she was far too emotional. The girl kicked the rocks and the leaves that crunched beneath her feet on the long road. I'm just a week her life had gotten increasingly worse, and she knew it wasn't done. Nicole had no clue that Nancy was feeling a certain type of way toward her and Steve, had she known she would've backed off a lot sooner. Her neighbor, who just moved in, was already wreaking havoc in her life by spreading pointless nothings so people would loathe her.
Nicole liked to consider herself a free-spirit. She was bubbly and kind to everyone, always saw the good in people until they didn't deserve it. She wasn't sure when everyone was suddenly against her, but she constantly asked herself why. Steve shot up in the popular chain by eighth grade, somewhat leaving the girl behind. She never cared much for social statuses, all she wanted was to have the one person she trusted with everything by her side.
Now that was stripped away from her too.
She reached her house, and went to turn the door knob, only to find that it was locked. Her mother kept every window and door locked whenever nobody resided the house, so she knew there was no chance of getting inside until one of her parents got home. So, she sighed as she plopped down on the cold concrete pathway that stopped just in front of her door.
For an hour, she stared up at the foggy sky, hoping that something interesting would come out of it. However, much to her luck it just continued to shine it's dullness for her eyes. The wind whistled and whipped down Cherry Lane, biting at the skin that wasn't covered by clothing. Suddenly, there was a roar of an engine and blue flashed in her vision.
Sure enough, school was by now let out and Billy was arriving home, with the short red head. The smaller girl raced inside before Billy could even cut off his engine, and Nicole felt she would have too. Billy stepped out, his boots clicking against the pavement, and studied his surroundings. He noticed the girl who had her knees pulled to her chest in attempt to keep warm, shooting looks toward him every few seconds.
"Locked out?" He called, but didn't receive an answer.
He huffed and rolled his eyes before looking around him once more. After realizing no one was around to catch the interaction, he sauntered over to 4813 Cherry Lane.
"I asked you a question." He stated as he planted his body a few feet from the blonde.
"I heard." Nicole rolled her eyes as obnoxiously as she could, hoping he'd take the hint.
"What's your deal?" His eyebrows furrowed, as he took a cigarette out from the pack that was stashed in his leather jacket, quickly lighting it.
"Nothing." She muttered.
Billy sighed with an eye roll, "look, I'm trying to be nice alright?"
"You aren't nice to me any other time, so why start now?" Her eyes snapped up at his icy blue ones, glaring into them.
"Listen, from what I heard you're the schools slut. I was just being cautious, you know?" He chuckled bitterly as he inhaled the smoke from the stick in his hand.
Nicole quickly stood up, to attempt to level with his stare, "I am not a slut."
"That's not what I hear, princess. I go off group majority, and trust me. You are not the majority." He pointed with the cigarette his hand held, keeping his cocky smirk plastered on his tanned face.
"Get the fuck away from me." She seethed, never breaking eye contact.
"Or what? What're you going to do about it?" Billy caught his eyes snapping toward the girls perfectly plump, pink lips.
"Just leave me alone, okay?" She backed her body away, her confidence faltering.
"Gladly." He inhaled smoke once more before he reached his hand out, "you look like you need it."
Nicole was hesitant to accept the burning stick day in the boys hand, but he was right. She needed some source of stress relief, so she took it. Her lips wrapped around the end of the cigarette as she inhaled, the nicotine somewhat easing how tense she had been.
"See you 'round, Moore." Billy turned on his heel and began his way back toward his own residence.
Nicole was beyond confused at the encounter she just witnessed. One day he's telling her to stay away, and the next he's approaching her as if he never suggested such a thing. The girl finished the cigarette just in time for her father to pull into the driveway. She was sure not to breathe in his direction as they greeted each other, and quickly rushed into her room to change her clothes when given the chance.
The rest of the night was slow and uneventful, except the slight sound of shouts from down the street. Nicole stared out of her window as she heard a front door slam. She'd already been residing in the window sill, taking long drags out of the pipe her parents had no clue about. Billy smelt the familiar smell, and looked around before he saw a singular window was illuminated with light. There was a silhouette sat in the window, and smoke was flowing through the air at a peaceful rate.
Nicole noticed the boys newfound interest, and held her pipe up hoping he'd catch a glimpse. She wasn't sure what just happened, but she was almost certain that the shouting was coming from that lonesome house. The street had been eerily quiet since she was a kid, so unless new neighbors somehow popped up in one of the surrounding houses, it had to be the Hargrove residence.
Billy paused for a moment, thinking about what to do. With a huff, he succumbed to the urges that flowed through his body and stalked toward the only house with a light on. His body weaves through the bushes that lined the Moore property, until he found himself on the side of the home.
"Hello, neighbor." Nicole's eyes were squinted as she let out a small giggle, trapping the rest behind her lip that she pulled into her mouth.
"You're stoned." Billy shook his head, disapprovingly.
"Yeah, and you wanna be." She taunted, lightly shaking the pipe in front of his face.
Billy sighed, rolling his head into his shoulder, "can I sit?"
"Yeah, yeah. Just be quiet. My parents would flip if they saw me smoking weed with a boy." Nicole shimmied over to create space for the Hargrove boy.
With ease, he hoisted his body up and into the window sill, with little to no noise. He made sure he was comfortable before taking the pipe and a lighter from the blonde girl next to him. He couldn't help but take in her appearance, deciding that she looked comfortable. Her blonde hair was thrown up into a neat, yet messy bun, she wore black plaid pajama pants and a plain white crop top that clung to her upper body.
Nicole's tongue was continuously darting out of her mouth, to kick her lips due to the dry mouth she was experiencing. Billy flicked his tongue across his bottom lip before placing the pipe to his mouth and lighting the bowl, inhaling the earthy aroma. He took a few more hits, before handing the piece back to the blonde sat before him. She had already finished smoking, so she placed the small glass figure behind her to put away later.
The pair was quiet, taking in the cold, quiet air. Nicole's favorite time of day was the night, it's when she could be alone with her thoughts and at peace. Billy, too, found himself enjoying the lonesome comfort it brought. Neither knew how to stir up conversation, too high to think of the right words. Nicole's head was tilted back against the window frame, welcoming the cool air that whipped across her sensitive skin.
Billy just sat and watched, wondering how she could be so at peace with all the hell going on in her life. He licked his lips and opened his mouth to speak, only pausing to think of the right words to say.
"What's really up with you and Harrington?" He questioned, after clearing his throat.
"He's my best friend. He always has been. I had no idea Nancy was getting upset by us being close, I feel terrible for not seeing it." She explained, pulling a single leg up to her chest.
"You ever had a thing with him?" Billy stared at her face, genuinely wanting answers.
"No, never," she began, shaking her head, "I mean.. it's dumb. Back in elementary until like- 7th grade I had the biggest thing for him. Like seriously, huge crush. But he- he always got with other girls. I felt so.. invisible? So, I kind of just you know, stopped liking him. It was something I had to grow out of."
"And you don't feel anything like that for him now?" Billy dig deeper.
"No. Not one bit. Steve's got a different view on things than me, he's all about relationships, like can move on so quick. I've never been in a proper one, never had a care to after my poor 12 year old heart was crushed." Nicole laughed, and Billy's lips tugged slightly.
"Why'd this whole rumor thing start?" He ran his hand through his curly locks.
"A boy. His name is Kevin," she began, beginning to play with the hem of her pant leg, "I lost my virginity to him, big whoop. It wasn't even all that great.. but Tom heard about it. Then, Kevin got all upset when I wanted to stop seeing him and I'm not sure. I think they conspired against me."
"Kevin Randal?" Billy's eyes widened, noticing that a Kevin always stuck around Tommy.
The blonde groaned, "yes. Don't remind me."
Billy then laughed, hard.
"No way! There's no way, he's so.." the boy scrunched his face up and Nicole his her face in her hands.
"I know. It was sophomore year, okay. Big mistake."
"Huge," Billy's laughter died down, realizing that it was getting late, "I should go.."
"Yeah.." Nicole cleared her throat, "night."
"Night." He replied as he hopped down from the window sill, making his way back toward his home.
Nicole watched until Billy snuck around the side of 4819 Cherry Lane, and snuck into his own bedroom window. She sighed, shutting her own window and locking it before she turned out her light.
Billy was a confusing character, and she had no idea if she should've been worried. She would find out soon enough.