MELANCHOLY [S.T. B. Hargrove]

27

"Marco.."

Is he serious?

"Marco?"

I lean my head against the locker. "Pollo, dumbass."

Billy chuckles. "Marco?"

I look up at the ceiling and sigh despite a smile creeping up on my face.

"It's no fun if you don't play along!" he says from around the corner.

"You're an idiot," I blame. "Pollo."

He grabs hold of the locker and spins around the corner. "Found you."

His free hand grasps my hip and our lips find each other like magnets. My arms wrap around his broad shoulders, pulling him close to me. His body was warmer than usual from sitting out in the sun and I loved every moment.

Nancy. Shit.

"Billy," I mutter against his lips.

"I've only got ten minutes," he says, grabbing my bikini bottom.

"Wait," I urge.

Billy leans up and looks down at me. "You all right?"

Be gentle my racing heart.

"I wanted to talk," I admit.

"Don't we usually talk while-"

"Not that kind of talking, Billy!"

He leans down to give me another short kiss. "All right. Fire."

"Listen, I.. I want us to figure this out," I admit.

"This?"

"Us. What we're doing."

"Well, whatever it is.. it's usually good."

"Yeah and then the talking happens and it leads to fighting."

Billy purses his lips and nods, he knew I was right.

"I don't want to fight with you. In our whole lives, we've never like.. actually fought. Not until all this started," I motion between our bodies. "And as much as I love this.. I don't want to lose what we had before."

"I don't want to go back to how it was before," Billy says.

"What?"

"I mean.. I want you in my life all the time like before.. But.. more. Different."

My hand cups his cheek and my thumb rubs his skin. "Billy.."

"I don't care what Neil says. I don't care what he does. If he doesn't like it and tries anything.. we'll just leave."

"You're still up for that?" I ask with a smile.

"For you.. for us.. I'd be up for anything. Even if it's living in my car in Minnesota."

I giggle. He remembered that little dumb remark I made.

Then, I remember that Neil wasn't the only issue.

Sure, the whole Upside Down thing has been quiet since Eleven closed the gates, but.. they thought it was okay before, too. Things could change so easily. As long as we were in Hawkins.. it was a danger.

"Let's leave now," the words slip out.

"What?" Billy chuckles.

"I'm serious. Let's get our shit and just.. go."

"What about your schooling?"

"I can take the credits anywhere. I can enroll wherever," I promise. "But.. I don't know if I can wait forever. A year has been long enough."

"I agree," he smiles, rubbing my hip. "So.. we leave tonight?"

Shit. Dustin. He was coming back home today.

No. That's fine. I promised Dustin we'd have dinner. I could tell my goodbyes there and Billy and I could leave out in the middle of the night.

No problem.

"I'll meet you here. Tonight at, what, nine?"

"No, I'll come pick you up."

"Billy, I have a car."

"Yeah, but mine has more storage. We gotta take shit with us. Plus, it'd be a waste to take two vehicles when we're going the same way."

"The Harrington house is far."

"I've made the drive already."

"Late at night, though..?"

"Roc," he calls.

My entire demeanor goes weak. I missed that name so much.

"Starting tonight.. it's you and me. Things will be happy for once."

My chest felt like it was infested with butterflies. Not my stomach.. my chest from how hard and fast my heart was beating.

"Billy.." I take a deep breath. "I.."

"I know," he assures.

"But, I-"

"Hey," he lightly grabs my chin. "I know. Tell me tonight."

He knew I was going to tell him I love him.

"Tonight?" I whine.

"New beginnings, Roc. We'll say it on the road.. just us. No now holding us back. No Hawkins. Just us."

I have to bite the inside of my lip to not blurt out how much I love him.

"Tonight," I settle.

"Tonight," he repeats.

Smiles emerge from both of us and I stand up taller to kiss him gently but so, so lovingly.

--

I was still sitting outside by three in the morning.

By five, the sun was up.

And when six rolled around, I decided Billy wasn't coming.