Chapter Text
Spencer kept ignoring Billy in school the next day. He just walked past him without even looking, and Billy closed his locker door with more force than necessary, making the whole row rattle. The guy didn’t come over to sit at Billy’s table during lunch either, just chose a table for himself in the back of the cafeteria. The only consolation was, that he apparently also told Eddie to beat it when the guy made his way over to him, because he left after only a few words. Afterwards Billy tried to ask Spencer to skip fourth period with him again, Crafting, which they both hated, but Spencer only shook his head.
“Come on, man, talk to me” Billy said in desperation, not even caring that some of the guys from the team heard him.
Unfortunately, talking wasn’t Billy’s strong suit. Spencer seemed to think the same, and only scoffed. “About what? About what a fucking idiot I am or how right you’ve been?”
Billy only clicked his tongue at that and Spencer made his way to class, leaving him by the restrooms. The boy put both fists into his sides and kicked the nearest trash can.
After school, and after dropping Max of, Billy kept riding through town. He felt fidgety and wound up like a rubber band. What was he supposed to do about this shit? Why wouldn’t Spencer just talk to him? Fuck’s sake, Billy had been about to ask him to be his freaking boyfriend, and now they were fighting because Billy apparently wasn’t supportive enough or emotional available. This was just insane! He drove around, chasing down highways around town until it got dark. When he drove back through the city he still hadn’t come up with a solution. His fingers kept drumming the steering wheel restlessly. Well, shit, he had to do something!
Billy pulled up in the Family Video’s parking lot and got out. Maybe he could pick a film Spencer would like, some space shit or science fiction, something dorky and harmless, and show up with it on his porch. Maybe that’d work, he could try at least. The automatic doors slid open in front of him and he got greeted with the jingle of bells. He dove into the first row of shelves, skimming the titles and feeling none the wiser. Indiana Jones, that was nerdy enough, wasn’t it? Or Star Trek? He’d never seen the shit, only heard it was insufferable. Modern Romance, that sounded touchy-feely enough. Would he be able to sit through that one? He sighed to himself, he kind of had to for Spencer. He picked the movie up and went over to the counter. Another guy was in front of him, talking to the cashier, so Billy got in line. They were laughing like they knew each other, and then the guy behind the counter said the guy’s name. “Christ, James, it has been too long.”
Billy pricked up his ears. Was that – James, Spencer’s James, the dickhead?
“Yeah, man, it has. You know how it is. I’m only here for a week, you know, but hey, maybe you got a day off soon?”
“Totally, dude. Let’s hang.”
It was him, it had to be. He said his goodbyes to the employee and turned away from the desk, shoving a tape or two into his backpack. Billy hurried to get his tape checked out and then followed the guy out onto the parking lot. He got to him before he had reached his car.
“Hey, James” he called out and the guy stopped.
“Yeah? Do we know each other?” he asked after turning around and eying Billy suspiciously. He was tall, taller than Billy, but not as well build. His hair was long and dark and he sported a beard, like the guys in the seventies. All in all Billy really couldn’t see what Spencer had apparently seen in him. He looked like a small-town, wanna-be cowboy.
“No, we don’t know each other. I’m Billy.”
James looked puzzled for a moment, but then something dawned on his face. “Wait. Like – Billy Hargrove? Spencer’s Billy?”
“Yeah” Billy said without skipping a beat or batting an eye. So, Spencer had mentioned him, that thought felt like an ecstasy pill! And he was fucking Spencer’s, and hearing the guy say it felt really good. “I am. You two met the other day, didn't you?”
“Yeah, so what?”
“Nothing much” Billy said, his voice low, but not at all friendly. He got closer to the guy, video still in hand. “It’s just that he was pretty upset after it. Like you said or did something really stupid.”
James had crossed his arms in front of him and laughed now. “God, that guy. Getting upset about shit like that. He’s always been like that. A bit clingy, wouldn’t you say?”
“No, I wouldn’t” the boy retorted simply.
James scoffed. “The guy’s a faggot, plain and simple, man.”
“Don’t call him that” Billy said, rather threateningly now. “And aren’t you one too, mh?”
“No, only guys enjoying it taking it up the ass are faggots!” James said, sounding pissed off now. “What d’you want, mh? Just to annoy me or is there a point to this?”
“Why d’you tell Spencer there wasn’t anything between you guys? You were just fucking rude, man.”
“Because there wasn’t!” James said, sounding convinced, and edgy at the same time. “He just didn’t want to believe it. Wanted it all to mean something. But don’t worry, man, it’s over. I’m not gonna see him again. He’s all yours!”
“Yeah, you got that right” Billy said, and slipped the video tape into his belt behind his back. “You’re not gonna bother him again, and he’s with me now!”
James scoffed again, making to turn around. “Whatever, man. Have fun fucking that pansy.”
Billy didn’t think, just acted. Not the smartest thing, but it had brought him far enough. He hit James straight in the face. The guy’s head flew around and then he doubled over, clutching his nose and shouting. Blood trickled through his fingers. Billy felt strangely relived and turned away towards his own car.
He got in, throwing the tape onto the driver’s seat, and started the engine. James was lying to himself, he thought when pulling out of the driveway. Not unlike he had done, he realized reluctantly. Billy rolled his eyes, now at himself. God, he was really going through it today with all the self-realization. But he guessed, it was worth something. Spencer, for example.
Billy got out of the house on Saturday pretty early. The night before he had chickened out agaim and hadn’t driven over to Spencer’s. Now he was trying to come up with something else. He could still bring over the movie and make him watch it with him. Maybe before he did that, he also could get him something, like – anything. A pack of cigarettes maybe, or some gum, definitely not flowers though! Billy drove off into town with the vague idea of going to the convenient store and picking up something that would go along with the movie. Something to make up for – whatever. Just something he could bring him.
He parked the car at the curb in front of the small shop five minutes later and got out. But he didn’t get inside right away; in front of the shop next door, a small shabby bar, were Tommy Hagan and Frank Decker hanging out, together with the other three guys that had punched Spencer. Frank still looked like some sleepless nights lay behind him, the bags under his eyes all purple from Spencer’s punch to his nose. Billy made his way over to them without thinking.
“Hey Billy” Tommy greeted, “you heard?” He sounded excited, and gleeful.
“Heard what?” Billy asked, when leaning against the grimy brick wall next to the group of guys.
“Another faggot got beaten up.” Tommy all but neighed with glee.
“What you’re talking about?”
“James Reeves got beaten in the face yesterday” provided Frank the new piece of gossip, “Connar from Family Video told us. He saw it through the window. Said, he didn’t see who punched him, though. Connar doesn’t know apparently, but James’ a fag. His father made him change towns when he found out.”
Billy nodded slowly. “And why another? Who’s the other?”
“Well, Spencer obviously” Tommy said with a scoff. “What d’you think?”
“That’s just a fucking rumor, Hagan” Billy said, but the boy only pulled a face at him.
“I know” he said, “who d’you think started that? Spencer’s been with that James-guy. I heard my old man’s friends talk about it. Yeah, mind you, they just said stuff like, hopefully he didn’t ruin the Brice boy, but you must be pretty stupid not to add up one and one!”
“Like your father and his friends?” mocked one of the other guys.
“Shut up, Gordon!” Tommy bit back.
Billy got up from the wall, his gaze fixed on Tommy. He was sure his eyes were blazing enough to burn the fucker alive. “So, you started that fucking rumor? You made people believe, Spencer’s gay?”
“Didn’t make them believe anything” Tommy deflected, “just told it how it is! He’s a damn faggot.”
Billy all but exploded. “You call Spencer a fucking faggot one more time, and I'll rearrange your face, Hagan!"
Tommy gaped at him like a fish. “What you’re getting so upset about anyway, Hargrove?”
“Spencer’s my friend” he said simply.
“Is he?” Gordon piped up again. “Didn’t seem so when you stood by watching how we beat the shit out of him the other day.”
Billy turned his attention towards him, and the guy all but froze. “Yeah, you did beat the shit out of him alright. Made you feel all big and powerful? Four fuckheads beating up a single guy?”
“Watch the tone, man” Frank demanded and threw his cigarette butt aside. “The pansy got what he deserved.”
“What she deserved” Tommy joked stupidly, and got promptly punched in the face by Billy. The boy had it.
Tommy slumped back against the wall, taken by surprise. The others were stunned for a second, but then Frank and another charged at Billy. The boy was running on fury by then. He had no problem throwing Frank off and grabbing the other to smash his face in with his fist. Hands grabbed him and he was pulled off the guy, received a punch to the gut, but deflected the next hit and smashed in another nose. Tommy was back in the game, and the five guys all threw themselves at Billy. But the boy didn’t much care, the more, the merrier. He slammed Tommy against the wall, managed to kick Gordon so hard in the crotch that the guy fell to his knees, and then wrestled another of them down, beating his face repeatedly. Until he was hurled off again, held by four strong arms and beaten by a third guy.
A sharp whistle cut across the noise, and then there was a lot of movement, as the other guys tried to scramble to their feet and make a run for it. Two police men had pulled up their car next to the convenient store and chased after them. Billy, unable to run himself, got taken in, alongside the guy that was still on his knees holding his balls in his hands, and Frank, who bled like a pig. They all got wrenched into the backseat and taken to the station, their hands cuffed behind their backs.
What nettled Billy the most wasn’t the fact that he bled profusely, or that his dad would throw a motherfucking tantrum when he found out, nor that he was asked stupid question by a grumpy police chief, called Hopper, but that Tommy Hagan, the little wanker had gotten away. He told the bulk of a man as much, and the guy actually made a note.
“Yeah, three of you got away. So, one was Tommy Hagan, and the others?”
“Samuel something” Billy provided and then really had to rummage around his brain to get the other name. “Samuel’s on the swim team, if that helps. And the last one’s Patterson.”
“What? Like Richard Patterson’s son, what’s-his-first-name?” Hopper asked, scribbling away. Billy shrugged. “If they’re the only Pattersons around.”
“They’re pretty much are. Good to know. Alright, boy. Think we’ll know if they were part of your little fight when we see them, they should all be looking a bit like you. Like shit.” Billy actually grinned. “You beat them up pretty well, I’d say” Hopper went on, “all by yourself?”
“Well, you know” Billy just said, “got a lot of practice.”
“Beating guys up?”
“No, being in a fight where the other had the upper hand.”
Hopper let him go after having to convince his colleagues, who wanted to contain him at least for the night. The chief argued, that Billy hadn’t been the attacker, really, but the victim. The boy was a bit pleased that Hopper actually believed him. When he got out of the precinct he squinted in the bright light and it made his face hurt. They had allowed him to wash a bit in the restroom, but he knew he still looked like hell. He needed a real shower, and to wash his hair. There was blood clumping in it.
“You look bad, man” someone said and Billy looked around. There he was, smooth as anything, just leaning against the hood of his car, and apparently waiting for him. Billy trotted over to him, flustered. “Whatcha doin’ here?”
“Picking your sorry ass up, what d’you think?” Spencer gave back. He grinned at him.
“How much you know?” Billy asked, looking for support by leaning against the car as well. Now he knew what Spencer had meant when he had said, he felt all fucked out.
“About everything” the guy replied with a laugh. He turned to Billy. “First, I know you punched James, because the fucker gave me an angry call about it yesterday. Complained about you, he did” the guy went on, chuckling. “Told me, to keep you the fuck in line and away from him. Mind you, he called you my boytoy.”
Billy smiled, and winced when it put too much strain on his bruised lips. “Yeah, well, he had it coming, the shithead.”
“Guess he had” Spencer agreed. “Anyway, the second thing I heard, or rather the whole town by now, is that you got into a fight with five other guys. There were a lot of people around, you now. Apparently – you took them on all by yourself, kicking their asses. And I also know, that Tommy and Frank happened to be among them.”
“And who do you know that from?” Billy asked, curiously. “The police didn’t even know it was Tommy before I told them.”
Spencer gave him another smile. “Kevin told me. When I went to the store an hour ago. He saw the whole thing through the window, and he recognized Tommy from the time he harassed him in his store.”
“You know about Kevin what’s-his-last-name then?”
“Not officially” Spencer said, “but we used to hang occasionally when he was still in school. He had a band and everything. I thought he was cool. Not my type, though.”
“Yeah, I know what you think is cool” Billy dismissed it, “nerdy and cool don’t go together. Well, only in you anyway.”
“What?” Spencer piped up. “You mean it?”
“Shut up.”
They just stood there in silence for a minute, before Spencer stirred. “Get in the car, man. I’ll drive you home.”
Billy obeyed, and was immensely relieved when Spencer drove them to his place. He helped him up the couple of steps and into the house, although Billy protested, and then lead him up the staircase into his room. He also helped him out of his blood-soaked clothes, which he threw into the washing machine right away, and then made Billy follow him into the big bathroom, which probably only Nathan used. He filled the bathtub for him and made him get in, waving away Billy’s objections. Sitting there like a three year old, he finally shut up and let Spencer wash his hair. It felt nice anyway, the way he gently massaged his head and carefully rinsed off all the clotted blood.
“So, what exactly did you get into the fight for?” Spencer asked innocently, and Billy smiled. Of course the guy knew, but he felt like he still deserved to hear it. Billy kind of owed him that much.
“You, obviously. Tommy was the one who started that rumor, that asshead. And Frank called you a – he called you names. So, I told them to shove it, since you’re my friend, and when they wouldn’t let it go, I punched them.”
Spencer nodded casually, rinsing the last of the soap off of Billy. “And got punched really badly yourself” he pointed out. Billy shrugged. “Yeah, sharp observation.”
Spencer grinned. “Thanks” he said simply. The boy shook his head. “Not for that, man.”
He got out of the bathtub, toweled off with Spencer’s help – really only allowing it because he liked the guy touching him all over – and put on some fresh clothes Spencer gave him. He felt much better already.
“What were you doin’ at the convenient store anyway?” Spencer asked, when they sat down in the living room.
“Wanted to get you something – ah, shit! My car! That’s still there.”
“Don’t worry, we get it later.”
Billy ran a hand through his damp hair. “Yeah, that’s not it. I’ve got something in it for you.”
“Really? Like a present?” Spencer asked, sounding incredulous and it offended Billy a little.
“Yeah, you little shit, a present. Sort of. Wanted to get you a movie we could watch together. Something you’d like.”
“Like what?” Spencer sounded genuinely curious now.
“Modern Romance.”
The grin that spread on his face showed his white teeth in all their glory. “You were gonna watch that with me?”
“Yeah, obviously” Billy said indignantly. “You like this shit. All harmless and – boring.”
“The movie’s not boring, man.”
“Well, whatever.”
They sat in silence again. Spencer seemed content, bumping his knee into Billy’s gently, but the boy’s mind was still jogging. He had to get it out, now or never, or rather, now or he’d regret it for another uncomfortable day or two.
“Listen, man” he started, feeling very unsure, and put his arms around himself, “there was something I wanted to ask you when we met in that café. I think, not getting around to it, was the reason – was part of the reason I got so pissed with you. Er…” He hesitated, feeling his heart pound painfully and scrubbed a hand over his neck.
“What?” Spencer asked. “Just tell me, Billy.”
Billy sighed, and took a leap of faith. How bad could this realistically go, anyway?
“The thing you said the last time we – you know. It made me think! You said, you wanted to be – more, for me. Like – everything.”
Spencer grinned a bit embarrassed. “Sorry, man. You know how it is – things you say during sex.”
“Yeah, no. I mean, yeah, I get it, but that’s not the point” Billy deflected, feeling more lost by the second. Why couldn’t this be easy? All these feelings – and all this talking about feelings really made him nauseous. “It made me think that you maybe wanted a bit more. Like, something a bit more committed. Ah God, shit” he sighed and put his face into his hands. “This is so stupid. You’re gonna be my boyfriend, or what, man?”
He looked at Spencer expectantly, and the guy stared back. “For real?” he asked puzzled.
“Yes, Spencer” Billy said and rolled his eyes. “I mean it.”
Spencer didn’t say anything for a moment, but then he laughed softly. “You really want me to be your boyfriend?”
“Don’t mess with me, you little shit” Billy warned. “You know a better term, let me know!”
Spencer shrugged. “Nah, they’re all stupid. But – er, yeah, if the question is, do I want this to be more – committed, exclusive, then yes.”
Billy nodded, avoiding his gaze. “Good” he only said and scratched his chin. Blood had started running there again but then dried off, and he scraped a few drops away.
Spencer’s knee bumped into his again. “You’re such a dork” he let him know, his voice full of sickly sweet adoration. Billy rolled his eyes again, and then felt heat rush to his ears.
“You’re the dork.”
“Your dork” Spencer said and winked. Billy put his chin into his hand, thinking. “Yeah, let’s go with that.”
He got tackled to the sofa and smothered with a kiss, until he had to batt Spencer away, because he couldn’t breathe through his swollen nose.
“God, you’re insufferable” he told him and then let himself be cuddled on the small sofa, feeling all cozy and content and a little cornered. But he would get used to this, he wanted to.
“And you’re such a fucker” Spencer gave back, nestling closer into his neck. “Now, shut up.”
END