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hunnywrites · 3 years ago

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Arcade Dreams: Chapter Twenty Three

Summary: There’s a new girl working at the Palace Arcade and Hawkins’ Family Video. Billy can’t stand her, and the feeling is mutual. No matter what everyone else seems to think.

Pairing: Billy Hargrove/OFC

A/N: Hi...so, I’m so sorry this took so long to update. Truly. I’ve been so anxious writing this chapter and making sure it at least sort of makes up for being gone for so long. I’m also throwing in a hint at a potential spin off series that I’m excited about. So, enjoy!

Teddi was sure that it wasn’t possible for time to move slower. Somehow she’d been thrown into some sort of sick time warp once she’d shown up for work and now it felt like she would be in that stupid lifeguard chair for the rest of enternity. Summer in Hawkins was proving to be brutal enough between the heat and the fact that nearly every single kid in town wanted to spend their free time at the pool. Add in the feeling that her day would never end, and Teddi was about to dive head first into the shallow end.

There was enough to keep her mildly entertained, she supposed. There was a third grader (who she learned was named Kevin because his mother had a lovely habit of screaming at him to stay within eyesight about every four minutes) who was trying, and mostly failing, to swim with a bright green snorkel mask that made him stick out like a sore thumb. Watching him struggling to doggy paddle back and forth between each side of the shallow end had at least helped the last hour or so pass a little bit more quickly.

Teddi peered over her star shaped sunglasses to the shiny red clock that hung on the snackbar’s back wall. Only two minutes had passed since she’d last checked. She let out a loud groan.

“You’re lookin’ a little antsy there, Weird Girl,” Teddi jumped at the sound of Billy’s voice. He was leaning against her chair, his sunglasses pushed down the bridge of his nose and flashing a sly grin her way. “Waiting on something?” he asked, his eyebrows raising.

Teddi’s nose wrinkled before she pushed her glasses back into place. “Nothing special,” she chirped simply. Billy let out a chuckle, humming out an mmhmm before crossing his arms over his chest. She let out a huff, letting her casual facade break before sinking in her seat. “Working on your birthday should be illegal. I feel like I’ll never get out of this hell hole. And at this point I’m pretty sure that kid with the snorkel is trying to drown himself.”

“Probably hoping for some mouth to mouth from the babely lifeguard,” Billy teased, wriggling his eyebrows and letting out a chuckle. Teddi rolled her eyes. Billy pushed off of the chair, righting his sunglasses and throwing his thumb over his shoulder. “Just get outta here, Larsson. I’ll take over. I’ll meet you back home after my shift.”

Teddi eyed him suspiciously. “Are you being nice, or is this because it’s my birthday?”

“Nice?” Billy scoffed, his top lip lifting into a sneer that somehow was also a smirk in a way only Billy could pull off. “I’m just hoping for some birthday sex.”

Teddi rolled her eyes, climbing down from her chair. Her hands settled on her hips. “Shouldn’t it be me hoping for the birthday sex?”

“Sweetheart, I’d be more than willing to make that happen.” he leaned in towards her, the smell of his spearmint gum hitting her as his sneer had turned into that devilish smile of his, and it was Teddi’s turn to scoff. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself from smiling.

“Just go do your job, Hargrove.” she moved around him with a playful shove, sauntering off towards the locker room. Billy’s hand wrapped around Teddi’s wrist, and she was spun around against his chest with a small oof.

Teddi’s hands braced against Billy’s bare chest while Billy’s hands rested at her hips. “Or,” he leaned in, his voice low. “I can get Katie to cover for me and we can spend a little time in the sauna. Y’know, get a little head start on the birthday celebrations.”

No one used the gym or Sauna that sat around the corner from the men’s locker room. Adam had made the mistake of letting it slip to Billy that it was a good place to sneak off for a smoke when things were slow. Billy hadn’t wasted any time pulling Teddi into his newly found hideout for some quality alone time in between their swim classes.

The sauna smelled a little too strongly of musk and weed. The lights inside flickered constantly either because they’d never been replaced or from lack of use. It had always given Teddi a very Friday the 13th sort of feeling. Like if she stuck around too long Jason would show up and burn her face on the bed of coals. But Billy was also very, very convincing.

Teddi felt her cheeks and the love bites that speckled her ribs burn at the memory of their last trip to the sauna. She bit her lip, her fingers flexing slightly and her nails digging into Billy’s skin. Her mouth opened to say yes, but she caught herself. “I can’t. I want to, but I still gotta get something to wear tonight. Plus, I think if Freddy catches us in there again he might have an aneurysm.” she joked.

Billy let out a short breath through his nose, rolling his eyes. “Worth a shot.” Teddi patted his arm, pressing a kiss to his cheek before hurrying away from that accursed lifeguard chair.

Cheryl was stationed behind the snackbar, looking bored as usual. When she noticed Teddi approaching her, she perked up, smiling sweetly at her.

“How’s it going, Teddi?” she asked, leaning against the counter and placing her chin in her hand.

Teddi was almost too afraid to make direct eye contact. This definitely wasn’t normal Cheryl behavior. “Uh...it’s goin’ okay…” her eyes narrowed at the blonde. “What do you want, Cheryl?” she asked.

Cheryl’s expression immediately fell. That overly sweet smile was replaced with Cheryl’s trademark annoyed pout as she rolled her eyes dramatically. She flipped her strawberry blonde hair over her shoulder, crossing her arms firmly over her chest. “Your shift’s over, right? Are you like...doing anything after this?” she shifted from foot to foot, and Teddi couldn’t believe that she was actually witnessing what appeared to be a nervous Cheryl Burns.

Teddi’s mouth fell open just slightly before she turned to look over both of her shoulders. She turned back to Cheryl, her eyebrows screwed together tightly. “...Did Billy put you up to this or something?” she finally asked.

Cheryl sneered. “Yeah, right. I’d rather shove my own fist in my mouth and choke on it,” she spat. Cheryl stood up straight, gripping the counter top as if it was physically painful for her to be speaking to Teddi. “Look,” she huffed. “Hawkins totally like, blows ass, okay? I don’t have anyone to hang out with and I’m about to shoot myself. Like, literally. I’d rather die than spend another night at home watching some lame ass movie my parents rented. It’s totally pathetic.”

Forget the time warp. Teddi had to be stuck in some sort of alternate dimension where Cheryl Burns actually wanted to be her friend. Teddi shook her head, blinking a few times. “Uh...aren’t you friends with Carol? Why not hang out with her?”

For a second Teddi thought Cheryl might actually spit on her. “Carol’s a psychotic bitch,” she said cooly. “She started bitching at me, like, constantly because I wasn’t totally obsessed with you like she is.”

Teddi blinked. “...Carol is obsessed with me?” that was definitely news to her. It was no secret that Carol and Tommy didn’t like Teddi, but she never imagined that Carol might be obsessed with her in any sense.

Cheryl rolled her eyes, flipping her hair over her shoulder again. “Totally. It’s because she’s like...insanely jealous that you’re with Billy. She’s the one that started that whole rumor that he knocked you up. It’s what she does. I didn’t want to go to her stupid sixteenth birthday party she was throwing at her parent’s shitty winter cabin a few years ago and she told everyone I was screwing the gym coach. As if.” she scoffed.

And just like she had come to realize with Billy, Teddi was learning that there was much more to Cheryl Burns than meets the eye. In any case, this was definitely not how she saw her day going. “Um...well, I was actually gonna drive out to the mall. I have to find something to wear tonight-”

Cheryl’s eyes lit up at the mention of shopping. “Ooo, what’s tonight? Hot date night? I can totally help. I mean...no offense, but I have a way better sense of fashion than you do.”

Teddi couldn’t really argue there. She let out a snort, shaking her head. “None taken. I’m going to the movies with Billy, Max and El for my birthday-”

“It’s your birthday? And you came to work? Ew,” Cheryl sneered. “Look, can I tag along or not? I’m not about to beg you, Teddi.” the way the conversation was going, Teddi almost felt like Cheryl would be doing her a favor by coming along to the mall.

Teddi bit her bottom lip and cast a look over her shoulder. Billy was slouched casually in the lifeguard chair, sunglasses covering his eyes. It didn’t fool Teddi. She knew that he was watching her and Cheryl. His jaw tightened and relaxed a few times and his hands were clenching to fists.

Of course Billy would be nervous to see Teddi talking to his ex. Teddi turned back to Cheryl, who looked completely put out by her situation, and smiled before nodding. “Yeah, yeah. That would actually be fun, Cheryl.”

“And Billy would totally shit a fit.” Cheryl said with a smirk.

Teddi let out a snort. “Totally.”

Cheryl made her way around the corner, linking her arm with Teddi’s. She flipped her hair over her shoulder, flashing that dazzling smile of hers in Billy’s direction and wriggling her fingers at him in a wave. Billy’s face turned as red as his swim trunks as he watched the two girls walk off, breaking out into a fit of giggles.

---

It turned out that Cheryl was just as opinionated as Billy when it came to music. Teddi had flipped the radio on as they made their way to Starcourt, and Cheryl had groaned loudly as soon as Kiss flowed through the speakers. Her pink, sparkly nails jabbed angrily at the radio buttons before she finally settled on a Heart song.

Cheryl crossed her arms firmly across her chest, not because she was angry, but because she was Cheryl, and looked around at the inside of the van. “So, what...is this like your little love den?” she asked, her eyes trained on the disco ball hanging above them.

Teddi rolled her eyes. “No. It’s...a clubhouse if anything.”

That was clearly not what Cheryl wanted to hear. “Please. It’s me we’re talking about here, Teddi. I’ve been there, done that with Billy. Like things with you two aren’t constantly ‘if the van’s a rockin’ don’t come a knockin’,” she scoffed. Teddi winced a little. Cheryl went quiet, those intimidating eyes of hers trained on Teddi. “Oh my god,” Cheryl groaned. “Teddi, we have way bigger problems than finding you something to wear on your little playdate.”

Teddi huffed, shifting uncomfortably in her seat and refusing to look at Cheryl. “It’s not a playdate. And it’s not a big deal, okay? It’s complicated.” she said, trying to sound as stern as she could.

Cheryl turned in her seat to face Teddi, bringing her knee up to her chest and looking like a cat that had just caught the canary. “You live together, Teddi. I hate the bastard, but I’m not an idiot. If I was stuck in an apartment with him 24/7 I’d be on him like peanut butter on jelly,” Teddi couldn’t help but laugh. Of course Cheryl was right. It made no sense for Teddi to be so closed off. But it was all just very, very complicated. “You’re not a virgin, are you?” Cheryl finally asked.

Teddi definitely didn’t appreciate the accusing tone. “No- Jesus, Cheryl. We’ve been friends for literally five minutes-”

“I’m nosy. You get used to it. So, what’s the problem?...Is he gay? I’ve kinda always had my suspicions-”

Teddi shook her head wildly. “Billy is definitely not the issue here. It’s me.” again she shifted in her seat.

Cheryl looked her up and down a few times, as if the answer would suddenly appear if she looked at Teddi long enough. “Well it can’t be that you’re like...horribly scarred or disfigured or something. I’ve caught a peek a few times in the locker room after gym,” Cheryl pursed her lips. Teddi felt her cheeks burn as she gripped the steering wheel tightly. “You can just tell me. I’ll just keep guessing until I get it right.”

Teddi groaned. “You know, Heather doesn’t pull this kind of shit with me-”

Cheryl rolled her eyes. “Heather is practically a kitten in a care bear costume. She’s all princesses and rainbows.” Teddi couldn’t exactly argue with that comparison.

“It’s just…” she shifted in her seat. “I have trouble when it comes to taking the step to sleep with someone when I have feelings for them,” she explained. “I have…ugh, I don’t know if I’d call it trauma, but my last relationship was totally fucked and I’m just terrified every single waking moment that if I have sex with Billy it’ll make things real and therefore something I could lose.” she shrugged, letting out a loud breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

Cheryl was quiet, her lips pursed. “So…if you didn’t like Billy, you’d have no problem jumping into the backseat of his Camaro?” she asked, tilting her head.

“...It’s hard to say. I couldn’t really stand him when I first met him.”

Cheryl scoffed. “Like that matters. Billy can be a piece of shit, but he’s a piece of shit that fills his jeans out perfectly. I totally don’t believe that you didn’t think about it before whatever it was that got you two all cozy.”

Teddi let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. “Cheryl, don’t take this the wrong way��but, you’re like, freakishly astute sometimes.”

Cheryl shrugged, picking at her nails. “Comes with the territory. You pick at people’s insecurities long enough and you get really good at seeing through everyone’s bullshit.”

“...Do you like picking at people?”

“Do you mean do I enjoy everyone thinking I’m a frigid, scary, bitch?” she asked with an overly sweet smile as she looked over at Teddi. Teddi made a face. “I don’t really plan on keeping in touch with anyone in Hawkins. And, maybe I could have been voted prom queen if I had been, like, a sweet little girl scout like Nancy Wheeler or Chrissy Cunningham…but, I was a frigid, scary, bitch and was still voted prom queen. So, it works for me.”

It never really occurred to Teddi that Cheryl’s attitude was simply a protective front. A way to survive high school and get the attention she craved. She definitely hadn’t assumed that Cheryl had at least some semblance of a conscience unlike Carol.

“Well,” Teddi glanced nervously over at Cheryl. “What about you? You’re not keeping in touch with anyone in Hawkins, does that mean you’re done dating?”

Cheryl rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “I don’t know. There’s, like…two guys our age that I haven’t dated in this shithole. And I’d rather eat shit than go anywhere near Harrington,” she scoffed. “He’s got the most annoying tone, you know? Like, he thinks he’s fucking Ferris Buller or something.” her nose scrunched up in disgust.

Teddi let out a snort. “Oookay, then who’s the other guy? What’s wrong with him?”

“I don’t know his name,” she said with a shrug. “He hung around Billy sometimes. Sold him pot, or whatever.”

Teddi’s eyes widened, looking quickly between Cheryl and the road. Cheryl seemed unimpressed by her reaction. “Eddie Munson?” Teddi asked. “You want to date Eddie Munson?”

Cheryl scoffed. “I never said I wanted to date him. I said he’s the last name on a short, shitty list.”

“Well, I could always put in a good word…I mean, he’ll probably think I’m fucking with him, but…” Teddi shook her head.

“No offense, but, I really don’t need your help getting a guy to go out with me,” Cheryl said. “Especially a guy like Eddie.”

Teddi raised an eyebrow. “Uh, none taken…I think?” she shook her head. “He really doesn’t seem like your type, is all I’m saying.”

“I don’t have a type,” Cheryl said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “At least, not anymore. Keith sorta-”

“Keith?” Teddi spat. “My Keith? My boss, Keith?”

Cheryl pursed her lips, shooting an annoyed glance Teddi’s way. “Yes. He made me laugh.”

Teddi realized then that she’d never heard Cheryl laugh before. “Cheryl, you are a mystery wrapped in an enigma.” she said with a laugh.

“I know,” Chery said with a flip of her hair.

When they arrived at Starcourt, Cheryl hopped out of the van, linking her arm with Teddi’s and practically dragging her inside. It was like she was on a mission. Like she’d been waiting her entire life to play dress up with Teddi. And if Teddi had been brave enough to ask, she had a feeling that probably wouldn’t be too far from the truth.

Cheryl pulled Teddi into the first store she saw, letting her go only so that she could grab items of clothing and drape them over her arm. “So, can I ask why you’re choosing to spend your birthday with two twelve year olds rather than alone with your hot boyfriend?” she asked, not bothering to look back at the way Teddi was nervously hovering behind her.

“Well, technically you did ask,” Cheryl shot her an unimpressed look. “Right. Uh…I don’t know,” she said with a shrug. “I wanted to. I like hanging out with them.”

“Or you could be using them to shield yourself from a night of steamy birthday sex.” Cheryl said simply.

Teddi winced. “You know, when you say it like that it makes me sound-”

“Batshit insane?” Cheryl asked. “Completely fucking stupid? Like a total wackjob?”

“Okay, Cheryl,” Teddi grumbled. “I get the picture.”

Cheryl smiled sweetly at her, taking the stack of clothes she’d picked out and shoving them at Teddi. “Go try these on,” she ordered. “And I wanna see that toned tush in everything,” she pointed a long, perfectly painted nail at her. “Don’t make me come in there, Larsson.”

Teddi raised her eyebrows. “...You think it’s toned?”

“I’ve actually been, like, dying to ask how you pull it off. Is it, like, Jane Fonda tapes or from all the swimming?” Cheryl shook her head. “We’ll talk about it later. Go,” she said, pushing Teddi towards the dressing room.

“You know what we should do after this?” Cheryl asked, not waiting for Teddi to answer. “We should go make Harrington give us free ice cream. You know, for your birthday and all.”

Teddi let out a snort as she shimmied out of her clothes. “Cheryl, I think I might be in love with you.”

“I get that a lot.”

—

“Does every movie you pick out have to be so…fucked, Teddi?” Billy asked, his arm around Teddi’s shoulders as they walked out of the movie theater and back into the mall.

“It’s a Wizard of Oz sequel!” she argued. “I thought it’d be kind of weird. I didn’t think it’d be so…”

“Totally haunting?” Max finished for her.

Teddi let out a huff like laugh. “Okay, so it was a little disturbing,” she agreed. “But, it was still good, right? We all enjoyed it,”she rolled her eyes when Billy and Max shared a look and let out a simultaneous ehhh. “You two are assholes. Wait here, okay? I’ve had to pee for like, half the movie.”

El mumbled in agreement, the two girls running off towards the bathroom. Billy let out a sigh, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms. Max kicked at the ground. “...Kinda surprised Neil never threatened to send us to a place like that,” she said finally. Billy raised an eyebrow. “You know, electroshock the rebellion out of us, or whatever.”

Billy let out a short laugh. “Yeah. Good thing that kinda thing’s not real, right?”

“It totally is.” Max said.

“Bullshit.”

“I’m serious! El was in a place like that before Hopper adopted her. Her head was shaved and everything-”

Billy scoffed. “You’re lying. There’s no way. If she grew up in a place like that she’d be way more-”

Max rolled her eyes. “She’s tougher than she looks,” she tilted her head, watching Billy with that smug look that he hated so much. “She’s, like, the total opposite of you.” she teased.

Billy glared at her, opening his mouth to snap back.

“What are you two bickering about now?” Teddi asked with a sigh. Billy and Max turned to look at her and El, their expressions softening.

“I was telling Billy that you guys should get a dog,” Max lied. “A little one. You can name it Toto.”

Billy rolled his eyes. “We’re not getting a dog.”

“Yeah, that might not be a great idea,” Teddi agreed. Billy raised an eyebrow. “Billy already has fleas, anyways.” she teased. El and Max snickered beside her.

Billy rolled his eyes. “Funny. Can we get out of here?”

“You guys don’t wanna go see if I can get us more free birthday ice cream out of Steve?” she asked, looking between the three of them.

“We can’t!” El protested. Teddi frowned.

“She means that we’re having a sleepover at her place and it’s already getting late.” Max corrected, shooting her best friend a look. El nodded, smiling thinly.

Teddi looked at Billy who only shrugged. “Right. I guess Hop’s kind of a stickler about curfews, huh? We’ll drop you off, right?”

Billy grumbled. “Like I have a choice…”

The ride back to the cabin was uncharacteristically quiet. Teddi’s eyes kept flicking to the rearview mirror, watching Max and El as they both looked out of the backseat windows silently. Had something happened when she’d been in the bathroom? Had Max and Billy gotten into a fight?

She looked over at Billy. He was chewing on his thumb nail, his left hand gripping the steering wheel tightly. Something was definitely wrong. Billy noticed Teddi watching him, his tense shoulders relaxing and reaching out for her hand. She linked her fingers with his, her thumb rubbing comfortingly at his. She was so going to grill him after they dropped the girls off.

Hopper was smoking out on the porch when they finally pulled up to the cabin. Max and El both hurried out of the car, already up to the porch by the time Teddi had slid out of the passenger’s seat. “Hey, birthday girl. How was the movie?”

“It had...mixed reviews.” Teddi said with a small laugh.

Hopper smiled, flicking the butt of his cigarette out into the yard and nodding back into the cabin. “You guys wanna come in for a birthday Eggo triple layer extravaganza?”

Teddi looked back at Billy. He was already out of the Camaro, hands in the pockets of his leather jacket as he joined everyone on the porch. Teddi smiled and nodded, hurrying into the cabin after Max and El. Teddi barely had any time to take in the colorful decor that was hanging around the cabin before her friends were jumping up from their hiding places, loudly shouting surprise!

Teddi let out a surprised shout, falling back against Billy. Lucas, Will, Mike and Dustin were standing behind the couch while Steve and Robin were squished together in the doorway of El’s bedroom. Teddi’s mouth opened and closed a few times. “This is for me?” she finally asked.

“It’s your birthday, isn’t it?” Mike asked, frowning when Will elbowed him in the side.

“You have no idea how hard it was to not say anything,” Max said, letting out a relieved breath. “Seriously,” she let out a snort. “You should see your face.”

“On it.” Dustin said, lifting his polaroid camera and snapping a picture of Teddi. She blinked at the bright light of the flash.

El tilted her head. “This was a good lie, wasn’t it?”

Teddi shook her head, a wide smile on her lips. “Yeah! Yes. Of course,” she looked around at the decorations, sniffing a little at the sight of the Happy Birthday Teddi banner that hung in the kitchen. “Sorry, I’m just…surprised. I totally wasn’t expecting this.”

“That’s the point of a surprise party.”

“Mike.” Will hissed.

Teddi turned to look at Hopper and Billy, who were both hovering awkwardly by the front door. Her eyes welled up with tears. Hopper smiled “Don’t look at me, kid. It was his idea,” he said, nodding to Billy. Billy winced.

“Your idea?” Teddi asked.

Billy scoffed. “It’s not that shocking, is it?” he grunted when Teddi hugged him tightly. He was still against her for a moment, the corner of his lips turning up as he wrapped his arms around her waist. Teddi sniffed against his shoulder. “Uh…those are happy tears, right?” She nodded.

Billy shifted awkwardly against her. “Harrington, little help here?”

Steve hurried over to the kitchen, throwing the freezer door open. “Look, Ted! We brought your favorites! Huh? Strawberry! And look, it’s an entire cake made of USS Butterscotch!”

“Yeah, we totally jacked them from work.” Robin added, nodding enthusiastically. “Which…I don’t think should technically be considered a crime if it’s for your friend’s birthday,” she said, shooting a nervous glance at Hopper. “And you know, Scoops Ahoy makes, like, millions of dollars, so it’s not like-”

“You can buy my silence for a slice of cake, how’s that?” Hopper said, shaking his head.

Steve and Robin both let out sighs of relief. “Cheap date, huh?” Steve said, the two snickering. Steve’s smile dropped when Hopper shot him a tired look. He cleared his throat. “...Sorry.’

Teddi let out a laugh, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “You guys are totally the best.”

“We know,” Lucas said with a smug grin. “Now, can we cut the cake and get down to business? Will brought a stack of board games and I’ve been owed a Clue rematch for three months.”

—

“Bye, guys! Thank you for the party!” Teddi called back to the cabin, waving at Hopper and El who were standing out on the porch. She slid into the Camaro, unable to hide her smile as she looked over at Billy.

He raised an eyebrow. “Why’re you looking at me like that, Larsson?”

Teddi shook her head, beckoning him closer. Billy let out a dramatic grumble, leaning in so Teddi could kiss him. “Billy Hargrove,” she sighed, her hand resting against his cheek. “I think I might be in love with you.”

There was only a beat of silence before Billy flashed a slow smile. It was a stark contrast from the way his heart was hammering in his chest. “Oh, yeah?” Teddi nodded. “Well, if you love me now just wait ‘til you see what I have planned at home.”

Teddi laughed, pulling away from him. “You mean there’s more?”

“Obviously,” he said, bringing the Camro’s roaring engine to life. “I haven’t given you your present yet.”

Teddi groaned. “You really didn’t have to get me anything, Billy.”

“Of course I did,” he rolled his eyes. “That’s how birthday’s work, Weird Girl. Cake, presents, Harrington getting into a screaming match with Henderson over Hungry, Hungry Hippos,” Teddi let out a snort. Billy cast a glance over at her before resting his hand on her thigh. “You know, maybe I should get Cheryl a present for picking that dress out.”

Teddi smiled, opening the denim jacket she’d borrowed from Billy to show her new dress off. “You like it, huh? I was worried it might be a little too much-”

Billy shook his head. “Definitely not. I’ve lost count of how many comments I’ve had to bite back about how great your tits look ‘cause of the…impressionable ears, or whatever it is you call the dorkettes.”

“Jesus, Billy,” Teddi laughed. “You’re such a romantic.” she snickered, falling against his shoulder.

Billy grinned, pulling his hand away from her thigh and wrapping his arm around her. “Oh, I’m all about the romance, baby.”

Teddi hummed. “You are in, like…a very Billy way,” she agreed. “The surprise party was really sweet.”

Billy didn’t say anything. He kissed her head, the two falling into a comfortable silence. Billy thought back to his conversation with Max outside of the theater. He shifted in his seat, shooting a glance over at Teddi. “So...Max told me that El was in one of those places? Like in the movie? Like a…mental hospital, or something?”

Teddi seemed surprised by the question. “Oh…uh, yeah. Hopper told me a little bit about it. She was there when he adopted her.”

“What asshole would stick her in a place like that? She’s a kid.”

Teddi shrugged. “Her dad, apparently,” Billy frowned as he looked down at her. “I know. I don’t know a lot about him. I don’t like asking El, because I don’t want to upset her, but the guy sounded nuts. He thought there were kids out there with super powers and he kinda pushed the idea onto her.”

Billy scoffed. “The guy thinks the X-men are real so she’s gotta be locked up and shocked? What a piece of shit…what happened to him? I mean, how come Hopper adopted her? The cops get involved or something?”

Teddi shifted uncomfortably. “Um…there was a fire or something at the hospital. He didn’t make it out, I guess.”

“...This was in Hawkins?”

“Maybe?” Teddi shook her head, her eyes trained on the road ahead of them. “I’m not sure.”

Billy knew it was a lie. She knew more than she was letting it on. He gripped the steering wheel a little tighter, the two falling into a more uncomfortable silence the rest of the drive home. He wouldn’t push the subject tonight. It was her birthday after all. When they arrived at the apartment, Billy took Teddi’s hand, pulling her to the living room and mumbling for her to wait there.

He disappeared into his bedroom. Teddi could hear him rummaging around in his closet for what felt like forever until he finally returned with a brown package in his hands. He hovered awkwardly in front of her for a few moments before handing it over to her. “I’m not great at wrapping shit, so…”

Teddi smiled, shaking her head. “That’s okay.” she didn’t waste time ripping the brown paper bag free from the present waiting inside. Her eyes widened a little before she looked up at Billy. It was a copy of the Fellowship of the Ring. It was bound in a black, scaled, hardcover with golden lettering and detailing. Her fingers felt like they were tingling as she held it in her hands. She thought back to when she’d first moved to Hawkins. That day in the coffee shop when Billy had teased her for reading shit like Lord of the Rings while trying to convince her to watch Max so he could fuck Cheryl out at her spot by the lake.

Now there she was, wearing a dress that Cheryl had picked out for her, holding a brand new copy of her favorite book that Billy Hargrove of all people had gotten her for her birthday. She almost wanted to laugh.

Billy rubbed nervously at his neck. “You’re always reading that other one and it’s falling apart and I figured you’d be...upset or whatever if it did so….” he shifted awkwardly. “That’s why I missed El’s birthday. I’d been trying to track it down and that chick Mckenna said she’d save a copy for me…”

Teddi felt stupid. She’d made herself sick thinking Billy had been cheating on her after El had seen him with Mckenna. Now it all made sense.

“If you don’t like it-” Teddi set the book onto the coffee table, turning to Billy and shoving him down onto the couch. He grunted, looking up at her with a smirk. “Jesus, Larsson. You could just say thank you.”

“I am.” she said simply, crawling onto his lap and straddling him as she kissed him. Billy smiled against her lips, not wasting any time to lick into her mouth. Teddi groaned, grabbing fists full of his jacket. She wondered if he could feel her heart pounding against his own chest.

His hands ran up her thighs and under her dress, squeezing her ass as she grinded down against him. “Shit,” he hissed, pulling away from her. “You’re not just teasing me again, are you Teddi?” he asked, resting his forehead against hers.

Teddi looked up at him, her eyes heavy and her lip gloss smudged against her swollen lips. She shook her head. “Not this time.” He didn’t need to hear anything else. Billy stood, his grip on her thighs almost bruising as he carried to her room. He kicked the door shut behind him.

Billy set her down, the pair kicking off their boots and tossing their jackets onto the floor. He grabbed her waist, pulling her against him and kissing her. His hands ran blindly against the fabric of her dress. “Where’s the damn zipper?” he muttered against her lips. “I’m about to rip the fucking thing off-”

“Don’t you dare,” Teddi scolded him before lifting her arm. “It’s on the side-”

Billy silenced her with another kiss. He freed the zipper, making quick work of pulling the dress over her head and tossing it onto the ground with their jackets. Teddi pushed his shirt off of his shoulders, her fingers fumbling to unbutton the rest of the buttons before letting it pool at his feet.

Billy tossed her back onto her bed, unbuckling his belt and tossing it to the floor. The mattress dipped under his weight, Teddi’s eyes glued to the way the muscles in his shoulders moved as he crawled up her body. His hand ran across the underside of her leg, his lips started a trail of kisses that started from her shin and traveled painfully slowly up to her thigh.

If he was as nervous as Teddi, he wasn’t showing it. Billy was the total opposite of her. His hands didn’t shake. His breathing was even. He had a look in his eye that told Teddi he’d never felt more sure of anything in his entire life. Teddi couldn’t help but squirm under his gaze.

“You okay there, Teddi Bear?” he asked, his hand rubbing her thigh soothingly. “Need me to tie you down?”

Teddi groaned out a laugh. “No. It’s just…been awhile…”

Billy only grinned up at her. He grabbed her thighs, pulling her down the bed so that he was hovering over her. “I ever tell you you’re cute when you’re nervous?” Teddi’s hands rested against his chest as he dipped down, leaving a slow kiss at the base of her neck.

“I’m not nervous,” she argued. Billy kissed her neck again. “I’m…anxious.” another kiss. “That- that’s different, right?”

Billy hummed against her skin, kissing her just below her jaw. “And how do you propose we fix that?” he asked lowly, his teeth pulling at her ear lobe.

“Um…” Teddi sighed, her eyes fluttering shut. Billy kissed her collarbone, his lips leading a trail down her chest, between the valley of her breasts and biting at the skin over her ribs. If she had been more coherent maybe she would have felt more embarrassed that he’d turned her brain to jello.

Billy looked up at Teddi; her eyebrows drawn together as she tried to think of any sort of response. “You gotta use your words, baby,” he mumbled against her skin. Teddi squirmed under him. “What’s the birthday girl want, huh?”he asked, his hand snaking down her stomach and into the waistband of her underwear.

“My hands?” his middle finger dipped inside her. The corner of his lips turned upwards at the way she moaned and clenched around his digit, grinding down against his hand, silently begging him for more. “Or maybe my mouth?” he asked, loving how Teddi arched against him when he ran his tongue across her nipple. A sharp, wonderful tingle ran up her spine when he bit at the skin around it.

Teddi wanted to cry. Call him an asshole. Satan, even. She wanted to tell him that she hated him. But her brain and her mouth weren’t cooperating. She could only let out a strangled sound as her hips rocked in an admittedly pathetic attempt at fucking herself with Billy’s finger. Billy drove her out of her mind during every other waking moment. She didn’t know why she expected sex to be any different.

“But, you know,” he hummed. “If I know you as well as I think you do, you probably want me to cut the shit and fuck you, huh, Teddi?”

“God, I hate you.” she finally managed to get out.

Billy laughed. “Hate me?” Teddi whined when his finger slipped out of her. He gripped her chin in his hand, his finger slick against her skin. “I thought you said you loved me,” he frowned down at her, titling his head. “Tell me what you want, Teddi. And I’ll give it to you.”

Teddi huffed, turning her head away in shame or annoyance, she wasn’t really sure. Billy’s grip on her chin tightened, forcing her to look at him. “...I want you to cut the shit and fuck me.” she finally admitted.

He grinned at her, Teddi’s stomach doing a flip as he leaned closer, his nose brushing against hers. “Tell me you love me first.” he bit out.

“I love you, Billy-” he kissed her. It was a hard, bruising kiss that made Teddi inhale sharply, her nails digging into the bare skin of his chest before falling limp against him. She reached down, blindly fumbling with his button and zipper to free him from his jeans.

Billy made her feel almost like a doll with the way he threw her legs open. While Teddi pushed his jeans down his hips, Billy pushed her underwear to the side, licking his lips when his eyes met her wet core.

Teddi gasped when he pushed inside of her. Finally. She clenched around him hard, Billy muttering out a fuck between gritted teeth. Wrapping an arm around her waist, Billy pulled her up from the mattress and flush against his body, the angle letting him slide just that much deeper before he started rocking into her.

Billy kissed her anywhere he could reach. Her chest, her shoulders, her neck. Teddi was sure that there would be bruises on her hip the next morning where he held her to him with a white knuckle grip. Her legs locked around his waist, her head lolling back. The friction of Billy’s chest rubbing against her breasts with each snap of his hips created a warm feeling in her chest that seemed to dull the hammering of her heart.

He went still against her suddenly. Billy rocked back onto his knees, his hands sliding under her thighs. “Look at me,” he said softly. Teddi groaned, her forehead falling against his shoulder. “I said, look at me, Teddi.” his voice a little more venomous now.

She pulled away, blinking up at him. Billy took in the way her big, green, blurry eyes looked back at him. The way she clenched and squirmed around him, silently begging him to keep moving. The way her skin felt so soft and warm against his. He had to commit every moment of this to memory.

“Say it again.”

Teddi let out a breathy laugh, smiling as her fingers wove through his hair and kissed him. “I love you, Billy.” she repeated.

Billy let out an uneasy breath. He leaned in, nuzzling against Teddi’s neck. “Fuck, I love you.” he mumbled against her skin. Teddi smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. Billy patted her thigh, rocking up into her. He groaned into her neck when her hips rolled down against him to meet his thrust.

Teddi’s breathing was becoming more uneven. Her forehead met Billy’s, her bottom lip trapped between her teeth as she tried to keep the roll of her hips from becoming too messy. Billy could feel the way her muscles were coiling tightly around him. He reached down between them, his fingers rubbing slow circles against her clit.

Her hips were grinding down against him now. Teddi cursed under her breath, her eyes screwing shut. Her jaw dropped open, her body twitching and pathetically rocking against Billy as she came. Billy layed her back down onto the bed, his hands pinning her hips to the mattress. His hips snapped roughly against her as he helped her ride out her orgasm while chasing his own.

Teddi reached up, her hand cupping Billy’s cheek. Her thumb rubbed lovingly at his skin, Billy shutting his eyes and leaning into her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm. He reached up, his fingers linking with hers, pulling her hand from him and kissing the inside of her wrist. His hips stuttered just slightly before he spilled inside her, groaning against her skin.

They stayed like that for a moment before Billy finally looked down at Teddi. He knew she was chewing on her bottom lip to keep herself from smiling. He let out a short laugh, pulling out of her with a grunt and laying on his back beside her. They were quiet as they looked up at the glow in the dark stickers on the ceiling.

“...This better not result in another surprise gift in nine months.” Teddi finally said.

Billy snorted, smirking at the idea and looking over at her. “No? It’d definitely be like us, not doing shit in proper order.”

Teddi made a face. He definitely had a point there. “We should at least go out on a date before we bring kids into the picture.”

He grinned at her. “You asking me out, Larsson?” he asked, his arm snaking around her waist. “You better be taking me somewhere nice.” he teased.

“Maybe I am,” Teddi smiled. “We could see Day of the Dead. Maybe try the new pizza place at the mall.”

Billy nodded. “No pineapple, though.”

Teddi rolled her eyes. “Fine. No pineapple this time.”

“Then it’s a date. I’ll pick you up after work tomorrow night.”

#Billy Hargrove #billy hargrove fic #billy hargrove x oc

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