Billy Hargrove

closed RP with @Steve Harrington I ST 

The Indiana summer was never going to compare to the sweltering heat of San Diego, but that didn't mean Billy was about to let a heat wave — or what passed for one in Hawkins, Indiana — go to waste. And boy, had he been riding Steve's ass about the pool lately. Every time the weatherman promised a few warm days ahead, the only thing Billy would talk about was the damn pool.

And a potential party.

After all, what better way to celebrate the cancellation of Billy's monthly appointment with Dr. Kay than by throwing a damn good party?

So he'd unleashed the full force of his pretty puppy eyes on Steve and whined, "Come ooon, pretty boy... Nothin' sounds better right now! Sunbathing, music, the smell of sunscreen, fresh BBQ, water polo... It's gonna be fun!"

Steve had kept his arms crossed, doing his absolute best to maintain a stern expression while Billy relentlessly fluttered his eyelashes at him. But the moment Billy spotted that tiny twitch at the corner of Steve's lips, he knew he'd won.

In the end, though, Billy had to be the one to clean the pool. Maybe it was punishment, because it had taken three days to get it done, but it was damn worth it.

Billy wasn't entirely sure why Steve didn't seem particularly enthusiastic about finally getting the pool up and running, but... well, maybe that was a conversation for later.

"There you are," he cheered when the guy finally emerged to join him in the backyard.

No one else had shown up yet, but Billy was already dressed for the occasion in red swimming trunks, sunglasses, and a white tank top. The sun was hot enough that he could have gone shirtless already, but Billy wasn't quite ready to show off his scars just yet.

As soon as Steve stepped closer, Billy promptly turned up the music, even if The Bangles weren't really his thing. He still danced along to the rhythm, his curls swaying in the breeze with every beat of the song. 

"Have you put sunscreen on yet? You're as pale as my ass. Gotta protect yourself, even if you're still too chicken to get out of your shirt," he announced with a wink, tossing Steve a bottle.

Of course, it wasn't going to be a particularly big party or anything. Hop and El shouldn't show themselves out in the open like that, and Billy had a feeling that Jonathan and the Wheelers were still avoiding him. But at least Robin had announced her participation, along with Will and Lucas. Maybe even Dustin was coming. They had crates of beer, despite technically being underage, though Billy had made sure to stock up on plenty of soda, too. The BBQ was all set and ready to go for later — but there were no snacks in sight. Not yet.

Because there was not going to be any swimming for thirty minutes after eating anything, and the lifeguard on duty would make sure of that. No matter the cost.

© dividers by chateaubarnes & diviniyae