ACT ONE
the confrontation.

     ARLO LAUGHED LOUDLY AS he watched Billy kick the now-dirty papers. While he normally didn't find the act of knocking over students papers funny, Billy did. Therefore he did too.

The scrawny stranger seemed pissed by the act, scrambling to grab his now shoe-imprinted schoolwork. "Fuck you, Billy."

"He speaks! The bitch speaks!" Billy mocked loudly, ignoring the bell which rang through the halls.

The student on the ground didn't reply, opting to take his papers and leave. Knowing Billy was much bigger than him, he also was well aware of Billy's friends; the ones that currently leaned on lockers.

Those friends consisted of Arlo Leone, Michael Moore, Ricky Lane and Tommy Hagan.

Unfortunately for the stranger, when Billy placed his hand on his chest. He knew he wasn't allowed to leave yet.

"Not so fast.." Billy smiled, his teeth showing as he leaned his face closer to the scrawny boy. "Bow down."

"What?"

"Bow down to the king!" Tommy repeated for his friend, his familiar laugh filling the air once again.

"That's a bit much..." Arlo commented, attempting to hint that the command was unnecessary.

In response, Billy just glanced back at Arlo. Raising his eyebrows for a split second before turning back to the boy. His smile returning. "Bow down."

The stranger scoffed, not believing that Billy was serious. Yet, when Billy's smile dropped, he knew he was.

The stranger furrowed his eyebrows. Turning his head to glance at Billy's group of friends, before taking a step backwards. "No."

"What'd you just say to me?"

Arlo wanted to butt in, he wanted to tell Billy to drop it. Unfortunately, he also knew he had no authority over the Hargrove boy. Billy never listened to Arlo, which is why he stayed silent.

The scrawny boy then took another step back, the corners of his lips turning upward for just a moment before they dropped again.

As soon as they did he turned around, using his long legs to run down the hallway. Abandoning Billy and his friends as he did so.

Billy seemed pissed at the act, wanting to chase behind the boy. Unfortunately for him. When someone placed a hand on his upper arm, he was stopped from doing so.

He ripped his arm away from the hand, twisting around to scowl at Arlo for touching him. Especially in public.

"There's a hall monitor down that hall. Not worth it, you can find him after school." Arlo lied, hoping deep down Billy wouldn't be able to find the stranger.

"Arlo, don't be a pussy, man." Michael butt in, a smile remaining on his face.

"Nah, man. I'm just not being a dumbass."

"Michael's right. I decide what i'm risking. Got it, Leone?" Billy quested, earning a lazy nod as heels clicking filled their ears.

The group of friends quickly whipped their heads towards the sound. A smirk coming over Billy's lips as the school's counselor came into view. Ms. Kelley.

Ms. Kelley had only been working at Hawkins High-school for a few months.

Her happy demeanor still present due to the fact that she didn't hate the school like most of the teachers, not yet at least.

The heel clicking seemed to drowned out when she addressed their group of boys, her voice echoing in the empty hallway. "Aren't you all suppose to be in class?"

"Just the woman I was looking for. Ms Kelley, always a pleasure." Billy's smile never leaving his face as he willingly walked closer to the woman. His hand held outwards as if he wanted to shake her hand.

When she accepted the handshake, he placed a quick kiss on the top of her hand. One which made her pull her hand backwards. Her eyebrows furrowed. "You were looking for me? What for?"

"Well.. My friend here—is deeply troubled." Billy now had his head turned around, his eyes trained on Arlo.

"What?"

"Yeah, yeah.. Troubled, he needs assistance." Ricky caught onto Billy's lie, deciding to go along with it immediately.

"—From a woman." Tommy H also added.

Ms. Kelley seemed taken back by what the boys were implying, making Arlo quickly cut in. The edible he had taken abruptly settling in, making his previous embarrassment dissipate. "They're just fucking with you, man."

"Oh—Well—"

"Don't worry, Ms. K. We're going to class now." Billy added, bored with the conversation that he started. Ms. Kelley nodded, clearly still confused about the entire conversation.

Billy didn't say anything else as he began walking away, his friends following behind him. Michael being sure to blow Ms. Kelley as kiss as a parting gift.

While the group walked in a slow pace, they were stopped when Billy held his hand up. Turning to face them with annoyed eyes. "Why are you following me? Go to class.. Damn."

While they all reluctantly listened, Ricky, Tommy and Michael heading different directions. was stopped as Billy pulled him back. The aggressive nature of the pull making Arlo's arm tingle.

Billy didn't say much, instead he pulled out his pack of cigarettes. Tilting his head behind him towards the school's doors.

Arlo nodded with a shrug, slipping his hands into his pockets as Billy led the way. Arlo close behind him.

Billy leaned his back against his car, his cigarette in his hand as he stared at Arlo. Who happened to be sitting on the the group beside one of Billy's tires.

The duo had been silent, Arlo too high to focus on a conversation while Billy didn't want to start one. At least, he hadn't wanted to.

That was until Billy abruptly threw his cigarette to the ground, laughing when the bud landed on Arlo's shoe.

Arlo slowly yanked his shoe back at the sight, stomping out the cigarette before looking up at a smug Billy. "Dick move."

Billy didn't reply to his words, instead he changed the topic. "You didn't want to fuck Ms. Kelley?"

"Nah, man. I'm not into teachers—I guess.."

"More into men, right?"

"No—No. I like women."

"Yeah? That why you fucked me?" Billy questioned making Arlo frown a bit. He knew Billy would eventually bring it up, but he also wanted to believe that he wouldn't.

"I was drunk."

"No, you weren't." Billy lied, his face twisting into a disgusted face. "I was drunk. I'd never fuck a man sober, Arlo. I'm not a faggot."

"Neither am I." Arlo immediately defended, not liking the manner in which Billy was talking to him.

Billy laughed at this, pulling another cigarette out of his pack before placing it to his lips. Letting his flame consume the end of the stick. "Faggots fuck men, Arlo."

"Yeah?"

"And you fucked me. When I was drunk."

"I don't remember any of it, Billy." Arlo replied, his mind screaming at him as Billy laughed louder. Arlo could've sworn he was the one who was drunk, not Billy.

While nothing added up with Billy's previous lies, Arlo couldn't help but believe him. Billy was his friend, and he had been a shitty person to him.

"I'm sorry, Billy. I can't remember it but—but that's not an excuse."

Billy didn't reply, not accepting or rejecting the apology as he finished off the cigarette. Stomping it out before gesturing Arlo up.

Arlo listened, his eyebrows furrowing when Billy unlocked his car. His head tilting sideways. "Let's go."

Billy then rounded his car, getting into the driver's seat while Arlo reluctantly got into the passenger seat.

Arlo Leone didn't ask where they were going in the middle of the school day. Instead he sat silently, his mind racing with thoughts of how shitty of a person he was.

The one thought that sat longest on his mind being the most disappointing. That thought being that maybe his dad was right, maybe he did deserve the bruises that littered his ribs.