CHAPTER 2
EXCITEMENT

IT seemed that every moment spent at school was more unbearable than the last, at least to Veronica. She walked down the hall to her first class of the day with a melancholy expression. She tried to make herself believe this was because it was early in the morning, but she was simply tired of just being there.

Tossing her hair to the side, she watched Steve Harrington cover his girlfriend, Nancy Wheeler, with kisses. Jonathan Byers had been watching the encounter, until he eventually walked away. Veronica tried sending him a smile, but he hadn't looked up to see it, leaving her defeated. Her eyes moved back to Steve. She used to spend a lot of time with him and his crowd a couple years ago. Steve had been a dick head for a while, but she guessed Nancy changed him for the better.

When she had a falling out with their clique, she lost him too. She was grateful for that sometimes. However, this new Steve did give her the time of day, something she had been vying for secretly in sophomore year. In the end, everyone in this high school was more interested in their social status than actual friendship.

Nancy hit her boyfriend on the chest for scaring her. "God," she complained and pointed to his glasses, "take those stupid things off!"

Steve carefully slid off his black sunglasses. "I missed you."

"It's been, like, an hour."

"Tell me about it," Steve smirked before planting yet another kiss on her lips.

Veronica gagged outwardly at the couple, and Steve could just see her at the corner of his eyes. He pulled away from Nancy, watching Veronica placed a piece of bubble gum in her mouth before walking back down the hall. He cleared his throat for a moment and asked, "Hey, Nance, mind if I see that invite for a sec?"

"Yeah, sure," Nancy agreed, sliding the bright orange paper her friend had given into Steve's hands.

Steve kissed her goodbye before darting down the hall. Veronica Moreda had long legs, and he found it hard to keep up. Eventually, Steve was matching her pace, and he gave her a curt nod. "Hey, Ronnie," he greeted.

Veronica sent Steve a weird look and stopped her steady walk. She popped a bubble in his face. "Harrington," she muttered, crossing her arms over her chest. "What do you want?"

Steve laid the party invite out in front of her, to which Veronica's eyes went down. She skimmed the words carefully before blinking at Steve. "Come and get sheet-faced?" She rolled her eyes. "Can't say I've ever been a fan of puns."

She was already walking away from him – again. Steve sprinted back to her pace, frowning in her direction. "Listen, I know you hate Halloween, but ... you should come." He grinned big. "C'mon! What happened to the party animal that was Ronnie Moreda?"

"She died a long time ago," Veronica replied with a sneer. "I haven't been to a party in years, Steve. It's not my scene anymore."

"What happened to you anyways?" He asked, his voice becoming annoyed. Steve lifted his hands. "What happened to you hanging out all the time? It's been two years, Veronica. You're not ... you, anymore."

Veronica rubbed her forehead. "It's way too early to be talking about this."

Steve thrust his hand out again, allowing the orange paper to crinkle against Veronica's chest. "Just come," he said.

She finally took the invite in her hands. Veronica popped another bubble and folded the paper, sliding it into her back pocket. "I'll think about it."

•••

Veronica's English teacher, Mrs. Donero, droned on endlessly about the ending of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. They had been discussing the book since the start of October to get into the "Halloween spirit," but Veronica didn't think the book pertained to Halloween at all. Frankenstein was more of a commentary on how science can corrupt the mind of Man. Veronica was barely listening to Mrs. Donero anymore, and her eyes casted down to the book on her desk. Every where I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded, she quoted in her head.

The door to the classroom slammed opened as Veronica slid another piece of gum in her mouth. She took out the old one and squished it underneath her desk. In walked the principal of Hawkin's high school, along with the new guy she saw earlier that morning. Veronica rested her chin on her fist and blew a bubble from her gum. She could just hear the whispers from girls around the room, commenting on the attractiveness of the young male before them.

"Hello, class. I would like to introduce your new student." Principal Evans slapped a hand on the guy's shoulder. "This is William Hargrove."

"It's Billy," the new student muttered under his breath.

Mrs. Donero shook their principal's hand before escorting him out. She gestured now to Billy, still standing at the front of the room with a bored look on his face. "Thank you for joining us today, Billy. Did you get lost coming here?"

"No," he replied in an annoyed tone. Billy brushed a hand through his blonde hair.

"Okay then," Mrs. Donero sighed, feeling the awkwardness cascade into the room. She pointed to the empty seat near Veronica. "You can sit over there, beside Miss Moreda."

Veronica closed her eyes for a moment. The reason why she sat in the back of the class was so no one would sit near her. She usually sat in the corner of the right side of the room for this class, but it looks like she now had company.

Billy walked through the aisles of seats like he had some kind of superiority complex. Veronica watched him with a raised brow. Every girl he looked at seemed to squirm in their seats. Veronica sealed her lips together, attempting not to laugh at the drool dripping onto their desks.

He plopped himself into the desk beside her, sliding his back down against the seat, as if to show how much he "didn't care." Veronica thought he looked like he was trying too hard. Billy glanced her way, sending a wink.

And in response, Veronica popped a bubble right in his direction.

•••

It was always easier for Veronica to take her lunches outside. After overhearing the disastrous rumors concerning Billy Hargrove by a group of girls, Veronica had moved in the direction towards the back lot of the high school, unaware that a certain pair of eyes were watching her movements with confusion. Veronica plucked a cigarette from her pack and slid it between her teeth. She sat down at an outside table, pulling a sandwich she made that morning from her bag. Flicking on her lighter, she lit the end of her cigarette carefully.

She took a slow drag from it before then biting into her peanut butter sandwich. Her head perked up a bit at the sound of footsteps, but she paid no mind to it, knowing that there were others who sat outside for lunch as well. But then she felt a presence, and Veronica looked up with confusion. Smoke billowed out of her mouth like a tower, and as it slowly faded into the air, Veronica met the eyes of Billy Hargrove.

She then glanced around the yard, seeing no one else but the two of then. Veronica spun back to Billy, who was staring down at her with narrowed eyes. He held nothing but a water in his hands, and a cigarette subtly hung from his lips. "Are you following me?" She asked after coughing out a load of smoke.

"Don't flatter yourself," he muttered before taking a seat on the other side of the table.

Veronica still glared towards the new boy. "This table is fully taken – by me, and I don't need anymore friends."

Billy lit the bottom of his roll. "Who said I wanted to be your friend?"

"Then leave," Veronica snapped, pointing with her left hand to another table.

He didn't leave; only continued to smoke his cigarette with a sinister grin on his face. Veronica saw hostility in his light-blue eyes, and it almost made her feel afraid – almost. Or did she feel excitement? She wasn't so sure.

"I'm looking to make friends with people higher on the food chain." Billy glanced away, spotting the tiny piece of orange paper slipping out of Veronica's bag. "But I see you still got invited."

"You want it?" She dragged the invite from her bag and smacked it on the table in front of him. "I don't think I'll be going. I don't normally go to parties anymore, or hang out with those people."

Billy took the paper and put it in his jean jacket's pocket. "How'd you become friends with them?"

"I'd rather not get into details," Veronica muttered, puffing out more smoke, and a cough followed it. "But I will say that real life sucks losers dry, man. If you want to fuck with these eagles," she gestured to the area surrounding them, "you gotta learn to fly."

"The fuck does that mean?"

Veronica chose not to answer, realizing his small brain probably couldn't comprehend what she was saying. She plopped another piece of her sandwich in her mouth. An awkward silence ensued between the two of them, and Veronica found herself struggling with what to say in front of the hot-headed male.

"So," he said with a slight smirk tugging on the ends of his mouth, "you want to go to this party with me?"

Her expression turned to a frown quickly. She shook her head.

"Why not?"

"Do I owe you an answer, new kid?" She waved her hand around as smoke from her lips wafted away. "If you wanna fuck around with these popular kids, then do it yourself. I'd rather not go."

Billy leaned forward on his elbows, a full grin spread on his face. His light eyes bore into hers, and Veronica found all hairs on her neck standing up. She felt mildly uncomfortable, but she didn't move away. "You won't regret it," he replied, just loud enough for her to hear. "It'll be a good night. I can show you the excitement you seem to have been suppressing for far too long."

She took a drag from her cigarette and blew it in his face, but Billy stayed right where he was. She supposed he had a point, per se. Veronica had been thinking more about the excitement she wanted back in her life, and she couldn't deny that when she saw Billy this morning, she thought he fit the bill for it. But did she really want to get involved with this douche bag that had a tight ass, just for a night that she had been longing for? She paused her thinking. Maybe she did.

Veronica stumped her cigarette on the table and finished off the last bite of her sandwich. "I'll tell you what, new kid." She finally replied. "I'll go with you to Tina's party this weekend, if –"

"If?"

"You buy me a pack of cigs."

Billy raised a brow, causing Veronica to elaborate. "I have no I.D. and I don't drive. I can't buy them on my own."

"Fine," he agreed with a sigh, "I'll buy you a pack of Camels."

"No," she quipped, "Marlboros, red pack."

He nodded slowly, though his expression seemed sour. He laid out his hand. "Billy Hargrove," he introduced.

"I know, new kid." Her hand clutched his tightly, and she felt his fingers tense up when she squeezed them. "Veronica Moreda. Not exactly pleased to meet your acquaintance."

•••

A/N: Veronica keep insulting Billy challenge

( made by JustSav )