Summary: Working at the local Snack Shack at Hawkins Pool wasn't your dream but it's a decent summer job before college. It did come with a perk of being in proximity to the recent California transfer and resident asshole, Billy Hargrove. Having a nice view of the handsome blond was good enough, but when circumstances lead you to an encounter with Billy and then a chance to become friends, perhaps even more, you can't stay away. Maybe Billy Hargrove isn't such an asshole after all. [Canon with a variation]

Warnings: eventual mentions of abuse, smoking, alcohol, sexual themes.

Word Count: 3.1k

Author's Note: Soft Billy is my kryptonite and I make no apologies of how sweet he is in this chapter, okay?? I can't get enough! I hope you'll enjoy it. :D Please let me know in the comments what you think of this chapter!! I appreciate you!!

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A strange but nice companionship grew between you and Billy when you both had closing shifts. Good tunes, some goofy moves, and the time passed pleasantly until you left for home. Somehow it evolved into you both requesting the later shifts, independently.

One evening, you had the particularly enjoyable task of scraping dried gum off the bottom of the patio tables and chairs. The Snack Shack didn't even sell gum. Who was bringing gum to the community pool? Disgusting. So there you were, ass parked on the pavement with a table on its side and a butterknife in hand. The rock music played on as you glanced over at Billy as he checked the pH levels of the pool water. Something about safe levels of chlorine, you weren't really sure.

Focused back on your task, you were surprised to hear a loud splash and looking over in time, you spotted Billy's head breach the water. In two long strokes he reached the far end of the pool and proceeded to swim laps to the other side. The rhythmic splashes of his strokes accompanied the music as you continued scraping. So gross. Thankfully, you were wearing gloves. You might have taken a few short breaks to crane your neck and follow the easy flex and stretch of Billy's hard-earned muscles. His golden, tanned skin moving through the water was a sight to behold. Glorious.

Shaking your head, you had finished one table and moved on to the chairs when suddenly the splashing stopped. Curious, you peeked over and saw...nothing.

Huh.

No sign that Billy had exited the pool. His towel was still on a nearby lounge chair. Turning back to the upturned chair, you tuned your ears for any sound other than the song playing and...still nothing.

Curiously officially piqued, you dropped the butterknife and stood up, taking slow steps toward the pool until you spotted Billy. Perfectly still.

Underwater.

Panic filled you, your head swiveling to see if someone could somehow assist you, although you knew no one else was around. The seconds ticked passed and instinctively, you stepped to the edge of the pool with fingers on your apron to remove it when finally, Billy pushed off from the pool bottom with both feet and blasted to the surface.

Startled, you stepped back from the edge. Billy wiped a hand down his damp face and spotted you.

"Hey," he said with a surprisingly easy smile, then catching your expression. "What's wrong?"

"I...I thought..." you began, then shaking your head. "Nothing. Never mind."

"No, tell me," Billy gently coerced as he swam to the side nearest you. "What's up?"

Billy rested his folded arms on the pool deck, his muscular biceps looking even larger. A few curls had already started to spring up and dry on his forehead. Adorable.

"I just...you were down there a while. That's all," you stammered, avoiding his gaze.

He would not be deterred, however, as his smile stretched even wider. "So, what...you were worried about me? Thought I'd drown?" he teased softly.

"N—no. Of course not," you huffed out a dry laugh.

"Cause, you know...I'm a pretty good swimmer," Billy smirked.

"Yeah, no, of course. I know," you said, taking another step backward. "I'm just gonna..." you trailed off, thumbing in the direction of the patio.

"That's sweet though," he continued on. "Your concern for my well-being. Gotta say, it's a rare feeling. Not sure how many people would notice..."

You held your breath, waiting for the end of that sentence. But it never came.

"I'm trying to maintain my lung capacity for surfing. Some waves toss you so fucking hard, you don't know which way is up for a while. Helps if you can hold your breath until you know which direction to swim," Billy explained. "I'll get back to the coast again soon, even if it kills me..."

His gaze was off in the distance then, a look of longing in his eyes. Your heart went out to him. Being transplanted from beautiful, sunny California and plopped down into landlocked podunk Indiana had to be quite the letdown.

"Do you swim?"

The sudden left turn in conversation jarred you, letting out a long breath. "Um...not really. I mean, I can swim. I have a suit in my locker, but I just...you know. Don't usually get the urge to...you know. Swim."

That was smooth.

"Right," Billy replied with that handsome grin. "You should join me."

Eyes wide at the surprising invitation, you glanced down at the apron and gloves you still wore. What a sight you must be to Billy's eyes.

"Thanks, but I've got to finish..." you gestured behind you. "Maybe another time."

Billy nodded, his curls bouncing with him. "Sure. Open invitation."

You offered an awkward smile and turned away. A quick glance backward told you that Billy had returned to swimming laps, this time the backstroke.

Damn. You had chickened out. That was your moment. Frustrated with yourself, you were determined not to let an opportunity slip past again as you attacked yet another disgusting, dried glob of gum.

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Another few days and you heard a splash just as you were finishing clean up for the evening. Mentally prepared this time, you smiled as you hung up your apron and visor before changing in the privacy of the Snack Shack. You'd kept your swim bag in there rather than the lockers in anticipation of this opportunity, determined not to blow it this time.

Stepping out in your swim suit, Billy's back was to you as he tread water at the deep end. Here goes nothing.

Gathering your courage, you ran the last few feet toward the pool and yelled, "Incoming!" just as you leapt into the air and formed yourself into a cannonball.

The water was cooler than expected, but in a pleasant way. The day had been exceptionally warm. Kicking to the surface, you were met with a smiling Billy. Now, that's a sight you'd give almost anything to experience on a daily basis.

"Nice form," he teased with a grin.

"Thanks. I've been working on it," you volleyed back.

Billy chuckled.

File under: new favorite sounds.

"The pool looks great. Well done, Mr. Hargrove," you complimented with a mock salute.

He bowed in response. "Thank you very much. You'd be surprised the stuff I find in the filters at the end of the day..." Billy trailed off with a look of horror.

You grimaced. "I can imagine. And I'd like to keep it in my imagination cause if you tell me, I'll probably have to leave immediately for a bleach shower."

A loud, echoing guffaw came out of the mouth of Billy Hargrove. Because of you. Something warm and squishy expanded in your chest, resulting in a goofy grin on your lips. Making Billy laugh was now your singular goal in life.

"Yeah, I'll spare you," Billy replied.

"I appreciate it."

There was silence between you for a moment, so you leaned your head back to enjoy the water and the odd sensation of weightlessness. Memories of your childhood popped into your head, coming to this same pool with your family and meeting up with friends. Daring each other to dive into the deep end, playing tag or Marco Polo. Good times. Simpler times.

Sinking down into the water until your nose was submerged, you blew some bubbles. Cause you were a grown-ass adult now and you could. Floating on your back then, you attempted what you thought was a backstroke until your hand struck the side of the pool and you began to tread water again.

"Did you have swimming lessons as a kid?" Billy piped in.

You shrugged. "Yeah? Just enough to tread water and doggy paddle. Enough not to need water wings or constant supervision. Why? Was my backstroke not as flawless as I thought?"

Billy chuckled again. "Um...there might be room for improvement. Did you...would be interested in lessons?" he offered, catching you off guard.

Part of you wanted to jump at the chance of more time with Billy, but still. You hesitated. "Thanks, but...it's not a good look to be learning to swim with a bunch of six-year-olds."

"That's not what I...actually, I thought maybe we could do private lessons," Billy offered, taking a few skillful strokes through the water until you were only a few feet away.

You were...shocked. Honored. Intrigued? Confused? Something to that effect.

"Wow, that's um...kind of you. I don't think I could pay your rates, though," you said, avoiding his gaze.

"I didn't—"

You interrupted, suddenly feeling stupid and nervous about the whole thing. "Besides, I'm sure it'd be a waste of your time. I doubt I'll be swimming much after this summer. Unless you count frigid Lake Michigan," you huffed out an awkward laugh.

Time slowed to a crawl as you waited for Billy's reply to your word vomit.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

"Oh," he said, as more of an exhaled. "Chicago?"

Unable to resist a smile, you nodded, finally braving a glance his way. "Yeah. I'm going to the University of Chicago in the Fall."

Billy's eyes shot open wide, impressed. "Wow. That's...congratulations. What are you studying?"

This was the harder question, lifting a single shoulder of yours in response. "Not sure yet. I got an academic full-ride scholarship so I'll figure it out when I'm there, I guess. I still need to pay for living expenses and my hope is to save enough for a car before I go. It's driving distance. Far enough to feel independent but close enough to drive home for holidays."

That was your reasoning, anyway. Chicago was a huge city, though, and you were suitably nervous and excited.

Billy nodded appreciatively. "I didn't realize..." he trailed off, running a thumb across the edge of the pool deck.

"Didn't realize what?" you asked anxiously.

"That you were such a nerd,"Billy teased, huge grin on his handsome face.

"Shut up," you maturely replied. "Some of us have to even out the number of meat-head jocks in the world."

Billy laughed, sending a splash in your direction. You retaliated, resulting in a few minutes of nothing but cascading water and laughter.

"Okay, truce! Truce!" you called out, hands in the air in surrender.

Billy did the same with a smirk. You both caught your breath, clinging to the edge of the pool to give your legs a break.

"What about you?" you asked, holding his gaze.

Billy dodged the question. "What about me?"

You gave him a pointed look. "You know...plans after this summer? The future? School, work, life, et cetera."

He snorted. "Of course you used the phrase 'et cetera'."

"Shut up," you muttered again, waiting patiently.

Billy brought both arms up to rest on the pool's edge as you'd seen him do before. Placing his chin on his bicep, he stared out at the empty lounge chairs, gathering his thoughts.

"I don't know," he finally admitted, head turning to meet your eye. "I can't...I mean, I'm not really looking much further into the future than next week just to keep me from losing my fucking mind. I'll probably just be stuck around here, working odd jobs. Maybe a trade school. It's fucking depressing."

You nodded soberly, but still curious. "Why stick around? You mentioned going back to California at some point. What's stopping you?"

Another pause. You watched his back muscles expand and contract with a deep breath. Closing the distance a bit more, you mirrored his position with arms on the pool deck, your head tucked into your elbow facing him.

Billy held your gaze a long moment, searching your face for...something. "Do you ever hold on to a memory so tightly that you're almost afraid that it's not really how you remember it? Like, the colors wouldn't be as bright as you pictured or the moment wasn't really as happy as you thought?"

Nodding, you remained silent.

"That's how I feel about California. Or parts of it, at least. Maybe by going back I'd just be fucking up the good memories I do have. Or they'd become repeats of shitty memories, ruining something good. If I leave it as a dream, then maybe it can still be as good as I remember it."

You barely breathed, afraid you'd spook this moment away.

Billy shook his head, pushing away from the wall to tread water. "I also have Maxine to watch over, the little shit."

A smile curled the corners of your lips. The spunky redhead had visited the pool a few times during the summer and while their interactions did seemed heated, you saw how he carefully watched over her and her friends. Max even came over to the Snack Shack for a soda one day. It had to be hard to be forced into a family by the decisions of your parents. It's one thing to grow up with siblings but to have them thrust upon you without a choice, well, that's quite another. Billy had his way of showing that he cared, though.

"She's a spitfire, that one," you replied.

"Pain in my ass is what she is," he scoffed.

You let the moment settle before speaking. "What's the ocean like?"

Billy whirled his head your direction in surprise. "You've never seen the ocean?"

Shaking your head, you shrugged. "All our family vacations were road trips to visit extended family. Never more than a couple hours away and still landlocked. I hope to make it there someday," you said, not mentioning a specific coast or state but California was a niggling possibility in the back of your mind.

"God, its...endless and gorgeous and constant but somehow always different, too. Each morning brought a new challenge in waves and some days I'd get thrashed while surfing, but then you get this one perfect ride and...you're hooked. It's worth all the salt water you've swallowed and coral scrapes," Billy spoke softly, almost reverently. The expression on his face was one of longing and awe. You could almost feel how much he missed it.

"But it's not just the big waves. I miss laying back on my board and just feeling the ebb and flow of the current. The constant movement of the ocean, it's...soothing. I've fallen asleep that way more than a few times, possibly waking up with a sunburn," he chuckled. "I've never slept better than after a long day of surfing."

God, he was so sweet in that moment. So open. Did any one else know this Billy? Why were all the rumors of a tough, asshole, womanizer? Sure, some of that could be true but "sweet" or "kind" were not his usual descriptors. The more you got to know the true Billy, the more convinced you were that the hard exterior was just a ruse. A mask for the world. What had happened to make him feel like he had to hide this way?

Those questions seemed like too much prodding, however, despite your constant curiosity.

So you came up with a really stupid idea that would hopefully make this man before you smile. Your goal in life, of course.

"Lie back in the water," you told him.

Eyebrows drawn together in confusion, Billy tilted his head. "What?"

"You know, float on your back with your eyes closed. Right there," you instructed, waving your hands toward the middle of the pool. He still looked dubious, but swam to where you indicated.

"Why? What's going to happen?" Billy asked.

"Do you trust me?" you asked.

He blinked, tongue flicking out to lick his lips. His answer came in the form of the man lying back in the water. You guessed that was enough of a yes. One last glance at you and Billy took a deep breath before closing his eyes.

Moving into position in the shallower end of the pool, you did the stupid thing and launched yourself straight up out of the water and purposefully crashed back to the surface on your side, causing a ripple of water toward the floating Billy. You were far enough away not the splash him, but he still got the benefits of small waves. Again, you breached the water and splashed down to the side. And then a third time. You caught a smile on Billy's handsome face, eyes still closed. Mission accomplished.

But you were caught the fourth time. As you stood up out of the water, Billy was no longer floating, instead staring at you with a grin, eyes wide open. "What the hell was that?" he laughed, amused.

Rubbing water off your face, you shrugged. "Sending waves your way. We used to play 'jumping whale' or something when I was younger, seeing who could make the biggest splash. Figured it could have a similar effect."

He shook his head, still grinning. "That was weird as shit, but...thank you."

"You're welcome."

Billy held your gaze a moment longer, that much concentrated attention causing heat to rise in your cheeks. Something about the moment made you panicky.

"I should go," you blurted out, heading for the stairs.

"Right, yeah," he says behind you.

Looking back, you receive the gift of watching Billy pull himself out of the pool with those functional muscles that you were starting to like quite a lot. You might have also been blessed with the sight of those red swim trunks plastered to his shapely behind like shrink wrap. Swoon. You nearly missed the step onto the pool deck.

Gathering your swim bag and towel, you hurried to the locker room, showered off, and changed quickly. You'd reached your bike just as Billy locked up the building and headed for his car. Straddling your bike, you chanced another look to see him toss his own bag in the passenger seat and climb inside. The signature loud engine roared to life and tires squealed as Billy pulled the Camaro around to head for the street. Feet on the pedals, you were shocked and nearly fell over when the muscle car stopped within feet of you.

Billy rolled down the window, his curls still damp from a shower. "Hey, um...not that you would, I don't think, but if you could not say anything I've shared tonight...I'd appreciate it," he said, avoiding your gaze.

"Oh. Yeah, no, of course. I would never...I mean I don't have anyone else to tell anyway," you assured him in your self-deprecating way.

He huffs out a dry laugh, muttering, "Me neither. So, you know. Thanks. See you later."

"Yeah. See you," you replied, watching the Camaro growl onto the road and out of sight before you gathered yourself enough to pedal home. 

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Listen...did I fall for a co-worker who coincidentally happened to be a curly-haired blond surfer from California at a previous job in real life???.....maybe. :D Was I equal to or possibly more awkward as the reader is in this story? Definitely. ha! Yikes. It's fun to use that life experience as inspiration, though. It's a common thread in my writing, actually. heh. Anywho! How sweet is Billy?? I can't even handle it. I lub him. Please let me know your thoughts on this chapter! I'd love to hear from you. I adore you all. <3