•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧.˚ *•̩̩͙ ✩. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧.˚ *•̩̩͙ ✩. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧

CHAPTER EIGHT

•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧.˚ *•̩̩͙ ✩. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧.˚ *•̩̩͙ ✩. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧

     IT WAS SATURDAY, AND ADDIE COULDN'T WAIT FOR THE PARTY. Although they weren't even halfway through the school year, things were pretty stressful. This week alone, she had 1 test and 2 quizzes. And if you asked her, she'd tell you she was almost positive that teachers were out to get her.

What she was most excited for though, was Billy picking her up. She spent a good 20 minutes in her closet trying to put together a nice outfit, then ended up giving up and going with one of the first options that she considered. After that she quickly did her hair and makeup, and ended up being ready half an hour before Billy was due to arrive.

Just like before, the doorbell rang right on time, and Addie rushed to the door.

"Whoever you're going out with tonight is one lucky guy," Billy greeted her with a kiss on the cheek. He held his arm out and she linked hers through, trying to contain her smile as they walked towards his car.

Again, she found herself thinking that there was no way the rumors at school could be true. How could this Billy be so different from the one everyone else knew, or thought they knew?

It took less than 15 minutes to arrive at the party, but before they went inside, Billy leaned against his car and pulled Addie close.

"I just wanted to do something before we went inside," he put his hands on either side of her face, and leaned down so that their foreheads were touching. "Is this okay?" he asked.

Addie, too speechless to respond, simply nodded.

He looked at her for a few seconds, simply admiring the girl standing in front of him. How was he already so lucky that she wanted to just spend time with him? He then slowly leaned in again, initiating the kiss.

After a few seconds when they pulled apart, neither could hold back their smile.

"I've been wanting to do that for a while," Billy said softly.

Just then they heard a few cars driving down the street, and Addie bit her lip, refraining from asking him to do it again.

"You keep lookin at me like that we won't even make it inside to the party," he winked, holding out his arm.

They walked up to the house, and people not-so-subtly stared as they walked by. Billy was too focused on the girl next to him to notice, and Addie chose to ignore everyone else.

People were thinking the same things they usually did. Wasn't she dating Steve? Did they break up? How did a girl like Addie end up with a guy like Billy? Some people knew of girls that tried to hook up with him but he rejected them, so how the hell did he end up choosing Addie? And some thought that with Steve, it was the other way around, that Nancy was his friend and Addie was his girlfriend, so was she cheating?

Tommy glanced at them and scowled. How Steve could continue allowing his friend to be with someone "like Billy" was beyond him. Or maybe he was still bitter from sophomore year when he showed interest in Addie and she immediately rejected him, knowing the kind of person he was.

They grabbed a couple of drinks and headed towards the only empty chair in the living room. Billy sat down and quickly pulled Addie down onto his lap.

For a while, they just sat and sipped their drinks, enjoying each other's company. At one point Steve and Nancy sat down on the couch next to them, and while Steve was pretty quiet and Nancy did most of the talking, Addie appreciated her friends making an effort. Eventually they got up and made their way to the backyard, this time sitting on the steps.

Billy thought about something for a moment. It had been on his mind ever since the last party he went to with Addie. Something he was scared to talk about but for some reason, he felt like he could, with her.

"So, I know last time we sat like this, I was a jerk and things didn't end well. But... I don't know why is this so hard for me." Billy put his drink by his feet, and leaned forward, putting his head in his hands.

Addie frowned, not wanting Billy to think she was trying to force anything out of him. She scooted closer so they were touching, and put a hand on his cheek so that he'd look at her.

"Hey," she said softly. "I don't want to make you uncomfortable. When you're ready, I'll listen to anything you want to say. But it doesn't have to be right now."

"I know sweetheart. And if I'm being honest, part of the reason why I'm... like this, it's because I'm not used to having someone, I don't know, care, I guess? No one has ever wanted to know me, like as a person. And you're the first one that's made me feel like I can talk. When you tried the first time, and all you did was ask about my life in California, and about my dad, step-mom, and step-sister, I shouldn't have blown up at you like that. I really am sorry. You've shown me so much kindness and..." He shook his head, still upset at himself. After they made up he thought about how much he regretted that night. It cost him a little bit of time that could've been spent with her, and he was still internally beating himself up about it.

"Billy, I am so sorry that it's taken this long for you to feel like it's alright to share your feelings. I promise you, you are worthy, of so much more than you think you deserve. If you're sad, or upset, or even if it's a good feeling like happy, you're allowed to feel that. I don't want to pressure you, but I also don't want you to keep everything bottled up inside." Addie got up and stood directly in front of Billy.

Since Billy was still sitting on the bottom step, Addie was now taller than him. She smiled, a sad smile, and put her hands on either side of his face. "You are worthy of love, and kindness, and all of the things you say that I've shown you. You can talk about whatever you want, I'm here."

There it was again, that feeling that he couldn't describe because he wasn't used to it. It was foreign to him. He searched for the word in his mind... happiness? Love? Acceptance? Maybe a little bit of everything.

He fought back a couple of tears as he stared up in awe, at this girl who came into his life seemingly at the perfect time.

"Adeline," he put one hand around her waist and pulled her closer, and the other around the back of her neck, pulling her in for another kiss. "Thank you," he whispered as they pulled apart, foreheads still touching.

Addie sat back down and leaned against Billy as he put an arm around her shoulders. They sat like that for a moment before he spoke up.

"My dad he's... he's not a good person. I mean it's crazy because as a little kid, and I mean really little, I have good memories of him. I can remember him different. Now though, I can't stand him. I hate his fucking guts. But I can't leave, I don't know why. And I let him treat me like shit because he's my dad and I guess some messed up part of me thinks it's okay just because of that. I know it's stupid."

"How you feel is not stupid at all. I wish you didn't have to go through all of that, or that I could do something to help—"

"You are," Billy interrupted. "Doing something. The time that I've spent with you, and you listening to me and being nice when I may not deserve it, that's so much more than I thought I'd ever get. I hated the thought of moving here, hated the thought of packing up what little I own and leaving behind everyone I knew. But even before I moved, if you'd have shown me the life I'd have here, the life I get to now have with you in it, I'd make the move in a heartbeat."

"Billy," now it was Addie's turn to fight back the tears. When one managed to fall, Billy gently wiped it away.

"I don't mean to make you cry," he said softly.

Addie shook her head and gave him a small smile. "They're good tears, promise."

She leaned on him again and they sat like that for a few more minutes, just enjoying the music that was coming from inside, before Billy stood up and held out his hand.

"I don't wanna dampen the mood anymore. Let's go enjoy the rest of the night."

Addie stood up and they started to make their way back inside, when a particular song came on.

"Oh I love this song!" Addie smiled. She used to listen to it all the time, and still did every once in a while.

"Dance with me," Billy grabbed Addie's drink and placed both down on the floor, then turned and pulled her in, one hand on her lower back and the other softly on her cheek.

"I thought Billy Hargrove didn't dance?" Addie laughed, remembering a conversation they had before the last party. She made some comment about seeing everyone's drunk dancing, and he replied with I don't have to worry about that, I'm not dancing.

"I do with you."

The next couple of minutes were spent dancing, getting lost in each other, and the lyrics.

Put your head on my shoulder
Hold me in your arms, baby
Squeeze me oh-so-tight
Show me that you love me too
Put your lips next to mine, dear
Won't you kiss me once, baby?
Just a kiss goodnight, maybe
You and I will fall in love

•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧.˚ *•̩̩͙ ✩. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧.˚ *•̩̩͙ ✩. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧

a/n: another chapter shorter than the rest, but i really wanted these scenes / moments. the bold and italicized lyrics are from Paul Anka's song Put Your Head on My Shoulder