Hello To The Girl Next Door

Chapter 2

Akari stared out of her window into her own little dream world. She met a very interesting person today. Billy seemed sweet with a hint of edge, she thought. The last few hours after Billy had left, left her alone with her parents to finish unloading the truck. Now, she was sitting there on her bed, looking over into Billy’s yard. Lights were on and she could see shadows moving around inside, but Billy’s car wasn’t there.

She sighed. Why did she want to be around him right now instead of sitting there doing nothing but drawing? Akari slid off of the bed and tiptoed to the door and peaked out. The living room light was off and her parent’s bedroom door was closed.

“I moved for adventure,” she whispered, grabbed her shoes and sliding them on.

Akari crept into the living room and looked out of the window at the front door and didn’t see her parent’s car. She turned towards the kitchen and saw a note on the refrigerator. Went to work was scribbled in her father’s handwriting. She sighed and threw away the paper.

“Well, I guess I don’t have to sneak out since no one is here to avoid,” she said aloud with a giggle. “Time to see what Hawkins is like at night.”

Akari stepped outside and shoved a key in her pant pocket, and made her way down the gravel road. She glanced at Billy’s yard, hoping he had returned, but his car wasn’t there. She sighed, but continued to walk to town. It was a long trek to town, and after

Akari arrived, she was exhausted. Her ankle was stinging from the sprain earlier. She stopped in the middle of the road and rubbed her ankle.

“Man alive,” she breathed. “How does one forget their ankle hurts?”

Suddenly, yelling grabbed her attention from her ankle and to a small gas station. Akari squinted in the dimly lit street to see who it was. She recognized Billy’s car in the parking lot not too far away from the station. A group of guys were crowded around near the car. Akari slipped behind a garbage bin to get a closer look.

“I told you I’m not playing, Hargrove,” someone said aggressively. “Didn’t we warn you not to f**k with us?”

Akari winced when they kicked someone. The group parted enough for her to realize it was Billy on the ground. Her eyes grew wide when they made eye contact. Billy rolled over on his stomach, blood trickling down the side of his mouth and from his nose. He shook his head at her and managed to stand, leaning against his car.

He smirked at the guys and wiped the blood from his lip. “I guess I’m not a superb listener.”

The leader of the group swung at Billy, decking him in the jaw, causing him to fall over. The guy spit on Billy and started kicking him again. Akari looked around for something to distract them with. She found a pipe and started banging it against the garbage bin with all the effort she could muster up.

“Let’s get out of here!” someone yelled.

Once everyone had scrambled off, Akari ran to Billy’s side. He chuckled painfully as she helped him sit up.

“What the hell are you doing here?” he asked, coughing.

“I went for a walk,” Akari said, ripping off the end of her shirt and dabbing his face. “My parents went to work and I couldn’t sleep, so I wanted to see what Hawkins was like at night.”

Billy winced and grabbed her wrist. “Not much happens in this shitty town. You should go home like a good girl and stay out of other people’s business.”

Akari furrowed her brow and wrinkled her nose at him. “Like someone once told me, I do what I want. And you’re not the boss of me, Billy. Now hold still so I can clean you up.”

Billy sighed and rolled his eyes, releasing her wrist. He propped himself up with his hands behind his back and his legs sprawled out. Akari scooted closer and took his chin between her thumb and index finger. Billy gazed at her, his eyes soft. She was fixated on his bottom lip as she dabbed at the blood that was still there.

“Man, they got you good,” she said, moving to his nose. “What did you do to piss them off?”

“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “It’s none of your business.”

Akari rested her hands in her lap and stared at him, hard. “You should be nicer to me. I saved your life.”

Billy scoffed and licked the blood from the side of his mouth and leaned forward. “I didn’t need your help. I had it under control.”

“Of course you did. That’s why you got your ass kicked,” Akari said, standing up. She spun on her heel to walk off, but Billy grabbed her wrist.

“Listen, I don’t want you to get mixed up in this,” he said, releasing her and dropping his hand to his side. “You seem like a level-headed person. I think you should stay away from me.”

Akari nodded slowly, kicking at a rock with her shoe. “Fair enough, I guess… But I’m not making any promises. You were the first person to befriend me and I have just moved here.”

Billy rolled his eyes. “I’m not your friend.”

Akari snickered and hugged herself. “Also fair enough. Whatever you say, Billy Hargrove.”

He put his hands on his hips and sneered. “You’re a stubborn little s**t, you know that?”

She shrugged. “Takes one to know one. Also, before I continue my life here by staying away from you, could you take me home?”

Billy nodded and walked to the passenger side to open the door. Once he slid into the driver’s seat, he sat there for a moment. Akari tilted her head curiously.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“I’m fine… just thinking about something,” Billy said.

The drive home was quiet and soothing to Akari as the car cruised on. Akari was curious about Billy more than ever. She wondered what he was tied up in, considering those guys were beating him up out in the open. Perhaps some of the locals around the town knew about Billy and his full story about who he was. She thought. Akari stole a glance at Billy. He was a rugged type, but seemed to have a sweet side. She leaned her head against the window, watching as the scenery flew by. The thought of who that group was and why Billy was tangled in their web was curious to her.