𝕕𝕒𝕞𝕒𝕘𝕖𝕕 𝕘𝕠𝕠𝕕𝕤: 𝕒 𝕓𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕘𝕣𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕗𝕒𝕟𝕗𝕚𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟙: 𝕊𝕦𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤

𝕊𝕦𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕣 𝟙𝟡𝟠𝟝

The first time Billy had seen her, he was charming the pool moms during his lifeguard shift at the Hawkins community pool. Despite the fact that they were nearly three times his age, they were nonetheless like the girls he went to high school with: wide-eyed, giggling, gossiping, and desperate. However, these pool moms wanted to feel younger, while the girls at school wanted to feel older. Maybe he flirted with them because he liked the attention. But he knew that soon, he'd get bored and start all over again. Like this time.

But this girl was like the black cat that walked past a superstitious person. Mesmerizing, but capable of destruction. But only if an idiot chooses to believe it. And Billy didn't believe in superstitions. Nor was he an idiot.

Billy turned his attention away from Karen Wheeler to get a closer look at the girl, but she disappeared in the throng of sunbathers, squealing toddlers, and the citizens of Hawkins lounging underneath any shade available.

Karen smiled impatiently at Billy. "So you said tonight at which motel?"

Billy shook his head. "Sorry, Karen, I just remembered that I have plans with my family later tonight." He sneers slightly at her. "And I'm sure you do, too."

Billy turned and walked away before Karen could protest. A complete lie. He could care less about his family. His father, Neil, was a grade-A bastard; his stepmother was too scared to stand up to Neil; and his stepsister, Maxine...well, Maxine was just another liability. Neil was always onto him for watching out for Maxine, even though she was better off on her own. She could take care of herself well without him.

He ascended the plastic lifeguard chair to resume his shift. His eyes scanned the pool for that girl. Nearly everyone in Hawkins drops by the community pool once in a while to cool off in this sweltering heat. But he'd never seen this girl before, not even at graduation. Maybe she did graduate with his class, and he'd stopped paying attention after he received his diploma. He never cared about high school, so why should he care then?

Finally, he found her sitting on one of the pool chairs, taking in the shade of the pool umbrella. Her eyes were scanning the pool too, until they met his. She only glanced at him with an expression of boredom for a mere second before turning her attention back to the community pool. Maybe his ego was inflated, but girls would practically beg at his feet. But this girl looked at him like he was the bottom of her flip-flop. Billy only smirked to hide his injured ego, leaning back against the lifeguard chair.