Chapter Text
Stu wanted to take Billy out into the woods today, Billy agreed over the phone about week ago. Felt like ages. It wasn't unusual of them to go wander off into the forest to climb the never-ending trees and hang off their branches like little kids and make up scary stories together while the leaves and branches swaying with the seasons breeze distort their shadows below. Or maybe they'd buy some spray paint from the gas station down the road and bring their switchblades and graffiti on old, run-down structures they have no business being around and carving their initials and smiley faces into the flesh of trees until an unknown shuffle or rustle in the distance scares them off.
Sometimes, if they were feeling stupid enough and things had gotten particularly strange in the forest that day, they'd go back out after dark. They'd shine their flashlights around and Stu would whistle an eerie tune or start making noises in Billy's ear until Billy would get this weird, unexplainable pit in his stomach that he tried to cover up with a false rationalization, even if it was clear he had goosebumps and tingles all down his body. Then they'd make a bet about creepy crawlies in the forest and quickly head back into the familiarity of the streetlights, busted sidewalks, and painted pavement.
Just last week they were at the arcade section of the skating rink, hogging the rubber duck claw machine since it was the only one that wasn't rigged, shoulders and elbows pressed together and Billy tugging on Stu's leather watch band to get him to move the joystick faster before their 30 seconds ran out, then cashing out all their tickets on tootsie rolls and sour taffy at the front counter with the scrawny blonde kid with the slanted name tag and far too much acne on his face. His squeaky pubescent voice tiredly grumbling "Is that all?", and Stu laughed and poked fun like his voice wasn't about twice as worse when he was that age.
But this week was far different, because Stu wanted to take Billy to his favorite hunting spot and Billy felt like he was going on a first date with how weird he felt. He woke up that morning and immediately felt an odd sensation throughout his whole body and an unwelcome taste in his mouth that still stuck up until now. He always got that way when he was about to go somewhere unfamiliar other than school and occasionally church when he got the urge to remember how his dad reacted when Billy would do something he actually approved of for once, not that he needed the validation, he just found himself bored a lot and couldn't just go out and do something petty and/or illegal whenever he sought thrill or needed a dopamine boost.
Billy thought his outfit looked a little over half-decent as he leaned forward and fixed how his weird bangs sat in his trapper hat in the full-length mirror that was drilled in the entryway of his house. He grabbed his grandfathers' old, stiff and brown leather jacket from the rack and tugged it over his flannel, adjusting the half-shredded collar quickly and trying to think of anything he needed to bring other than the 2 cans of Dr. Pepper he took from the fridge. He was trying to be more thoughtful or whatever to Stu as of lately; just to see how it felt, he was bored again.
He knew Stu used to only drink Mountain Dew as a kid until he chugged so much it all came right back up on the perfectly mowed summer grass at his dad's barbeque, still fizzy and sizzling under the summer sun. Billy always snickered when he thought about it, which was quickly cut off by Stu honking his horn outside. He grabbed one can with one hand and stuffed the other in the crook of his arm and quickly made his way out into the cold, cloudy afternoon. The draft of the door pushing the freezing air right into his face. Surely, it'd be warmer in Stu's car.
Billy scrunched his nose when he inhaled the cold air, it burned his sinus's and through the murk of outside he saw Peanut- Stu's dog in the back of Stu's dad's truck. The moment she saw him she put her front paws on the side rails of the bed of the truck and started barking out, her tail wagging. The barking mixed with Stu still honking like it was the end of the world pierced Billy's ears and he sucked his teeth in while making his way towards the car, a bit disoriented. Stu was grinning ear to ear like he hadn't seen him in years, threw his foot over to the passenger side and used that to open Billy's door for him "Hey, doe eyes!". Billy sighed and made a face, "Why would you-" he didn't finish. Because even Stu didn't know why he did half the things he did. "Here," Billy handed Stu his can of soda and put his in his side door so he could close his door and fasten his seatbelt with free hands. Plus move the barrel of the shotgun resting in his seat like it belonged there. There was a backpack in the floorboards and Billy shuffled his feet around it, settling it behind his legs.
"D'awh, you like me." Stu pinched Billy's cheek and Billy hit his hand away while fastening in his seat, Stu laughed and stuck his tongue out before starting the car up again. "Pick a mixtape out of the glove box for me, Bills."
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"So, do you just pick a spot and pop a squat somewhere?" Billy finally questioned as he nearly slipped on the sidestep and hopped out of the truck onto the squishy mud below. He didn't ask in the car, too busy listening to whatever music was on the mixtape Billy picked out and Stu constantly telling him when the good parts were coming, followed immediately by him asking Billy if he'd liked it. "That rhymed!" Stu called out as he hopped out the other side and slammed his door behind him.
Billy noted that it had rained earlier, having peeked through his blinds to watch it fall whilst on his phone call with Stu earlier. It stopped drizzling on the way, or maybe it was just the trees stopping the rain drops from hitting them? 'No', he remembered Stu turning off the windshield wipers halfway here. He turned back to the interior of the truck, grabbed ahold of the sling strap of the shotgun and stepped back, almost dragging it out like he was scared to touch it but also scared of dragging it. It was too shiny and delicate in his eyes to be getting his oily fingerprints or scratches all over it. Then he grabbed the top handle of the bag and dragged it out too, both items awkwardly weighing his arms down. He looked down and squished the mud beneath his boots.
"And I found a spot-" Stu replied, mischievously. He walked to the back where his dog was waiting patiently for him to open the bed of the trunk, tail wagging rapidly and panting excitedly. Billy snorted and turned the other way when he finally realized she had on a little doggy puffer vest. His silliness short lived as he cringed when he heard Stu's dog jump out onto the mud, already dirtying her golden fur. Stu didn't seem to mind. "-Just follow me." Stu had snuck up behind Billy and whispered in his ear as he snatched the bag from Billy's hold and slung it over his shoulders, then took the shotgun with one hand and tried taking Billy's hand with the other.
"We're not holding hands, Stu."
Stu shrugged, "Alright, but you might regret it later..." Billy didn't know what he meant by that but they both knew he'd find out what Stu meant soon enough.
Only a few steps in and Billy had already regretted coming.
Stu took Billy through a dirt path in a valley; the smell of rain wasn't as prominent now that they were out in the open without trees locking in the scent of dirt. Billy tried focusing on the bird's singing songs and digging in the wet soil for worms through the tall weeds. But his eyes kept latching onto the back of Stu's head like he'd disappear if he looked away too long. Every now and again Stu would look back to make sure Peanut was still following behind and hadn't run off.
"How far is it, Stu?" Billy asked, slightly annoyed. Stu had taken them off the path and they were taking awkward steps on the uneven terrain of the forest instead, stepping over bushes and shrub while also trying not to step into a pothole was hard.
"You'll see, man!" Stu was excited, it wasn't only about the hunting at that point. Stu was just happy to have Billy following him around while he showed him things. It was like how a lot of their hang outs went. Since Stu would usually wander around anywhere interesting, public or not. Then show Billy like a kid showing their dad their crayon drawings.
Soon they came to a steep, dense part of the forest. A part where the slippery leaves littering everywhere camouflaged the ground. Some steps were clear and some were pot-hole like dips that assured that you would tumble straight down. And the surrounding trees either grew out in weird angles up the weirdly positioned hill, or grew so tall that when you looked up you felt caged in. While others couldn't handle it and just snapped and fell over. A little far down Billy could see that a big one had fell and made a pretty gnarly looking bridge for the shallow stream down below.
A part of Billy hoped that Stu would just keep going straight, even if that was going back where they just came. But deep- no not even deep down he knew Stu was about to do some stupid shit.
Stu stood in a narrow clearing where there wasn't shrub or a tree in the way and just jumped down, landing on his feet in a squat-like position. He turned back to look at Billy and Peanut staring down at him from the top. 'So, this is what he meant' Billy felt like Stu was just teasing him. "I'm not jumping down there." Billy yelled out so Stu could hear him and stepped back, primarily because Stu's dog was stepping around everywhere while looking to be on the verge of whining, also trying to find a safe way to climb down. And Billy wasn't about to get tripped over by a dog and bite a tree on his tumble down, then probably bash his head on something that wasn't either soil nor rock.
"C'mon it's safe!" Stu called out. Billy felt like a little bitch, but he wasn't risking shattering his leg. He wasn't scared, he never was. He lacked that ability. It was more of a sensation telling him not to. The only time Billy's ever thought he felt true fear was when his mom was walking out on him. His mom was the only one aside from Stu who seemed to have the same problem as him. Knew exactly what he was feeling- or more so what he wasn't feeling. He didn't want to lose that connection no matter what.
Stu's dog tried to jump down but nearly slipped and quickly skittered back up, gluing herself to Billy's leg. Billy scratched her head with his fingertips.
"I'm not doing this bullshit." And Stu whined, making his way back up. "Hey, I'll tell ya what, man. I'll carry you!" Stu reached his arms out "Oh, fuck no." Stu stopped, nearly at the top. One arm fell to his side while the other grabbed onto a tree for stability.
"Just- here." Stu reached out his hand again, doing a little grabby motion while he was at it. Billy looked around, then groaned. "You're a dick" Billy gripped onto Stu's hand, hard. His hand was warm and weirdly moist. "You're doing this shit on purpose.." Billy grumbled, taking his first shaky step down. "Sure." Stu motioned for the dog to sit before turning and guiding Billy through the brush and thorns. It felt like hours in Billy's head, but it was probably just 5 minutes, having taken longer since Billy was descending so slowly and taking pit stops to find footing and to kick off shrubs with thorns that attached themselves to his legs. He hated that Stu was switching between being fed up with him and snickering and he couldn't even hit him.
When they finally made it down Billy's cold, clammy hand was still intertwined with Stu's, he quickly shook him off, but he had suspicion Stu noticed. And that he was grinning like a dickhead even if his back was still facing him. Billy watched from below as Stu went back up again to go get his dog, calling out for her in a baby voice. The sound of rushing water behind him filling his ears, making his shoulders relax and his hands go steady like how they'd been in the car.
It was going to be a long afternoon.