YES!!!! I Would Love More

YES!!!! I would love more

The Arcade Queen (Billy Hargrove X Reader)

Welp. I fell really hard into Stranger Things, and it resulted in this little fic. Bear with me as I normally don’t write things like this. This is meant to be a Billy Hargrove X Reader, and I might make it into a mini-series if anyone wants me to continue it, this is more like a small drabble and an attempt at writing for Stranger Things. In this fic, the reader is still in school but is the assistant manager for The Palace, the arcade.

Extra: After finishing this I am so sorry for the atrocity you’re about to read.

Summary: Being the assistant Arcade Manager means you have a lot of responsibilities; repairs, cleaning, and closing for the night. However, on this night, you have a small encounter with Billy Hargrove

Working at the Palace Arcade had its perks, especially working as the assistant manager. For the most part, you could stay behind the scenes working on paperwork and expenses, ordering in new prizes.

The downside was when your co-worker couldn’t make it in for their closing shift. For 2 hours tonight you had been in charge of anything, from malfunctioning machines to trading in prizes and anything in between, all the while trying to clean up so that you could get out of work shortly after the arcade closed for the night.

Ten minutes to 11:00 you began your warnings to the few remaining players lingering around, trying their hardest to beat previous scores and earn their places. For the most part, people heeded your warnings, finishing the games they departed, hearts filled with sorrows at another failed chance of beating their rivals.

5 minutes to 11:00 and the only people left in the arcade were your regulars, Mike, Dustin, Lucas and Will along with the newcomer, Max.

“You guys have until the bathrooms are cleaned, to finish your games, and go home for the night!” You called to them, hearing them give cheers knowing full well that it would take another 15 minutes.

As you worked on the bathrooms, you could hear excited shouts from the small group you had left in the main part of the arcade, one of them was going above and beyond and by the sounds of it about to beat another high score.

When you finally finished cleaning and returned to the front of the arcade, you were greeted by fanfare and you smiled at the kids standing proudly in front of you.

“Alright, I’ll bite. Who was it this time?” You asked, referring to the happy faces in front of you.

Max shyly cleared her throat.

Despite seeing how confident the girl was in front of her friends, and in front of others…and witnessing the fights she had with her brother both at school and when she was dropped off at the arcade, the girl seemed to shut herself up into a little bundle of nerves when speaking to you.

“Well, congrats for that Max.” You praised the young girl, “We’ll have to think about finding some sort of championship arcade event for you to compete in.”

The boys instantly started echoing your statement, and as you ushered them out the door, you could hear their voices fade away into the night, all of them on their way home.

As you finished your last-minute chores before you too locked up and went home for the night, you heard scuffling from outside.

The events from the past year and the disappearances of Will and Barb had put many on edge, and despite Will being back and the police announcing that there was no reason to worry any longer, you still carried some stuff in your bag just in case of emergencies.

So here you were, all by you’re lonesome, tiptoeing around to look beside the arcade, perfume in one hand and a broom in the other. Right as you went to turn the corner, you heard more scuffling and shifting.

You leapt around the corner, letting out a loud shout as you waved the broom handle and sprayed perfume.

As you opened your eyes, you saw Max, wide-eyed and standing a few feet away from where your broom handle had been whipped around.

“Max!?” You shouted, dropping the broom.

“Uh…hey Y/N.” Max greeted with a shy, nervous wave. Resting a hand over your racing heart you gave a loud sigh.

“God, you gave me a heart attack! What are you still doing here?” You exclaimed, your racing heart calming.

“Uh…no reason, just hanging around!” Max said. “What were you er…doing with the broom…and…?”

She pointed to the perfume bottle clasped tightly in your hand.

“Do you have to clean the parking lot too?” She jested.

“Very funny Maxine.” You teased, picking up the broom handle, “And no. I thought that instead of a kid ‘just hanging around’ That someone or something else might be lingering around. So the perfume was meant to be for whatever was here…thankfully it didn’t get into your eyes.”

“Eyes?” She questioned.

“Yeah? If you were actually in trouble you could spray it into your attackers’ eyes, and it would blind them for a moment, so then you can-”

“Beat them with a broom.” Max finished.

“Well. In this case yes…but your just a kid, so you shouldn’t have to worry about any of that stuff.” You said softly, “But…it still doesn’t explain what you’re still doing here at…11:20. Arcades closed, you all got extra time too.”

Max stood in front of you, her arms crossed and face turned away from you.

“Waiting.” She finally said, however, she said it so quickly you almost missed it.

“Waiting.” You echoed. “For who?”

“My brother,” Max said quickly again.

Seeing that she clearly didn’t want to talk about it, and also seeing that she was without a sweatshirt, and even with one you were shivering from the cold Hawkins air, you finally decided that any chance of you going home early tonight would have to wait.

“Alright, well you can wait for him inside instead of wandering around out here by your self.”

“What?” She said, face snapping to yours, “I thought the arcade was closed.”

“Well I forgot that I had some paperwork to finish and my boss would lose it if I didn’t, so you mise well wait inside with me.”

The two of you made your way back inside and you grabbed some paperwork you had originally left for your next shift from the back.

Max stood with her hands in her pockets, standing by the door, watching as every car, albeit few, passed by the arcade.

“So. Your brother this late all the time?” You spoke to Max.

“Never.” She said softly.

You picked your head up, looking to the younger girl.

“Well, that’s nice…at least not tonight…but it’s awfully nice of Billy to drive you around.” You said, thinking about her older brother. He was in your grade, but the two of you hadn’t really talked, not having any periods together in school.

Max stayed quiet.

“Well, you know I could give you a ride if you want? I don’t mind if you don’t want to keep waiting.”

“I have to wait,” Max said quietly. “Billy will get in trouble if he doesn’t bring me home.”

“Well…alright.” You replied, going back to the paperwork. “Got any quarters left?”

“Huh?”

“I’m just saying if you got any quarters left, you can play a couple rounds of whatever you like. I can keep an eye on the door.”

It took Max a minute, but a little while after your final statement, she wandered away and you heard the familiar noise of a quarter slipping into a machine, and the game come alive.

You kept an eye on the clock, not willing to be here past midnight, you decided that you would just take her home, either way, a little before midnight.

A little after 11:45 you heard the purr of Billy’s Camaro roar into the parking lot. You looked up, seeing Max had once again immersed herself in a game her back turned to you, and she clearly hadn’t heard her brother pull in.

You set your pen down and walked to the door, opening it and taking a step outside, seeing Billy running his hands through his hair as he stepped out, turning every which way clearly searching for his sister.

“Hey, Hargrove.” You called out, hoping to give him a jump, however, he turned around always playing it cool.

“Y/N Right?” He said. “I’m looking for…”

“Max. I know she’s in here finishing up a game…why don’t you come in?” You said, holding the door open. Billy stood by his car for a second, clearly thinking about what you said, and you half expected him to just walk in and drag his sister out, however, he threw out his cigarette and came up to you, stepping into the arcade.

“Don’t worry Hargrove, I won’t tell anyone that you’re hanging around in the arcade.” You teased as you followed behind him. You heard him give a small chuckle in front of you.

“It’s Y/N. Right?” He said, turning around.

“Wow. So Billy Hargrove does know my name.” You laughed, making your way back to the counter to grab the sheets of paper and tuck them in the manager’s office. However, seeing a scrap piece of paper on the desk you grabbed a pen scrawling something quickly and tucking it into your pocket.

Coming back you saw Billy leaning against the counter, his eyes on Max who somehow still hadn’t realized her brother was here.

“She’s a good kid you know.” You said, leaning next to Billy, “And a great gamer. You should find her some sort of championship or something to compete in.”

“Shes a little shit,” Billy said, but the usual angry and rough tone wasn’t with the statement, it sounded lost and distant, a whisper in the woods.

“Well. If you ever need any help with her or need me to give her a ride, I won’t mind. I know she was worried about it when I asked her about it…said you’d get in trouble, but really. If you need anything…I’m typically here” You gestured.

Just as you finished your minor speech, you heard the familiar chimes of ‘Game Over’ with a combined happy shout.

“Hey Y/N! I did it again, I just beat this record!” Max exclaimed, her happy face turning upside down when she caught sight of her brother.

“Billy.” She gulped.

“Alright, little shit. Get in the car.” Billy said. Max wasted no time, giving you a small thank you and departed the arcade.

“Thanks, for watching over her while I was late,” Billy said turning around to leave, and you had a silly grin on your face, hearing the Hargrove give you a genuine thank you.

“Anytime.” You replied. Your heart raced, but you hesitantly called out to Billy once more, his face turning.

You bounded up to him and slipped the paper into his pocket.

“My number, just in case you ever need someone to get Max.” You said.

Billy tucked the paper further into his pocket, in order for it to not slip away and he gave you a cheesy smile.

“Do I have to just use it for Max?” He asked, his voice dropping lower, growing huskier, and your heart was practically visible as it beat out of your chest.

“No, if you ever need me I’ll be there too.” You whispered. Billy’s smile grew larger, and he took your hand in his own, raising it up to his lips to press a kiss to it.

“Good to know, darling.” He chuckled, and like the wind, he slipped out the door, with a soft goodnight.

You stood frozen, shell shocked, heart, beating way too fast to be considered healthy as you heard and saw the Camaro pull away and drive off into the night.

Backing up, you slipped down sitting with your back against the counter, resting your gifted hand over your heart, willing for it to both calm down, yet never stop beating for the handsome Billy Hargrove.