· 9 min read
Baker's Temptation: A Billy Hargrove Story - part 1
Enough is enough,’ you mutter, striding towards the cluster of teens outside your bakery.
The sun is just beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows on the pavement as you approach them determinedly.
As the proprietor of this quaint little establishment, it’s your duty to protect its reputation and keep it free from unwanted troublemakers.
The group, a mix of boys and girls in their late teens, don’t seem to notice you at first - they’re too busy laughing loudly and throwing around crude jokes.
You can see the fear in your regular customers’ eyes as they pass by the rowdy bunch, opting instead to walk further down the street for their evening treats.
Their leader, a tall, muscular boy with tousled blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, takes center stage as he regales his friends with some inappropriate anecdote.
You recognize him instantly - Billy Hargrove, Hawkins High School’s infamous bad boy.
The rumors of his rebellious antics have circulated the town like wildfire, making you wary to confront him and his cronies.
But as a strong-willed individual who isn’t one to back down from a challenge, you decide it’s time to put an end to this harassment.
You march right up to them, your eyes steely with determination.
“This is my livelihood you’re messing with,” you say, your gaze meeting Billy’s defiant eyes.
The teens fall silent as they turn to face you, their laughter dying down in the wake of your presence.
You can feel their apprehension and uncertainty at being confronted by an adult, but it’s quickly replaced with arrogance as Billy takes a step towards you.
“And who do you think you are?” he asks, his voice laced with aggression.
You stand firm, refusing to be intimidated by his hostile demeanor.
“I am the owner of this bakery,” you reply firmly.
“And I’ll have you know that your loitering and loud behavior are driving away my customers.” You gesture towards the empty storefront behind you, emphasizing your point.
Billy scoffs at your words, a sneer forming on his lips as he sizes you up.
But then something changes - a flicker of surprise crosses his face when he realizes that you’re not backing down from his intimidation tactics.
He wasn’t expecting this kind of assertive response, and it catches him off guard momentarily.
“I suggest you find somewhere else to hang out,” you continue, your voice steady and confident.
“This isn’t the place for disruptive behavior.” You point towards the street, emphasizing your demand that they leave.
For a brief moment, it seems as though Billy might retaliate - his fists clench and his jaw tightens.
But then, to everyone’s surprise, he takes a step back and nods in acquiescence.
“Fine,” he says through gritted teeth.
“We’ll go.”
With that, the group disperses, their laughter echoing down the street as they leave your bakery behind.
As you watch them walk away, a sense of satisfaction wells up inside you - you’ve stood up to Hawkins’ resident troublemaker and won.
Later that evening, after closing up shop for the day, you’re startled by a knock at the bakery door.
It’s been a long day filled with baking, serving customers, and dealing with teenage antics, and all you want is to go home and unwind.
But curiosity gets the better of you as you cautiously approach the door.
To your surprise, it’s Billy Hargrove standing there, alone this time.
He shuffles his feet nervously, avoiding eye contact with you.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” he asks hesitantly, his voice softer than before.
Intrigued by this unexpected visit and change in demeanor, you nod and step aside to let him enter the bakery.
As soon as the door closes behind him, Billy turns to face you with an air of contrition.
“I just wanted to apologize for earlier,” he says, his eyes finally meeting yours.
“We didn’t mean any harm - we were just hanging out.”
“Well, your ‘hanging out’ was causing harm to my business,” you reply, maintaining a level tone despite the lingering frustration from earlier.
You gesture towards the now-empty storefront, emphasizing your point once more.
“I can’t afford to lose customers because of your antics.”
Billy nods solemnly in understanding, his expression turning thoughtful as he absorbs your words.
“You’re right,” he concedes.
“We shouldn’t have been so careless.
I promise it won’t happen again.”
There’s a pause in the conversation as you both stand there, neither quite sure how to continue.
You can’t help but notice that Billy seems genuinely remorseful - a far cry from his earlier arrogant behavior.
It’s almost as if he’s struggling with himself, trying to break free from the persona he has created for others to see.
“I guess I misjudged you,” you admit, a hint of admiration seeping into your voice.
“You’re not as bad as people make you out to be.”
Billy lets out a breathy laugh at that, shaking his head in amusement.
“Oh, trust me, I can be plenty bad when the situation calls for it,” he says with a wry smile.
But there’s something vulnerable in his eyes as he speaks - an unspoken admission that perhaps he doesn’t always enjoy being seen as the town troublemaker.
As you continue your conversation, sharing stories and learning more about each other, you begin to see beyond Billy’s rough exterior.
There’s a depth to him that many overlook, a yearning for acceptance and understanding that resonates with you on some level.
You can’t help but feel a sense of connection growing between the two of you, born from your shared experiences and unexpected rapport.
Billy eventually takes his leave, promising not to cause any more trouble outside your bakery.
As he walks away, you find yourself watching him go with mixed emotions - a strange mix of relief, admiration, and perhaps even the beginnings of attraction.
“‘See you around, baker girl,’ Billy says with a wink, stirring something within you.”
As the door closes behind him, you’re left alone with your thoughts, wondering where this unexpected connection might lead…
Over the next few days, you notice a new regular at your bakery; Billy.
He comes in every day after school, and sometimes he even helps out by wiping down counters or bringing in supplies from your car.
At first, it’s just friendly small talk between two acquaintances, but soon enough, the conversations grow deeper and more meaningful.
You learn about his difficult home life - parents who are too busy with their own problems to care much for their son - and how he struggles with anger issues as a result.
Billy listens attentively when you share stories of your own past: the challenges of opening up the bakery, the loneliness that sometimes creeps in when everyone else seems to have families or partners.
The two of you begin to rely on each other for support and understanding, forming a bond that grows stronger with every shared secret and laughter-filled afternoon.
One day, as you’re sorting through new recipe books together, you catch sight of an old scar on Billy’s wrist.
It looks like it came from a particularly nasty fall or fight, but he quickly pulls his sleeve down to cover it before you can ask about its origin.
“You’re not as bad as they say, Hargrove,” you say one day, catching him by surprise.
“There’s more depth to you than meets the eye.”
Billy freezes for a moment, his eyes meeting yours in silent contemplation.
Then, he gives a small smile - almost shy, but filled with genuine gratitude.
“Thank you,” he says softly, his voice thick with emotion.
“Not many people take the time to see beyond my reputation.”
The simmering tension between you is palpable now, like an electrical current sparking whenever your hands brush against each other or your eyes meet for just a second too long.
You both know it’s there, but neither of you dares to address it directly - not yet, at least.
One night during a delivery run, after the bakery has closed and the streets have emptied, you find Billy waiting for you at the delivery location.
He leans casually against his motorcycle, one leg crossed over the other as he watches you approach with an amused smile on his face.
“What are you doing here?” you ask, unable to hide your surprise - and delight - at seeing him there.
Billy shrugs nonchalantly, a playful twinkle in his eyes.
“I heard about the delivery and thought I’d tag along,” he replies smoothly.
“Besides, it’s not every day you get to see the mysterious baker girl away from her sweet-scented sanctuary.”
The two of you spend the evening delivering cakes and pastries together, laughing as you navigate through back roads and quiet neighborhoods.
You learn more about each other - favorite foods, childhood memories, secret dreams - and by the time you return to the bakery, it feels like a whole new world has opened up before your eyes.
“You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?” you say, your heart pounding wildly as you catch sight of Billy’s intense gaze in the dim light of the parking lot.
He takes a step closer to you, closing the gap between your bodies until only a whisper separates your lips.
“You have no idea,” he murmurs softly, his voice sending shivers down your spine.
The atmosphere is charged with sexual tension as you stand there, just breaths apart from one another.
The air feels thick and heavy around you, filled with unspoken desires and longing glances.
You can’t help but wonder what would happen if you were to lean in and kiss him right now - if the electricity coursing through your veins would finally find its release.
But before either of you can make a move, Billy takes a step back, his eyes still locked with yours as he releases a shaky breath.
“I should go,” he says softly, his voice rough with unspoken emotion.
“Goodnight.”
Without giving you a chance to reply, he turns and walks away, the sound of his motorcycle fading into the night as he disappears from sight.
You stand there for several moments, your mind reeling from the intensity of that shared moment.
Eventually, you gather your thoughts and prepare to leave the delivery location, but Billy’s words linger in your mind like a siren song: “Until next time, baker girl.”