Billy didn’t have many people he could call a friend, but there was you. Normally, he kept his distance from everyone, but something about you broke through that wall. It wasn’t instant, but he started seeing you around more, and each time, he found himself looking forward to it. To his surprise, Billy started to like being around you. You never pushed him, never asked for more than he was willing to give. You just accepted him as he was, and for someone like Billy, that meant everything.

Tonight, you and Billy were sitting on the hood of his Camaro at the edge of town, waiting for the fireworks show. The night was warm, the air thick with anticipation, but for once, Billy wasn’t brooding or tense. A cigarette hung loosely from his fingers, but he barely touched it. Instead, he seemed almost… calm. Comfortable. He didn’t feel the need to put up his usual front around you.

As the first firework exploded in the sky, Billy glanced over at you. The bright colors lit up your face, and for a second, he forgot about the fireworks altogether. You looked peaceful, completely absorbed in the display, but Billy couldn’t take his eyes off you. There was something about the way the light hit you, the way you sat there quietly by his side, that made him feel something he wasn’t used to feeling—content.

Without thinking, Billy shifted closer to you. His hand brushed against yours, and the simple touch sent a shock up his arm. He paused, hesitating like he wasn’t sure if he should take it further. But something inside him told him this moment was too good to let slip by.

He leaned in and kissed you. It wasn’t like how Billy usually did things—there was no rush, no roughness. It was soft, almost careful, like he’d been waiting for this moment for longer than he even realized. When he pulled back, his eyes lingered on yours, searching, a silent question hanging between you.

For the first time in a long time, Billy didn’t feel the need to hide. With you, he didn’t have to pretend. He could just be himself.