#also let’s not make fun of me for making a oc that’s dating hopper

[m4rgera]

ok so i’ve never really shared any of my sketches on here but…. here’s a oc and hopper sketch i did today. backgrounds a little shitty since i can’t afford nice markers but that’s not the focal point anyway. also there supposed to be in swimsuits not underwear

[ingovercast]

Rules and Muse(for mobile users!)

Hello hello! I am Rain (they/them), older than 20, have been writing on tumblr for 10 years almost :D Please know that I am anti-harassment and refuse to partake in fandom drama. The sibling interactions I will rp will be strictly platonic! I am a tad slow with my replies/threads atm, but feel free to IM me if you would like to plot! Thank you so much checking out my blog and my dear train man :D

This is a sideblog to my Emmet blog (emmetrain), so follow-backs will be from there!

Thanks a lot!

Rules and Muse pages are under read more! Public/Semi-Public/Private Info post is linked!

If you want me tag something, please tell me. There will be no graphic images and such on here. Only fanart regarding Submas and Pokemon and my art (with occasional aesthetic pictures) will be reblogged time to time.

Hate will not be tolerated. I am just here to write some fluff and angst and have fun! I do not wish to partake in fandom drama. I also will block people who participates in callout posts or are on witch-hunts. Please, let’s keep this drama-free. 

I will not roleplay incest. I will not ship Emmet with any character under 20. All sibling interactions will be strictly platonic.

Croosovers and doubles are WELCOME!! OCs and Self-inserts as well!

Please tell me if you are not comfortable with any elements which we may rp. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable with headcanons and plots which contains gore or heavy angst. //Also, I can’t rp some themes if my mood is down so please don’t rush me for replies.

Take all the time you need to reply! Really, real-life comes first so don’t stress out. I don’t care if it takes months for you to reply! I can wait!! (And I expect you to show me the same patience in return!)

I will not remind you to reply. Ever. However, I will not assume it’s dropped permanently so I will give it time to be picked up. (So feel comfortable and reply at your own pace!)

IC =/= OOC. What he says or does are his actions, not mine. Our opinions differ. I’m not my muse.

The sins of roleplaying are not acceptable. (Godmodding and all that stuff.)

If I roleplay nsfw themes (torture, gore..that stuff)  It will be tagged with [insert here] tw and will be under read more.

Do not force sexual acts on my muse.

Tag me in your replies with my tracked tag ‘ingovercast’. It will make my life a lot easier. You can also mention me!

IM should stay out of character unless we talk about it. But I’m cool with IC IM. Just ask me first.

Icons and gifs I use are mine. Please do not use my icons, thank you.

I don’t mind how you format your reply! Everyone is unique in their own way so don’t worry about it.

Multi-verse. Every character have their own universe which is different from others if it’s not talked between muns or specified.

Unless it is specified, my Emmet will be a timeline-hopper that has found his way to your timeline.

I reserve the right to not answer a message or reply to a starter..

Submit will not be opened. Instead, tag me/mention in a separate post to show me things.

*The information can be changed to match his twin, Emmet.

Name: Ingo. (He hasn’t decided on a surname yet.)

Title: The Subway Boss.

Nicknames: (will be added once we get threads going!)

Age: 28 (older than Emmet by minutes)

Birthday/Sign: September 18, Virgo (Pkm B&W Release Date :D )

Gender: Trans Male (he/him)

Sexual Orientation: Demiromantic Demisexual

Height: 5'8 feet / 1.70 meters

Hair Color: Currently Grey, formerly black.

Family: Emmet - Twin Brother

Elesa - Best Friend

Starter Pokemon: Oshawott (no longer in his party), and then Klinklang

Team: Klinklang, Garbador, Crustle, Excadrill, Haxorus, Chandelure, Boldore

*Ingo and Emmet share Pokemons, but these seven are mostly in Ingo’s care.

Hisui Team: Alakazam, Tangrowth, Probopass, Machamp, Magnezone, Gliscor

Likes: Trains, Learning, Pokemon Battles, Deep Conversations, Cooking and Baking, Ideals, Principles

Fears: Not living up to his standards. Not being good enough. Fear of being forgotten. Being humiliated.

Skills/Talents:

*Can cook well, and likes to take his time to sculpt them into small trains and whatnot.

*Can tackle hypothetical problems and ethical questions.

*Great strategist in Pokemon Battles. Champion-level skills in battling and training.

*Carrying out the solution in the most effective way possible. Process-oriented.

Jobs: One of the Subway Bosses of The Battle Subway, a battle facility in Nimbasa City, Unova.

Personality:

 Ingo is highly organized person who likes to do focus on what he is doing, and creating new and exciting solutions for the same old problems.

*He is used to the fast-paced environment and a comforting presence for many in the Battle Subway he oversees with his twin brother. However, his time during and after Hisui resetted his system and preferences, thus, he enjoys the quiet more now.

*He is innovative and passionate, making him a feared opponent.

*He enjoys approaching every constant with change, and he is prone to getting lost in thought and philosophical mental discussions. He is fond of Emmet and how he entertains the passengers, but Ingo enjoys encouraging them and trying to rope them into his philosophical questions more.

He likes to reconsider and go over the problems at hand, making him question things he already knows; this sometimes tires others, however, he DOES enjoy talking and deep conversations.

*His natural expression is a relaxed frown, and he hates that people find him stiff. However, a part of him enjoys being slightly intimidating. He does not there to entertain people.

*He is extremely responsible, loyal and hardworking. He is prone to burnouts due to this, like his brother.

*He will keep all his feelings and secrets to himself. The drama and gossip saps his mental energy, and he does not like the petty conflicts.

*He enjoys fine things, but, honestly? He cares more about his time spent learning and thinking than his appearance. He likes to balance the tidiness with a little bit of controlled chaos, and his belongings can be found in the most unexpected places. He sometimes puts the important paperwork in fridge not to forget.

*He is a idealist. He pursues his principles and thus, flexible with the rules to bend them according to what he feels is right.

*He is passionate. A battle well-fought is never a defeat in his eyes. However, a lousy or ‘boring’ win will disappoint him; he will throw himself to work to improve his skills after a unsatisfactory battle. After all, results are only a small part of the whole process.

*He does not feel strongly about making friends. He enjoys a close-knitted circle of acquaintances and his family. He also does not wish to spill his guts by oversharing stuff, so he fears being vulnerable while trying to make friends.

*He is formal, curious and PASSIONATE! No matter how silly it is, if the person has passion for it, it will mesmerize Ingo! Thus, he enjoys jokes and puns. He likes people who can share the serene solitude of his with some deep conversations. His love language is quality time and and long-winded words of affirmation, and gifts like taking the person out to make new experiences will be his go-to.

*He is caring, and loves to serve others, likes his brother. However, unlike Emmet, this does not entail entertaining the others, but helping them with heir own processes. Like Emmet, taking his time to go over his opponents’s strategies after the match, and happily answering any question about Pokemon battle strategies are his favorite pasttime.

*Innovative. Does not like repeating himself and his methods, thus, he is always after surprising the people he likes.

*Ingo LIES. As long as his ideals and principles are aligned with the lie he tells, Ingo is a terrifyingly good liar. He also likes to take the lead and making a change, and having some white lies to exaggerate the issues and problems does the trick most of the time.

*Ingo feels likes he can do anything he puts his mind to with Emmet by his side. Ingo takes the lead and makes the big decisions, or propose new ideas, because Emmet feels more at home with execution of ideas and making them real than he is with coming up with ideas.

*Ingo does not mind being lied to, if the intentions are good and the lie did not cause harm in the process. However, he WON’T take it kindly if the lie somehow involves Emmet and his well-being. Call it the big brother instinct, but Ingo will only take the truth for an answer to protect Emmet better.

History: Emmet and Ingo were born to a wealthy family, with high expectations and no space for self-expression. However, Ingo found his interests lying in books and stories, and when he can read a book in peace, he can tune out the outside world. This, however, makes him an escapist, and sometimes causes problem that could have been easily solved a bigger challenge than necessary.

His sibling rivalry (lighthearted and fun one) started long ago, as Ingo fed Emmet lies about how he would choose a grass-type pokemon, only to choose water to rain on Emmet’s parade–and Emmet’s Tepig. Which made Emmet get closer to their childhood friend Elesa, who had electric-type Pokemon (Emolgas), to challenge and win against Ingo.

When they were approaching their 20s, Emmet and Ingo decided to respectively live their truth and follow their ideals, which led to them to run away from home and reinvent themselves.

Ingo chose his name to signify the ongoing process of his life and ideals. Both a train pun (“ingoing”) and with a deeper meaning (From the Germanic *Ingwaz, possibly meaning “ancestor”.), he wanted to make his mark and tell the world that his legacy started NOW.

Till they landed a job together at the Battle Subway, Ingo took on tutoring the children on Pokemon Battles. He realized he liked the act of teaching and passing his knowledge to the next generations. He does not see himself as a family man with kids, but he is always on a look-out for his protégé.

VERSES

The Twin Trouble (Pre-PLA / Hisui Verse): The Subway Bosses conducts one of the biggest and toughest battle facility in Nimbasa City. Ingo pursues the ideal battles, and tries to create new ways and flairs to add. He wants to make sense of the world around them, thus, he enjoys when his philosophical questions are met with thoughtful responses from like-minded individuals.

Memories Faded (Hisui Verse- Takes Place During Ingo’s disappearance): Ingo does not remember how it happened, but he found himself in Hisui, a region whose name he had never heard… All he could remember was his own name. With the natural affinity he had for taming Pokemon, he was taken in by the Pearl Clan, allowing him the resources to make progress at making sense of his situation. He eventually became a warden, but he feels this is far from his true purpose. He is searching for the past he forgot, and tries to leave clues of his existence, though, he does not remember for whom.

He also grows his hair during this time, though he likes having short hair. His reflection with the long hair jogs his memory, for some reason.

Back Home (Post-PLA, Reunited with Emmet): After years, Ingo returns, but does so without his memories. He is met with someone in white, who is both overjoyed and yet troubled by his return. Ingo tries to make sense of this new, unfamiliar world after following a path of solitude for years, and… tries to understand if the forgotten bonds can be made anew. He fears disappointing his ‘brother’ and his ‘friends’, but, really, he cannot even remember who they were to him.

[wishiwasntstillhere]

me n my 98569345 ouran AUs

so on november 9th i started a doc to keep track of a bunch of ouran AUs ive been thinking about and i swear the number of aus has tripled since but anyway here’s a list because i doubt i’ll write them all but i have full outlines for all of them so i do kind of... want to. names are based off what i called them in my google doc. *** are the ones i have written 40% of already lol

AUs:

1. Dimension Hopper: For reasons unknown, Tamaki Suoh gets transported to an alternate dimension where he didn’t come to Japan when he turned 14. The people who were once his friends have no memory of nor patience for him anymore, and it’s up to him to bring the Host Club back together, and figure out why he was transported here in the first place. Endgame tamakyo.

2. ***Episode 8 fixit***: A series of endings and turning points that would have made me less freaked out about the disaster that is Episode 8. Read it and/or rant at “Haruhi Deserves Better, Hosts!” on ao3. Very much ongoing. Will stop when I can sleep at night again. No ships because my feelings about this episode are complicated enough.

3. Ghost AU: Haruhi is a normal girl who suddenly gains the ability to see ghosts, because her life is a nightmare. She meets the six infamous ghosts of Ouran Academy, each bound to this world by things out of their control.

4. ***Cinder-Renge***: Renge’s dad, who has raised her as a single parent for 15 whole years, suddenly remarries. It... doesn’t go so well for Renge. Luckily, the Host Club is there for their manager. Cinderella!AU, endgame harurenge!!!

5. Hanahaki disease au: Hanahaki disease but if it wasn’t a deadly condition, just a ridiculous, irresponsible, humiliatingly painful disease for one Kyouya Ootori. At first everyone assumes it’s haruhi he likes because literally everyone else in the host club has caught flowers for haruhi so they’re just waiting for kyouya to confess and get over it. Except that of course, they’re not actually for Haruhi, and although the flowers won’t kill him Kyouya would die before admitting his feelings for Tamaki Suoh.

6. Shameless Kyouya OC Girlfriend: The twins have a cousin who programs. Kyouya, looking to expand the host club’s capacities, hires her. Except she’s super sensitive, and he’s kind of a dick. It’s a long road to being friends, a longer road to becoming real, maskless friends, and then a surprisingly short tumble into love.

7. ***Soulmates of Different Flavors***: In a world where each soulmate bond has a different sign of soul-binding, some people feel their soulmates’ pain, others have the day of their meeting scrawled across their wrist. The Host Club is stuck managing seven different soulbonds, one for each of their soulmates.  Found family-centric. Read more about the soulmate mechanics on this post!

8. ***Kyouya is stressed au***: Can we even call this an AU? Based off the fact that mental health and physical health are very much intertwined, and Kyouya Ootori spends too much time working on the computer. The Host Club bands together to help him relax and figure his stuff out, and Kyouya learns to let down his walls and practice self-compassion. Tamakyo. I do love a good emotionally vulnerable shoulder massage, after all.

9. Spy/Kidnap AU: Someone’s stolen Kyouya’s black book and is trying to kidnap him. Knowing they’ll probably go for the Host Club next, he kidnaps the host club to keep them safe. Together, they fight to keep each other safe and get to the bottom of the mystery. Involves spy tropes, but in lame ways because they’re a bunch of dorks. Also, obligatory “and there was only one bed” scene but there are seven people so it genuinely is a problem. Endgame tamakyo and mori/haruhi

10. Things the Twins Made Fun of About Tamakyo: listen I just need more mutual pining while everyone else in the host club suffers. Anyway, the host club does a cosplay––where they all act as each other. Naturally, the twins claim the roles of Tamaki and Kyouya, and drama ensues.

11. ***LGBTeen Solidarity***: So in high school being in love with girls was scary. And talking to fellow LGBT kids made me feel okay. So with that in mind, this is a story about how Haruhi and Renge are working out their relationship at the same time as Tamaki and Kyouya are angsting about how they can never be together... except that the more all 8 host club kids support each other, the less scary and more possible it seems.

12. Self soothing fic: Haruhi and Hikaru are having boundary issues. Haruhi is not very good at asking for help but she is good at reading people and solving their problems, so she goes to someone who is equally bad at asking for help but good at solving people’s problems. Kyouya and Haruhi talk it out so that Haruhi can work things out. I probably won’t post this bc Reasons but it exists.

13. Mr. Brightside/Satisfied: Tamaki isn’t making his move to ask Haruhi out, and Kyouya is legitimately losing it having to wait, and Haruhi is growing anxious and frustrated about it. In a truly terrible idea, Kyouya offers to fake-date Haruhi (who he has fallen in love with), so that Tamaki (who he has also fallen in love with) will finally get jealous enough to admit his feelings. In a completely out of the blue, totally unforeseen twist, the plan works too well and they all fall in love with each other like nerds. mostly a crackfic bc i love them but they’re all so dumb...

[likesomekindofcheese]

Hello! @spiceyspideyme  sent in a ship via Messanger and here is my response!

Hi, will you please do a ship for me with a Marvel/Queen/BoRhap guy (you can just pick one if you'd like). I'm 5'4'', have long brown hair and blue eyes. I have peaked on the Nerd-o-meter multible times (can best be described as the ultimate Ravenclaw) but i also LOVE danger and anything stupid. I'm driven by comedy (a Chandler if i may) and old music, rock, rap, jazz, anything. I dance ballet, play saxophone and skate. I love movies, especially action (Marvel ftw) and to sew costumes. I'm also a libra :)

Hello there! Thanks for messaging and I’ll do all three, I hope you are doing safe and well!

For Marvel, I ship you with...

Peter Parker!!!

You are both Ravenclaw nerds, you hype him up about whatever science project or discovery he is getting into and he gets excited about your interests too! You are each other's cheerleader!

Though you are both smart, you both have enough “dumbass” energy to get into danger and fun, sometimes you even accompany Peter on a mission for your smarts and bravery- you two become quite a team!

Even though this means Tony Stark has to be the chaperone and dad, if you too start kissing, he will have a hawk-eye. He’d be like Hopper in the third season of Stranger Things “Door three inches open, kids!”

It also means Peter is very protective of you. He gave you a special thing on your phone to alert him when you were in trouble. And Lord helps the person or villain who puts you in danger. There was even one time when Doc Octopus was around on a bus and then you walked up and went “hello! :)” Oddly calm and happy.

And Doctor Octopus went “Wait....aren’t you dating Spider-Man!”

And you just said “yup!” with the most chipper smile and immediately BOOM! Spider-Man burst in and whopped Doc Oc’s butt.

Peter adores your blue eyes and it sometimes distracts him and he knocks into something while web-swinging.

But you can always cheer him up after and get him a band-aid! :)

For Queen, I ship you with...

Roger Taylor!!!

Like you, Roger is a mix of deep, actual intelligence with dumbass energy, making you both a firecracker of a couple!

Speaking of which, he adores your intelligence and your nerdy passion. You are surprised by some of the conversations you both have! He says he doesn’t like “stupid” girls, but smart girls.

Besides, he thinks from your brown hair to your blue eyes, that you are an absolute doll!

He was very surprised when he found out you did ballet and then when he came to a rehearsal/lesson to observe, he noticed the sheer physical power of it and it wasn’t just princesses in tutus! He appreciated it a lot more since then and admires that about you!

You both love to go out shopping and looking at clothes for dates. Since you sew, you notice all those details and then he adds on, bc he loves clothes too! You both become that fashionable couple!

He may or may not have let you play Saxophone for a video or song he wrote!

Plus, you both enjoy evenings in his car, listening to old music you both adore, singing along, and sometimes holding hands.

Now for our BohRap guys, I ship you with...

Gwilym Lee!!

First off, Gwil may look like the calm intellect but he’s a Saggitarius, so he has some spark and chaos in him, and since you’re a Libra, you both work together and have some hilarious times laughing together. 

He loves to watch you skate, though when he first tried it, he fell and landed on his tush and got near to breaking his arm (like his dad Brian May did!) but it meant you got to save him and make sure he was alright. He doesn’t mind being babied sometimes! (heh heh)

He loves to call you all sorts of sweet Welsh names of affection: cariad, annwyl,  cyw, etc.

Often times, at night when you are both about to fall asleep, you both will read to each other and even have a small book club.

He misses it so much when he has to film for a long time somewhere else. So he will bring his books and tell you what he thinks or read to you over the phone as you both relax and have a drink or snack on something via Skype.

Though when he comes back, he wraps you into the biggest bear hug and picks you up, almost crying.

Then you both stay at home, basically living in your living room watching movies. Preferably Marvel movies, and he always shouts “YES!!!” when the villain gets punched in the face.

[darkdevasofdestruction]

The Blood Moon

Summary : With great powers comes great responsibility, so why bother with them, when you can just chill back and relax? That’s what Katrina always told herself in a way to calm down whenever she felt herself lose control, but nothing will stop her from getting in trouble with literally everyone around. Her world was chaotic, like the last seconds of a fly trapped in a spider’s web, but what happens when the world literally goes Upside Down for her, has to take care of a group of nerds much bigger than herself and even worst, she feels her heart beat for the first time, but now, not because of anxiety, but due to a much warmer feeling.

Pairing : Billy Hargrove x OC (Katrina Black)

TW : Stranger Things, as a TV show, explores a lot of themes, including childhood trauma of various types, which I am going to go along with.

—

This story contains and explores a variety of trauma and darker themes, most of them relating in canon to a certain character, others that I’m more familiar with then I wish I were and so on.

I have this story written on AO3 that I wrote in like 3-4 days because GODS I am in L O V E with Billy Hargrove and someone please save me, all my feelings are in here, from sorrow to glee, from fluff to angst and so on.

But I’ve never been prouder of a story I’ve written like I am with this one.

—

Chapter 1: The Fox and the Lion

I had no idea how the hell I managed to get wound up in a group of 12 year olds’ troubles, but I can’t deny that it wasn’t fun, if not, just crazy dangerous and deadly. I met up Mike and his little group of nerdy friends whilst going to the arcade one day and them cursing my nickname for not being able to defeat my high-score in any game. Of course, since all arcade games only had a 3 letter maximum for each name, I put mine.

“FOX”

Because I have red hair and can be pretty sly and sneaky, despite how very introverted I am. Now it’s my last year at Hawkins High School, this one being the most important because if everything goes right, I may get a scholarship and be able to continue my studies further, to University, pursuing Vet Medicine, like I’ve always dreamt of.

Now, to tell a little bit about myself…

Officially, I was called “3”, just like the number tattooed on my shoulder, which is to brand me as one of the many experiments the Russians/Americans did on children. Somehow, and very thankfully, I managed to run away, thanks to my weird powers that I’m still not 100% sure, and found myself in the woods, where I stumbled upon this policeman named Hopper who was nice enough to take me in for a while, before getting me to an orphanage and making sure a real family gets to take care of me.

The date of me meeting Jim was January 3rd, a very cold and snowy winter, so from that day on, that has become my birthday. Since I didn’t have a name, he let me stay a few good weeks with him and taught me how to read and write, which was pretty easy, to say the least, and upon reading so many books, I found a name that finally suited my tastes.

“Katrina”

That was 5 years ago, when I was 13, and now I’m at my own little house close to the Byers, I recently found out, living alone with Jim visiting me often, or having the kids have sleepovers at mine from time to time, when I’m not too busy with my studies.

After the incident with the monsters, Will’s disappearance, El and everything, we’ve really bonded, and gotta say, being a Rogue in their DnD party was super fun!

Life hasn’t been easy, that much is sure, isn’t it? Many bad things happened that cannot be changed or unmade, so you have to life with them through the rest of your life.

But things never stay the same, do they…?

Life at highschool ain’t the best, especially not with all these mean girls and boys around, but how I survived 3 years, I can survive one more, right? Also, recently, Will and the gang told us about a new girl coming from California called “Max” who apparently beat all their records as well and from their description, I really wanna meet her. Now, I’m wondering if this is a coincidence or not, but my Sherlockian instincts were tingling, and she may or may not be our new colleague’s little sister. Oh, yes, new colleague… His name is Billy Hargrove and he’s the most intimidating man I’ve ever seen in my life. He is literally radiating masculinity and his eyes make everyone either kneel at his feet or stay away from him, because he won’t take anyone’s shit. In a very short amount of time, he managed to gain the reputation of “Keg King”…I think that was? Beating Steve Harrington at popularity, now being the literal best student at sports (especially basketball), having the most number of uh…Charmed ladies, as a count, and beat up a ton of boys who dared disrespect him. So, uh...FUN!

I could have said that I’ve been pretty lucky so far, seeing that I didn’t have the need to directly interact with Billy so far, but fate was never as you’d expect and the weirdest of changes always happen when you least expect them.

Wednesday morning -

I wake up, eat a bowl of milk and cereal, go to wash my fave, brush my long red hair and look through my clothes.

I choose an over-sized AC/DC Tshirt, light blue boyfriend jeans, a red plaid shirt tied to my waist, round shades, a black hat and black combat boots, take my bag and go to my motorbike that I recently managed to buy and went to high school. Maths went pretty fast by, Chemistry too, but during Biology, we had to make a project for the final grade, which will affect the overall grade by a huge percent, which completely got my attention.

But that wasn’t all.

Mrs. Green insisted on assigning us partners…And I was to do the project with none other than Billy Hargrove, which made me gulp in anxiety and start to slightly scratch at my neck, not daring to look at him…Or anyone, for the matter.

Mrs. Green: Kat, Billy, may I talk to you at the end of the class for a moment? Billy: Sure. Me: Okay…

After this, the class went on as if nothing happened, but I could basically feel the burning and poisonous glares the many girls in my class would throw at me. After all, who wouldn’t want to be partnered up with THE King Billy?

Ha.

Me.

What a fool.

All I did the whole class was to draw on my notebook, habit which I found out managed to calm down my anxieties pretty well, even if I didn’t really pay attention to the teacher…But hey, for someone like me, it’s no big deal. After all the other students left the classroom, I grabbed slowly got up and went in front of Mrs. Green, not managing to look in her eyes, my gaze fixed on the floor as I bit my lip and fiddling with my fingers. Billy, as well, stood just next to me, but he looked extremely laid back.

Mrs.Green: Billy, I am sure you are aware that, despite your pretty good grades, slightly above average, in most subjects, you are somehow failing Biology. So, I wanted to ask you, is it just disinterest, or are you not understanding something? I thought that, compared to Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics, this would be at least a bit easier. Billy: Well, uh…I dunno, I guess I don’t really get it or something. I guess I started with the wrong foot and continued even worse and…Yeah, you get it. Mrs.Green: Kat, dear, I am very sorry to ask this of you, since I know you’re extremely shy, but would it be okay with you if you were to help Billy with Biology? You told me you want to pursue Medicine at University, and so far you’ve been exceeding all expectations at my subject, which is why I paired you two up. Just a bit of tutoring, once in a while, if you both agree. Billy: If it helps with my grades, I don’t see why not. Mrs.Green: Excellent! What do you say, dear? Me: Uh, w-well, I…Uhm…I-I mean, s-sure, but…But a-are you sure I’m the right person for this? I-I mean, as you said, I’m painfully shy…A-And I’m afraid I might be more annoying than useful and I don’t want to waste anyone’s time and- Mrs.Green: Dear, Kat, calm down. I’ve seen you help and explain to some of your colleagues before at different subjects and you did an extraordinary job at it! I think you shouldn’t be afraid. Who knows, maybe Billy will be able to help you out with your shyness, since he’s so popular and sociable. Me: *hiding my face* I-I-I w-well, I don’t know what to say… Billy: You can start by saying ‘Yes’ ? Me: Uhm…I guess you’re right. S-Sure, I will tutor you, I am fine with that. J-Just tell me when you don’t understand or if I’m being annoying, I’ll try to stop. Billy: *chuckles* Don’t worry, toots, I’m sure we’ll get along just fine. Mrs.Green: *winks* Think of it as opportunity. It will look very good on your recommendation letter. Me: Y-You mean, you will…? Mrs.Green: *smiles* But of course, dear! How could I possibly not recommend my top student to the best University? It was supposed to be a surprise from me and your Physics and Chemistry teachers, but oops! Busted~. Me: I-I-I can’t thank you enough!! Really, thank you so much for everything you’ve done for me! I am forever grateful for you and your patience and kindness with me! Mrs.Green: *pats my head* Dear, your only fault is worrying too much and enjoying life too little. Take the advice of the bands you listen to so much and you might learn to live a bit. Now, off you go, your next class is about to start! Me: See you tomorrow, Mrs.Green! And thank you so much for everything again! Billy: Good bye, Mrs. G.

Outside of the classroom, I gripped my notebook close to my chest and walk to my locker, but Billy was still following me with a smirk on his face, and then leaned on the locker nearby.

Billy: So, I just got a very hot teacher as a reward for failing the class, the more you know. Me: I…I think it’s more of a punishment. Billy: Why’d you think that, Kitten? Me: Wh-Why did you j-just call me “Kitten” ? Billy: Mrs.G called you “Kat”, so, why not? Me: My name is Katrina, not Kitten, so please call me that. Billy: Fine, fine…Kitten. *winks* Me: *pouts* Guess I can’t convince you… Billy: You give up pretty easily, babe. It’s almost like you like that. Me: *cringes* I-It’s nothing of the sort. I-It’s just…Over the years…I learn that if saying “No” doesn’t work the first time…It won’t work no matter how many times you repeat or struggle…So might as well just get it over with. Billy: *raises an eyebrow* That sounded oddly specific. Me: *eyes widen* Ah, n-no, forget I just said that! S-Sorry, I, uh…I gotta go to Physics, excuse me. Billy: What a coincidence, I have Physics too. Why don’t we talk about the project and my tutoring on the way there? Me: Uhm…If you’re okay with it, I guess okay. Billy: Have any specific topic you wanna do? I kinda have no idea what we’ve studied so far. Care to enlighten me? Me: Well…We started with the Nervous system, followed by the Sensory organs, then Glands, the Locomotor system, Digestive system, Excretory system, Metabolism, some pretty basic Genetics, some plain Environmental things…And…Uhm…Well… Billy: *smirks* You missed out the Reproduction thingy between Excretory and Metabolism on purpose, didn’t you? Me: *gasps* Liar! You said you didn’t know! You tricked me! Billy: *chuckles* I might have. Say, toots, it’s almost like you missed it on purpose. Are you embarrassed? Hey, what about we do the project on tha- Me: NO!!!! Billy: *wide eyed* Whoa, slow down, there, I was only teasin’. Me: *slaps hand on mouth* I’m sorry! I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to shout at you! Please, don’t be mad. It’s just…I really don’t like it and it makes me feel very…Very bad. Billy: *shrugs* S'okay, I got it, don’t worry, I’m not mad. Jeez, Mrs.G was right, you really do worry too much. Me: Yeah…I’m really sorry, I told you it’d be more of a punishment than anything. I know I can be very annoying without even realising. Billy: Chill, babe, chill. So, when and where shall we meet? Me: Uhm…Tomorrow after class for the project? Billy: I have Basketball training, sorry. Me: Oh, right, you’re in the team. When’s your next match? Billy: In 2 weeks. Wanna come and cheer me? Me: *smiles* If you want me there, sure, I will be there. Billy: Huh, would ya look at that, Kitten has a pretty smile. Ya wanna make me swoon? Me: Ah, n-no, really, I’m not. Billy: You’re melting my heart, babe! Me: S-Sorry! Uhm…How about this Friday? About 5pm? At…Uhm…There’s this pretty cafe in town called “Ma Cherie” and they have amazing tea and sweets. Billy: Friday…Friday…Ah, yeah, sure. Had a date, but- Me: Oh, shoot! Okay, we can find another day so you won’t have to miss it! Billy: *chuckles* Nahh, don’t worry, I’ll just cancel. I’d much rather stay with you than with her. Me: *bites lip* Uhmm…I…Flattered? I think? Billy: Good then, it’s a date, see you then, sweet cheeks! Me: WAIT WHAT?!

I stopped in my tracks but he only laughed and waved at me, jogging ahead in another direction. It was only then that I realised that I was in front of the Physics classroom and he, in fact, had a complete other subject, not Physics.

Smooth bastard…

And so, Wednesday came to an end, Thursday as well, Friday went by unnoticed and then, I had to go full speed to the Animal shelter nearby to help out. They never told me how much to stay, seeing that my schedule was hectic due to College and Uni preps, so I would just come and go whenever I could. Problem is, I lost track of time and when I looked back at the watch again, it said 4:46pm.

F U C K.

I bid the workers farewell and ran to my motorbike, going as far as I could back to Hawkings and at the cafe, getting all the two bags full of books and running into the cafe, and looking at my watch at the same time.

5:13pm.

Kill me please.

Entering the cafe, I nod at the waitress, as I’m a regular here and we’re on friendly terms, and scan for Billy, who was writing something in a notebook. I rush to take the seat opposite, but before I sat down and let the books fall to the ground, I start apologising to Billy a bit too much.

Me: I’M SO SORRY!! I-I really didn’t mean to be late, but it’s entirely my fault and I feel horrible for making you wait for me! Please don’t be mad, I-I’ll make up to you! I’ll pay each time we go out to study, okay? S-So take anything you want a-and I’ll pay! I know it won’t really make a difference bu- Billy: Babe, sit down and breathe. Me: H-Huh? Billy: I’m not mad. I can clearly see you rushed to get here. Lost track or time, huh? What were you doing? Me: Yeah, I know, I’m stupid. I got a watch today so I can make sure I leave at the right time, but I forgot to check it and…I am late. So, uhm…Y'know how I mentioned I want to pursue Vet Medicine at Uni? I work at an animal shelter nearby and it takes sort of…Almost an hour to get here. Well, more like 40 minutes, but I rushed and got here in like 25. It kinda helps to get in at a top Uni…With a scholarship. I couldn’t afford to study at University otherwise, so I gotta do what it takes. Billy: Well, babe, you look pretty hot in you lab coat. I wanna see you like this more often. Me: M-My lab coat…? AH, DAMN, I FORGOT TO TAKE IT OFF! Godamn it! Billy: *chuckles* You’re pretty amusing, doll. Come on, sit down and let’s order. Me: Okay. Leila, dear, could you please come and take our order? Leila: Hey, Kat, rushed again from the shelter I see. Regular? Me: For me, yes. Billy, what would you want? Billy: Just a black coffee, thanks. Me: Are you sure? Billy: Yeah, sure. Me: O-Okay… Leila: Okay, then. A Cherry Vanilla tea with extra cinnamon, a chocolate cake and a black coffee coming right up! Me: Thank you for your time, Lei-Lei! Leila: Any time! Billy: Seems you calmed down a bit. Me: Yeah…This place always manages to sooth down my anxieties. Uhm…I literally only come here every time I want to study. Billy: I’m not surprised. It’s pretty nice, I guess. Me: *smiles* I’m happy that you liked it. Billy: Say, forgot to ask you on Wednesday, but today I see you have a Metallica Tshirt. Are they your boyfriend’s? Me: *blushes* B-Boyfriend? But I don’t have a boyfriend, what do you mean? Billy: You don’t? How come? Me: Why are you surprised, who’d want someone like me? Trust me when I say this, I know what I’m talking about. Billy: But you’re smart and pretty, what’s not to like? Me: Many things. So uhm…These are my Tshirts. 90% of my tops have band imprints. And…Well…AC/DC, Iron Maiden and Metallica are my Top 3 favourite bands. I have all their vinyls and cassettes. Billy: You just keep getting hotter and hotter the more I know you. Me: Hahaha, no, no way that could ever happen. Billy: If I were to give you one of my band Tshirts, would you wear it on our next date? Me: D-Date?! C-Come on, Billy, I’m literally the last person you’d want to date, I can assure you. Billy: What if I prove you otherwise? Me: How do you know you’re my type? Billy: *smirks* Oh~? So I’m out of your league, sweet cheeks? Me: Ah-…! Wait, no, I didn’t mean it like that! I didn’t want to insult or offend you, I’m sorry! Billy: Just teasin’, relax. Me: *pouts* Whatevs… Billy: So, wadya say, dollface? About us? Me: D-Don’t you think we should, like, get to know each other first? Become friends and trust each other and all that? Billy: Awww, toots wants one of those cutesy romance novel relationships, how adorable. Me: *blushes* W-Well…Y-Yeah…I guess…I know I’m asking for too much…And there’s no way in hell that could ever happen to me…S-So…I just…I guess…I kinda gave up on even thinking of dating long ago. Billy: *sighs* Maybe your expectations are too high of people that are too low. People suck, y'know? The world sucks. You’re expecting a happily ever after? Me: If I ever get to be in a relationship, I want it to be that kind of shelter that would be protective from all the chaos and evilness in the world. The only place where you can feel safe and be yourself. And if that Happily Ever After, as you call it, won’t happen with another person as my significant other…Then I’ll be very content with saving animals’ lives and travelling the world at my leisure. Billy: *smirks* Have I ever told you you’re pretty hot when you speak like that? Me: Uhm…Okay, so, I was thinking that maybe we could talk about the Nervous system in our project? Leila: Kat, you don’t need to talk about the Nervous system. You literally ARE a Nervous system. Me: … *laughs* Oh jesus, that was a good one. I won’t forget that…Actually, I might even use it as a joke when I do the presentation! Leila: *winks* Don’t forget the author’s right! Me: Okay, okay! As per my lovely barista friend joked, instead of presenting you the Nervous system, I will introduce myself, for I am, in fact, a Nervous system. Leila: Hey, Billy, was it? Please film her or something, I want to see that part. Billy: Consider it done. Me: I call this a conspiracy! Don’t try to overthrow my reign! Leila: Oh, shut up, nerd. Here’s your tea, honey and cake, and here’s your coffee. Good luck with your project! Me: Thanks, dear! Billy: Okay, that looks and smells pretty good. Me: *smiles* Wanna try? I can give you half of everything, if you want? Billy: Y'sure? Me: *nods* Sure! Do you like your tea sweetened? I usually put a lot of honey in it. Billy: Make it as you like and I’ll drink after. Me: Here, you can eat from my plate as much as you want. I usually drink the tea first anyways. Billy: So generous, toots, you’re melting my heart. Me: Ahem. So, the Nervous system? Billy: I have no idea what that’s all about, but just for the sake of the joke, I will say yes. Me: Cool! I kinda thought of specialising in Neurosurgery after Uni. B-But that’s really very far in the future, so it’s pretty irrelevant. Billy: Teach me your magic, babe, and let’s fuck them up big time.

Pretty excited, I got the books from the bag and handed them to him, showing him the tons of notes, scribblings, ideas, details and so on that I’ve gathered so far, and for the next 4 hours, everything we smoothly, but we had to leave because Leila had to close, and we decided to meet again on Monday at lunch time in the courtyard and study while we eat.

I have to admit, the time spent with Billy was…Well…Really nice. It seemed almost like he was a complete other person, not the scary guy who looked like he would snap at anyone if they even as much as blinked around him. Sure, he was a huge flirt, but it didn’t seem too…Ill-willed, to say the least. I just hope it won’t turn into a crush or something. I absolutely canNOT and will NOT allow myself to catch feelings…Not again…Not after everything that has happened. He is right. There is no Happily Ever After, so why bother?

The weekend passed by very fast as I prepared notes for both the project and some tutoring ideas for the Nervous System, since we had to start with the very beginning of Biology, so after the first 3 classes in the morning, I tried to rush outside, but I got pushed into a locker with a boy that I couldn’t recall the name of, but I knew was pretty popular…Like many others. I think his name was Dennis or something, and he wasn’t alone, but surrounded by 3 cheerleaders, Clarisse, Carol and Christine, or the Triple C as they were called.

Boy: Hey, freak, 'sup? Me: Uhm…Hi. Boy: Didn’t you hear me? SPEAK UP! Me: I-I Said hi! Boy: I SAID SPEAK UP!! Me: HI! Boy: Thaaat’s more like it, you ugly sow. Now, what the hell were you doing around King Billy? What you’re tryina get him to like you with that pity party of yours? Your face implores pity and sympathy, but you’re nothing more than a nerd! Me: W-We have to make a p-project together… Carol: Yeah, right, as if! You have the goo-goo eyes for him! Y'know, just 'cause he likes the bands you claim to like, doesn’t mean he likes YOU! I bet you only like that music 'cause HE likes it! Me: N-No…That’s not true…

By now, my eyes were watering, and Dennis pinned my wrists above my head and started screaming very close to my face. I could feel a panic attack beginning to form at an alarmingly fast rate.

Clarisse: Aww, look at her! What, gonna freak out again and cry? Christine: Pshh, yeah, right. What a stupid crybaby. Never got past the stage of a 10 year old? Dennis: You and your stupid red hair, better stop hanging out with Billy, or else you’re gonna get it. Me: B-But I h-have t-to- Carol: *slaps me* Billy. Is. Mine. Slut!

After she slapped me, everyone around started laughing and belittling me again, but I couldn’t get out of there because Dennis was exponentially stronger than me, so I knew there was no use in even bothering. A booming voice, however, echoed in the hallway, making me flinch at the noise. “SILENCE! What the hell is going on here?!” the deep voice rang out, a funeral silence taking over, only my soft whimpers being heard.

Dennis: STOP CRYING, YOU BITCH! Didn’t you hear our King asked for silence?! Me: S-Sorry… Dennis: And open your eyes when he’s here, stop being so disrespectful for someone clearly superior to you! Come on, now, on your knees, like the little bitch that you are!

Dennis laughed as he put his hand on my throat, squeezing a bit before throwing me to the ground, in front of Billy. I could only tremble on the ground, not daring to move. I learnt it the hard way that getting away always made it worse.

Billy is the most popular guy in the High school, making all the ex-popular guys hang out with him to gain popularity. He has always been the talk of the school, the womanizer, the rebel, the cool guy everyone loved and feared. Despite everything, I expected him to side with his friends…Even if a little part of me wished for him not to.

The silence in the halls was far more excruciatingly painful than the mockings and the laughter, but it soon vanished as a voice darker and lower than before started talking. He was clearly pissed off.

Billy: …What the fuck were you doing here…? Dennis: We were teaching this bitch a lesson, of course! Make her remember her rightful place! Clarisse: No, no, if you were doing that, you’d have thrown her in the trash bin, 'cause that’s what she is! Carol: Hey, Christine, look at her! She’s staying there like she wants to suck King Billy’s dick! What a shameless slut, on her knees in front of everyone! Billy: Did I, even once, ask ANY of you to do anything like this…? Dennis: Well, no, but she’s been rubbing her pathetic germs all over you! Following you like some lost puppy just 'cause you’re popular, and even more! Lying to us! Carol: Ha, yeah! She kept saying she’s dating you and that you already fucked! Pshh, whore! Me: I…Never… Carol: Oh, shut up, nobody cares what you’re saying, get a hint! Billy: Are you 4 fucking out of your GOD DAMN MINDS?! Dennis: Uhm…B-Billy, what’s the matter? Billy: WHO THE FUCK TOLD YOU TO DO THAT TO HER?! SHE’S MY PROJECT PARTNER AND MY TUTOR, OF COURSE SHE’S HANGING AROUND WITH ME! You fucking idiots, I’m gonna FUCKING KILL ALL OF YOU! All of you stay around me like whores on the sidewalk wanting to get some cheap money, but you’re all good for nothing! Dennis: Come on, Billy, you’re new here, but she’s a freak, okay? I mean, look at her! There are only bad rumours about her and you should hear what her EXes say about her!

Before Dennis could say another word, he was slammed on the locker behind him and choked. I cringed at the sudden noise, but when I saw the outright rage on Billy’s face as he choked Dennis, he drew back one of his arms, wanting to punch him, but I threw myself on his arm.

Me: Billy…Please don’t… Billy: Get back, dollface. This fuckass needs to be taught some discipline the hard way! Me: Billy…Please, I beg of you. Please let him go. Please. Billy: But look at you, they made you cry! I can’t let them get away with this! Me: Billy…Please, for me, please don’t do it. Please stop. Please. Let’s go work on the project. Please. I beg you with all my heart. Billy: *glaring* What the hell is wrong with everyone in this fucking town?! You’re all a bunch of submissive fucktards with no brains at all!

Billy sneered, throwing Dennis away from him and walking down the corridor. I took 3 deep breaths to calm myself, before I ran to him and hugged him tightly from behind, making him freeze in his tracks, extremely tense.

Me: I-I’m very sorry, Billy. I know I only bring you troubles. Even now, I can feel that you hate me touching you like this, but it was the only way I could think of thanking you. And…And…I really appreciate you saving me…And not fighting in my presence. Billy: I really don’t get you. You just stood there, letting them do whatever the hell they wanted with you! There was no struggle, no fight in you! Nothing!

By this point, I let my arms fall down my sides and he turned around to face me, yet my gaze was still on the floor.

Me: You really think I could have gotten out of there? That I could have managed to throw Dennis off of me? Look at me, Billy. My arms are literal noodles, I can’t even punch. Hell, sometimes I struggle to open the water bottle cap. And if I tried to scream…Who do you think would have helped me? Harrington? Wheeler? The lovely Carol and Tina? Or Tommy? The only person who was okay with me in this high school has been Jonathan Byers, but people hate him too, so I can’t possibly make him get bullied more because of me. What would you have me do? It’s been 3 years already…What’s one more? Billy: …You’re so godamn irritating. Me: I know…I’m sorry. I’m really sorry for causing you so much trouble. I…I will go tell Mrs. Green to assign you a new project partner and I will continue tutoring you, if you wish, where people won’t have to see us in the same room. Billy: Did I ask you to do that? Me: N-No, but- Billy: But nothing. Shut up and let’s go, you’re supposed to be tutoring me today. Me: I-I know, but we said outside, and if people see you with me- Billy: Then let’s skip. I don’t have Basketball practice today, so I don’t really care. Me: I-I…I never skipped before… Billy: *shrugs* There’s always a first time for everything. C'mon, if you get in trouble, you just say I kidnapped you or somethin’, chill out. Me: A-Are you sure about this…? Billy: Yeah, yeah. Hop along, I’ll drive. Me: Where are we going? Billy: My place. My parents won’t be coming home tonight so nobody to disturb us. Me: Uhm…Well… Billy: I won’t do anything to you, fuck’s sake. Me: W-Well…If you’re sure it’s no problem… Billy: Get in the car, then. Me: B-But my motorbike- Billy: You have a motorbike? Me: Y-Yeah…Couldn’t really afford a car. And it’s pretty neat. Billy: Fuck, babe, you’re so hot. Me: Ah, I-I’m really not. Billy: I’ll get ya to your house and pick you up tomorrow then. C'mon, sweet cheeks, lemme show you my love. Me: Okay, okay.

He winked at me before signaling me with his head to follow him to his car, where he patted the hood very proudly and smirked, leaning on the door. He got inside, starting the ignition, which was a cue for me to get inside too, putting on my seat belt and gripping it tightly.

Billy: How d'ya like it? Me: It’s very pretty. What car is it? Billy: '79 Camaro, Chevrolet. Complete chick magnet, ya get me? Me: It is very nice. Billy: Fancy some music! Me: Oh, yes!

Smirking at me, he put “You shook me all night long” by Scorpions at max volume, making me grin at him in glee and start singing the lyrics of the song, and he followed my lead, making both of us scream like idiots above the music. Then, the perfect Mixtape with AC/DC songs started, featuring “Highway to hell”, “Hells bells”, “You shook me all night long”, “Dirty deeds done dirt cheap” and my favourite, “T.N.T.”, but by the end of it, we already got to his house, which made me pout a bit before laughing and getting out of the car.

Me: Thanks for this, Billy! It was super fun! Nobody I know listens to the same kind of music I do, and being able to sing with someone else was sooo cool! Billy: Next time, try screaming my name, 'cause damn that was sexy as hell. Me: *laughs* Don’t be silly. Billy: *winks* I’m not.

He guided me to his room which was filled with band posters over which I started gushing about as he brought some snacks and soda for us to munch on as we study. I took off my boots before I jumped on the bed criss-crossed as I spread my noted for today’s tutoring, repeating some things myself, so I won’t stutter explaining too much, but before I realised it, he already threw the bags of crisps on the bed over my notes, making me yelp in shock.

Billy: You get scared pretty easily. Me: Y-Yeah, I mean, that was pretty unexpected. Uhm…Let’s clean up a bit, you made a mess of my notes. Oh, bring your notebook, you’ll need it. O-Oh, right, I brought coloured crayons, I wasn’t sure you had…And your sister might have needed them. Billy: How did ya know I had a sister? Me: Well, I kinda guessed. Both you and her transferred from Cali on the same day, at the same time. Billy: Why do you know about little brats? Me: *shrugs* I have a few little friends. They don’t mind that I’m a nerd…'Cause they are too. It’s pretty fun, actually! Billy: *raises eyebrow* Right. So, why’d I need crayons? Me: Drawings, of course! To understand Biology better, one must need tons of schemes and drawings. I already have mine and I will give them to you for as long as you need, but I’d appreciate it if you were to draw them by yourself too, since it will really help you understand and memorise better what you’re about the learn. Billy: Right…Okay, fine. Me: So, if it’s okay with you, should we start talking about Cells? Shapes, roles, the organelles inside it and what they do. Then, we should cover the tissues a bit, before starting to talk particularities, mainly, to explain the Neuron, how reflexes work and why, and then cover the nerves and organs. Billy: *blank look* Good luck. Me: Huh? What do you mean? Billy: It’s gonna be tough getting me to understand this shit. Me: I don’t think so. I have faith in you. Mrs.Green said that all your grades are above average, which is really good! If you manage to get a B at Biology as your final mark, then you have a very strong chance at a scholarship! Billy: How d'ya know that? Me: You are the best at sports, Billy. The teacher always praises you, despite all the…Uhmmm…L-Let’s call it problematic behaviour. I’m sorry. And, uhm…Our highschool has 1 Sports Scholarship, and 1 Studies Scholarship. Billy: And clearly, you’re the one to get the Studies one, right? Me: *blushes* Well…Y-Yes, it seems so. Billy: And how are you so sure I’m the one qualified for the Sports one? Me: Well…I…I spend a lot of time around teachers. It’s kind of a safe haven where nobody can bully me, and I get to find out a few things as well. Billy: Holy shit, you’re such a Vixen~! You, little, naughty vixen! Me: *chuckles* I…I’ve been called Fox before. Billy: And rightfully so. Me: Y-Yeah, carrot hair, I know. Billy: Oh, shush, it’s hot. And damn, looks damn good with your green eyes. Me: *clears throat* N-Nobody said that before. Uhm, s-so! As I was saying, because you’re currently the top choice…That’s actually why Mrs.Green wanted you to pair up with me. She saw potential in you and she didn’t want it wasted. Before you, there was Steve Harrington, but since you came… Billy: Oh, babe, trust me, I’m gonna come very soon if you keep praising me like that. Me: *confused* What do you mean? Billy: You…Didn’t get that? Me: *shakes head* Should I have? Billy: Never mind. So, what am I supposed to do? Me: Basically, get that B in Biology, win at least 3 of your upcoming Basketball matches until the end of the year…And I think it’s settled. Billy: I’d kiss you right now. Me: *scratches the back of my neck* You wouldn’t like it. So, uhm…Is this enough of a motivator for you? Billy: It could be…Okay, babe, work the hell outta me. Me: S-So, I was thinking, if it’s okay with you, that I should give you a test after each chapter we finish. Like a revision. I think it would be nice and it would help you not forget some things, and also, see where you didn’t understand well enough and all that stuff. Billy: What’s the passing grade, teacher? Me: *flustered* D-Don’t call me that, please, I would be a terrible teacher. I think…A 75% should suffice Billy: That’s quite a lot, babe. Me: *smiles* You can do it, Billy. Your future self is going to thank you for your struggles and hard work. Billy: How about a motivator? Me: Isn’t the Scholarship enough? Billy: It is…But Y'know, it’s gon’ be hard. Me: I suppose you’re right…Okay, what do you have in mind? Billy: *smirks* Each time I get a passing grade at your tests…Let me kiss you. Me: *eyes wide* Wh-What?! Billy: Aww, come on, babe, it’s just a kiss and it’s gon’ help motivate me to study hard. Don’t cha wanna help me get that scholarship? Me: *blushes furiously* I-I-I…Wh-Why w-would you want that?! Billy: Because you’re adorable as hell and I like you. Me: L-Like you like all girls? Billy: Who said I liked them? They’re all dumb and want the same thing. Can you guess? Me: *shrugs* Dunno. Billy: Come on, babe, think, you’re smart. Me: I guess? Billy: You’re the smartest babe I’ve ever got the pleasure to meet. All fucktards at school want just one thing, 'cause they’re all shallow brain dead suckers. They aaaaaall just wanna fuck. Me: A-And don’t you do the same? Billy: I do. Me: Th-Then why’d you want me to kiss you? To add me to your list or something? Billy: Nahh, I’d be a real shithead if I were to take advantage of you like that. Me: *mutters* Wouldn’t be the first one… Billy: *raises eyebrow* Do you trust me? Me: Don’t take it personal, I don’t really trust anyone. Billy: Huh. Not bad. Let’s make a deal, toots. I’ll do my best to raise up to your expectations and you’ll give me those little rewards. If by the time we finish everything you won’t be satisfied with how I behave, then you can hate me all your life and I won’t bother you again. Me: B-But I don’t wanna hate you. Billy: *gets closer to my face* Even better. So, wadya say, sweetling? Me: Uhmm…Well…I-I don’t know… Billy: Come on, Kitten, what’s the harm? It’s just a kiss. Me: *blushes* Uhm…Uhmmm…F-Fine…If it will help you… Billy: Thanks, babe! Now, how about I see what to expect~? Me: NO!

With each question, he just kept getting closer and closer to my face, while I leaned backwards, until the last where I got so flustered that I didn’t realise I was completely on the edge of the bed… Until I fell off with a high-pitched squeal and a thud, while he just laughed his ass off looking at me, as I pouted and looked at him done with life.

Me: You could’ve caught me, y'know? Billy: Sorry, toots, I was too shocked to realise. But, shoulda seen your face, t'was hilarious! Priceless! Me: Yes, yes, I’m hilarious, ha-ha! Just wait till you see how hilarious the tests are gonna be! And I’ll laugh in your face like you do right now! Billy: Ohhh, mrrrr, babe, you’re on fire! Fine, you’re on, then! But I’ll show ya it’s gon’ be worth it. Me: You better.

Stretching a bit I get back in bed next to him and putting on my best game-face, I grab the first pages of notes, the drawings and schemes and start explaining him in detail every little thing, telling him to repeat what I said from time to time, to make sure he stays focused, and make him explain what he understood so far, in his own words.

Despite everything, he was actually really great company to have and I’m kinda…Actually, really glad that Mrs.Green made me be his partner for this project, and more, tutor him. If only he could tone down his excessive flirting, he’s surprisingly soft and nice. Or well…That’s what I think. I could also be wrong, like I’ve been so many times before, and I wouldn’t be shocked in the least bit.

But…I really hope I’m not wrong.

Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8

@klassickb

[screamingintosilence]

I Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend

Summary: "Inescapable, I'm not even going to try. And if I get burned, at least we were electrified." El has angst, Max is the best friend we all want, Mike did something really dumb 4 years ago, and now it's time to get drunk and confess all. It only gets hotter from here.

Pairing: Mileven with lots of mentions of Lumax, Will/OC, and Dustin/OC

Can also be read on AO3 here

“So what are you going to do about Wheeler?”

I glanced over my shoulder at Max, who was flipping through the rack of clothes behind me. Turning back to the lipstick I was looking through, I tried to brush her off with a “What about him?”

“Seriously El? You’re my best friend. I’ve known you for almost four years now!”

“Ok? So?” I tried out the red lipstick. I usually stuck with light pink, since Hopper would throw a fit over anything else, but we had just finished our junior year at Hawkins High and I was feeling adventurous. As adventurous as one can be about lipstick when one’s father is the police chief.  I rolled my eyes at myself. I was as straightlaced as they came, something which Max constantly liked to tease me for, ever since I came back for good. I was sick of it and I wanted a change.

“I don’t understand how the hell you two aren’t together,” I heard her grumble. “C’mon, El. Everyone and their mother can see that you guys belong together!”

I huffed. “Max, you were there when he threw, like, the biggest fit about us not being boyfriend and girlfriend.” Yeah, three and a half years ago and that still stung like a bitch.

......

It had been a few weeks after the Snow Ball of ‘84 and Hopper had let me stay at the Byers (before him and Joyce were a thing) with the whole party. It was the only other place I was allowed before my year of confinement was up and I could start high school with everyone.

We had all just been hanging out and the boys had found out about our kiss. Lucas’s and Dustin’s favorite thing was to tease Mike, so this was like hitting the jackpot. They teased endlessly about us being together and how we were as good as married, and whatever else 13-year-old boys tease about. I had been blushing the whole time while Max was petting my arm to try and reassure me that it was all in good fun.

Mike, though, was having none of it. After about 15 minutes of continuous teasing from the two, he finally snapped. “El and I are NOT boyfriend and girlfriend! Would you two assholes shut up already?! We’re just best friends, jesus fucking christ! El, tell them we’re not dating!”

His eyes were begging me. “D-dating?” That was still a word I hadn’t really learned yet.

“It means together, like Nancy and Jonathan. Tell them how we’re just friends. Please! Tell them how we’re just best friends!” He was pleading with me now.

Finally grasping what he was say, there was a tight pang in my chest and I could feel my eyes slightly moisten. So I was wrong. He doesn’t like me like that. It was just as best friends. Emotions were tearing me up inside, but I couldn’t let any of the others see, especially Mike.

“Uh, ye-yeah. We’re, um, we’re just best friends, guys,” Mike was nodding at me and it felt like my heart was breaking. Don’t let it show, I chanted to myself.

“See! Now can we please just watch a movie or something?”

“Yeah, yeah, lovebird,” Lucas threw up his hands. “Just don’t make it Poltergeist again.”

Will rolled his eyes at the other three boys and turned to me from where he was seated on my other side. He leaned in to whisper, “They’re all idiots, El. 13-year old boys don’t know how to act around girls. I mean, just ask Max. We basically stalked her when she first got here.”

Max was nodding in agreement and whispered back, “He’s right. All of them were being total creeps, and Mike was rude as shit - given it’s because you were gone - but the boy can be a real dummy for someone so smart.”

I appreciated their reassurances and was trying to take subtle deeps breaths in through my nose and out through my mouth to keep the tears at bay. “Uh, I, uh, have to use the bathroom. I’ll be back.” I whispered as I squeezed both of their hands to try and convince them that I was fine before getting up and locking myself in the bathroom.

I let the tears come for 5 minutes as I sat on the edge of Will’s bath tub before I heard knocking on the door. “El? It’s Mike. Are you ok in there?” I could hear the worry in his tone and knew I couldn’t let him see me like this.

Wiping my eyes up and trying to sniffle my nose as quietly as I could, I tried to make my voice sound as normal as possible “Yeah. Just don’t feel good. Must have been Eggos.” I make my way to the sink and turn on the water as cold as it would go. I had seen on one of the episodes of Days of Our Lives that cold water reduced puffiness of the eyes or something.

After giving myself another minute or two to try and look normal again, I opened the door to see Mike leaning against the wall opposite. When he saw me, he reached out to hold my hand, but I flinched back. Trying to cover it up, I rubbed my stomach and made a grimacing face.

He scratched the back of his neck instead, asking again if I was ok, sounding sheepish. After nodding and mentioning how I probably should eat more than just Eggos, he gave in with a nod of his head.

When we got back in the living room, I curled up into Max’s side, hugging her arm with both of mine. She gave me a look in surprise, since that was normally something I only did with Mike, but I just shook my head looking at her with big eyes. She sighed, understanding me, because next to Mike she was quickly becoming my best friend. She patted my hair and leaned her head on mine, focusing back on the tv.

I could see Mike out of the corner of my eye looking over at us, slightly distressed. He was sitting next to Will who happened to be in-between us. I saw Will nudge him and heard him whisper, “It’s probably just women stuff. Like what Nancy goes through once a month. She’ll be fine.”

I saw Mike’s nose crinkle and he shuddered a bit, before nodding and turning back to the tv. I didn’t know what Will had been talking about, but I could always ask Max or Nancy at another time. I appreciated that Will bought me time, though. Hopefully it was enough to at least let me come to terms with my feelings being one sided.

......

It had been enough. Over the next week, I avoided Mike as much as possible, which he thankfully didn’t find suspicious due to Will’s explanation. I let myself have that week, and then decided to lock all those feelings up in a mental box and try and bury it as much as possible. I didn’t want to lose Mike as my best friend, so I would just let things be how he wanted. I also didn’t want to make anything awkward with the party, so I did my best to act as if I wasn’t pining over Mike until it became second nature.

We would still hold hands and he would walk around the halls with his arm slung over my shoulder once I started school with them. He’d give me little pecks on the top of my head, since he towered over me now. And I’d give him quick pecks on the cheek. The guys and Max would tease us good naturedly about how “Are you guys sure you aren’t secretly dating?” and there was constantly a rumor going around about us being together, but true to my part I would roll my eyes with him and we’d laugh it off.

He was my best friend. He owned my heart and he didn’t even know. All our innocent gestures further solidified my love for him, but it was something I could never admit to. We had been toeing the line for 3 years now and he was still calm and sure as ever in our friendship, while never knowing that my heart still went erratic every time we touched.

It didn’t help at all that Mike really grew into his looks in high school. Puberty hit the boy hard, and man did it almost destroy my façade. He might still be a nerd, but looks can truly help one’s popularity. Girls would constantly be trying to get him to notice them; how he never did is something I still don’t understand.

And to be honest, all the boys came out of it on the winning side of growing up.

So did Max. She was a stunner. If it wasn’t for her steady relationship with Lucas that started after that fateful Snow Ball, she’d have guys begging her for a date. Not that she didn’t anyway, but after Lucas took up baseball, most guys didn’t want to even try messing with her.

I came out literally plain Jane. As much as Max tried to tell me otherwise, I know it’s a lost cause. The girls in our grade would constantly tease me about how plain I was and how they didn’t understand why my friends liked me. It lessened a bit when Max actually punched one of them in the face after gym one day. She had smugly said how much it was worth it once she got out of her week suspension. The boys wouldn’t stop talking about how epic it was and how they wish they could do the same, but since they were boys… I may have rolled my eyes at that.

So with Lucas’s popularity from being on the baseball team, and Mike’s heartthrob looks they were an easy win to become student body vice president and president respectively for our upcoming senior year. Dustin’s and Will’s skills at campaigning didn’t hurt either.

The summer had started and Mike’s parents were gone with Holly for the weekend on some trip to Kiddieland or somewhere. Mike had won them over in letting him stay home, using Nancy coming back from college as his excuse. In reality, Mike Wheeler was planning to throw an all out, incoming-seniors-only party. This was a far cry from the Mike Wheeler I first met, but I guess wanting to have the full high school experience and now being the student body president, he had this air of confidence that 13-year old Mike Wheeler would be in awe of.

We also lucked out with Joyce and Hopper taking mine and Will’s newest little sister to our grandma’s and going away for the weekend. Without the chief of police breathing down our necks and with Steve promising to buy us alcohol (after a ton of begging, puppy dog eyes and maybe some guilt tripping on Dustin’s part), it was the perfect storm of events. Nancy and Jonathan had even promised to stay out of our hair, planning a movie night with Steve at Steve’s house.

All of this is why Max and I are currently at the mall shopping.  She had insisted that we needed new outfits for this type of thing, “I want to stun Lucas. I want his jaw to drop and I want him drooling.”

I made a face at this. “Max, you already have the boy hook, line, and sinker.” (Dustin had taught me that saying.) “Hell, you guys have already done it!” She had told me about how they had sex down by Lovers’ Lake last July, not sparing me any details no matter how much I begged. Lucas was my unofficial brother, like Dustin. I so didn’t need to know all that about him, but Max just laughed at me, “You’re so innocent and pure, Ellie. Someone has to corrupt you.”

Shuddering at the memory, I finally walked over to where Max was flipping through the dresses, if you could call the tiny scraps of fabric that. “When’s the last time I could dress like this for him? I love him, and I love teasing him,” my nose crinkled at her explanation.

“So gross. I don’t need to know this.”

She laughed, “Oh, c’mon. You’re my best friend. Who else am I going to talk about sex with?”

“I don’t care! Not me! Knowing it’s Lucas that you’re letting bone you makes me want to vomit.”

She just smirked, “You’re one to talk, Miss I-want-Mike-Wheeler-to-pound-me.”

Flushing in embarrassment and glancing around quickly to make sure there wasn’t anyone close to us to overhear, “Oh my god, Max, shut up! No I don’t! We’re just friends! How many times do I have to tell you?!”

“Mm-hm. The starry-eyed gaze you guys give each says otherwise. You guys are literally sickening.”

“I have no clue what you are talking about.” I knew I sometimes looked at Mike like that, I couldn’t help it, but there was no way he looked at me the same. That’s just wishful thinking. Really wishful.

“Ellie,” she was the only one besides Hopper ever allowed to call me that. A fact that she relished. “You’re my best friend. I know you better than you think. You like him. Fuck what he said after Snow Ball, the boy is stupid, all boys are. He was just embarrassed. But if there was one thing I know about Mike Wheeler, it’s that that boy would lay down his life for you. He would walk through the seven pits of hell just to make you smile. Jesus christ, he already threatens every boy that even thinks of looking at you.”

My eyebrows pulled together in confusion and I glanced up from the dresses I was looking through to face Max. “Ok, now I really have no clue what you are talking about. Boys don’t look at me. Outside of group assignments almost no other boy has ever even talked to me. Just plain ol’ Jane, remember?”

She glared at me, “I love you Ellie, but God you are being stupid right now.”

“Hey!”

She grabbed my hand over the clothing rack and dragged me over to the closest mirror. Putting her hands on my shoulder to make me face it, she stood behind me.

“Look at yourself, El. Really look. The reason all those bitches try and say that you’re plain is because you’re fucking beautiful, with or without make-up or ‘stylish’ clothes, and that makes them jealous and bitter. You have the school heartthrob hanging on your every word, and quite literally hanging on you, that they would kill to be in your place. Wheeler looks at you like you put the stars in the sky. He knows how amazing and gorgeous you are and that’s why when the QB last year, Tony Hill, was going to ask you to homecoming, Mike threatened him and made sure that everyone knew you were his date.”

“He only asks me because he’s my best friend, he probably just doesn’t want to have to deal with the hoard of screaming girls who want him to ask them.”

Max started shaking me by the shoulders, “I. Want. To. Strangle. You. Right. Now! El!”

“Max!”

“He loves you! My god the boy couldn’t be more in love with you!”

“You’re crazy!”

“Am not! I’m going to prove it to you!”

“Oh yeah? How are you going to do that?” I gave her my best skeptical look.

She glared back at me in the mirror, “The party.” She then grabbed my arm and dragged me back over to the dresses, furiously flipping through them until she found one that seemed to appease her. Still having a strong hold on my arm, she pulled me over to the fitting rooms, shoving me and the dress in one and closing the door.

My eyes flitted over the fabric. There is no way that this qualifies as a dress. It’s basically a shirt. “Max, what the hell am I supposed to do with this?!”

“Put it on!” her muffled voice snapped at me through the door.

Knowing that I would never win in an argument against her, I shrugged out of my clothes and wrestled with putting the dress on. It was a black, strapless concoction, with cutouts on either side of my waist. Struggling to keep my hands from getting caught, I managed to get it situated pretty much right, but couldn’t finish the zipper. I wrenched open the door to a no-nonsense look on Max’s face.

“I can’t finish the zipper,” I panted out while turning around. She quickly did it up and turned me around, her eyes quickly growing wide.

“Holy shit, El. You’re fucking hot!” she exclaimed. My nose wrinkled in disbelief. “See that,” she shoved me back into the changing room so I could look in the mirror. What I saw looking back at me was a girl who I didn’t recognize. “You have hips! You have an ass! You have boobs!! That’s what’s been hiding under all those old sweaters of Mike’s?!”

“Max, they’re all average size,” I try to calm her. “And I like Mike’s sweaters! They’re comfy. Plus he said he likes seeing me wear them, so he knows I’m warm.”

“Yeah right! Ellie, average on you is like mega gorgeous! Besides, Wheeler is probably just trying to hide that body all for himself.” I was starting to get sick of her making up lies about Mike liking me like that. “You have this perfect face. Your cheekbones are to die for. And you’re petite enough, especially to Mike-skyscraper-Wheeler. And now you have this banging body.”

“Max.”

“You might turn me gay, El,” she laughed dramatically. “Ah, nah. I like my chocolate thunder too much.”

“Gross,” I gagged. She had that starry look in her eyes that she always got when she thought about Lucas, mainly sex with Lucas.

Her eyes snapped back to me. “Ok, you’re getting this dress.” I made to protest. “Nah-ah-ah,” she held her hand up to silence me. “You are getting this, and we are going to make Wheeler eat his heart out. Maybe eat you out, too.”

“Max! Why must you always make it so crude?!” I whined.

“Because, the boys never talk like this around you since they somehow think you’re still so delicate and innocent, and because Hopper is your dad so they don’t want him killing them. Who else is going to make sure you’re prepared?”

“Prepared for what?!” I threw my hands up.

“For when you finally have sex with Mike! I need to make sure you’re safe.”

“Max, I’ve been through health class. Joyce has even given me the talk. I think I’ll be fine.”

“Only the basics. That’s all the ever teach you. Who else is going to inform you of all the other things that happen?!”

“I hope not you. I actually want to burn my brain out for having to picture you and Lucas like that.”

She huffed. “Whatever. We are still getting this dress.”

After another hour of shopping, Max finally found her own dress to wear, as well as heels for us (“It’s just a party at Mike’s. Why do we need heels?!” “The Look needs to be complete. Besides, they’re heeled boots, El.” God I must have turned her girly), and some new make-up.

“I want to give you this smokey look. Like Olivia Newton-John’s make over at the end of Grease. It’s going to be amazing.”

“Fine, as long as you skip the hair fluff. I don’t feel like choking on hairspray,” I amended to her.

“Deal,” she squealed, rushing up to the counter to pay for all our things. Her dad, her real dad - not Neil - had sent her a bunch of money for her birthday last week. He was loaded, though Max doesn’t talk about it. “It happened after my mom left him and married Neil. She didn’t want to wait around for his ‘money-making’ scheme to finally, ya know, make money. Complete bullshit. At least he’s making something of himself now.” I didn’t really like her paying for me, but she claimed something about at least she wouldn’t be spending it all at the arcade or on food for the boys. “Like they need more food. I’m not giving into their growth spurts any more than I already have. Besides, who’s mainly funding this party tonight? Me.”

Since we still didn’t like hanging out at Max’s house, even with Billy gone, we drove in Max’s cherry red ‘68 Ford Mustang convertible (another present from her dad, but for her 16th birthday last year) to my house. When Joyce and Hopper got married, we all moved into a house over by Dustin’s neighborhood, since Joyce’s old house wasn’t big enough and even considering the cabin or Hop’s trailer was a complete joke.

The convertible was Max’s pride and joy, as well as all the boys’. When Max had first gotten it, they would constantly demand to be driven around in it, even though we all struggled to fit. I always ended up in Mike’s lap, since he always suggested that would be easiest. Most of the time I would prop my feet up on Will’s and Dustin’s lap so I could lean my head back out the side. The feeling of the wind blowing through my hair was freeing, and Max had taken her role of zoomer pretty seriously.

Lucas obsessed over making sure the Mustang was always maintained and washed, since all he got once he had his license, was his dad’s old town car that Mr. Sinclair was still making him work for. Max didn’t mind though, since it gave her a reason to always be over at the Sinclairs’ instead of her own place when she wasn’t with me or the whole party.

When we finally pulled up into the drive, I spotted Jonathan’s car as well as the beat up Chevy Will and I shared that Hop got from old man Jacobs. They both must be home, probably with Nancy in tow. As we entered, I could hear the tv going and glanced into the living room to see Nancy and Jonathan curled up on the couch together and Will sitting sideways on the overstuffed arm chair that Hop usually sat in.

Seeing us, Nancy jumped to her feet. “El! Max!” She squealed while running over and engulfing us in one of her signature hugs. I had always loved Nancy, she was like the older sister Max and I always really wanted. I do still think of Kali now and then, but always remember how her path was one that I was not meant to follow. Nancy, however, always tried to help guide us and would just be there for us whenever we needed her.

“Nancy! I’m so glad you’re home,” I buried my face in her hair. The only people her hugs didn’t top were Joyce’s, Hop’s, my baby sister Lila, and… Mike’s. Sigh. “We missed you so much.”

“I missed you both too! Oh my goodness, are you guys ready for the party?!” she seemed way more excited than us.

“Yes!” Max squealed. Ok, more excited than me. “Please come help us get ready?” Max was already dragging us both up the stairs to my room while Jonathan and Will laughed from their places in front of the tv.

Upon entering my room, Nancy bounced onto the bed with Max while I quickly tried to gather all my clothes into a big pile in the corner. “Sorry,” I mumbled.

“El, it’s fine. It’s not like I don’t spend every day with you,” Max snickered. “Ok, it’s 5 now and the party is at 9. That should give us enough time for everything.”

I groaned, “What does everything entail?”

“Well, we need to shower and shave-”

“I did both of those this morning.”

“But did you shave everything?” Max retorted. “Bikini line?” her eyebrow quirked as I blushed.

“Oooo! Did my brother finally get his head out of his ass?! Or did El get tired of waiting on the dummy and find someone else?” Nancy quipped from the bed while clapping her hands excitedly.

My eyes went wide as I looked at her, “Mike doesn’t like me like that, Nance! You know that!”

“Sure,” she smirked at me. “And I’m the reincarnation of Cleopatra.”

“All of you are ridiculous. I give up. And no, there is no guy. Max is just crazy. And I’m not shaving that, Max.”

“Oh yes you are! You don’t know who might want to rip you out of that dress!”

I crossed my arms with a glare, “No one will be ripping me out of the dress. I’ll stab them before they get the chance.”

“Unless it’s Mike!” Max chimed back, shoving a razor into my hand and pushing me into the jack-and-jill bathroom that connected my bedroom to Will’s as Nancy continued cackling from the bed. She was being very pushy today, something I was not appreciating in the least, no matter if she was my best friend or not.

Two hours of grooming that also included facials and nail polish later, and having ingested a large pizza between the three of us, Max declared that all that was left was hair and make-up.

Nancy volunteered to do mine, since Max’s would take her a while, and sat me down in front of an old vanity that Joyce had bought for me from the thrift store, and Hop had painted.

“How about we put some relaxer in your curls so they aren’t so tight, do a side part and put in a small french braid on one side?” Nancy suggested. I had always thought that Nancy’s hair creations turned out great, so I nodding readily.

I could see Max in the mirror, sitting on my bed, using my mousse to slick back the sides of her hair as she pinned it. She then took a teasing comb she had brought and started going to town, trying to give her long red hair some volume on the top.

“Ok, all done,” Nancy stated in my ear. I looked into the mirror, admiring her work. I had never been that great at doing my hair. Normally I would just throw some mousse in it to make it seem like my crazy curls were intentional and call it a day, since I kept my hair shoulder length to make it relatively easy.

“Thanks, Nance. It looks amazing.” She squeezed my shoulder as I ran my fingers over the braid.

At that moment, Will poked his head through the adjoining bathroom. “El? You decent?”

“You’re fine, Will,” I answered back.

He came into my room and settled himself on my bed next to Max, already ready for the party. “What the hell happened in the bathroom?” he laughed.

Max shoved him, “You’re not a girl. You don’t know the crap we go through to be pretty.”

He flung his hands behind his head as he laid down fully on my bed. “Sure, sure. Just clean it up tomorrow, yeah?”

“Ok, neat freak,” I banter back.

“Hey, I heard at the new kid, Adam, is going to be there tonight,” Max quipped at Will and poking him, making him blush a deep red. “I also heard he’s going to be a lifeguard at the pool this summer,” causing him to blush even further.

Adam had come from a South Carolina beach town, with wavy blonde surfer hair and sea blue eyes. Almost all the girls in Hawkins were in love with him. Too bad for them, I thought as I looked at my step brother lovingly.

“Heard his hot ass has never had a girlfriend,” Max wiggled her eyebrows at Will as she stuck the last bobby pin into her poof.

“Suck a dick, Mayfield,” Will mumbled. I don’t think his face had ever been more red.

“Mmm, only my chocolate thunder,” Max smirk.

Nancy, Will and I all made gagging noises. “That’s absolutely disgusting. I need to bleach my brain after that,” Will retorted as he climbed off my bed. “She obviously has some plan, and that’s why her comments are dirtier than normal,” he said as he looked at me and I shrugged as nonchalantly as I could.

“You are right, Byers,” Max smiled devilishly in my direction. “I have a fantastic plan which involves your beloved step sister and our very own heartthrob, Michael Wheeler.” Nancy was just giggling beside me as Will frantically glanced between Max and me.

“Yes!” he pumped his fist. “This is so happening! I’m sick of hearing them be gooey and try an deny this shit!” He hi-fived Max and lifted me into a bear hug.

“No, no, no, no! Nothing is happening because there isn’t anything besides platonic feelings between Mike and I. You all know this! Ugh!” I sat back down on the stool that I had been on when Nancy was doing my hair, with my arms and legs crossed.

Will kneeled in front of me, rubbing my arms and looking much more serious. “Elle Belle, you know we love you. You know that Max and I saw how much you were hurt when Mike was being an idiot. And you know we’ve been there every step of the way for you guys. Now, you might have been trying to deny it ever since then, but all three of us in this room can see how much you still like him.” That was the understatement of the year. “The three of us have watched how Mike is around you and how deeply he cares for you. Maybe you’re just blinded by words said 3 and a half years out of annoyance, but we can see how crazy that idiot is about you. Tonight, you need to stop being passive Jane and grab that boy by the balls and tell him how it’s going to be.”

My hands were shaking so bad and I could feel tears starting to track down my face. I wanted to believe them, but all the self doubt I’d held for years felt too much to overcome. Nancy bent over and wiped my tears away, stroking my cheek. All I could think about was how much I wished it was a different Wheeler.

“Tonight-tonight I’m going to need a drink,” I finally stammer out.

This of course caused a cheer to go up from Max as she pulled a handle of vodka out of her bag, “Yes! Finally El!” Will and Nancy looked on in amusement.

My eyes went wide, “Where the hell-”

“I took it from Billy’s room. Mom and Neil never go in it and he must have left it by accident when he left for California,” she shrugged.

If my eyes could have pop out of my head, they would be right now. “You went through his stuff?!” I gasped out.

“Yeah, figured it was time. The asshole hasn’t been back in 2 years, so I doubt he’ll be back tonight or any time soon.”

“Ooh, Red. You’re a badass,” Will snorted. Max flipped her middle finger up at him before shoving the bottle into my face.

“You. Take a swing. And a full swing, not a half-assed sip, we’re trying to start the night off right.” My nose scrunched up in distaste at the thought.

“Wait!” Nancy ran out of my room and I could hear her pounding down the stairs and then sprint back up them seconds later before bursting back in with the carton of orange juice in her hand. “You can’t not let her have a chaser. This is El we’re talking about, Max.” Max nodded in agreement, twisting the caps off both before returning to shoving the bottle and juice carton into my face once more.

“Drink up, girl.”

Knowing I was on the losing side - one does not win against Max, ever - I grabbed both and tried to keep from gagging from the stench of vodka. “I want to puke already.”

Will took the juice carton out of my hand and put it on the vanity behind me. “Here, now just plug your nose when you drink it. It’ll make it easier.”

Nodding, I pinched my nose with one hand and tilted the bottle of vodka back with the other, taking a sizable amount into my mouth. As I started to tip it back down, Will quickly switched the alcohol for the juice as I swallowed the liquid in my mouth down and tilted the contents of the carton into it. I choked it down as I unplugged my nose, sputtering and coughing at the intense burn in my throat and belly. Max let out a whoop as she grabbed the OJ and vodka, taking her own turn as Will patted my back with a slightly concerned grin.

“How do people enjoy that?” I asked bewildered, staring at Max throwing both back easily without making a face before handing them off to Nancy.

Will shook his head with a laugh, still rubbing my back. “Oh, El,” Nancy answered after taking her own turn. “Come college, this will become second nature. Trust me,” signaling to Will that it was his turn.

“I think I’m ok if it never does. I think I’ll stick to wine,” I shook my head vigorously. Will and I had snuck in glasses of wine and eggnog whenever Hop hadn’t been looking during the holidays over the past few years, but I had never had anything this hard, especially straight.

Will  took his turn, reacting much like me, but at least he didn’t have to hold his nose to get it down. “God, this stuff is rough Max.”

“It was Billy’s. Are we really surprised it’s not some fancy shit?” she rolled her eyes as she capped the vodka and juice, stowing the former back into her bag. “I’ll save the rest for later, when I’m intoxicated enough not to taste it.”

“You’ll need to be blacked out for that,” Will retorted before clapping his hands together. “Well, I want to see El’s get up before I head over to make sure those idiots actually have everything set up.”

Three pairs of eyes turned to look at me and it felt like I was a deer caught in the headlights. Max snapped around to our shopping bag, pulling out more than just the dress and heeled low top boots we had bought, shoving several scraps of fabric into my arms and shoving me back into the bathroom.

I let everything drop to the ground before picking through it all. “MAX! What the fuck is this shit?!” I yelled through the door and was met by her laughter. She poked her head around the bathroom door.

“Well that,” she responded, pointing to the red underwear in my left hand, “is a thong. And that,” pointing to the black fabric in my right, “is a garter belt. And those,” she pointed to the rest of the pile at my feet, “are stockings and a hot ass lace bra, if I do say so myself.”

I glared at her. “You’ve been planning this! What the hell am I supposed to do with all of these?!” I gestured wildly.

She stared at me blankly before giving me a grin so evil, the devil would be terrified. “You’re supposed to wear them. And yes, I have been planning this. Do you know how long I’ve waited for the perfect opportunity to make my best friend realize her potential? Years! Now chop chop.” She swung the door closed again.

I stood there, staring at all the pieces of fabric in my hands and on the floor for a few minutes more before Max knocked on the door, startling me from my contemplation. “I know you’re nervous, but would you please just trust me?!”

I let out a sigh. Max could be trouble sometimes, but her heart was always looking out for mine. I did want to be adventurous, after all, so looks like I’m getting my wish in the most unexpected way.

Slipping on the bra and underwear, this so doesn’t qualify, I turned my attention back to the garter belt and felt at an extreme loss as to what to do. “Max?”

She poked her head around the door once more, eyes going wide. “Damn, girl. I think Wheeler is going to have an aneurysm over you.” Huffing at her, I held out the garter belt.

“Help? How the hell do I work this thing?” I asked with a slight panic.

She snorted while grabbing it out of my hands. After a minute or two she finished getting it around just above my hips. Indicating the straps as she handing me the stockings, she said “You secure the tops of the stockings with clips.” I nodded as I slipped the silky material up my legs.

“Why do I have to do all this?” I sighed.

She put her hands on my shoulders. “Look at me, Ellie,” as she tilted my chin so my eyes met hers. “You are the baddest chick I know. You have quite literally saved us and the world ever since you were 12, several times over, in fact. You might not talk about sex, or really drink alcohol, but you’ve kicked ass.” She reassured me as I started rolling my eyes. “I look up to you. No, really. You’re my best friend, and the fiercest, most loyal person I know. You don’t have to fucking do anything that you don’t want. If you don’t want this, then fuck whatever I say. You should only do it if it would make you happy. I just want you, and everyone else in this fucking place, to get their heads outta their asses and realize what an amazing, stunning, punk chick is behind the ‘prim and proper Jane Hopper’. I might put on this punk, skater, badass persona, but you actually can own it. I just want you to be confident and stop hiding behind ‘Mike Wheeler’s best friend’. You’re his girl, you need to realize that he is yours and you’re not going to let giggling girls fawn over him when all his attention is on you. I want to see the El Hopper that walk back through that door that November night. That badass punk chick that travelled to Chicago and back on her own, saved all our asses from the goddamn demo-dogs, and closed a huge fucking portal. The girl who wasn’t afraid to tell Mike Wheeler that she was always on the other side of his calls, and that she would always come back to him. I want to see the girl I know you’ve kept locked away after the douche was the biggest wastetiod in the whole world. I want my confident best friend, who’s not going to take shit from anyone, not even the guy she’s had a crush on for almost 5 years.”

I pulled her into a tight hug, sniffling from the tears she caused, “God, how do I deserve you Mayfield?”

She squeezed back, “Well, you saved my ass several times over, so it’s more of how do I deserve you, Hopper?”

I let out a watery laugh, “It’s a good thing you didn’t do my makeup yet.” I rested my cheek against her shoulder as she patted my hair.

“Yeah, otherwise I would kill you for messing up my masterpiece,” she joked.

The knocking on the door startled us both as Will’s voice drifted through the wood. “Did El fall into the toilet? C’mon, I have to make sure the incompetent fools are doing everything right.”

“And you need to make the jungle juice for me!” Max yelled back.

“Then hurry the hell up!”

Max wiped the tears from my cheeks as I took a deep breath to calm myself. “God, I hope I’m not a huge emotional drunk,” I laughed.

She patted my face, “I’ll kick who's ever ass needs kicking if I see you crying.” I giggled at the thought.

“Ok, ok,” I finished putting on the stockings, taking a look at myself in the mirror. Feeling a huge burst of confidence from seeing the vixen staring back at me, I felt better about this scheme. Stepping into the dress, I turned so Max could zip up the back and I slipped on the heeled booties.

Looking into the full length mirror that hung on the back of my door, I could see the straps of the garter belt peeking out from the mini-dress. Fixing my hair to the side, Max put her chin on my shoulder and her hands on my upper arms. I smiled at her and then at my reflection. “Eat your heart out, Mike Wheeler.”

Max squealed, wrapping her arms around me before pushing me out the door and into my bedroom.

Both Will’s and Nancy’s jaws dropped as the took me in.

“If you weren’t my sister, this would be way better. Damn, El. I don’t think I should let you out of this house!”

“If my brother doesn’t have a brain hemorrhage from looking at you, then I don’t know what is wrong with him. You’re going to have almost everybody in the house wanting to date you once you walk in the door.”

“Mike’s going to cream his pants,” Will added, making Nancy gag at the mental picture while punching him in the arm. My face flushed at their words.

“We still have to do makeup. Go on over to the Wheelers, Will. Just make sure not to even drop a hint about El! I want it to hit him like a train,” Max was giving a grin the Cheshire cat would be proud of.

“Do you want me to tease Lucas, though?” Will smirked.

“Oh hell yeah, go for it!” she hi-fived him before turning back to me.

“See you guys in an hour or so!” Will waved as he walked out the door.

“Ok, Sandy make-over time,” Max smiled, turning to me.

An hour later, with help from Nancy, Max had completed a dark, sensual, smoky look for both of us and then ran to the bathroom to also change.

“Do you still have that leather jacket I gave you last year?” Max queried, opening my closet to rifle through my clothes. “Ah ha!” she pulled it out, holding it up triumphantly.  She threw it my way and I slid the cold fabric over my arms. “Now you are perfect,” she proclaimed.

Grabbing her own jacket out of her bag, she threw it on. “I declare us ready!”

“You guys look amazing!” Nancy squealed. “Stay here,” as she ran out of the room once more in search of Jonathan’s camera. After a few minutes of searching, she returned. “Now, pose! Give me your best Madonna pout.”

Both of us stared broodingly into the camera as Nancy snapped away. “These are amazing!”

We heard the phone ringing, quickly followed by Jonathan shouting up the stairs, “El, Max, Will is saying you guys are already 30 minutes late and that the house is filling up fast!” We glanced at each other slightly panicked. We hadn’t realized what time it was. Sure enough, the time on the clock read 9:30.

“Shit!” Max yelled, gathering up her bags and my purse, dragging me by the hand down the stairs and out the door.

“Bye!” “Have fun!” Jonathan and Nancy yelled after us, with an added “What the hell are you wearing, El?!” from Jonathan that I chose to ignore.

Jumping into Max’s car, she revved the engine before reversing out of my driveway and peeling down the street. It was only a 5 minute drive to the Wheelers, and thankfully it looked like Will had saved us a parking spot. He waved us into a spot in the Wheelers’ driveway before jumping out of the way of Max’s ridiculous driving.

“Jesus H Christ, Mayfield. I didn’t plan on dying tonight,” he quipped at her from the driver’s side door. She just smirked and turned to me before pulling out a tube of lipstick from her purse.

Holding it up, she smirked, “I almost forgot. I saw you eyeing it at the store. You have to wear it, it’ll really tie the whole thing together.”

I pulled the cap off of the scarlet red lipstick she handed me and glanced at her with wild eyes. She just nodded and made a hurry-up motion with her hands. Pulling the visor of the passenger’s seat down, I quickly applied the color, making sure that it didn’t smear. Max was applying her own shade of red next to me. She looked over at me once she was done, “Irresistible. Let’s go, Hopper,” and we jumped out of her car, my stomach in knots over what was to come.

Will put an arm around each of our waists to guide us inside, but not before James Montgomery from the football team yelled out, “Damn baby, you are looking fine tonight! Let me get a taste of you!” Still feeling extremely confident from Max’s pep talk earlier, I flipped him off.

“Fuck off, Montscumrey!” Max yelled, disgusted. “Shut your fat mouth or I’ll cut your balls off and feed them to old man Merrill’s pigs!” Max was always frightening when she threatened people.

James threw up his hands in defense and muttered “Bitch.” I made sure to trip him with my powers when he tried shuffling away. Will smirked and Max hi-fived me as we continued our way into the house.

I could hear the beginning notes of Jessie’s Girl by Rick Springfield before a burst of excited screams went up from the girls in our class. Making our way through the front door was a challenge, but we were met by Steve in the foyer.

“Mayfield! Small Byers! Small Hop-?!” Steve suddenly stopped as he took in what I was wearing. “How the hell did you get out of the house like that?!”

“Parents aren’t home, duh!”

“Jonathan let you out like that?! Do I need to talk to him again about what you can wear?!”

Max rolled her eyes, “Can it, Harrington! El can wear whatever she Goddamn wants!”

“She’s barely wearing anything!”

“Get over it, Steve,” Will nudged him. “Not worth the fight.” Steve made an upset noise. “Besides, you’re holding up your movie night with Jonathan and Nancy.”

Steve glanced at his watch, his eyes going wide with panic. “Shit! Shit! Shit! See you dipshits later! Be semi-responsible!” he screamed as he pushed passed us out the door.

We laughed and turned back to making our way through the crowded house to find the rest of our friends. People started looking at us in awe, parting as we passed. Knowing this, I felt an ego boost, though it didn’t calm the butterflies in my stomach at all. I clung to Will’s bicep so no one could see how bad my hands were shaking.

As we made our way to the kitchen, people seemed to stop talking, staring at us instead. The music seemed to get louder without so many people talking over it. I could see Mike’s dark hair over the crowd because he was so tall. He was standing at the island, looking like he was pouring some jungle juice into a cup and arguing with Lucas as Dustin stood by.

Dustin was the first to see us and with how few people were talking, I was actually able to hear him yell, “HOLY SHIT!”

Lucas’s and Mike’s heads snapped up to us. I didn’t pay attention to Lucas’s reaction, though, as all my attention was trained on Mike. He dropped the cup he was holding back into the tub they were using for the cocktail, his jaw dropping with it and eyes going as wide as saucers.

I felt Will nudge my side, and I managed to choke out, “Your face is going to get stuck like that, Wheeler,” and gave a small smirk, before grabbing the cup he had been filling and downing its contents.

[alias-b]

sins of my youth. 020

Billy Hargrove x OC! Evie Fenny~ Also posted to my AO3

Summary: It was common knowledge that Billy Hargrove hated Hawkins. Hated Cherry Lane. Even loathed the strange girl next door. Evie Fenny wasn’t too fond of the chaotic Cali transfer either. An awful high school tradition sparks a chain of events that changes everything, ultimately bringing two frayed souls together.

A/N: Hello everyone. Thanks for clicking in to read. Billy and Evie continue to explore their new relationship together. Max's fourteenth birthday party marks a change for the teens, reminding them that danger isn't too far off. TW: Neil being Neil. Mentions of abuse. Something close to an almost assault/abduction off screen near the end. Light mentions of Pica & fatphobia. Sexual themes

***My tag list is wide open, just shoot me a msg to join it! Chat with me about the chapter if you have the time! Enjoy! xoxo 

Chapter 20: Rose Tint My World

  “Hold still, I’ll poke your eye again.”

   “I can’t breathe, you’re killing me.” Came a sniffled whine.

   “Such a baby. You asked.”

   “I said I was curious after you put the gunk on my nails!”

   “That gunk was a great color on you. You whine just like your big brother.” Carol had Max’s face clamped in her grip as she applied mascara. “Don’t blink, you'll smear it.”

   “Evie, she’s killing me,” Max lamented aloud. “This is not worth it.” Evie just laughed, setting a bowl of pretzels aside. Carol flicked a mirror up to let Max see her handiwork. “Whoa...It’s not terrible.” She gruffed in a mumble, tilting her head to see each angle. "Kinda like Madonna."

   “I’ll take it.” Carol stole some M&Ms from another dish as they shared a spot on Heather’s fuzzy carpet. A movie rolled on in the corner TV.

   Max about howled when Heather came in from the bathroom, face covered in green.

   “Monster!”

   “It’s a face-mask!” Heather planted her hands on her hips, prompting more laughter. “You’ll be more into them once your body really changes.”

   “Girls are way scarier than boys.” Max poked at her blushed cheek which had Carol smacking her hand away. Evie was draped across the bottom of the bed in her robe and nightie, half-watching the TV. “Can you do a zombie make-up?”

   Carol gave a snort.

   “I can do anything. kid.”

   “Eves, you want another piece of pizza?” Heather crossed with the box.

   “I’m so full.” Evie shook her head.

   “You had like one piece.”

   “I ate a big lunch. And lots of pretzels.” Evie snatched the pretzel bowl again for good measure. Truthfully, her appetite had been up and down lately. Mostly down. What with the pangs in her stomach that always passed and… “You sound like my mother.”

   “She was...extra peppy at the salon today. My mom and I got our monthly trim.”

   “Probably some guy she’s seeing, it’ll pass and another will come. Men are like Kleenex to her. Soft, strong, and disposable.” Evie shrugged to pluck up a magazine.

   “Hey,” Max began as Carol fussed over her, “so I didn’t want to make a thing of it, but my mom keeps insisting. My birthday party is coming. She and Neil saved so I could have it just at the roller rink and...they said I could invite whoever I wanted. But, I can’t ask the guys to come. So I figured I’d ask El. She’s really cool. But, maybe if you guys wanted to come? You can bring boys and pretend you’re not even at my party if it’s not your thing. I just-”

   “Max, we’d love to come.” Heather piped up first. “Evie and I rule the rink too.”

   “I look very cute in skates,” Carol agreed with a twitching smirk. “I'm in. I’ll bring Tommy, he sucks and he’ll fall down a bunch. We'll pretend we ran into each other so your stepdad can get the stick out of his ass.”

   “Billy has to go too cause Neil says it’s a family event.” Max turned to Evie. “I think he’d be happier with you there.”

   “I think Billy and I both are fine being there for you. I had my fourteenth at the rink too. It’ll be fun.” Evie beamed, legs up to sway idly. “Plus we haven’t met the Chief’s kid. She’s home-schooled, right?”

   “Yeah, she might be joining us in school next year.” Max stayed still for Carol’s brush. “Depends. She was uh...adopted under weird circumstances. You’ll like her. I taught her how to do that felting thing because of you and she made this funny one of her dad.”

   “I’ll bet Hopper loved that.” Evie winked. 

   “He’s kind of a babe in like a scruffy, rugged way,” Carol remarked. "Strong mountain man type."

   “Ew. He’s so old.” Max reeled back to laugh.

   “I’m just saying! I like a man in uniform. He rocks the khaki.” 

   “The moms in town do eat him up.” Heather shrugged, joining Evie on the bed with a handful of candy. “We all have our strange crushes. I like high cheek-bones. Guys with a little Bowie. Evie? You got one?”

   “Gia Carangi even if she isn’t modeling any more, I love her face.” Evie was flicking pages without looking. Howls from the TV went ignored through the chatter.

   “I called that. Fenny being into ladies. Try Iman.” Carol winked which earned her a look as if she hadn’t planted a kiss on Evie in a fit of rage.

   “People say Billy’s pretty like a girl.” Max had added which got the other girls giggling. 

   “I like this one, we’re so keeping her.” Carol got up to root for a bag of chips, popping them open. “Like the zombie face better?”

   “I still look too pretty.” Max appeared more goth than zombie.

   “You are pretty. Deal with it. We redheads stick together.” Carol stole Evie’s magazine. “Let us know when the party is, we’ll be there.”

   Max looked at the three older girls squished together on Heather’s bed. Chattering and supporting. Happy to have her around.

   A bright smile touched her face for the first time since Neil Hargrove walked into her home. 

** ** ** 

   Most days, all it felt like was floating. Floating through her house. Through Hawkins. Up and down streets. Through school. A stunning illusion she pulled like wool over her dark eyes.

   A woman in rippling silks walking endless halls toward a great, cherry red door at the end, but the door gets farther away and she's thrilled to continue on even still. Feather wings glittering to unfold from her back because heaven's light is beyond the door. Crystalline eyes with their hold. Waiting for her. The sky awaits her with caressing clouds. Opulent gold sun rays and twinkling stars when the world lies down.

   Evie knew she was too big for her wings most days. Too heavy to leave the Earth.

   Knew in her beating heart of hearts that was the first thing people think when they see her. This magnificent soul with drive and neon and talent reduced to a single shrewd glance. And they don't think twice until she's something vaguely sexual. Something marketable you can package and process and sell to the last drop.

   Easier to stomach something uncomely if you can slide into it ruthlessly to rut. They always come like animals, wailing as a banshee would to get off better than they ever will in their small lives. They eat it up. Cover it in sweat and regret and blame.

   These things that hang as little weights on her heartstrings swinging back and forth. They make her not want to attempt extending those wings to fly. Fear of heads shaking in judgement. Fear of looking uglier. More foolish for even trying. Poor thing.

   All because of one glance that couldn't be bothered to see worth in another human life. Sometimes Evie wanted to be skinny not because of beauty, but because she'd get a privilege pass to exist in this world.

   They think she shouldn't dress the way she does. She's probably lazy and self loathing because of added pounds. She has no real aspirations or means to achieve them. Those eyes that watch her eat. That shift away before they decide on another seat because the one open next to her just isn't right. They glare because of the extra room she might take up. Even sharing a few cordial words with fat girls seemed to be a task.

   Evie always notices and does the polite thing pretending she doesn't. She knows what her body looks like, no need to point out the obvious.

   Strange, how these snap judgements, these eyes that don't look twice; can villainize a body utterly. A body. Flesh, bone, and muscle. We're all made in heaven's image. All destined for paths we seek to control. Superiority should have been an illusion. But no, too much or too little, your worth dips low. Fetishes and internalized hatred for things that were shaped and colored differently. Blame.

   But, some days, when the wind soars just right...just strong enough...Evie can spread and illuminate. See the births and deaths of a million stars. Drop the little weights to feel the winds between her fingers. In her curls. In her wings. Feel her feet leave the floor for just a few fleeting seconds.

   The fleeting seconds of soaring always seem so worth it against a world of unsightly aches. Against snap judgements she can toss back to live in a flower petal haze.

   Evie tried hard to live in those moments when they flashed into her. Spotlights. Butterflies delicately landing on her flesh to open and close their stained glass wings for kisses. Evie felt crushed utterly in the most decadent way.

   Billy's soft lips on her neck to get lost in the pulse. Deft fingers that would push up her clothing as he moved in her. Eyes that wanted to see her. All of her. The prayers he could whisper against heating skin.

   A lot could be said about him. But, Billy was always happy to see her and that alone was air spinning into gold. His eyes would light up. Lips twitching. She could hear the single beat that his heart skipped. Even if they didn't speak, they felt this awareness for each other in the vicinity. Truly magic.

   Those eyes. That love of a face. Always staring pointedly to read her up and down. Always plucking the weights from her heart by listening. Always unafraid to touch her. Evie hoped she returned that. She really did.

   Fleeting seconds began to linger between them. Seeping slow and saccharine as fresh pouring honey.

   Sneaking away on walks while he let her hold his hand. Flirtation against school lockers that ended in several 'just one more' kisses. Double dates to the movies with Tommy and Carol. Sitting separately to make out.

   Driving up near Lover’s Lake to kiss in a parked Camaro while the sun laid itself down to sleep. Fumbling playfully to undress and explore. Watching the construction of a coming mall with Slurpees from the gas station. Tongues and lips colored all artificial cherry and strawberry.

   Evie would stretch her wings completely. Let Billy admire them until the world was all satin rose-tinted. She could forget her urges and worries and insecurities. All together. This was fine.

   She was fine. More then fine.

   He so liked to admire her wings. Pleasure crushed in as she moaned. Let his fingers explore contours and notches untouched before. Billy would take those prayers on his lips and drape them over her body. Spell them between fleshy thighs. Pulling more fleeting seconds for himself too.

   They could roll around under sheets and not worry about anything else. Have conversations that always felt silly and wonderful and weighted because they both mattered to someone so ardently. That alone was an ocean both could sink into.

   Something beautiful to behold. The real vision behind the great red door. Your soul mattering.

   Evie was in a bubble with Billy Hargrove. A stupid, dopey look on her face when Mona settled dinner down one evening. Steam rising from a huge pot.

   “Going out later?” Evie began to create sound or she'd be lost. "You colored your hair brown again."

   “Needed another change. Ah, I'm going out just with Karen and Claudia. Dessert and wine night. I asked Susan but that poor thing keeps standing me up. Did you finish Max’s gift for her party?” Mona scooped up huge portions in a bowl that Evie would only be prodding at.

   “Yeah, it’s set. Turned out perfect. She’s not much for jewelry but I think a personalized tie dye shirt will be fun. Might look cool while skateboarding. I also have that goody bag of sweets for her to fill up on we made.” Evie reminded herself to pick up her spoon. Took a few bites.

   “You’re not scarfing it down like usual, you love my crawfish soup.”

   “It’s delicious, I just had a big lunch.” A lie. Evie pressed herself to eat quicker, tearing a piece of fresh bread to chew. Thing was, she wanted to eat. She wanted to eat so badly despite the sickness welling inside her. The heavy ache made it a task. Mona eyed her daughter there. “My stomach's in knots a lot, just school stuff.” 

   “Well, you are a senior.” Mona pushed her own soup around. “I haven’t been around as much as I’d like to be. Just the salon and I met-”

   “I get it.” Evie’s lips spread in a flash, not wanting her mother to finish that sentence. “I’m with friends a lot and I keep busy with my music and the cat. I even wrote a new song.”

   “That’s two this week, you. Strumming along blissfully.” Mona gushed. “Whatever has you all creative and dewy, chase it.” Silverware clicked around and Evie stared at her dish. A broader smile crossed.

   "I will."

   “What’s it called?”

   “Ocean Eyes.” 

   Evie could be pretty transparent in the early stages of a relationship.

   These short weeks in with Billy. Lyrics flooded free. Sometimes he liked to watch her write and strum when they hung out. Trips to the lounge where she worked other nights got him a full show, but not of her original stuff. Songs marched forth.

   “Ocean Eyes.”

   “Cupid and Psyche.”

   “Honey Stardust.”

   “Neon-Tinted Hearts.”

   Rock. Pop. Lush and obscene with her glowing heartstrings. She wrote them for Fredrick too when they got together.

   “Doll Joints.”

   “Lollipop Lolita.”

   “Prince Charming.”

   After dinner, Evie stole a notebook filled with her every sinful lyrical confession of her time with Fredrick Bowers. Burnt it in an empty pot out back until Billy wandered out the back steps of his place. Asking her if she was trying to set the neighborhood on fire.

   “How can I help?” He’d snarked while the sky went all pretty peach fuzz. Evie just laughed and never explained what she’d burnt or why it felt this cathartic to watch the smoke rise toward a falling sun. She figured maybe this was the day she'd stop eating foreign and sharp objects. She could do it. She was happier. Lighter. It had to stop.

   It had to. She couldn't think about this haze shattering, it hurt too deep.

   Billy used the flame to light his cigarette comically and kissed her before inhaling the smoke. 

   “Can we take a drive? Or walk if you’re low on gas?”

   “Let’s walk, I got some cash doing my odd jobs for the damn neighbors, but I need it to last a bit longer with Max’s birthday. Got her this new board she was too chickenshit to beg our parents for.”

   “Aren’t you a darling big brother?” Evie crossed her arms to follow him when the flame dwindled low. They went around the house to the front, started down the street. “Iris has some hours for me that next Saturday night.”

   “You going to tell your mom about the secret job thing?” Billy inhaled and let smoke billow up into the afternoon light. They walked along Cherry Lane. Not touching. Counting steps while their shadows cast and the streetlights came up. A brisk night loomed, spring begging to creep through the month of March. 

   “I figured I could this summer. Around graduation. Just say I got something bigger since I’m eighteen and Iris can get me steadier hours. Gigs day or night. Maybe I’ll get to host a couple more drag shows. I miss those damn girls, the funniest performers know. I'll just let my mom down easy about the receptionist thing, hopefully she’s fine with it. Make it sound like I took initiative cause I'm a big girl.” 

   “And your grand singer plans?” He liked to ask about her and hang upon the syllables.

   “Still up in the air. I’m taking the year off to work and write. Try for a talent agent or manager. I can record maybe...try to get airtime. There’s this contest thing, they do it every year and the winners always do well. But, I’m honestly too afraid to ask my mom about it just yet. I’m saving though here and there.” Evie beamed. “You? Summer and on.”

   She was clearly asking if he was sticking around for summer. 

   “Odd lawn, house, and car jobs are getting me by. This whole street is a mess and the moms in town like to watch me work."

   "Yikes." 

   "It means better pay and tips. I’m taking Heather up on her lifeguard offer this summer. I'll save up, Dad's already going to be asking for rent when I graduate."

   "Shit."

   "Yeah. Don’t wanna bank on that mall they’re opening with all the other little shits trying to get jobs first.” Billy leaned back to let the cooler air kiss his face, sighing before he tossed his smoke out. 

   Evie came to the end of the street near the forest, swayed around a streetlamp like she was in an old Hollywood flick. Dreaming long and endless. Sometimes she worried so often that she wasn't living. Just dreaming it all away. Maybe a center line was possible.

   Maybe she'd be able to soar over it all.

   Billy waited for her to swing back around it before he pressed into her for a slow, lingering kiss. Even better, maybe they both were sharing a dream. Making it of something stronger.

   “So, how am I doing?” He joked lighter. Evie gripped the lamp to stay level, head tilting. “Two weeks in, almost three. This whole situation.”

   “Situation.” Evie mused, slyly hiding half her face behind the lamp to hum. The shadowy starlet of a femme fatale she loved to watch on television with her mother. Glinting. Dangerous. "This whole situation?" She lingered to sigh it even slower.

   "You and me." He'd sounded out, drawing nearer. "Us..." Evangeline, always the playful nymph, flitted off playfully. Spinning the other way to walk along so Billy came to her side easily.

   “I think you’re doing fine." She tapped her chin. "What about me? Evaluate my performance.” 

   “Ah. In a sea of slithery tadpoles, you’re a goddamn firecracker.” He’d laughed and Evie followed, covering her lips with one hand.

   “I don’t know how any of that correlates or makes sense, but I’ll take it.”

   “Neither do I. Just made it up to see you do that. The scrunchy thing you do when you’re too happy or upset with me.” Billy’s nose crinkled as he grinned there. Evie came up to peck his freckles.

   “You’re a total sap, Hargrove.” Evie continued, hands clasped behind her back before she inhaled the air. “Let’s hit that mini mart nearby. I’m craving a Dr. Pepper. Buy you a soda. It’s my turn.”

   “No, it isn’t. You’re just being too nice again,” Billy remarked, feet shifting slower as they crossed the street. “I can’t take you fancy places.”

   “I don’t need to go to fancy places, I just like hanging out with you wherever.” Evie turned her head to see him. “We’re both poor, we make due. Summer will be better. We can just work and...figure this out. I like it right now though, so don’t worry because I know how you shiver in those boots.”

   She pondered it.

   “Do you like it?” Evie offered quieter, earning Billy’s eyes searching her expression. Lip twitching, he tossed his arm around her. Brought Evie taut into his frame with an easier grin so they could keep walking toward the whirling, illuminated sign in the distance.

   “Yeah, I like it.” He decided. “I like you plenty. What's not to like, Evangeline?” His free hand gestured out and Evie beamed to point at that darling face. Her Eros. Encouraging her wings to unfold without pressure.

   "Wow, you're getting better and better at that." A beat. "Making me blush without rolling my eyes."

   "Please, Angel, your knees quiver every time I hit you with this smile. You might as well toss off the panties for me." For good measure, he flashed it and Evie hid from his absolute burning charm. Cheeks felt that fire bloom and billow.

    A car hurried past them. Sweeping budding flowers and loose leaves about. Delicate, they danced. Trees wobbled back and forth to the wind picking up. Evie stayed looking away to smile that time. Knew this wind would carry her easily.

   "Did you have a best friend back in California?" She moved her arm around his back as they went. 

   "I don't know. Guess I had a few in orbit."

   "Am I your best friend here?" She piped back up and Billy slowed to glance, chuckling.

   "I thought you and I were avoiding labels."

   "It's different." Came the protest.

   "No, it isn't." He paused. "Heather's your best friend."

   "Yeah, but I figured I could have more than one. Perfectly carved places for each." Evie shifted in front of him, hands smoothing up Billy's shoulders to clasp fingers round his neck. Blue eyes glittered to search.

   "You trying to push some admission outta me, Fenny?"

   Lashes batted with all the innocence they could hold.

   "Just admit it, Hargrove," she pulled him down for a lip lock, pecking his jaw and cheeks until he broke to laugh and hold her at bay. One brow lifted. "It'll be our dirty little secret."

   "Fine. Only cause you twisted my arm about it and it gets you hot. You are my very," he palmed her bottom to make her gasp in one motion, "very best friend. Happy?" Billy stole a kiss when she was still dumbfounded, molding their frames together.

   "Maybe I am." Evie sighed, sounding too raw and honest about it. She came out to see his eyes there. Tried to read them. Billy blinked to say something else.

   “So, you're already thinking about graduation and summer, huh? Moving quick.”

   “I’m optimistic is all. It’s a rare thing with me so I'm just enjoying it. I’m not used to happy and good.” Evie got cheeky to hide anything else, winking over her shoulder before she went inside the tiny store.

   Fluorescent lights washed out too many colorful packages. They picked cold cans of soda and bright yellow packs of Jujyfruit candies to curb a sweet craving. Billy gripped the paper bag in one fist and Evie snatched his free hand when they got outside.

   “C’mon!” She picked up the pace. “Let’s catch the bus to the other side of town.”

   “Billy Hargrove doesn’t take the bus. It’s all full.” He’d complained, still rushing after her to the stop.

   “Try something new.” Evie was giggling, tugging at him to get on.

   With the bus full of residents leaving work, they took some standing room with a group up front. Fingers curled into the handles above, swaying closer together due to the rocking and crowding. A hard turn sent Evie into Billy’s chest, her hand sprang out over his shoulder to catch the bar just above his head.

   “Trying to jump my bones in public, little Miss Fenny?” He feigned a look of awe, brows lifting playfully. His free arm slipped around the small of Evie’s back, bracing her there into his marble frame. “You know how much easier it is if you just ask, Angel?”

   Evie wanted to scoff. Wanted to scrunch that annoyed look she was known for. Wanted to send him to the floor and kiss him for miles and miles. But, she just stood there in the dim, flickering bus lights. Watched his expression relax. Not really breathing until she reminded herself. 

   Billy seemed to remember as well. At the back and forth shifting of the vehicle, they squished together. Forcing looks away to see the path again. Billy pushed his thigh further between her legs. Both of them idly rubbing together now. Evie felt the heat crawl up her cheeks, lungs tremoring. Billy’s fist holding the bag shifting a little lower on her back, firm and scalding hot. 

   She peered up at his jawline. Looked away. Felt Billy’s eyes wander back after before he flickered elsewhere. Denim pushed against denim. Billy hitched this breath as if he might whimper. Swallowed it down. Hips swaying back and forth and back again. A thumb pushed deftly into her back. Evie shifting in, lips parting. Trembling as Billy turned his head to see her centimeters from him. 

   “This is our stop.” She’d said in his ear. Leaning flush into him to pull the cord down. Billy inhaled the amber. Brushed his nose into her own while she came back out.

   “Don’t wanna stop.” His freckles looked especially glowy outlined in a rare blush. The bus skidded and Evie veered back with some amusement. Brown eyes casting Billy up and down before she skipped off in a hurry, leaving him to chase her because he’d always chase her. Bag still wrinkled around Billy’s fist, he caught up with her. Under the streetlamps surrounded by dancing moths. 

   “We near Lover’s Lake?”

   “Yeah, the park nearby. Figured some loitering would do us good.” Evie stepped across the grass and sand. Listened to the dark structures creak. “C’mon. I love the swings.” 

   She plopped back into one, legs kicking some before Billy joined her. He cracked one can of soda to offer it, feet shifting over the sand to sway closer together. Chains creaking. 

   They clicked drinks and guzzled fizz before Evie snagged the candy out. Stealing a few chewy pieces. The bright box got passed back and forth during a comfortable silence. Billy watched Evie as she observed the moon there. 

   “Do you know any constellations?” She’d asked quieter, forcing him out of the daze. Curls caught the illumination with stars dotting her dark eyes. 

   “Not really.” He took the candy back as she swallowed a piece.

   “You see that crooked line? Those four little guys, they call that...Salem’s Lot. And...” Evie touched her lips, pointing again. “Those two bright boys there. Called Shawshank. Oh, and that one-”

   “These are Stephen King references.” He pushed her.

   “No, I’m very smart and they’re real-life constellations. Listen and learn, Billy boy.”

   “So, are you gonna call that grouping, The Shining or The Overlook?” He pointed to a cluster and Evie snickered.

   “Obviously that’s Carrietta White’s Constellation. Duh. Cause it looks like a rain of blood.” Evie snorted and Billy joined her, heads pressing together as they giggled like school children.

   “You know she wears a crushed red velvet dress in the book? Not pink as seen in the movie.” Billy stretched out, finishing his soda.

   “You know she’s fat in the book, too?” Evie winked at him, eyed the trash, and tried to toss her can at it. Missing badly, it smacked the rim and fell in the sand with a clatter. “Damn it!” Billy laughed at her louder.

   “Don’t try for a career on the court, Evie.” He watched her pout as she plucked it up to throw it away properly. “Now, watch the master work.” He aimed as she sat down. One deft hand reeled back and launched it only to have Evie’s palm smack it easily the other direction. Almost falling out of her seat cackling, she got the candy pushed into her arm before he gawked and went to get it.

   “Oh,” she kept up without air, “I thought you were the master? You should have seen your face!”

   “Yeah, yeah.” He grumbled, dunking it in the can with an echoing clank. For some cheery consolation, she offered the rest of the box to him. Tiny candy pieces fell into his palm before he pushed them all into his mouth at once, eyes lifting to the sky again. Billy made a face and turned to go to push her swing. “Gimme another constellation.”

   “Hmm.” Evie held the chains, began to swing properly at his coaxing. Felt like they were in a secret garden together. Water rippling against the air distantly. Cold chill not bothering either of them. “Those two stars. The little one and the big guy. See?”

   Billy gripped the chains, keeping her swing up against him to follow the gaze

   “That’s Neverland. Second star to the right and straight on till morning.” She snickered again as Billy pushed her forward. “Bet I can beat you there. I’ll jump from the swing.”

   “You’re on.” Billy stole the seat next to her, both of them pumping higher. Curls fluttering. Laughing. Happy because they were together and that mattered.

   “I’m going to overthrow Pan and Hook. Become the most fantastic Lost Girl with a siren song to command the island and you’ll write your stories.”

   “Think so?” Billy pushed himself higher. Actually thought he might fly with Evie there.

   “Yes! You’ll tell the greatest stories ever heard through the land and they’ll echo back down here to be loved too.” She proclaimed that. Not having heard Billy’s stories, but believing what was in his heart. 

   Time slowed. Wild laughter crackled toward the sky. Utter sparks as they jumped together and collided to roll around the sand. Evie was still alight with joy under him, hair splayed everywhere as Billy snapped up to check her over, hovering. Evie’s giggling tapered off against the night air. She stared up at him. Framed in twinkling stars. He said something she didn’t catch.

   “You have beautiful eyes,” Evie sounded out slower, lost in the endless crystalline blue. “Did you mean it?”

   “Mean, what?”

   “What you said when we were lying in bed together. You said I was the best thing about this place. People never say things like that. Not to girls like me. I believed it when you said it though and it was easy too.” Evie skimmed her fingers over his jacket. Watched Billy’s eyes flicker to recall that moment and the clouds he floated upon like lily-pads in a pond.

   Billy swept down. Planted a hot kiss that was all lips. Swelled her mouth when he pulled out. He left Evie fluttered and came to her ear.

   “That was a yes.” He pushed up, eyes too sly. “By the way.” Evie took a hand when he offered one and got pulled to her feet, bodies stumbling together. They tried to brush the sand off fabric. 

   “Do you think about that night? The dance, I mean. Not...the sex. Well, I guess it’s okay to think about the sex actually.” She blushed there when Billy’s lip quirked. His fingers still wrapped around her wrist. “Before all that went down with Brock. It was-”

   “Not terrible.” He finished.

   “Not at all. The first part of the night, sometimes I wish we could go back and-”

   “Rewrite it.” Billy looked around, giving Evie a tug. He pulled her up on the metal roundabout, painted red and blue that was chipping away. “Hold on.” Another smile had curled as he braced to get it spinning.

   “Billy!” Evie jerked to hold tight to the bars. Hair flying up. Curls coiled out. Fire billowing gracefully. “What are you doing!”

   “Turning back the clock,” he charged and jumped on with her, wobbling to hold something, "to redo it.” Evie grabbed for his coat. Fisting the fabric when they locked eyes. Wind rushed in a thrill with memories tumbling together and apart. 

   Her wings sprang forth.

   Billy made Evie the still point to his turning world. For just a moment. Knew, if anything, that meeting her was something truly important. An unseen force that would twist his heart forever.

   Spinning round and round. He recalled the metallic confetti dancing and the way the music pulsed. The carousel began to slow, both teens holding the bars and each other to say level.

   Slower, Evie pecked a kiss upon his lips to mirror the first. Unable to come out far, Billy was already closing the distance for the second. Trying to pay her back with a thousand sweet kisses. 

   Cheers rang and fireworks burst. She remembered it all too. How dizzy and still the world seemed to be. How it hushed for her too sweetly. Billy’s hands on her face, cradling delicately to angle the second kiss a little deeper. They felt the metal clink to stillness under them and inched back out.

   “I want to go home with you,” Evie said the words she wished she had that night. Huge dark eyes glittering. She found his lips again. Not worried about air or what the future held for them. Lost on a rosy haze and perfectly fine for these stolen fleeting seconds. “Can we go?” Billy searched her, thumb sweeping a circle into her jaw. He smiled fully.

   “Only if we can take the bus again.”

** ** ** ** 

   “Happy Birthday!” Evie gushed, offering a gift to a small pile. Max had her arms around her before she’d gotten a chance to turn. One hand shifted to the shorter girl’s back. Music whirled with a campy light show, made the horribly patterned carpets glow. “Carol and Heather are on their way in. Tommy’s around but he won’t hang near the table.”

   “Neil’s going to be late. Work stuff.” This explained why Max’s smile was so bright. Evie nudged her chin, head cocking. “You brought your own skates.”

   “I know it’s dorky, but they’re my babies.” Evie gestured to the red skates swung over one shoulder. “Evie Fenny doesn’t rent her skates.”

   “That’s El, come meet her,” Max pulled Evie off after she got one wave at Susan behind the table setting up. “Billy’s grabbing stuff from the car. He drove us.” 

   El Hopper was a tiny thing. Almost like a little bird compared to Hopper’s hulking frame behind her. She peered around and seemed at instant ease upon seeing Max.

   “El, this is my neighbor, Evie," Max introduced them, "she’s cool.”

   El made this gesture like she had a needle and poked at her hand.

   “Yes!” Max got it, tugging Evie’s arm. “She taught me the felting thing.”

   “Hope the sharp objects weren’t a bother in your house, Chief Hopper.” Evie perked up at Jim with a sheepish expression. “I should have asked you, I know it might seem a little dangerous.”

   He actually laughed at that. If only she knew the danger these kids had gotten into prior.

   “Believe me, crafts are a welcomed change.”

   “El, nice to meet you. I’m Evie. Max talks about you all the time.” Evie held out her hand and the young girl looked shocked. “Good things.”

   A slower smile crossed. She took Evie’s hand to shake it. Awkward about her navigation but trying to take everything in. Clearly never been to a party like this one. Kids of various ages circled the floor on skates. Laughing. Holding hands. 

   “Max...talks about you too. I like your hair.” El mirrored. Peered to Hopper with a pleased expression he matched. She offered Max a wrapped gift. Evie grinned and touched her curls, pulled up into two high, rounded buns.

   “C’mon, let me show you the table they’re setting up.” Max took El’s wrist to usher her off.

   “Are you...staying to skate?” Evie turned to the Chief.

   “El’s, ah, not used to crowds. She came from some unfortunate circumstances. I’d like to stay close. First party. Maybe I’m hovering.” He pushed his hands into his pockets. Not in uniform. Evie beamed a little.

   “She’s young, you’re worried. It’s sweet, actually. You’re just being a good dad.” The smile seemed to dither in her eyes. Even when Jack was married to Mona, he wasn't always around. Work and trips kept him busy, but he stayed to close to Evie the moment he arrived home with his little gifts and endless stories. “Don’t come running over if she falls, we got her.”

   “Yeah, uh, if you could keep an eye on El when you see her around. That would mean a lot to me. I know you babysat the Henderson kid. El doesn’t need a babysitter, she’s just… This is new for her.” Jim gestured. Digging for a smoke he couldn’t have in the immediate area. 

   “Heather, Carol, and I will keep an eye out.”

   “Carol?” He chuckled. “Perkins?”

   “Oh, yeah, we made up. Funny thing.”

   “Almost as funny as you hanging out with the Hargrove boy through winter.” He quirked his brow.

   “What can I say, Chief...” Evie shrugged. “I’m...branching out.”

   As if on cue, Billy paced in a side door. Bag clutched under one arm. He caught Evie’s glance instantly. Both of them locked in and back out on cue. Blue eyes shifted up and down because she was wearing his denim jacket over a little lacy, floral top tucked into her jeans.

   Neil would arrive and they had an act to keep up. Ignoring each other.

   “I’ll sit far." Jim offered. "Pretend I’m not here.”

   She about cackled, lost in thought still.

   “I’ll just pretend you’re my real dad,” Evie winced at herself, saw him pause with some subtle awe, “oof, I’m not sure where that came from. Ouch. Okay. Walking away now. Sorry, Chief.”

   “Evie.” He eased a gentle hand toward her. “What I said. If there’s...anything going on. You can talk to me. On or off the record.”

   “Yeap. Right. I’m okay. I’m...I’m gonna...skate. Yeah. Sorry. Oh, my…” Evie whirled to hurry off, cringing all the way to the table. “I think I just had a mental break.”

   “What?” Heather had chuckled.

   “Nothing. Time to skate?” Came Evie’s begging. Agreement followed.

   Hopper made himself scarce with a cigarette and plate of cheese fries in the corner. Billy plopped himself into a chair behind the decorated table, looking disinterested. Not catching Evie’s eyes while she sat with the girls to put her skates on. Just watched Susan set out plates for pizza and cake. 

   Evie went out with Heather first for a lap, both of them giggling and pulling little stunts to show off for Tommy who was on the ground as Carol pulled at him. Max jumped over his leg, cackling before she tried to get El to come out with them. 

   “Kinda reminds me of us. They’re too cute.” Heather quipped, whirling to skate backward. They joined the younger girls, hoping to get El relaxed and away from the wall she seemed to cling to. Every turn, Evie shot Billy a look. Got his lips quirking before he ruefully was peering away. 

   “Do you want to skate, Billy?” Susan had asked after a beat, weary of the music already. Bit of a glittery disco mess. That same dreamy rose haze in the air.

   “About as much as I want to give my old man a sponge bath, Susan.” Billy frowned for effect and dropped it when she actually laughed at him. It was an easier thing for them to talk without Neil’s shadow. 

   “Well, the offer is open if you want to.” Susan thought to tell him Evie looked beautiful today when she caught him staring at her for the third time but decided not to be obvious. Not yet. 

   “You’re supposed to tell me I’m being inappropriate and I’m going to send your only daughter down with me.” He recited easily.

   “I was your age once, Billy, I know how to laugh still.” Susan seemed surprised at the revelation herself. Slowly, she took a seat next to him. Not leaving another chair as a buffer like she usually did. “It might not be so bad. Her following you, you know, after this. When she’s older. She still looks up to you.”

   It became clear what Susan was asking him. Max would resent her one day down the line. For the choices she made. The things she couldn’t stop no matter how hard she tried. Maybe Billy and Max didn’t always get along, but he’d be a safer place for her than whatever was leftover in that house. Susan would always be under Neil Hargrove, but she could ensure her daughter would not be. One day.

   Billy leaned forward on his elbows, palms rubbing. He felt for his ring and remembered it was hidden under Evie’s dipping sweetheart neckline. He didn’t say anything, but met Susan’s eyes.

   “Evie’s been a good friend to her.” Susan crossed her legs and sat back to watch the girls laugh. Slowly easing into the conversation. El wobbled, holding hands with Max and Evie to gain some speed. Heather was trying to help Carol steady poor Tommy. “Don’t you think so?”

   “I haven’t noticed.” Billy turned his head aside.

   “She’s very pretty. Kind. That’s all I’m saying. She and her mother, they’re nice neighbors to have on Cherry.”

   “Jesus, Susan, why don’t you date them both?” Billy shot up to go to the snack counter. Susan ghosted this smile after him, hands clasping. “Cheese fries. Jalapenos...Extra jalapenos.” He got his plate and turned to see Chief Hopper’s cigarette glow red. “You got any more of those? My pack is out and they don't have a machine in this joint.”

   Jim just eyed him.

   “I’m legal.” Billy puffed before a stick flicked across the table. “Camels. Unfiltered. Disgusting. Are you a flannel hobo of some kind with those?”

   The Chief gawked at him.

   “Don’t you smoke Reds? Baby’s first cigarette.”

   Billy matched him. Offended.

   “I’m smoking with the big boys, Hop. You should try it.”

   “You in a place to complain, kid?” Jim reached to take it back before Billy swiped, lighting up to puff. 

   “No, sir.” His lighter snapped shut. “You unable to cut the cord or is dressing like a lumberjack to hang out at a 70s roller disco a hobby?”

   “Haven’t seen you down at the station in a while. Few months, in fact. Turning over a new leaf this year?” Jim remarked instead, leaning forward on his elbows.

   “Aw. You miss me or something? Your boys finally get tired of chasing me down? Or trying to.” Billy gave this comedic pout, head turning to eye Evie again. Graceful swan that she was out there. His jacket hanging off her shoulders, exposing that neck. Little wisps of curls swayed about from her space buns decorated with matching glittery star barrettes, loose hair framing her face. Brown eyes flicked up and he snatched his gaze away. “Guess I found something else to get into that isn’t trouble. You guys bore me down there, I like to be amused.”

   “The real crime-stopper, boredom. Color me impressed and shocked.” Jim seemed to like that, eyes rolling. Billy puffed and swept a piece of tobacco from his mouth. “I guess whatever you’re doing, keep it up.” He watched Billy crunch on some salty jalapenos, plucking five gooey fries at once to swallow them down. Almost starved.

   “I intend to.” Billy flicked his greasy fingers to his brow. “Chief.”

   “William.” 

   Billy mumbled as he went off, finishing the smoke to flick it out a back door. Eyes shifting to watch the girls plus poor Tommy. El was already better than him.

   “Man, I’m dying out here. Help me. I’ll tag you in.” Tommy scrambled up the sidewall and clung, out of breath. Freckles all dewy.

   “You wanted to be a good boyfriend,” Billy cackled for good measure, "that'll teach you."

   “Feed me a fry,” Tommy begged over the barrier.

   “Fuck out of here, they’re mine. My dad will show soon so you can disappear to a corner and get your own damn fries.” To make it a point, Billy stood there and fed himself.

   Behind Tommy, Max skidded and fell with Evie barely catching her. Both girls had gone down in a fit of giggling.

   “We’re fine, go on!” Max waved to Heather and El ahead of them. Carol came to steal Tommy back as Billy craned to see his step-sister.

   “You alright?” Evie was picking her up when Max’s shirt slipped closer to her pale shoulder, flashing a burst of purple there the size of a softball. “Oh, my god.” It slipped out before she could stop it.

   “That’s-!” Max cut herself off and fixed her shirt. Spring was creeping and all she donned was long-sleeved and frumpy. Dressing almost like Susan. “I fell, you know, on my board.” Evie tried to give her the dignity of a look that said she believed it. Must have cracked. “Evie, it’s nothing. Don’t worry. Please.”

   Dressing like Susan. Sounding like Billy.

   “Max, my house is-”

   “I know, but don’t… Don’t say anything. Not to Billy or my mom, ah… Neil’s here.” Max put her head down and skated around Evie to go away. 

   There was something particularly helpless about watching a young girl flee obediently to her monster. Evie wondered if this was what she looked like to Billy headed to Fredrick's place.

   Small. Scared. Lost.

   Neil Hargrove started with words. Lots of horrible words that whittled Max down to a hard pit. Then pushing. Then some grabbing. Then shoving. Into walls mostly.

   The hit didn’t bruise Max. It was more of a swipe to make her go to her room for talking back. Whatever that meant to Neil. But, he was drunk and he caught her jaw with an open palm. That stayed red for the day until she snuck a pack of frozen peas, not wanting Susan or Billy to know.

   But, the swipe sent her into the dining room table. Left the violet petals bursting under her skin. Evie lost the urge to skate and came out. Saw Billy’s eyes again and paused to help Heather usher El out for food. 

   “You’re a natural.” Evie complimented which earned a full smile. El opened her mouth to speak before Billy appeared in front of them.

   “They’re making us sing.” He cocked his head, peering at El. “You’re the one with the funny name, aren’t you?”

   “Jane. But,” she seemed to have trouble staring at him for more than three extended seconds and pointed to her chest, “El.” Red crept across her cheeks. Billy towered over her, cocking a wider grin to play up the fact that she was all blushy for a pretty older boy.

   “El?” He raised one brow. “What’s the L stand for?”

   “Ignore him.” Heather pulled the younger girl around Billy as he chuckled, pausing to see Evie. Her colorless expression.

   “You okay?” He said it hard with a furrowed brow.

   “Fine.” She tried to make it sound cold but it came out near silent. Head turned down as she flitted around him to join the party.

   Neil, stiff and stoic, pressing his lips like he was at the damn DMV. Susan plastered a broader grin to dote on him after his long day, lingering close to his side as they set out pizza and readied the cake.

   It was all so routine. Like getting your shots. 

   Pizza. Sing. Candles. Wish. Cake. Gifts. Thank you.

   Billy and Evie took the farthest seats from each other. Played a game of glance and ignore that they’d made up on the spot. They both were either losing or winning.

   “Strange,” Neil remarked as he pulled Max aside for another slice. “You and the high school girls.”

   “Oh, I invited El too, she’s my age. I didn’t want to leave Evie out and the girls...they’re nice to me.”

   “They don’t dress like nice girls.”

   Heather and Carol both donned perfectly normal tees and jeans. Nothing would suffice for Neil Hargrove. Max shifted her cake around. No longer hungry for it.

   “Maybe we’ll talk about the type of girl you should hang around at a later time. The Fenny girl is nice enough, even if her shirt is a little too...low. Dresses kinda tight. Bit of an odd one. She’s different. Her friends, well...I’m just not sure, Maxine.”

   “Yes, sir.” She looked at her birthday cake like it was infested with worms. Carefully forced a bite and set it aside. 

   Max hung around. Smiled and thanked everyone after each birthday present. Even hugged Neil only cause he opened his arms at her. She said bye to El then Heather. Carol seemed to be turning in as well so Tommy went out back to get the car. 

   As the party went on and dwindled, Evie caught Billy’s eyes gesturing to the rental counter. He slipped around the corner into the many shelves and Evie turned back to see Max and Susan at the table. Neil seated in a chair not helping them clean up, eyes elsewhere. Casually, she skated around and got her arm snatched. A gasp snuffed against a pair of lips. Kisses hidden away from the world. 

   “Paid the kid a few coins and a threat to leave for ten minutes."

   Music vibrated the shelves. Evie put her arms around Billy.

   “I still have skates on.”

   “Even better. I might have a thing for girls in red skates.” Billy was all hands, holding Evie steady. Pulling one leg around his hip. Pushing denim into denim. Hot friction might have done her in any other day.

   “We are not hooking up with all the smelly rental skates.” Evie laughed into his lips, still pecking back and peering over her shoulder. She paused to see his eyes. Wanted to blurt what she’d seen on Max’s body. Even to Billy now, it felt wrong. So, she said something else.

   “Hey, we should…keep an eye on your sister, you know. It’s her birthday. She’s...She needs her big brother.”

   Billy huffed into her neck.

   “Fine, fine, but you’ll regret not taking the adventure on here.”

   “Yeah, I’m sure.” Evie shifted. “My feet hurt and we can make-out in my bed later.” She kissed his neck. “I’ll do that thing you like if you promise you went easy on the product down there.”

   “Only dotted the gold crown. Scout’s honor.” Billy winked and she rolled her eyes. He peered out first. “Give it a second then follow.”

   “Wait.” Evie thumbed her red lipstick from his mouth. “Now, shoo.” Billy licked his lips and snuck out. She waited a moment. Let the happy butterflies land in her stomach then followed. Pausing, her skates came off for more comfortable tennis shoes.

   “Evangeline, do you need a ride home with us later?” Neil had asked. 

   “No, thank you, I was getting a ride with Carol now.” She smiled and looked for red hair to say her goodbyes. “Where’d Max go?” Evie collected her coat and Susan paused to peer around.

   “She was here a second ago. Neil?” Hands dropped a stack of plates into the trash.

   “Probably went to the bathroom.” He shrugged, squinting at all the moving lights that were making his head pound. “Billy, go find your sister.” 

   Billy seemed to notice the look on Evie’s face and feel the same chill before he hurried off without fighting. Susan looked through the sea of kids and teens meandering as Evie passed her to check the ajar side door. 

   "Max!" The one flickering light at the exit made her skin crawl. A cry echoed distantly followed by a dull crash in the dark. Like a bag of trash hitting the dumpster.

   Evie dropped her skates to follow the hollowed-out sound. Exhaust swept up her nose and tires gave a harsh wail, horns sounding while a faraway car disappeared around a row of trees to get to the main street with the rest. 

   “Max!” Evie charged out. Heart painfully thudding within her ribs. 

   “Evie?” Carol heard her and footsteps echoed around the building.

   “Max!” Evie was near tears now. A shift in some fallen trash bags made her pause when two sneakers appeared around the side of the dumpster. This odd scratching sound left her lips. Evie threw herself over the tiny body there, turned Max’s limp frame over. 

   Her shirt collar was ripped open where someone grabbed her. Or tried to. Dragging then dropping her when she put up a fight. Bleeding scrapes and dirt scuffed all over her pale freckled skin from the rough tumble. Carol got to them first and pulled off her sweater to cover Max’s torso while Evie gathered her up. 

   “Help!” Carol called because Evie couldn’t. More bodies arrived. Tommy. Susan. Billy. Neil. 

   “Neil, she won’t wake up.” Susan pulled her daughter out of Evie’s arms, shaking her. Moans filtered out, but nothing else. “What happened?”

   “I don’t know. I saw...a car. It was too dark. I just found her here on the ground. Someone tried to...” Evie wheezed out and never finished, gesturing aimlessly. 

   “Susan, give Maxine to Billy. She needs a hospital.” Neil swept down as Billy urged his sister’s tiny body away. This hard. flamed expression on his face as if he wasn't really here.

   Max looked broken. Not real. A doll left under the bed for too long without love or cherished stories to comfort it. Evie felt the knees of her jeans soak through from the wet pavement. Too many words hit the air and Evie’s eyes dropped to where that harsh car had gone to.

   Evangeline wondered what kind of monster would grab up a little girl and throw her out into the trash.

   And why the world bore so many of that same design.

~~~~~

Mad Max :( Her story line is gonna start to push toward the front here and there with Evie's in pieces. Thanks again for following the fic, I really appreciate it! Please please leave some words if you enjoy the fic. XOXO Taglist open

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