Mind if I sit with you?

It's all happening again, at least that's what it feels like for Billy.

Susan finally connected with all the other Hawkins moms, she joined a book club, gets invited to garden parties and now she even got invited to the most exclusive Tupperware party at the Harrington's (the highest privilege as a Hawkins Mom!). Neil was ok with it at first, then he became indifferent and now, slowly but steadily, he gets suspicious. And Billy knows exactly what happens next, he's seen it happen before. And he doesn't want to lose his family again. He likes Susan. He even likes Max. They're not bad people, he'd never admit it, but he feels responsible for them. Because he knows Neil better than they do. 

Susan left in the early evening for the Tupperware party, she spent quite some time on chosing a nice outfit, made her hair, even put on some makeup. She really wanted to impress Mrs. Harrington. Billy felt all his muscles tense up, when he saw the way Neil looked at her, full of distrust and bottled up jealousy. Billy knew he had to be a "good son" today, he was on Babysitter duty and had to pick up Max from the Sinclair's anyway, so he offered to pick up Susan on his way back home. That way Billy could assure Neil, that Susan wasn't seeing another man and maybe prevent the story repeating itself.

Max is not amused, when Billy picks her up, she wants to spent more time with Lucas after all, but it is, what it is. They arrive at the Harrington's, Billy puts on his most charming face as he enters the living room full of Moms and feels terribly out of place. The party is not over yet, so he leaves Max with her mom and out of pure boredom asks for Steve. Luckily, the prince of the house is home and after a quick call from his mother, he comes down the stairs, surprised to see Billy and even more surprised that Billy doesn't seem hostile. 

"Wanna go for a smoke?", Billy tries to sound as nonchalant as he can and wiggles with his cigarettes. Steve just gives him a short nod and a few minutes later, they sit on the backporch, smoking together, talking about how weird Tupperware parties are, but Steve points out how much he likes all the leftover snacks and Billy can get behind that.

Somehow, Billy feels safe here. Like he can trust Steve. Maybe almost breaking someone's nose does that to some people... 

"I don't want him to take this away from me again...", Billy mumbles as he blows out smoke, as if Steve knows what he's talking about.

And somehow, Steve does.

"We fought so many monsters... what's one more?"