Chapter Text
Samantha sits at the table at the library with her assigned lab partner Billy. her ginger hair pulled into a braid "ugh, I can't stand looking at Harrington's face" Billy says
"Stop being so rude, " Samantha mutters. As she looks up from her paper and she pushes her glasses up. she had a crush on Steve for a while now. Why? Do you like him or something?" Billy teased, causing Samantha to blush..
"Besides, I mean I really can't look at him.. I get this weird gut feeling" Billy replied. "You mean guilt, as in you feel guilty about beating him up about a month ago" Samantha pointed out. "okay, maybe I feel a little guilty, but you better not tell anyone.' Billy muttered.
"Well, you could say you're sorry, I mean.. why did you beat up in the first place?"
"None of your business.. and I doubt he will want to talk to me"
Samantha rolls her eyes and sighs
"Well, Tina is having a party this Saturday, I could help you set up a way to talk to him" Samantha suggested. Billy huffs, "fine, but I doubt it will work"
Samantha sits at the lunch table with Gloria. Her dark brown curly hair is pulled into a pony tail. Unlike Samantha, her light skin was free from freckles. "I wish Billy would ask me out" Gloria pouted. "I want to get to know him, so not just a fling," she added. "You could try at the party, but Vicki might be there" Samantha pointed out. "I hate her" Gloria pouts. "Who do you hate" Billy askes as he sits at the table. Gloria blushes. " Vicki Carmichael" Gloria Answers "She's a Bully, she been mean to me since grade school, just because I'm different.. She also mean to Gloria too, she started bullying pretty much the first week she started going here" Samantha told Billy.
Friday come around and the party is going on.
Steve walks in with his sister Gloria. His parents had adopted her a few days after El has closed the gate. Their reasoning was Steve would be less lonely and get into less trouble. They were still gone almost all the time. It wasn't too bad having a sibling but they had a secret that they kept from their parents. One night he had seen something on Gloria's wrist. The number nine but written as '009'. It was the same font as El's number. He never told her about El or told the party about her. he wanted to make sure he could trust her.
"Wow this party is already wild," Gloria said.
"Yea, it is. you better be careful Steve, I saw Billy's car park in front of the house" Nancy stated
"I don't think he will start trouble, he has left me alone since the fight" Steve mentioned
"Anyone know why Samantha has been hanging around Billy? she seems like a really sweet girl, too nice to hang around someone like him" Steve points out as he sees Samantha walking away from Billy. "why do you care dude... unless..... ooooo you have a crush on her... Steve and Samantha sitting in a tree" Gloria teased "Hush you" Steve says he gives her a playful shove
"I heard Will asking Max, I guess they are paired in a class together.." Jonathan states
"It's true, that's what she told me" Gloria answered
"You should go talk to her, I think you two would make a cute couple" Nancy tease
Gloria giggles, "yea, and go on to make cute babies.. "Stop!" Steve cried out
"I heard she likes Star Wars" Nancy adds as she drags him to where Samantha is standing.
"Hi, Nancy" Samantha greets
"Hey, this party is pretty Bitchin uh? Nancy asked
"Yea!! I'm all alone now.. I came with Billy as he said, I should try a party.. I bet he now making out with a random chick that don't give two shit about him." she smiles and looks at Steve.. "sooo how's it going Steve"
let me guess? “Vicki Carmichael" Nancy askes?
"maybe, I don't get what he sees in her. she only likes him because she think he is hot. I told him he should date someone who cares about him.. but he never listen to me." "Also, she such a Bully, she mean to me and Gloira
"Yea she is. I think she is jealous of my pretty hair" Gloria mentions.
“He's isn't as much of an ass as i thought it was . "I even told him I could be his wing girl and find him a nice date" Samantha pouts.
"So... Steve what are your top three movies?" Samantha asks and then takes a sip of her drink
"Mmmmm Star wars, Uhhh Nightmare on Elm Street and Fast Times At Ridgemont High."
"as in a new hope"? Samantha asked
"A new what now?" Steve replies to Samantha
"Which Star Wars Steve"
"Oh, The one with the teddy bears" he answers and follows it up with him trying to do an imitation
"Bears..... Those are Ewoks" Samantha said as she facepalms
"Let's my movies would have to be Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back, Ghost Busters and Carrie."
"I heard that Carrie Fisher also tried out for the movie Carrie. So if she had gotten the role, it would have been Carrie Fisher as Carrie White in Carrie" "Also, Carrie fisher, i heard is short.. like five feet and one and half inches.. which is my height, you could say, I'm Princess Leia size"
"I'm sorry, that was weird," Samantha said. "I'm not very good at this flirting thing"
"I liked those facts" Steve replied he couldn't help be stare at the freckles that were splattered across her cheeks and nose. or how pink her check had become on her light skin.
"Oh! I was supposed to give you this note" she hands Steve a note. "I'm gonna see if i can find some food, feel a little lightheaded"
Steve opens the note and reads it allowed 'meet me in the backyard by the fence'
"weird, but i will be right back" he says to the group and goes outside
The cold December air nips at his skin as he walks threw the backyard and to a figure standing by the fences.
"Hargrove, what the fuck are you doing here"
Billy mutters. "What?" Steve asked
"I'm Sorry I beat your face in last month"
"Your sorry" Steve mocked "you could have killed me you fucking moron"
"Just shut up and listen" Billy replied.
"fine... talk," Steve said knowing he would regretting it
"I was angry.. and.. I took it out on you.. I was angry about the move to this shit hole town." Billy Started
"come on now, Hawkins isn't that bad of a town" Steve defends
"sure you like it, you grew up here, California is so nice.. warm beaches to hang out on and wild parties at night. the boardwalks at the beach,. the smell of the salt when you are near the ocean, the warmth of the sun, not this weird overcast we keep getting and the smell of cow shit"
Steve didn't know what to think, he didn't know if he ever seen Billy smile like that. "You really miss it uh? you were smiling, like a real smile when you talk about it.
Billy lights and starts smoking the pot he got from Tommy "It suck how adults just fuck your life up.. your parents can just be like, we wanna move for a bullshit reason so we are gonna fuck your life up" he sounds angry
"I know what you mean, my dad is an asshole" Steve wondered why he was still out here talking to him.
Billy snorts. "I bet mine is ten times worse, also your parents are rich.. I bet they have taken you to one of the Disney parks and all sorts of fun things."
"well, I think I went to Disney when I was younger" Steve recalled
"you think? how do you forget a giant mouse walking around." Billy asked
"it was a long time ago.." Steve said in defense
"did they take you to the beach?" Billy followed up
"I told you it was a long time ago"
"I remember when my mom would take me to the beach, this one time when I was seven." Billy suddenly stop talking
"go on," Steve says
"Just forget it.." Billy gets up and walks back into the house. "Another sucky thing about this town, it's cold" he walks back to the house, Billy drinks and continues to smoke his pot
Steve sighs and heads to go back in but is met with Samantha who is standing outside
"How did it go?" Samantha asked
"He started talking about his mom and then he just stopped.. wait.. you were in on this"
Samantha nods, "He said he didn't like looking at your face because it made him feel guilty."
"I hate to say this, but you might be right.. he might not be as big of an asshole as I thought."
"And don't take it personally, he doesn't like to talk about his mom, he did the same thing to me, shut right down" Samantha mentioned "it's almost as if he doesn't want to show a softer side"
Gloria walks up to Billy. "Hey, Billy. liking the party so far"
"What do you want freak? Vicki asks as she walks up to them
"Who are you calling a freak, you slut bag" Gloria retorts
"I can get any guy I want, so step off, because Billy is mine" Vicki responds
"But you don't care about him" Gloria whines
"What are you going to do Sherly Temple" Vicki taunts
"I know you were jealous of these curls," Gloria said as she flipped her hair with her hand
"and your adopted because your parents didn't love you" Vicki says
Samantha and Steve are still talking outside
"i think he needs more friends, from some of the story he told me, his old friends sounded like jackasses who engaged bad behavior" Samantha mentions
Steve snorts "Sounds like Tommy , but you might be on to something"
"I'm getting cold, let's go in" Samantha said as she step inside and heard fighting.
"Get off me you Freak" Vicky yells back
"Gloria.. get off her now.... get off" Steve says and then he Pulls Gloria off of Vicky
"awwww, Steve.. I was winning" Gloria whined
"what the Hell, Gloria" Steve asked
"She said, my parents, didn't love me." Gloria says as she points her finger at Vicky
Steve Holds Gloria back. "That's low even for you Vicki" Samantha states.
"I was just talking to Billy and she walks up acting like i can't talk to him" Gloira tells Samantha
"he likes me and not you" Vicki taunted
"I can be that person that cares, that he likes" Gloria says
"As if that will ever happen, you're a freak. and like I said.. he likes me" Vicky states
Billy told me, you aren't that good in bed.." Samantha says with a smirk
a few people watching this unfold make oooooo sounds.
Billy Stumbles into the room... "Vickiyyy, you got to help me" he whines and he falls onto the couch
"what's wrong Billy?" Gloria askes
Samantha looks concerned "you aren't going to get sick are you.. if so, we should get you to a bathroom"
"The room, it won't stop moving.. it keeps spinning" Billy looks freaked out
"Oh great he's probably high and drunk, should get him somewhere he can lie down" Gloria states
Samantha puts her hands on her hips "Damn it, Billy.. i told you to not go overboard you were my ride home.. " she then reaches into his pocket to get his keys. "didn't know, you were that kind of girl" Billy mutters
"I'm getting your keys you, so I can drive home. "Come on, Billy. you can crash in one of the guest rooms."
" I don't think so.. you aren't taking him with you." Vicki snarled
"Listen you shit for brains, he's not feeling well, he needs to go somewhere he can lay down." Samantha doesn't want to deal with Vicki's bullshit
"Fuck off Samantha. you aren't taking him." Vicki smackes Samantha in the face.
Samantha punches Vicki back "I'm not in the mood to deal with your Bullshit..... Steve, Gloria.. help me get him to his car."
Steve and Gloria help Billy walk. "where are we going" he askes as he looks around
"We are going to Sam's place," Steve says
"is that Steve.. with Billy.. helping walk.. are you seeing this Jon" Nancy is confused by what she sees
"Yeah I am...Wanna stay or see what's going on?
"I want to see what's going on" Nancy heads outside
"This party is getting a bit too wild" Jonathan says as he follows her
They put Billy into the back seat. "Someone should sit back there with him in case he tries something dumb, i know it's a short drive but you never know"
"I can do it." Gloira said. "I will follow behind you" Steve says as he goes to get into this car
Nancy and Jonathan looked puzzled at what they were seeing. They watch as the two cars drive off
Billy starts to freak out. "why are we moving so fast. The room is moving"
"We are in your car and Samantha is driving," Gloria told him
"I'm driving the speed limit unlike you who donsen't seem to know what that means," Samantha says as she continues to drive. Gloria giggles.
Steve and Samantha help Billy out of the car and they walk into the house.
"Hey mom, can Billy stay over. the dummy smoked too much weed and drank too much. now he's freaking out." she asked as her mom came to the door as they walked in
"Heffalumps and Woozles are coming to get me.. there behind us..... Sam how are you white and your mom is black"
"I'm adopted DUH!!!!" Samantha answered
"bring him to the guest room, i can get him a pair of sweats to change into and then I can make some claiming tea" Lilly told the group
"it's okay hon, we are going to help you," Gloria told Billy
Lilly meets the group in the guest room and hands them a pair of sweat pants and a shirt.
"put these on sweetheart," Lilly said and hands Billy the clothing, then she leaves.
"I don't feel so good" Billy mutters
"maybe if you sleep it off, you will feel better," Samantha says and leaves the room
"let's leave the room so he can change," Steve said as he started to head out of the room
"awww, Steve do I have too" Gloria whined
"Yes and we should get going"
Gloria pouts as she walks out of the room
Billy changes but feels paranoid the whole time. he hates the feeling. he's not sure how much time passes when he hears a knock. "Are you dressed" a voice from the other said askes
'Yea.." he answers. The door opens and it's Samantha holding a cup of tea, she sits on the edge of the bed. "hear this should make you feel better" she said as she hands him the cup. Billy takes it and takes a sip. "I will be right back" she leaves the room and comes back with a guitar. "this might also help" She starts to play and sing "Somewhere over the rainbow"
Billy once told her his mom liked that song.
"you are too nice Red. you know that" he mutters.
"you should get some sleep"
Samantha grabs the empty cup and leaves the room.
Billy drifts off to sleep.
Steve and Gloria are at home getting ready for bed. Steve has to admit it's nice to not be alone in the house after everything that has happened with the upside-down.
The next morning Billy wakes up and is confused. "where the fuck?".. he mutters out loud. he goes to look around and stops in the bathroom before heading downstairs.
"Good Morning Billy" Lilly says. Billy remembers that Samantha along with Steve and his sister had brought him to her house.
"do you have time for breakfast before you go pick up max? you did mention that before the party" Samantha asked.
Billy looked at the clock. "yea, I have time"
"my mom is cooking bacon and eggs with toast," Samantha told him
"how do you like your eggs," Lilly asked Billy
"scrambled please"
Samantha wrinkles her nose
After breakfast Billy Freshens up and changes back into his clothes, which he noticed someone had washed them. " i better get going, my old man wants me and max home at eleven, to do homework and chores. and it's ten-fifteen. He then leaves and heads to the Wheeler's house where Max had stayed the night
He pulls into the driveway and knocks on the door
He rings the doorbell and waits a bit before ringing it again.
Karen answers the door. "Hi, Billy" she says with a smile. "heyyy, Mrs.Wheeler, I'm here to pick up Max, may I come in"
"Sure, they are in the basement" she watches him to walk the basement door.
Billy opens the basement door. "Max, It's time to go" he calls down the steps.
he can hear a voice in the basement talking "aww, but we are almost done with the game" he is not sure who said that
Max stands at the bottom of the stairs "Billy can I stay and finish?"
"No,, you know that Neal wants us home by eleven, you know what happened last time I let you stay later"
"NO, he wants you home by eleven" Max responds
"No, he told me Friday before we left, that i had to make sure both of us were home by eleven" Billy raises his voice a bit
Karen gently pushes by Billy and stands on the steps. "I think it's time for everyone to go home"
Max grabs her bag and walks up the stairs.
When he gets home, Max walks straight into the house
"Why can't I walk to my friend's house like everyone else?" she asks her mom
Neal Frowns "what's wrong with Billy giving you a ride?
"But it's cold out" Susan said
"I'm not a child anymore, and everyone else gets to walk. there's nothing wrong with Billy giving me a ride, but no one else older sibling gives them a ride" max answers
Billy just walks past everyone and sits down at the table at starts on his homework
"and yet before we moved you tried to run away" Neal pointed out
"I don't plan on trying that again" max answers
"you never know what creepy might snatch you up if you are alone," Susan says
"You never worried about creeps in California. Hawkins is way smaller of a town. All the other kids in this town are fine" max replied
"What about the boy that went missing," Susan asked
"Will got lost, no one took him" she replied
"Maxine, Billy will give you rides!"
It's MAX..I don't need a babysitter, stop acting like my father because you are not!!!!" she shouts
"You are grounded for a week!!!! that means no hanging out with your friends"
"That's not fair" Max cries out
"Neal, let me handle this. She's my daughter" Susan tries to cut in
"clearly you need help she is disrespectful!!! now go do your homework points to the table where Billy is doing his
Max glares at Neal.
"Do you want to make it two weeks" he askes
"Max, just come do your homework, I can help you if you need help," Billy said hoping to get her to stop
She storms off to her room and leaves the house through her window
Susan knocked on Max's door after a while. but there was no answer.
"You might want to make sure she didn't go out the window" Billy pointed out
Susan opens Max's door and sees the window is open and then runs back into the kitchen "Max, isn't in her room"
"Billy, go find Max.... NOW"
"Yes, Sir" Billy gets up and goes to his car. He checks all her friend's houses before he stops at Steve's and knocks on the door