A/N: We have a Hopper appearance! He might start to pop up a bit more along with Steve. I haven't quiet decided yet. But we're finally past Billy's bullshit for now! Yay!
xxx
School was back in session. Teddi's life was now drastically different than it had been two and a half weeks ago. People were of course talking about what happened at the New Year's bonfire. The story differed depending on who you asked. Some people would say that Teddi and Billy had started this wild love affair and that Tommy was trying to steal Teddi away. Some said Billy had tried to actually kill Steve when he showed up with Teddi. Her favorite so far was that quite a few people thought Billy and Carol were sleeping together behind Tommy's back, Teddi was dating Steve to make Billy jealous and they had run out of the party together and driven off out of state to get married. She had said plenty about how boring Hawkins was, but Teddi had to admit the gossip was a hell of a lot more wild.
Billy ended up staying at Teddi's until the ball drop at midnight. Mostly he complained about all of the musical acts on TV until Teddi got him to admit that Shout by Tears for Fears wasn't actually that horrible of a song. Soon after he left to go pick up Max, and Teddi climbed into bed. Her parents had come home sometime in the middle of the night just like Steve had said they would, much to her relief. She couldn't imagine what might have happened if they had decided to come home early and saw Billy there.
Teddi called Steve the next day and apologized for ditching. And after a very long lecture about how there's "like serial killers and shit out there, Teddi" Steve finally let it go. Of course she appreciated that Steve looked out for her, but ever since he started hanging around Dustin he had become almost overly protective. And the gang teased him constantly about it. They called him "mother hen" much to Teddi's delight.
But now Teddi was stuck in gym. And she hated gym on a good day. Adding in girls giving her dirty looks and whispering behind her back about Billy of all people made her want to blow her brains out. Both the girl's and boy's classes were stuck inside for the day. The coaches had decided it was still too cold for any outside sports, so it was the little miracles Teddi guessed. The boys were all playing basketball while the girls were running laps.
Teddi had given up after about four trips around the large gym and was perched on the bleachers praying for time to move faster. "Larsson, this is pathetic." Teddi gave Billy a tired look. Of course Billy lived for gym. He'd had his shirt off before the coach had even gotten "We're playing shirts and skins, boys!" out. Teddi had been watching him practically asserting his dominance over every other guy on the court, all while gloating over the fact that all the girls were stopping to drool over his sweat covered body.
Now he was over at the bleachers, tossing a towel over his shoulder before he crossed his arms and gave her a mocking look of disappointment. "Gym is pathetic. I'm not built for physical activity like you are. I think I'd literally kill someone to be out back smoking. I don't care if I freeze," she complained. They were both very aware of the eyes on them. The hushed voices of the girls that jogged past them. Teddi rolled her eyes. "Your groupies hate me now by the way. I'm definitely not gonna be 'that one nice girl everyone sorta likes' anymore thanks to you."
Billy smirked, glancing behind him and throwing a wink at the group of girls watching him. He turned back to Teddi with a grin. "That 'cause we're married now?"
Teddi laughed. "You heard that one too, huh?"
"That and I heard I banged you and Carol right in front of Tommy," he said. Teddi groaned and covered her face. "Give it a week, Larsson. They'll have something else to obsess over by then." Teddi knew he was right, but she still dreaded having to deal with the dirty looks for however long it took for the focus to move off of her.
"Teddi Larsson!" Teddi groaned again at the sound of the girls' coach, coach Greene, calling her from across the gym.
"Kill me. Please kill me. I'm begging you." she mumbled into her hands. Billy laughed, turning to watch as coach Greene made her way over.
"What do you think you're doing, Teddi? I said you girls have to run laps. Not flirt with the boys." she shot Billy a dirty look. He flashed her that charming smile of his, not moving an inch. Teddi wanted to slap him.
"Coach Greene, I just don't think that running laps is very conducive to my energy. I have a lot of stress on my shoulders what with making good grades and getting into a good college so that I can become a productive member of society and all." Teddi explained. Billy laughed again, quickly covering it with a cough when coach Greene turned to glare at him.
"Teddi, if you don't run laps I can't let you pass gym. And if you don't pass gym then you won't get into college. So get your skinny butt up and let's hit it, Missy."
"...I'm like 120% positive that that's a complete lie." Teddi said bluntly.
Coach Greene crossed her arms. "You either run the laps, or you have detention."
"Oh, I have a choice?" Teddi asked. "I totally choose detention."
Her answer had clearly thrown the coach for a loop. She opened and closed her mouth a few times before her jaw set tightly. "Fine. And you," she turned and jabbed a finger in Billy's direction. "Shouldn't you be over there?" she asked, nodding to the basketball court.
"Coach says we're on a water break," he said with an overly sweet smile. Coach Greene looked at the both of them before letting out a heavy sigh and stomping off. "Detention," Billy clicked. "I'm disappointed in you, Teddi."
"I'm not. That means peace and quiet to finish my homework and no running. I say this is a win/win for Teddi." she said with a triumphant smile.
Billy shook his head. "Whatever you say, Weird Girl. Just try to stop staring at my ass so hard once I get back out there." he tossed his towel at Teddi who let out a loud "ugh!"
"I'm pretty sure I'm the only girl in here that's not staring at your ass, Billy." she argued. That wasn't completely true. She had maybe caught herself looking once. But could anyone really blame her?
"Uh-huh. Just try and not get into anymore trouble, Teddi." he teased before heading back to his game. Teddi was sort of amazed at how her relationship with Billy had nearly done a 180 since the bonfire. They still harassed each other sure, but now it was in a more playful way rather than a mortal enemies sort of way. They hadn't fought either...well, unless you count the time that Billy told her she was never ever allowed in the Camaro again if she asked if he had any Bon Jovi cassettes.
It wasn't a perfect transition or anything. He was still Billy after all. He mouthed off a lot and he and Max still bickered, but there was a difference. He was trying, and that's all that Teddi could ask for. There still wasn't any luck with getting him to play Dungeons and Dragons much to her disappointment. She'd wear him down eventually. It was a talent of hers.
And as surprised as Teddi was with the fact, Billy was a pretty good friend. Something between them had finally clicked. So when Teddi found herself in detention a few hours later she couldn't say she was entirely surprised to see Billy saunter in. "And you tell me to stay out of trouble?" she asked with a raised eyebrow as he made his way over to her.
He plopped down into the desk next to her. "I'm not. I'm here for a jail break." he folded his hands and placed them behind his head as he leaned back.
"What? No. I'm doing my homework...well, trying. Plus, they'll totally kill me if I leave early." Teddi had been stuck on the same math problem for the last twenty minutes and she was this close to throwing her text book across the classroom.
Billy leaned over and scanned her notebook. He pointed to the question. "It's twenty six," he said cooly. "And this is Hawkins, Ted. No one's gonna give a shit if you skip out. Do you see anyone in here anyways?" he asked, looking around the empty classroom. "Trust me, I've been here plenty of times to know that they're not really running a tight ship."
Teddi blinked at him a few times before shaking her head. She plugged Billy's answer into the problem and let out a loud huff. "Are you telling me that you're secretly smart on top of everything else?"
Billy grinned. "Don't tell anyone. I got a reputation to uphold. Now come on, Larsson," he slid out of the desk and began walking off without even looking back at Teddi. She started muttering as she tried to grab her books and backpack as quickly as she could. "So, what are you gonna tell your parents about the detention slip?" he asked,nodding to the pink slip of paper in Teddi's hands.
Teddi rolled her eyes. "I'm forging my mom's signature. You think I'm gonna actually tell them I had detention?" Teddi had learned to forge her mother's signature in the fifth grade. After she came home with a bad grade on a math test and her dad's head had practically spun around she learned it was better to keep things like this from them. Plus, it wasn't like they cared enough to ever show up to an open house at school or anything.
"By the way, I should be thanking you." Billy said as the pair made their way through the halls.
Teddi frowned over at him. "Thanking me? For what?"
"Cheryl Burns heard what happened at the bonfire. She was all over me today after gym." he grinned. Teddi rolled her eyes and Billy's grin turned into a glare. "What?"
"She ditched you to go bone Brian Jean, remember? Don't you think you should date someone that won't cheat on you every time she's easily distracted by pretty boys?"
Billy scoffed. "We're not dating."
"You've been out with her like a handful of times. I bet if you ask her she'll say you're dating. I mean, in her own Cheryl Burns sorta way." on paper Teddi supposed that Billy and Cheryl were perfect for each other. Cheryl was gorgeous in a way that almost made you think she didn't belong in a place like Hawkins. Just like Billy. The two stuck out like sore thumbs. But then the fact that neither of them could keep it in their pants added on top of everything else was a recipe for disaster.
"What is it with chicks and wanting to tie guys down?" Billy asked.
"...I'm gonna ignore that generalization and say that she probably wants the whole school to know that your hers. Like an alpha female sorta thing. So if you don't wanna date her you should probably stop doing her...or at least have a talk. Personally, if I were you I wouldn't date someone that was so similar to you when it comes to...matters of the flesh." Billy's sex life was the last thing Teddi wanted to talk about, but if they were going to be friends it was something she'd probably have to get used to. As much as it irritated her.
"Matters of the flesh?" Billy said with a snort. "Is that Weird Girl lingo for fucking?"
Teddi could practically feel her cheeks burn as she blushed. "I mean, I wouldn't put it so bluntly personally," she chose to ignore the way Billy was smirking with her. "Look, just maybe put some thought into this is all I'm saying. Your dick isn't gonna fall off if you stop using it, trust me."
"Are we speaking from experience, Larsson? Been awhile?" Billy teased.
It wasn't that sex was a topic Teddi was embarrassed of speaking about. She definitely wasn't. She just didn't need it to live in the same way that Billy seemed to. "Ugh...maybe. And no, I'm not telling you how long. I already told you I'm swearing off dating until college...maybe after college."
Billy shook his head as they both emerged out into the school parking lot. Teddi could see her van parked next to Billy's Camaro, and Max was waiting impatiently next to her brother's car with her skateboard in her arms. "Your funeral, Teddi." he shrugged. She ignored that comment too.
"What took you guys so long?" Max asked, throwing her head back in annoyance.
"Teddi got detention." Billy said with a taunting grin.
Max raised an eyebrow as she watched Teddi throw her backpack into the back of her van. "You got detention? No way." she laughed.
"Gym class is barbaric. Besides, he broke me out. He's even more of a delinquent than I am." she pointed an accusing finger at Billy.
"Well we all know that already. Can we go now? Will's supposed to help me with my math homework."
Teddi sent a sweet smile in Billy's direction. "You could always ask Billy for help."
Max let out a snort. "Yeah, I'll believe that when I see it."
Billy sent them both unamused looks. "Just get in the damn car, wise guy."
Teddi snickered and threw a wave over her shoulder. "I'll see you guys later!" she called before making her way around to the drivers' side of the van. Billy had pulled out of his parking spot and was nearly out of the lot before Teddi could even turn her car on. She shook her head and slowly backed out of her parking space and headed off for the arcade.
Billy and Max would most likely be in later that night. The past few times they'd come in Billy had stuck around to annoy Teddi and try his hand at a few of the games. Keith had already warned him that if he kicked any more of the machines because he lost that he'd be banned for life. Teddi was never going to let him live that down.
Things were still slow when she got to the arcade. There were only a handful of kids around, and Keith was behind the prize counter with an issue of Fangoria. "Chief Hopper's looking for you." he said, barely looking up from his magazine.
Teddi frowned. "What the hell does he want with me?" she asked as she made her way around the counter.
"No clue. He's next door waiting for you. You and Billy knock over a 7/11 or something?"
Teddi rolled her eyes. "You're so funny." she said before disappearing into the back room. She'd be lying if she didn't feel anxious at the idea that Hopper was looking for her. She hadn't done anything wrong. Had something happened with her dad at work? Was he okay? Teddi struggled to change into her Palace Arcade shirt as the countless possibilities ran through her mind. It was probably something as simple as he needed help picking out a movie to rent for El and him to watch. Nothing to worry about. Hopefully.
"Try not to get locked up. I still need help around here." Keith said once she walked back out into the arcade. Teddi stuck her tongue out at him before heading over to the video store. Chief Hopper was waiting for her at the counter. It wasn't completely unusual to see him there. He came into the video store pretty often to rent westerns for El and him to watch on the weekends, but once Teddi saw the expression on his face she was pretty positive that that wasn't the reason he was there.
"Hey, Chief. Keith said you were looking for me? Is everything okay…?" she asked.
Hopper gave Teddi a small smile before looking over both shoulders to make sure no one else was listening to them. He let out an uneasy sigh before placing both of his hands on the counter. It did nothing to ease Teddi's anxiety. "Look, kid...I don't usually get into people's business," he began, letting out another sigh. "But a few weeks ago Joyce mentioned to me that you came into Melvald's with a black eye. And she told me you said you slipped on ice, but she was worried that maybe something else was going on," Teddi could feel her heart beating faster and faster.
Hop was quiet for a moment as he thought of what to say next. "Before I adopted El, things were pretty...rough for her. But she's always been good at reading people. So when she came home after sleeping over at Max's and told me she's noticed some things with you that seemed a little unusual I figured maybe I should ask you about how things are at home." Teddi was honestly a little surprised at the concern in Hopper's eyes.
"Oh…" was all Teddi could say at first. Clearly she hadn't been hiding things as well as she thought. Or maybe Billy had been right. It's hard to keep a secret from someone that's keeping a similar secret themselves. Maybe this was finally her way out. Maybe she could just fess up to everything. Hopper would help. She knew that he would. But still...it seemed like too much trouble. "Um, no. No. Everything's totally fine. I mean, honestly between how much I work and my dad works none of us see each other."
Hopper watched her for a few moments before he nodded. "Alright...but if you ever need anything or need to talk the station's right down the street." he offered.
Teddi nodded and offered him the best smile she could manage. "Definitely. Thank you. Um, is there anything else? There's a few more Eastwood flicks El hasn't seen." she offered, glad to change the subject.
"Nah...well, actually I guess it couldn't hurt. Better than those soap operas she likes to watch." Hopper rolled his eyes.
Teddi laughed and nodded. "I'll be right back," she ducked out from behind the counter and disappeared for a few moments before coming back with two tapes. "Eastwood and this is another one that I think she'll really like." she slid the tapes over to Hopper.
He picked it up, flipping the case over to inspect it. "The Last Unicorn?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Uh-huh. She said she wanted to learn more about mages, and I'm sure that Will and Mike are doing a pretty okay job of explaining, but this is probably a little more entertaining for her. And it's based on a book too. She mentioned you guys both like to read."
Hopper nodded as he read the back of the case. "Ah sure, what the hell, right? Thanks, Teddi...and remember, just down the street, okay?"
"You got it Hop. I'll see you on Wednesday." Hopper gave a small wave before leaving, and Teddi left out a heavy sigh. That was it. Maybe it was time to move out before her last five months were up. There was that apartment building that Steve mentioned on the night of the bonfire. Maybe she could look into that and be out as soon as that coming weekend.
She briefly wondered if she should say something to Billy. If people were figuring out that her home life wasn't all too great, it would only be a matter of time before they started noticing the same for him. But even if she did bring it up, Teddi was pretty positive Billy wouldn't leave with Max still stuck at home with Neil. So she'd leave it alone. She'd look up the address in the phone book and find some time to check it out later that week. It was a scary feeling, the idea of being on her own. But then technically Teddi had sort of always been on her own.
A couple of hours later Keith poked his head into the video store's door. "Teddi, your boyfriend's here." Teddi looked up to see Billy's Camaro pulling into the parking lot. "I'll take over here. You make sure he doesn't abuse any of my machines."
Teddi rolled her eyes. "He's not my boyfriend. And stop worrying. Your precious machines will be safe in my hands." she said, patting Keith on the shoulder and walking out to meet Billy. Okay, she thought to herself as Billy and Max both made their way over towards the arcade, maybe I'm not completely on my own.