A/N: Who's ready to see more Hopper? I know I sure am.

xxx

It took everyone a week to find out that Billy and Teddi had moved in together. Neither of them were entirely sure how it started. Billy was pretty sure someone at the pool had overheard them talking at work and started the gossip train. At first it was easy for them to ignore. They were living together and they were together...technically. Things in the romance department were complicated. Mostly because they were making them complicated. Teddi didn't want people knowing they were together. Billy hadn't understood, but he agreed to keep his hands to himself when they were in public.

That didn't stop the gossip. Teddi was sure that there couldn't be anything going around that was worse than her and Billy running off to get married, or that she was ever in a relationship with Tommy H. She was wrong.

"Teddi!" someone called her in the hall as Teddi walked out of her American history class. It was Heather. Teddi waited for her friend to catch up, smiling sweetly at her. Heather looked like she had seen a ghost. "Are you pregnant?" she asked quietly, looking over her shoulders to make sure no one passing by was listening in.

"What?" Teddi asked incredulously. "Pregnant? No! Where the hell did you hear that?"

Heather took Teddi by the arm, pulling her over towards the lockers. The two girls huddled together. "Everyone is saying it. I heard Carol talking about it with Cheryl Burns in math this morning. Carol said that's why you and Billy moved in together. You got knocked up and his dad was gonna disown him-"

Teddi held up her hands. "Okay, that is so totally not true. I'm not even with Billy-"

"But you really are living together?" Heather asked.

"I mean…" Teddi sighed. "Heather, it's super complicated, okay? I can explain...eventually, but I'm not dating Billy, and I'm definitely not pregnant." she assured her.

Heather let out a loud sigh, like she was relieved by the news. "Good. I mean, no offense but it would totally ruin your life," Teddi could definitely agree there. "I'll try and do some damage control. But Tommy H is totally running his mouth about you guys."

Teddi rolled her eyes. "I don't doubt that. Thanks, Heather. Seriously."

Heather only shrugged, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "It's what friends are for. But I wanna know all of the details later." the look on Heather's face told Teddi that she wasn't completely buying all of Teddi's lies.

Teddi smiled thinly, nodding. "Deal. I gotta go though. I'll see you later?"

"Totally. See ya!" Heather threw a wave over her shoulder as the two parted ways. It was almost lunchtime, which meant Billy would be out in the parking lot. Teddi weaved her way through the halls, avoiding the mix of looks the other students were shooting her way and headed out to where the Camaro was parked. Billy drove them to school every morning. They would wake up a little earlier, head to the Hargrove's to pick up Max and at the end of the day Billy would drop Teddi off at the arcade for her shift. She supposed she could maybe see where some of the rumors were coming from.

Billy was leaning against the hood of the Camaro, looking off towards the basketball courts and smoking a cigarette. He heard Teddi walking up to him, looking back at her over his shoulder and flashing a grin her way. He took a drag of his cigarette, blowing the smoke out of the corner of his mouth as he looked back at the parking lot behind Teddi. When he was satisfied that the coast was clear, he kissed her.

Teddi felt her cheeks grow hot, looking over her shoulder shyly to make sure no one had seen. "Billy…"

"Yeah, yeah. Low key," he placed the cigarette between his lips again, watching as Teddi shifted nervously beside him. "...You okay?"

Teddi chewed on her bottom lip, shaking her head. "Have you heard anything people are saying about us?"

"That you're knocked up?" he said it so casually. Teddi scoffed. "There something you wanna tell me, Larsson?" he was teasing her. She couldn't believe he could tease her over something like this.

Teddi crossed her arms, moving to stand in front of him. She narrowed her eyes as she looked up at him. "You have to have sex for that to happen, genius."

Billy smirked, leaning down at a little. "I'm aware of how it works, Ted," she let out an annoyed huff. Billy flicked the butt of his cigarette away, his hand resting on her waist. "What's the big deal? Everyone'll know it's not true when you don't...blow up in a few months."

"Nice."

Billy let out a soft laugh. "I'm just saying. Teddi, who gives a shit what anyone in this shitty town thinks of us? Who cares if they know that we're together? Of if we got our own place? It's none of their fucking business." he was right. Teddi knew that he was. Maybe it was because she didn't like drawing too much attention to herself. Or maybe…

"It's not that…" Teddi sighed. She could make herself say it. She looked down, focusing on her boots. They were slick from the snowy slush that covered the parking lot.

Billy placed two fingers under Teddi's chin, gently lifting her head to look into her eyes. "Then what is it? You're freaking me out here, Weird Girl. You're not really one to keep your opinions to yourself."

Teddi was chewing on her lip again. "I guess...I guess I don't want people to know about this because I'm not really sure what this is," Billy pulled his hand away from her. His jaw had set firmly. Teddi sighed. "Billy, it's just that it's you...it's us." Nice, Teddi thought, try harder Teddi, maybe you can make this come out even worse.

Billy pulled away from her. Teddi reached out for him, but he took a step back. Teddi opened her mouth to say something, anything that could fix what she had done.

"Ooo, are we interrupting a lovers quarrel?" Teddi sighed at the sound of Tommy's voice. She and Billy both turned to face Tommy and Carol. There was a small group with them. Apparently Tommy was the new king of the hill at Hawkins' high. Teddi could only roll her eyes. "You know, Teddi, all this stress can't be good for your little bun in the oven." he teased with a snarl like grin.

"Fuck off, Tommy." Teddi spat. She took a step forward, but Billy grabbed her arm, stepping out in front of her.

Carol looked a little surprised for a moment. She grabbed at the arm of Tommy's coat, ready to pull him away. When Tommy let out a cackle, Carol's nervous expression faded and she laughed along with her boyfriend. "Would you look at that, Car," Tommy snickered. "Looks like Billy Boy's rubbed off on her in more ways than one, huh? What are you gonna do, Teddi? Hit me? Rearrange my face like your psychopath of a boyfriend did to Steve?" he taunted. "Did Billy do that to your face? Looks nasty."

Billy's hand clenched into a fist, but he didn't move towards Tommy. "Sure says a lot about you that you think a girl could kick your ass, Tom."

Tommy's smile faded, and he took a step closer to Billy. Billy took a step to meet him, just like he had at the New Year's party. "You and your little bitch think you're so funny, don't you, Hargrove? You think you're so cool. That you two can just swoop on in and run the place? You two are just pieces of trash whose parents don't even want them-"

Billy hit him. There was a collectively gasp behind them. Carol had taken an instinctive step backwards. Teddi stayed behind Billy, reaching out to grab the back of his denim jacket in a pathetic attempt to pull him away. Tommy stood upright, letting out a laugh as he wiped the blood from his nose. The two boys stared at each other for a few long moments before Tommy lunged for Billy.

He hit him like a brick wall. Billy had his feet planted firmly, shoving Tommy hard. Tommy let out another laugh as he stumbled. He threw a punch at Billy, throwing his entire weight behind it. That had really done it. Carol was yelling at Tommy to stop. The crowd behind them were cheering as the two boys fought.

It all happened too fast for Teddi to really take in. Tommy had gotten a few good hits in. He had opened the cut on Billy's eyebrow, and his nose and lip were bleeding. That had really set Billy off. He'd gotten this look in his eyes, one that Teddi hadn't seen before. It scared her. Billy had overpowered Tommy with three hard knocks to the head. Tommy's head had bounced off the pavement with each hit. He had started moving a little slower. That was enough for Billy. Billy brought his knee down onto Tommy's chest, anchoring him to the ground. One hand wrapped around Tommy's neck, the other hitting him hard across the face. He didn't stop.

Carol was screaming now. Tommy had gone almost completely still. "Billy! Stop it! You're gonna kill him!" Teddi gasped out. She lurched forward, grabbing Billy by the arm. He shoved her hard, sending her to the ground. Pain shot up through her wrist and up her arm. Teddi watched on with wide eyes.

"Hey! That's enough!" it was the boy's basketball coach. He was running over towards them, one of the kids that had been watching the fight close behind. Eventually they managed to pull Billy off of Tommy. Carol fell to her knees next to him, pulling her boyfriend up into her lap.

Teddi's heart was beating hard in her chest as she looked up at Billy. His face was all screwed up in a snarl, his breathing coming out in ragged gasps. His eyes met with Teddi's, and his expression immediately softened. Billy moved towards her, but the coach held him back. "Jesus, Hargrove. The hell has gotten into you? Someone go to the front office and get the nurse. You two," he pointed at Billy and Teddi. "You're going to the principal's office. Now."

xxx

A fight like this was going to be more than a slap on the wrist from the principal. He had spoken to Billy, Teddi and Carol individually. Tommy was still with the school nurse. Apparently he was barely conscious. Which meant the principle was going to call the police. Which meant Jim Hopper.

Teddi was sitting outside of the principal's office when he showed up. The nurse had given her an ice pack for her wrist after she'd landed on it in the parking lot. Hopper stopped in front of her, the two of them looking at each other but not saying anything. She hadn't seen the chief since he'd come into the video store to ask about how things were at home.

Hopper let out a sigh. "He in there?" he asked, nodding to the office. Teddi nodded. "Come with me," she didn't need to be told twice. She shuffled in after the chief, shutting the door behind her. Billy sunk in his seat when he saw Hopper walk in. His face had stopped bleeding, but he hadn't been able to clean himself up. It almost looked like there was a bruise forming on top of the bruise that was already there. Hopper took a seat at the principal's desk, Teddi sitting next to Billy. More silence. "...Alright. Which one of you wants to tell me what happened?"

"Tommy H is a prick," Billy spat. It was clear that answer wasn't going to cut it with Hopper. Billy let out a loud sigh. His hands clenched and unclenched in his lap. "He came up to us in the parking lot and started talking shit. He got in my face...and I snapped." Teddi could tell he was ashamed. Embarrassed even.

"And did you do that to her?" Hopper asked, motioning to the bruise on Teddi's face, now healing and turning a yellow color, and the ice pack pressed to Teddi's wrist.

Teddi jumped to his defence. "It was an accident. I was trying to pull him off of Tommy...the bruise is...different."

"Have you two seen the kid? What the hell could he have said to deserve a beating like that?" the two teens remained silent. There was no way Billy could come out of this clean. Hopper sighed. "Look...the nurse is cleaning Tommy up. If he doesn't need to go to the hospital then I'm not gonna have to get involved," Teddi let out a sigh of relief. Hopper held up his hand. "But, Billy's gonna be suspended. For at least a week. And I'm gonna have to call your parents."

Billy let out a dry laugh. "Good luck with that."

"The hell is that supposed to mean?" Hopper asked.

Teddi bit down on her lip. She looked over at Billy. He wouldn't look at her. "He doesn't-...we don't live at home anymore," Hopper looked between the two, his eyebrows raised and looking truly speechless. This hadn't been a can of worms that Teddi wanted to open. "We have an apartment. Out by the Brimborn steel mill. That's why Tommy was harassing us. Someone started a rumor that I'm pregnant-"

"Are you?" Hopper asked.

Teddi rolled her eyes. "No. We're not- I mean we are- we were-," she shook her head. "No." she repeated firmly.

Hopper sat up, eyeing the two of them. "And you two moved out because things are so great at home, huh?" they didn't say anything. He ran a tired hand over his face. "Look...if you two want me to look the other way, you're gonna have to keep yourselves out of trouble. I can't keep any of your little secrets if they keep calling me down here." Billy shot an unsure look in Teddi's direction. Hopper looked between the two teens again. "I'm gonna send you two home, and I'm gonna have a talk with Tommy. But before I let you go, is there anything else you wanna tell me?"

He was giving them an out. He might as well have just said "I know all about your asshole parents. Just say the word and I'll throw them in jail." Teddi wished it was that simple. She wished that there wasn't the threat of Max being put into foster care god only knows where. She wished that there could be actual consequences for her father instead of any accusations being swept under the rug thanks to his job with the mayor. Teddi wished that she could take Hopper up on his offer. And she knew that Billy wished he could too. But that was impossible.

When neither of them said anything, Hopper nodded. "Alright. Get outta here. I better not see you two in a mess like this again."

"You won't...thanks, Hopper." Teddi smiled a little, tugging on the sleeve of Billy's jacket. The ride home was silent. Billy wouldn't even look in Teddi's direction. When they pulled up to the apartment building, he cut the engine and headed inside as if she wasn't even there. Billy plopped down on the couch with a loud groan, turning the TV on and mindlessly flipping through the channels.

Teddi went to their tiny bathroom, wetting a washcloth and sitting next to Billy. "If you won't talk to me, can you at least let me clean all the blood off of you?" Billy let out an irritated sigh, tossing the remote aside and turning towards her. His jaw was set tightly as she started to dab at his cuts. "...Can you at least tell me if you're mad at me?" she asked quietly.

"...I would've killed him if coach hadn't stopped me," he said. Teddi didn't argue. She couldn't. "I did the same thing to Harrington. Max had to jam a tranquilizer in my neck to stop me," he let out a dry laugh. "She snuck out with Lucas to go to the Byers'. I was supposed to be watching her. My dad...I guess you can imagine how that went over. I still don't know what the hell went on that night. She won't tell me. I just remember her almost smashing my dick with a baseball bat, and the next thing I knew I woke up in my bed," he laughed again, more genuinely this time.

"I feel like I'm never gonna shake this off, Ted. I'll always be this guy that let's his anger get away with him and I'll end up like Neil."

Teddi tucked a piece of his hair behind his ear, letting out a soft sigh. "This is just a set back. I mean, don't get me wrong it was bad...but you're not that guy anymore. You're not Neil. I think it means a lot that you feel bad about hurting Tommy...even though he sorta maybe deserved it." they both laughed softly.

Billy placed a hand over Teddi's. "I'm sorry I hurt you." he said lowly.

Teddi shook her head. "It's fine-"

"It's not fine...you know that I'd never hurt you, right?" his voice sounded so small. Teddi knew that he didn't want her to think he was like her dad. She didn't.

"I know that," she said with a thin smile. Teddi bit her lip, her fingers picking at the bloody washcloth in her hands. "...I'm sorry about what I said earlier."

Billy let out an irritated breath out through his nose, his head fell back against the couch. He definitely hadn't wanted to pick this conversation up again. "So...what, you think I'm gonna fuck around or something? You're gonna walk in on me and Cheryl again?" Teddi was quiet. Billy sat up and looked at her. "You can't be serious, Larsson."

"Do you have any idea how many times you've told me that you don't date? You sleep with girls and then move on to the next one when you get bored of her?" Billy wouldn't look her in the eyes. He crossed his arms firmly across his chest and focused on the TV. Teddi groaned. "Billy...I just wanna take things slow. It's gotten insanely, super complicated now that we live together. I just want to make sure things actually work, and that we don't let hormones get in the way."

Billy was still quiet. He let out a grumble, finally looking over at her. "You just don't want me knocking you up."

Teddi let out another groan, letting of a soft laugh and resting her forehead against his shoulder. "God, don't even joke about that," Billy lifted her into his lap, Teddi straddling him. Her fingers played with the collar of his shirt as they looked at each other. There was a Talking Heads video playing on the TV. "You promise you're not mad at me then?"

Billy was quiet for a moment, pretending to think it over. "Depends…" his hands were on Teddi's waist, his thumbs rubbing gently at her sides. "You say no sex, but what about like dry fuc-"

"Billy."

"I'm just asking," he laughed. Billy's hands slid under Teddi's thighs, he tossed her easily onto her back. Teddi's stomach flipped as he crawled over her with that wolf like grin of his, nestling himself between her legs. Her hands immediately weaved into his hair when he kissed her. One of Billy's hands travelled down her side, his fingers dipping under her shirt. Her skin felt hot as his fingers ghosted across the skin of her stomach, leaving little butterflies and goosebumps in their wake. Teddi let out a sigh.

Billy pulled away, his lips slick with her lip gloss. Teddi blinked up at him. "...I'm hungry. You want pizza?"

Teddi's mouth opened and closed a few times as Billy looked down at her with an amused smile. "...Sure."

"Pineapple?" she only nodded. Billy got up from the couch and headed over to the dull, navy colored phone hanging on the wall to order the pizza. Teddi groaned, her head falling back against the couch. Bastard, she thought, hiding her face in her hands.