Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Stranger Things.
A/N: This is a really long chapter, it was going to be two, but I ended up not wanting to end it where I originally wanted to, so now it's just super long... I hope you guys are liking the story, I am really enjoying writing it, but it's hard to keep these two in character, while still progressing the plot. Please let me know what you think, if there's anything you're not liking, or if you're wanting more of something, please let me know!
Chapter 5: Perfectly Mysterious
"Could this get any worse?" Billy muttered, as he locked the door behind them, he thudded his head against the door a couple of times out of frustration.
El stood behind him, blissfully unaware to his stress. She headed towards her old bedroom, happy to see the things that she had left behind were still there, she smiled slightly at the remembrance of her old life.
Placing her leather bag on top of her bed, she headed back out towards the main living area, she knew that Billy was going to have questions, the obvious one being, "Why was she here?"
As she walked out of the room, she noticed now that the small cabin was now fully lit up, the entire house was oddly in better condition than she remembered. The roof appeared to be repaired with thick tarps, somehow the power had been reconnected and the furniture seemed to be, for the most part, back into place.
She thought back for a moment, to the brutal fight that had taken place here, a lot of damage had been done but somehow it almost seemed that her ordeal with the mind flayer had been non-existent. For the most part the house seemed... well liveable?
El snapped her attention back onto Billy whose head was apparently still resting on the front door.
"How did you get in here?" She questioned softly.
"I climbed on top of the roof," He hissed with his back still turned.
"Oh. And you fixed it" She smiled with an acknowledging nod, her cluelessness to Billy's annoyed mood would soon dwindle when he turned away from the door.
he was angry, he was always angry.
"Billy?" She stalked towards him, anticipating a snap, "I'm Sorry, If I made you angry."
"Well apology not accepted." He sneered from the wall, "I can't really bad mad at you for coming back to your own place, now can I?" He locked eyes with hers for the first time first time since their encounter in the void. He realised with just a glance that she really didn't know what to say to him.
Perfect, intimidating her would be easy, he'd use his normal tactic of intimidation, the art of seduction would well and truly knock her down a peg or two.
It did not.
She smiled goofily at his charmed approach, did she think she was going to get a hug or something? Well this was NOT going to work, he'd have to switch it up, she was full of surprises.
Billy Hargrove the asshole, it would have to be.
"Look if we are both going to stay here, then you are going to have to promise that you are going to stay out of my fucking head, alright? In fact, just stay the hell away from me." He gestured with a frown and a forceful finger.
"I can't anymore... Even if I wanted to."
Billy's eyes and forehead creased out of confusion by her comment, "What do you mean? And what are you even doing back here? Don't you have a new life with the brady bunch?" He asked sarcastically, casually lighting up a new cigarette.
"I had to come back… I need to help dad…. Need to get my powers back…" She plopped herself down on the sofa.
Billy watched her mannerisms carefully, she was so hard to read, her emotions closed off in a vacant visage, he'd never really known anyone capable of successfully hiding what they were really thinking; no one besides himself. Of course in his case, he covered his emotions by compensating in violence and anger.
He had no idea why she insisted on helping him or why she even wanted to be around him, no one ever did. Even the little sluts he had his brief encounters with, would wipe their hands clean of him, once they saw the real him. He had the kind of traits that girls used short term, he was a bad boy, he was good in bed and he was easy on the eyes. None of them ever stuck around for long and hell, he didn't want them to.
Eleven was different from them, he had noticed from the moment he had met her she was... well— odd. He couldn't help but soften slightly in her presence. She was the one person he'd ever come across that didn't feel like she was demanding something of him.
Her appearance had changed a lot since the last time he had seen her. When he was taken over by the mind flayer he hadn't noticed how rarely beautiful she was, it wasn't until she had touched his face and what felt like his soul, that he'd seen her raw and untouched beauty.
She'd grown up a lot in just a few short months, her delicate features appeared more refined, she'd filled out a bit, yet still possessed her petite frame. To top her entire look off she oozed an overpowering amount of mysteriousness, which he found intoxicating.
Looking properly at her now, with his eyes and not clouded by the mind flayer; she was truly incredible. The perfect fix of physical traits running from, gorgeous to adorable; everything all round into one remarkable looking human being.
There were no two ways about it, she was breathtaking.
But the bruises, what the fuck had happened to her?
she was going to tell him, he'd make her.
Running his eyes across her expression she looked like a damn deer in headlights.
she's terrified of you.
She hates you; she knows everything about your pitiful little life— she thinks you're pathetic and that's because you are.
"What the hell are you talking about… The sheriff… your dad, he's dea—" He pulled himself from his thoughts.
"No."
"No?" He raised an eyebrow.
"No." She angrily began putting her coat back on and headed towards the door.
"Where the hell do you think you're going? It's pissing down with rain and it's 10 o'clock at night. You're not going anywhere, sit down."
"I need a phone." She defiantly opened the door, her eyes dark pinpoints.
El was angry, angry at him— and she wasn't going to hide it.
Annoyed, billy let out a loud sigh, "Come on I'll drive you."
El looked back towards him, her eyes softened with his. She had always been the stubborn type, but if she was being honest with herself, she wanted his company and she really didn't want to walk alone in the dark.
"Thanks." She relented with a small smile.
"Don't thank me, just don't want the guilt on my conscience, if you wind up in a gutter in the morning… How the hell did you get here anyways? Weren't you like in Chicago or some other shit?" He briskly reached for his packet of smokes and keys.
"The bus."
"Well no shit, I meant the cabin," he rolled his eyes.
"I walked."
Unbelieve, no powers, she's five foot nothing, ninety pounds soakin' wet—and is completely fearless- or dumb.
The car ride to town was quiet on both their parts, both not really wanting to seem interested in what the other was doing in their current situations. Billy however still had pressing matters on his mind and was completely shocked that there was a female in the world that seemed to just completely shut down verbally. In his previous experience, all the chicks he had briefly dated or slept with— never seemed to stop talking... what he would have done to be in that position at the moment.
"You gonna tell me what happened to your face?" He asked breaking the silence.
"No."
"Well why not?" He took the bait and bit back.
Ignoring him she turned to face the window, not wanting to show him her vulnerableness, she quickly wiped a falling tear off her cheek.
"I fell over." She whispered, a hint of guilt laced her voice.
Billy snorted instinctively, "yeah okay then—That's a lie if I ever heard one."
"You're right… It is… And friends don't lie." She glanced over to him regrettably.
Billy really didn't like that she had come to the realisation that they were apparently "friends," but he was dying to know what the hell had happened to her. So, he fought his urges to put his defences up and decided just to take his eyes off of the road for a second to glance at her, as if to prompt her to carry on.
"I got in a fight."
"With?" He pressed with a circling motion of his hand.
"A boy."
"What boy? Why?" He took his eyes off the road, far too long this time.
El went quiet for a moment, thinking long and hard if she even wanted to tell him what had happened. Letting out a long sigh she faultered, "—Dan...just doesn't like... just hit me a few times."
"What the fuck?! Please tell me 'Dan' is short for 'Danielle' and not 'Daniel'?" He glanced over again, searching her face for more information. "Was this kid bigger than you?... Older?"
"Everyone is bigger than me." She glared in his direction, "yes, an older boy, at my school."
Billy went quiet for a second, holding in a chuckle from her sarcastic comment.
"Yeah, I guess that's true," Pausing before continuing, "Why did this asshole kid hit you?"
"I'm a freak." She glanced down to her hands that were now placed in her lap.
"Hey," he glanced glanced over angrily, "just cause you're different from someone—doesn't mean you're a freak." He held his stare, ensuring she understood him.
"Wish the little bastard was here. Sounds like he needs a proper ass kicking." He lit up a fresh smoke, letting a small smile escape the corner of his mouth.
El was shocked by his reaction, she knew he was notorious for violent outbursts, but didn't think for even a second that he would have given a rat's ass what had happened to her. So why was he so worked up over this? Did he have a closet code of conduct?
"So, why didn't you just zap him or whatever it is that you do; crush his mind of something?"
"No more powers, not properly since stargate."
"Oh."
"Then how'd you..."
"I mean how'd you come into my—"
"Just luck." She answered, not needing to hear his full question.
"Well for what it's worth, I'd kick that kid's ass if he were here." He said, kicking himself instantly for saying it. A ridiculous smile plastered on her face, before he had even finished his sentence.
SHUT UP IDIOT.
Why is she smiling at me like a nut job!
FOR FUCKS SAKE.
Internally kicking himself to death, billy pulled over to the only phone booth he knew of, it was down one of the side streets.
"Have you got a nickel?" He asked her as she quickly jumped out of the car.
"Yeah thanks,"
"Okay, be quick."
She nodded as she closed the car door.
She placed the nickel into the coin slot and quickly dialled the number Jonathon had written down for her at the train station and held her breath as the phone began to ring.
"Hello?"
El froze for a second hearing that it was Joyce.
"Hi, it's me... it's El."
"El, what on EARTH were you thinking!"
"I'm okay, I'm safe, I just—I need to be here."
"Why hunny, what's going on?" Joyce asked more calmly this time.
"I'm going to try and find dad, this is just where I need to be--"
Joyce sighed and for what felt like minutes, didn't say anything, "you're safe? Are you staying at the cabin?"
"Yah, I'm okay, I've got everything I need."
"So independent, God you remind me of me thirty years ago," She snorted, pausing again before coming to a conclusion on the situation.
"—okay. You can stay there to do what you need to do. But you call me, every. Single. Day. No exceptions and I'm sending Jonathon down in a couple of days to check on you."
"Thank you!" El smiled brightly as if her adoptive mother could see her reaction through the phone.
"God, Hop would murder me for this."
--
"Are you all good now?" Billy asked her, quickly prying his eyes from the road.
"Good." She answered, smiling as brightly as the sun.
"Glad one of us is then."
"Can we go back to the cabin then? Before someone sees us together and gets the wrong idea."
"Wrong idea?" El asked with raised eyebrows.
Billy paused for a second, rubbing his chin between his hands, before gliding his hand through his unruly locks.
Does she actually have to ask? Seriously?
"Seriously kid, have you been living under a rock? He asked with a raised voice, his tone clearly annoyed.
"What mean 'living under a rock'?" She asked in her curiously broken English.
Billy gritted his teeth and clenched the steering wheel with both hands, before releasing it, to aggressively hit it with both hands. Frustrated beyond belief he turned his head to face her.
"Is English your second language or something? Like what the fuck."
Embarrassed, El placed her hands onto her lap and turned her face and body towards the window. It began to rain and the gentle pitter patter on the windows, accompanied by the blanket of darkness outside, muffled the few tears streaming down her face.
She couldn't answer him.
She'd cry.
He'd hate that.
And then she would have to tell him- everything.
On the other side of the car, Billy was feeling like a real asshole.
Jesus Christ, is she crying?
For fucks sake.
--Fix it you idiot.
She's fucking crying, because you are such a prick.
"Hey you know… I speak a little Spanish." He tilted his head and accompanied it with a charming smile. Had he just caught her grinning? He was good at that; charming, girls, women, the female kind. It was his gift and he didn't imagine she would be any different.
"Uno, dos, tres." Billy said in his best Hispanic accent, snorting slightly at how dumb he felt.
Hearing a small giggle come from her, he knew his stupidity had paid off. However, unfortunately not enough to pay him out an answer. The rest of the car ride was quiet, that was until they passed a 7/11, a very abrupt, very excited yelp came from El at the sight.
"Please stop!" She squealed.
"What?! Why?" Billy panicked by her sudden enthusiasm, but he pulled over quickly to oblige her.
"Eggos." She smiled as she made her way out of the car.
Minutes later, she came waltzing out, a massive shopping bag in hand. Filled to the brim with umm, waffles?
"Alright kid, you're going to have to answer some of my questions, because this is ridiculous. You've got more secrets than I do and that is saying something." He looked at her agitatedly as she pulled the car door closed.
"I like waffles." She answered matter of factly, facing him with a toothy smile.
"I can see that."
"And what about your lack of talking?" He pushed further.
She hesitated for a moment before answering, she didn't want him to think she was some sort of freak, "Papa never taught me, I've never been to school, wasn't necessary—not safe."
"Your dad? The sheriff?"
"No," She shook her head, "Papa…The lab, the place before..." She whispered, like if she heard herself, she would end up back there.
Billy turned white, suddenly feeling very sick at the realisation that this girl didn't and never had the perfect life. She wasn't lying when she said they were more alike than he thought.
"The lab, is that where your powers came from?" He looked at her with penetrating eyes.
"No, they're from my mother."
"Oh, your mom has it too? —what exactly is it?" He pushed his luck further.
"I don't' really know—Mike said it's something called 'telekinesis'." She perked up a little, astonished that he wanted to know things about her.
"Wheeler, that little shit, acting like he knows everything huh? Bet he had your innocent little mind wrapped around his weaselly little finger huh?" He chuckled to himself condescendingly.
El was quiet the rest of the drive home, but as Billy pulled into the dirt driveway, she found herself overcome with emotion once again— annoyance. Annoyed by Billy's snide comments and his assumptions of her. Shaking slightly, she exited the car and stomped up the porch steps, ensuring he understood her thoughts.
-she was pissed.
Billy followed in behind her, silently contemplating his actions, before being surprised by her abrupt spin around. She looked up into his eyes, with anger, her brown eyes glistening with unfallen tears.
"You know… I'm not a little kid. And I'm not innocent. I've done really bad things too."
"I've hurt people. Seen bad things…"
"So just shut up." She spat, bursting into the front door.
Billy stood stunned for a moment.
Did that just happen? Did she just yell at me? And tell me to "shut up"
Doesn't she know what an asshole I can be?
I could hurt her, if I wanted to.
I should want to.
Growling to himself he came inside the house and plopped himself onto the couch.
Fucking females, such hard work.
Further annoying his situation, he was very inconvenienced to realise that he had to get up off the couch, to turn the tv on and readjust the bunny ears sitting a top.
So much static out here. Shit hole.
After about an hour of watching MTV, Billy's attention was caught by an emerging Eleven. He watched her through peripheral vision, ensuring she didn't see him looking. Not that it mattered, he didn't give a crap what she did, just as long as she stayed out of his way and out of his head. — so he told himself.
His attention towards her became obvious as his head launched in her direction at the crash glass falling onto the floor.
What the hell is she doing climbing onto the goddamn counter.
"What the hell are you doing?" he shouted angrily from across the room.
"Nothing..." she stuttered, from the mess on the floor.
His face softened as he realised, she was attempting to get a glass down out of one of the high cupboards.
Don't be such a dick, get the shitty glass down for her,
No, you're not a pussy, she can sort it out herself, she said so herself she's not a child.
He watched her struggle for another few seconds before dramatically getting up off of the couch, and walking towards the mess unfolded.
"Get off the damn counter, before there's no dishes left to use." He abruptly whisked her down from her perch, as if she were some kind of ragdoll.
El fell forward a little into his broad chest blushing at the contact, she quickly tried to find her feet.
"You want a glass?" He asked abruptly, not fazed by her awkwardness.
She nodded quickly, feeling too dry in the mouth to speak.
Billy reached up effortlessly and placed the glass into her hands, she quickly filled it from the facet and then wandered back towards her bedroom, as she reached the threshold of the door, she turned back to speak.
"We're friends, aren't we?" She said, not questioning, a gentle smile placed on her face.
"You know too much about me for us to be friends." He scoffed, thinking that his words would have hurt her, but they had the polar effect.
She closed the door to her bedroom and a, smile formed from ear to ear. She let herself fall backwards into her bed, her heart leapt from her chest at the present and clear fact, that she was finally getting in.
--
Billy awoke the next morning in rough shape, a shattering headache fogged his memory from the night before. As he laid on his stomach with a puddle of drool leaking from the corner of his mouth; he then began to remember.
After El had gone to bed, he'd obviously indulged in way too many beers and must have fallen asleep on the sofa. With that thought in mind, he'd also been too drunk to realise how uncomfortable he had been, because one of his many empty cans was now pressed against his cheek, leaving a very obvious imprint on his face.
His hair usually in perfect form, was in a disarray of tufts on top of his head.
His clothes, had somehow been scattered across the floor, leaving him in only a pair of underwear. Thankfully, he had somehow managed to cover himself in a thick woven blanket, which had to be the reason that he hadn't frozen to death considering that they were now in November.
The sound that had woken him had been the distinct sound of the toilet flushing from down the hall, followed by tiny barefoot steps coming towards the kitchen.
Billy's mouth dropped at the sight that unfolded before his eyes, the fogginess clouding his sight, quickly became 20/20 vision.
A perfectly bed headed brunette, complete in an oversized 'guns and roses' t-shirt, it was too bad that she was also sporting a judgemental glare at his current position.
"He keeps aspirin in that drawer next to you," she pointed behind him, before making her way into the kitchen.
Fuck, she has power to kill people with her mind and she's also a mind reader?
"Hop used to get like you after drinking too much of that stuff," she casually read his mind.
"Thanks," He gestured while he rubbed a tender temple, lighting up a cigarette, he leaned back into the couch, reveling in the first drag of the morning.
The sound of cupboards opening and items clanging, knocked him out of his current glory.
She was reaching up into the cupboard again... he shook his head out of frustration for her, seeing once again she was going to struggle to reach.
His pity was quickly diminished, when she went up onto her tip toes and reached as far as she could, to grab what,
He did not know-
And did not care.
Perfectly slim legs, and the edges of what looked like to be a smooth-edged ass, were undeniably on show.
God have Mercy.
Get up and stop her, before you become an absolute scumbag...
She's Max's best friend and you don't go for chicks like her. She's too damn innocent and you know it. What the hell would you do with some prude anyway?
Keeping his raging thoughts to himself he walked over to her and put himself out of misery, he pulled some glasses down from the top shelf, "let's move them hey?"
"I used to be able to just—" she looked down to see the lack of power in her hands.
"Must be frustrating huh?"
"Yeah it is, but I can feel it coming back sometimes and then... it's just gone."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing." She said pushing past him.
What the hell is happening to me? Why the hell do I care so much- I don't care, I'm bored and I'm starting to act like a pussy, I've got to get this bitch out of my head, I haven't gotten laid since fuck knows when.
With Billy's thoughts raging out of control, he made the decision that he had to get out on the prowl. He'd fuck some chick's brains out and be back to his normal player like self. He wasn't letting any girl get under his skin enough to start pulling feelings out, especially not this one. He could feel her pulling at his heart strings and the worst part was he knew with certainty he was powerless to stop it.
He'd put it down to stargate and the fact that he hadn't had sex in God knows how long.
That would fix everything.
He promptly jumped into the shower and began sprucing himself up for the long night he had planned for himself. Once he was satisfied that he looked good, smelled good and wouldn't have any issues with attracting females attention, he headed out back into the living room to see Eleven with an eggo pressed firmly between her teeth, smashing the top of the tv attempting to fix the static.
Fuckkk, why does she have to wear that stupid shirt.
"Hey, I'm going to go and meet up with some friends, I'll be out in town until probably pretty late, stay out of trouble alright?"
"Oh okay, maybe I'll go see Max then."
"Whatever do what you want, just don't get yourself into any trouble." He said walking towards the door.
Not being able to help himself, he turned back around to see very vulnerable doe like eyes, guilt swept over him like the plague and he knew he was in big trouble.
