"It turned dark quick," Alice uttered into the receiver as she curled up in her bed. "I never thought he was so violent."
"But he beat Steve, didn't he?" Robin asked on the other end of the line.
Alice hummed recalling the moment Steve was caught beneath him, taking each punch to the face.
"I can't imagine how bad Steve looks today."
Robin snorted.
"I can't wait to see that dingus at school on Monday."
"Robin," Alice whined. "This isn't about Harrington."
Although she was going to have a field day when Monday rolled around.
"OK. OK. So you're upset and confused. But do you still like Billy?" Robin asked.
"I did until he almost beat up Sinclair," Alice answered.
Robin hummed.
"Why did he almost beat up Sinclair? Lucas is who you are talking about, right?"
Alice shrugged having no idea on either. Honestly, She never caught any of their names.
"He had him against the wall when I walked in," she explained. "And if not for Steve-"
Robin groaned interrupting her.
"I don't want to imagine Steve as a hero. That image haunts me."
Alice snorted unable to contain it.
"I hate you for making me laugh. I just want to be upset with Billy right now," she whined.
"You're welcome," Robin uttered. "But honestly, what do you plan to do?"
Alice didn't know.
Last night she had called Robin to pick her up, giving her no details about the current situation other than the fact Billy was drugged. She drove to the Byers' house and helped Alice lug Billy into her car. The latter had sat in the back with him for hours, cradling his head in her lap until he came to, asking about his car.
"Max took it," Alice had said. "But you need to go home and rest."
It had taken a minute to convince him to leave the car with Max, but when he had calmed down, she had Robin drive him home.
Alice had spared him no look as he got out of the car, even when he had tried to talk her into coming in for a bit.
"I just want to go home," she had uttered.
Billy had seemed frustrated, but she had paid him no mind as she got in the front seat and shut the door. The entire ride home she had been in tears.
"I think I'm going to call off the deal," Alice mentioned, answering her question.
"Why did you agree to date him?" Robin asked.
Alice sighed and turned onto her back.
"At first, because he's a hunk. But then he wooed my Pops; he didn't have to do that. We already slept together, so why put that much into it."
"Ask him then," Robin stated.
Alice narrowed her eyes. Was she serious?
"The next time you see Goldie ask him, and then you can decide," she added.
It was sad in Alice's opinion how much she was right. Without her rock, she'd be a mess.
"You've redeemed yourself," Alice mentioned with a grin. "So, before I go, I'll leave you with an image to reflect on. Steve took a plate to the head."
"Are you serious?" Robin asked with a laugh.
Alice chuckled and said goodbye, hanging up the phone. For a moment she didn't move; she rested in bed staring at the ceiling as she reflected on the conversation and the events of yesterday. Billy certainly didn't deserve a chance to explain himself after how he acted, but because Alice was a decent person she decided to allow him one chance to explain.
Getting out of bed, she walked downstairs and to the kitchen for a drink. From the window over the sink, she could see into the backyard; her father and brother were hard at work in the patch separating the pumpkins. Now that October was over and no one needed a pumpkin, the soil had to be cured and plowed before new seeds were planted. September was a good time to plant snow lettuce and salad greens.
The sound of the front door opening drew her attention away as her mom walked into the kitchen. Her gloves were stained in black from the diseased pumpkins, but she looked hopeful.
"Are you already done with the phone?" Faye asked, taking off her gloves.
Alice poured her a glass of water and offered it to her with a nod. She thanked her.
"So, how is Billy doing?"
"I was on the phone with Robin," Alice answered.
She and Clark were in bed before Alice got home, so neither of them knew about what had happened. When asked about it in the morning, she replied that it was good.
"How are the pumpkins?" Alice asked.
"Not many lived, but we managed to gather a few that your father plans to plow with the soil; the nutrients will do it some good," she answered. "But on a better note, the disease isn't spreading. It's strange, almost like whatever caused it vanished overnight. Eugene and Merrill called to let us know their fields are getting better too."
Alice hummed. That was strange. But it was good that the disease was gone. She wondered if Hopper ever found out what caused it.
"How have you been?" Faye asked suddenly.
"Fine," Alice replied.
The woman sighed.
"If you start to show symptoms again, please let us know."
"You don't have to worry about me," Alice assured her.
She had been asymptomatic for years.
"But if symptoms start to show, then I'll let you know," Alice added.
Faye worried about her. The fact she had asked must have meant that Alice look a little worn-out.
The young woman walked over and gave her a brief hug; Faye returned the favor.
"Thank you for looking out for me."
Her grip on Alice tightened. Letting her go, she wiped her tears away and laughed.
"Look at me, tearing up for no reason."
Alice gave her a sympathetic smile. But then a noise caught her attention; it sounded like the tires of a car. She raised a brow.
"Are you expecting anyone?"
Faye shook her head in disagreement, looking just as confused. Alice walked to the front door, peering out as a familiar teal Camaro pulled into the driveway. Her heart pounded erratically.
What was Billy doing here?
He stepped out of the car and hastily walked up to the porch. Faye joined Alice by the door as he noticed her, grinning.
"Afternoon, ma'am," he greeted Faye.
"Good afternoon. What are you doing in our neck of the woods?" Faye asked.
Alice raised a brow, curious too.
"I came over to see if your lovely daughter wanted to go for a ride with me," Billy answered.
Faye cooed and nudged her. Narrowing her eyes, Alice curled her arms over her chest.
"That depends. Where are you planning to take me?"
"Down some backroads, I heard about. Maybe I'll even let you drive the Camaro," Billy answered.
What angle was he trying to play? Alice considered telling him to go away, but the conversation with Robin came to mind. She did agree to ask him why he was in a relationship with her. Sighing, she turned her eyes to her mom.
"Do you mind?"
"Go on. But don't be gone long," Faye replied.
Alice thanked her, walking out onto the porch. Billy led her to the Camaro and opened the passenger side door for her, a notion that made her turn up her eyes. He was working hard to look good in front of Faye. But why?
Once he was in the car, she glanced at him noticing the lack of bruising. He had gotten off easy; Steve had not been lucky. Alice sat in silence as Billy started the engine and pulled out onto the main road. As he had said, he took her down the backroad towards the quarry.
"Are you mad at me about something?" He asked.
Alice scoffed in disbelief.
"Did Steve hit you too hard? Or are you under the assumption that I enjoy watching you pick on kids?"
"I wasn't picking on them," Billy argued. "I told Max to stay away from that Sinclair kid, but she didn't listen to me."
His argument made no sense.
"Why does Max have to stay away from Lucas?" Alice asked.
"Because I said so," he retorted.
She shook her head in annoyance. And then it hit her; something Max had said in the store yesterday.
"She likes him. I don't know the kid, but there's no reason why she can't like him."
Billy clenched his jaw almost as if he was trying to refrain from saying something.
"Look, I get that you don't like her, but––"
"You don't know anything about it," he snapped.
Perhaps this was a mistake. Alice peered out the window, feeling tears burn her eyes.
"No, but when I agreed to date you, I did it under the pretense that you would let me in. But I never really understood why you wanted to date me; we already slept together. What more do you want?"
Billy slowed the Camaro down, then eventually stopped. He put the car in park and snatched his cigarettes off the dash then got out, slamming the door shut. Alice sat in silence, staring out at the straight stretch of road in front of her as Billy leans against the driver's side door.
She wanted so bad to go home.
A moment later, he leaned down, looking at her.
"Come on, get out," he ordered.
Alice raised a brow. Was he planning to leave her here?
"Can't you just take me home?" She asked.
Tears blurred her eyes.
Billy took a drag of his cigarette and walked over to the passenger side door, opening it. Instead of yanking her out, he squatted down beside her.
"I said I'd let you drive, didn't I? So, come on."
He stood up and moved out of the way so that she can unbuckle and get out of the car. Once Alice was facing him, he rested a hand on the back of her head, leaning forward to kiss her forehead.
"I'm not gonna leave you here. Relax."
She nodded silently, walking around him to the driver's side door. Once the two were seated, Alice took a moment to dry her eyes before she started the car.
"Have you ever driven before?" Billy asked.
"My mom's truck, on occasion. I don't have the money to buy my own car yet," Alice answered.
Her voice was broken, but she felt a little better.
Billy pointed two fingers forward.
"Then drive."
Taking the car out of park Alice started down the road. It was scary, considering how much power was at her fingertips. She started slow, easing her foot down as she went.
"I thought you said you knew how to drive," Billy stated with a laugh.
"I do, but this is totally different," Alice argued. "I don't want to kill us."
Again, he laughed.
Leaning over, he whispered in her ear, "Then press the damn pedal."
The hairs on her arms stood up. Alice pressed down on the gas, gradually making the Camaro move faster. It tore down the gravel road and for a moment, she couldn't breathe. Did Billy feel like this all the time? Breathless. The speedometer reached 80 before she had to slow down, nearing the quarry.
Parking, she took a deep breath. She had never felt more alive.
"Did that feel good?" Billy asked.
Alice rested her hand on her chest.
"My heart is pounding."
He grinned.
"Maybe next time you'll get us above 80."
Alice stuck her tongue out at him.
"You're so damn mean."
But it was the truth, wasn't it?
Her smile vanished and she put her hands on the wheel to steady herself.
There were demons inside his head. Why else did he act out? His dislike for Max had to spawn from something. And what of Steve? Billy had dethroned him for a chance at the top. Why?
"Are you ever going to tell me why you chose me?" Alice asked.
Billy sighed.
"What is there to tell, babe?"
That was not the answer she wanted to hear, nor was it the truth.
"I don't ... I don't think we are good for one another," Alice uttered as she squeezed the steering wheel.
"So, you're calling it quits?" Billy asked.
She hesitated a moment, then nodded.
"I really like you; I do but these last few days have been chaotic. You did show me a fun time, though."
He had no idea how hard this was.
"I truly am sorry," Alice added. "But it's easier for me to do this now than get attached to you once the week is up."
Billy nodded.
"Switch sides; I'll take you home."
She wanted so bad to take it all back, but the breakup was inevitable. And it was not like he was arguing his case.
Getting out of the car, the blond followed suit. As Alice met him at the hood of the car the tears returned.
"You know what's funny?"
Billy raised a brow.
"I kind of hoped that after the week was up, there would be something more," she said with a snort.
The blond gave her a sympathetic look, but nothing else.
As Alice got into the car, staring out the window as the scenery whipped by she wondered, would he have let her stand beside him at the top? It was too late to find out.
Live a Little decision time. How will the series progress? Don't read if you've not seen season 3 of Stranger Things.
Since we're getting into the nitty-gritty of season three soon for the sequel of Live a Little, I have a few options.
We all know how season 3 ends - and for those who don't, stop reading this.
My first option is to let bygones be bygones; write the ending exactly like it's meant to be. The reader will help out in season 4 but she'll talk to and see Billy like he's real - like he's part of her acting like a second opinion.
Or I can change it and keep our sweet Billy alive with an attitude adjustment. And he can help out in season 4. Though he'll have PTSD and Max will still follow her same path, for the most part.
What do we think? Option 1 or option 2?