Krystal's eyes fluttered open, as her head began to pound from all the alcohol she had drunk early that morning. She brought her arm up to cover her eyes from the glare of the sun and began to recall the events of the party. Billy meeting Steve, her awkward love confession to him and then…things got blurry at that point. She looked down and saw that most of her costume had been removed, just leaving her in a white shirt and red skirt. She rolled out of bed and frowned when she looked in the mirror and found even her makeup had been removed. Krystal was distracted when she registered how dry her throat was and slowly stumbled towards the door, finding her vision was still blurry. As she quietly made her way into the kitchen, she saw it had just gone eight in the morning…which mean she was going to be late for school.

"Shit" She mumbled, knowing she could get in trouble as she had already missed a few lessons since she went back to school.

"You look terrible" A voice announced, as Krystal grabbed a glass from the cupboard.

She turned around and found it was only Max, much to her relief. Krystal knew it was true. Less than six hours ago she had still been drinking, meaning the alcohol was still most definitely in her system.

"I feel terrible" Krystal grumbled, filling up the glass with water.

"Where did you go last night?" Max inquired, seeing how far she could get with talking to her sister.

"High school party" Krystal replied, as she proceeded to down the entire glass in a matter of seconds.

"Oh…did you have fun?" Max queried.

"Take some advice from someone older…don't drink, Max. Just don't" Krystal groaned, as she flopped down on a seat at the kitchen table.

"Well, I covered for you last night. I told mum that we got in early and you went to bed because you weren't feeling well" Max explained.

"And she fell for it?" Krystal raised an eyebrow, as Max nodded.

"Did you have a good night?" Krystal asked, rubbing her eyes.

"It started well, but I came back early" Max shrugged.

"How come?" Krystal inquired.

"The boys I was with were weird," Max told her.

"Boys are like that" Krystal yawned, as she dropped her head onto the table, feeling exhausted.

"You know this is probably the most you've said to me in years" Max couldn't help but say.

"I'm a chatty drunk" Krystal mumbled; her voice muffled by the table.

Krystal was already beginning to fall asleep when she heard a noise from behind her and suddenly a voice boomed near her ear.

"Wakey, wakey sunshine" Billy shouted, as she shoved him back.

"Ugh, not so loud" Krystal pouted, as Billy grinned at her smugly.

"When did you get in last night?" Max frowned, having expected Billy to stay over at some girl's house.

"I'm surprised you don't know…didn't you hear her falling on her ass this morning?" Billy stated as he put some toast on.

"Wait…you went to the same party?" Max questioned.

"And I completely regret it" Krystal stated, sitting upright and resting her face on her hands.

"How are you not as hungover as I am?" Krystal grumbled, seeing how awake Billy seemed.

"Because I'm not a lightweight" Billy teased.

"You came back together too?" Max inquired.

"We got kicked out" Billy shrugged, as his toast popped up.

"Wait, what-" Krystal was cut off as Billy shoved a piece of toast in her mouth.

"You need to sober up before my dad wakes up" Billy informed her, as she rolled her eyes but began to take a bite.

"Mum and Neil had a fight last night. He went to work early" Max announced, as Krystal could see Billy's shoulders sag in relief.

"What were they arguing about?" Krystal asked.

"I don't know" Max shrugged, as she picked up her backpack.

"Well, I'm going to school. Maybe you should drink more often…you're much more fun" Max told her.

"Yeah, and less of a bitch" Billy mumbled, as Krystal kicked him in the shin.

Max let out a small laugh as she walked towards the door, turning around as she saw Billy had turned the radio on at fall blast, much to Krystal's annoyance. As she closed the door, she saw her sister jumping up to try to reach the radio which Billy was holding above her head. It was weird seeing them getting on so well, but a good weird, Max decided.

"So, why did we get chucked out of Tina's party?" Krystal inquired, once she had finally grabbed the radio from Billy.

"We broke some vase of hers" Billy shrugged, taking a bite of his own toast.

"We?" Krystal retorted, raising an eyebrow.

"I threw it at Harrington's head" Billy clarified.

"What?!" Krystal gaped.

"You really don't remember?" Billy scoffed.

"No! Why were you fighting?" Krystal frowned.

"I don't need an excuse to beat up a prick like that" Billy told her, deciding not to mention it was because of her.

"He's gonna hate me now" Krystal groaned, banging her head against the wall, comically.

"Jesus, you really do have it bad for King Steve, don't you?" Billy teased, as her eyes widened.

"Oh yeah…I know about that. How you told him you loved him, and he flat out rejected you" Billy went on, when she didn't reply.

"Ugh, I'm never getting drunk again" She pouted, as she flopped down dramatically on the couch.

"Don't worry, you didn't blurt it out to the whole party. Just to me" Billy informed her, as he joined her on the couch.

He lifted her legs up and sat down near her, laying her legs over his lap. It seemed an innocent enough gesture, but Krystal suddenly became aware of the fact that she was only wearing a short red skirt. And for some reason Billy still had his hands holding onto her legs.

"If you tell anyone-" She began, but he cut her off.

"I'm dead?" Billy suggested.

"You guessed it," She said, giving him a mocking smile.

"Aren't you going into school today?" Billy questioned when Krystal laid her head on the arm of the couch.

"I'd rather not go in at all than late and drunk" Krystal scoffed.

"Well you better be out when my dad gets home later otherwise you'll end up with more bruises" Billy informed her, as he began tracing his finger over a large bruise on her shin.

He guessed she had got it from falling through her window early that morning. The dark bruise stood out against her pale skin, as he felt goosebumps begin to appear underneath his fingertips. It all started to feel far too intimate for Krystal, who pulled her legs away, twisting herself up into a sitting position.

"Are you going to school?" She inquired

"I think I better let things cool off. Tina looked ready to throw me out with the trash last night" Billy told her.

"Are you really scared of a seventeen-year-old girl?" Krystal teased.

"It's tactics. I'll turn up at school tomorrow, give her a bunch of flowers and be making out with her in the back of my car by third period" Billy explained.

"How romantic" Krystal scoffed.

"At least I'm not pining after a prick like Harrington" Billy retorted, feeling a sliver of guilt at his words when he saw hurt flash over her face.

Why the hell do I keep bringing it up, Billy groaned to himself. Instantly, Krystal's mask was back on, and for a moment Billy was worried she would go back to be her mute self. It was strange to think how in only a few days he had gone from hating her to actually having fun with her. He was brought out of his thoughts as she threw a pillow at his head, which he easily caught, thanks to his fast reflexes. Krystal began to zone out after that, as she stared at the photos around the living room. None were of Krystal. It's not like her mother would have any of her as she had seen so little of her in the past few years, but it still stung. She realised there was only one of Billy. He was on the beach, shirt off as per usual, and a surfboard under his arm. He looked begrudgingly happy as he stood next to Max who was in a colourful swimming costume. Billy must have really loved the beach, she thought to herself.

"Where's your surfboard?" She blurted out.

"Huh?" Billy frowned, confused.

"You had a surfboard when I came to California. You always had it with you" She went on.

"My mum gave it to me when I was younger" Billy admitted.

"Did it get left behind?" Krystal inquired, knowing they had to pack up very quickly.

"My dad broke it" Billy shrugged, dismissively.

Krystal cringed at the imagery of Billy's father destroying one of the only things he had to remember his mum by.

"Why'd he break it?" She couldn't help but push further.

"I told him I didn't want to come here. He got pissed, I answered back. My surfboard got snapped in half" Billy told her, as she bit her lip.

Krystal wondered if that was partly the reason why he had hated her so much when they first moved to Hawkins. She had screwed things up for Billy and her mother by turning up in California.

"Your dad is such a dick" Krystal grumbled, as Billy huffed out a laugh.

"I know" Billy stated, leaning forward so his arms were resting on his knees.

"You wanna' go for a drive?" Krystal questioned, as Billy turned towards her.

"Do you mean will I drive you somewhere?" Billy snorted.

"C'mon, I know a place. You'll like it. Promise" Krystal announced as she stood up from the couch, feeling dizzy suddenly.

"You really can't handle your drink, can you?" Billy chuckled, as he watched her sway.

"Rude…maybe I won't invite you along" Krystal huffed, as she walked away from the couch.

"Pft, how do you think you'll be getting there then?" Billy retorted.

"…With these!" Krystal exclaimed as she grabbed Billy's keys from her leather jacket on the back of the couch.

"Hey, come back here!" Billy yelled after her, laughing as he did so.

Billy turned to Krystal as she pointed in the direction of another dirt road and wondered where she was taking him. She had a mischievous smile on her face, as her hair fluttered past her cheeks in the wind. She looked so carefree, which was completely different from how she usually acted. But she wasn't the only one. Billy couldn't remember the last time he had laughed so much as he had the past few days. As he looked back at the road, he thought to himself how it wouldn't last. Krystal would sober up completely soon enough and stop talking to him. He didn't get close to people for a reason. People always let you down.

"Don't look so worried. I'm not leading you to the middle of nowhere just to kill you" Krystal told him, bringing him out of his thoughts.

"Well, that hadn't crossed my mind…until right now" Billy huffed, seeing the dirt trail was getting narrower.

Krystal rested her head on the car window, turning to look at Billy. Her attention was drawn to his eyelashes of all things. How was it possible for someone to have attractive eyelashes? Billy's lashes were long and dark, contrasting sharply to his deep blue eyes, that were currently looking back at her.

"What?" Billy inquired when he saw her staring.

"I'm sorry" Krystal announced.

"Huh?" Billy frowned, looking back to the road.

"That your dad broke your surfboard. If it wasn't for me, you guys wouldn't have had that argument" Krystal explained.

"Forget about it, I have" Billy shrugged.

"No, you haven't" Krystal retorted, knowing that was at least part of the reason why he had acted the way he had towards her.

Before Billy could reply, he had to press the brakes as he realised, they had come to the end of the dirt road. All that lay ahead of them were trees.

"You want to take me on a hike?" Billy guessed as Krystal opened her door, excitedly.

"You'll see" She grinned, as she hopped out of the car.

With a roll of his eyes, Billy began to follow her through the treeline, confused to why she had brought him there. After ten minutes, he was ready to head back, when Krystal ducked underneath a fallen tree and begun to rush forward. Billy followed her into a clearing, as it took his eyes a moment to adjust to the light pouring through the trees.

"So, not bad for some stupid hick town, huh?" Krystal smirked, as she saw his look of awe.

In front of them was a beautiful rushing waterfall, that spilt out into a large lake, with the clearest water Billy had ever seen. The lake was completely enclosed by trees on all sides, the bright green colours reflecting on the water's surface. There was a small boat lying near the edge of the lake, next to a wooden jetty that ran halfway into the lake.

"It might not be the beach, but this is the closest thing you're going to get in Hawkins" Krystal informed him.

"Why is there no one here?" Billy inquired, as the only sound he could hear was the rushing of the water.

"No one knows about it. Me and my dad used to go hiking when I was younger and one day we just stumbled into this place. We came here practically every day after school, and I'd help him build that jetty…" Krystal trailed off.

Billy could guess the reason why they never finished making the jetty from the sudden sad expression on Krystal's face. Billy's chest felt warm at the fact that Krystal was sharing a secret location that only she and her father knew about. No one ever told him secrets. In fact, no one ever really talked to him.

"My mum took me to surfing competitions when I was younger. And even after she left, I kept surfing…I guess I didn't want to disappoint her if she came back…it's stupid" Billy shrugged.

"I stole my mum's makeup the day she left me with my dad. I used it for like five years. It was pretty gross by the end. We all do stupid things" Krystal admitted, with a giggle.

She was quickly distracted when Billy began stripping off his shirt, as she let her gazed over his chiselled chest. She felt a blush on her face when her eyes lingered on the dark trail of hair just above his jeans, as she looked away. Billy seemed to catch her looking and couldn't keep the smirk off his face.

"What are you doing?" She asked, her brain short-circuiting as he began to unbuckle his belt.

"I'm going for a swim. That's what we're here to do right?" Billy replied.

"We didn't bring bathing suits" Krystal pointed out, as he kicked off his shoes.

"I wasn't suggesting skinny dipping…unless you want to" He smirked, as she rolled her eyes.

"Are you just going to stand there and enjoy the show or take your clothes off?" Billy inquired, pulling the zipper of his jeans down.

As Billy shimmed out of his jeans, throwing them against a nearby log, he could practically feel Krystal checking him out. The morning was taking an interesting turn, he thought to himself with a smirk.

Krystal knew Billy was enjoying making her squirm, which was clear from the blush on her cheeks and the way she was staring. Deciding to give him a taste of his own medicine, she pulled her shirt over her head and saw the grin fall from his face. Billy's eyes widened as she pulled down her red skirt, leaving her in just her underwear as well. She was far curvier than he had been expecting. Krystal's stomach and hips were rounder than most girls he had seen with their clothes off. His eyes lingered on her breasts, which were complemented by the red bra she wore. He decided there and then that he had a thing for curvy girls.

"My eyes are up here," She told him, seeing his gaze was firmly directed at her cleavage.

For once Billy couldn't think of a clever retort and decided to make his way into the lake. He needed something cold to stop the growing problem he had in his boxers.

"Jesus, it's cold" Billy hissed after he had half his body submerged in the water.

"Don't be so dramatic" Krystal rolled her eyes, as she swam out further.

"It's freezing" Billy insisted.

"Well, there is one way to warm up…" Krystal trailed off, with a smirk.

"Oh, yeah?" Billy flirted, as he swam near her.

His brain almost short-circuited a moment later, when he realised, he was flirting with his stepsister. Krystal, who was the whole reason he had to come to the town he hated and was a complete weirdo. Yet, he had enjoyed the past couple of days more than he had the whole past year of his life.

"Like this!" She exclaimed as she splashed him with water, completely soaking his hair.

"Oh, you gonna' pay for that" Billy announced, using both his arms to splash her.

"You're going to have to catch me first" Krystal giggled, as she swam further out into the lake.

Billy began to swim after her and quickly caught up with her due to his more muscular frame. He grabbed her waist and pulled both of them underwater, as she twisted around, so they were facing each other. They were both laughing loudly as they burst through the surface, Billy's hands still around her waist. Krystal pulled her wet hair back, as it curled around her cheeks, which were beginning to hurt from smiling so much. Billy almost groaned inwardly, as he could no longer deny his attraction to her. She looked beautiful, the light reflecting off the water to illuminate her pale skin.

"You never told me how you got this last night," Billy told her, as he raised his hand to brush his thumb over the scar on her cheek.

"My foster mum" She shrugged, as he kept his hand there.

"She hit you a lot?" Billy guessed.

"Only when I breathed" Krystal joked, sadly.

Krystal began to feel embarrassed by the large scar, as she realised, she had no makeup on her face. She pulled away from Billy's hand, who looked confused.

"Did she do that the night before you came to California?" Billy pushed further.

"No…a month or two before. She usually hit me in places people wouldn't see in case social services turned up, but she got really pissed at me one night. And I answered back. Next thing I know she was throwing a glass at me…It missed but it shattered on the wall and a shard got stuck in my cheek. We had to go to the ER. Which only pissed her off more…" Krystal explained.

"Didn't your foster dad try to stop her?" Billy frowned.

"He didn't care. He barely even acknowledged that I was there" Krystal mumbled, rubbing the scar self-consciously.

"I know it's ugly, okay?" Krystal grumbled, seeing he was still looking at her cheek.

"No, that's not…it's not ugly, Krystal" Billy shook his head.

"That's easy for you to say, Mr Flawless" Krystal huffed, as Billy let out a small laugh.

He turned around so his back was to her and lifted his wet hair from his neck. Krystal frowned as she saw marks covering the back of his neck, some clearly more recent than others.

"My dad knew that cigarette burns wouldn't be easy to explain. So, he'd do it somewhere people wouldn't see" Billy explained.

"Oh…" Krystal mumbled as he turned back to her.

"You think I'm ugly?" Billy questioned.

"No" She shook her head.

"Well, I don't think your ugly either" Billy told her, as her lips twitched into a smile.

Author's Notes: I hope you all enjoyed this longer chapter! I always get worried that Billy will seem too OOC but I think if he had someone like Krystal in his life he would have acted differently to a degree. Please leave a review:)

Guest: Thank you for this review:) I hope you liked this chapter!

teenwolfismylife101: Steve/Billy fights are always entertaining, haha.

Alessandra12: Aw, thank you! I hope you liked this chapter:)