Repercussions Part I
A/N: To see the layout of the Hargrove house (I think), look up hargrove-mayfield-house. I just didn't look it up until now, so just go with Billy and Max's room being across the hall from each other. Bonus reference to those doing their own Stranger Things fanfics :)
It was finally Friday. Only two days left until she was free to roam the outside world again, as dramatic as that sounds. Having to come straight home and follow the same boring routine was nerve-wracking. But she could endure it just a little longer. As long as Billy didn't do anything else to annoy her.
Since last night, Max had been conflicted. She had her fun, yes, but a part of her felt it was time to stop messing with Billy, especially after his threat. On the other hand, more ways to get back at him flooded her brain. Wonderful ideas that she couldn't help but entertain. What to do?
For now, she'd just take a break and think of something new when things cooled off. Pranking Billy was better when he was unsuspecting of it anyway. Besides, she had more important things to focus on at the moment.
Max got up early at six that morning. Her mom's birthday was tomorrow, and she wanted to do something special. Ever since she remarried, her mother always went out with Neil on her birthday, then they'd come home for cake and ice cream. She missed the time she got to spend the day with her mother. Now every year, she was stuck in the house with Billy.
Max pulled a white box out from under her bed and removed the lid to reveal a beige scrapbook. She'd been working on it for quite some time now, as childish as it was. But she couldn't think of anything else. It was the only present she could give since she didn't have any money.
So far, the book was filled with little things she found after they unpacked; little pins, patterns, patches, and photos. Anything that might have interested her mother's mind or triggered a California memory when they were happiest.
After the move, Max found a film canister her dad had given her, something she was determined to hold on to all this time. After the whole Demodog ordeal, Max found out that Will's brother, Johnathan, was a photographer. She didn't know Will too well, so she asked Mike at school if Johnathan could develop the photos for her. Luckily, Mike got him to agree.
Now, she was supposed to get the photos at school today. Hopefully, Mike had them. That would be the last thing to complete her mother's gift. And hopefully, when she got them, she could find something good that reminded her mom of home.
An hour quickly passed. Max sifted through the pages. She didn't like them too much, but the artsy things weren't her strength. But as long as her mother liked them, none of that mattered.
Max put the scrapbook back in the box, put it under her bed, and got ready for school, putting on her red jacket. It was getting colder outside. She'd need a winter coat soon.
When she was ready to head out of her room, the door wouldn't budge. Confused, she tried again, only to get the same result. After a couple more attempts, Max realized it was locked from the outside.
"What the–Billy!" she screamed when she realized who could have possibly done it. She struggled and twisted the doorknob but to no avail.
"Billy!" she yelled for the second time but with the same outcome. Frustrated over the petty revenge, she kicked the door multiple times.
"Mom! Billy's locked me up!"
"Your mom's gone, genius! They left early this morning."
Max boiled over as soon as she heard his voice echo from his bedroom. She let out a growl before stomping over to her window. But when she went to pry it open, it didn't budge.
Wha–! Did he seriously superglue my freaking window shut?! She tried lifting the window with all her might, but her fingers slipped, chipping a piece of her nail. No, whatever he used was much, much stronger than super glue.
Max kicked at the wall. "BILLY!"
Laying face down on the bed, Billy just got home a few hours ago from his night out at a small party with the pretty little blond. He hadn't even bothered to change out of his clothes before conking out. Now, he groaned on his stomach amidst all of Max's screaming and cursing.
"Billy! "Max bashed on the door heavily, her throat tiring out from her early screaming. "Open the door, Billy! I'm gonna be late for school!"
Billy rolled and lazily fell to the floor, kneeling and rubbing his eyes as he slowly got up. Tired from last night's fun, he would have sure loved to get some shut-eye right then, but he'd rather make an effort across the hall to shut up the banshee before going back to his nap.
Reaching her room, he took off the chair that he barricaded her door with.
"What?" he greeted, his eyes still half shut and sleepy as fuck.
"So you're going to start barricading me in now?"
"If I have to," he groggily said as he rubbed his eyes.
"Urgh! You're so petty!" Max said, pushing him out of her way. But with Billy shaken and now barely awoke from her push, he woke to be annoyed by her first thing in the morning.
Billy rolled his tongue inside his mouth and grabbed Max by her wrist just as she was about to take her step down the hall. He pushed her to the wall, grounding her with his arms beside her head and tightly holding onto her hand.
"What are you doing?!" Max said, trying to break free of his grip. "Ugh. Let go of me!"
Billy took a deep breath and faced her fierce glares at him. "Listen here you little shit. Just because you got me this time doesn't mean you've won against me, so don't get cocky."
He pushed her further to the wall, maintaining deep eye contact. She focused on the blue in his eyes, the dangle of his earing.
"You almost got me in trouble with my old man again." He leaned in closer to her with a fierce scowl, their foreheads nearly touching. Max desperately moved her face away from him with a sour expression on her face.
"Eww! You reek of alcohol," she said. Finally finding her footing, she pushed him and slipped away, looking back and forth at him as she confirmed the hickey she saw on his neck as she rushed out the front door with her bag and skateboard.
Billy sighed, lowering his head, hands still on the wall. He went back to his bed and jumped on it. Trying to fall back to sleep, he covered his eyes with his arm but not even a minute had passed when he heard his door fly open, Max stomping back inside his room. Realizing she had stopped in front of him, he sighed once more.
"What do you want?" he asked groggily.
Max raised her arms and then dropped them in disbelief. She scoffed.
"Take me to school?"
Billy jolted to look at her. They stared at each other for a long second.
"What? You think I can ride my skateboard all the way there?" she asked sarcastically.
It wasn't until she did that she realized her mistake. Of course Billy would make her skate to school. Lucky for her, he didn't seem to notice.
He shook his head from the sudden dizziness of the situation, rubbing–or rather roughly massaging–his head with his palm. The con of going to a party on a school night.
"Fuck Monday!" he shouted out of nowhere.
Max knitted her brows. "It's Friday."
"It's always Monday around you."
Billy stood up and walked passed her into the bathroom, ready to close the door.
"Wait, what are you doing?" Max said, chasing him down the hall.
"You said I stink."
"So you're taking a shower? Now?! You're gonna make me late!"
Billy opened the door slightly to look at her. "Exactly."
Max jerked her head back as he slammed the door in her face, completely flabbergasted. She needed to see her friends, needed to see Mike so she could get her photos. But Billy was taking his sweet time. Didn't he know he could be late too? Did he not care? Did he not care if Neil found out?
She hit the bathroom door before leaving for the kitchen. She realized she hadn't eaten breakfast–actually, she didn't eat breakfast that often, but she might as well kill some time. She placed her bag on one of the chairs and made for the fridge, taking out some bread and eggs. While she waited for her step-brother to hurry with his shower, she fried herself an egg in a basket and plated her nice breakfast. She also made one for Billy, just in case. Knowing him, he'd tell her to make him something just to inconvenience her.
After a few minutes of waiting, Billy finally finished and was now changed into proper-well, if a wife beater, jacket, and jeans he wore yesterday were considered proper-clothing for school.
"Took you long enough." Max rolled her eyes at him and got up from her chair, her breakfast in hand.
With hair still dripping wet, Billy looked around for his car keys and glanced at the dishes in the sink. Max watched as his expression flickered that same look he had whenever he was ready to ruin her day. And she was right. Suddenly, he realized he also hadn't had breakfast yet either.
"Where's my breakfast?" he said, raising his hands in the air.
"Don't you have eyes? It's on the damn table," she snapped back.
Billy couldn't help but smile. As annoying as she was, she caught on fast. He immediately went and took his egg in a basket that was sitting on a plate on the table. He walked across the room and threw it in the trash. Max's mouth dropped.
"What the hell–"
"I don't like crust on my bread," he said with a shrug.
Max scoffed. "Sense when?"
"Sense now. Make me another one."
"Make your own damn breakfast."
He shrugged again, shifting his keys in his hands. "OK. But you can skate to school."
"That will take forever."
"And how is that my problem?"
Max glowered at him, but Billy was unmoved. Grumbling something fierce, she threw her plate back on the table and made him another egg in a basket, slamming the bread and throwing the egg on the counter, ripping open the bag and sloppily tossing butter into the overheated pan until she had what looked like a defaced egg in a basket.
"Don't forget the crust."
Max looked up to see Billy leaning forward on the counter, a smug smile on his lips. Max grumbled before snatching a butter knife from the drawer and sloppily cutting the crust off. She slapped his breakfast on a plate and threw it in front of him.
"There. Satisfied?"
He gave her a conceited smile.
Billy took the sloppy monstrosity but snatched up Max's plate as well.
"Hey!"
She tried to grab it, but he pulled it back. "There's one in the trash," He said.
He stared at her, waiting to see what she'd do. Max just scowled. Before he could say anything, she snatched up her belongings and stormed outside. Billy chuckled to himself. He shifted his breakfast to one hand, left the plates, and went to the car.
Max stood outside the car and once again waited for him. Billy leisured over to the Camaro while eating her egg in a basket. He unlocked his door and got in, leaving her outside. Max yanked on the handle, but Billy was unmoved. He just sat there, slowly eating his food without a care in the world. Like they didn't have somewhere to be. When he was done, he made it a spectacle to lick each of his fingers before finally unlocking her door.
As soon as Max, plopped into her seat with a huff, Billy roughly started the engine, hearing it and his music roared to life, rattling the windows. When it did start, he whipped out his pack of cigarettes which were down to two sticks. He cursed in his head and stared at it before lighting one and taking a puff.
"Put your seat belt on, shit bird," he commanded and steered the wheel.
Max looked at him. He'd never told her to do that.
She quickly did as he said.
As soon as the seat belt clicked, Billy screeched out of the driveway, zipping through the streets faster than usual, and usual was pretty damn fast. Pinned to the seat, Max quickly glanced at the speedometer. 90 miles per hour in a 45. Oh, Jesus.
They swerved onto the road. When no cars were in sight, he zig-zagged on purpose, weaving from lane to lane. Max gripped her seatbelt, focusing on survival. She knew she shouldn't say anything about his driving. It would just fuel him. But after a nasty turn where she could have sworn the car lifted, she couldn't help herself.
"Can you please slow down?"
"And make my poor little sister late?" Billy said sarcastically. "What kind of a loving brother would I be if I let that happen?"
A waft of cigarette smoke filled her nose. It was terrible, especially with the windows barely down. For the majority of the ride, they didn't utter a single word to each other until Max could no longer take his smoking in the car that was stuffing her nose. As she looked out the window, she turned further away from him.
"Can you please not smoke in the car?" she said.
Although saying that in a low voice, Billy still heard her and his ears perked. "Hm?" He playfully glared with a smug look on his face. "Didn't hear ya, dumbass."
"I said stop smoking in the car."
"Or what? You're gonna tell your mom?"
Ugh. He was acting so childish.
Max just rolled her eyes and turned even more to the window.
"You know it was your fault that I nearly missed my date last night," Billy said.
"Not my fault. You would have suckered in another girl anyway."
He smiled at that. "Yeah, but she could have still ditched me."
"And you'd deserve it," Max scoffed.
Billy seemed thrilled by her behavior as he chuckled. It's like he wanted to pick a fight. He began to speed up the car even more to 110, thinking that he'd get a reaction out of her again. but this time, Max just gripped her seat belt and kept her eyes shut, praying for her life. Not getting the right reaction from her, Billy eventually stopped but his mood wasn't busted. When they got to school, Max immediately jumped out of the car, slamming the door.
"Yeah, you're welcome, little shit," he yelled. "And I better not be seeing you hanging out with those weirdos again."
Max flipped him off.
"Yeah. Fuck you too, Max! You're skating home tonight!"
Max kept walking. "Like your dad's gonna let that happen!"
Max didn't bother to look back in see Billy's reaction, but she could have sworn she heard him laugh.
Max was still shaken from that dreadful ride. The dickhead drove so fast, they got to school on time with even more time to spare. What usually took 25 minutes took only ten. Her heart still pounded against her chest.
Why the hell was he coming at her so hard this morning? She didn't even have time to do anything to him yet.
"Max?" a familiar voice called from near when she walked down the hall. Then someone appeared right in front of her.
"Max!" This time two voices called to her in unison.
She raised her head to see Lucas, Mike, and Dustin's worried faces. "You OK?" Lucas greeted her.
Did she not look it?
"You look like you got wrecked by a train," Dustin was quick to say.
Well, that answers that.
Not having heard their voices in person in what seemed like forever, she felt as if a heavy burden had just been lifted from her. She released a soft chuckle in between her frustrated sighs and smiled.
"Guys, Billy has lost his mind," she said.
The boys looked at each other and crowded her as they made their way down the hall.
"What did that dick do to you this time?" Dustin fumed, to which Max couldn't help but laugh.
"Did the prank go wrong?" Lucas said.
Mike's eyes widened. "You pranked Billy?"
"Yeah," she said. "And it worked too. Now he's retaliating. The jerk locked me in my room, stole my food, and nearly killed us going 110 in a 45 on the drive here. God, what have I gotten myself into?"
"Don't worry," Lucas said. "At least now you can have a break from him."
"Yeah. And we're gonna be meeting up with El after class," Dustin cheered.
Though that piqued her interest, Max stared in confusion. "What? But I thought you said she was in hiding."
"We're not staying out all night, just for a couple of minutes," Mike answered, and she stared at him.
"What? Not enough? Well too bad, that's all we've got."
"What about Will?" Dustin asked Mike.
"Will's still resting up at home. He should be back at school on Monday though."
"You are coming, right max?" said Lucas.
Max thought about Eleven walking passed her, giving her the stink eye the first time they met. "No. I'm still grounded until Sunday."
They groaned. "Aw, Max."
"Look, if I'm late, Billy will hunt me down." Max bit her tongue. She wasn't sure if that was a lie. He said she was skating home, but maybe that was just an empty threat. After that morning, she wasn't so sure. Surprisingly, he did leave her friends alone after she threatened him with a bat, but the bastard still messed with her.
The warning bell chimed. Students scattered throughout the hall.
"Well, if you change your mind, you can meet us by the telephone pole in the back," Dustin said. "Come on, let's go."
Dustin beckoned Lucas to follow. Lucas gave Max one last worried glance before trailing behind him.
"See you in class," Lucas said, giving an unsure wave. Max smiled and headed to her locker.
"Oh wait, Max."
She turned to see Mike digging through his bag before handing her a thick yellow manila envelope. "Johnathan wanted me to give this to you. I hope they turned out OK."
Max took the envelope with a smile. "Thank you."
After the bell rang, they all went to their classes, and the day progressed as usual. But Max wasn't feeling herself today. Billy's morning antics had stuck with her, making her overthink and lose focus in class. She was silent throughout and only kept on staring out of the window, hoping his fun was over.
After class, the gang kept their promise and did indeed quickly meet up with Eleven who was waiting for them in the near ground just a few yards away from school. Max watched from a distance at first before gathering the courage to join. As soon as she did, Eleven glared at her.
Why does she keep giving me the cold shoulder? Max thought.
As promised, they chatted and hung around for a few minutes before eventually rushing home. Max waved goodbye to her friends as she put down her skateboard and started riding it. But a honk suddenly sounded and frightened her to her feet, making her jump off her skateboard.
"You're late."
The familiar voice made her freeze. She quickly picked up her skateboard and faced Billy bravely.
"What are you doing here?" she said.
"That's a stupid question, which isn't surprising coming from you."
Max scrunched her lips. She reached for the handle of the car, but the lock quickly sounded.
"Uh, uh, uh," Billy said, wagging his finger. "You're skating home, remember?"
She scoffed. "Then why'd you even bother to come?"
"Unfortunately for me, I still have to watch you."
Max grit her teeth. She hated the snarky playfulness in his voice. The jerk was enjoying this.
She dropped her skateboard to the ground, beginning her long skate home. Billy trailed alongside her.
"You better stay out my way unless you want to be roadkill," he called to her.
Max grumbled with each swipe of her foot. Billy sat happily in the warmth of his car while she shivered out in the cold. He trailed beside her, the slowest she'd ever seen him drive. Jerk didn't even bother to put his hazards on.
She thought he'd lose his patience and tell her to hop in after the first 20 minutes, but his persistence was unwavering. He was adamant, just jamming along to his music. Billy could really stay calm when he put his mind to it.
At first, the skate home seemed simple on the straight roads. And it was easy enough going downhill, but when it came to the curves and going uphill, it was impossible. Even turning the board certain ways was hard to do because one misstep and her tape job could come undone. After reaching the top of a hill carrying her board, she stopped to catch her breath, stuffing her cold hands further down her sleeves.
Music continued to blare from Billy's car. He banged his head to it as he slapped his steering wheel.
"Billy this is stupid," Max said, still catching her breath. "Just let me in."
"What?!" he called over his music.
"I said, let me in!" she repeated.
Billy turned up the music as he cupped his ear. "What was that?! You should speak up!"
Max's nostrils flared as she clenched her fists at her sides.
"What? Can't handle a little hill?" he continued. He laughed. "You know, you'd be in good shape if you ran as much as your mouth. Probably be less of a bitch too."
Max threw down her backpack, flipped her skateboard, and gripped it tightly on both sides, ready to strike Billy's car. Billy shut the radio off so fast. All giddiness was gone in a flash.
"Hey!" he snapped. "You put even a scratch on my car and you're walking the rest of the way without shoes or a skateboard, you got that?!"
Max breathed heavily, hot breaths blowing through her nose. She lowered the board and let it dangle by her side. Billy kept firm eye contact, slowly lowering his pointed finger. He blared his music again when she started skating.
"Pissed" wasn't even close to describing how she felt at that moment. Only a slight pleasure filled her from riling him up and wiping that smile off his face, just for a second. That pleasure quickly faded away.
Max sped up her pushing. She needed to get home as fast as possible before she froze to death.
. . .
It took nearly an hour and a half to get home.
By the time she got there, she forgot how cold she was, too hot now from trying to get there as fast as possible. A few strands of her hair stuck to her face from the sweat. Her red jacket was long abandoned, wrapped snuggly around her waist. All the while, Billy walked with a pep in his step, tossing and catching his car keys.
Max had so much to say to Billy at that moment but chose to hold her tongue. Once inside, she was about to go to her room to finish the scrapbook, but the look Billy gave told her he'd instantly barricade her. So, she went to the kitchen instead. The first thing she did was down a glass of water. Then another.
Now hydrated, she plopped down in a dining chair with a loud sigh, happy to give her feet a break. After a few minutes, Billy sauntered into the living room in his workout clothes, his radio in tow. He turned it on its highest volume and began his workout routine. Max thought about going into her room, but quickly decided against it. Better for her to be in his sights for now.
After a small rest, she pulled out the manila envelope from her backpack and just worked on sifting through some of the pictures. Her dad had taken the photos, so he was rarely in any of them. But for the ones he was in, she put to the side for her mother's sake.
Max smiled when she saw a photo of her toddler self freaking out by a rubber duck. She chuckled at the goofy ones, like the picture of her and her mother trying to make silly faces, or the one when she tried to climb a "Welcome to Six Flags" sign. Man . . . she really missed home.
As time passed, Max had her pile of chosen photos. After an hour, Billy's music finally stopped. He put up his weights and went back into his room. Max listened keenly as he came back out and headed to the bathroom to start the shower.
Finally.
She rose from the table and slipped into her room to grab the scrapbook from underneath her bed. As soon as she touched the box, her door slammed.
Max sprung up from the floor and rushed to the door. But it was too late.
"Damn it, Billy! Unlock the door!" She twisted and turned the knob, trying to pry it open, but it wouldn't budge. She hit the door. "Billy!"
No reply.
"Billy!"
Nothing.
"God damn it. I will break this window!"
"Go ahead! Who do you think will take the blame?"
Max fumed. The bastard was right. If she blamed it on Billy, she'd have to come up with a few believable explanations to tell their parents. But if she blamed it on a burglar, they'd make Billy more watchful of her than he was now.
"Ugh!" Max screeched in annoyance, kicking at her door to no avail. Eventually, all fight left her. She sat on her bed, too exhausted to keep going.
He better not do anything to my photos, she thought, trying to figure out what to do with herself.
. . .
She was in there for what felt like hours. Even after she heard the shower stop, he still didn't bother unlocking her door. No worries. She was fine there, sifting through her stuff, reading her comics.
That was until nature called.
Max did her best to hold it, did her best to concentrate on anything else but her bladder. But the longer she waited, the worse it got, until finally, she couldn't take it any longer.
Max hopped from her bed and went to the door.
"Billy! Open the door, Billy!"
No response.
She crossed her legs, trying to hold it in. Then banged on the door. "Billy, come on! I have to use the bathroom!"
Nothing.
She banged again much harder. "Billy! Open the door!"
Max squeezed her legs tighter, bouncing a little. Shit, she was about to piss her pants.
"Billy! Come on, I know you hear me!"
Nothing.
"Damn it, Billy! I'm not playing! I really have to go!"
"Yeah right!" he finally called back. "How do I know this isn't a trick?!"
"Just open the freaking door! I'm about to piss my pants!"
"Not my problem!"
Max bit her lip and banged her head on the door. Why did she have to drink two glasses of water? And why did Billy have to be such an ass?!
She banged on the door again. "Billy! I'm not lying! I promise!"
Nothing.
"Billy!"
Her legs buckled, feeling a little drip between her legs.
"BILLY!' she whined, tears welling in her eyes. In one desperate cry, she screamed, "PLEASE!"
A clunk sounded at her door. A second later, it flew open. Without thinking, Max rushed past Billy, down the hall, and into the bathroom, not even bothering to close it all the way. The pure relief she felt when relieving her bladder made her body melt. Even when she was done, she sat there, wiping the tears from her eyes. When she finished flushing and washing her hands, she threw the door open and stomped to her room where Billy waited with folded arms as he leaned against the wall, that fucking smug smile still on his face.
"Why the hell are you doing this?" she snapped.
"Doing what? I'm not doing anything," he said.
"You told me to see what happens if I kept pulling stunts. I didn't do anything since you told me, but you've been playing these stupid games since this morning."
He shrugged. Who knows?" Billy took himself from the wall, taking slow, deliberate steps closer to her. "Maybe I just woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Maybe I just wanted to have a little fun. Or maybe—" he leaned down, closer to her face "—Maybe you should have left your door open like I told you."
Max stood there, completely speechless. "All this because I closed my door last night?"
"No," he said slowly. "All this for you being a pain in my ass. But by all means, pull one of your stunts again. See how wild I can really be."
Billy flashed her another arrogant smile. He slipped back into his room, leaving Max outside in a blaze. That bastard. That fucking bastard! He was actively trying to provoke her. Her not leaving her door open was just an excuse for him to do this to her.
Max stood there for a moment, trying to force the tears to stop forming in her eyes. She prayed that Billy would get sick and tired of these games, and soon. Because when it came down to it, she didn't know how much more of this she could take.
To be continued . . .