1985

"Are you crazy?!"

Steve shouted, pulling at his thick hair in disbelief.

It was early morning, and already the weatherman announced temps were reaching record highs, and advised the sick, and eldery to stay indoors with the AC going. Billy had driven his car over to Steve's, since his parents were still out of town. He was due at work in less than an hour, and after this morning, he knew he needed to see Steve, and tell him his plan. His father had started on him again, right at the crack of dawn. Billy had just walked out of the shower, when he was surprised by his father grabbing his hair, and yanking it back with all his might. Billy was taken off guard by the horrible pain of his hair nearly being yanked out of his scalp, and felt the towel wrapped around his waist loosen, and fall down to the ground. So there he stood, still wet from his cold shower, naked, and standing in the hallway with his father yanking his hair so hard, he felt his head throb. His father hissed at him that he better keep an eye on his sister this summer instead of running off to the pool every second. Billy tried to tell him that it was his job, and that Max was totally fine.

Instead, his father pulled tighter, causing Billy to cry out.

"Quit talking back faggot! Make yourself useful for once in your miserable life!"

His father snapped at him. Billy then eyed Max's bedroom door, certain she was probably already up, and getting dressed. Any second she was going to come out to have breakfast before taking off to go hang with her loser friends. Knowing he was standing there naked, he tried to turn his body slightly away, praying that Max wouldn't come out and see him like this.

"Dad please..."

He tried to say. Susan had already left for work, and Billy heard Max's bedroom door start to open, and felt his heart drop to his stomach. He eyed her door, and saw her step out, and see him completely naked, from head to toe. Her eyes widened, before color filled her face as she looked down embarrassed. Neil, having seen her, let go of Billy's hair, muttered something under his breath, and marched down the hall. Moments later, the front door opened, and was slammed shut, and then the sound of Neil's truck starting. Scrambling for his towel, he covered himself, and hurried into his bedroom, ignoring Max calling his name softly, sounding worried. Once in his bedroom, he leaned against his closed bedroom door, heart pounding. Holding back tears of anger, he thought back on the plan he had been slowly crafting in his mind the past two months since the public pool opened. He knew half of the housewifes in town wanted him, especially Mrs. Wheeler. He knew Nancy's family had money, and with how awful his dad had been lately, he knew he couldn't take it much longer.

When he finally dressed, he ignored Max, who was sitting at her table eating cereal. She had called out to him, but he simply sniffled, not wanting her to see how upset he was, and marched out the door without so much as saying a single word to her. He drove straight to Steve's, pushing the speed limit, hands tightly gripping the steering wheel, and speeding straight to Steve's house. When he arrived, Steve was actually already in his cute little work uniform, and was taking out the trash. He had lifted his head, his big brown eyes concerned, as Billy's car roared to a stop, and he threw it into park. Knowing nobody could see him, he climbed out at lightning speed, and raced to his boyfriend.

"Billy wh..."

Before he could finish, Billy raced over to Steve, and took hold of him, lifting him up, before plunging his lips right up against his. Steve's eyes widened in surprise, before Billy and Steve nearly stumbled back.

After a moment Steve pulled back, breathless, before seeing the look on Billy's face and instantly knew something was wrong. Having no idea this would be the last time Billy ever kissed him.

"What is it?"

"I wanna leave town Steve. Soon. Just you and me. We can go to California. We won't ever be bothered there..."

Steve looked at him confused.

"Whoa...what happened?"

Billy took a second, before shaking his head.

"I can't do it anymore. I can't take Neil. He drove my mom away...and now he's slowly trying to kill me. This morning he nearly pulled my hair out, and made Max see me naked after I got out of the shower. He's a sick bastard."

"Jesus...why?!"

Billy shrugged, and shook a cigarette out of his pack, and popped it through his mouth. He shook his head.

"I wish I knew. I'm just so tired Steve...he's really going to try and kill me. I can't do it anymore...next week let's just go. You said you're miserable here. We can just take off and be happy..."

He stepped forward, opening his large palm against Steve's soft cheek. He gently stroked his smooth skin with his thumb. Steve looked heartbroken staring back at Billy, before he sighed.

"Billy, you know I want to...but we're broke. We can't yet...you know I've been saving...maybe..."

Before he could finish, Billy spit out his unlit cigarette onto the driveway. He shook his head.

"No. We can leave sooner than that. I have a plan."

Steve raised an eyebrow.

"Huh?"

Later...

Billy showed Steve the video camera he had bought used at the radio shack before it closed a few months ago, along with a tripod. He had explained everything to Steve, the plan he had worked over in his mind over and over again, until it all seemed to click together. As soon as he finished, Steve stepped back. pulling at his hair, and shaking his head in disbelief.

"Are you crazy?!"

Billy looked over at him, half annoyed, having almost thought Steve would instantly be on board with this plan.

"Don't tell me you still have feelings for that Nancy bitch? Not after how she dumped you for that loser."

Steve shot him a look.

"No, of course not! Still, you can't do this Billy!"

Billy slammed his trunk shut, and crossed his arms, breathing heavy and glaring at him.

"That cocktease has been flirting with me for the past year. She acts like all the other pigs in town. We know Mr. Wheeler makes good money. I lead her on, tell her to meet me at the motel where I have a room already reserved. The camera is recording in the closet, aimed right at the bed. We fool around, then I blackmail her. We don't need a lot of money Steve, just enough to give us a fair shot if we end up leaving this shit hole!"

Steve gave Billy a look before slowly shaking his head.

"No...not like this."

Billy's eyes darkened and narrowed.

"Don't you wanna leave with me?"

Steve sighed, staring at him.

"Of course I do..but not like this."

Billy shook his head.

"Screw you then. You can stay here in the closet, scoop ice cream and rot."

"Billy..."

Billy marched to his car, and climbed in. Steve circled around, and tried tapping on the window, but Billy shot him a look, before throwing it into reverse, and burning rubber while backing out. He flew down the road and out of sight, leaving Steve stunned and speechless.

That night...

Billy was terrified. He was originally heading to the motel, and set up Mrs. Wheeler. He had been by earlier, and set the camera up. He didn't care what Steve said, he was blackmailing this stupid bitch, and threaten if she didn't write out a check for at least thirty grand, he would make copies and send them to all of her husband's coworkers, and her children's teachers. He knew it was cruel, but he didn't care. Nancy had hurt Steve, and Mrs. Wheeler was just like his mother. She seemed wonderful, but in reality was just fake. He was furious, and just wanted to get the money as fast as possible, pick Steve up, and never look back.

That's when something grabbed him.

Running out of the ironworks, he ran to the nearest payphone, wanting to call Steve.

Instead...he blacked out. Soon he was made prisoner in his own body, unable to escape. The horrible thing was, besides one message from Steve on his answering machine, sounding depressed, and more than a little worried.

"Hey Billy. Listen, give me a call. We need to talk."

He hadn't heard from him in the next few confusing days. He figured that was for the best. Steve needed to stay away, at least then he knew he would be safe. He wasn't sure if he would be able to control himself, and not hurt him. He had no idea that his boyfriend was over his head, and actually really worried about him. That he had planned once all this stupid Russian Starcourt bullshit was over, he would finally get a chance to talk Billy out of this Mrs. Wheeler plan, and convince him, that he did actually love him, and did want to leave...just not like this.

But tragically...there was no time.

A few days later...

"Have you ever been in love?"

Robin asked in the bathroom after puking. Steve sighed, thinking of Billy, and hating how they hadn't talked these past few days.

"Well, I thought I loved Nancy Wheeler...but I guess the person I'm seeing now. I love them...definitely."

Robin scooted over to him, before she smiled.

"Who's the girl?"

Steve knew he was risking it all, but he sighed, looking down ashamed.

"If I tell you this...you need to promise it's just us. Deal?"

Robin nodded.

"Deal."

Steve took a second, before taking a deep breath.

"Billy...Billy Hargrove."

Robin's eyes widened. Steve dropped his eyes, waiting for her to laugh, before finally he found the courage to look up at her stunned face.

"Are you serious? Billy...Billy Hargrove. The asshole that drives that Camaro?"

Steve nervously pulled on his blood stained uniform. He couldn't believe he was actually coming out to Robin, his co-worker, who he pretty much believed was in love with him. Sure, they had bonded over this crazy ordeal. He couldn't believe Dustin had gotten him into this. He had wanted to call Billy, or at least see him. The fight had been bad, and he needed to talk to him. He prayed that he hadn't actually gone through with his plan on tricking Mrs. Wheeler. He needed to prove to him that there was some other way. He wondered if Billy was wondering where he was? He wondered if his answering machine in his bedroom was filled with messages from him. He knew he was angry, that was Billy...but somehow he knew how to reach the real Billy. The one that was sweet, and caring. The one that he had fallen head over heels with, and honestly did want to run away with.

That was the Billy he loved. These past few months he had been honestly questioning his sexuality, but he knew one thing for certain. He knew he loved Billy, and at this exact moment was worried sick about him. They had made plans a few weeks back to head over to Turner Hill, split a few 6-packs, and watch the fireworks together. Did he think he blew him off? He knew his boyfriend's temper, and honestly knew he wouldn't believe what had happened to him. Still, he could see Billy as angry as he was with him, seeing his beaten up face and losing it. First coming in close, looking him over, before glaring at him and demanding to know who did this to him so he could kill them. He then at this exact moment wanted nothing more than seeing his boyfriend, and make things right. He didn't care that he was admitting to Robin that he was gay. That he was seeing tough guy Billy Hargrove. He didn't care that Robin might tell everyone, and his father might scream in his face that he probably had AIDS, and would throw him out. He didn't care if everyone treated him like a freak. He didn't care. All he cared about was Billy, and at this exact moment saying aloud that he was in love with him actually felt pretty good.

"Yeah."

Robin looked at him, and suddenly he saw a smile as she tilted her head.

"I had no idea."

Steve smirked.

"Yeah. Surprise."

"For how long?"

"Since last winter sorta. We got into a stupid fight though. I don't even know if he wants to talk to me ever again."

Steve looked down at his sneakers, before Robin reached over, and touched Steve's arm.

"Steve...I guess this is a good time to tell you something. I guess we have more in common than you thought."

Steve raised an eyebrow, honestly not expecting what she was about to say next.

Later...

Steve spotted Billy's car. The engine roaring, ready to plow right into the station wagon, and Nancy. Earlier, when the kids told him about Billy becoming possessed by whatever this monster was. He didn't want to believe it, and suddenly all he wanted to do was find his boyfriend. The plan was to close the gate, which meant Billy would be back to normal. There was a plan, and it seemed pretty foolproof. He wanted to stay at the mall, but knew what he needed to do. Once they raced back to the mall, knowing they were in trouble, Robin and him raced into the parking-lot, that's when he saw Billy's car. As soon as it started speeding towards the station wagon, Steve held his breath, his heart racing and slammed his foot down on the gas. Seconds later, they smashed into him.

The first thing Steve asked, as stunned as he was, he asked if Robin was alright, before scrambling out of the car, to check Billy. He was slumped over, knocked out. He looked awful. The car was on fire, and completely wrecked. Steve pulled with all his might, before falling backwards onto the pavement. Robin rushed over, as Steve tried pulled Billy further away from the burning car. "Help me!" Robin tried pulling, before Steve fell backwards again, with Billy slumped over half on top of him.

"WE NEED TO GO!"

Nancy screamed, as a loud pounding overhead came. Steve tried picking up Billy, but Robin pulled him away.

"Leave him." "I can't!"

"If that monster is inside him, he'll kill us all if we bring him. You need to leave him."

Steve stood on shaking feet, before looking down at his boyfriend, his head slightly turned, his hair in his face. He didn't want to believe it.

"I CAN'T LEAVE HIM!"

Robin made sure he looked straight in her eyes, as she cupped the side of his face.

"If they are all right about this, he'll be fine. Steve please."

Tears started to form in his eyes, he looked desperate, before Robin pulled him arm towards the station wagon.

"STEVE LET'S GO!"

Steve looked one last time at him, before being pulled into the wagon.

Later...

Steve didn't see until the fireworks stopped, when he looked down from the second floor, and saw Billy laying on the floor was the monster collapsed, and destroyed half of the mall. He looked down, and his eyes widened hearing Max scream. He saw Billy laying there, and instantly he knew he was dead. Racing down, tripping, and nearly falling on his face, he swayed, before running, and skidding to his knees. There was this weird black blood everywhere, and Max was weeping over her brother, as 11 and Mike held each other. He looked down, and saw a large ugly torn up hole right in Billy's chest. He knew he was dead.

"Billy..."

He said, looking down at him, on the other side from Max. Tears blurred his vision, as he stared down at Billy's lifeless eyes staring up.

"Billy...wake up...please..."

The others slowly gathered, all watching, not quite understanding...then it all hitting them as they stood in silence.

Steve saw that it was the blue lights that made what was all over Billy look black, but in reality it was actually blood. He quivered, leaning over him, rocking back and forth, tears slipping down his face. He begged Billy to wake up as Max continued to cry beside him. Steve stared down at his lifeless eyes, and wanted so badly to say he was sorry, that he was sorry he had left him and hadn't been there. Instead, his boyfriend laid there dead, as Steve and Max wept over his dead body.

That was the tragic event of 1985...and Steve was never the same.