I do not own Stranger Things. I only own my own original characters.

Weeks went by and it soon became apparent that Billy and Ella were sort of attached at the hip. Every morning, Billy would wait for Ella and her brother to arrive at school, immediately throwing an arm over her shoulders. She never said anything against it so Billy just concluded that he could.

Even Charlie and Billy started to get closer. Charlie being the only guy in school to be seemingly honest and real with Billy. He didn't take shit just like his sister but also was a little more reserved. Charlie didn't really speak out about certain things but if any form of bullying was taken too far, Billy happily witnessed Charlie knocking Tommy off of his feet for making a comment about his sister.

Lunch even changed. Billy switched out sitting with all the jocks and sat with Ella and her brother and even started studying in their free period together.

Billy never really brought up the whole 'powers' or what happened that night. A few questions here and there but Ella never really had the time nor was school the best place to talk about it.

It was sort of the same case when it came to Ella asking about his home life. He usually brushed it off or got pissed off when it was brought up. Ella knew she shouldn't pry into others emotions willingly, but something seemed off. There was more than just anger that Billy was keeping bottled up. She couldn't lie, it worried her.

But she pushed it aside and never brought it up.

"You are a complete ass, Billy." Ella laughed, chucking a french fry at the blonde across from her.

Billy threw one back at her in retaliation. For the first time in weeks, Billy accomplished something that he didn't think would happen; the two of them were out after school, together. Ella was the one who mentioned the only good diner in town and he had to admit it was pretty good.

"You're here aren't you? So, you must like my ass, doll." Billy smirked, taking a bite from his burger.

Ella rolled her eyes, crossing her legs over one another. It was a particularly cold fall day in Hawkins and she decided to put on a dark green zip-up hoodie over her gray t-shirt, black jeans and her beaten up black hightop converse. She fiddled with her gold coin necklace, "I'll admit, it's a nice ass, but still, not all the girls are terrible at Hawkins."

Billy raised a brow, whipping his mouth with an already dirtied napkin, "What? Cows?"

Ella threw another fry at him, "Seriously? Yes, there is a good portion of them that are total bitches but I wouldn't say they're cows, Billy. Damn, do you see every girl like that?"

Billy watched as Ella placed her lips around the straw of her milkshake and coughed, "I don't see you like that." Billy admitted. He didn't, truthfully and honestly. Didn't matter that she had powers or whatever. She was down to earth, she was genuine and knew him better than anyone in town.

Ella smiled a little and glanced at the window; it was pouring. The sound of the rain made her smile a little bit more. She loved the rain, especially thunderstorms. It was always calming for her and it made her remember one of the best memories of her life.

Billy glanced at the window as well, "Shitty day, huh?"

Ella chuckled, "No way. I love it."

"Yeah?"

Ella hummed and looked at Billy, "I think it's wonderful. I'm guessing you prefer sunny days by the ocean?"

Ella smiled as Billy started telling her about his time in California. He loved surfing, he missed it more than anything. Beautiful mornings going swimming and just lounging around on the beach. Late night drives in the constant heat with the windows rolled down.

She'd never seen him talk so passionately about anything. He was beaming and it seemed like he hadn't been able to really talk about this stuff with anyone else. Ella had to admit, he was cute when he smiled. It was actually very charming more than anything.

"You know, summers here are brutal, we got no beach which sucks, but there are a few lakes and we do have a town pool." Ella mentioned, "It's not much, but it's something."

Billy scoffed, "Better than nothing. Still bullshit though. Tell me about Nevada."

She froze mid-bite of her sandwich and chewed slowly before swallowing, "How do you know that I'm from Nevada?"

"Carol or some chick mentioned it. Everyone else seemed to be from here but she said something about you guys moving here in middle school or something?" Billy recalled, leaning back and taking a sip of his own drink. His eyes narrowed when he noticed how quiet she suddenly got.

Ella sighed, "Well, I don't know if I'm from Nevada, it's just…" She looked around to see if anyone could possibly be listening in. She was grateful that it rained today, they and another person were the only ones in the diner.

"It's where our parents found us. Well, our adoptive parents." Ella fiddled with her coin and spoke quietly, just loud enough for Billy to hear, "We, Charlie and I, were sent to a secondary lab in Nevada. We were… different from the other kids."

Billy's smile faded, "Other kids? There's others like you?" Billy leaned in, listening intently.

Ella nodded, "Many… but Charlie could read minds, dig deep into someone's memories. Me, I'm an empath. I could feel others emotions, or force certain emotions on others. Being an empath, my emotions were much stronger which affected my ability to move objects with my mind. Papa…"

Ella trailed off, not having spoken the man's name since last year. She took a shaky breath and Billy even reached his hand out to squeeze one of Ella's, "Papa?" He questioned.

She took another shaky breath and closed her eyes for a second to collect herself, "Dr. Brenner made us call him Papa. He was the one who took us when Charlie and I were born. When we were older, we made a plan. We fought our way out and we escaped with some help. Our adoptive parents found us on the side of the road. Them being them, they took us in, gave us a home, gave us love… It was the best day of our lives."

Billy's hand squeezed Ella's tighter and his face hardened, "You and Charlie… you don't deserve any of that."

She squeezed back and smiled a little, "Thanks, but what's done is done. Not much I can do to change the past."

He knew that, but it still didn't make what she went through any less terrible. His thumb started to rub her skin and caressed the area where her tattoo is, "And this?"

Ella sighed, "We didn't have names, we had numbers."

Billy sneered in disgust, "They made you a number… that's fucked."

Ella hummed in agreement, "Very fucked. I was six and Charlie was seven. We didn't even know our names, still don't and I don't know if I ever will."

Silence hung over the two and Ella didn't say or do anything to break Billy's hand away from her's. After a few seconds, Ella broke it, "Anyways, Nevada was… an experience." She giggled, squeezing Billy's hand.

Billy smiled at her giggle as she went on to explain the part of her childhood that was filled with much happier memories.

The two didn't stay much long inside the dinner. They finished their food, not of course without a few last fries being thrown at each other. Ella even set her foot down to split the bill when Billy tried to pay for the entire thing.

When the two stepped out of the diner, they stayed for a few minutes under the awning to each smoke a cigarette. "Got any other plans for the day, doll?" He flicked his cigarette onto the pavement, the ashes immediately being put out by the rain.

Ella blew out her last puff from her cigarette and did the same with the finished nicotine stick, "Not really. Gotta finish up the tracks and set list for Tina's party in a couple weeks."

Billy licked his lips, "You seriously are gonna DJ for her?" Billy smirked when Ella rolled her eyes.

"Gotta make money somehow. Even if it means taking gigs from the stuck up, rich assholes in this town." Ella huffed.

Billy scoffed, "Yeah well, they fit in with this shitty town."

Ella narrowed her eyes at him and hummed at his words. Without another word she took a step out from underneath the awning and walked away from Billy's camaro of which he thought she was going to find shelter in. But she didn't, she did the very opposite.

Ella raised her arms and closed her eyes, tilting her head back. The rain pelted against her skin, her hair dampening along with her clothes. "This was the first thing I felt." Her eyes fluttered open and smiled at Billy.

"When Charlie and I escaped the lab in Nevada, it was raining. It was the first thing I ever touched outside." Ella explained, letting the rain gather up in her cupped hands.

Billy watched as Ella walked around in the rain, completely drenched. She was happy. Really happy. Billy couldn't help but smile, genuinely smiled when she kicked at a puddle, the water flying into the air.

Billy scoffed, "You're lucky that I'll even let you step foot in my car." He didn't mean it. Upholstery can always be fixed.

Ella turned and gave him a look, "Seriously? Don't be such a prude!"

Now that, that was a low blow. Billy chuckled, "Oh really? Me? A prude? Dead wrong."

Ella laughed, breaking off into a sprint when Billy emerged from the safety from the dinners awning, chasing after her. No one would believe it unless they saw it. Billy Hargrove was chasing Ella Barrett in a diner parking lot while it was torrential downpouring. A sight to see indeed.

"No, no!" Ella giggled, overwhelmed with emotion as Billy was catching up to her. She was hoping to jump into his camaro and call it even, but she wasn't fast enough. She yelped when Billy grabbed her by the waist and turned her around, pressing her back into the passenger side of his car.

They breathed deeply, grins on their faces as they catched their breath. Billy had both hands on either side of Ella, leaning against the car and towering over the smaller female. His hair was matted down and his own clothing was now soaked and sticking to him.

Ella, ignoring Billy's lingering gaze and the action of licking his lips, threw her head back, "See Hargrove. This shitty town can be exciting, just gotta look for it."

With her neck exposed, Billy's eyes trailed down to the skin. His hand moved, touching her neck and moving to cradle her face.

Ella snapped her head back, eyes wide at the sudden physical contact, but Billy made no move to move his hand. Fear filled every fiber of Ella's being, but there was hope buried beneath all of it. "Billy? What are you doing?"

Billy saw her fear, saw how scared she was of this happening, "Wondering." He simply said. Her skin was soft and for the first time, he could see the little freckles that dotted her cheeks and nose.

He liked her, really liked her. She wasn't like any of the girls in this shitty town, wanting a quick fuck and rebel against their families. Never really getting to know him. The only one that would give him the time of day was the girl in front of him. A girl who was a little broken from her past, just like him.

"Wondering how I can get the most beautiful girl at Hawkins to go out with me?"

This had to be a joke, Ella thought. No way did the biggest jerk, a jerk that she really liked, just ask her that. Ella stuttered, not really knowing what to say, "Billy if this is some ploy to get into my pants and then toss me aside, you're way out of luck."

Billy sneered, not because she was right, but because she would even think that, "If I wanted to get into your pants I would've stopped chasing your tail weeks ago."

That's true. If that was truly his desire, he would've moved onto another girl a long time ago. Ella furrowed her brow, "You gonna break my heart? Will I just be a fling like all the other girls you went and slept with?"

Nothing was said for a few seconds and the words that broke the silence shook Ella to her very core, "No more other girls, no more flings. I want you, if you'll have me."

Ella blinked. Billy is giving her the final choice. She could say no and not risk it. Say no to what her heart is yearning for. But in all of the weeks she's known this asshole, there was a part of him that was vulnerable only to her. And even though Billy has only shown her just a small part of who he is, she wanted to know more.

In all of her life she never thought a day like this would happen, but here she was grabbing the lapels of Billy's denim jacket and pulling him forward, kissing him hard on the lips.

Billy all but practically growled against her lips. He was used to being the one in charge, the first to initiate a kiss, first to initiate anything, but all of that was thrown out the window when Ella took the first step.

The hand that cupped her face moved to the back of her head, his fingers tangling in Ella's damp hair and the other hand wrapping around her waist, pressing their bodies closer together.

Ella groaned, out of the kisses she's had in the past Billy was something new, something exciting, it was rough and she loved it. Her hands trailed downward from his denim jacket and wrapped her arms around his waist.

She hummed as Billy trailed away from her lips and started kissing her jaw. She giggled a little, "As much as I'm loving this, I'm starting to freeze my tits off."

Billy gave her a wolfish grin that made her feel weak in the knees, "Need me to warm you up, doll?"

Ella rolled her eyes but still smiled, "Get you're fine ass in the car and turn on the fucking heat, Billy."

Billy clicked his teeth and opened the passenger door for her, "You're such a tease." He slapped her ass as she slid into the car and slammed the car door once she was fully in.

She just bit her lip and got comfortable as Billy entered and sat in the driver's seat, immediately starting up the car and blasting the heat. Metallica music played low through the speakers as Billy whipped out of the parking lot, "Where to?"

Ella smiled as Billy placed a hand on her thigh, rubbing it softly. She thought for a moment, "My place."

When Billy stepped foot in Ella's home, it was far from what he expected. It was… comforting. It wasn't every single traditional home like one would see in home decorating magazines or what he was used to at home. Mixed and matched patterns, tapestries everywhere, plants were hanging from the ceiling, band posters from the 70s hanging on the walls, mixed in with random family photos.

"My parents are hippies. Like total used to like in the volkswagen van in the driveway while getting high to owning a house with two kids. Still getting high but just under a roof." Ella briefly explained with a smile on her face.

She waved her hand and guided him into the living room where her mother and father were. Her mother was in her usual combination of band tees and flowing skirts, sitting on a wooden stool as she drew with her oil pastels onto an easel with a pad of paper attached to it.

Her father was sitting criss-crossed on the floor sitting on a pile of pillows, strumming away on his acoustic guitar, playing no specific melody in particular.

"I'm home…" Both her parents turned their heads toward them and Ella noticed Billy straightening his back, his smile much smaller than what it was in the car, "I, uh, sort of brought company."

May smiled and moved her hands in a fluid motion, "Hi sweetheart. Did you get caught in the rain?"

Ella shook her head and smiled bashfully, moving her hands, "Not really. But, do you mind if he stays until his clothes dry and the rain lets up?"

May tilted her head at Billy besides her daughter and nodded, "More than welcome. Have Charlie give him some clothes to change into, okay?"

"Got it."

Cedric placed his guitar to the side and stood up, walking over to the two teens, "So, you must be Billy Hargrove, right?"

Billy nodded, head stiff, "Yes, sir."

Ella narrowed her eyes. That was a red flag if she ever saw one. She could feel fear rolling off of him. She didn't think her father was intimidating, not one bit.

Cedric nodded and smiled warmly, clasping a hand on Billy's shoulder. Everyone in the room noticed Billy's slight jump at the sudden contact, "No sirs here. It's Cedric and you've met my wife, May. It's great to finally meet you, I've heard much about you."

Billy visibly relaxed and smiled, "Really?" He tilted his head down at Ella and she rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, yeah, I talk about you. Don't let it boost your ego or anything."

May clapped her hands to catch their attention and gave her daughter a stern look, "Be nice."

Ella raised her hands in defense, "Okay, okay. We're gonna head up to my room. Let me know if you need anything."

May and Cedric noticed when Ella grabbed Billy's hand and dragged him up the stairs. May raised a brow with a smile, "You don't think?"

Cedric smiled, walking over to his wife, "I think that Ella just doesn't stay out with just anybody, especially with a boy she can't stop talking about."

May sighed, happy that her daughter was slowly opening up to others and maybe even taking an interest in someone. "As long as she's happy. Know if we can encourage Charlie to take that leap."

Cedric chuckled, "Let him take his time. You know that it's not exactly easy for him to get a date in this town."

May sighed, "I know, I just want him to be happy. He likes that Munson boy at the school. He talks about him and the boy is so sweet."

Cedric smiled, "I know… maybe one day, but for now, let fate run its course. If it's meant to be, then it is meant to be." Cedric walked back to his spot on the floor and went back to his strumming.

May watched her husband as he fell back into his own little world and smiled softly at him. She just hoped one day her children would get the chance to be happy. They deserved it more than anything in the world. And nothing will get in the way.