November 5, 1984 (Monday) – Afternoon. The same day as the gate was closed.

The bell rings and class is over.

Thank God, Steve thinks as he rubs his head and lets out a sigh. He really should pay more attention to class but all he can feel is relief that class is over because his head is pounding. Maybe it's stress about college, maybe it's about losing his girlfriend, or maybe it's playing bait for interdimensional creatures and abusive step-brothers. Yeah, definitely the third thing but the first two didn't help.

He let the other students leave the classroom first to avoid the bustle of people and to have a few moments to himself. He should've stayed at home like he assumes the kids did after driving them home this morning. When all the vines are burned and the gate closed, it was only a few hours before school. He drove Dustin, Lucas, and Max home while Nancy drove with Mike. Hopper and the punk girl he talked to briefly, Eleven, stayed with the Byers.

Mrs. Byers wanted them all to sleep over but it is a school day and it would raise too many questions from both the school and the kids' parents. Joyce did what she can with Steve's face while Hopper went out to get his car by the train tracks. After he got his car back, Steve dropped off each kid with the backstory they came up with. Something to explain his face and why the kids are out so late and coming home in the middle of the night. No one bought the story but they didn't question it. The parents are just thankful that Steve was there dropping off their child.

Well, everybody except Max's parents. Yeah, it's pretty weird their teenage daughter is being dropped off by a high school senior they didn't know. Good thing Hopper had the foresight to make sure she gets dropped off first so they can make a show of the kids saying goodbye to her. Max's mom welcomed home her daughter with a hug. He can see Billy by the kitchen window glaring at him as he dropped her off. He has the same look as his father does by the door. Must be genetic.

He wanted to sleep after sending the kids home but he had a paper due Monday and once you're in school to drop off said paper you might as well stay the whole day. It's not like there's anyone at the Harrington house waiting for him. He gathers his things and heads out the classroom door thinking of nothing but the drive back to his house and his warm, soft bed.

He spots Nancy Wheeler as he exits the classroom.

I didn't know she went in today, he thinks to himself as he pivots the other way and goes the opposite direction. He goes around the hallway to another exit before she could notice.

I'm not avoiding her. I just needed to walk around a bit. It's not safe to drive when you're sleepy so taking a long way around and stretching my legs is the safe thing to do. Yeah, that's it, he lies to himself.

He gets to the parking lot after that detour and sees a blue Camaro with a douchebag leaning on it parked one parking space apart from his red BMW.

With his arms crossed and eyes glaring daggers at Steve, Billy Hargrove opens his mouth and says "Am I dreaming, or is that you, Harrington?"

A callback to my ass-kicking, Steve thinks sarcastically. Fantastic.

"Yeah, it's me. Don't cream your pants," Steve shoots back without looking up as he walks over to his car.

He just wants to get home and sleep the day off. He gets out his keys when he's suddenly shoved and pinned between Billy's forearm and his car's roof. Billy looks at him with murderous intent and a mocking smile.

"You sure you wanna do that? No kids for me to watch and no plates to break this time," Steve quips while he sends back a death glare of his own.

He knows he should de-escalate. He knows his mouth is very much writing a check his body can't cash but he's tired and pissed off. He's not folding. He can win. Probably.

Billy sneers and removes his forearm with another shove and starts tensing up about to throw a punch when a voice cuts him off.

"I told you to stay away from my friends."

Steve winces before looking at the familiar redhead who saved him from a fight twice now and who shouldn't be at school. She's all attitude sporting a red jacket with a skateboard tucked under her arms. He was sure Max Mayfield would've stayed at home since he dropped her off only a few hours before school. Apparently not. He's 0 for 2.

"Friends? You hang out with middle-schoolers now, Harrington? They all said King Steve fell off after last year. But this? Hanging out with children?" Billy says mockingly with a smile on his face that can be only described as shit-eating.

Before Steve could quip back and make things worse, Max speaks again.

"Let's go home, Billy. I have a lot of homework and I didn't get any sleep last night".

Steve knows she's just saying it to defuse the situation but she's not kidding about the sleep part. The kid does not look good. She looks like how Steve feels. Interdimensional gates, psychic teenage girls, and arson can do that to you, he guesses.

As if his entire self-worth was challenged, Billy turns quickly at his step-sister and grabs her arm violently causing the skateboard to fall and break off. Needs more tape apparently.

"You don't tell me what to do you little bitch – " Billy spits out venomously.

This time it's Steve who sees red and gives Billy a shove cutting off whatever bullshit he was about to say making him drop Max's arm.

That's gonna leave a mark, he thinks of Max's arm.

"She's just a kid, Hargrove. Back off," he closes the gap between them as he says this. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Billy looked murderous one moment and smug the next. Steve was sure he was about to throw a punch but then Billy's eyes darted around and noticed a couple of lookie-loos staring at them. Some blonde cheerleader with a ponytail, a band geek with short red hair, and a burnout with long messy hair wearing a devil shirt, among others. Not wanting to cause a scene he straightens up and says "Find your own way home," before getting in his car and driving off.

Steve lets out a sigh and he didn't even know he was holding. He was willing to fight but glad he didn't have to. It's always easier hitting monsters, less guilt is involved. He turns his attention to Max.

"Are you okay? Let me see."