"So you gonna share anything with me or you gonna keep me in the dark again?" Mia questioned as she drove. She gave him a side glance, his fingers tightly gripping the door. "And lighten up will you. I got my licence a few years ago. I ain't going to kill us."

Billy gave her a side glance as well, swallowing thickly. "Not you I'm afraid off..."

Sensing more to what he was saying she pushed him again, "Monsters? You said monsters before..."

"And?"

"Well you can't just say something like that and not elaborate."

"I'm sorry. Turns out I was too busy fighting to elaborate." He rolled his eyes. "You want the long version or the short version?"

"You don't have to be like that with me. How many times have I got to tell you that?"

"And you don't have to shove your nose where it doesn't belong." His grip lessened as his anger rose. "I could have handled myself. I didn't need you."

"Well excuse me for sticking up for my friend..."

"We aren't friends." He snarled, tone snapping her out of her own irritation. "Just drive us to wherever and watch the damn road."

Normally she wouldn't let anyone snap at her, let alone in her own car, but she could tell there was more to Billy's apparent bad mood than just her pushing him. Whatever he had wanted to say, was going to say, clearly put him on edge. She didn't know how to approach him or the subject matter without upsetting him.

She didn't say anything more. Didn't put the radio on. Just simply let the car noise drown out their awkward silence as they pulled up to her house. Once the car was stopped Billy didn't get out right away. He was looking up at the large house, studying each detail in a way that made her feel as if she too was being judged.

"It was given to me." She looked at the house as well, ignoring his sideways glance. "I'm not sure who owned it before."

"Your parents must be loaded." He said bluntly.

She scoffed, "Maybes. If I even knew who they were..."

"You don't know your parents?"

"Only my grandparents..." She didn't want to have this conversation. Not now. Not ever. She tugged the car keys out of the ignition. "Come on. Let's get inside where we can talk."

Swinging the door open she stepped out into street, opening the front door. The house wasn't warm, not inviting as the cold air from the house rushed outside. Billy felt a shiver run down his spine. He wasn't sure if it was from the house itself or from the strange vibes he was getting from Mia. He didn't like to doubt. He liked to be in control. But with her he was doubting everything.

Why does she make no sense?

He couldn't figure it out.

She led him through the house, passing a wide open living room and into the dining area. The room was huge, an open planned dining room which also included a kitchen. The walls were painted white, grey marbled tiles topping the room off. He hadn't really seen a house this grand before, not even sure that people outside of movies lived like this. It was a far cry from his own situation with Max, bitterness biting away at his insides as she ushered him down into a seat.

"Sit. I'll get us some coffee."

"No coffee." He said, groaning as he sunk down into the chair. "Water."

She nodded, not fazed by his request. "Gotcha."

She grabbed him a glass of water from a water jug she had stored in the fridge as the kettle boiled. He received his water first, taking gentle sips as the woman made her drink silently. Once she was finished she brought the mug over to the dining table, sitting opposite him.

The table was made of dark oak wood, it's circular design meant no one was at the head of the table. Seconds ticked by as the pair drunk. Billy didn't know what he wanted to share. Mia didn't know how to ask.

"How long you had this place?" Billy copped out, opting to go with small talk rather than sharing the big details with her. He still didn't know if he could trust her.

She shrugged, "Not too long... It's a little big to be honest. Not sure I love it."

"Least you have some independence."

Her head tilted. "Don't you?"

"Nah..." He looked to the left, exposing his jawline as it ticked. "Got my step sister."

"Oh that's nice. I always wanted a sibling." She set the mug down on the table. "Is she nice?"

"She's a piece of shit." He glanced over at her. "But she's my piece of shit, I suppose."

"How old is she?"

"Old enough to still be a pain in my ass." He leant forward, elbows resting on the wood. "Can we just cut to the chase here? Surprisingly, I don't have all day."

"It's you that needs to tell me the truth." Frowning, she took a sip of her drink. "Tell me what we are researching then we can go our seperate ways. It's that simple."

"I already told you enough."

She laughed incredulously. "You've told me nothing! All you told me was about some fire! I need more details than that!"

"Look, I can't share anymore with you. Why can't you understand that?" He sat back in his chair, arms crossing over his chest.

"You told me there was a monster, Billy. How do you expect me to just go on without any explanation after that?"

"I was wrong." He was tired of it, not wanting to drag the woman in any further than she already was. "It was just a prank."

"I don't believe you."

"Of course you don't," He rolled his eyes. "Look just forget I ever said anything."

"You said there was a mall? What was it called?"

He couldn't stop the agitation he felt seeping into his tone. "Why does it matter?"

"Because if you want my help, I need you to give me something. Anything. I just need a name. Please, Billy." She pleaded, once again resting her cup on the table. "Trust me on this."

He rolled his eyes, letting the silence build for a moment. "It was called Starcourt Mall."

She didn't get a chance to press him further, the phone ringing down the hall interrupting the pair. She swore, getting up from her seated position to make her way over to the noisy machine.

Billy couldn't hear what she was saying. Frankly, he wasn't all that bothered about it. He looked around the room, making comparisons with his own life. She seemed to have everything. She had a big house, big car and a seemingly endless amount of freedom. Yet, he had the complete opposite. Sure he had his car but that's about where the similarities ended. And even then he barely felt like he even had a car these days, his own anxieties putting the brakes on the idea of ever driving it again.

He didn't have the same amount of freedom that she had. He was bound by Max, forced to stick around in Hawkins to make sure she at least finished high school. He wasn't her parent but he sure did feel like he was most days. He didn't have to answer to a parental figure anymore which did mean he had slightly more freedom than before, but it was nothing compared to living on your own.

He couldn't even imagine what it would be like. He had always been in a full house, never truly feeling like he had any shred of privacy. Max had come along years ago, forcing the role of babysitter onto him when he too was just a kid. If he had the same amount of independence as Mia did...

He liked to think he would have turned out differently.

But it wasn't like he was ever going to experience it, he couldn't go back in time... So what was the point of dwelling on it?

Taking a sip of water, he looked down at his hands. The skin wasn't badly scarred, only his arms in certain patches still had rough white lines covering them. He was grateful for it. His scars were something he knew he was just going to have to get used too. Again, he couldn't go back in time and change it. But he was grateful for the fact that at least some part of him hadn't been badly damaged by that...Thing.

His face also hadn't been too badly cut up. Even his hair had grown back to it's original length after being shortened by the doctors who needed access to his head and neck. In appearance he looked the same regardless of the mass scarring on his chest and stomach that constantly burned. He didn't want to work with Mia and risk exposing everything about himself to her. If she wanted to work on it as badly as she said she did, would she at some point work out what really happened to him? Would it send her away running? Would she ever see him the same again?

It was doubts like these that kept him constantly an arms length away from everyone. Max had never truly looked at him the same after the incident and he didn't want strangers doing the same thing. He preferred to hide it all, not letting many people in to see the true Billy Hargrove.

It was even scary for him to plunge headfirst into something that he had never really experienced before. Prior to the mall incident, Billy never really tried to make actual connections with anyone. The idea of trusting her was just so foreign to him. It literally went against everything he had been taught growing up.

He guessed this was why he was having a hard time opening up to her. Every time he thought he had the courage to share what he had found, he would tell himself lies just to stop it. He hadn't even told Max fully what he had been doing... Could he really trust this random woman?

"Billy, I'm really sorry but I need to drop you off home." She explained, walking back into the kitchen. He hadn't heard her approach, her sudden presence making him jump.

"What was the point of driving me here for that?"

Picking up her coffee mug, she dumped the cold contents in the sink. "I'm sorry, alright? I didn't want to have to do this but somethings come up..."

He huffed, pushing himself up out of the chair. "Whatever."

"You don't have to be an ass." She said, moving into the corridor to grab her car keys.

"And you don't have to waste my time." He simply said, stepping into the kitchen doorframe.

"I didn't want this. I didn't ask for this. I'll do my own research, okay? I'll start looking into it as soon as I get back." She opened the door. "Okay?"

"Do whatever you want. I don't care either way." He shrugged, stepping outside.

She opened the car door, watching him over the hood as he walked to the passenger door. "Where am I taking you?"

"Cherry Lane."