~Sierra~

Finally, Saturday had arrived. The one day of freedom I had every week. My grandparents had made it a habit to ensure Zack spent time with them at least once a week and my Dad was always out of town. Usually he would go to Chicago for a night of debauchery before coming home way past Zack's bedtime smelling of cigars and expensive cocktails. At least he had the so-called decency to do it when his young son was asleep. I found it odd how he had these boundaries set in stone when he continued to act recklessly in other areas of his life.

Sat in my pajamas, I checked the time on the grandfather clock behind me. 9am. Cool. They'd be here soon. Luxuriating in the sun's lukewarm rays as they passed through the conservatory window, I leaned back in the wicker chair and slipped my eyes to a close. One thing I loved about this house was the conservatory. It was the only part of the house that had remained unchanged since my mom's abrupt departure. Brightly lit by nature itself, the room had an abundance of green foliage. As one entered the room, it welcomed you with a fresh, sweet aroma. Large fern plants stood at the door to the highly maintained garden, windowsills covered with succulents. Every Saturday I would come downstairs knowing I could just swan around with no dread scratching away at my stomach, make myself a cup of coffee and snuggle up in the wicker chair reading a book. Depending on the weather, I usually throw my favorite light, off-white knitted blanket over myself and curl my legs up underneath me. The array of plants were the last remnants of my mom in this house. Whilst Dad had removed every photo of her - cursing as he threw them in a fire pit outside in a drunken haze the night she announced that she had left him - this was the only room that remained untouched by him. He had erased everything else, but for some strange reason, felt unable to touch anything in here. Dad never came into this room. I would only go in on a Saturday morning. Other than this, the door stayed closed and the area was avoided.

As I sipped my coffee from a plain Brown University mug, I went over the plans that I had in my head. Zack would get picked up for 9:15am and enjoy gallivanting somewhere with my grandparents. Most Saturday's, I hung out with Nancy and Steve before going to have ice cream with Pepsi. However, this weekend was diverting away from the norm. One, because Zack was staying for the entire weekend at my grandparents as they decided they wanted to take him trick or treating. Two, because I was hanging out with Billy Hargrove for the majority of today.

I had seen how his usual shameless charm had softened when we spoke about California. There was something hiding behind that cocky exterior and I wanted to help him bring it out. Yesterday, I had succeeded when we went for a drive and listened to the AC/DC cassette. He looked so cheerful, like nothing in the world could bother him at that moment. Whilst he had seen me at lunch, he was unaware that I, too, had seen him. Tommy and Carol had already dug their claws into him and I remember letting out an inaudible groan as I walked past after cheerleading practice to see them on the bleachers smoking together. I wasn't a fan of Tommy and Carol. They were assholes and it wasn't that long ago that they felt they could ridicule me in front of Steve. Because I did AP English and enjoyed reading, I was beneath them, according to their spiteful words. On one hand, I had a certain degree of respect for them because they did what others didn't - to make their opinion of me crystal clear. On the other, I fucking despised them with a passion. They had a part to play in Steve becoming an utter dick for the first couple of years of high school. The only reason I had stuck by Steve was because I knew that wasn't who he was deep down. Because he wasn't so far gone that he wouldn't defend me when they thought it was okay to bitch about me to him. From all the conversations we'd had so far, I knew that Billy was more complex than what he let. Somehow I had helped his sweet side reveal itself. This afternoon, it was my mission to do just that once more.

A dainty knock at the door hauled me out of my thoughts and I hopped up to answer it. At the other side of the door were my grandparents. Edward and Dorothy Nightingale. Both of them the epitome of a bygone era, they opened their arms and enveloped me in a warm snuggle. No matter how old my Nana would get, she would always style her silver locks in a low bun and wear crisp, freshly pressed white gloves, regardless of the occasion. Grandpa was the ultimate gentleman with his snow white hair slicked back, his signature pocket watch tucked away in his beige chinos and the Nightingale signet ring glinting in the autumn sunlight. I welcomed them both in and we started the usual chit-chatter we always had. Before long, Zack darted down the stairs, excitedly chanting 'Nana, Grandpa!' over and over until he was in the comfort of their loving arms. Grandpa, still possessing some strength, picked Zack up and gave him a kiss on the forehead.

"And how is my boy?" he asked Zack, that Mid-Atlantic accent strong after decades of evolution.

"What's your plans today, honey?" Nana inquired as I helped Zack put the backpack straps over his shoulders.

"Oh, a friend and I are going down to the Boardwalk for the day" I said casually. Putting Zack's crayons in a last minute dash, I could see Nana's green eyes twinkle. Without even having to question it, I already figured out what she was going to say next.

"Would that friend be a boy?" she asked in her high-pitched tone that she always had when asking me about potential dates.

"Dorothy, they don't call them boys at their age anymore. They're men. Strong, American men" Grandpa chuckled and ruffled Zack's hair. "At their age, I had already started my first business. Reagan has given me hope that your generation actually has a chance, Sierra. None of that wishy-washy stuff from that damn snowflake Carter"

Whilst I adored my Grandpa, I couldn't help but roll my eyes at yet another one of his political remarks. As I said, he was the epitome of a bygone era. We would spend hours debating politics. The sole thing we vaguely agreed on was women's rights. "If they can push a kid out, they can work" was Grandpa's way of showing knew was feminism was. My rebuttal always was, "Women should be able to work regardless of whether they have or want kids, Grandpa" followed by a huff and Grandpa saying, "Well, your Nana had five, did her domestic duties AND worked as a secretary for the furniture store. Ain't that right, Dorothy?". This would be customly succeeded by Nana popping her head around the corner, giving a sweet smile and an obedient, "Yes, dear". She found it unbecoming that I was so interested in politics yet had let it be known more than once that she envied how I could unabashedly counter Grandpa's arguments with poise.

"You do know Carter added 9.8 million more jobs? Right, Grandpa?" I answered, raising an eyebrow and smirking at him.

"And a 43% increase to the national debt" Grandpa snorted.

"He came to Washington during a nationwide recession though!" I retorted.

"Now, now, kids! Let's not talk about politics" Nana playfully chided. All this talk was making her squirm slightly.

"Save that ammunition for next time, kiddo" Grandpa chuckled and gave me a wink.

"But is it a boy - sorry, a man you're going with?" Nana asked with hope radiating from her peppy smile.

"Yes, Nana, it is a man!" I laughed.

She let out an excited "Ooh!" and gently clapped her hands. Grandpa, not one for idle gossip, interjected before she could get anymore out of me and announced that they were leaving now to go to the golf club where Zack would join the other kids. He gave me a big, loud kiss on the forehead and jokingly ordered me to have a good day out. Nana, not one to give in too easily when it came to finding out things about my life, turned around briefly.

"Tell me all about it tomorrow when you come round, honey!" she whispered and gave a small wave before scampering off to the crimson red Cadillac, the rooftop already down.

I waved them off and Grandpa did his usual hoot of the horn two times before turning left at the bottom of the road. Closing the door, I turned around to examine the expansive room that lay before me. Feeling a smile slowly creep on my lips, I skipped over to the cassette player and opened the drawer with photographs in. Hiding beneath them were my secret cassettes reserved just for Saturday mornings. Little Red Corvette shook the house awake from its mundane slumber. Shaking my wild tresses and gyrating my hips as Prince sang to his audience of one, I danced my way across the room to the downstairs bathroom. Electricity coursed through my veins, the beat of the music stirring me from the hibernation I was forced to go into six days of the week. It just made me feel alive.

By the time I had showered, gotten dried and dressed into black ripped mom jeans, a ribbed white halter neck vest and my favorite red and black flannel shirt, I had gone through the entire 1999 cassette. Where would I be in 1999? In my dreams, I hoped that I would have completed a degree in English followed by a masters in Journalism or some years spent by the French Riviera writing fiction. One day, it was nice to think that I might have someone who I could hold close at night and kids scurrying around. But, that would be way off. I wanted to enjoy the last of my teenage years and 20's before dedicating myself to any lifetime commitments. Before I applied my makeup, I dashed down the stairs and rummaged through to find another cassette. My fingers lingered over the Duran Duran one before I chose to continue with my Prince hype. As if I was preaching a dramatic sermon, I shouted out the opening lyrics of Let's Go Crazy, letting that beautiful organ lift me up.

"So when you call up that shrink in Beverly Hills, you know the one…" I yelled, hearing the words ricochet off the walls.

Tapping my foot to the drum's entrance, I started applying my deep red lipstick.

This life, you're on your own!

Goddamn right you are. With nothing but an asshole father and a mother so obsessed with her new lease of life that she couldn't even pick up a phone. But as Prince said, if this so-called elevator of life tried to bring me down, go crazy. And with a house entirely to myself, a day out with Billy Hargrove, and the best red lipstick I owned painted on my lips, I fully intended on doing just that. Just as I was getting into my own dance routine - moving my hips smoothly in a circular motion to the electric guitar solo - there was a soft tapping of someone's fingers at the window. Bewildered, I turned around and a slow embarrassment dawned on me and trickled into my cheeks. At the door, with that shit-eating smirk, was Billy. I was so lost in the music that I had completely forgotten that time was even a thing. I snapped my head round to the clock. Right on time. 11am. Inwardly, I groaned at how I could hear his muffled snickers and opened the door for him.

God, I was such a lame person.

"Enjoying yourself?" he chuckled as he stepped over the welcome mat with the TV show Cheers logo on. Dad thought it would be funny.

"I thought you would have seen that for yourself, Hargrove" I laughed.

I had managed to tame the redness that always found a way to my cheeks, but I still felt majorly self-conscious. How long had he been standing there? Fuck, I hope he didn't see my attempt at moonwalking.

"Oh, I saw plenty, don't you worry!" he replied, that smirk adamant on making me blush again. "You look great by the way"

Holy shit, did he just compliment me? I examined him with an appraising eye, particularly liking his open red shirt and leather jacket combination.

"Thanks, as do you" I responded and closed the door behind us. "I'm just going to get my stuff from the kitchen then we can get going"

Here he was, in my home. Each flaw of my home life was removed from view. Zack being around wouldn't have been a problem, but it wasn't him I was referring to. Being his older sister meant the world to me and I adored him a ridiculous amount. Despite wanting to ensure he was properly cared for, there was always a gnawing pain that I was a seventeen year old girl being forced into a parental role. But that stemmed to the burden my parents were unwilling to undertake. Fused with this was guilt. Sheer guilt at even having such a thought.

Billy let out an impressed whistle as he peered around, laughing heartily as he heard the echo. I had been very wary of telling him to meet me here. However, he had proved himself not to give a shit about my Dad and his status, and had endeared himself to me the minute he had the audacity to call my dad an asshole. After I battled the deeply entrenched insecurity that all of this was just a show, a way into my pants and to a successful future career, I gave him the address scrawled on a piece of paper ripped from my diary and told him to meet me here for 11am.

"Not bad, Nightingale" he called from the entrance.

Quickly walking over with my bag full of snacks for us, I noted how he smelt of a warm, incense and leather scent. This surprised me. He was wearing Aramis by Estee Lauder. Damn, Billy actually had taste! I was pretty sure Billy sensed my pupils widening as he bit his lower lip and brought himself closer to me, wrapping an arm around my waist. Goosebumps rose on my arms and I found myself utterly enchanted by the feeling of him being so close to me. Yup, Billy Hargrove had definitely became my Number 1 crush. Not even Judd Nelson came near and he had been on my list of men I wanted to marry for a long time.

"Let's get out of here" he said and led me out the door. He gingerly took the keys from me and locked the door before passing them back. With a smile, he gestured to his car. "Want to know what it's like to drive a Camaro?"

"Are you serious?" I gasped. With a laugh, he lightly tossed the keys to his car up at me. Swiftly catching them, I skipped down to the car and turned my head to see Billy smirking at me. "You're, like, 100% sure, right?"

"Go on, entertain me" Billy chuckled and slid into the passenger seat. "So, what's your plan?"

Giggling, I raised a brow at him and tapped my nose. I was intent on keeping this a surprise for him and there was nothing he could do to get it out of me.

"Come on, Nightingale. There's got to be something I can do to make you spill" he said alluringly. Billy leaned over the handbrake, his hands brushing across my thighs as he reached for his lighter. Breathing in that leathery herbal smell, I really had to work to keep the surprise to myself. Sitting back up, he brandished a packet of Marlboro Reds. "Cigarette?"

"Sure" I agreed and watched as he lit it up for me. Placing it between my finger and thumb, I took a drag and exhaled a cloud of smoke slowly over my rouged lips. "But I'm still not telling you a thing"

"You're becoming quite the tease, Nightingale" he jokingly pouted and winked at me. "I like it"

Turning the key, the Camaro blasted a majestic growl. Biting my lip, I couldn't help but grin to myself. I seriously loved this car. Something about it gave me the confidence to say exactly what was mulling around in my head.

"Good, because you're about to get a hell of a lot more"

We had been driving for over an hour and a half before Billy finally asked the one question I had been anticipating since he breezed through my front door.

"Where the hell are you taking me, Nightingale?" he asked, perplexed.

His eyes darting around the bland area of industrial estates, I could tell he was probably thinking I was insane to get his car this far. I had successfully distracted him with snacks, singing along to the mixtape I had made about a year ago, and the banter that now defined whatever relationship we had. We were definitely friends, that much was clear, but there was a connection here that was yet to be clarified. I was surprised it had taken Billy this long to actually question why I hadn't pulled over anywhere yet over than the gas station where I paid for more fuel. Besides, I had driven us nearly over 80 miles away from Hawkins.

"I thought you were the adventurous type?" I laughed.

"I'm also the impatient type" he grumbled and lit up another cigarette which he handed to me.

"Well," I stopped for a moment to take a drag before balancing the tip of it on my bottom lip "if you can be patient for another couple of minutes, you can see exactly what I'm talking about"

"You're lucky I like you, Nightingale" Billy said.

He slumped back in the chair and folded his arms, tossing a coin. Suddenly, he moved so he was leaning over to me, the silver coin resting on the top of his hand. As I peered over, I spotted a discolored blotch starting to form on the back of his fingers. I had seen too many bruises on my own body to not recognize what it was. Before I could ask he if was okay, Billy started talking in a determined voice.

"Heads say if I don't get a clue after those two minutes, I get something I want" he said.

"Tails say if you wait it out that you'll be a pretty happy guy" I countered with equal determination in my voice.

"So, I win either way. Sounds great to me" he chuckled.

Billy had thrown the coin upwards and slapped his hand to conceal the answer with a grunt when I coughed to heed his attention. Nodding to the baby blue sign in front of us, Billy's mouth just all about fell open. For once, I had made the guy stop talking.

Looks like I won after all. However, Billy would end up being the real winner in all of this.

A/N: Thank you for reading Part 1! Part 2 will be uploaded shortly. Thank you to the new followers/favorites, as well as the new reviews :)