~Sierra~

"What the hell is that?"

Nancy's voice screeched for the second time, piercing my eardrums and sending a shiver through me. Her wide eyes seared through my skin, and if they could burn me, they would have done so the first time she had said that.

"Seriously, what is that?"

"Erm, an outfit?" I murmured. Nancy couldn't speak, all words stolen from her. However, she made her brazen disappointment clear through those eyes throwing jagged daggers my way. "Nance, it is not that bad"

"Not that bad?" So she did still possess the ability to talk! "Sierra, it's a Halloween party. You're dressed like you're rocking up to school"

Nancy and Steve had arrived at my house only minutes before this debate ensued. In fact, Steve was still standing out on the porch, hovering around with his hands stuck in his pockets and Nancy's overbearing presence was glued to the welcome mat. This entire debacle had bewildered me. Nancy wasn't usually so abrupt, nor was she so serious. What the hell had gotten into her? All I had done was come downstairs in a pair of ripped jeans and a black crop top, some glitter embellishing my cheekbones, and answered the door. Before she had even seen me, I knew something was up. She had a face like thunder - pursed lips, furrowed brow and eyes that could kill. I had known Nancy for long enough to know what she could be like when she was pissed off. She could be a ticking time bomb and would hold in all that deadly ammunition until it just exploded. This wasn't even her erupting. God no, this was just the start.

"Nance, it isn't that bad" Steve interrupted.

There and then, I knew what the problem was. Instead of a retort, Nancy just straight up ignored him. Complete silence. Striding into the house and up the stairs to my bedroom. It was a swift 'Screw you' to the both of us. I threw my hands up theatrically, my unspoken code for, 'What the fuck is up with her?'. In response, Steve mirrored me, although his was more out of bemusement. Commanded to come upstairs, we both obediently followed the echo of Nancy's brusque shout. I wasn't happy to experience this in my own house. I would definitely be having words later without Steve present.

It was a Halloween party and I had made the last minute decision, courtesy of Billy Hargrove, to attend. Meaning, I had very little time to prepare. Steve, probably feeling the uneasy ambiance swell, excused himself to use the toilet. It took approximately three seconds until I snapped my head around and launched my own personal cannonball her way.

"Okay, Nance, what's up?" I curtly asked. Nancy bowed her head and I could see tears flooding her eyes. Softening my approach, I sat down next to her on my bed. "Stuff like this doesn't usually bother you"

"We're just meant to be teenagers for the night, right?" Nancy snapped and dove straight back into organizing an appropriate attire for me, pouring through my closet. Letting out an exasperated sigh, I cradled my head in my hands, trying to alleviate the headache pounding at my skull. "And everyone has to dress up because otherwise Tina will rip us to shreds, like that's the only thing that really damnmatters at the moment"

She was speaking through gritted teeth. With each word, her handling of my clothes grew more aggressive. Violently pushing at the passive clothes on their hangers, I could tell she was envisioning someone. She wasn't going to listen to anything I said. Nothing could get her to calm down now. Her mind was too fixated on whoever had caused her to be this enraged.

"Goddamn it" I dared to mutter under my breath. Hauling myself up, I grabbed the red off-the-shoulder dress that hadn't been flung aside yet. "We'll stop by the Dollar Store and get some devil horns. There, problem solved"

A barely audible creak alerted us both to Steve's presence. I nodded at him and he let out a sigh. Definitely one of relief. Wordlessly, Nancy and Steve went downstairs. This was not going to be the stereotypical teenage Halloween party. Something bad was on the horizon and it would only take another small thing to make everything go wrong.

It didn't take an idiot to know that Tina was having a party. Within a mile of her house, the street had already been littered with evidence of pre-drinks and you could hear the hollers and cheers pierce the otherwise peaceful night. Honestly, it was a good thing at this point that Tina's dad was close to Hawkin's Police so they could avoid embarrassing the family with a charge of underage drinking. In the car, Steve and Nancy had done very little talking. Nancy, to be specific, hadn't actually spoken. She was too distracted by her flask of neat vodka to say anything.

"Pre-drinks, Steve! You know, teenager shit" she had claimed. Nancy seemed hellbent on being this archetype tonight. After all, what is more characteristic of a teenager than excessive illegal drinking?

As we grew closer, the music began to pulsate, pounding at the car windows. Shout At The Devil. Hm, unexpected choice from Tina. Crowds of people in costumes melted together, throwing alcohol down their throats, cheering at something that I must have been oblivious to. With a groan, I reluctantly put on the devil horns and made my entrance. Embarking our way through the hoard of giddy teenagers, I catch a glimpse of the roaring fire pit, the hypnotic flames gyrating with those who danced around it. If it wasn't for the crushed beer cans and empty red cups, it would have been so easy to lose track of Steve and Nancy going into the house. Adding his mark to the route, Jimmy Parkinson darted out of the door and blew chunks next to the letterbox. How long had the party been going on for?

"Hey, Sierra, got a date for tonight?" Jimmy slurred. Before I could even utter a sarcastic remark, he cleverly tripped over his white toga, face down into what had been in his stomach only moments prior.

"Looks like you've already got a date with the floor, man" I raised an eyebrow at him, but it was useless. He was so drunk, he appeared to have completely forgotten that he'd addressed me in the first place.

When inside of the house, Steve and I claimed a spot next to the dark red, leather couch where a couple were passionately making out. The living room was teeming with laughter, cheering and music. Nancy had already made her way to the kitchen to get us some drinks. Steve had tried to tell her to take it easy, but she really was not having any of it. Hopefully by the end of the night she would have listened to me. However, even I was added to her hit list this evening for what remained as an unknown reason.

"What's up with Nance? She's been in a crappy mood ever since she got to mine" I asked, sitting on the arm of the couch which proved to be highly uncomfortable.

"I can't explain it, Sierra" Steve ran his fingers through his hair and let out a sigh. "Look, if someone you really cared for - loved, in fact - was really hurting and couldn't tell anyone just why they were, what would you do?"

It was a good question. Complex though. Steve always came to me for advice on such matters which typically would result in more than an hour talking and ordering pizza to soothe away any anxieties he had. This time round, I had an instinctual hunch that not even a quick chat could help. I had to give it my best shot though.

"Like I always say to you, Steve, it all depends on what it involves. Every situation is different" I replied.

"I know, I know, but - "

"But," I interrupted. Steve was so prone to interrupting before I could get a word out and it bothered me immensely "but, you can always support them as much as possible. Be open and honest. However, you've got to set your own boundaries. And, personally, Nancy treating us both like shit is crossing a boundary"

Steve put his hands on his hips and peered down to his feet that were tapping the floor at a worrying pace.

"I'm gonna go check on her" Steve decided and left towards the kitchen.

Left to my own devices, I began to make my descent into the crowds of dancing teenagers. If you can't beat them, join them, I suppose! My endeavor to find someone to chat to wasn't fruitless after all as in the corner - dressed in her best The Seven Year Itch impression as predicted - was Pepsi. The only thing missing from her costume was the subway vent. Radiating her usual positivity, Pepsi stood among a group of raucous looking boys with about five red paper cups stacked on top of each other, the top one containing a luminous red liquid. As per, she had her champagne glass angled perfectly in between her white gloved fingers. She was loving every moment of this attention. Each of the guys were dressed as some variant of Marty McFly in his now famous checked shirt and puffy vest jacket, flocked together to see who could nail Pepsi that night. Of course, Pepsi would eventually turn every one of them down. However, it gave her a thrill to see how far they would go to astonish her.

"So, is Marilyn Monroe, like, your aunt?" one guy called Joe Lycett burst out.

Tittering, Pepsi delicately placed a hand to her lips and pretended to blush.

"Why, what on Earth would make you think that?" her airy voice breathed. "Now, boys, who wants to get me another drink and a cigarette?" She put her hands assertively on her waif hips, back straight and doe eyes issuing her command. Pepsi, having finally seen me watching her in amusement with my hands crossed over my chest, gave me a playful wink. "Make that two drinks and cigarettes, darlings"

Without another word, the boys heeded her order and rushed off to the kitchen. Pepsi waltzed over and spread her arms outwards to welcome me into a warm hug. I returned the hug and gave her a light squeeze.

"Having fun there, Pepsi?" I chuckled.

"You know me too well, Sierra Nightingale" she giggled.

My face split into a bright smile, feeling the dimples pop at each side of my mouth with a warm ache. I knew her well enough to know that once those boys came back with our drinks that she would initiate ditching them to go somewhere else. Hopefully, I would be able to find the elusive Billy then.

Right on cue, the boys arrived. Showing off their tricks of carrying more than two drinks in their bear-paw hands, they leered at both Pepsi and I. Pepsi obligingly accepted the drinks and the packet of Barclay cigarettes, and as expected, nodded towards the door. The boys eagerly followed suit until Pepsi flashed them a warning not to. Disheartened, they all pouted and stood completely still. She would come back, but not until she had chatted with me. The clammy atmosphere immediately died as we accessed the fresh, brisk night air. Pepsi skipped down the limestone walkway, her heels creating a satisfying click-clack sound as they bounced against the floor, and found an apple tree to lean against. Moving some of the low branches out of the way, I mirrored her and sipped my drink. Eyes crinkling, I grimaced at how strong it was.

Christ, how much vodka was in this thing?

"So, Miss Nightingale, what's the juice surrounding you and Billy Hargrove?" Pepsi whispered and positioned herself closer to me. Giving her a quizzical look didn't work. Pepsi could see beyond any facade I could put on. As an aspiring actress, she had learned the art of lying back-to-front by the age of eight. "C'mon, it is ridiculously clear that you both have the hots for one another"

I scrunched my lips together as if I was about to explode any moment and let out a mighty exhale. Pepsi had this talent of deciphering every facial expression I pulled and managed to read my mind way too well.

"Okay, so he is freaking gorgeous" I finally confessed.

"And a bad boy" Pepsi giggled. "Ooh, Sierra, you're going to have some good fun with him"

"I mean, I wouldn't turn it down, but there is more to him than that" I rolled my eyes and rested my head against the tree. "Sure, he's got this image of being a bad boy, but honestly, he has this nice side, sensitive almost"

"Ha, he doesn't seem like it" Pepsi burst out. Pausing, she gulped her drink until there were only mere droplets left. "Damn, this is strong"

"Hence why I'm taking it easy" I pinched the cup from her, foreshadowing a remake of that famous Seven Year Itch scene if she drank anymore. She may wish to be Marilyn Monroe, but that would just be mortifying for her. "But seriously, Peps, he's sweet. I can actually properly talk with him"

"Speaking of the devil…" Pepsi announced and grandly gestured to the fire pit. I had already heard Tommy's boisterous cheers, but had desperately tried to blank it out. "...look who's here"

An array of various Halloween characters gathered by the roaring flames, chanting the same phrase over and over.

Chug! Chug! Chug!

All cheering for the one, the only, Billy Hargrove. Being held by his calf muscles, Billy was upside down and chugging like a pro. Tommy, growing louder and louder with each second he shouted out, kept him stable. Encouraging the crowd to chant more boisterously, Tommy threw his fist up with a few more seconds. As time marched on, he even performed some karate chops to the beat of the seconds, matching his Karate Kid outfit which earned him a thunderous applause from the onlookers. He really knew how to ruin a good movie.

"Thirty-eight, thirty-nine!"

Shit, Billy was good at this. So engrossed in who could be the new Keg King of Hawkins, I went to take a sip of my drink only to realize there was none left. Thankfully, Pepsi was more prepared than I was and gestured for one of her new guys to bring over another one. This time though, they didn't leave, much to my annoyance.

"Come on, let's dance" one of them purred in Pepsi's ear. Pespi glared at him and he thought twice before moving away.

"Forty, forty-one!"

There was no way anyone could beat Steve's record. Surely, he was going to vomit everywhere. No one could outdrink Steve in this town!

"Forty-two! We have a new Keg King, ladies and gentlemen!"

Billy's feet hit the ground, dust rising. And just like that, the masses went wild for their new Keg King.

"All hail, King Billy of Hawkins, shitbrains!" Ray, one of Tommy's lackeys, yelled and heartily slapped Billy's back. Amazed by what was happening in front of him, the 6'4 Ray ran his fingers through his thick, blonde hair. His costume was identical to Tommy's, of course. Such originality these jocks had…

Seemingly satisfied with his new title, Billy just soaked up all this commotion. He was so nonchalant about it all. That devil-may-care attitude dominating him once again. I wondered whether he only allowed it to vanish in front of me. The more I saw him, the more questions started to manifest in my head. He was intriguing to say the least. But, somehow, it just enhanced his charm. Tommy placed a cigarette in Billy's mouth and Ray lit it for him.

"That's how you do it, Hawkins!" Billy roared, blowing out a huge cloud of smoke. From the smell that wafted our way, I discerned that it definitely wasn't a cigarette after all. "That's how you do it!"

"Hm, a triumph indeed" Pepsi remarked and tapped on her rejected boy's shoulder. "Show's over, honey. Now we can dance"

His dejected expression immediately brightened and Pepsi tugged on my dress to suggest I join them.

"By the way, you look stunning in that dress, Sierra" she said.

"I second that" The guy with raven curls winked at me and I smiled politely at him. I was pretty certain I had never seen him before, but I definitely wasn't here for him.

Beginning to weave his way through his now loyal followers, Billy was swamped by Tommy and Ray's arms around his broad shoulders. He brought his leather-gloved hands to his lips and another pillar of smoke flew out of his mouth. He was acting so confident about this whole thing. I guess it wasn't exactly what you would call a huge achievement, but in the world of popular high school teenagers, it was just about the best thing one could do. Shamelessly, girls eyed him up and bit their bottom lips. By the way he smirked at them, it pleased him that he was receiving so much attention. A pang of scorching hot jealousy hit me. Once my eyes locked with his, Billy's lips effortlessly turned upwards into a grin and the burning sensation in the pit of my stomach withered. Unwrapping himself from Tommy and Ray, giving them a heavy pat on their backs to dismiss them, he sauntered over to me. Pepsi nudged me and winked before leading her boys into the house.

"Hey, Terminator" I laughed and nodded to his outfit.

"Feeling devilish tonight, Nightingale?" he chuckled. He looked me up and down and smirked. "Red suits you"

"Somewhat topless suits you" I leaned against the tree and peered over my cup as I drank some more. My eyes trailed over his gleaming, exposed chest. It was like I had no control over them. From the way his smirk seemed to grow, he had noticed.

"What can I say? I was thinking of you when I chose what to wear" he replied in a manner that was far from platonic. "Or, not to wear I should say"

"I may have had a similar idea" Alcohol coursed through my veins, lifting me up as it did so. I would have never said this sober. But by now, I had probably about seven shots of vodka infused punch in my system. "Enjoying the party, Keg King?"

"I am now" Billy let out a low chuckle and moved to envelop his arm around my waist. "Come on, let's get another drink"

Becoming accustomed to his brawny arm around my waist was no problem at all. What I didn't feel so comfortable with was all the people whose jaws dropped when they caught sight of King Billy with his arm around a girl that wasn't them. I glanced over at Billy. He was either completely oblivious to any of the wanton eyes that stalked us or he just didn't care. How I wished I could have that cool demeanor too. But no, the flush seeping into my cheeks drowned my freckles and he instantly picked up on it.

"You want me to stop?" he asked.

Jesus, I was not expecting that. His hand wavered over my waist and we had stopped walking. More people were staring at us. It was official. Our names were on the tips of everyone's tongues.

"No!" I blurted out. Trying to regain any sense of calm, I shook my head. "No, I like it"

"Good" he breathed and led me over to where the punch bowl was. To my dismay, Tommy, Ray and Carol were guarding it, their mouths wide enough to catch flies.

"Alright, Keg King!" Tommy hollered and felt arrogant enough to allow his eyes to roam all over me in front of Carol.

Carol, however, was completely disinterested. Instead, she fiercely glowered at me. How convenient that she was dressed as a cat…

Billy accepted a drink from Tommy and grabbed onto his arm, snagging Tommy's suddenly limp body towards him. Whispering something that I couldn't hear, Tommy's face blanched to a pasty white and in a stutter he replied that everything was cool. Whatever Billy had whispered, it had made Tommy stop staring at me. Clearly observing what may lay ahead if he continued, Ray also fixed his eyes onto his bare feet. Carol, on the other hand, smirked and crossed her arms, impressed at this display.

"Don't be rude, Tommy" Billy said in a dark voice and nodded to the bowl of punch.

Obeying his decree, Tommy scooped up a drink and wordlessly thrust it towards me. Taking it with a thanks, I looked over at Billy, desperately trying to keep in my laughter. He winked at me and circled his arm around my waist again. Before any conversation could remove the tension among the group, Nancy stumbled forward, giggling at herself. Behind her was Steve who threw me a desperate plea of help.

"Harrington, I have some bad news" Tommy announced.

Steve furrowed his brows and leaned in closer where Tommy brought his lips to Steve's ear.

"You're stripped of your title" Tommy sneered.

"Huh?" Steve shouted and snapped back.

"Jesus, you're so dramatic, Tommy. Don't you have any real news for us?" Nancy slurred. My eyes widened and I had to bring my cup to hide my lips from showing any sign of amusement. "Here's some better news: I'm off to dance and I'm taking Sierra with me"

And with that, Nancy hauled me to join the jostling teenagers. I glanced over and gave Billy an apologetic look. However, he merely smirked and leaned his back against the wall, foot pushed against it, and watched me. It may have been bitterly cold outside at this point, but inside Tina's house, the body count made it feel like an insufferable summer's day. Through the dancers, I saw Billy approach Tristan Vortrees who was grinding away to What's Love Got to Do With It?. It took approximately five seconds from Billy mouthing something to Tristian to the whole room releasing high-pitched, excited screams.

The lightning quick guitar pounded at the walls. Everyone in the room started jumping. As their feet collided with the floor, the room physically shook. Not even the tingle of the shaking chandelier threatening to smash into a million pieces on the floor made them stop.

Live Wire.

Billy fucking Hargrove.

Upon seeing how my lips parted, Billy grinned and raised his red cup to me. I discreetly copied him and waved my hand for him to join myself and Nancy who at this point was vigorously head banging. Amazed, I threw my head back and laughed. I had never seen her like this before! However, when I looked back over, Billy was nowhere in sight. Disappointed by my lack of dancing all of a sudden, Nancy swatted at me.

"Come on, Sierra! Dance!" Nancy barked and climbed onto the couch, whooping. I was about to help her down when Steve, ever the shining knight in armor, managed to coax her down. "Killjoy" she murmured, pulling Steve in for a deep kiss.

Steve enjoyed it for a moment before pulling away, asking if she was okay.

"Jesus Christ, Steve, I'm fine!" Nancy groaned and attempted to mount the couch again.

"How much has she had, dude?" I shouted into Steve's ear, the electric guitar thunderous.

"I don't know, she keeps running off!" Steve yelled back and sighed exasperatedly as he resigned himself to the fact that Nancy was never going to get back down from the couch. "You and Billy Hargrove though, that was interesting!"

"I'm sort of pleasantly surprised myself!"

"Just watch out with him, Sierra" Steve warned.

I frowned at him and stopped dancing.

"Look, I know he appears to be your typical badass, but there's something more to him than that!" I argued and shook my head. "I'm getting another drink"

I walked off towards the kitchen again, my face the epitome of pissed off. Why did everyone in this town have to be so judgmental? Sure, he came across like a troublemaker. His entire aura screamed as such so I comprehend why. But, if someone would actually make the time to talk to him like I had, they would see he wasn't so two-dimensional. Suddenly, someone shoved past me and nearly knocked me over into Tina and her group of friends. Looking up, I saw Nancy striding to the bowl of punch. There was no determination in her walk and it was far from a straight line. I briefly apologized to Tina who gave me a smile and stroked my arm before she went back to talking with her girls.

"Jesus, she is so drunk" Steve stood next to me and looked utterly exhausted from this excursion. "She just won't stop drinking!" Seeing how she had downed a cup already, Steve murmured a succession of 'no''s and ran over to her.

Groaning, I followed them. This was going to be messy. Steve was hopelessly trying to pry the now half of a third cup away from her. He was trying to tell her how sloppily drunk she was to no avail. Meeting every plea with a feisty rebuttal, Nancy stepped back from him, the contents of the cup spilling over onto the sticky floor. Seeing he was losing his battle and feeling equally infuriated, I walked over to Nancy.

"Give me the drink, Nancy" I ordered and reached out my hand. Nancy scoffed at me and trickles of condescending laughter fell out of her mouth. "I'm being fucking serious. You've had enough"

Nancy, serving to inflame my inner rage even more, just burst out laughing.

That's it.

"Come on, girls, we can handle this maturely" Steve stated and began to warily position himself in between us. Nancy frowned at him and started to shield the drink with her hands to prevent him from stealing it from her.

"Apparently only one of us can, Steve" I snapped.

I snatched the drink from her. Gasping, Nancy looked like I had just committed murder. Even in her intoxicated state, Nancy was that obsessed with this punch that before I knew it, the icy cold drink was thrown over me.

The entire room went silent. Mutters of "Holy shit" and "Oh my God" were the only things that broke the deadly silence.

"You're. Fucking. Kidding. Me" I breathed and looked down to see the huge stain on my dress, spreading over both my breasts.

Steve, his jaw hanging, was torn over whether to look at my face or the stain. Facing Nancy, he threw her a stupefied expression. Nancy simply shrugged and staggered over to grab a drink that had been discarded. The talk was beginning to pick up again now, but I still felt completely isolated in this room of nearly seventy people. Nancy started to wolf down the drink, but this had crossed a line for Steve.

"Nancy, that's enough!" he shouted and went to take the drink from her. From there onwards, a fight ensued between this precious red punch that tasted of gasoline and Nancy's clutches. Before I could even contemplate confronting Nancy, the room fell to that horrible quiet again. Both of us were now matching with the same unsightly red stain. Only I wasn't wearing white. "Nance, I'm so sorry" Steve stuttered.

"What the hell?" Nancy slurred and stormed out of the room, up the stairs with Steve on an invisible leash behind her.

Hearing giggles behind me, I felt a balmy hand on my back.

"Talk about karma, huh, Sierra?" Tina laughed and passed me another drink. Accepting it, I raised an eyebrow at her. "There's another bathroom upstairs. But seriously, are you okay?"

"She's just very drunk" I sighed.

"And a bit of a bitch" Tina mumbled and let out a harsh laugh. Waiting for a moment, she leaned forwards and laughed again, as if expecting me to affirm her opinion.

"She really isn't" I stubbornly voiced and quickly thanked Tina for the drink. Turning on my heel, I could hear Tina's girls pester her for answers on what I had said as they gathered around like vultures. Desperate and hungry for gossip.

Nancy may have pissed me off by being a drunken wreck, but she was far from a bitch. Something was clearly on her mind tonight. We had gotten drunk together before, mainly over summer and at private parties, and Nancy had just absorbed the merriment. The way she was in the grip of alcohol this evening was the first tell-tale sign that there were dark thoughts tormenting her mind. It concerned me to see her act like this. Over and over, she had repeated that she was just being a teenager. She was being anything but.

On my way to the bathroom, I passed the one inhabiting the drunk Nancy and Steve, overhearing Nancy stumbling about inside. From the sounds of things, she had fallen over. Going in to help wouldn't be of use. I had angered her tonight and despite her mind being a blur, she would remember that I had tried to take her object of obsession and comfort away earlier. I entered the ornate bathroom where wallpaper decorated with butterflies and flowers created a room of solace for me. Closing the door behind me, I ran the cold water and tested it with my finger. Frosty cold. Just how I needed it right now. I allowed the water to flow over my hands until they turned numb and brushed it along my forehead. I wasn't wearing foundation tonight as I had relatively clear skin, so ruining my makeup wasn't a problem. It was too clammy downstairs. Even as I removed my dress, it took effort because it was so soaked with sweat and the punch that had been thrown on me. Then, I saw her.

Me.

The green and purple outlines of my father's knuckles dotted my torso. Some were old, some new.

I could only do what I ever did.

Stare.

Stare until my chest would feel tight. Until my breathing became erratic. Until When Doves Cry distorted from a beloved song to the song of my nightmares. Claustrophobic, the music thudding against the floor beneath me started to create the makings of a prison.

Maybe I'm like my father, too bold.

Was this why he hated me? Because I reminded him too much of himself? Was I like him? No, I wasn't a monster. I was stubborn, that much I could not deny. Bold, another trait we shared.

Maybe I'm just like my mother. She's never satisfied.

Or was she the source of the inferno burning inside of him? Screaming at him to look after Zack more, to get out of my room. It would all be heard until that first slap would land in all its searing glory. A mixture of two voices screaming to be heard, to be dominant. He would always win. That's why she left. She was done with being the loser. It was time for someone else to take her place. Did I seem like the perfect replacement?

I took a swig of the drink and coughed as it singed the back of my throat. Throwing the empty cup aside, I started to wring the scarlet liquid from the neckline of my dress, feeling it dribble down my fingers into the sink. It was like blood. How fitting for Halloween. Another point for Tina.

Without any notice, the door flew open! Shrieking, I attempted to cover myself. The sheer thought of anyone discovering the secrets imprinted on my skin made tears flood my eyes. Especially when that person was Billy. Just as I had nearly finished wringing the blood red punch from my dress, Billy had essentially fallen through the door and was halfway through unzipping his jeans. Hastily, I covered the bruises and my strapless bra.

"Woah" he slurred and turned around, closing the door. "Shit, sorry. The door wasn't locked"

I glanced at the door. Of course I would come into the only bathroom with a broken lock.

"Erm, it's okay. Don't worry. Just, give me a few seconds" My words had faltered, cascading out of my mouth in a messy fashion.

"Okay, but seriously be quick. I'm pretty desperate to piss" he answered, taking off his leather jacket and throwing it on the floor. His back glistened under the fluorescent light, a mixture of beer and sweat.

"Impressive. Um, just wait outside. Sorry" I murmured and waited, frozen.

Hearing the door open, I prayed he hadn't seen anything. The door quietly shut and I peered over my shoulder. He had seen everything. He was seeing everything. My bruises were no longer just my burden. He was still in the room. He hadn't left. Billy staggered gradually over. But he wasn't looking at what stained my skin. No, he was looking directly into my eyes.

"Did he do that to you?" he softly asked. Physically, I was standing half-naked in front of him. But hearing him ask me that, I had never felt so bare, so exposed. "Sierra, did your dad do that to you?"

I could have lied. Made up some tale, a deceiving explanation. Instead, I pushed past him and wiped my hands on the towels, scowling at myself as I left a trace of punch on the fluffy yellow fabric.

"You can piss now" I stated and went to pull up my dress when I felt him touch my hand.

I stared at my feet. My heart threatened there and then to break through my bones. As if he were teaching me how to dance, Billy guided me to turn around and my eyes became enchanted by those clear blue orbs. There was something so different about them. Even through the haze of my mild intoxication, I recognized there was a mutual sadness between us. As if time had completely come to a standstill, I saw his lips, moist from his last drink, open to utter what I could only presume was going to be the same question.

Before I knew it, before I could even control my impulses, I kissed him. It was quick, abrupt. But, fuck, did it feel good to finally do it.

Billy, his striking eyes etched with desire, gazed at me. Fully taking me in. Enjoying the glimmer he witnessed as I luxuriated in his seductive stare, admitting that there was a vulnerability lurking beneath the both of us that we strived to shun into the shadows. His lips hovered above mine, my soft inhale dragging him in further. The flame smoldered, becoming hotter and hotter.

We both just couldn't take it anymore.

Bringing my face to his, our bodies pressed together, melding through the hot sweat. Breathing heavily as our lips became more and more addicted to the taste of each other. A frenzied softness. The unbearable heat created a surge of electric energy within me, darting up my spine and across my head as my hair tangled in his hands. All resistance was obliterated with each passionate kiss. The bruises stayed where they were.

"Christ, Nightingale, you have no idea how long I've wanted to do that" Billy panted and pinned me against the wall, breathless as I led the kiss.

"I'm just going in here!" Tina called out to someone outside the door.

Quickly, Billy helped me with my dress, his back against the door. With a kick of his foot, the door closed and our clandestine moment was safe between us again. Chuckling, Billy approached me. I bit my bottom lip, peering down at my feet dangling just above the floor.

"Now that would have been rude of them" His voice was irresistibly husky. Snagging on his jeans waistline, I pulled him over where he positioned himself between my legs. "Who knew you could be such a tease, Nightingale?"

"Well, Hargrove, I did say you'd find out later" I whispered, my tone low and the most seductive it had ever been. Even I had no idea I could be such a tease. "What did you say to Tommy by the way?"

"I told him to not look at you that way" Billy ran his hands up my thighs, sending a tingling sensation upwards until it found itself underneath my dress.

"You look at me that way" I joked and pressed down gently on his hands.

"I know" he said. "But I don't want any other guy to think they can do the same. It's not very respectful"

Billy smirked and leaned in when the door opened, the sound of giggling growing louder. Shit, it was one of the cheerleading girls. Not that I was bothered. I was pretty certain everyone knew that something was going on between Billy and I the moment he put his arm around me, sending his new subjects wild with gossip.

"Oh, hi Sierra" she said and gave me a small wave. Billy, for some odd reason, was utterly silent. "Sorry, I'll use the other room"

"Yeah, sure, Bryony" I replied and jumped down from the side.

"You probably ought to see Nancy. Steve and her have had an argument and she's not in the best of shapes. Steve left about ten minutes ago and she's been in the bathroom ever sincee" Bryony, who was twirling a strand of her bleached blonde hair, said.

She may have been addressing me, but she was staring intently at Billy. Meanwhile, he was awkwardly biting the inside of his lips. I could see some of my red lipstick smeared on them. He was looking at anything but her. What the hell was going on?

"Oh, and Billy, I still haven't forgot about last Thursday. Let me know when we can go on that second date"

A second date?

Thursday?

The day I took him to The Communion.

Did he go straight on a date after that, after we had shared so much?

We flirted with one another. There was some spark between us. Was I just one of many girls? Even more so, was this just his act to get what he wanted?

Bryony flashed me an extremely insincere smile and said her goodbyes, swanning out the room and away from the destruction caused by the bomb she had just dropped. I snapped my head around to Billy. He couldn't look at me. Doing what he did best, he lit a cigarette. Hesitating to take a drag from it, he gestured for me to take it. Just like he always had done. I wafted my hand and shook my head, bowing it and deeply inhaling.

"I better help Nancy" I murmured and went to leave.

"Sierra, don't"

He brushed his hand against mine. The same hand that had traced over my bruises, that had made me feel so incredible just mere minutes ago. I reached out for the doorknob. I couldn't talk to him right now.

"Look, I can exp-"

"You don't need to, Billy" I twisted around to face him. He appeared sullen, genuinely upset. Was he though or was he always going to let this charming bad boy mask control him? When would it invade again? I took a deep breath and locked onto his eyes. "We're English partners, not fuck buddies. There's nothing else to explain"

I felt like someone had punched me in the gut, puncturing my skin and crushing my innards. I didn't recognize the brutality in my voice. Something flickered over Billy's face and then he was back to what he knew, what protected him best.

The careless charmer.

"Right, so you do that with all your English partners or am I just damn special?" he hissed and blew the smoke out of his mouth, spitting into the sink.

I rolled my eyes. Maybe I should try out this reckless attitude. Perhaps it would keep me safe from getting hurt too.

"You came in here to piss, Hargrove. Perhaps afterwards you can get something more from Bryony"

With that, I slammed the door to a close and went to the bathroom where Nancy was still wrangling to get out the stain that her sober self would realize would never come out. Gingerly, I touched her shoulder.

"Nance, come on. We need to get you home" I softly said. She ignored me. "Nancy - "

"You know what, you're all bullshit" Nancy slurred and stumbled to glare at me. I attempted to prevent her from falling over, but she mustered enough strength to swat my hand away with force. "I mean, I mean, you just don't give a shit, do you?"

"Nancy, you've been off all night. Please, talk to me. I'm here for you" I moved towards her again, but she violently shook her head. Gagging for a moment, she clenched her jaw so hard that it trembled. I was fully prepared to hold her hair back when she took a deep inhale.

"Y-you," she started and thrusted a lazy finger into my chest "you weren't there for Barb"

Barb.

So this is what this was all about.

"W-we knew each other. You know, school. We were besties. Fucking besties, girls, you know?"

Nancy slumped down, sliding against the wall and let out a laborious cry. Mascara inked tears cascaded down her rouged cheeks, leaving a black trail. Barb and I were never best friends, but I conceded that the potential was there after that night at Steve's party. But her disappearance threw that potential into oblivion. Despite keeping hopeful for Nancy, we all knew there was a slim chance she was coming back. I sat down next to Nancy, ready to listen.

"You became popular to fill a void in your life" It was the only thing she had uttered throughout this entire chat where she hadn't slurred. No, Nancy was completely coherent. I was speechless. The only thing I could do was stare at her. "Because y-you want to feel special. So you forgot about m-me. And Barb. Screw Steve. H-he did too. Screw you both"

This was not the time to clarify her mistaken beliefs. If I were to tell her about the conversation Barb and I had when we were at Steve's party, that Barb and I were never that close, how Steve never truly knew Barb until he started dating Nancy, it would become too real for her. She was mourning, angry. It was like she had made her mind up that Barb was never coming back to Hawkins. Initially, when I went to wrap my arm around her into a hug, she pushed me away. One look at me told her that I just wanted to soothe her and she relented, banishing her anger as she fell into me, crying against my bare shoulder. At that moment, Jonathan Byers entered the bathroom and stared at the two of us crumpled on the floor, Nancy wailing all her sadness into my shoulder.

"Jonathan, please could you take us home?" I whispered and with a nod, Jonathan produced his car keys. I stroked Nancy's hair and started standing up to help her. "Come on, Nance, let's go"

Everyone gawked at us as Jonathan led us down the stairs. I had cleaned Nancy up a little bit more to ensure there was barely any evidence of her mascara tears. Hearing a sharp guffaw from across the room, Tommy gave me a wave. Billy hit his chest and Tommy immediately looked away from me. But Billy's stare was fixed and he wasn't going to give up until I was completely out of sight.

Screw him.

As soon as we were out, feeling the bitter air rip through my wet skin like a knife, Nancy emptied the entire contents of her stomach. A dry shrill of laughter came from behind us. Jimmy hadn't moved since he had done the exact same thing hours before.

"Welcome to the club, babe!" he shouted before falling backwards with a loud groan.

"Let's just get out of here" Jonathan muttered and waited for me to wipe Nancy's mouth with my sleeve. It was just a dress. "I've got water in the car, don't worry"

As we climbed into Jonathan's car, Nancy curled her feet underneath her, shivering. Closing her eyes, I encouraged her to have some water.

"Can you see why I don't go to parties now?" Jonathan rhetorically asked and turned the radio down to a gentle hum.

"I think I need to take a leaf out of your book" I murmured and sipped some water of my own.

Jonathan turned the key and the engine boomed, fumes dissipating behind us into the night air. As I followed them, I saw Bryony leaning against Billy's parked Camaro. Billy was nowhere in sight, but even still she lurked. She knew he would come to her. The chants shouting out Billy's new title of Keg King grew closer and I saw his silhouette as he exited the house, Tommy and Ray in tow. He paused, looking at me. However, Tommy clearly told Billy something that forced him to remove his gaze.

"Let's get you girls home" Jonathan said.

We left the party, the memories behind. And to my sadness, we left Billy behind.

A/N: This was a longer chapter than I was going to anticipate, but I had so much that I wanted to get into this one! I hope you all enjoyed reading. Thank you again to the new followers and those who have reviewed and favourited the story so far. What are your thoughts on Billy? Do you think Sierra will forgive him eventually?