I check on Dustin one last time before I head out, leaning against the entryway into the living room. He's laying on the floor, looking at a comic book, his walkie-talkie arms length away. I shift my weight, trying to ignore the gnawing guilt in my gut for leaving. Dart is still trapped in the closet, but after everything that happened, I'm not sure I should be leaving him at all.

"You sure you'll be okay?" I ask, trying to sound casual. Dustin looks up with an annoyed eye roll.

"I'm fine, Lace," he shrugs, dramatically flipping the page of his comic book.

I smile, but it feels forced. "I can just tell him that I need to stay here. We can reschedule."

"Quit using me as an excuse because you're scared," Dustin teases, sitting up, and folding his arms over his chest.

"Me? Scared?" I exhale, the smile finally feeling less forced, "Don't kid yourself."

Dustin laughs, unconvinced. "Go on your date, Lacy. I'll be fine."

I nod, walking over to rustle the top of his head. His curls are soft under my touch and I take a moment to cup his cheek. "Tell mom I'll be home by curfew," I say and Dustin nods, laying back down in front of his comic.

I take a deep breath when I step outside, the cool evening air brushing against my skin. I push aside the lingering guilt and remind myself that Dustin is capable of handling things on his own— at least for a few hours.

As I walk down the driveway, I spot Billy leaning over the engine bay of my truck, his hands busy with something. There's an intense look on his face, clearly focused on whatever he's messing with.

"What's the damage?" I ask, making my presence known.

Billy glances up, a well placed smirk already forming on his face. "Nothing I can't fix," he says, dropping the hood with a heavy slam, "but it'll cost you."

I roll my eyes, fighting back a smile. "I'm not sure I can afford it then," I sigh, patting my pockets like I'm searching for my wallet. Billy's smile appears for a moment when I shrug my shoulders, pretending like I've come up with nothing.

Billy looks me up and down, licking his lips slightly, before settling on my face, "I think we can figure something out."

Fighting the blush, I turn towards my truck, pulling open the driver side door. Billy is quicker, shooting out his arm to keep me from opening it fully.

"What are you doing?" we ask at the same time. I lift my brow, copying Billy's stance with my arms crossed over my chest, twisting my face so that it's in a cool smirk. This makes him chuckle, dropping his arms to his side, but still blocking me from the truck.

"I'm driving," he explains, "I've seen you drive and I can't say I'm impressed."

"You're the one that cut me off," I argue, remembering the first day in the school parking lot. "Besides, she's a little temperamental. I don't think you can handle it."

"You'd be surprised, Henderson." he replies, nodding for me to head towards the passenger side.

I shake my head, refusing to budge just yet. "I don't just let anyone drive my truck," I tell him, trying to keep my voice firm, but my smile betrays me.

"I'm not just anyone, am I?" he counters, gently grabbing me by the shoulders and leading me around to the passenger side door.

Billy opens the door for me, helping me j to the truck with ease. "Live a little, Henderson," he tells me, closing the door before I can respond.

Billy shuts the driver's door with a little too much confidence and turns the key in the ignition. My truck sputters a little, the sound of the engine almost wheezy.

Billy stops and looks at me, lifting an eyebrow. "You drive this piece of shit on purpose?" he asks.

"Hey! This is a family heirloom," I pat the dashboard affectionately. "You have to be nice to her or she won't work."

"I think she doesn't work because no one takes care of her." Billy mutters, trying the ignition again.

"Give her some gas," I tell him, "and tell her she's pretty."

Billy rolls his eyes, pumping the gas pedal, a determined look settling over his face. For a moment, my truck sputters, but finally roars to life. Billy shoots me a smug look, but reaches over to pat the dashboard like I had done just a moment before.

The notion is small, but I feel my heart burst, a sudden warmth growing through my chest.

Billy shifts the truck into gear, the engine rumbling beneath us as we pull away from the house.

"So where are we going?" I ask, trying to keep my voice light as I glance over at Billy. His eyes are focused on the road, but there's a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"There's about three places in all of Hawkins," he begins, "all three claim to have been voted the best hamburger in town."

"You just want to go to the diner?" I ask, feeling my excitement deflate slightly knowing that all of the high school would be there to see us.

"You have something better in mind?" Billy asks, but I don't, knowing full well that all dates in Hawkin's look exactly the same. Dinner, drive-in, lover's point if it went well.

I chew on my lip, watching the scenery pass us as Billy turns onto the main drag of the town.

"I have something in mind," I admit, realizing that I don't want to share his attention tonight. Don't want to hear any of the whispers that might follow us. "Let's get the food to go."

Billy is clearly intrigued by my suggestion, lifting an eyebrow in question, "To go, huh?" He leans back in his seat, one hand draped casually over the steering wheel as he considers it. "Alright, Henderson. What do you have in mind?"

I glance over at him, my own smirk forming on my lips, "You'll just have to trust me, Hargrove."

Billy chuckles, a sound that sends a strange flutter through my chest. He doesn't press for details, just nods, and turns the truck towards the diner. The drive is quiet, but I don't feel the pressure to fill the space with meaningless chatter.

"Alright, two burgers and a basket of fries?" Billy asks once he parks the truck.

"And a milkshake," I smile, nodding my head in agreement.

"You got it," he agrees, climbing out of the truck.

I watch as he strides into the diner, his confident swagger unmistakeable. As I wait in the truck, I can't help but feel a little nervous. I've spent the whole day trying to keep my emotions in check, but now that we're here — on a real date — it's hitting me how much I want this to go well.

A few minutes later, Billy returns, carrying a couple of takeout bags. He hands them to me through the window, taking a sip of my milkshake before handing that over as well.

"It's chocolate," he says as he climbs into the driver's seat. "Is that all you wanted?"

I take a sip of the milkshake and nod, "Do you know where the Hess Farm is?"

"Out there in the cuts?" he asks, pulling the truck out of the lot.

"That's the one," I say, fighting the smile that threatens my face.

"And we're going out there because?" he asks, looking a little skeptical.

"Because I know more about Hawkins than you," I shrug, pointing towards a dirt road, "Turn left here."

Billy narrows his eyes at me, still looking a bit skeptical but clearly intrigued. "You're leading me out to the middle of nowhere. I've seen enough movies to know where this goes."

I chuckle, feeling a bit bolder. "Don't tell me you're afraid of the dark," I tease.

Billy rolls his eyes, the corner of his mouth tugging up in a way that makes my heart skip a beat. "You sure run your mouth a lot," he comments, but the teasing tone in his voice makes me laugh.

As we drive deeper into the woods, the lights of Hawkins fades away, leaving us surrounded by darkness with only the glow of the headlights illuminating the dirt path ahead. The trees seem to close in around us, their branches casting eerie shadows across the road.

Billy keeps his eyes on the road, but I catch him glancing over at me every so often, curiosity etched on his face. I can tell he's trying to figure out what I'm up to, but I stay silent, only calling out directions as we go.

Finally, we reach the clearing I've been looking for. I point to the spot Billy can park the truck, the truck bumping along on the uneven ground as he pulls over, cutting the engine. The sudden silence is jarring after the steady hum of the drive.

I hop out of the truck, reaching behind my seat for the blankets I keep stashed. Billy watches me curiously as I stack the blankets and towels onto my seat.

Once I'm satisfied with what I have, I nod for Billy to follow me. "Come on," I say, not waiting to make sure he follows.

I hear the driver's side door slam, the sound echoing through the silent clearing. Billy's eyes scan the open field, taking in the moonlight, before settling on me. He watches as I pull myself up, standing on the wheel well, before swinging my legs over.

"What is this place?" Billy asks, handing me the food before pulling himself into the bed of the truck in one fluid motion.

I spread out one of the blankets, rolling the towels into makeshift pillows. "I don't know if you know this, but my brother's kind of a nerd," I begin, but Billy doesn't say anything, just sits and watches me, "and my dad is more of a sports guy, but he always tried really hard to get into Dustin's interests, even though it bored him."

I lay the second blanket out carefully, waving him over to sit with me, "So when my brother got really into astronomy like six years ago, he got him this insane telescope and we'd take the truck out here and eat dinner and track the stars. My brother got over it after a year, my dad sold the telescope, but when I got the truck I still like to come out here and at least look at them."

"I didn't know I was about to get your life story, Henderson." Billy teases, setting the takeout container on my lap.

I roll my eyes, taking a bite of a fry as I settle back against the makeshift pillow. "Funny," I reply, trying to keep my tone nonchalant even though I suddenly feel a bit vulnerable sharing this with him.

Billy leans back beside me, his gaze shifting from the food in front of him to the stars slowly emerging in the night sky. "It is nice out here," he admits, his voice softer than usual.

I glance over at him, thankful for the comment. "It was better with the telescope," I admit quietly, feeling the tension still sitting on my shoulders.

"If you liked coming out here," Billy begins after a few moments of silence, "then why'd your dad sell it?"

"I'm the sports kid," I say with a shake of my head, "if it wasn't tennis or soccer or golf then it didn't matter if I liked it or not."

Billy nods knowingly, "Your dad and my dad sound like they read from the same parenting handbook."

We eat in comfortable silence for a while, the only sounds are the quiet rustling of the trees and the occasional chirp of crickets. It's peaceful, a stark contrast to the chaos that's been surrounding me lately.

When the food is gone, I lie back on the blanket, staring up at the night sky. "Look," I say, pointing up at the stars, my finger tracing the invisible lines that connect them, "that's Ursa Minor. Do you see the really bright star at its tail?"

Billy follows my gaze, squinting slightly. "Yeah."

"That's Polaris. The North Star," I explain, my voice softer. "It's the guidepost in the sky. People use it to navigate."

Billy doesn't say anything for a moment, just keeps looking up at the sky. "You really are a nerd," he finally says, but there's no malice in his tone, just a hint of amusement.

I laugh, nudging him with my elbow. "I'm well rounded," I argue, and this time Billy laughs, using the opportunity to snake his arm around my shoulders.

Billy's arm around my shoulders feels surprisingly comforting, the warmth of his body chasing away the cool night air. For a moment, neither of us says anything, just staring at the stars. I can feel his eyes on me, even when I'm not looking at him. It's a strange feeling, being the center of someone's attention like this. Usually, it's all about what I'm doing wrong or what I need to fix – on the court, in school, at home. But right now, it's just… this. Just Billy and me, and this calm, quiet moment.

I shift slightly, turning my head to look at him. His expression is softer than I'm used to seeing, almost thoughtful. There's a part of me that wants to say something, crack a joke to break the tension, but another part of me is curious. I don't think I've ever seen Billy look at anyone like this before.

"What?" I finally ask, trying to keep my voice light, but there's a tremor there that I can't quite hide.

Billy's lips twitch into a half-smile. "Nothing," he says, but his voice is lower, almost serious. His gaze flicks down to my lips for just a second before returning to my eyes.

For a few seconds, we just look at each other, the distance between us shrinking without either of us really noticing. My heart starts to pound in my chest, and I know he can probably hear it, but I can't bring myself to care. The moment stretches out, his face just inches from mine, and I can feel his breath, warm and steady against my skin.

"Lacy," he murmurs, his voice barely above a whisper, and that's all it takes. My breath catches, and before I can second-guess myself, I close the distance between us,

The kiss is soft at first, tentative, like Billy's waiting for me to pull away. His lips are surprisingly gentle, a contrast to the rough edges he usually shows the world. But as the seconds tick by, my body starts to need him a little more, and I am deepening the kiss, pulling him closer by the collar of his jean jacket. Billy leans into this, feeling his hand slide from my shoulder to the back of my neck, pulling me closer.

The warmth of his touch sends a shiver down my spine, and I find myself leaning into him, the distance between us dissolving completely. My hands slide up his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my fingertips. The kiss, once tentative and unsure, grows more intense, more insistent, as if all the unspoken tension between us is finally breaking free.

Billy's other hand moves to my waist, his grip firm but gentle, and I can feel the strength in his arms as he pulls me closer, almost into his lap. The world around us fades away, leaving just the two of us, lost in this moment. It's both exhilarating and terrifying, feeling this close to someone.

I can feel the roughness of his stubble against my skin, the taste of the chocolate milkshake still lingering on his lips, and it's intoxicating. Every part of me is focused on him, on this moment, and I never want it to end.

Billy shifts slightly, laying me back against the makeshift pillows as he hovers over me, our lips never breaking contact. There's an intensity in his touch now, a hunger that mirrors my own, and I can feel the heart rising between us. My hands slide up to tangle in his hair, pulling him even closer, if that's possible.

His breath hitches slightly as my nails graze his scalp, and the sound sends a thrill through me. I've never broken a rule. I've never allowed anyone to be this close. I've never felt so sure about what I want and right now, my mind is screaming for him.

Finally, when the need for air becomes too great, we break apart, our foreheads resting against each other as we catch our breath. His eyes are dark, intense, and filled with something I can't quite name, but it makes my heart skip a beat.

"Lacy," he whispers again, his voice rough, and it sends a shiver down my spine. I don't know what he's about to say, but I'm not sure I want to hear it. So instead of answering, I pull him back down for another kiss, needing to feel that connection again, to lose myself in him just a little longer.

And this time, there's no hesitation, no holding back. The kiss is fierce, almost desperate, as if we're both afraid this moment will slip away if we let go. My hands lift to help him shrug off his jacket, before trailing down his biceps with my own gentle touch that forces goosebumps to rise across his skin. His hands are everywhere, exploring, caressing, and I can feel the heat building between us, threatening to consume me entirely. At this moment, I don't care. All that matters is Billy, and the way he makes me feel. As we lose ourselves in each other, I know that I'm falling, and there's no turning back.

But then, just as I'm about to surrender entirely to the moment, a sharp, rustling sound from the woods nearby snaps me out of the trance. It's faint, but unmistakable – a soft, guttural clicking noise that sends a chill down my spine. My breath catches in my throat, and I stiffen, every muscle in my body going rigid. My heart, which was pounding for a very different reason just a second ago, now races in my chest with a different kind of urgency – a cold, hard fear that grips me like a vice.

Dart.

I freeze, my hands still tangled in Billy's hair, and he must sense the sudden change in me because he pulls back slightly, his eyes searching mine for an explanation.

"What's wrong?" he asks, his voice low and husky, still tinged with the heat of the moment. Billy's brow furrows as he notices the shift in my posture. His fingers, warm against my skin moments ago, now tense slightly, as if he's afraid I might slip away. His eyes search mine, confusion clouding the spark that had been there just seconds before.

I don't answer right away, my eyes darting towards the dark woods that surround us. My mind races, trying to convince myself that it's just my imagination, that there's no way Dart could have followed me out here. But the memory of that sound is too fresh, too real.

"I… I thought I heard something," I finally manage to say, my voice shaky, the earlier passion now replaced with a creeping sense of dread. I push Billy off of me, fighting to sit up to see what awaits us in the woods.

Billy's gaze follows mone, scanning the darkness beyond the truck. "Probably just a coyote," he says, but his tone isn't as confident as before. He's noticed the way my whole body has gone tense, the way I'm suddenly on high alert.

"Yeah," I agree, but my voice is hollow, the earlier warmth and comfort of the moment gone. I force myself to breath, trying to rationalize what I just heard. It's probably just a coyote, I tell myself, but the words are unconvincing. I know what a coyote sounds like, and that… that wasn't it. I glance at the woods again, straining my ears for any more signs of movement, any indication that my fears are unfounded. But the silence that follows is almost worse – too quiet, too still, like the woods are holding its breath. And then I think of Dustin. What if Dart got out? What if something happened while I wasn't there?

"I want to go home," I finally say, trying to shake off the unease, but the thoughts linger, gnawing at the edges of my mind.

Billy leans back slightly, searching my face. There's a hint of disappointment in his eyes. He wants to press the issue, but instead he just nods. His hand, once comforting against my neck, now feels heavier, the subtle pressure in his fingers betraying his calm facade. His jaw clenches slightly, his eyes narrowing as if debating whether to challenge me. But after a beat, he sighs, "Alright, Henderson." I can hear the disappointment threaded through his voice, the way it cracks with annoyance just slightly at the edges.

We gather up the blankets in silence, the earlier playful banter between us replaced with a more serious, focused energy. As we climb back into the truck, I can't help but glance back at the woods one last time, half-expecting to see something moving in the shadows.

But there's nothing. Just the darkness, and the echo of that unsettling sound.

My mind is running wild. What if Dart escaped? What if Dart is not alone? My pulse is a drumbeat in my ears and I can barely hear anything else over it. Billy is saying something, but I can't make out the words – everything is drowned out by the pounding of my heart and the fear gripping my mind.

Billy starts the truck first try, the engine rumbling to life as we pull away from the clearing. The drive back is quiet, but it's different from before. I can feel Billy glancing over at me every so often, as if he wants to say something, but he doesn't. Instead, he just keeps driving, his hand resting on the gearshift, the warmth from our earlier closeness slowly fading as the miles pass by.

It takes forever. The road stretches out endlessly before us. I'm tense, every muscle in my body wound tight as a spring, ready to snap at the slightest provocation. Every time the headlights catch movement on the side of the road – a tree branch swaying in the wind, a stray animal darting into the bushes – I flinch, my heart leaping into my throat. I can't shake the feeling that something is following us, that at any moment, Dart – or something worse – will come crashing out of the darkness. And the whole time, I keep thinking, I should have stayed. I should have been there. What if something happened to Dustin? What if this was all a mistake?

When Billy pulls up to my house and kills the engine, he finally speaks, his voice soft, but tinged with concern. "You gonna be okay, Henderson?"

I force a smile, glancing towards my house. The windows are dark, silent looking, and I try not to picture Mews' mutilated corpse. "Yeah. Thanks, Billy."

He steps out of the truck with me, walking me up the short distance to the front door. Billy's hand reaches to cup my neck again, the warmth of his touch, chasing away the lump of fear in my throat. Billy leans down, his lips linger on mine for a moment longer, almost as if he's trying to bring me back to where we were, But when I don't respond, he pulls away, a shadow of disappointment flickering in his eyes. Billy's hand twitches slightly, as if he is about to reach for me again, but then he sighs, running a hand through his hair instead. "We'll talk tomorrow," he says, but his voice lacks its usual swagger, replaced by a quiet concern that tugs at my heart.

As I close the door behind me, I can't help but shake the feeling that I just let something slip away – something that might be hard to get back. But the fear, cold and insistent, won't let go, leaving me torn between regret and the unsettling sense that I've made the right choice.