A/N: I wasn't initially planning to post this now, but we need something good, even if it's something small. This is the least I can do. I hope it helps brighten your day, even just a little bit.

Chapter 54

I let Billy in when he appeared at my door sooner than he should have. I tried not to think how fast he must have been speeding. He looked terrible.

"Jesus Christ, when was the last time you ate?" I motioned for him to come in. "Or slept?" I headed for the kitchen once I closed the door, already mentally planning on figuring out something easy he could eat while we talked this out. I wasn't sure he'd want anything but he looked like he needed it. He plopped down into one of the kitchen chairs and stared at me as I started to make him a grilled cheese.

"What the fuck is going on, Kate?"

"Fuck if I know. You said something's following you?"

"I feel it fucking staring, but I don't see anyone. You said weird shit happened in this place. Figured you'd know a way to get it to fuck off." He gave me a forced grin that didn't even fully form. "You've been a shit friend, Peaches. If I had anyone else to go to I would."

That made me stop. I turned to face him. "You're right. I'm sorry, Billy. You basically told me something was wrong when you showed up with Barb and I let you down then and failed to follow up after. You deserve better than that from your friends." We stared at each other for a long moment before I smelled something burning. "Shit!" I turned back to the stove, trying to salvage the grilled cheese.

"How come Max's mom wasn't at the parent thing, where you told other parents the truth."

I frowned. "They didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

I paused, thinking about how to answer. I plated the sandwich and cut it with the spatula before handing it to him. "We told them separately. Well, Hopper did. Before the others. He's in some shit now with the mayor. I'm guessing your dad saw an opportunity for petty revenge or something because he ran right to our asshole of a mayor." I rolled my eyes thinking about my one and only interaction with the man before he quickly banned me from his office. "Hopper hasn't told me what happened but I know they're probably blaming him so they don't have to take on the responsibility for it."

Billy sat there for a moment, not even touching his grilled cheese. "Didn't know that," he admitted softly.

"I figured," I said, smiling wryly.

"I knew this town was bullshit."

"You're telling me." I sat down across from Billy, watching as he finally picked up the sandwich. "You said something's following you?"

"Yeah, but I don't see shit. I feel like that fucking guy with the claws is watching my ass."

"What?"

"From the horror movie! With the creepy kids singing that song about him."

It took me a second to realize he was talking about Freddy Krueger. "Oh. I don't really watch horror movies."

"Why? Scared?" He leaned forward and grinned at me, this one looking a little more natural than the last. "Watch it with me. I'll protect you, Queenie."

"I think we have enough horror in our lives now, don't you?" I raised an eyebrow as I said it. "You said the feeling went away when Barb's with you?"

He dropped back. "Yeah, like it can't fucking see me if she's there."

"Huh." That was interesting. I wondered if it had to do with Barb surviving the monsterverse, or the upside-down as El called it, or something else. Was it scared of Barb? She was so skittish. It seemed impossible to think of something as frightened of her as she was of everything else.

"Have you noticed any patterns to it? Like, outside of Barb, does it feel like it's watching 24/7 or only certain times more than others. Are you doing anything specific when you feel it or don't feel it?"

"No, it's pretty fucking constant when I'm not with B."

I frowned slightly, trying to think over what I knew about it. "You found her because you were drawn to the forest, right?" I waited for him to nod. His fingers twitched before he reached for his smokes. He stopped at my look, choosing to fiddle with his lighter instead. "Are you drawn anywhere else? Or like…repelled? Somewhere that you absolutely don't want to go?"

"Nah, except this chick at work keeps staring at me like she's going to kill me. Pretty sure I didn't fuck around with her." He shrugged.

That didn't mean anything, especially considering how many people seemed to be attracted to Billy and the image he gave off. I got enough shit at school from it.

"She keeps trying to get me alone, but I haven't gone."

"You haven't?"

His eyes narrowed before he smirked at me. "If it ain't you, why would I be interested?"

I rolled my eyes, knowing he was just trying to push my buttons. The idea that Billy would hold himself celibate for anyone was nearly laughable.

"She gives B the creeps and since I'm always fucking there, I'm starting to trust her reactions. She likes us after all, don't she?" He grinned. "So she's got good fucking taste."

I laughed at that, unable to help it. Billy looked pleased at the reaction, more than he had been before. "Who's the girl?"

He shrugged. "Helen? Or Heather?"

Heather? Wasn't she the girl I spoke to when I got sunburnt? Was she jealous that Billy wasn't giving her attention? The same way Nancy seemed jealous that Barb had turned to Billy for safety. "Okay," I nodded, making a mental note to check her out regardless. "Considering the weird stuff that goes on in this place, and how monsters seem to just run wild…I'd suggest sticking close to Barb while we try to figure this out. I'll ask around, see if anyone else is feeling similar and if we can figure out what's going on."

"Why does it have to happen to me? I'm not in this shit," he snapped.

"Pretty sure no one's getting a choice." I certainly didn't. "Just don't go off without somebody knowing where to look for you. Don't go alone if you can help it. Stay alert and observant. So take care to eat and sleep even if it's challenging. You don't wanna be slow if something's out to get you."

He rolled his eyes at me. "Yes, mom."

I pointed at him. "I'm serious. You wanted my help and I'm on board now, but you gotta be smart and careful. So, finish eating and after you can use the couch for a nap? You look like you've been run ragged."

"I can't…I can't sleep," he admitted, looking away. "I feel like it's fucking haunting my dreams."

"I know, but you're safe here. Buster might not look like much, but animals have a keen sense of weird things and he noticed the monster first in the woods before it even got close enough for me. He'll let us know if I need to wake you up."

He looked over at the dog who was curled up in the armchair he had laid claim to, snoring away as though nothing could phase him. It must have been nice. Billy didn't say much as he shoved the remainder of the sandwich in his mouth and stood up. He left his plate on the table, but I kept myself from telling him off as I watched him stumble to the couch.

It had recently been vacuumed and cleaned. Deana had been on a bit of a small cleaning rampage, including setting up the guest room and turning the basement into another. She claimed she just wanted to be prepared, but didn't say what for. I couldn't argue. You could never be too prepared in my books.

I felt Billy's eyes on me as I took his plate to the sink, but by the time I washed it, he was passed out. He looked slightly calmer in his sleep and younger than he liked to present himself.

He was still passed out when Deanna and Sam came home. I moved quickly to the door, trying to make sure they didn't wake him up. I was not expecting Hopper to be following.

"Shh," I put a finger to my mouth. "Billy's passed out on the couch."

Deanna instantly moved to peer around me. "He is? Is he okay?"

"Not sure. He's exhausted." I motioned them back so I could close the door behind me and we could talk without disturbing him. I kept it open a crack so that if a nightmare struck, we'd know. The adults were staring at me, concerned. "Pretty sure something weird is going on with him. Like supernatural weird. He feels like he's being stalked but can never see anyone. Just feels it staring at him."

Deanna frowned at that and moved in, kneeling gently at Billy's side before she lightly touched his forehead as if checking for a fever. He stirred slightly. I held my breath, expecting him to wake, but Deanna's soothing even in someone's sleepBilly'. s expression softened somewhat and he stayed asleep.

"He say anything?" Hopper asked.

"Just that he felt something following him and some girl he works with at the pool kept trying to get him alone, but that's nothing new."

Hopper looked at me, meeting her eyes before his gaze moved between Deanna and Sam. "There's more. Let's talk outside."

We left Billy sleeping and Deanna kept the back door open to hear if he woke up while we spoke on the patio.

"What's happening?" I asked as I sat on the arm of the chair Deanna sat down in. Sam decided to keep standing.

"Went back to the lab with Joyce. She wanted to check why things were demagnetized. Thought it came from there. We got attacked by some guy and I went to the mayor…"

"That must have gone over well," Sam said, and I tried not to laugh at the look Hopper gave him.

"Beat the shit out of that asshole."

The laugh slipped out before I could stop it and while Deanna swatted my leg for it, I could tell she agreed with me. The mayor was an idiot.

"Got fired."

"What?" All of us asked, looking at him in surprise.

"He fired you?" I looked between Hopper and my parents.

"That's not all." Hopped looked at the other adults. "We need to have a town meeting. Klein sold space to the Russians. In the mall."

My mind went instantly to Steve and Robin. Logically, I knew they would be safe. We were in the middle of the Cold War and it wasn't going to break because of a mall, but then again there weren't supposed to be monsters running around.

"I'll start the phone tree," Deanna says.

"I'm going to the mall," I said. Both of my parents looked ready to protest but I continued. "I have to get Robin and Steve out of there. They need to know what's happening."

Sam nodded. "I don't like the idea of you going alone, but you're right. They need to know what's happening. Go and get them out of there quickly. Meet us at the town hall."

"We'll take care of Billy," Deanna offers with a smile.

I stood up quickly. "Thanks. See you soon."

[tbc]