Chapter Three
All night Piper tossed and turned as she tried to get some sleep. She wasn't sure if it was the fact she was back in Hawkins or the scratchy sheets of the bed, or that she swore that she saw her mother. The eerie voice continued to echo within her mind as she lay beside Billy. The dark room only seemed to close in on her more and more, or so it felt. Around four in the morning, Piper gave up, pushing off the covers and walking to the other side of the room. Billy stayed sleeping soundly as she grabbed the motel phone and dialed a familiar number. She was thankful the cord was long, allowing her to go into the bathroom and shut the door.
She knew that it was early, and even earlier back in California, but she craved to hear a familiar voice. And unfortunately for them, their home phone was the only number she knew by heart. It rang once, twice, and on the third ring;
"Hello?" A groggy voice spoke before being followed by a soft yawn.
"H-Hey Joyce," Piper whispered, holding the phone tightly against her face.
Joyce's back straightened when she heard the slight shake in Piper's voice. "Piper? Honey, wh-what time is it?"
"It's currently four am here...I-I know that it's early, and I'm so sorry..." Piper paused as her throat began to feel tight, "I-I...I just needed to speak to someone."
Joyce sighed heavily, "What's going on? Is everything ok?"
Piper wasn't sure how to answer that, since for a moment today she felt like she was losing her mind. "I-I don't know..."
"We had a feeling that going back was going to be hard," Joyce spoke softly.
"I-I know, I know." Piper sighed deeply and closed her eyes, "I guess I just didn't expect it to be this bad. It's like...eerie. I can't explain it. And I swear I'm seeing things."
"Can always come back and see us right after the ceremony," Joyce spoke
"Maybe. I'll have to speak to Billy. He really wanted to see Max before we left." Piper rubbed her eyes.
"Either way it's all going to work out. Hopper would be proud and happy that you're doing this for him." Joyce paused "It's been hard without him."
Piper nodded her head even though she knew that Joyce couldn't see her. Joyce's voice cracked at the end, both women finding comfort in knowing that the other was there. But from the other side of the door, she could hear shuffling, before a soft tap on the door.
"Piper?" Billy's voice sounded soft, his voice deep and groggy from the few hours of sleep he'd gotten. "Doll?"
"G-Give me a second," She spoke, clearing her throat and reaching to wipe the couple of tears that escaped. "Joyce, I gotta go. I-I'm sorry again for waking you."
"Don't apologize. I want you to always feel like you can reach out to me, no matter the time or issue. You may be nearly twenty, but I see you as one of my kids too."
Piper choked slightly, "T-Thank you..."
"I love you," Joyce spoke
"I love you too," Piper cried before moving to hang up the phone, cupping her hand over her mouth to muffle her cries.
Piper moved to set the motel phone on the back of the toilet before standing and opening the door quickly. Billy stood leaning against the wall across from the bathroom. His chest was bare and his blonde curls were a slight mess due to his sleep. But the moment he saw the tears streaking down her cheeks, Billy moved quickly to step closer to her.
"What's wrong? Why are you crying?" Billy's voice was heavy with concern and his thumb moved to wipe the tears from her cheeks.
Piper's hands splayed across his chest before moving closer and wrapping her arms around his torso. Her head rested on his chest and nuzzled into the crook of his neck. Billy stood there awkwardly for a moment before his arms held her tightly, his hand rubbing against her side as he soothed her.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," Piper's voice was muffled as she didn't pull back to speak. "I-I just...I needed to hear Joyce's voice."
"You don't need to apologize." Billy spoke, pressing a small kiss to her temple, "Are you feeling better now? Did it help?"
"She said I was one of her kids," Piper's voice cracked, "I-I didn't realize how badly I needed to hear that till now. I k-knew it deep down but..."
"It's different to hear it," Billy finished for her.
The two of them stood there in the dim glow of the motel bathroom before Piper's cries turned into soft whimpers. Billy pulled back and caressed each side of her face, his lips turning up slightly to give her a small smile. Her hands moved along his sides loving the feel of his warm skin beneath her touch.
"I know I've been distant lately, and I really don't mean to be," Piper whispered, keeping her eyes locked with his. Billy's features softened slightly as he looked down at her.
"You're going through some stuff..."
"But you did too," Piper interrupted "You were controlled by a monster, flayed or whatever we called it. For weeks your body wasn't your own and...doesn't it feel weird to be here? To be back?"
Billy sighed and ran his tongue over his lower lip, stepped back from Piper, and ran his hand through his hair. Piper frowned at the feeling of his body against hers.
"I-It does feel weird being back here." Billy confirmed, "It's...It's like that feeling of someone staring at you all the time on the back of your neck, that feeling is there all the time. I felt it the moment we crossed into the town."
"Back of your neck?" Piper whispered, pausing for a moment, before continuing. "Like an icy grip on the back of your neck. A touch you can't feel?"
Billy nodded his head, his hand subconsciously reaching to the back of his neck.
"Will always spoke of a feeling like that, I-It's a side effect of being flayed, having the Mind Flayer inside of you." Piper frowned "Seems we're both having some sort of side effect being here."
"It's gonna be weird the first couple of days, but we're gonna get through it." Billy spoke, "Now let's get some sleep, beautiful."
Billy held his hand out to Piper which she took quickly, allowing him to pull her down into the bed. Their bodies seemed to mold together as they lay down, Billy reaching to pull the blanket over them both before wrapping his arms around her again. Piper sighed and closed her eyes as she found comfort in his arms, her head resting gently on his chest. With her head pressed against his chest, Billy's heart began to lull her into a night of sleep. Billy bent down and kissed her forehead again as he heard Piper's breath even out. His hand moved under the shirt she was wearing, one of his, so he could feel her skin to skin. But he couldn't stop the tight feeling in his chest that grew as his fingers touched the scars on her sides. He stared up at the ceiling till sleep finally came and took him.
The next morning, with even the little sleep she'd gotten before, Piper felt a surge of energy go through her. She was almost certain it was since she was going to see Steve and Robin. Since they moved away, it'd only been phone calls between the two of them. Robin is not able to travel out to California due to school, and Steve is due to money.
"Doll, you're nearly vibrating out of your seat," Billy laughed with a bright smile across his face. He didn't want to admit it, but Billy was excited to see Steve, their friendship growing over time.
"I get to finally see my friends, why wouldn't I be excited!" Piper laughed, bringing brightness to her green eyes that Billy loved, making butterflies flutter in his stomach. "You're excited to see people too, especially getting dinner with Max later tonight."
"Alright, alright...you're right." Billy blushed slightly, his dimples showing with his smile. "I am excited to see my sister."
It had taken time for Max and Billy to repair their friendship. He was an awful stepbrother to her the first few years of their parents getting married. He took his anger out on those weaker around him. Billy didn't like the person that he used to be, but he liked the person that he was becoming. Billy turned his Chevy Camero into the Family Video parking lot and parked the car right outside the front doors of the store. Piper didn't even wait for the car to turn off before she was out and rushing through the doors. The jingle of a bell caught the attention of the two standing behind the counter. The moment Robin's eyes landed on Piper, she let out a scream of excitement and rushed around to get to her as quickly as she could.
"Oh my god!" Robin screeched before her arms wrapped around Piper's shoulders. "Oh, I have missed seeing your face!"
Piper couldn't stop the giggles and the wide smile splitting her face in two and making her cheeks ache, "I have missed you so much!"
"Alright, alright, my turn," Steve spoke from behind Robin, playfully pulling her away from Piper. The moment she was away enough, Steve picked Piper up, causing her to scream as he spun her around.
"Steve! Steve!" Piper laughed, "Oh my god, put me down."
"Be careful with my girl, Harrington," Billy spoke from the door, looking at Robin and smiling. "Hey, Robin."
"Oddly, it's really good to see your face too, Hargrove." Robin walked over with open arms to pull him into a hug, "California looks good on both of you."
Steve placed Piper back down, before moving to Billy, pulling him into a hug. Both pat each other on the back before stepping apart.
"When did this happen?" Robin spoke, looking at her, poking at the ring looped through one of Piper's nostrils.
"Only a month after being in California," Piper swatted her hand away with a laugh.
"How have things been here?" Billy asked, stepping away from the door and moving to lean against the counter.
"Same boring ole Hawkins. Nothing ever changes here."
"Steve is trying to find the love of his life by dating nearly every single girl that walks through the door," Robin smirked, causing Steve to roll his eyes.
"Alright, whatever. At least I'm asking people out." Steve moved back to the cart behind the counter he was sorting.
"You haven't asked Vicky out yet?" Piper frowned "I thought that we came up with a plan?"
"I chickened out," Robin pouted, "I just...what if she's not into me, and then I out myself and become a freak in Hawkins."
"From what you've told me, there is no way Vicky isn't into you," Piper spoke standing up beside Billy.
"Don't know if I'm overstepping, but I have heard the lengthy girl talks," Billy started, "Sorry, the apartment is really small...I think you should go for it, Robin."
"There you go, two voices of reason to go along with mine and finally taking that step."
"Ok, ok. Maybe after the pep rally on Friday? That'll give me a few days to get the courage and do it." Robin sighed, "Now enough about us 'cause it's boring. I want to hear about California,"
"I've pretty much told you everything,"
"I want to know every little thing, how is the photo studio job going?"
Piper grabbed a box of candy from the small display off the counter and started eating it, sharing pieces with everyone, going into life in California. And for the first time in a long time, Piper was starting to feel a little like her old self. Happy to finally be with people she loved like family.