The gravel crunched under Billy’s Camaro as he killed the engine in front of the Byers’ rundown house.

Cigarette smoke curled out the cracked window, mixing with the cold November air.

He stepped out, boots first, leather jacket creaking, hair still somehow perfect even though he looked like he hadn’t slept in days.

His jaw was tight, eyes scanning the dark windows like he was ready to kick the door down.

That’s when he saw you.

You have been walking up the dirt path from the woods, flashlight in hand, because Max had texted you twenty minutes ago saying she was hiding here and please don’t tell Billy.

Too late.

He stopped dead when he spotted you, one hand still on the car door.

For a second the only sound was the wind rattling the dead leaves.

"Well, shit, look who is it" Billy muttered, voice low and rough.

He slammed the door harder than he needed to.

Took three slow steps toward you, boots grinding the gravel.

Up close he still smelled like Marlboros and that stupid Drakkar Noir cologne he drowned himself in.

"My old man’s gonna have my ass if I don’t drag Maxine home" Billy explained, eyes flicking over yours like he was checking for damage.

"So how about you stay out of it, huh?" Billy warned seriously and firmly as looking at you.

His mouth twisted into something that wasn’t quite a smile.

"Funny six months ago you weren’t scared of me aix months ago you couldn’t get enough" Billy added, noticed how you can't fear him.

He took another step, close enough now that you had to tilt your head back to hold his stare.

"Don’t remind you that you’re the one who walked? That you left me standing in the parking lot like a fucking idiot after I told you—" Billy cut himself off, jaw working.

"I’m just the asshole who can’t keep his family in line or his girl from bailing the second things got hard message received" Billy started blaming, more on himself than to you.

He was doing it on purpose, lashing out because it was easier than admitting anything else.