Billy had always done well with parties. Hell, they were like heaven on earth for someone like him. Booze, women, loud music. The perfect place to drown out noise. Since coming to Hawkins, Billy had become something of a king, among his peers. He was good with parties. But now? After that thing…that thing did that to him at Brimborn? Now he just felt overwhelmed. The music was too loud. And sure, he still wouldn’t complain about the drinks, or the girls. But it was harder to manage now. It was harder to handle all the…noise. All the bullshit. The people agitated him more now. It was harder to tolerate people talking to him like they knew him.

He had to step out. Or, rather, in. He found a spare bedroom upstairs, leaning out the window to smoke. Some sort of edge to take off. Though, the flayer made it hard to relax, ever, really. Still, it was slightly better. Less noise. Less people to piss him off. A much, much needed break. God, he really did need that cigarette. The room was quieter than the rest of the house, easier to level his head a bit. The window being opened made the room colder, too. Better that way. It liked it cold. As much as Billy often did not.