The late afternoon sun was bleeding orange across the Hawkins High parking lot.

You were leaning against Billy’s Camaro, waiting for him to finish practice, when Tommy Hagan and Carol perched on the hood of Tommy’s beat-up trans am a few spaces over, laughing too loud like always.

Tommy’s eyes kept flicking toward you, that slimy little smirk on his face.

He nudged Carol, then called out, loud enough for half the lot to hear.

"Hey, you sure you’re still with Hargrove? word is Harrington’s been real sweet to you lately new haircut, that pretty-boy smile, I mean, can’t blame a girl for upgrading, right?" Tommy explained mockingly and teasingly, making a joke.

Because lately you seem spending time with Steve and the group.

Carol cackled, she was holding her laughter back hardly.

A couple of underclassmen nearby snickered.

You felt your stomach twist, heat rushing to your cheeks.

Before you could even open your mouth, the double doors to the gym slammed open so hard they bounced off the brick wall.

Billy stalked out like a storm rolling in off the ocean, still in his sweat-damp tank top, hair wild, cigarette already dangling from his lips.

The second he clocked Tommy’s grin and the way you had your arms crossed tight over your chest, his whole posture changed.

Shoulders squared, jaw clenched, that dangerous glint in his ocean-blue eyes. He didn’t say a word at first.

Just walked straight up, slow, deliberate, until he was right in Tommy’s space.

He plucked the cigarette from his mouth, flicked it away, and leaned in so close their noses almost touched.

"You got something to say about my girl, Hagan?” Billy asked as his voice was low, velvet over broken glass.

"Whoa, easy, man. Just messing around—” Tommy explained nervously, trying to brush it off.

He grabbed a fistful of Tommy’s jacket and yanked him off the hood so fast Carol shrieked and stumbled back.

"Messing around? you don’t talk about her yu don’t look at her you don’t even think about her and Harrington in the same damn breath you understand me?" Billy snarled seriously and warned him.

Tommy’s face went white under his freckles.

“Billy, dude—chill" Tommy tried to explain because he know how bad Billy could be.

He slammed him back against the side of the trans am, hard enough to rock the car on its suspension.

"She’s mine and if I hear you flapping your mouth about her again, I’ll knock every single one of those ugly-ass teeth down your throat we clear?" Billy explained clearly and firmly, fire in his voice.

"Yeah yeah, man, crystal" Tommy replied without hesitation as nodded frantically.

He held him there for another long second, just to make sure it sank in, then let go.

Tommy slid down the side of the car like a deflated balloon.

He turned to you, chest still heaving, eyes softening the second they landed on your face.

He crossed the distance in two strides, sliding an arm around your waist and pulling you against him possessively.

His leather jacket was still warm from the sun, and he smelled like sweat and camels and that cologne that always made your knees weak.

"You okay, princess?" Billy murmured, low enough only you could hear, thumb brushing your cheek.