Saved

Thirty One

The drive back to the cabin was spent in uncomfortable silence as Allison stared out her window, fighting back tears and Billy drove erratically lighting cigarette after cigarette until the air was thick with smoke. When they arrived Billy pulled over onto the side of the road and slammed on the breaks, putting Allison back into her seat. She immediately reached for the door handle, but hesitated to open it.

"Well? What are you waiting for?", Billy asked through gritted teeth, refusing to look in Allison's direction.

"I don't want to leave if you're upset.", Allison shrugged, prompting Billy to let out a cynical laugh.

"Upset? I'm not upset.", he insisted, rolling down his window and flicking the rest of his cigarette outside.

"You can't lie to me-"

"And I told you to stay out of my fucking head!", he snapped, turning around to face her, a crazed look in his eyes.

"I'm not in your head. I just know you.",she spoke softly, unphased by Billy's outburst. He flinched as she reached up to caress the side of his face as if he was expecting her to meet his anger with violence. "I'm sorry that tonight didn't go the way you'd hoped, and I still want to have sex with you."

"Look, I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to tear that dress off of you and spend the rest of the night making you scream my name.",he whispered bringing his mouth inches away from Allisons, causing her pulse to quicken. "But if you're not ready for that, I get it. I just wish you wouldn't lie to me about it."

What if I fucked up and went too far. Maybe she's lying to spare my feelings. Shit. I'm such an idiot.

"Billy, you didn't do anything wrong and I would never lie to you. Tonight was great. You were perfect.", Allison insisted, leaning in to place a gentle kiss on his lips. "And I wish it didn't have to end.",she added, slowly moving back into her seat and reaching for the door handle again. As she opened the door and went to step out, Billy grabbed her by the wrist.

"How long until I can see you again?"

"Not long...I hope.", she answered with a nervous smile, before slamming the door shut. Allison could feel Billy's gaze locked on her back as she began the walk towards the cabin. The familiar crunch of the gravel below her feet comforted her as she walked through the darkness alone, the events of the night replaying in her head.

Allison felt like she was returning home as a different person than when she had left earlier that night, and she wondered if Hopper and Eleven would be able to notice the changes. She could still taste Billy on her lips and feel his touch on her body, the thought enough to make her stomach flutter. The butterflies inside her were soon swallowed up by a sense of dread as the cabin came into view.

She mounted the stairs and climbed up onto the porch, peaking through the front window where Hopper and Eleven both sat watching television. Sensing Allison's presence, Eleven jumped off the couch and ran to open the door, before Allison could even reach for the handle. As she stepped inside, Hopper stared at Allison from the couch, his face etched with concern.

"You're home early. Is everything alright?", he inquired, putting his half empty beer bottle down on the table beside him.

"I don't know. Can I talk to you outside?", Allison asked, staring down at her feet.

"Uh. Yeah, sure. El, you stay here. Let me know if I miss anything important.", Hopper insisted, referring to the show that they had been watching moments before. Eleven nodded and flopped back down on the couch, while Hopper stood up and followed Allison out onto the porch. "What happened?", he asked quietly, closing the door behind him.