016. 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦

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chapter sixteenthe billy problem

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chapter sixteen
the billy problem




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"I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND," SAYS STEVE, his eyes fixed on Eleven. Her hair, grown out a little more, has been slicked back, black eyeliner circling her eyes. She looks cool, Ruby thinks. Not Ruby's style, that's for sure, but she can appreciate it. She supposes Eleven's got a lot of personal development to go through, so a weird metal phase is OK. (At least, until she hits high school. A sister of hers is not going anywhere near those freaks.)

"She used to live in the lab," says Ruby. "They did all the tests on her, but she escaped last year, when Will went missing."

Mike's hugging Eleven, the biggest smile on his face, and Ruby wonders if she's ever seen him smile before. Or, at least, not once the last day. Ruby glances back at Steve, clearly confused.

"I never gave up on you," Mike tells Eleven. "I called you every night. Every night for—"

"Three hundred and fifty-three days," says Eleven. "I heard."

"Why didn't you tell me you were there?" asks Mike. "That you were OK?"

"Because I wouldn't let her." Ruby's eyes move to her dad, who steps towards Eleven. Her brows furrow, watching the two. Hopper looks at Eleven, and Ruby feels a pang of jealousy run through her. "The hell is this? Where have you been?"

"Where have you been?" says Eleven.

Hopper pulls Eleven into a hug. Ruby steps forwards, next to Mike.

"What the hell?" she says.

"You've been hiding her," says Mike. "You've been hiding her this whole time!"

Mike shoves Hopper, and of course it makes no difference, considering the size he is, but it makes Hopper turn around. "Hey!" he goes, but Mike shoves him again. Hopper takes hold of Mike, stopping him. Ruby wants to step in, but she sees the look on Eleven's face.

Ruby cannot believe this. Her dad was looking after Eleven all of this time? Why didn't he tell her? Granted, they never speak, but could he not at least have extended the courtesy when Ruby was obviously and considerably upset when she thought Eleven was dead? Ruby tried to find Eleven in the other dimension, she was wishing she could figure out what to do — and all of this time, her dad was taking care of her?

"Let's talk!" Hopper points towards the nearest room. "Alone."

Ruby doesn't know if she's supposed to follow, but she hesitates. She looks across at Eleven, who looks as if she's been told off by Mike. Suddenly, Ruby realises what it actually means to have a younger sibling. Sometimes, her feelings need to be put to the side, so she can help them out instead.

ruby's body ━━ steve harringtonWhere stories live. Discover now