ocean eyes ✧ Billy Hargrove

[ 01 ]

Daphne pushed open the front door, the familiar creak echoing through the quiet house. She had just returned from her evening with Steve, her mind still lingering on their conversation. The warm glow of the living room lights spilled out into the hallway, guiding her steps as she headed toward the kitchen. But as she passed Will's room, she paused. The door was ajar, and through the crack, she could see him sitting on his bed, staring out the window.

Something about his posture—the way his shoulders slumped, the distant look in his eyes—made her heart twist with concern. Daphne knocked lightly on the doorframe, her voice soft. "Hey, Will. You okay?"

Will didn't turn immediately, as if he hadn't heard her at first. When he finally did, his eyes were wide, and there was a shadow there that Daphne hadn't seen in a long time, not since last year. He was quiet for a moment, his fingers fidgeting with the edge of his comforter.

Daphne stepped into the room, her worry deepening. She sat down on the bed beside him, close enough that their shoulders touched. "What's going on, little brother? You seem... off."

Will hesitated, biting his lip as if trying to find the right words. Finally, he took a deep breath and looked up at her. "Daph... something happened today. At the arcade."
Daphne's heart skipped a beat, but she kept her voice steady, calm. "What happened?"

Will shifted his gaze to the window again, the memories of the afternoon still vivid in his mind. "Well, the others were there... and then they just weren't," he began, his voice low, almost as if he was afraid to say it out loud. "And I was back there again... in the Upside Down."
Daphne's stomach tightened, but she remained silent, letting him continue.

"I heard this noise, this loud, horrible noise, and so I went outside," Will's voice trembled slightly. "And it was worse. There was this storm, but it wasn't just rain or thunder... it was like the whole sky was angry. I felt frozen, like how you feel when you're scared and you can't breathe or talk or do anything."
Daphne reached out and took his hand, her grip gentle but firm. "Will..."

He squeezed her hand back, his eyes still staring at some unseen horror outside the window. "I felt this evil, like it was looking at me. It wasn't like last year... it was different. Stronger. And it wanted to kill—not me, but everyone else. It was like it was trying to show me what it would do."

The room was silent for a long moment, the weight of his words hanging in the air. Daphne felt a shiver run down her spine, but she pushed it aside, focusing on Will. She knew how hard it was for him to talk about these things, how much he kept inside to protect the people he cared about.

"Will, that sounds... terrifying," she said softly, her thumb gently brushing over his knuckles. "But you're safe now. You're here, and that thing, whatever it was, can't hurt you."
Will finally looked at her, and she could see the fear and confusion swirling in his eyes. "What if it's not over, Daphne? What if it's still out there?"

Daphne didn't have an answer, but she knew she had to be strong for him. "Whatever happens, we'll face it together. You're not alone in this, okay? We'll figure it out, like we always do."

Will nodded slowly, some of the tension in his shoulders easing. He leaned into her, resting his head against her shoulder, and Daphne wrapped an arm around him, holding him close. They sat like that for a while, the darkness outside pressing in against the house, but inside, there was warmth and a sense of safety—fragile, but real.

Eventually, Daphne spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper. "We should tell Mom. And maybe talk to Hopper and if you have a visit at the lab tomorrow say it like you just told me. They'll know what to do. Okay?"
Will nodded again, though he didn't seem entirely convinced. But he didn't argue, and that was enough for now.

"Okay," he said softly. "But can you stay here? Just for a bit longer?"
"Of course," Daphne replied, tightening her hold on him. "I'm not going anywhere."
And as the night deepened, they stayed there together, the outside world shut out for just a little while longer.

*****************

The late October air was crisp and cool, with just a hint of frost in the early morning. Hawkins, was gearing up for Halloween and the town was buzzing with excitement. Orange and black decorations lined the streets, and the smell of fallen leaves and pumpkin spice seemed to linger everywhere.

Daphne rolled over in bed, blinking at the pale light filtering through the curtains of Will's room. She looked at the room confused, but then remembered the confession Will made and how he asked to stay with him. She sighed, pushing herself up and running a hand through her tangled hair.

Today would be just like any other day at Hawkins High—except that it wasn't. Halloween was only a few days away, and the anticipation was electric. For Daphne, the holiday meant parties, costumes, and the chance to show everyone exactly why she was the queen of the school. She had a reputation to maintain, after all.

She glanced over at the clock on the wall and it was time to get up. With a groan, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and walked to her room. As soon as she got to her vanity the reflection that greeted her was flawless, but Daphne knew better. She saw the faint lines of worry around her eyes, the way her smile didn't always reach as far as it used to. Ever since last year nothing had been quite the same.

Daphne and her brothers had been through something no one else could understand. Even now, she could see the shadows lingering in Will's eyes, the way Jonathan had become even more protective, and the way their mother had become hyper-vigilant, as if the world might tear apart at any moment. Daphne was determined to be strong for them, but it was hard when the past still cast such a long shadow.

She chased away those thoughts and started her morning routine with practiced ease: shower, hair and finally her outfit. Hawkins High had its share of cliques, and Daphne was at the top. She knew how to command attention, how to make heads turn when she walked down the hall. But beneath the surface, there was a restlessness she couldn't shake.

Downstairs, the house was quiet. Will was still asleep, exhausted from another restless night. Jonathan was already up and out, his car gone from the driveway, likely off to take photos before school. Joyce was in the kitchen, flipping through the newspaper with a distracted look on her face.

"Morning, Mom" Daphne said, grabbing an apple from the counter.
Joyce looked up, her expression softening. "Morning, Daph. You heading to school soon?"

"Yeah, just finishing up." Daphne took a bite of the apple, savoring the sweet crunch. "Anything exciting in the news?"
Joyce's smile faded a little. "Just the usual. But there was something about... some weird reports from around town. People seeing things that aren't there."

Daphne felt a chill that had nothing to do with the weather. "Like what?"
"Lights flickering, strange noises, stuff like that." Joyce shrugged, trying to downplay it, but Daphne could see the worry in her eyes.

"Probably just kids playing pranks," Daphne said, trying to sound nonchalant, but her mind was already racing.
"Yeah, probably," Joyce agreed, but her tone wasn't convincing.

Daphne finished her apple and grabbed her keys, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "I'll see you later, okay?"
Joyce nodded, her smile returning, if only a little. "Be safe, sweetheart."

Daphne stepped outside, the cold air biting at her cheeks. As she drove to school in her claret red Cadillac Eldorado she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Hawkins had never really gone back to normal after last year, and as Halloween approached, the town seemed to be holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.