𝕕𝕒𝕞𝕒𝕘𝕖𝕕 𝕘𝕠𝕠𝕕𝕤: 𝕒 𝕓𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕘𝕣𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕗𝕒𝕟𝕗𝕚𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟚𝟙: ℙ𝕒𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕕 ℙ𝕣𝕚𝕕𝕖

Billy leaned against the back of the lifeguarding chair, drumming his fingers impatiently against the arm of the chair. He hadn't seen Darcy all day, and it was close to closing the pool. He made sure she was home safe, and he didn't even ask any questions. Was she keeping his leather jacket?

Once the last of the patrons exited the Hawkins Community Pool, he leapt off his lifeguarding chair and began to clean the place up, picking up trash, empty soda cans, whatever the patrons didn't want, which thankfully didn't include their rowdy children.

"Hey."

Billy glanced up to see Darcy standing behind the pool gate with a small smile. He raised a brow but said nothing else as he dumped the pile of trash into the bin.

Darcy pointed to the pool gate. "May I?"

Billy nodded, unlocking the pool gate and letting Darcy step inside. She shoved her hands into the pocket of her shorts, taking a deep breath. "Well, so much for our first date, huh?"

Billy scoffed, hiding his pained pride as he rinsed his hands off using the pool hose. "Don't worry about it."

"Look, I just swung by to apologize for leaving so abruptly. I didn't get cold feet, or anything like that. But since you said not to worry about it, I won't, then." Darcy turned, heading for the pool gate.

"Wait." Billy placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, stopping her from leaving. "What happened?"

Darcy took a deep breath, crossing her arms. "I don't know. I swear."

Billy shook his head adamantly. "No. I know something happened when you told me you were going to the bathroom. Now tell me, what happened?"

"I don't know."

"Did someone hurt you?"

"No!"

"Then what, Darcy?!"

Darcy ran a hand through her dark curls. "It's hard to explain."

"Just try."

Darcy took a deep breath, crossing her arms and avoiding Billy's gaze. "My hands were getting cold. But not cold from being in the theater, they were just freezing. My hands were like that when I was with Tommy. So I ran to the bathroom because..." she swallowed, "I didn't want anything to happen to you, too."

Billy nodded, listening. "Then what happened in the bathroom?"

"I turned on the water, trying to warm up my hands, and then the lights in the bathroom started flickering."

Billy furrowed his brows. "In the bathroom?"

"Yes, keep up!"

"Okay, then what else happened?"

Darcy pursed her lips, thinking hard. "After that...I don't know."

"Then I found you in the rain, walking alone, not too far off of Mirkwood Road. Your shoes and purse were missing."

Darcy shrugged. "I really can't tell you how I ended up there. I wish I could. I thought I couldn't remember what happened with Tommy because of the alcohol, but what if it's something else?"

Billy crossed his arms, thinking. "Is this the first time that it's happened?"

"My hands are always cold. But not being able to remember things? That's new."

"And they've been happening at night?"

Darcy nodded, glancing at the setting sun. "So I should probably get going."

The words slipped out of Billy's mouth before he could stop them. "Let me take you home."

Darcy's head whipped back towards Billy. "Why?"

"Because if it happens to you again, you won't remember. But I will."

Darcy scoffed, shaking her head. "Why are you helping me? I'm surprised you're not throwing ice cream cones at my head with Carol."

Billy chose his next words carefully. "Well, why did you go out with me?" When Darcy's cheeks reddened, he chuckled. "Because you were curious, weren't you?"

Darcy raised a suspicious brow. "So you're saying...?"

"Reading a story and listening to it isn't the same thing as actually living it."

"But I know you—"

Billy laughed. "Sweetheart, you know of me. That's also not the same thing."

Darcy crossed her arms, unconvinced. "How do I know you're not some kind of narc or you're not doing this just for some sort of compensation?"

He smirked. "You ought to see my record sometime."

"So you're helping me because you're bored?"

Billy leaned in close, the smile disappearing from his face. "It's a small town, Darcy. People in small towns are irrational when they're scared. And I'm not irrational. Or scared."

Darcy stood up straight, meeting Billy's gaze with a twinkle in her eye. "But you are curious."

Once Billy closed up the community pool, he and Darcy climbed into his Camaro. After pulling out of the pool's parking lot, Billy stole a glance at Darcy, smirking.

"So, you kept my jacket or what?"

Darcy swallowed. "No, I dropped it off at your place. I didn't want to bother you at work, and I wanted to talk to you when there was no one around."

Billy gripped the steering wheel tighter. "My place?"

"Yeah, I handed it off to your sister."

He clenched his jaw as he braked at a stop sign. "Max is my stepsister."

Darcy only nodded, staring straight ahead. Billy spoke up again after turning onto a street.

"How do you feel?"

Darcy shrugged. "Fine, I guess."

"Your hands, do they feel cold?"

Darcy stared down at her hands. "No, just clammy."

Soon, Billy pulled into Darcy's driveway and placed his Camaro in park. He unbuckled his seatbelt and turned towards Darcy. "Are you sure you feel fine?"

Darcy nodded, unbuckling her seatbelt and turning to face Billy. "I do." She glanced down at her hands, smiling shyly.

The corner of Billy's lip quirked upwards. "If this was still our first date, what would you do?"

Darcy glanced back up at Billy, her expression unreadable. "Well, I'd thank you for the ride."

Billy snorted. "That's all?"

"Yeah, because it's all I need right now."

Before Billy could respond, Darcy slammed his head against the dashboard with a loud crack! His vision began to swim, and he could feel something warm and metallic-tasting dripping from his nose before all became dark.