Darcy opened her eyes the next morning to find herself tucked in her own bed, her hair taken out of its previous half updo and her shoes and socks on the floor. Did she have another episode last night?
She sat up straight in bed, gasping in alarm at the sight of Billy sleeping in her desk chair, his arms crossed and his head hanging. He must have brought her home again, but why had he stayed over? She took a moment to study him in the morning light streaming through the windows. It didn't take much to see that Billy was nice to look at, though the word 'nice' wouldn't suffice. Even if she remembered where she last placed her Polaroid camera, it wouldn't capture the definition of his jaw, his long lashes, or the Cupid's bow of his lips. Besides, she couldn't remember where she placed it last; the lens must be blurry and covered in dust.
Darcy shook herself out of her spell, hissing at Billy. "Billy? Billy!"
Billy continued to snore, a line of drool trailing from the corner of his lips. Damn, he sleeps heavier than a rock.
Darcy tossed her stuffed bear at Billy, hitting him square in the face. "Billy!"
Billy awoke with a snort, scrubbing his hand over his face. "What's going on?"
"Did I have another episode? Who did I take this time? Is Dustin's sensor ready?"
Billy yawned, raising a hand to stop her. "Chill out, you didn't have another episode, you didn't take anyone, and no, the sensor isn't ready according to Dustin." He stretched in her desk chair before walking over and kneeling beside her bed. "How do you feel?"
Darcy took a moment to herself, closing her eyes. She was exhausted, but it was a relief knowing she didn't have another episode. "I feel fine. Could be better."
Billy's hand inched towards Darcy's hesitantly. "And your hands?"
"Are warm. See?" She placed her hand on top of his, giving it a light squeeze. "I'm fine, Billy."
He nodded, satisfied. "What do you, uh, remember from last night?"
Darcy took a deep breath, her hand stilling on top of Billy's. "Well, you took me to Tina's lake party last night. And I sat down and I talked with Steve—"
Billy huffed impatiently. "Do you remember the spider monsters?"
Darcy raised her brow at Billy's sudden change in attitude. "I do. I was just leaving when I heard people screaming and came back to see three spider monsters."
"That's all?"
She shook her head. "Then I ran towards them. I don't know what I was thinking, but I couldn't just leave you and that group of people behind."
Billy scoffed. "You felt responsible?"
"Well, considering my actions of late, yeah, I do!"
"That was a stupid thing you did. You should have just kept on."
"And leave you and everyone else with the spier monsters? I had to do something!"
Billy took a deep breath, reigning in his emotions. "Is that all you remember?"
Darcy huffed. "I told the spider monsters to leave everyone alone, and they did."
He scoffed. "Darcy, you didn't just tell them to leave. They listened to you."
"I hope they were because I was telling them where to go in polite terms."
"Verbally or mentally?"
Darcy furrowed her brows. "Mentally?"
"When you stood in front of the three spider monsters," Billy began carefully, "what were you thinking specifically?"
Darcy paused, trying to remember. "I was...just trying to think of a way to divert their attention elsewhere. But I don't know how this is related to my other....ability."
"Dustin thinks that he can have the sensor finished by this evening when I talked to him over the walkie talkie. We can probably meet with everyone else later tonight."
Darcy rubbed her head, sighing. "I can't believe a bunch of thirteen-year-olds are helping us."
Billy huffed a laugh, shaking his head. It's easier to believe than spider monsters running loose in Hawkins."
Darcy widened her eyes in fear. "Could there be more?"
Billy stood up, straightening his shirt. "I don't know, angel—"
"I told you not to call me that."
Billy's lips set in a straight line. "Do you need anything else?"
Darcy shook her head as Billy headed towards her room door to leave. "I'm fine. My aunt will be home soon anyway."
Billy arched a brow, a wicked smile playing at the corner of his lips. "Your aunt? I could never pass up the opportunity to meet the woman who raised you."
"What? NO!" Darcy jumped out of bed, blocking Billy from leaving her room. "My aunt can never find out that you were here, especially all night."
Billy's grin widened as he took a step closer to Darcy, her back against the door. "Your aunt's coming home soon, and you're keeping guys in your room at night? Not a smart move, Darcy. Besides," he leaned in closer, "you know I don't bite."
Darcy swallowed the lump forming in her throat and ignored the heat pooling in her stomach. "Why do you do this?"
Billy tilted his head to the side, feigning innocence. "Doing what?"
"You're always trying to help me, and in the middle of it all, you act like...like..."
Billy rested his hand on Darcy's bedroom door, just above the doorknob near her waist. "Like what?"
Darcy huffed. "I'm sick of you acting like a flirt all the time!"
Billy twisted the doorknob, stepped around Darcy, and left her room. He called over his shoulder before stepping through the front door. "Who said I was acting?"
