You're Just As Troubled• Billy Hargrove

~Chapter Forty~

"Billy" I whispered as he walked in.

"You're okay? Everything's fine?" He asked.

"Yeah everything's fine" I said. He let out a breath.

"C'mon I'll take you home" Billy said. We filled out some forms before being able to leave. Once the forms were completed Billy lead me to his car.

"Can we go somewhere to talk?" I asked as we sat down in the car.

"Yeah, are you sure you're okay?" Billy asked looking at my strangely. I shook my head gently.

Billy pulled into the park down the road from our houses.

"The park?" I questioned.

"Yeah it means a lot to me" Billy said softly, I smiled. "So?" He asked. I was beginning to get nervous. How do you just ask someone to take you back? How do you explain to someone your memory has magically returned and you want continue where you left off?

"Just hear me out. I've got so many issues, too many to count. I understand if you say no and walk away. I won't resent you or blame you down the road" I began

"I'm not mad about the keg stand or anything. It's all meaningless stuff, what's not meaningless is how I feel about you" I softly said. Billy reached across the seat and crashed his lips against mine.

"Watch the nose" I said pulling away.

"Sorry" Billy said "so wait you remember?"

"Yeah the Camaro caused the rest of my memories to comeback. Sorry for almost puking on you" I said slightly embarrassed.

"I've missed you so much" Billy said cupping my face in his hands. "Now tell me who did this"

"Billy promise me you won't go beating them up. They're not worth it" I said placing my hands over his.

"I can't make that promise"

"Billy"

"Fine"

"It was Ethan and Tucker" I softly said. A fire was ignited in his eyes. "Billy just leave them alone. I'm begging you"

"I won't I promise" Billy said. We sat on the hood of the car and gazed at the stars.
———
Billy was true to his promise. While he didn't lay a finger on Ethan or Tucker he made sure the got what they deserved.

Billy told a few football players about what happened and the word spread like wildfire. Girls avoided them left and right and every single guy was disgusted at them. They no longer had friends.

It was now thanksgiving and the Miller/Byers house was hosting our first thanksgiving as a blended family.

Jonathan and Billy had to set up a couple more folding tables and chairs to accommodate the number of guests.

"Ok everyone take a seat" Joyce said as she corralled us all into the dining room.

My dad and Joyce had each taken a seat at the end of the table. In between was Nancy, Jonathan, Billy, and I. On the opposite side was El, Mike, Max and Will.

"Can you pass the potatoes?" Will asked.

"Biscuit please" El said. Max was pouring gravy while my dad was craving pieces of turkey.

What a year it's been in Hawkins. Last thanksgiving it was just Billy, my dad and I. Now I have Joyce who's like a second mother, three pain in the ass friends who live with me, along with all their pain in the ass friends that visit all the time. One thing I was most grateful for was Billy.

Through trials and tribulations we made it. What could Hawkins possible through at us this time.

"So for Christmas I'm think of making a ham. How does that sound?" Joyce asked the table.

"Ooo can we make the Christmas shaped pie this year?" Will asked.

"Oh yeah can we?" Jonathan added.

"No, you have to my dad's coconut cream pie for Christmas dessert" I said.

"We can make both" my dad said.

"You know I hope Santa brings me the new boots I've been asking for all last winter" I said winking at Will.

"I know Santa isn't real Phoebe"

"Then who's going to bring the Atari you want?" I asked. Jonathan and Nancy let out a chuckle.

"I want some new clothes" El suggested for her Christmas gift.

"Jonathan what do you want?" My dad asked.

"A new camera would be nice" Jonathan said.

"I think I'm going to get El some new socks because she's constantly taking mine" I teased. The girl stuck out her tongue.

"Billy?" My dad asked.

"Oh I don't need anything. I've got everything I could ever want" Billy said winking at me.

"As much as I love that answer, we need a real one" I teased.

"Maybe we can get Billy some shirts with buttons that actually button" my dad joked. Billy looked red in the face while the whole table bursted out laughing.

"What do you want dad?" I asked.

"Maybe for the kids living under this roof to stop dating" he joked again. My dad was the typical jokester dad, cracking every dad joke in the book.

"Maybe we can all take a vacation over Christmas break" Joyce added. The chatter continued all night long. After we ate we hung Christmas decorations, Joyce had enough lights to decorate the whole house. We put the tree up and placed the ornaments on it.

Hawkins was truly home.