glimpse of us

001

"you're going where?" his voice softer than usual, his eyes searched her face for an answer.

"we're moving, billy. i couldn't bear telling you early on, i'll be gone by tonight."

olivia felt a headache coming that was not from sickness, but from the amount of force she put on herself to not let her eyes grow hot and let it all out.

he pounded his fist on the wall, the anger that was seeping out of him now overflowed.

this made her flinch; she knew he saw her as selfish, and it wasn't fair to him. "i'm sorry." it was all she could let out with a choked sob.

after awhile of anxiously picking at her skin, she looked at him in the eye. he was ruined, the usual squinting eyes she would smile at are now heavy with tears.

"you didn't answer me, liv. where are you going?" his voice cracked.

she was his home — his person — the only one that let him know that things will change. her silence made his heart drop, it hit him, he's not gonna see her anymore.

"you come here and tell me you're leaving but not telling me where? this is fucking bullshit." his throat thickened, a miserable laugh comes out of him.

she observed him one last time, a tender smile filled with regret show on her face. "i'm sorry, billy." her voice tender as she said his name.

olivia approached billy and wrapped her arms around him, this was her goodbye. as soon as she hid her face in his chest, his shirt was now wet with her sadness.

"i love you, billy. i love you more than myself." she whispered — she doesn't know what she'd do without him — the embodiment of her joy.

he didn't say it back, he heard her but felt uneasy. he knows what love is, he feels it with her; it just won't come out, he hasn't said those three words in a long time.

"good bye billy." she looked up at him and cupped his face, letting her thumb run across his features.

he watched her go, the door shut making him feel empty.

______________

olivia stared out the car window, she's been quiet the whole trip. the image of billy's sad eyes keeping her busy in her thoughts.

"we're close." her mother announced yet it didn't excite her, it made her feel even worse. the longest car ride in the world to a place she knows nothing about, literal hell.

she put on her nova 45s and played her favorite song to distract herself.

they pass by a few more trees and houses, until the car takes a stop to park. "we're here liv, go get your stuff." she nodded in response and took her bags.

a new home, in a small, sleepy, gloomy town. "you'll start your classes tomorrow at your new school 'kay?" her mother pat her shoulder and she nodded.

"thanks mom." she smiled, a genuine smile. if her mother was willing to make things work then she'll have to do the same.

______________

a year later

olivia shuffled around her room, trying to get ready for school. super freak quietly playing on her radio making her energized enough to move this morning.

knock knock knock.

"liv, your ride is here!" her mother called out from the other side of the door, she smiled knowing who it is.

she swiftly ran down the stairs — making sure she doesn't miss a step — put on her shoes and left the house to be greeted by a car in front of her doorstep.

"aren't you gonna greet me?" steve joked.

steve 'the hair' harrington, a really funny guy she became friends with because of carol, a girl that made small talk with her in chemistry.

"good morning, harrington." she rolled her eyes and opened the car door, as soon as she was comfortable, the car immediately turned back to the road.

a ride from steve has been the norm for her almost every morning, he was so insistent on taking her to school just because his 'baby' is amazing, and by 'baby' he definitely meant his car.

they pass by familiar trees and knew they were close. "what're you gonna do today?" he asked while tapping the steering wheel along with the music.

"nothing much actually, just got a test for mr. davis' class and probably just gonna skate back home." the music made her head bop a little up and down while answering. the little action made him snicker.

they were finally at the school and parked, she thanked steve for the ride. "don't sweat it, let me know if you need a ride anywhere else outside of hawkins high." his lips curled and so did hers.

suddenly a car comes racing by them, it intrigued olivia so she stepped out the car to see who it was.

the car's door opens and a boot steps out, a blonde guy with an acid wash jean jacket, nothing new. you hear a few girls hoot at him, he turned around and he looked familiar.

that's weird... she takes a few more seconds to squint and stare, it is someone she knows.

she immediately turned around and faced steve. "okay, well, thank you again steve! bye now!" she hurriedly walked away, it confused him but he didn't think much about it.

her walk was quick, she pretended to not see him. there is no way that's billy... it's impossible!