Runaway ~ (Completed) ✅ ~

51

(y/n) - your name

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It was another hot day in California, people hanging out on the beaches, going to skating rinks or just hangout out near ice cream parlours. Billy drove by beneath the palm trees in his blue Camaro-no, not the old one that was crushed by the Mind Flayer-a new one that he bought and upgraded with parts he manages to scrap from his old car. Girls giggled and waved at Billy as he drove past them, the cars top down and the wind blowing over him. He didn't glance at them, leaning his arm against the door as the other held his wheel, wearing his sunglasses and chewing on his gum. 

He was driving to work, parking in the lot of the car shop. It was a modest job, nothing that interesting but it allowed Billy to work on cars like he enjoyed doing while earning reasonable pay. He wasn't interested in going to college like everybody who was his age.

"Hi Billy." a few girls winked as they hung around in the open lot where a bunch of cars were parked that needed upgrading or tuning. He looks over them briefly, the girls squealing before he walked into the shop and was greeted by his coworkers.

"Nice for you to join us Billy." the boss greeted him, nodding. "Mr Sanders's car is waiting for you. The man is very pleased with your work."

"Sure." Billy walks back out to see the familiar car he has upgraded many times, taking his shirt off to not get it dirty and the girls around him all oggle at him. It didn't feel the same anymore, nor did he care about their attention. Just a couple hours of this and he could go to his other job of teaching kids to surf. That was his favourite time of the day. He loved being in the water and teaching the kids to not be afraid to surf. It felt the same as when he taught kids how to swim at the pools in Hawkins but at the same time, it was like he was going through his memories and seeing himself learn to surf for the first time as a child.

It made him happy for the time being while he was in the water with them, their parents encouraging them to not be afraid. He would pretend his mother was also with them, imagining (y/n) cheering him on from the beach. This kept him sane.

Billy grabbed his tools and rolled beneath the car to get started on the upgrade.

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"Hey kid, wake up. We're almost there." (y/n) furrows her brows from the slight headache that pounded against her head, rubbing her forehead as she woke up from leaning against the glass window. She blinked and looked out the window to see sunny skies and she was eager to go out and feel the sun after a freezing night.

"What's in your hand?" the kid asks the girl next to him and she looks down at the child. She opens her fist to reveal the necklace before closing her fingers over it tightly again as the kid was about to snatch it. "Cool!" The coach stops and the driver announces they were in California, (y/n) waiting for everyone to get up before she got up to get off the coach. She sighs from the warmth of the sun, not too hot like the sweltering desert heat. She slung her backpack over her back, holding Billy's photo as she walked away from the bus stop to finally search for him.

(y/n) was in awe of the place around her, it was so lively and bright. People dressed in shorts and singlets with sunglasses, some skating around her while others were on skateboards. There were a lot of people on the beaches, others going in and out of stores. (y/n) looked around and saw a stall with some pen and paper, going over to grab one of each before asking people if they knew Billy or had seen him. A lot of people ignored her, a rare few answering her questions with a shake of their head.

This might have been a pointless search...

(y/n)'s hope diminished every time she asked for someone's help for them to turn her away. She felt so lost... so alone. She didn't know anyone and she was terrified. She had nowhere to stay, no money, no help... (y/n) stood under the shelter of a store, crying softly. She was so scared, looking around the place she had no clue about. She wanted to go home. She just wanted to go home...