POISON - Billy Hargrove

- Four -

Distractedly staring while finishing his cigarette, Billy didn't notice his step-sister, Max, quickly hop into the passenger seat of his car. When he finally turned to enter it himself, his face turned to a scowl.

"You're lucky I didn't see you get in, shit for brains," he snarled. Keys in hand, he reached toward the ignition and sped down the street.

The two sat in silence for a while. Billy's reckless driving was only encouraged by Motley Crue's "Shout At The Devil" blaring through the speakers.

"This place is such a shithole," Billy mumbled.

"It's not that bad," Maxine shrugged, looking over at him.

"No?' he challenged. His finger pushed at a switch in the center console, rolling down Max's window. He inhaled deeply before plugging his nose. "Smell that, Max? That's actually shit, cow shit."

"I don't see any cows." Max rolled her window back up.

"Clearly you haven't met the high school girls," he bickered and she rolled her eyes. "So what, you like it here now?"

"No," she snapped at him quickly.

"Then why are you defending it?"

"I'm not."

"Sure sounds like it."

"It's just we're stuck here," she sighed, "so-"

"Mmhm, you're right," Billy agreed, his voice low. "We're stuck here. And whose fault is that?"

"Yours," Max mumbled under her breath. Unfortunately, she wasn't quiet enough and her brother heard her.

"What'd you say?" he rasped, jaw clenching, looking at her briefly. "You say it's my fault?"

"No," she lied, refusing to look towards him.

"You know whose fault it is," he mumbled. "Say it."

Max stayed silent, her eyes fixed on her feet.

"Max," Billy pushed. "Say it." His nostrils flared as anger washed over his face. "SAY IT," he finally roared. His fingers spun at the volume dial and foot slammed on the gas. Soon, the two were pushing fifty in a thirty mile per hour zone. He grunted along to the music playing, tapping the steering wheel to the beat.

"Billy, slow down," Max said cautiously, sitting forward in her seat. She could see her new friends up the street on their bikes.

Billy spotted them too.

"Those your new, hick, friends?" he, his voice loud even over the music.

"No, I don't know them."

"I guess you won't care if I hit 'em then, huh? I get bonus points if I get 'em all in one go?"

"No, Billy stop, it's not funny." She turned in her seat to face him.

Billy looked forward, tapping the steering wheel harder and harder as he drove.

"Billy, c'mon stop it. It's not funny!" Max squeaked, raising her voice.

The two neared Mike, Lucas, and Dustin on their bikes. They peddled faster and faster, desperately trying to avoid Billy's car. As he nearly approached them, Max grabbed the steering wheel.

"Billy stop it!" she screamed, turning the wheel away from the boys.

"Yeah, that was a close one huh?" Billy shouted. He let out a maniacal laugh as Max turned her head back to check on the boys.

They had crashed into the ground on the side of the road, terrified but safe. Billy continued to speed home.

Author's Note: Hi! Thanks for getting this far. I'm sure you all recognize this scene, and if you don't... I apologize that this is your introduction to Stranger Things and Billy Hargrove. Please let me know what you think! Bits and pieces of this story will follow the actual plot of Stranger Things, but the majority of it won't. If you're here, you're just here for Billy. That's fine, though, because same.