Bad for You (Billy x OC)

The Snow Ball

"Julia. Come inside."

My dad is staring at Billy and I. Billy lets go of me and I start to walk towards the door. My dad doesn't stop looking at Billy until I'm inside, and he promptly slams the door shut. When I peak out of the window, I see Billy turned around and walking back home. I let out a sigh. "So do you want to tell me who that is?" I turn to see my dad standing next to me, watching Billy leave. "Its not important," I mumble back to him. "I don't like him." He says gruffly. "Dad. You don't know him." I roll my eyes and walk into the kitchen. "I don't need to know him. If he's saying sorry, he's done something pretty bad, and if he's done something pretty bad, I don't like him." My dad states in a matter of fact way. I place my hands on the counter and look down, taking a deep breath in and letting out an even longer sigh. He chooses now to be my dad?

When I come back into the living room, he's already turned on the TV and opened his first beer. I shake my head and walk back into my room, throwing myself onto the bed. 

~ 

"Oh girls, they wanna have fun! Oh girls just wanna have-"

I hit my alarm and stop the music. Its Monday. 

After helping my friends save the world, I'd almost forgotten that we still have to go to school. I groan and roll out of my bed. I throw on a shirt and a sweater, for the colder weather, and a pair of jeans. I swipe on some mascara and a lip gloss and come out of my room. Before I can knock on her door, my sister is already opening it and ready to leave for school. "Good morning!" she chirps. "uh huh," I follow her as she practically skips to the car.

Our routine stays intact as my sister jumps out of the car and runs to meet her friends, I look over at them and watch as they greet each other with a laugh and head inside. When I step out of my car I see Billy watching me. I turn quickly to look away and walk over to Steve. We head inside together and start the day. Nancy meets us and tells us how Hawkins lab is being closed down and that theyre going to release the whole story to the news. Steve and I don't know what to say. The bell rings before we can continue the conversation so Nancy and I agree to meet after school later to see Barb's parents. 

I continue to avoid Billy throughout the day until English class. I ignore his attempts to get my attention and when the bell rings, dismissing us from class, I quickly make my way to the door and find Nancy waiting for me at the end of the hall. I scurry past Billy and leave him t watch as I head straight to Nancy and out to the car. 

By the time we get to Barb's house, we see another car leaving and Barbara's mom is crying. When we meet her at the door, she gives Nancy the tightest hug and invites us in. Apparently someone had come to tell them that Barb died, but not because she was eaten by a monster, she died after she was exposed to some new chemical from the lab. Nancy did her best to hide her feelings until we left. 

When we got into the car to leave she let it out, "Can you believe this bullshit? Exposed to research chemicals?" She started to cry. "I can't believe they still don't know. We should turn around, we've got to say something!" Nancy started to get hysterical. "Nancy, it better this way. Now they can have a funeral, they can move on." Nancy keeps crying, "Do you really think telling them the truth would be any better?" I try to reason with her. When she finally calms down enough to think about it, she shakes her head. "You're right. Knowing would only drag them into everything." We keep driving and I take Nancy home

~

A month has gone by, we had a funeral for Barb, the lab is closed. Things are finally getting back to normal. I've been ignoring Billy for a few weeks. 

I'm doing my homework when I hear the door crack open. I look up to see my sister, she's all dressed up and I smile, I stand up and try to grab a camera. "NO PICTURES." She shouts and snatches the camera from me. "awe come onnnn, its not like I'll be here for your prom, just one picture!" I plead, trying to reach the camera. "I'll have dad send a picture." She rolls her eyes at me. "LIES!" I shout back when suddely a light flashes. We both look at the door to see dad grinning with a camera in hand, photo sliding out. Amelia lets out a groan and I rush over to inspect the picture. Its the two of us fighting, "I think we can do better, lets try again" I say with a smile. "Nice try, come on, are you giving me a ride or not?" she heads to the door. Most of the juniors are required to help with the snowball at the middle school, "I never get to see you dressed up anymore, I'm not missing a single second." I say as I grab the car keys. "Have fun you two!" Dad shouts as we run outside.

When we pull into the parking lot my sister is dreading getting out. "Oh come on, its just a middle school dance, the kids are more worried about each other, not you." She sighs and finally forces herself from the car. Before I start to drive away I see that she's left her bag. I park and run after her. "You left this!" I say catching up to her, she takes the purse and gives me a quick nod heading into the school. 

When I turn I run right into someone, "oh I'm so sorry I- oh hey," I look down to see Max. "Hey," Max says awkwardly, trying to pat her hair back into place. I see her struggling and offer to help, "here let me." I gently smooth her hair back and fix her braid. "um hey," Max says as I fix the last hair, pulling back to admire my work. "What's up?" I ask. "Are you gonna talk to Billy again?" she asks looking back up at me. I stop in my tracks not knowing what to say. Max continues, "he misses you, and he may be a jerk but he's a lot nicer when you're around." "Max, I don't really know if thats-" I start to say but she quickly interrupts me, "he's like really sorry and he's been way less of an asshole lately if that helps. He's mostly just sad a lot..." Max trails off. 

I think it over, knowing Max and Billy don't really get along, so the fact that she's saying all of this must mean its true. I smile and nod, "sure, next time I see him." Max smiles, "Okay cool." she starts to head inside the gym and I start walking back outsude. "But-" I turn when I hear her voice again, "Could you, not tell him about this? He's still my jerk brother." I nod and wave as she runs into the snowball to meet the boys.