𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞 | 𝐬.𝐡

042. The First Snowball

A MONTH HAD PASSED SINCE THAT FATEFUL NIGHT. It was now December 15th, the day of the Hawkins Middle Snowball. Despite not being in middle school, Mavis found herself busy. She had anticipated the arrival of Max Mayfield, who she had promised to help get ready.

For now, she found herself on the phone with Steve Harrington, who found himself at the Henderson home. Helping Dustin get ready.

"You don't understand May, this kid is crazy," Steve said into the phone lowly.

"I tried to warn you. You better not be giving him advice again," she chuckled.

"And if I am?" he teased.

"You may find yourself out of a date tonight," she teased back.

He gasped, "you wouldn't dare."

Their conversation was interrupted by a honk that came from outside Mavis's house.

She sighed, "that must be Max," she paused, "I really hope it's not Billy dropping her off."

"Listen if he-" he hesitated, "Max'll kick his ass if he gives you any trouble, right?"

She chuckled, "I'm sure she would, now I have to go. And Steve, don't worry about me it'll be okay. Just be here at-"

"7:00, I know."

Once she said her goodbyes to Steve she made her way to the door and opened it. She could see Max making her way to the house from a car parked on the road, Billy's car. Even worse, Billy was outside of his car and leaning on it.

She did her best to ignore him, focusing her eyes on Max and flashing her a smile. Max nervously gave her a smile back. She could feel the tension between Billy and Mavis.

As Max made it to the doorstep Mavis pulled her into a hug to say hello when a voice called out from behind them.

"Hey Montgomery, can we talk?" Billy called out.

They pulled out of their hug. "You don't have to talk to him," Max said looking up to her. Mavis shrugged, "It's fine, if he starts trying to kick my ass again just call Hopper or Steve," she managed a chuckle trying to reassure Max. She gently ushered Max in the door, "you can go on in, I'll be in in a minute," she said before giving her a warm smile.

Mavis now found herself exactly where she did not want to be. Walking towards Billy Hargrove. As she made her way over she tried to avoid looking at him. Every time she did all she could think about was how he almost killed Steve and then her when she tried to stop him.

Now standing about five feet away from him, she waited for him to speak. Her arms were crossed almost like she was wrapping her arms around herself.

"Listen I just wanted to apologize for what happened last month. I've been trying to find you at school but you haven't been in the alley lately and that's where I usually ran into you," he said.

"Yeah I've been avoiding it recently," she said plainly before biting the inside of her cheek. It was true. She tried to act like it wasn't but it was. The alley had always been her safe place, somewhere she could be alone if she wanted to. The possibility that someone could take advantage of her vulnerability there terrified her.

"Because of me?" he asked. Mavis didn't respond right away, turning her attention to the road, trying to find anything else to look at. Suddenly she began, she was done being silent toward him cause of fear. He doesn't get to push people around and get away with it because he doesn't know his strength or some other bullshit.

"You know, you tried to kill Lucas, and then you almost killed Steve. And then when I tried to stop you, you tried kill me... So yes, I've been avoiding the one place in that school that I considered safe because of you," she said only tightening her grip on herself.