Halley's comet | Steve Harrington

ii.xv shit hits the fan (again)

"𝒃𝒖𝒕, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘, 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔,"

⇜☾✩☽⇝

The fact that Max didn't believe them wasn't exactly surprising. Halley could've said that would've happened as soon as Lucas proposed his idea. But she went through with it, and now the kid thinks the two of them are insane.

However, it gave her a problem to fix, which was a good reason to not think about Caroline.

That was how she found herself standing at the Hargrove door. The only car out front was the Camero, so it was a safe bet that Mr. Hargrove was off at work.

She knocked. There was music inside; it was loud but not as loud as she would have expected. She knocked again.

A tall, red haired woman opened the door. She had a kind face but tired eyes. Susan already looked different than she did that first night Halley saw her at the middle school PTA meeting.

"Oh," She said, not exactly sounding excited to see her, "you must be one of Billy's friends."

Halley interrupted before she could call out to the boy. "No, actually. I'm here to see Max? Um, would it be alright if I came in?" Susan gave her a skeptical look, no doubt wondering why a high school senior was looking for her 13 year old. Still, she stepped aside and gestured for Halley to come inside.

"She's in her room." Susan waved toward the corner. There was the living room with a large bench press, and Billy. He was glaring at her. She tried not to pay attention to him.

Halley nodded. "Thanks." she waited for Susan to say something else. But there was nothing. Instead the woman nodded, and simply turned around and went back to what Halley assumed was the kitchen, by the way the smell of pot roast wafted from it.

She paused, momentarily thinking about bolting. Turning around and just leaving. But she couldn't do that. Taking a deep breath, she readied herself to find her way, only to find herself inches away from Billy. How he had snuck up on her, she wasn't sure, but she came face to chest with him.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, his voice gravelly, like an overprotective dog. Animalistic. She was once again uncomfortable with the close proximity. He reeked of sweat and a mix of chemical composed hairspray.

She took a step back, squaring her shoulders and staring right back at him. "I'm not here for you." she said, matter of factly. Maybe if she mirrored his own attitude, he would lose interest. No reaction meant nothing for him to play off of. Right?

With his hand reaching over her, resting on the door she had been backed into, he leaned over her. She was caged in now, forced to keep eye contact, or lose the unspoken contest between them.

"Really?" He said, raising an eyebrow. "Are you sure?" his voice was still low, but this time in a different way. It was quieter. Almost softer. And it was clear he was speaking so Susan couldn't hear.