Billy's gone.
Ruby Buckley's world ended with him.
But Hawkins isn't done with her yet.
When strange deaths begin again, Ruby is pulled into the heart of the storm. Between shadowy nightmares, the town's newest outcast, and someone she was never s...
( songs for the chapter ) girl crush // harry styles maroon // taylor swift
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Ruby Buckley's boots clicked against the tiles as she slowed in front of Scoops Ahoy.
A place she'd only seen in the blurry Polaroids Robin sent her with captions like 'wish you were here, corporate hellscape edition.'
The place was absurd.
Bright blues, red anchors, cartoon sails.
It looked like a board game, and behind the counter, in full naval embarrassment, stood a boy she recognized instantly.
Steve Harrington.
He was wiping down the counter with the lazy confidence of someone who didn't take his job seriously, until their eyes met.
He froze.
Ruby smiled.
She didn't try to be charming. It just happened when she was happy, and today, she was very happy.
Back in Hawkins. Back with her sister.
Eight months with Billy today, the small gold pendant at her throat humming like a secret.
"Ahoy there, sailor," she said, voice teasing but warm, and winked, not the flirty kind, just the kind that said I caught you staring, and it's cute.
Steve blinked, caught completely off guard. "H–Hey. What can I get for you?"
She tilted her head, pretending to study the menu, though she couldn't care less about ice cream. Billy was taking her to Indianapolis tonight.
Ice cream didn't stand a chance.
"Is she here?" she asked.
"Is who here?" Steve echoed, brows furrowing.
"Ruby!"
The back door slammed open like a gust of chaos. Robin Buckley stormed out, grin wide enough to crack her face in half.
"Rubes! No way!"
Ruby's heart leapt. "Robbie!"
They met halfway, colliding in a hug that was all warmth and laughter.
"I missed you, sis," Ruby murmured into her shoulder.
"I missed you too, brat," Robin said, squeezing tighter.
"You smell like waffle cone and capitalism," Ruby mumbled, and Robin laughed.
God, she'd missed that sound.
Three weeks away felt like a year. Chicago had been loud and fast and impressive, but Hawkins, for all its small-town weirdness, still felt like home.
Here, she could be messy.
Loud. Sun-drunk Ruby Buckley again.
When they finally pulled apart, Steve was still standing behind the counter, eyes wide like someone had just dropped a plot twist on him.
"Wait, sis?" he asked.
Robin rolled her eyes. "Dingus, this is Ruby. My little sister. You know, the one I talk about constantly while you pretend to listen?"
Ruby turned to him with a grin. "Steve Harrington. Robin's told me all about you."
He blinked, clearly dazed.
She extended her hand. "You gonna shake it, or are we doing the slow-motion blink thing all afternoon?"
He laughed nervously, taking it. "Sorry. Uh. Nice to meet you."
"Likewise."
His hand was warm but unsure. He looked exactly like the kind of boy she would've crushed on in middle school and forgotten a week later. Pretty. Awkward. A little bit lost.
Billy would eat him alive.
Probably already had.
The thought made her smile soften. Just thinking his name gave her that familiar ache, the kind that felt suspiciously like joy.
Because Billy Hargrove loved her.
Really loved her. Not the locker-room whisper kind of love, but the terrifying, all-in kind, like she was the only beautiful thing in a world that had been nothing but cruel to him.
And somehow, she loved him back just as fiercely.
Chrissy waved from the entrance, the other girls already drifting toward The Gap.
"Rob, Billy's taking me to Indianapolis tonight, so don't wait up," Ruby said, already backing toward the door.
"Wait." Steve frowned. "You're seeing... Billy? As in Billy Hargrove?"
Robin groaned. "Yes, Billy Hargrove. They've been together for eight months, dingus. Keep up."
"Today's our anniversary," Ruby added, her smile genuine and a little shy. "I'll see you tomorrow, Robbie."
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do," Robin called.
"Love you!"
"Love you more!"
Ruby spun on her heel and disappeared into the crowd.
Outside, the mall buzzed, kids laughing, sneakers squeaking, music playing too loud. Ruby barely heard it.
Her hand slipped into her pocket, fingers brushing the small folded note Billy had tucked into her suitcase before she left for Chicago.
'Two weeks without you is two weeks too long,' it read. 'Can't wait to join you so I can breathe again.'
He was such a dork. And such a liar. He'd never say it out loud, but he'd written it, in ink, with her name underlined.
She bit her lip, smiling to herself.
Billy was picking her up at seven.
And the only thing she wanted more than to see him again was to be wrapped around him, windows down, music too loud, pretending the world didn't exist.
