Halley's Comet|| Eddie munson, Billy Hargrove

37

Billys pov
I hate her family. All of em. Steve's yet to say happy birthday to her. He's her fucking twin. We've been doing our best trying to cheer her up. It's working...a bit. Eddie asks "how are we gonna make tonight the best time for her?" I say "she's in the library studying right now I say we go to hopper and have him adopt her. Have her move outta that house and to one where she's loved. There's no telling what those pricks will do to her after putting Emerson behind bars"

He nods and we head to the station and walk in to Hoppers office. His eyes meet ours "hey guys what's up? Where's Halley?" I say "she's in the library studying but we got to school and found out what today is" he nods "she's always had a hard time with today." Eddie says "but you've been there. For and with her for 9 years now" "11" he says. We nod and I say "we all know that those people don't deserve her" he nods "absolutely. She's a good kid" "you've been the parent she's needed since she was 7 hopper. Her dads gonna go back home and who knows what will happen to her since she's disobeyed his orders to drop the charges. Fucks sake he tried to testify against her. It's a large ask but I don't care. Have her move in with you. She's 18. Legally allowed to do so if she wishes to. To her she doesn't have anywhere else to go. But she does. She has you and always has." I say more than I probably ever have to someone who's not Eddie or comet. He asks us "does she know you're asking for this?"

Eddie sends him a sheepish smile "no. We were thinking it could be a bit of a gift from all of us. Her freedom from that house." Hopper nods "I love that kid like she's my own. She filled the hole that was left in me when my own passed and my ex wife left. It's like some weird higher power knew I needed her and she needed me." I say "I was also wondering if you can get people together to throw her a bit of a surprise party. She's said she's never had a birthday party before" and she fucking deserves one. Hopper says "I'll get Joyce" she likes Joyce. I nod and Eddie says "I'll get Dustin and the guys. They can finally meet then too." I huff realizing. She's probably deep down gonna want Steve there. Though she won't say it and hasn't. She misses her brother. I mutter "guess I'll grovel to that prick she calls a brother" Eddie clasps my shoulder "it's for her man. I know you two have a shit past. But we both know she would want him there even if she won't say it"

I nod and we leave and I say "we need to get her something. More than people and a room in hoppers house" as I drive and park at the mall. I check the time "we don't have much time before she realizes we're not in school" Eddie says "split up?" I nod "yeah" and we do. I get her some records she's been eyeing and a chain. And I slide my ring off and put it on it for her later. It's the ring she always fiddles with on my hand when she's nervous about something. I get her some of her hair products as well noticing she was running low earlier. And some cute lil skirts and dresses she wanted.

I meet back up with Eddie and see he had the same idea with the ring. We chuckle at that. And I see he got her a hair clip she's looked at before, a new recipe book, our girl likes to cook and feed us. So she's wanted to try some new things. He got her a switchblade and I raise an eyebrow and he says "so she can use it if some other trouble arises and we're not there" I nod "doubt she would but good thought" I see the makeup he got her "you know she doesn't need that shit right ed?" "Of course I know that but she was complaining she was running low on it earlier" he shrugs. And I see a few books on that game he likes and he excuses "she wanted to learn a bit" I've never spent money like this on a girl before or paid attention to what one needs or likes or even that they looked at somethin in a store before. Man I got it bad. She's lucky I love her this wasn't cheap ei-what?!

Did I just think about being in love with her? Holy fucking shit. I love her. The thought makes me panic. The last time I lived someone it was my mother and she left me with an abusive father. What if she leaves too? No. She wouldn't. "Billy? What's wrong you're speeding" Eddie cuts me out of my thoughts. I ask him "are you in love with her?" "Of course" he answers and asks "why?" "And you haven't said it yet?" I ask him confused. He nods "with everything going on I didn't think it was the right time for her to be able to process" "what's going on billy?" He asks me confused. "I love her" I say it out loud. He smiles "great! We're on the same page" I say "what if it's not enough for her? My love? Our love?" He replies "where is this coming from billy? Of course she won't leave us." "What if she does Eddie?!" I snap. "She's not like that billy. Being in love isn't a bad thing" he replies.

"The only person I've ever loved left me Eddie. She fucking left. I will not be able to take Halley leaving too. Fucks sake I don't even know how to say it because I haven't in so fucking long" I say we pull over and wrap the gifts and head back to school "you gotta open your eyes and see her billy. She's not like your mom. She won't just leave. She'll be honest about how she does or doesn't feel and then we'd go from there. But keeping it In...it's gonna eat away at you man." Getting out the car and I do the same putting the gifts in the trunk for later.