Billy Hargrove might rule the corridors of Hawkins High as the bully. Yet, behind closed doors at home, he's the victim, tormented by his own father. His mother abandoned him, so he has no defender against his abuser.
But at school, Steve Harringto...
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Year 1986
A bicycle rolls by, and water splashes in a nearby fountain. A brunette drops her backpack on a bench, and students' chatter and laughter permeate the atmosphere.
Billy Hargrove slips out of his blue Camaro, clad in an almost-open white shirt tucked into his ultra-tight jeans, and a denim jacket. The wind tousles his perfectly imperfect mullet, and he takes a cigarette out of his mouth, blowing out the smoke.
Max slams the passenger door, wearing a red-and-white striped crop top and denim shorts, a blue hoodie around her waist, and some dark-red high-top Vans. She hikes up the strap of her backpack on her shoulder.
'Watch the attitude, shit bird!' Billy sneers at his stepsister.
Max frowns and makes her way towards Hawkins Middle School, built next to Billy's high school, which he must attend now, after being forced to move to this shitty town.
He throws down his cigarette and extinguishes the spark with his black Doc Martens, walking down the way with his California-swagger.
He might have only been in Hawkins for a short while, but that hasn't deterred him from evoking a reaction in those around him. Stares of amazement follow him. A group of girls ogle him and giggle, and those whom Billy has elected to torment find ways to stay out of his sight.
He enters the building, his shoulder bumping carelessly against a boy. Muffled music leaks out of the dark-skinned teen's headphones.
Billy rubs his neck. It's still tender from two nights ago, when his father grabbed him by it. Reaching a hallway lined with grey metal lockers, Billy's attention lands on a pudgy teen, who goes by the name Shane. He's struggling to open his locker.
After Billy's mother left, he turned to food for comfort, and he piled on the pounds, while his father became increasingly more violent. Eventually, he engaged in a workout routine and developed a muscular physique. When his father could no longer call him fat, then he found other flaws to make Billy feel small and like a failure.
