Riptide

Chapter Five - Date Night

That day I started getting ready for dinner with Billy probably as soon as I had the opportunity. "Hey Emma, I'm gonna go hang out with Dustin and Lucas." Terran said running passed my bedroom door in an obvious hurry. "Okay?" I shook it off as I continued to style my hair. I for some reason wanted to look my best, I didn't know why. It was just dinner as friends. It was when I had just finished getting ready when the phone rang. "Emma! It's for you!" I heard Evelyn yell from downstairs. "What if it's Billy?" I thought to myself as I ran downstairs picking up the phone. "Hey, it's Emma." I smiled as I grabbed the phone situating it between my shoulder and my ear as I sprayed perfume on. "Hey Em" Billy said, sounding upset, "What happened?" I immediately asked, adjusting my posture, "Nothing..." He sighed, I cut him off before he could say anything. "You're lying." I said firmly. "Max ran off and now I gotta go track the brat down, so that means I have to cancel dinner." Billy sighed, "Pick me up, I'll help you find her." I said without hesitation. "You don't need to do that...besides she's my responsibility." Billy sounded surprised. "What are you two talking about?" I heard Neil whisper, "She offered to help me find Max." I heard Billy whisper. "She might be out with my brother." I pointed out, "Don't get her involved in our business." I overheard Neil say. "Well she says her brother is out missing too." Billy points out. "Congratulations, you've met a girl as irresponsible as you are." Neil huffed; I heard his footsteps as he walked away. "Want me to kill that guy for you?" I asked, obviously kidding, "Some days more than others." Billy sighed. "I'll be over to pick you up and we can go looking for the little shits together." "Sounds like a plan." I sighed softly before hanging up. 

I go upstairs grabbing my purse, standing outside and waiting for Billy to come pick me up. When he pulled up I got in the passenger seat. "Sorry," He said simply, his voice cold. "Don't be, we both know none of this is yours or Max's fault." I said looking at him. He looked at me, I could tell he had been crying earlier. "If she hadn't run off then-" I cut him off, "If Neil hadn't pawned a 13 year old off on you then you'd not be in this whole situation." I pointed out, he went quiet biting the inside of his cheek. He starts the car and then starts driving. "Our first lead would probably be the Sinclair house." I pointed out, "As in Lucas?" Billy asked, sounding annoyed. "Yes, as in Lucas. What do you have an issue with him?" I asked, looking at him confused. "I told Max not to hang out with people like him." Billy sighed, "People like what? Because Lucas is a good kid." I looked at him, "You know what I mean, there's something about him." Billy looked at me then back at the road. "Really? Because he's a straight A student, he's kind, he's honest, and hell he's one of the best people in my brother's friend group. I know for a fact too he treats Max with kindness." I pointed out, Billy gripped the wheel. "If Neil found out about Lucas, Max would be in a lot of trouble." He points out, "If Neil found out about us hanging out, you'd be in more trouble." I sighed, "I don't care what happens to me." Billy admits, I took a deep breath. "I do." I said putting a hand on his shoulder. He looks at me then back at the road. "You're the only one who does." 

When we arrived at the Sinclair house, I was the one who went to the door, and we were given our next lead. The Wheelers' house. "So, this is Nancy's place?" Billy asked, looking at me then back at the road. "Yes, take a left up here." I said navigating him to the Wheeler's place, Billy turns left. "Okay," Billy nods. When we got to the place, Billy got out of the car this time. I saw him talking with Karen, he was obviously flirting. I scrunched my nose in disgust when I saw her looking like she was into it, I rolled my eyes honking the horn as I saw him heading inside. He turned around and flipped me off before walking inside. My jaw dropped; I crossed my arms leaning back in my chair turning the music up. "He better not be fucking Karen Wheeler." I huffed; he headed back out to the car. He was eating something. He gets into the car, "Cookie?" He offers, with a smirk on his face. "That was gross." I sighed, "What not a fan of chocolate-chips?" He raised a brow. I took the cookie from him. "No, she was into it." I sighed, taking a bite from the cookie. "Of course, who'd blame her." Billy smirked, I glared at him as he started the car. "What? Are you jealous?" he chuckled; I rolled my eyes. "Her daughter is our age." I sighed, "And I think it's gross when a woman who was probably buying her first house when you said your first words to be into you." "Prude," Billy chuckled, I sighed, "If a guy her age was hitting on me what would you do?" I asked, "I'd kick his ass." He said without hesitation. "My point exactly," I said, taking a bite out of my cookie. "Well, I got a lead." He said, sighing, I nodded, "Where?" I asked, raising a brow. "The Byers' house." He smiled triumphantly. "I could've told you that." I rolled my eyes, Billy rolled his eyes, "Oh just admit it, I got us a good lead." "Fine, you got us a good lead." I chuckled. 

When we arrived at our destination, I was immediately suspicious. "Huh..." I said having noticed Steve's car. "What?" Billy raised a brow before noticing Steve's car. "What the fuck is Steve Harrington doing here?" He gets out of the car and composes himself. Steve walked out to Billy, I got out of the car to be sure Billy wouldn't get aggressive. "I've got this Em," Billy said looking over to me then to Steve. "Why are you hanging out with him?" Steve asked, confused, "It's a long story." I sighed. "Is Max here?" Billy asked, "No," Steve crossed his arms. "Then who's that in the window?" Billy asked, pointing at Max, with that Billy punched Steve. "I told you to plant your feet." He said before punching Steve again. The fight kept on going, and even made its way into the house. "For fucksake." I sighed following them inside, seeing Billy break a plate over Steve's head. He started to get more aggressive with Steve. "Billy..." I said realizing things were going too far. The yelling and chaos going on in the room. Then he looked at Lucas, before he could make another move, I rushed over blocking him from Lucas. Billy continued to walk in my direction, he looked angry. Before he could get over to me though Max stabbed him with a syringe. Then started swinging a bat at him. "Leave me, and my friends alone!" She shouted before taking his keys, "Max wait," I said, Max turned glaring at me. "What?" She asked, probably expecting me to be some girl. "Take Steve's car, I'll use Billy's to get us both home." I sighed, "And why should I? You're just some girl he's-" Terran cuts Max off. "Max, that's my sister." Terran says kind of defensively. "Then why is she with him?" Max huffs, "I was helping him look for you." I stated, "Why?" Max glared, "Because I know..." I said not wanting to expose anything to everyone in the room. Max just nods, knowing what I was referring to. She took Steve's keys, then the group left. 

I sighed looking at Billy, "Come on, I'll get you to my place and get you cleaned up." I sighed, "I'm fine..." Billy groans, "You're drugged, and you got your ass kicked by a 13-year-old girl." I chuckled, helping him get up and get to the car. "Why did you stand in between Lucas and me?" Billy asked groggily. "I didn't want you to do anything you'd regret." I sighed, "Then you shouldn't have stood in the middle." Billy said firmly. I rolled my eyes, getting him to the car and driving us to my place. I managed to sneak him to the guest house without my parents noticing. Once inside I got him to the bed and began patching up his minimal wounds from the fight. "You need serious help..." I sighed, as I looked into his eyes. "Is it that bad?" He asked, looking slightly worried. "No...look...punching Steve honestly, I understand why you did it." She shrugged, "But you went too far...you need therapy." Billy glared at me. "No, I don't, look I'm not some crazy person." "You almost attacked a child." I sighed looking at him. He went quiet, "Look, I can't tell you how to live your life. However, right now you're at a crossroads. You can either be like Neil, or you can take the path towards getting the hell away from him and becoming a better person. The choice is entirely yours." I stood up about to leave the room. He grabs my wrist, "Stay...please..." I looked into his eyes, seeing the boy I had met on the beach again. I sighed laying down beside him. It felt like we were kids again, and soon we fell fast asleep.