Roles Reversed (Season 3/Part 1)

11.

Max thought Billy had died. She was regretting a lot as she witnessed him losing blood and consciousness in front of her. She ran to him and cried over his body. But his breathing kept on, slowly. He was okay.

Everyone witnessed the act of bravery from both parties. How love saved the couple. When y/n got hurt and Billy saved her from death to only get hurt as well. He wouldn't have it any other way. They watched as two lovers laid beside each other, unconsciously, bleeding out with similar wounds. They could never understand how alike they were, not even now in this moment.

Both y/n and Billy ended up at the hospital. They were indeed hurt but very much alive. Both of them lost lots of blood and were in bad conditions. No one knows how long it'll take for y/n to recover. She was literally being controlled. She had no authority over her own being. Now she had to recuperate back to normal. It was going to be a challenge and everyone was more than ready to help her through it all. El wish she could be there to help her more. But she really did enough already.

It was a true tragic story beaming through Hawkins. A beloved mall 'burned down'. How else are you going to get ride of 'alien/monster' proof. Hopper died during the events of the gate being closed so he too was put under the same story. People called him 'a hero of Hawkins' for saving innocent ones during the fire. Rather that than 'blown up by a Russian machine'. It was really terrible and all the gang could do was cope. Yet more negativity came up into the teenagers world. The Byers & El were moving.

Max was losing a new best friend. Mike was losing his girlfriend AND his best friend. Nancy was losing her boyfriend. Sure, they were just moving but it was all such a big step in life. El just lost her dad too. Everything is so fresh and new. It was sad and hard but hopefully Will can be happier this way. Hawkins caused him a lot of pain.

Who doesn't like a new beginning. It's ironic that they're moving to California but maybe it'll be better for them. This way they can be away from the trauma that Hawkins really caused them all. El can have a real family. Will can truly start fresh.

Billy was in the hospital for weeks to physically heal back to normal. It took time and surgeries but he's better now. The government helped him out big time. They told his parents that he was in the fire and was a true hero as well. That's why he had to be in the hospital, to recover. He was so relieved for that help because his dad wasn't an asshole towards him for it. And since they paid for all his medical bills to keep him be quiet too, they found a way for him keep their secrets safe.

Y/n's mother didn't notice her absence at first. She's used to her doing her own thing or being MIA, because she forced her to be that way growing up. When y/m/n heard that she was in the hospital for surviving a fire, things changed. Y/m/n became scared again so much so that she became more selfish. Can you believe that? My daughter is hurt and might die, sure let me rampage her room, sale some of her things, and consume tons of drugs and alcohol with that money. She hasn't once came to see her either.

School came quick to the teens. Billy wasn't exactly ready to endure it without y/n but he had to. He continued his pool job after school and on the weekends. He didn't care about his scars, that didn't matter. Why lose such a good job now?

The beginning of senior year was a joke. People treated Billy like shit. Throwing rumors around the school as if he hurt y/n and started the fire. It was ridiculous at first. Billy had to endure it and keep his head held high for awhile. Luckily after time, somehow people stopped being negative. Maybe it was because Billy wasn't showing emotion to their crazy remarks.

Students congratulated him for being a hero and saving y/n. Which was nice to hear because he really did save her. It was odd for the school to automatically change their whole persona so randomly. Some students even sent flowers to y/n. She didn't have any major close friends but people were kind due to the events and well, her popularity. Billy let all the compliments fuel his ego. That indeed helped with his despressive state. His dad wasn't so hard on him either, which helped. He just needed y/n to complete him.

Two whole months went by since the accident. Y/n has been in a coma ever since that night. She was healing, pretty much perfectly back to normal but was her mind? Was she battling something during the coma? Would she come back? These are all questions that fog Billy's mind.

Sometimes it's hard for him to see her. Hell, he won't even let anyone in the hospital room when he's with her. He just wants his alone time with her and it is a excuse to let his emotions out too. She's been the only one to genuinely see him for him and he didn't want that to change now.

Billy visited her again, like he did every single day. He watched the flowers he gave her weeks ago turn brown, reminding him he needs to buy more. He notices everyone who comes by to see her and gives them privacy. Max came in second place, behind Billy with frequent visits. The rest of the gang too.

Robin only ever new y/n as a popular person. Not that it was a bad thing, it really wasn't in her mind. It just meant maybe she didn't know band nerds or smart geeks as much as the others. Robin never has had anything against y/n, hell they would smile at each other in the hallways. She just hopes she won't out cast her, even if they didn't really know each other.

Steve visited along with Robin. He wanted to pay his respects. Y/n and him were once good friends. Steve grew up in Hawkins and has been to that school since he graduated. Once y/n showed up in middle school, he was already a popular guy. And becoming the new cool girl, she became popular too. So they were close for some time when they were young. I wouldn't ever call them best friends but enough to remember how they acted when they were young. Steve's matured a lot since and he's hoping him and y/n can be friends again, like they once were. Maybe she can see the real him.

All Billy has been doing is waiting on y/n to come back to him. He misses every bit of her. Just purely being with her. It's felt like forever because prior she wasn't even herself. Billy's worst fear is that she'll wake up either clueless with no memory or not herself anymore. He hopes she can remember how she once was and find herself again. Trauma and pain makes fear and worry rise above all.

Max found herself staying with y/n when she could. Her bravery alone made her even more of a role model in Max's mind. Billy continued to work a lot so when he wasn't there, Max was. Of course they both had school to go to. Max and Lucas continued to be close. Billy's approval helped with their relationship. Once school came around, Max felt like they were slightly drifting. Lucas wanted to be cool. He was in sports and gained more friends. Max wanted to do her own thing or be with their current friends. Lucas wanted more than that. He didn't want to be a freak. This caused separation in their relationship and Max didn't know where they stood. She also didn't mention it to Billy. She didn't want him to make a big deal out of it. He was a little to caught up in his own world to care. Sure, him and Max were on much better terms but with y/n sort of gone in a way, he didn't want to talk or do many things. Max understood and let him be.

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