ocean eyes ✧ Billy Hargrove

[ 026 ]

As she was rinsing her bowl in the sink, the phone rang again. Startled, she quickly grabbed it, thinking it might be her mom with more news. But when she answered, it wasn't Joyce on the other end.

"Daphne, it's Dustin," came a frantic voice.

"Dustin?" Daphne said, confused. "What's going on?"

"I need your help," Dustin replied, his voice filled with urgency. "It's Dart... the creature I found. It's... it's not what I thought it was. It's a baby Demogorgon, and it's gotten a lot bigger. It... it killed my cat."

Daphne's eyes widened in horror. "What? Dustin, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, but Dart is loose, and we need to stop it before it hurts anyone else. I'm getting Steve to help, but we need all the help we can get. Can you meet us at the old junkyard?"

Daphne's heart was racing. "Yeah, of course. I'll be there as soon as I can. Just... be careful, okay? Wait... did you say Steve? Steve Harrington is with you?"

"You too," Dustin said. "And yes, he's with me. Nobody else was around except for Steve. Anyways, we need to take this thing down, Daphne."

"I know," Daphne replied, steeling herself. "I'm on my way."

She hung up the phone and hurried to get dressed, her mind racing. There was no time to lose; Dustin was in trouble, and she needed to be there to help him.

The situation with Will was terrifying enough, but now there was another threat looming. Daphne grabbed her jeans jacket and headed out the door, ready to face whatever was coming next.

Daphne drove with purpose, her mind swirling with thoughts as she headed toward Billy's place. The events of the previous night still weighed heavily on her, but one thought was louder than the rest—what was that kiss?

She had to know if it meant something or if it was just another one of Billy's reckless impulses. She wasn't sure what she hoped to hear, but the need for clarity pushed her forward.

When she arrived at Billy's house, the air was filled with the distant sound of blasting rock music. The Hargrove residence looked as uninviting as ever, a stark contrast to the feelings stirring within Daphne. She steeled herself and knocked on the door.

Moments later, it swung open, revealing Billy standing there, shirtless under a white tank top, his skin glistening with sweat. A cigarette dangled from his lips, and his blue eyes sparked with a mixture of curiosity and mischief.

"Long time no see," Billy drawled, his voice low and teasing. "How are you, Your Highness?"

Daphne shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. "Can I come in? It'll be quick."

Billy raised an eyebrow but stepped aside, letting her into the dimly lit house. The music grew louder as she entered, the heavy riffs of rock echoing through the halls.

Billy closed the door and turned to face her, leaning casually against the wall. "What's wrong?"

Daphne hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest. The intensity of their kiss from the night before still lingered in her mind, and she wasn't sure how to bring it up.

Finally, she gathered the courage to speak, her voice barely a whisper. "What was that? The– the kiss."

Billy took a drag from his cigarette, a smirk playing on his lips. "Well... I thought we said everything yesterday. I like you, a lot. So I kissed you. Is that a crime?"

Daphne's cheeks flushed as she stumbled over her words. "No... I-I mean, I like you too, I just—wasn't expecting it, that's all."

Billy's smirk widened, his eyes locking onto hers with that familiar confident gleam. "What, you're telling me that you don't expect somebody to kiss those pretty lips of yours? Did nobody ever do that before?"

Daphne's blush deepened as she looked down at the floor, her voice barely audible. "Well, no. I mean... I told you, the guys at school are stupid. They think that with some awful pick-up line they'll have me head over heels for them, but nobody succeeded. Nobody... except you."

Billy's smirk softened slightly, a flicker of genuine emotion crossing his face. "I'm very honored then."

There was a brief pause, the tension between them almost palpable. Daphne could feel her heart racing, unsure of what to say next. But Billy wasn't one to leave things unsaid.

"So, what do you say we make it official?" Billy's voice was suddenly serious, though his smirk remained. "How about you be my girl?"

Daphne's breath caught in her throat. Despite his rough edges and dangerous allure, there was something about Billy that drew her in, something that made her want to say yes. But she knew that with Billy, nothing would be simple.

"You're asking me to be your girlfriend?" Daphne's voice wavered, the gravity of the moment settling in.

Billy took a step closer, his smirk fading into a more sincere expression. "Yeah, I am. I know I'm not the easiest guy to be around, but I like you, Byers. A lot. And I think you just admitted to like me."

Daphne looked up at him, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn't deny the connection she felt, the chemistry that they had and the way he made her feel alive in a way no one else had. Despite everything, she nodded. "Okay, Billy. I'll be your girl."

Billy's smirk returned, this time with a hint of satisfaction. "Good. Then let's go out tonight. I'll pick you up around eight."

"Sounds good," Daphne agreed, her voice soft but steady.

Billy leaned in, brushing his lips against hers in a quick, teasing kiss. "See you tonight, Byers."

Daphne smiled faintly, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves as she turned to leave.

As she walked out of the house and headed to her car, Daphne couldn't shake the feeling that her life was about to change in ways she couldn't even begin to imagine.

The kiss with Billy, their newfound connection, and the undercurrent of danger swirling around Hawkins—it was all a tangled mess that left her feeling both exhilarated and anxious.

The weight of it pressed down on her, and for a moment, she paused, her hand on the car door, trying to catch her breath.

The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the quiet street.

Daphne stared at her reflection in the car window, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts. She wasn't sure if she was ready for the kind of relationship Billy was hinting at.

Despite his tough exterior, there was something undeniably magnetic about him—a pull that she couldn't resist, even if she wanted to.

But she also knew that being with Billy meant stepping into a world of chaos, of passion and conflict, and she wasn't sure if she could handle it.