Traveler // [billy hargrove / stranger things]

4 - "Happy New Year!"

The next morning is chill. Everyone who was here last night slept here, because nobody was in a state to drive by the time the night had ended, everyone really just slept where they dropped, and we ate breakfast together, and Jane got to see what my house was really like and how extended family interacted. And granted, just about everybody was hungover, so it was extra special because the breakfast was greasy and phenomenal.

"I'll see you soon. Hopper doesn't want me to come until school starts back up, but I'll probably stop by on New Years day." I wink, giving Jane a big hug.

"See you soon, Robin. Feel better." She says and I make a face at her as she walks towards the twins and I turn to Hopper.

"Did she just tell you to feel better?" He asks, laughing and I make a face at him. "How are you doing this morning?"

"Better than you were." I say with a tight smile. He threw up in the backyard.

"Touché." He pats my head. "I'll see you soon."

The rest of the day is like that, some family members go back to their hotel, but some don't even bother, knowing that they'll just end up back her in a couple of hours. But Billy stays, and Steve sticks around for quite some time too.

"I better go. My parents are going to smell the alcohol on me when I get home." He says and I laugh, standing and giving him a hug.

"I'll see you on New Years? Do you know if anything is going on?"

"I think Tina is throwing another party." Billy stands and shakes Steve's hand. "See you soon, man." He gives him a tight smile, and after saying a few more goodbyes, Steve leaves the house. "Can we take a nap? Or just listen to records in your room?"

"Yeah." I say and take his hand and we go to my room, where my aunt and uncle have left, they moved into a hotel after last nights festivities, which means I get my bed back, and I lay down while he goes to my music set up. "What'd you put on?" I ask as he lays down next to me.

"I made you a tape." He says and I turn my head to him as he looks up at the ceiling.

"Look at me." I say and he does what I told him. "You're so cute." I kiss him.

"I could do this forever." He pulls me towards him and I lay with my ear to his chest and listen to his heart and listen to the music that he put on a tape for me.

"I love you baby." Billy's voice plays over the speakers before the next song plays, The Chain by Fleetwood Mac.

"I love this song."

"I know you do." He says and I smile and kiss his chest and my eyes close as I listen to Stevie Nicks sing.

"I love you." I whisper and he runs a hand through my hair.

"I love you too, loser." He says and I smile, holding his other hand even tighter.

/

A few days pass, my family leaves but Billy is constantly by my side as we take advantage of this time off from school and time off from me babysitting my life away.

"What's for dinner tonight?" I ask my mom and she shrugs.

"I think we're finally out of leftovers, so we'll probably just order something."

"I can cook." Billy offers and my mom and I both turn to him, eyebrows raised. "I make good soup."

"What kind?"

"Chicken noodle." He smiles.

"Honestly, if you help him, you two can make dinner. We have all the stuff for it, including," My mom goes into the freezer and digs around. "Chicken stock. Homemade." She holds up a frozen Tupperware of it and I take it from her hand and put the frozen block of stock into a large pot and put it on a burner. "How domestic of you two." She says and Billy and I both flip her off as I get vegetables from the fridge and we get to chopping them up and putting them into the pot as the stock starts to melt, and Billy bakes a couple chicken breasts before putting them into the pot and we stick the head on, letting it simmer and boil for a couple hours.