Null- Harringrove

7

A.N: I really didn't expect anybody to read this story. I'm ecstatic that it's gotten such a positive reaction, because I really love writing it. Thank you <3
—
Billy and Steve sat beside each other in soft silence. Cars from the nearby highway buzzed on, interrupting their steady breathing. Billy's tears had gone, but the shame of his plans hadn't. The desire to use his father's gun had passed. Despite everything with Neil, Billy still felt he had no right to feel the way he had.

Steve sighed and closed his eyes. His head fell gently on the car door as his warm hand continued to rub Billy's arm softly. Their serenity was suddenly snapped away as they heard clumsy footsteps approaching.

"I got it!" Dustin shouted out. Steve jumped up, causing Billy to fall a bit.

"Oh! Right! Um...was it far off?" Steve asked awkwardly.

Dustin furrowed his brows and walked towards Steve slower. "It wasn't that far...what's going on? Why're you being...like that?" Dustin asked, gesturing to Steve.

Steve had a big smile on his face, accompanied with wide eyes. His hands were on his hips, with the right cocked out. "Like what?"

"Just...weird." At this point, Billy stood up. He rubbed his aching head and stepped forward. Dustin gasped, "Oh! You guys fought!"

"What? Oh! Yeah, yeah we did," Steve said, "But we're okay now."

"What about?" Dustin asked with enthusiasm for drama only a teenager could possess.

"I said his hair was stupid," Billy interjected. Steve looked at him shocked. Billy shrugged.

Dustin replied, "That would definitely do it." He picked up his bucket of meat and began spreading it around.

"I said medium-well!" someone shouted from the top of the hill.

Billy looked over at Max and Lucas. "Max?!" he shouted.

Max froze. They stared at each other for a moment, before Steve put his hand on Billy's shoulder, snapping him out of it. "That's Max?"

Billy nodded, watching her walk down the hill beside Lucas. Steve sighed and said quietly, "C'mon."

They worked around the yard as Lucas and Dustin argued, ducked behind the car hiding Billy's gun. Steve interrupted them, getting them back to work.
—
Everything was ready, but Billy still didn't know what for. The group loaded into the bus, Billy following.

The doors shut. Night fell, and they waited. Occasionally, someone would climb to the roof and peer through a pair of binoculars. Billy sat across from Steve, who flicked his lighter on and off. Max sat nearby, her arms crossed. "We're not looking for a dog or a cat," Billy finally admitted, "This...thing's big, and dangerous."

Steve nodded, still watching his lighter. "But you've fought one before? And it wasn't a-a bear, or something?" Max asked anxiously.

Dustin tolled his eyes as he paced back and forth, "No it wasn't a fucking bear. Why're you here if you don't believe us? Just...go home."

"Hey," Billy said firmly.

"Someone's cranky," Max said before climbing to the roof, where Lucas already was.

There was a pause, before Steve said, "That's good. Show her you don't care."

Dustin stopped pacing, "I don't. Why're you winking?" Steve raised his eyebrows. "Stop," Dustin said, before going up to the roof himself.

Steve watched Dustin go up. After he was on the roof, Steve moved beside Billy. "You don't have to be here. I know you're...a big tough guy, but this shit's scary."