Keep me Closer - Billy Hargrove - Stranger Things

9: Bubblegum

" What do you want to do now?" Billy asked as he pulled out of the arcade driveway after dropping Max off.

"Well it's getting dark, umm, maybe we could go to the park across town and walk around the lake and there's this hidden path I take sometimes. The trees block the light of the city and you can see the stars so perfectly." I smiled.

"Sounds good." He half smiled at me. He seemed a little off when he first came to pick me up but he slowly got better the longer I was in the car. I kept trying to smile to lighten his mood.I pulled out a pack of gum from my back pocket and offered him a piece. He exhaled a laugh and took a piece. "Bubblegum, Byers?"

"What? It's good." I laughed. And he shook his head with a small smile.

He pulled into the park driveway but the gate was closed and the sign said ' closes after sunset.'

He looked at me with a ' now what?' Look on his face. I smirked and said, "Let's clime the fence."

He faintly smiled at me looking in my eyes. "Okay." He parked the car on the side of the road. He climbed it first and then I climbed it right after and he helped me down. We walked side by side along the trail just talking.

**

"Wooow! Okay fine, my turn, okay truth or truth?"

"Truth." He said rolling his eyes playfully.

"I had a feeling you would say that." I smiled. "Ummm... okay, Why did you move here?"

" My uh, my dad and stepmom wanted to get away. Get away from Max's dad, my mom, they just wanted a fresh start I guess." He said trying to seem tough and okay. I frowned, and he noticed and avoided eye contact.

" Okay here, here's the hidden path." I smiled and I grabbed his hand and intertwined our fingers and I excitedly ran into the woods where there was a small trail that I could only see with my flashlight that I held in my other hand. We continued walking and we eventually got to an open area. Were there was an old path that was unfinished but kept the grass from growing too long. I laid down on the ground looking up at the stars and he did the same.

https://open.spotify.com/track/3zksbXteOCeSusJ5Xltr3t?si=coGmAPcCRy2FHjPPDjmwzQ

Listen^^ it makes this next scene a bit softer ☺️🥺🥺 it's called bubblegum by clario

" It's really quiet out here." He said interrupting the silence.

" It's nice." I smiled I felt his eyes on me but I didn't look back at him I just smiled.

"What did this place used to be?" He asked looking back up at the sky.

"They were going to make another trail and it was going to a bike trail that lead into the city, but they ran out of money and I guess they just gave up and forgot about it." I told him.

"Hm." He mumbled.

" What was California like?" I asked looking at him.

" Beautiful." He faintly smiled. "It was really nice."

" Do you miss it?" I asked with a slight frown.

" Sometimes. " He said and looked at me with a small shrug.

Our eyes locked and we just looked in each other's eyes for a second. I blushed and looked down at my hand still holding his from when I lead him in here.

"I like you Byers." He said quietly. I smiled and looked back up at him.

" I like you too, Hargrove." We both looked back up at the stars silently just happy to be in each other's presence.

**

A while passed and he said, " We probably should leave, I have to pick up Max. After I drop her off, it's only 8 maybe we can do something else, if you have time." He said looking back at me.

" Sure. " I said smiling still looking at the sky. We both stood up and let go of each other's hands. I walked in front of him leading the way out uncontrollably smiling like a dork.

**
He pulled into his drive way and Max got out of the car.

I saw a dark figure on the porch smoking a cigarette. " Billy?!" The man called out.

Billy sighed, closing his eyes and gritted his teeth angrily. He took the keys out of his car and unbuckled. I started to unbuckle and he put his hand on mine. "Stay here okay, you don't need to come in I'll be back in just a minute."

" I'm coming with you Billy, ma-maybe if I'm there he won't be mean."

He looked back and forth in my eyes.

" Just stay in here."

"Billy!!" The man grew impatient.

"No." I said looking back in his eyes stubbornly.

Billy got out of the car slamming his door and I was right behind him. Walking awkwardly holding my arm.

" You're late." The man gritted his teeth. And Billy looked at the ground. " Who's this?" The man said through his teeth with out even looking at me just remaining his eyes on Billy.

" My name is Quinn." I said.

" Billy, get your whore, and tell her to go home."

" I can hear you." I said anger building up. The man looked at me and Billy looked up at his dad.

" Good. So you know what to do." He fake smiled and looked back at Billy. " Why are you la-"

"Actually hes not late, your clock says it's 8:10, there was a power outage last night for 12 minutes. Billy isn't late, he's early." I said and the man took his eyes off Billy and onto me. Billy looked at me with wide eyes.

" Why is this 12 year old whore still here and speaking to me?" He said glaring back and forth at us.

" My name is Quinn and I'm 17."

" Hi Quinn." He said angrily with some sarcasm. "Why are you still here and talking to me?"

"Why are you a-"

"Quinn." Billy said interrupting me.

I looked at Billy with sorry eyes. I didn't mean to get him in trouble.

"Take her home." He dad said.

" Dad I alrea-"

" Take.. her home." He said again.

A tear slid down my face. I didn't mean to get him in trouble. I should have stayed in the car.

Billy walked down his steps on his porch and I followed him out to the car.

I quietly got in and I didn't say anything because my voice would have cracked and I didn't want him to know I was crying.

"What's wrong with your hands?" He asked and the veins in my hand and up my arm started to glow. It must have happened when I got so angry.

" Oh um I- I don't know, m-maybe it's just- just the lightning in the car." I said clearing my throat and tried to calm down.

My nose stared to bleed and I quickly whipped it away with my jacket sleeve.