G O N E |Harringrove|

1 - Lost Children

School was approaching its end yet again. The temperature was steadily rising. By this time, all telltale signs of winter had been naturally eradicated. Even the old widows who insisted on keeping their christmas ornaments out, were packing it away.

Most students were beginning to share their vacation plans, while Seniors stressed over their incoming future.

Normalcy came easy to citizens of small town Hawkings. Well, at least most citizens.

On one hand Steve was ecstatic about his incoming liberation from high school, on the other, he was paranoid of the future. Each day felt like a step closer to another Upside Down centered mishap.

The weird conversation he accidentally overheard between Eleven and Hopper didn't settle his nerves either.

It had been during one of the "gangs" usual meetups did Steve overhear it. He wasn't snooping or anything, it's just that Joyce Byers makes killer cherry pie, and of course he was sneaking an extra slice in from the kitchen.

"The bad men they're coming back" The small girl looked terrified. She had all the right to be, considering what they had done to her.

"How can you be so sure of that, kid? Didn't you uh, put em away for good?" Hopper looked unconvinced, but worried nonetheless.

Eleven stomped her foot down, her back straightening up. She was trying to make herself look taller and menacing. It was a strange sight to see, especially when compared to Hoppers large stature. "You're not listening! I-i can see the bad men. They feel...weird-" She hesitated, looking for the right word "-different."

Hopper sighed, looking quite stressed. "Alright, I'll look into it kiddo." He ruffled her chestnut colored curls. "Now go back to your friends, I need a smoke."

Steve absentmindedly chewed on his bottom lip as he concluded his recollection of the strange scene from a few days past.

His chem teacher was chattering about an incoming test. Frankly, Steve was too preoccupied to worry about it, a thought that would probably come back to bite him in the ass later. His Dad'll call him to yell about it later. Not that his dads opinion mattered much to him anyway.

The rest of the day flowed by about as quickly as mud. The heavy knowledge of basketball practise right after didn't help either.

————

Just within the few days Billy had lived In the small town, Billy quickly established that Hawkins was boring as shit. Flirty girls attached themselves to his hip like magnets, not so subtly pushing up their bras while pressing their chests against his side. He had worked his way up for disappointment, his status  practically handed to him on a golden platter.

The only vaguely interesting thing that caught his eye was the so called, "King Steve". They had met at a Halloween party hosted by someone that Billy didn't care to remember the name of. The whole ordeal was all in all, fairly uninteresting. Before he knew it, a shaken up Harrington was escaping the scene, his overly drunk girlfriend in tow.

After that, Billy made speedy work of Steve Harrington. It was almost like he willingly surrendered the throne to Billy.

The death of King Steve was quick and anticlimactic. It left Billy itching and raring for a fight. Steve being at the Byers house had been like a gift sent from god. Yet, even after their scuffle, it felt like King Steve was holding back on him.

They haven't interacted since then, other than the occasional basketball team talk. Maxine had threatened his prized jewels, and that was enough to deter him from chatting up the preppy teen.