G O N E |Harringrove|

7 - Cabin Fever

To say that Billy wasn't freaked out by the overall situation would the understatement of the year, hell, even the century. After his pride was threatened with a weapon crafted for the apocalypse, Billy disassociated himself with Steve Harrington and his gaggle of freaks. Now, all the taunting and teasing he does is for show. He was truly and utterly frightened by whatever stunts Steve Harrington pulls in his free time. Of course if there's one thing Billy– and Neil, his brain uselessly supplied– hated, and that was showing fear. So instead of folding in on himself like a pussy, Billy dragged his feet along the whole way.

So sitting in the leather backseat of Steve's overpriced BMW was truly a nightmare. Harrington who had some weird hard-on of respect for the curly haired teen, allowed her to sit in the front. Supposedly she was guiding them to some cabin, but Billy wasn't too involved with the details of said matter.

"Stop." Commanded the small girl in the passenger seat.

Steve, like the manic he was, slammed on the breaks, nearly giving Billy whiplash. The rubber of the tires screeched against the asphalt. "WHERE'D YOU LEARN TO DRIVE ASSHAT, IT'S SHIT" Billy insulted in a panic, clutching whatever he could get a hold of, that being driver's seat.

Steve didn't spare him a glance. No, he just held onto the steering wheel and leaned back, all casual like. "Least I didn't try to bowl over a couple of innocent kids on Halloween night" He stated in a knowing tone.

Fuck. He had a point there, didn't he.

Before Billy could snap back with his usual, snarky reply, the weird girl jumped out of the car and pointed towards the forest. "Down here." She started down the path, not waiting for Billy nor Steve.

Steve fumbled with his seat belt like an idiot before leaping out of the car. Billy snorted, and slowly followed behind, deliberately taking his time. Steve waited in the grass resembling a damn fool, his arms on his hips like a condescending mother. He locked the car, and pocketed the keys. "Look, I know this may sound crazy– but hear me out– maybe we should, I dunno hurry up to find the missing kids?!"

Billy shrugged his shoulders like he couldn't care less. Which, wasn't truly the case of course. Yeah, the missing kids was a real bummer, and he's not heartless, but these types of matters should be left to the police. Definitely not some rich kid teenager accompanied by a kid he probably plucked off the street. "Geez, It's like you're a bratty kid. Are you a toddler Billy? Do you need me to hold your hand and coddle you??"

Billy stopped in his tracks, registering the fact that Steve had called him by his first name, sarcastic remark or no. Quickly picking up his composure, Billy snarked back. "Oh Stevie, that'd be great~" He purred, studying Steve's face closely. "Wanna give me a piggy back ride while you're at it?"

Billy's eyes honed in on Steve's hand, and with a complete disregard for his own self respect Billy snatched the limb, weaving his own into the empty space. Steve's hand was oddly rough in comparison to the rest of his skin. Billy could feel the nearly healed blisters placed below the stems of Steve's long fingers.

Harrington froze, surprise reigning control of his movements, or lack thereof. Neither of them dared to  make a move and steal back their own hand. For a split second, Billy swore he felt Steve squeeze his hand ever so gently.

"Hurry!!" A voice called out, impatient.

What'sherface shattered the moment between them, causing both males to jump apart like they were caught in something much more scandalis. Steve rubbed at his hand subconsciously, his cheeks tinted a subtle red. Billy managed to stalk off before Steve could bash him over the head for pulling a move like that.

Both of them walked in silence, until they eventually reached a clearing with a cabin in the middle. The girl pointed at something on the ground. "Watch out, trip wire"

Billy squinted, and surely enough, there was a nearly invisible fishing line tied in-between two towering trees. Steve casually stepped over it like setting up tripwire around a house was a casual thing. Billy followed behind, watching his surrounding closely. Though it wasn't like there was much to note, the same old trees stretched out for miles. The girl pushed open the wooden door, walked in, and dusted off her feet.

"Welcome to home." Her voice sounded fond, despite the home being quite ragged and worn down.

The inside of the cabin wasn't nearly as shady looking as the outside had been. It looked kinda cozy, but there was still something off putting about it.

The girl piped up, "Hopper, he's not home."

Steve entered and glanced around, his eyes darting this way and that. He was probably comparing the shoddy cabin to his gigantic rich boy mansion.

"Perhaps he's still investigating. You know it's what he does best. Well, that and smoking. The man sure knows how make a smoke ring.." Steve trailed off admiringly.

"Wait, Hopper as in the chief of police? The hell he living out here for?" Does that mean the mystery girl was Hoppers daughter? Though, Billy could've sworn Tommy mentioned something about his daughter dying. Then again, the words that come out of Tommy's mouth seem to be a lot of things, but never reliable.

"He lived in a trailer, but the bad men messed it all up"
The girl– Elle? –supplied uselessly. Whoever the hell the "bad men" were, Harrington s gang didn't seem too popular with them.
The curly haired girl bounced over to a nearby counter top, grabbing a pen and a piece of notepad paper. Her strokes were deliberate and slow. Billy could hear each words pronunciation whispered past her lips. Steve, on the other hand, was snooping around the house, sticking his nose where it didn't belong. The small clatter of the pen alerted the both of them. Elle looked over her handiwork in pride.

"The lab. We have to go."

There was a shout, and then a crash. Harrington reappeared from around the corner, covered in sawdust. He patted his jeans and preppy polo with his palms. "The lab? No way in hell are we gonna get near that place." Steve firmly stood his ground. Bits of sawdust fluttered towards the wooden ground.

"We have to." Elle stated simply. She tapped her index finger against her head. "The only way."