G O N E |Harringrove|

8 - Pretty

I hope I'm doing the Eleven&Steve interactions well. From my perspective, Eleven is a very headstrong character, while Steve is more leader-like. Though they both have the same goal, I feel like they should at least clash every so often. Like in the Byers house, Steve stood his ground against the decision of invading the tunnel. Eleven on the other hand, is a little more selfish. She likes to get her way when she sets her mind on something. Steve wants to avoid conflict as a way of protection, while Eleven relies heavily on her telekinesis to brute force her way through.

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Steve drummed his fingers against the steering wheel, in tune with Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the dark". Steve purposely cranked up the volume, preventing any conversation. Though, it wasn't as if the two strays in his car wanted to converse anyway. Steve would occasionally catch bizarre facial expressions Billy directed towards him from the rear view mirror. Each twitch, brow raise, and mouth shift held an individual message. To Steve, it was a load of untranslatable crap.

Eleven, of course, was silent as usual.

Admittedly Steve had never gone to the lab, but he's not deaf, and the kids weren't quiet either. He caught enough conversation details to have a small, brief summary of the lab; avoid at all cost. Every inch of his body screamed "turn around", but his mind replied, "We can't".

He had a rough recollection of the labs location, but he knew enough to know it was approximately across from his house. Bruce's voice begun to drown out his thoughts.
A sad smile creeped its way into his face as Bruce sang. When the song first released, he understood the message, because he lived it. At a point he felt stuck in time; unsatisfied.

El swayed from side to side clearly invested in the sound. From what Steve had collected, Hopper only invested himself in slow bands like Beetles. It's not like Steve doesn't like them–hell he bought one of their albums– but El should get more diverse taste than Hoppers music.

Steve made a smooth right, entering his neighborhood. The distinguishable expensive homes were beginning to make an appearance. Turning again into his massive yet barren driveway, Steve inched up the cemented incline.

"So, this lab you hicks got, what's up with that?" Billy leaped out, seconds from when the car parked. Steve turned the key, and released it from the ignition. The song abruptly ended before Bruce could conclude his masterpiece.

"Nothing good man. Not exactly the first piece of knowledge we locals like to hand out." Steve shrugged and answered genuinely.
"Lots of bad, evil men" Eleven added helpfully.

The answers probably left Billy with more questions than he had started with, but that wasn't Steve's problem.
Twirling the keys on his finger, Steve stepped towards his house. "Gotta get something real quick, you two behave for the sake of my sanity."

Billy innocently fluttered his eyelashes, "Behave? Why I'm more mannered than a Nun, Harrington"

"Yeah, I highly doubt that"

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Escaping the lab was like hopping from one world to the next. The lab was a constant white, with walls and shut doors. A huge contrast when compared to the outside. Color dominated the surroundings, walls weren't constant restrictions, and doors were more or less open. Well, physical and metaphorical doors.
A "curiosity door" insider her head had been yanked off its hinges by none other than Hopper and the party. Eleven made sure to take time examining every deliberate detail within her brand spanking new world.

So, that's why Billy was such an enigma for her. Standing alone with him felt like the perfect opportunity to learn.

"Pretty"

"The hell you mean?" Billy looked perplexed, his fingers twitching like they craved something.

Eleven made a gesture towards her own neck and then pointed to Billy. "The...the necklace. Pretty"

Billy made a grab towards the garment hanging off his neck. He pulled it out from behind the unbuttoned shirt borrowed from Steve. "Oh yeah, my mom gave it to me when I was a squirt like you. It's the Virgin Mary" His stern features turned nostalgic.

"Like from Religion?" Hopper had taught her about the different ideas people believed in. From her personal observations, she could tell people liked to curse at this, "God" figure a lot.

Billy nodded slowly. "yeah, that's right."

Eleven shifted from foot to foot. "Your mama, what's she like?"

Billy stiffened, inhaled sharply through his nose, and shifted to a defensive pose. "Look kid, don't go poking your nose in places it doesn't belong. Why don't you tell me about your mom, huh?" He snapped at her sharply, flashing his back as he turned away.

Eleven had been expecting this type of reaction. Hopper warned her of it many of times. She supposed it would make sense if she talked about her momma too. Maybe then she could learn about Billys. "Mama is living with Aunt Becky." She stated simply, and then added as an afterthought "Hopper says Papa made her into a vegetable..." Eleven never understood the term, but knew enough to have a basic grasp on it.

Billy swiveled on his heel, grabbing her shoulders with his jumpy fingers. "Shit kid you–" He stared with wide eyes. "–you didn't need to share that. I was just acting like a piece of shit again."

Eleven placed a gentle finger on his chest, right on the cherished necklace. "Your mama, what's she like?"

Billy backed up and licked his lips. "Well I guess I'm fucking obligated to tell you now." He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"She... was way too nice for her own good, always putting someone else before her. Her coworkers would constantly comment on her gold soul. She was my best friend through and through. Then, one day, she packed her bags and ditched." His voice had cracked with emotion near the end.

Eleven glanced downwards digging up dirt with the tip of her left sneaker. "Oh. Why?"

"Your guess is as good as mine kiddo." Billy said in a resigned tone.

From the flashes in her Mama's mind, Eleven could interpret that her mother risked everything for her daughter. She never left Jane willingly.

"Was she pretty?"

Billy tucked a stray hair behind his ear. He watched the clear blue sky intently, lost in a maze of thought and memory. "Yeah, really pretty."