Regular People [Elmax]

Chapter 15 - Biting Back

The five of them stood at a distance from the pool, ducking slightly behind a car. Max was observing Billy with Lucas' binoculars. He was sat in his lifeguard's chair under an umbrella wearing a sunhat, sunglasses and long-sleeved top with a towel covering his legs and an Icey in his hands.

"I don't know, he looks pretty normal to me", Max said still watching him.

"Normal? How many times have you seen him with a shirt on?", Lucas pointed out, emphasizing the 'on'.

Max lowered the binoculars, "I mean, it's a little weird"

"More than a little. He was in a tub with ice. The Mind Flayer likes it cold", Mike argued, "plus everything else-"

"But he's lounging at the pool which is like the least Mind Flayer thing ever"

"Not necessarily", Will butted in.

Everyone turned to look at him. If anyone knew about what the Mind Flayer was capable of, it was Will.

"The Mind Flayer likes to hide. He only used me when he needed me. It's like...like you're dormant and then when he needs you, you're activated"

"Okay so we just...wait until he gets activated", Max concluded.

"No. What if he hurts someone?", Mike counter-argued.

"Or kills someone", Will added.

"We can't take that chance. We need to find out if he's the host", Mike said as he got up and started walking towards the pool.

"Where are you going?", El asked almost annoyed.

"I have an idea, boys only", he said as he turned and gestured for Will and Lucas to follow.

"Seriously?", Max asked in disbelief, completely annoyed.

"Just trust me on this one!", he yelled back before jogging towards the pool entrance with Will and Lucas in tow.

Max rolled her eyes and looked at El.

"This is stupid. Billy's just being weird, Mike can't be right"

El looked at Max sceptically, as much as she didn't like Mike even she had to admit he was probably right.

"Max..."

"You think he's the host? Billy? Out of every person in Hawkins, my dickhead step-brother is the host?"

"Maybe. He likes it cold"

Max looked over at Billy. Deep down, she knew she was right. There was a chance he was the host, a very high chance too, but she didn't want to believe it. Her brother may have been a jerk but she didn't think he was a monster.

"We don't know for certain. We'll wait and see what Mike has planned, then we'll hopefully know for sure"

She maintained her gaze in Billy's direction. Even after all the hurt he'd caused her, she wouldn't wish any harm on him, especially not what Will went through before.

El noticed the troubled look on Max's face and so rested her hand on top of hers, atop the hood of the car they were sort of hidden behind, and gently ran her thumb up and down the back of her hand. Max was still tense at the thought of her step-brother being a host of the Mind Flayer but El's gentle gesture relaxed her slightly. She sighed a shaky breath and her shoulders dropped slightly as if some of the weight had been taken off her.

Suddenly, she saw the boys appear from over the top of a few cars. She quickly snatched her hand out from under El's in fear. El looked at Max, hurt and disappointed, but she kept her eyes forward on the boys. El hung her head and looked down at her feet as Mike arrived to tell them the plan.