Here. [ st ]

Marked

filler: scene - two weeks after July 4th

tw: recounts of domestic violence, mild swearing, slurs

The Byers family were figuring things out after Jim and Billy. So was Max and El who recently moved in. Joyce was also heartbroken that the boy she treated as family and as her future son in law had passed away. He is never going to meet his child. Will never spoke about him as much as he used to. He used to talk about how he was an awesome person to spend time with. Whenever he heard Billy's name, his favorite songs, or the memories, it makes the young boy want to shut down with his sister who was very much mourning every day.

Will had a rant to Jonathan. "I thought... Rae and B would have a baby. Mom will get to be a grandma. For us to become a real family, and to grow old... To be happy together."

Jonathan was rather silent but very, very saddened. He and Billy were on good terms, and he knew that he was right for Rae. He cared about Billy and vice versa. The two used to have deep talks, either with Rae or just them two.

The twins told Billy about Lonnie.

That sorry excuse of a father once raised his hand on their mother when she had Will in her belly, out of drunken rage. But little Jonathan and Rene both shielded their mom, and the two received eight beatings each, sparing Joyce.

"We still have the scars." Jon and Rae lifted the hem of their shirts, facing their backs to Billy. Large, deep scars across their backs. Jonathan had two short scars on his torso and six larger ones sprawled out. Rene had a large one running from her right shoulder blade down to her middle and more. They were slowly fading and purple.

Billy has seen them but never asked her about it. He thought that maybe, she didn't want to recall just yet, so he waited for her to be ready.

Joyce brought her oldests into an embrace and cried to them that it will never happen again, that she loves them and Will more than anything in the world. And boy, was Hargrove ready to murder that son of a bitch if he ever faced him.

It was now just another day in Hawkins.

Rob, Steve and Rae were out with the kids. It was the party's traditional Sleepover Saturday. The house chosen today is the Byers home. Rene's belly had been getting a little more noticeable. She gets stares from adults and the teens that she went to school with after the news that broke out. The news about her: a seventeen-on-the-verge-of-eighteen is pregnant. Doc Greene kept his silence (since he was a trusted friend to the Byers family) but a nurse who eavesdropped on them, gossiped with her friends. Hawkins is a small place so word got around quick.

Just as the group turned a corner in the market. Carol appeared and piped, "So, who's the dad?" She turned to Steve who was glaring at her. "You know, I'm not so surprised. I mean, you're a Byers. Steve was right. You are a slut." Rene lowered her head. Remembering what Lonnie also marked her aside from fag. All because she befriended many boys when Rene was a little girl.

Steve defended her. "Shut up, Carol. You got on birth control and begged Tommy to stop using condoms. Who knows what kinds of STDs you carry by now." He dissed. Carol widened her eyes. Tommy had a big mouth when it came to storytelling about such topics.

She snorted, trying to act all tough. "Steve's the dad, right?" Rae blinked and gulped. She tried to breathe normally but she couldn't. She missed Billy. Robin cursed her out. She was on the verge of sobbing at the spot and having people guess what she had for breakfast. Thanks hormones.

Suddenly, a cart came crashing into her. Quickly, the three teens ran to the kids before anyone can start their accusations. It was El and Max who pushed the cart, they were laughing at Carol's confusion. "Go! Go!" Robin ushered the party to the cash registers. Rene looked at Perkins with a piercing look.

Now Carol realized, she should have kept her mouth shut.

An arm wrapped around her shoulder. She looked at the person. Blue eyes and curly blonde hair in a mullet. "You okay?" The young woman came to her senses. Hazel eyes stared at her green ones in concern. It was Steve. The young woman blinked and nodded, smiling.

The two looked forward to see the group smiling at them.