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THE LAST MONTH HAD FLOWN BY.

Isadora couldn't shake the feeling that summer was slipping away too quickly. With the Fourth of July just around the corner, she felt a bittersweet nostalgia settling in. While her friends revelled in their summer jobs, Isadora found herself caught in a whirlwind of applications, desperately seeking a position that would allow her to gain some independence. Although Billy had offered her a spot as a lifeguard at Hawkins Community Pool, she felt it was essential to keep their work and personal lives separate. After some encouragement from Steve, who had suggested the newly opened Starcourt Mall, Isadora decided to take the leap and apply. Late yesterday afternoon, she received the news she had been waiting for: she had landed the job and was starting today. Elated, she couldn't wait to share the news with Billy, but a nagging worry crept in—what if he was upset that she had taken a job that Steve had suggested?

As she prepared for work that morning, a knock at the front door startled her from her thoughts. Rushing downstairs, she swung open the door to find Billy standing there, his usual bright smile fading as soon as he laid eyes on her.

"Billy! You know you don't have to knock, right? You have a key for a reason," she greeted him with a cheerful smile, trying to lighten the mood.

"You— you got a job?" he asked, his gaze darting to her shirt, the company logo emblazoned on the left side.

"Uh, yeah. Steve recommended I apply here, and I found out late yesterday that I got the job—" Isadora began, but Billy's face clouded over, cutting her off mid-sentence.

"Steve recommended this job? Isadora, I wanted to be the one to help you get a job! I put in a good word for you at the community pool, and you ran off to Steve for help?" His tone was sharp, tinged with disappointment.

"That's not fair! I didn't ask you to do that, and I didn't go running to Steve!" she defended, her heart racing at the unexpected confrontation.

"From where I'm standing, that's exactly how it looks," Billy snapped, frustration etched into his features. "I have to get to work." He turned abruptly, walking away, leaving Isadora standing on the porch in disbelief.

"Come on, you're not being fair!" she called after him, her voice tinged with desperation, but he ignored her, getting into his car and speeding away. With a heavy sigh, Isadora shook her head, retreating inside and slamming the door behind her. As she headed upstairs to finish getting ready, she felt a mix of anger and hurt bubbling inside her. The cheerful mood she had intended to carry into her first day was quickly being overshadowed by the argument.

Once she arrived at the mall, she tried to focus on her new job, determined not to dwell on her argument with Billy. She settled into the rhythm of her tasks, serving customers and organising merchandise. The mall was bustling with life, and she found herself swept up in the energy of the place. As she was assisting a customer, she spotted Ellie and Beatrix entering the store, her spirits lifting immediately.

"Hi, Issi!" Beatrix exclaimed, her smile radiant.

"Hey, Bea! Hey, Ellie!" Isadora responded, her voice brightening. The three girls exchanged pleasantries, chatting about their summer plans and the excitement of Isadora's new job. For a few minutes, the conversation was light and filled with laughter, and Isadora felt a brief reprieve from the tension with Billy, but soon, Beatrix and Ellie had to say goodbye, leaving Isadora to return her focus to her duties.

As the clock ticked toward lunchtime, Isadora made her way over to Scoops Ahoy, hoping to catch up with Steve. The familiar jingle of the bell above the door rang out as she stepped inside, and Robin Buckley greeted her with a warm smile.

"Hi, Isadora! How's your first day going?" Robin asked, her enthusiasm contagious.

"Pretty good, actually! Just trying to keep up with everything," Isadora replied, her nerves settling a bit.

"Is Steve around?" she inquired, glancing around the bustling ice cream shop.

"Yeah, he's in the back," Robin said, nodding. Isadora thanked her and headed toward the backroom, excitement bubbling within her as she spotted Steve.

"Hi, Is! You got the job?!" he exclaimed, his face lighting up with genuine joy.

"Yeah, today's my first day," she confirmed, unable to suppress her grin.

"How's it going so far?" he asked, leaning against the counter with a relaxed demeanour.

"It's good, but Billy's kind of upset with me because you recommended this job, and apparently he wanted to be the one to help me find work. I know he was just trying to help, but I didn't go running to you for help either," Isadora ranted, the frustration spilling out.

"Wait, Billy wanted to help you?" Steve asked, his brow furrowing in surprise.

"Uh, yeah. He said he put in a good word for me at the Hawkins Community Pool, but—" she started, but the sound of a ringing bell interrupted her.

"Hey, Dingus, your children are here!" Robin called from the front. Isadora turned to see Max, Mike, Lucas, Will, and a girl she didn't recognise standing at the counter, their faces beaming with excitement.

"Again, seriously?" Steve said, shaking his head in disbelief before leading them past Isadora. She frowned, feeling a pang of jealousy as she watched them go. When Steve returned, Isadora folded her arms and shot him a questioning look.

"What was that all about?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"They asked me to sneak them into Day of the Dead, and I agreed," Steve said with a nonchalant shrug.

"You really just snuck fourteen-year-olds into a horror movie? I thought you were more responsible than that," Isadora teased, trying to lighten the mood.

"It's just a movie," Steve shrugged, but she could see the mischief in his eyes.

"A horror movie that they really shouldn't be watching, and you shouldn't be helping them sneak in either," Isadora scolded gently, shaking her head.

"You never snuck into a movie you weren't supposed to see?" Steve challenged her, raising an eyebrow.

"No, I never snuck into the movies," Isadora replied with a shrug, feeling proud of her integrity.

"Really?" Steve asked, clearly amused.

As they walked and talked, neither of them noticed that Billy had arrived at the mall. Spotting Isadora laughing with Steve, Billy's expression darkened, and he clenched his fists in frustration. He took a deep breath and approached them, interrupting their conversation.

"Hi, what are you doing here?" Isadora said, her smile faltering when she saw the storm brewing in Billy's eyes.

"I was on my way to surprise my girlfriend at work, but I see you're clearly so busy right now," he snapped, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"I don't know what you're trying to imply. I was just on my lunch break, and Steve offered to walk me back to work," Isadora defended herself, her heart racing.

"Of course, that's all it was, Isadora," Billy retorted, his tone cutting.

"Billy, please just walk away before you say something you might regret," Isadora said, desperation creeping into her voice as she felt the tension rising.

Billy looked between them, clearly torn, before he turned and stormed out of the mall. Isadora watched him go, her heart heavy with regret and confusion. Turning back to Steve, who was watching her intently, she sighed.

"What was that about?" he asked, concern etched on his face.

"I wish I knew. Thank you for walking me back to work. I guess I'll see you later," Isadora replied, feeling a mix of gratitude and frustration.

After finishing her shift, Isadora headed home, hoping to see Billy that night. However, as the hours passed and the sun dipped below the horizon, he didn't come over like he normally would. A sense of loneliness settled over her, and she couldn't help but feel a little down. Considering she didn't have work the next day, she decided to head to Hawkins Community Pool to try and talk to him.

When she arrived, the community pool was bustling with activity. Laughter and splashes filled the air as families enjoyed the warm summer evening. Isadora took a deep breath, trying to shake off the anxiety that had settled in her stomach. As she navigated through the throngs of people, a girl approached her, a smile lighting up her face.

"Hi, you're Isadora, right?" the girl asked, and Isadora recognised her from Steve's pool party.

"Uh, yeah! You came with Max, didn't you?" Isadora replied.

"Yes! I'm Laura, Max's friend from California," she said, extending a hand.

"Oh, it's lovely to see you! Are you here with Max today?" Isadora asked, genuinely pleased to see a familiar face.

"Yeah, I was just looking for him," Laura said, but her gaze shifted past Isadora. Intrigued, Isadora turned to see Karen Wheeler adjusting her swimsuit, and her heart sank when she spotted Billy emerging from the locker room, shirtless and holding a cigarette.

"Wow, he's... something," Laura murmured, eyeing Billy with a hint of admiration.

"Excuse me?" Isadora felt her cheeks flush, torn between irritation and amusement.

"Oh, uh—never mind. I should go," Laura said, her cheeks flushing as she quickly left. Isadora watched her go, a strange mix of amusement and annoyance bubbling inside her. It was clear Laura had a crush on Billy, which only added fuel to her growing frustration.

Billy blew his whistle, calling out to a boy running near the pool. "Hey, lard-ass! No running on my watch! I gotta warn you again, and you're banned for life! You want that? Didn't think so!" His voice boomed over the noise, and Isadora couldn't help but feel a mix of pride and exasperation as she watched him assert his authority.

She took a seat near the pool, trying to summon the courage to approach him, especially after their argument. As she sat there, she noticed Billy's attention was drawn toward Karen, who was now swimming gracefully through the water. Isadora's heart sank a little more at the sight, and she felt a wave of insecurity wash over her.

Moments later, Karen climbed out of the pool, walking over to Billy.

"Looking good out there, Mrs. Wheeler," he said, flashing a charming smile.

"Thank you!" Karen replied, stepping closer, her flirty tone unmistakable. "Your form is amazing."

Billy chuckled, seemingly enjoying the attention. "I've seen you teaching swimming lessons," he said, his eyes glinting.

"You know, I could—" Billy started, but his gaze finally shifted to Isadora, who was standing a short distance away, her arms folded across her chest. The playful banter faded, replaced by an awkward silence.

"Is?" he said, surprise crossing his features, as he made his way past Karen and over to where Isadora was standing.

"Seriously? You were flirting with Karen Wheeler?" Isadora confronted him, her heart pounding.

"I wasn't flirting," he shrugged, feigning innocence.

"Oh, give me a break! You can't think I'm that naive!" Isadora snapped, her voice rising. "I was coming to apologise, but I'm really glad I didn't because you're an asshole, Billy Hargrove!"

Without waiting for a reply, she turned on her heel and stormed away, refusing to let him see the tears brimming in her eyes. She had hoped their fight would blow over, but as she walked away, the weight of their unresolved conflict hung heavy in the air.

As Isadora returned home, she replayed the scene in her mind, wondering if they could salvage what they had. A part of her had hoped Billy would follow her, that he would realise how much she cared and come after her, but he didn't.

Meanwhile, Billy drove aimlessly, blasting heavy metal music through the speakers, trying to drown out the feelings swirling inside him. His hands tapped to the beat of the music, and laughter bubbled up at some inside joke, but the moment was shattered when something slammed into the car, sending him careening off the road. The world outside spun into chaos as his car spun out of control before slamming into a tree. Pain shot through him as he groaned, clutching his head.

"Shit!" Billy cursed, stumbling out of the vehicle. He looked around, realising he was disoriented and the car was damaged. The thump of his heart echoed in his ears as he kicked the tire in frustration.

He spotted something on the windshield and bent down to touch it. "What the hell?" he muttered. Just then, he heard a rustling sound nearby.

"Who's there?!" he shouted, his voice shaky with uncertainty. He felt a jolt of fear as a shadow loomed closer, and before he could react, something grabbed his foot and yanked him toward an abandoned shed.

Billy screamed as he tried to grasp onto anything to save himself, but the creature pulled him down into the darkness below. It was a terrifying plunge into the unknown, where panic clawed at his chest.

As he was dragged into the abyss, a thought flashed through his mind: maybe if he hadn't fought with Isadora, none of this would be happening. Perhaps they would have been together, laughing and enjoying their summer. But in that moment, Billy Hargrove felt completely alone, trapped in a nightmare he couldn't escape.

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Well ... they were happy for a little while 😅

Also I do understand Billy being angry, he wanted to help Is and it just seems like she went running to Steve (even though he simply recommended the job to her), and she did realise that later hence why she was going to apologise, however she's now upset at him for somewhat flirting with Karen Wheeler (which I kept in there for the storyline). 

Welcome to season three.

Enjoy! Xo

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