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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

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STEVE WAS LATE, AS USUAL. It was his turn to take them to school, and Addie and Will were still waiting nearly 10 minutes after the time he told them he'd be there.

"Sorry sorry I'm here!" He grinned as Addie and Will got into the car, and he handed over a paper bag from McDonald's as a peace offering.

"You're lucky you brought food," Addie laughed before biting into a hash brown.

The ride to school seemed to go by faster than usual, and Addie was surprised to see that Billy wasn't already at school. Will went off to the junior high, and Nancy greeted Addie and Steve at the main doors to the high school. She seemed a little off towards Steve, and Addie wondered if they had another argument.

They all turned when they heard a loud car rev it's engine. Addie was surprised to see it was Billy. She could tell he was upset about something just by the look on his face, that and the fact that he usually wasn't this loud coming into the school parking lot.

The 3 headed inside and she told Steve she'd see him in class, but she wanted to wait for Billy to see if he was okay.

Billy's expression softened a little when he noticed Addie waiting for him. He walked up to her and gave her a kiss, already feeling a little better. But with the argument he had with his dad this morning, that wasn't saying much, he was still pretty mad.

"Are you okay?" Addie asked, concerned.

"I'm fine," Billy tried to shrug it off. The argument had to do with Addie, and he was reluctant to tell her.

"Are you sure, you—"

"I said I'm fine." That came out a lot harsher than he intended, and he noticed Addie shrink back a little. He instantly regretted his tone, knowing he shouldn't have snapped at her, but he could see she was already putting that wall up. The defensive one he hadn't seen since the last time they argued. "Baby I'm sorry—"

"It's fine. I gotta get to class. My mistake for checking on you." She opened her locker and grabbed her books, not caring about the loud sound the door made when she slammed it shut.

"Addie, I—"

Now Addie cut Billy off. "It's fine. You don't owe me any explanation. I'll see you later," she walked away without another word. He sighed, and resisted the urge to turn around and punch a locker.

Addie really had changed him, because the old Billy would've done it without a second thought.

After first period, Addie and Steve were handed a flyer as the exited the classroom. "Come and get sheet faced?" Addie laughed when she read what it actually said. Steve looked at her and noticed Addie was already folding up her paper, preparing to throw it away in the nearest trash can.

"You're going right?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe."

From the corner of his eye, Steve saw Billy opening his locker, and wondered if he had anything to do with Addie's weird mood.

"You're going to this. Come on, I'll even drive so you can drink."

"I thought you said it was Nancy's turn to drive you guys to a party so that you could drink?"

"I think we're fighting right now. I don't know. But anyway, I'll just tell her I'll drive again. I don't know if Billy did something, or if something else happened, but you need cheering up. So as your best friend I'm telling you that we're all going to this party. You can't spend Halloween night alone."

She unfolded the paper and sighed. "I mean technically I won't be alone. Jonathan and I already told our mom we'd take Will trick-or-treating. She didn't want him to go, until we both agreed to take him."

"All night?" Steve raised an eyebrow.

"I mean... yeah, probably," Addie shrugged. She knew the other boys would be joining and she guessed they'd want to walk around getting free candy until as late as possible.

"Nope. I'm not buying it. The boys will get tired of walking around once their bags start to get a little heavy. You'll all be back at whoever's house by 7:30, then you'll go home and sit in your room and read a book or something."

"Okay well I happen to like reading thank you very much, so that actually sounds like a nice night."

"Come on Addie, let's be real. You'll have way more fun at this party instead of sitting at home and you know it."

"Will I though because I very much doubt that."

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Billy wasn't around to meet her in front of the cafeteria, and Addie was worried about him. Until she walked outside and noticed him leaning against a wall, smoking.

She rolled her eyes and went back inside before he could notice her. She knew he didn't owe her any explanation, but she was annoyed and a little sad that he'd snapped at her like that and hadn't even attempted to find her before lunch.

They all finished eating nearly 10 minutes before lunch was supposed to end, so Addie said she was just going to get to class early, and she'd meet Steve at his car after school.

Before she gets to class, Addie lets out a little scream as Billy picks her up from behind and spins her around.

"What are you doing?" Addie tries to contain her laughter.

"Nothing I just missed you." He leans against a random locker and pulls her close.

"Really, could've fooled me," she stepped back, but Billy once again pulled her to him.

"I'm sorry. I'll explain after school, I promise. Please don't be mad at me," he kissed her cheek, then her forehead, then smiled as he leaned in for an actual kiss.

"You're lucky you're cute," Addie stepped back right as their lips were about to touch. "We'll talk, and then maybe you can have a kiss."

Luckily for both of them, the final 2 classes of the day went by quickly. Billy held Addie's hand as he led her out of school. Once they got outside, Addie leaned against a wall, trying to think of what Billy was going to say.

He hesitated for a moment and looked around, and it looked like he was nervous to say whatever it was in front of other people.

"Come over after you take Max home?" Addie asked. "We can talk in my room."

Billy nodded, grateful she was still giving him a chance to explain, but also that he didn't have to do so with the risk of other people hearing him.

Addie got to Steve's car at the same time he did, and the ride to her house was silent. Will focused on some worksheet he was given at school, and Addie and Steve both nervous, but for different reasons.

Steve was worried about him and Nancy. They were technically okay, but something felt off, he just couldn't figure out what. And Addie was secretly terrified of what Billy could possibly have to tell her that made him that nervous.

"Think we should skip town, change our names and just not deal with anything?" Steve asked once Will got out and ran inside, saying something about the computer game that Bob got him.

"Honestly that doesn't sound half bad," she said, briefly telling him about why Billy was coming over soon.

"Hey I'm sure it's not that bad. Maybe it's even a good surprise. Call me if you need anything okay?"

Addie smiled, grateful for her best friend. "Thank you. You gonna go see Nancy?"

"I... maybe. I may just wait and see her at school tomorrow."

After getting out of the car, Addie slipped her backpack on and headed towards the house, slowly walking backwards so she could say something to Steve before he drove off. "If you love her, talk to her. Don't ignore whatever is wrong and just hope it goes away."

"How do you know I'm ignoring something?"

"Because I know you. And you're stubborn. Go talk to her!" Addie waved him off, and just has his car went around the corner, Billy pulled up. They went to Addie's room, sitting on her bed once she shut the door behind her.

They were silent for a moment, Billy working up the courage to actually say what he needed to say, and Addie was going through all of the possibilities of what he might be about to say.

"Should I be scared right now?" Addie finally broke the silence.

"No, I mean... no. I didn't mean to scare you or have you worried all day. I just didn't want to say anything at school because... look, you're the only one who knows what my life is like at home. I can't talk about my dad or what he does to me at school because I can't chance a teacher hearing me and trying to interfere. And I know you wanted to say something too, but trust me the best thing is to just wait until I'm out of the house. Anyway, we got into an argument this morning, my dad and I."

"Oh, what was it about?" Addie was worried for him, but a tiny bit relieved that he wasn't here to say he didn't want to see her anymore.

"Last night, and I wanted to kill her for this... Max accidentally let it slip that you and I are sort of seeing each other. And my dad, always looking for a reason to pick a fight with me, decided to get mad that I hadn't mentioned it. In the heat of the moment I said hmm, why do you think I've avoided mentioning her dad? And he didn't like that. It turned into a bit of a fight, Max apologized and went to her room, my step-mom interfered saying it's lovely that I found someone and they'd really like to meet you. I actually appreciated that, she didn't let on that she met you before otherwise he'd have gotten mad that I had company over without his permission. And it calmed him down a little, because he agreed that it was right that they meet you."

"So... you..."

"I'm supposed to ask you to come over for dinner tomorrow night."

"Do... you not want me to go? I can always say I'm busy if it's too uncomfortable for you—"

Billy stood up and took Addie's hands, pulling her up too. He put a hand on her cheek and shook his head. "Baby no that's not it at all. I want to show you off to the whole world. I just don't want him to scare you off. You think he's bad just from what I've told you, believe me it's worse in person. I don't want him to say things and have you go running and never look back."

"Billy, look at me," Addie smiled. "If you want me there, I'll be there. I promise that I won't let him scare me away. And if something does happen, and I do have to leave, I promise I'll come back, or leave my window open so you can come back to me."

H put a hand on either side of her face and slowly leaned in. "Can I have that kiss now?"

Addie nodded, and their lips were just inches apart when there was a knock on the door. They sat back down on the bed and Addie opened a textbook just as her mom opened the door.

"Hi guys, sorry, Addie I forgot to tell you we have a, umm, a doctors appointment. You and Will, just a checkup."

She could tell from her moms tone that she really meant that she and Will had to go in for more tests and questions. It happened more often than they wanted.

"I'll get out of here, see you at school tomorrow?" Billy grabbed his keys from his pocket.

"Okay, bye Billy," Addie walked him to the front door.

Once he was in his car, Addie shut the door and turned around to find her mom with a big smile on her face.

"You know I left the room as soon as I mentioned your appointment, you guys could've kissed goodbye."

"Mom!"

"Alright alright, go get your brother, we're gonna be late if we don't leave now."

The ride was silent, Joyce so focused on getting there, and Addie and Will just staring out of the windows. She couldn't blame her mom for forgetting to tell them in advance, but she wished that she had known so she could've asked Steve or Nancy to come with them.

Her first choice would've been Billy, but she wasn't ready to put all of that on him yet. He only knew her as just a normal teenager, and she wanted it to stay that way for as long as possible.

"Will, Addie," they both snapped out of it as they realized that their mom had just said something to them.

"Huh?" Was said in unison.

"I asked if you were both feeling better. I'm your mom, I've noticed both of your room lights come on late at night sometimes. I've been waiting until you guys came to me, but... so I'm just asking now."

"Yeah, sorry mom."

"I'm okay. Sorry."

"Hey what did we talk about, huh? You've got to stop it with the sorries. You guys have been through more than anyone should have to endure in their entire lifetime, but the worst of it is behind us. There's nothing to be nervous about now. Just tell them what you guys have been feeling, what you saw. I was told you guys would be in separate rooms like last time, just because they don't want you feeding off of each other's answers. But neither of you will have to speak to anyone alone. Okay?"

"Okay, thanks mom," Addie said softly. Will was staring out the window again.

Addie's heart began to race as they pulled into the parking lot. Now she was panicking, wishing her mom had told them before. They got out of the car and saw Hopper waiting for them.

"Hey Addie, Will," he greeted them with a small smile.

Will seemed a lot more nervous, so Joyce put an arm around him and tried to give him a pep talk. Hopper glanced at Addie and instantly knew she was feeling the same way, just trying to hide it more, he suspected for her mom and brothers sake.

"What's on your mind kiddo?" He slowed his pace to walk next to Addie.

"I'm almost a legal adult you know."

"I also know a subject change when I hear one. You alright?"

"Yeah, just... mom said they want to monitor Will and I separately so we don't copy anything the other says. And I know that's how they normally do it but usually Jonathan or Steve come with us to wait with me or be in the room with me and my mom forgot to tell us so I couldn't ask either of them or Nancy and—"

"Hey, take a deep breath okay?" Once Addie did what he said, he put his arm around her and led her inside after her mom and brother. "I'll stay by your side the entire time. I know you're trying to be brave for Will and your mom, but it's okay if you're a little scared too. Promise kiddo, I'll be there the whole time."

"Okay, thanks," she smiled.

When they entered the building, Addie and Will were allowed to stay together just while their height and weight were checked and recorded. Then, Will was called in first.

After reassurance from Hopper that Addie wouldn't be questioned or asked to do anything unless he was right there, Joyce hugged Addie and then went into the room after Will.

"Ms. Byers?" Addie looked up to see a man standing in the doorway of another room.

"You ready?" Hopper stood up, but waited for Addie to do the same before he followed after the man.

"As ready as I'll ever be," was the only thing Addie could think to mumble.

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