a/n: i think i was kidding myself in asking for x amount of votes before new chapters are re-published. most of the people who read these stories are ghost readers 😭 i will still be editing and re-publishing, it'll just be random and whenever i feel like it

•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧.˚ *•̩̩͙ ✩. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧.˚ *•̩̩͙ ✩. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐗

•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧.˚ *•̩̩͙ ✩. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧.˚ *•̩̩͙ ✩. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧

IN SOME WAYS, BILLY REALLY WAS DIFFERENT. And Addie had to give credit where it was due, she could see that he really was trying. With the first couple of weeks of his arrival at Hawkins, there were whispers about him. Looking at him the wrong way could cause him to "accidentally" bump into you, and if you bumped into him? Better hope he wasn't having a bad day.

But he did seem different now. He definitely still had a temper, and was known to snap when the average person would've let it go or reacted calmly, but not quite as often.

Addie and Billy also spent a lot more time together. The 'hangout spot' was a local arcade, and that's where Will and the boys wanted to spend every moment of free time that they got.

Max started hanging out with them a lot more too. Normally Billy would drop her off and immediately leave, but now he actually found himself looking forward to going because he knew Addie would be there.

They'd always get in either of their cars and would end up passing the time just talking. Billy was fascinated by Addie when she talked about things she was passionate about. He learned that she didn't quite know what she wanted to do after graduation, but that eventually she wanted to leave Hawkins.

He also liked learning little things about her. Addie's favorite color was blue, she loved books but didn't read as often as she liked these days, and her favorite movie changed depending on her mood.

And slowly, very slowly, Billy opened up to Addie too. She learned what he missed about California, and that he wanted to leave Hawkins the moment he was done with school. That made her a little sad, but she kept quiet, and he also kept quiet about the fact that lately he had more moments thinking maybe staying wouldn't be so bad.

There were rumors swirling around the halls of Hawkins High.

Billy and Addie?

But wait wasn't Addie with Steve?

No you idiot, Steve's with Nancy.

I don't know, I think there's trouble in paradise.

Addie didn't care though. And she didn't address any of the rumors because if high school taught her something about gossip, it was that saying anything only added more fuel to the fire. If she denied a relationship with Billy, people would only think she was lying. As for Steve, people had been saying that since they got to the age where teens started going on dates and stuff, and neither of them let it bother them anymore.

It was the first week of October, and Addie couldn't decide if she loved the beginning of Fall, or if she just wanted it to end so that Winter could start.

When she woke up on Friday morning, she was in a good mood. Everyone was talking about a party that was happening tomorrow night. The boys were having another sleepover tonight, this time at the Byer residence.

Addie, Will, and Jonathan knew their mom preferred it when all of her children slept under her roof, and so when Will asked if they could maybe have the sleepover there she of course immediately said yes.

Wanting to get to school early for some last minute studying before a test second period, Addie got ready in near record breaking time.

"Do you think it would be weird if I didn't go to college?" Addie asked when Steve picked her up. Will caught a ride with Jonathan since he always went to school early and that particular morning, Will also wanted to, so it was just Addie and Steve.

"What? Where's this coming from?"

"I don't know. Just been thinking. I've always kept up the grades and made sure to keep a high GPA, but I don't know what I actually want to do as a career. Jonathan said he knows someone who's sister took a gap year after graduation which I guess is just taking a year off after high school to work or figure your life out. And now she's doing her dream job."

"I've been thinking about that too actually, or just not doing the whole college thing at all."

This surprised Addie. "Do you know what you'd do instead?"

He shook his head. "Nope, no clue. Nancy's a year below though so at least I'd get to be around for her an extra year."

"You'd put off college for your girlfriend? I love Nancy don't get me wrong, but come on."

Steve scoffed, as if offended by the question. "What? No. Of course not, why would you think that? I'm just saying one of the perks of not going to college would be that I'd get to stay around Hawkins."

"Do you think you'll grow old here?"

"Wow deep conversation today huh?"

"Sorry I'm just thinking out loud I guess."

"No I don't mind it. Uh, I guess I never really thought about it. I mean yeah it's a small town and clearly weird shit happens here, but where else would I go? All of my friends and family are here. Why, you wanna leave?" Steve looked curiously at his best friend.

Addie thought for a moment before nodding. "Not anytime soon, I have no real reason to leave. But I think I'd like to live somewhere else eventually."

"Where would you go?"

Before Addie had a chance to answer, they pulled into the parking lot and Steve's usual spot. They got out, and were quickly approached by Tommy.

"On that note I'm gonna head inside." Addie walked off, barely acknowledging Tommy.

"What the hell is her deal?"

"Hey lay off man, I mean it." Addie heard Steve's reply before she got too far away.

As she was putting some books in her locker, she heard someone walk up behind her and next thing she knew, an arm was around her shoulders. She looked up to see Billy standing there, a big smile on his face.

"Hey, you look beautiful."

Not that Addie was complaining, because she liked how his arm felt around her, but she was suspicious. Billy was a lot nicer, but why was he being this nice?

"Hi, thanks..."

"What?"

"What's going on?"

"What I can't call you beautiful?" Billy faked being offended.

Addie couldn't help but laugh. "No, I love it. But what's up?"

"Alright you got me. You going to the party tomorrow night?"

"Hmm... thinkin' about it. Depends if someone asks me to go with them."

Billy was surprised. He flirted with Addie all the time, and there was nothing he loved more than to see her face light up, and the sound of her laughter, but usually she wasn't this bold.

"Oh yeah? Who?"

"Just this guy I talk to every day. Maybe if he asks me I'll go." She shrugged and looked at the clock. "Oh, bells about to ring, we should get to class."

Billy was surprised again when Addie gave him a kiss on the cheek before walking off.

Thankfully like all previous Friday's this school year, the day went by quickly. Will didn't need a ride home since he was heading over to Dustin's house, and Steve and Nancy were headed off somewhere. He offered to drop Addie off at home first, but she said no, insisting the two go have fun.

She was trying to look for Jonathan to ask for a ride, when she spotted a boy in a denim jacket leaning against his car.

"Could I ask you a huge favor?"

"Uh oh, what's up?" Billy smirked, tossing his cigarette to the ground and putting it out with his shoe.

"So I got a ride from Steve today and he had to go somewhere with Nancy and Will is going to a friends house and I tried to look for Jonathan but—"

"Sweetheart if you want a ride home you can just ask." He chuckled.

Addie was a little surprised. Not because she thought Billy would say no, but because she had never asked him for a favor before and didn't think he'd be so quick to say yes.

"Oh, well could I please get a ride home?"

"Yeah, actually are you doing anything right now? If I drop Max off at home first will you go somewhere with me?"

There go the butterflies again. "Okay," she said, wondering why she was so nervous.

This was a side of Billy she really liked. The rumors couldn't be true. Addie only saw Billy sometimes for a little bit in the morning and then for the last 2 classes of the day, so she didn't know how he behaved at other times. But he was so sweet to her.

Ever since clearing up the confusion with that girl in the halls, Billy was really making an effort, around Addie at least.

He could tell Steve wasn't his biggest fan, in fact he was pretty sure that the guy hated him. And you couldn't convince him that Steve wasn't secretly in love with her. But that could also be because Billy had never been "just friends" with any girl. They either hooked up and moved on, or maybe the girl got clingy and he had to push her away, but that was it.

Before Addie, an actual relationship never even crossed his mind.

Max walked up to Billy's car at the same time, and once she realized Addie was coming too, she immediately offered up the front seat. Addie tried to protest, but Max insisted.

Truthfully, she was ecstatic that Addie was along for the ride. She could tell Billy liked this girl, and when she was around it felt like she didn't have to tiptoe around her step-brother as much.

Once Max was dropped off, Billy drove another 10 minutes or so before pulling in to a diner parking lot. They got out and Billy held the door open to the diner, letting Addie lead the way.

A waitress called out that they could sit anywhere they'd like and she'd be with them in a moment, and Addie chose a booth right next to the jukebox.

While they were still waiting for the waitress, Addie looked in the front pocket of her backpack to see if she had any loose change. Luckily she had enough for 3 songs. Billy surprised her by giving her 2 more.

"Choose something good for me," he winked as she got up.

She spent a minute looking through the selections, before settling on 5 that she hadn't actually listened to before but the titles sounded nice. Addie was going through a "I want to find new music" phase.

Just as she sat down, A Groovy Kind of Love by Phil Collins started playing.

"You a hopeless romantic?" Billy asked after the song had been playing for a couple of minutes.

"I actually haven't heard this before, I picked random songs. But I like it," she nodded her head, enjoying the music and the lyrics.

The waitress arrived just as the song came to an end, and the next song started playing.

Addie ordered a vanilla milkshake and grilled cheese, Billy ordered a burger and asked the waitress to make the milkshake a large.

They talked while they waited for their food, Billy learned even more about Addie and what she liked and disliked. The topic soon turned to graduation, even though it felt like a lifetime away.

"What are you gonna do after?" Billy asked.

Addie sighed and gave a small shrug. "I hadn't really thought about it. I know my mom expects Jonathan and I to go to college, and I think he will but I... I have no idea. What about you?"

"I hadn't thought about either. Moving here was never the plan. But now that it's in my plan, who knows. I thought about leaving the day after graduation just to spite my dad for moving us here."

"I thought your step-mom wanted the move?"

"It's..."

"Complicated?" Addie finished. Billy nodded, relieved she didn't ask any more questions.

He thought about his old life in California. And it scared him that after knowing Addie less than a month, he thought of how she might like it there too.

Their thoughts were interrupted as the waitress brought their food and the milkshake by. She put a straw down on the table and said she'd be back to check on them in a little bit.

Billy slid the milkshake towards Addie, letting her have the first sip.

Her eyes lit up as she drank. "I know it's just a milkshake but I honestly don't think I'll ever get tired of them."

"We'll have to come here more often then," Billy tried to put on his tough-guy exterior but couldn't help smiling at how excited Addie was about a milkshake.

The next 10 minutes or so was mostly quiet as they ate, with only bits of conversation between bites. But surprisingly for both Addie and Billy, it was a comfortable silence.

After they finished their meal, which Billy insisted on paying for, Addie remembered Nancy's words before the party. And she thought this was more like a first date.

"Do you have to be home right now?" Addie asked once they exited the diner. Billy leaned against the car and almost stunned Addie by pulling her close, keeping his hands on her waist.

"Why, what do you have in mind?" He smirked, raising an eyebrow.

Addie playfully hit his chest. "Alright not like that, but that's a nice try though." She laughed and hid her face in his chest, laughing a little from embarrassment.

He wrapped his arms around her, and they stayed like that for a minute. Lots of surprises today, as Addie almost couldn't believe how comfortable she felt with Billy even though she hadn't known him long. And Billy was never this... intimate? Affectionate? He couldn't even think of the word.

"Sorry, I'll be serious this time. What did you have in mind?"

"I was just going to ask if you wanted to come over to my house to do homework together. I saw you got an A on every assignment we've gotten so far and science is my worst subject so... care to help a girl study?"

"For you baby, anything." Addie shook her head at Billy's constant flirting, but she had a big smile on her face.

"Tell you what, if I get an A on the next quiz, there'll be something in it for you."

"Oh yeah? Like what?"

"Guess we'll just have to wait and see my next grade, won't we?" Addie winked and bit her lip, wondering if that was too much.

"Hey let's go we got studying to do!" Billy scooped Addie up in his arms, and since his car didn't have a top, he simply leaned over and placed Addie in the passenger seat.

On the car ride back to her house, Addie snuck a few glances at the boy next to her. To think someone who was recently a complete stranger, suddenly became so involved in her life. And for only a moment, she allowed herself to realize that maybe, just maybe, she was falling for him.

Little did she know that Billy caught all of her glances at him, and he was thinking the exact same thing.

•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧.˚ *•̩̩͙ ✩. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧.˚ *•̩̩͙ ✩. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧