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CHAPTER SIXTEEN

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

     WILL ENDED UP DRAGGING A SLEEPING BAG INTO ADDIE'S ROOM. He said it was to make sure she didn't have any nightmares, and he'd wake her up if she did start to have one. Addie could tell it was also because he was now worried about having one, but she didn't say anything.

And she regretted how open and honest she was about her nightmares. Maybe she should've lied and said only once or twice, or not been as detailed with what happens in them.

But they woke up the next morning, both happy to report only good dreams. Although Addie couldn't quite remember what hers was about, just that it involved something about bread.

Addie also thought about Billy. He didn't know about anything that she'd gone through. She wanted to, but didn't know how to tell him without scaring him away. And since it was all over with, part of her didn't see a point in scaring him with everything.

She wondered if the boys had told Max anything, and if so, how much. After making a mental note to ask Will about it later, but not right now when they'd just woken up, they headed into the kitchen for breakfast.

Bob came over just as they were finishing up their cereal, and said he had a surprise for each of the Byers' children.

Jonathan got some sort of special camera bag, and it must've been some bag because he immediately grabbed his camera from the old one it was in and put it in the new one. Bob said he found it in a window as he was walking by a vintage shop.

Will got a new game for the computer that he was really excited to try out. As soon as Bob said the title, he immediately knew what it was because he'd heard some kids at school talking about it, and within a minute he already decided to take it to Mike's for their sleepover.

Addie was given hers last. She definitely thought her gift was the coolest, but she might've been a little biased. Bob had gotten her a small stack of comic books, saying she needed to be introduced to more. He'd even chosen one with a lady called Black Widow on the front, and Addie could tell just from quickly flipping through that she'd love her.

After everyone had received their gifts, Jonathan left to go take some photos, Will headed to the computer to try out his new game, and Addie and Bob sat on the couch and spent an hour taking a look at the ones he'd gotten for her.

Joyce's heart felt like it could burst from happiness again. After Lonnie, she had doubts that she'd be this happy again. Bob was perfect, and he was perfect with her kids too, which was the most important thing to her.

Once they'd eaten lunch, Addie went to her room and picked up a book, wanting to get back into reading. Just after 4pm, the phone rang.

"Addie pick up the phone, it's for you!" Her mom shouted from down the hall. She'd gotten Addie a phone that was connected to their house phone after she'd begged for one last Christmas.

"Hello?"

"Hey sweetheart."

Addie grinned, delighted to hear Billy's voice. "I was hoping you'd call."

"Sorry I didn't last night, I meant to but then my dad and I kind of got into it and I just went to sleep early. And before you worry too much, I'm alright I promise."

"Are you hurt?"

"No, he only shoved me. Anyway I called to see what you're doing later?"

"I have to drop Will off at a sleepover, he somehow managed to convince our mom to let him stay over at a friends house on a school night. Then I don't know after. Maybe just go to bed early? I'm not sure yet."

"Think I could stay over again? My dad always leaves for work early and he doesn't check on us before he leaves or anything so he'd never know I wasn't home."

"Okay, I'll leave my window open again," Addie smiled, already feeling butterflies. Just the thought of falling asleep in Billy's arms again made her happy.

They ended up saying on the phone until Jonathan knocked on her door, announcing that dinner was ready.

"So guys, anyone have anything interesting going on in their lives?"

"Addie has a boyfriend," Will spoke up causing her to nearly spit out her water.

"No I don't!" She panicked, really not wanting her mom to ask questions.

"I know we still have a while because it's only October, but Addie did you think about what you wanted to do for a job once it's summer?" Jonathan asked. "I was thinking about joining the newspaper."

"Thank you," she mouthed when her mom wasn't looking. "Actually I was just talking to Nancy about that last week at school. Maybe lifeguard? You don't have to do much, and I'd be getting paid to sit in a chair and watch people swim all day."

"Oh that sounds like fun," Joyce smiled. She hadn't missed the panic in her daughters voice when she said she didn't have a boyfriend, but she'd wait until Addie was ready to tell her.

Jonathan ended up taking Will over to the Wheeler's, saying he'd give Addie a break from chauffeuring him around. Plus, he had a feeling Addie was still annoyed at their younger brother for what he blurted out at dinner.

It was only October, but Addie was already thinking about what to get Billy for Christmas. What could she say, she was a planner. And he loved the notebook so much, she had no idea how she was going to top that.

After a good 10 minutes trying to come up with something, she got an idea and grabbed her notebook to make a list.

Once she was done, for now, because she'd come back to it later up until it was time to make and then give to him, she hid the book at the bottom of a desk drawer so that Billy wouldn't see it when he came over.

After that, she took a shower and laid down. She wasn't going to sleep yet, just thinking. Jonathan was right, it was only summer but she should start thinking about a summer job. Nancy had actually asked her the same question a week ago at school.

She was pretty sure she'd end up being a lifeguard. It actually did seem like an easy job. Any of the times that she'd taken the boys to the pool, or gone with friends from school, no lifeguard had even needed to jump in the pool.

Addie tried to wait up for whenever Billy might come over, but she was tired. She cracked her window open a couple of inches, and laid down for sleep. She was woken up when he got into bed next to her and gently wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer.

"Hi," she whispered, turning so that they were facing each other.

"Sorry I keep coming over like this."

"I like it," Addie smiled. "I like falling asleep and waking up next to you."

Billy felt the exact same way, and held back from admitting that it was a feeling he could get used to for a long time. He could tell Addie was tired, and so they laid there as he played with her hair, and eventually Addie fell asleep. Billy was awake for a little while longer, just looking at the girl in front of him.

"Can't sleep?" Addie looked up, realizing Billy was still awake.

"I'm not tired just yet. But I don't mind laying here with you, you go back to sleep."

Still half asleep, Addie decided to ask Billy something that she'd thought of earlier. "Do you still plan on leaving right after we graduate?"

"What made you think of that?"

"I was thinking about summer. And getting a job at the pool. I just thought of it earlier, and if you get a job there too we could see each other every day," Addie smiled, still pretty sleepy. She really hoped that she'd remember this conversation in the morning.

Billy felt happy at the thought that Addie wanted him to stick around. "You'd want me to?"

She nodded, closing her eyes once again. "It would be fun. I know it's a long ways away but I don't know, just thought about it. Plus I like being with you."

There was that happiness feeling again, he felt it often when he was with Addie.

"I'll stay, if you want me to." He looked down at the girl laying with her head on his chest, and saw that she'd already fallen asleep. He kissed her forehead, then moved the blanket so that they wouldn't be cold. "I'll be around as long as you want."

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