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

CHAPTER TWELVE

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

     THE NEXT DAY, ADDIE COULDN'T WAIT TO GET TO SCHOOL. She knew that she had to talk to Billy and apologize and say that she knows he didn't do anything wrong. But luck wasn't on Addie's side, because Billy wasn't at school on Wednesday. And he didn't come on Thursday or Friday either.

Friday after school, Addie and Will were heading to her car when they heard someone calling them. Max approached, out of breath from running to catch up with them.

"Hey Will," the 2 smiled at each other before Max turned to Addie.

"I know it's last minute but is there any way you can give me a ride home? I don't want to have to call home because Neil is off today and I—"

Addie nodded, immediately understanding. When they all got in the car, she had an idea. She wasn't sure if it would work, but she really wanted to try. After dropping Will off first, saying she was going to go study with Nancy, the 2 girls headed towards Max's house.

When they pulled up, arguing could be heard inside.

"We can sit and wait for a bit until it stops," Addie offered. Max nodded, grateful she didn't have to ask. After a few minutes the yelling stopped, and the girls sunk down in their seats as Neil stormed out of the front door, got in his car and sped off. He hadn't even noticed them.

The girls slowly approached the front door, and were greeted by Susan, who just like last time repeatedly thanked Addie for bringing her daughter home from school.

"Umm, can I—"

"He's in his room," Susan gave Addie a sad smile, knowing what she was about to ask.

Max went to her room, saying she was going to do homework. Before she shut her door, she whispered "good luck" to Addie.

Addie put her ear to the door, and only hearing the sound of music playing softly, she gently knocked. When she got no reply, she slowly opened the door. Billy had his record player on, and he was in bed, sound asleep.

Shutting the door behind her, she slipped her shoes off before slowly laying down next to Billy. Sensing the movement next to him, he opened his eyes, surprised to see Addie. But without a second thought, he pulled her close as she laid her head on his chest.

"Earlier at school—"

"I know," Addie interrupted, putting a hand on his cheek. "I'm sorry I got mad at you, I know the plan now was to set Steve up to make it look like he was in on it, then Tina came up and kissed you, making sure I saw."

"What are you doing here?" Billy asked as he played with Addie's hair. The past few days have felt like torture, not being able to see her, but he was so sleepy that part of him wondered if he was dreaming.

"I brought Max home, we got here right as your dad left."

He started to say something, but he was clearly still tired, stumbling over his words.

"Take a nap, you're still tired."

He didn't say it out loud, but part of him worried if he went back to sleep, he'd wake up and Addie would be gone because he'd dreamt the whole thing.

"I promise I'll be here when you wake up," Addie smiled, as if she could read his thoughts. She ended up falling asleep too, and they spent the next couple of hours like that, peaceful in each other's arms. When they woke up, it was nearly 4:30.

"Why haven't you been at school?"

"Miss me too much?" Billy smirked, trying to avoid some of the tension.

"Of course," Addie shrugged. She noticed now that the lights were on, that he had a black eye that was healing. "Is this why you haven't been going?" She put her hand on the other side of his face, and he closed his eyes at her touch.

Slowly, he nodded. "My dad... he got mad, and I actually stood up for myself. He didn't like that, so... I couldn't come to school because I can't have teachers asking questions."

Addie's heart broke for Billy.

"Hey, don't cry. I'm okay sweetheart, I promise. Especially now that you're here."

"Are you sure you're okay? Does it still hurt?"

Billy shook his head. "Not anymore. Now I'm just waiting for it to heal. Should be pretty much gone by Monday."

"I can't believe I thought you were avoiding me," Addie hid her head, embarrassed.

"You're pretty much the only reason I ever want to go to school, I'm sorry I didn't call, to try and explain earlier."

"I'm the one who should be sorry. I should've come and checked on you or something."

Billy put his hand under Addie's chin when they sat up, making her look at him. "You've got nothing to be sorry for. And you're here checking on me now aren't you?" the grin on her face made Billy think everything was going to be okay, at least in that moment.

They sat and talked for a while, about how things have been at school. Just before 5, Addie mentioned that she should head home.

"Can I see you tomorrow?" Billy gave Addie a kiss on her forehead.

"I was just gonna ask you that. I still have to give you your surprise," she smiled nervously just thinking about it. "I can come back here, or if you're more comfortable you can come to my house."

"Is it okay if I come to you?"

"Of course. I don't have anything going on tomorrow, so whenever you want to come by."

Billy pulled her in for a long kiss, having thought about doing just that since the last time he saw her.

Addie headed home, avoiding a curious glance from Jonathan. She knew he had questions, but she was going to wait until he actually asked them. Will, on the other hand, came into Addie's room almost the second she closed the door.

"Are you guys dating?"

"No," Addie shrugged. Did she wish they were? Maybe. But she didn't want to pressure Billy into putting a label on whatever they might be.

"Oh. Well Max said she thinks he really likes you."

"Oh did she now?"

He threw his hands up. "Don't shoot the messenger. Anyway, if he makes you happy, then you should be together." It was his turn to shrug, as if it were really just that simple.

After dinner, during which the Byers siblings all answered questions about school and how things were going, Addie showered and then headed to her room to work on an essay for school.

She stayed up a lot later than anticipated, finally closing her book and laying down to sleep just before midnight.

Some unknown amount of time later, she woke up to what sounded like pebbles hitting her window. The clock told her that it was just after 2am.

"Billy??" Addie raised her window and moved aside so he could come in. One look at him and it felt like her heart was breaking all over again. She could tell that he'd been crying.

"My dad came home, got drunk, got angry. I hate him so much."

Addie held her arms open, and Billy gratefully pulled her in for a hug. They stood like that for a moment, and the whole time Billy was fighting tears. Without another word, Addie cleared her bed of the textbooks that she fell asleep next to, and they both laid down.

"Why doesn't he love me?" Billy whispered after a minute. A tear finally fell. "Why aren't I a good enough son?"

Addie wiped a tear, and kissed him in the same spot. "I wish I had a good answer that could make things better. But I don't know. You are honestly one of the best people I know. And I know you're not perfect, I'm not either. But you make me feel safe, and I don't know how someone could look at you, and spend time with you, and treat you like that. You remember what I said when we were sitting on the steps at the party?"

Billy nodded, not wanting to say anything.

"All of that is still true. You are worthy of love and respect, and kindness, and I wish you weren't in a position where you had to settle for less, because you deserve so much more."

"I love you."

They were both stunned. Billy, because it sort of slipped out. He knew he loved her, but he wanted to wait to say it during a special moment, not as he lay crying in front of her. And Addie was stunned because she was not expecting to hear that.

"You don't have to say it back. I just wanted to tell you. I know we've only known each other since the beginning of August, so a little over two months, but I do. The talks we've had, the times you've been there for me, and how I feel when I'm around you, I know I do."

Addie's eyes filled with tears. "I love you," she said softly, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "It may have only been two months since we've met, but it feels like I've known you forever, in some strange way."

"I haven't opened up to anyone like that... ever," Billy tried to think of the last time he had a genuine deep talk with someone, and he couldn't think of it.

"Well I'm thankful that you chose me."

Not long after that, Billy finally fell asleep. Addie stared at him in awe, wanting to soak in this moment forever. She was so unbelievably proud of him. Here was this boy, broken and sad, and when he first got to Hawkins, so angry too. Yet he pushed all of that aside when it came to Addie.

She was proud of him for expressing himself, and allowing himself to be happy, and loved. And she knew saying the "L" word was a big step for him, as she had a feeling he didn't hear it at all at home.

The day they met, she had no idea how important he'd become to her. That so quickly, she'd find herself falling for him. He told her all the time that he doesn't know how he got so lucky, and she often wonders the same thing about herself.

And thinking back, they've shown each other little ways that they love each other without actually saying it, for a while now.

It was in the way Billy waited for her after class, even if it was just so they could walk to their cars together before going their separate ways. And in the way Addie always checked on Billy, wanting to make sure he was alright.

Love was there the night of the last party, when Billy poured his heart out to Addie, and she told him it was okay to have those feelings and that she would be there for him whenever he needed someone to talk to.

Addie hated the fact that Billy's father treated him like that. And she didn't get along with her father either, in fact she couldn't stand the man, but she thought about how much worse things would be if he stayed and mentally / physically abused them all instead of leaving.

With everything that happened, Will going missing, Addie unintentionally going to the Upside Down in an attempt to locate / rescue him, almost dying in the process, and dealing with everything that came with that, she didn't think it was possible to be happy after, or have anything resembling a normal life.

Truthfully, she still had nightmares about what happened during that dark time. Not often, but there were nights she'd wake up, a scream trapped in her throat. And she was always thankful she didn't actually scream, because she didn't want her mom or brothers to worry and know she still had nightmares.

But she meant it when she said Billy made her feel safe. When she was in his arms, and they were physically together like this, or even when they were just in the same room, she feel like nothing bad could ever happen.

As she lay there, looking at the boy she could now say out loud that she loved, Addie wondered what the future held for them.

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