"Do you need help?" Peters voice caught Lucas' attention. Turning, he stood awkwardly as Lucas messed with the walkie, "My uncles a science teacher."

Lucas gave a small snort, "I know."

Peter walked over, "What are you trying to do?"

"The volume is stuck, i'm trying to get it-" Lucas began, Peter taking it from his grasp as he turned it all the way not, "No, no, that not-"

"Wait." Peter shhed him, turning the volume up again, where it had been stuck, gliding over it, "Sometimes you just have to retrace your steps."

Lucas took it from his hands, "Sounds like something Mr.Clarke would say."

"He did." Peter cracked a grin.

Lucas cleared his throat, "Look, man, about Mike-"

"You don't have to excuse your friends actions, I get it. He doesn't have to like me, i'm not here for him." Peter shook his head, his level of mature taking Lucas by surprise, "What? Are you shocked that i'm not whining like a baby and trying to control El? Or maybe it was because I don't throw a fit every time something doesn't go my way, and my ability to speak without making someone feel crazy and like they should feel bad for saying and doing what they want."

When Peter original began to speak, he didn't plan on putting Mike down as much as he did just now. But he couldn't stop, his words flying out like word vomit.

"You're just not what I was thinking."Lucas said honestly, inspired by Peters freewill to his opinions and speech, "I figured you were hanging out with the girls just to-"

"Max and El are the only friends I actually have." Peter stopped him, because he couldn't imagine using the girls like Lucas was about to say, "I would never, and will never, hurt either of them in any way."

"You think Mike hurts El?" Lucas went to defend Mike.

"Mentally, yeah, I do." he said back confidently, leaning against the wall.

"He just worries about her." Lucas defended him, despite seeing were Peter had been coming from, "He lost her for a year, it was bad. He's just scared it'll happen again, but don't tell him I told you that."

Peter nodded slightly, "I can understand that part, that isn't what I mean. But the way he tries to make her feel bad about herself for wanting to be an actual human being is ridiculous. El is smart, and she's powerful. I mean, how does it not make you mad when he treats Max like shit either?"

Lucas blinked, "Well, I don't-"

"I think you should stand up for your girlfriend more." Peter passed him the walkie with a single nod, "Rule number one to being a good boyfriend."

Lucas thought about his words as the Clarke boy walked away.

Peter blinked in shock when El tilted her head, Billy's body crashing back into the sauna room wall.

"Now!" Mike yelled as El slammed the door shut, him and Will putting a broken pipe on the handle to avoid him getting out. Peter hid behind Max slightly as Billy beat on the door, yelling and grunting as he did so.

His eyes focuses toward them, Peter could have sworn he was staring at him until Billy spoke, "Max."

Their eyes all turned her way, the redhead heisting a second, "Do it."

"Max! Let me out of here!" Max yelled as Peter turned up the heat in the sauna. Billy's outburst and the way he hit the wall had the Clarke boy backing up slightly. He figured it couldn't be so bad, Billy was scary so how much worse could it get? But this being the first look he'd ever seen at someone who was flayed, someone he was already terrifying as was, scared him a bit.

A hand grabbed his wrist made Peter look back, El pulling him back with the group behind her.

"You kids, you think this is funny? You kids think this is some kind of sick prank, huh?" Billy asked through the glass, spitting on it, "You little shits think this is funny? What is this? Open the door. Open the door!"

He made them all jump slightly, repeating himself over and over again to open the door.

Billy yelled out loudly as Will, deciding Peter probably shouldn't approach anymore, walked toward the thermostat, "We're at 220."

Sobbing echoed from inside, "It's not my fault. It's not my fault. It's not my fault, Max. I promise you, it's not my fault."

Max slowly approached, Peter gave a worried look her way but stayed behind El.

"What's not your fault, Billy?" she asked, peering through the foggy window.

El looked back to meet Peters eyes a moment.

"I've done things, Max. Really...bad things. I didn't mean to." Billy cried from within the smaller, heated room. The group behind Max slowly approached as well with their own looks of fear and panic, "He made me do it."

"Who made you do it?" Max asked, voice small and gentle.

"I don't know, it was like a shadow." Billy spoke. El looked back at Will, making Peter do the same as they noticed the confident look he held, "Like a giant shadow. Please, Max."

"What did he make you do?" she asked him.

"It's nod my fault, okay? Max, please." Billy begged, crying and yelling at the same time, "Please believe me. It's not my fault. I tried to stop him, I did. Please believe me, Max."

Max began to cry as she put a hand to the glass, "Billy, it's gonna be okay. It's gonna be okay. We want to help you. You just have to talk to us, okay?"

"I feel him." Will mumbled, his hand coming up to the back of his neck, "He's activated."

Peter looked back at Will and Mike, "In Billy?"

Will nodded, Mike met Peters eye a second before facing the back of Max's head, "Max, get away from the door."

"What?" she turned back.

"Get away from the door!" Mike yelled, Billy hitting the window as glass flew everywhere. Peter grabbed El's arm to yank her back some, Max backing away quickly.

"Let me out, you bitch! I'll fucking gut you!" Billy yelled, looking directly at Max, reaching down and yanking the pipe from the handle. Peter grabbed Max's shoulder to pull her back toward the group while Lucas used his slingshot to hit Billy right in the center of the head, the boy falling backwards.

The lights blinked above the huddled up group. Billy let out an animal like roar from inside the sauna, making them all look back his way. El threw a arm out infront of everyone as Max shook her head, "He can't get out, can he?"

"No way." Lucas shook his head.

Billy through his body against the door a few times before knocking it down harshly, stumbling out onto the ground. The party, plus Peter, all yelled in fear and backed up quickly. The boy stood up, facing El. Peters hand was still latched to her arm, never seeing El use her power so intensely that he had faith Billy wouldn't hurt her.

The weight from the bar picking up caught his attention, looking over to see El using her powers to lift it before yelling out, throwing it Billys way and knocking him backwards. Lucas and Max grabbed Peters shoulders to yank him away from El, back against the wall with the rest.

El breathed heavy, using her out reached hand to hold Billy against the wall with the weight. El screamed loudly as Billy pushed against it, having it move a few inches before he threw it harshly. El ducked down immediately, Peter gasped as the weight nearly hit her. Before she had time to move away, Billy had a hold of her head, yanking her backwards to stare at her face.

His eyes found the party before wrapping a tight hand around El's neck. They all gasped, Billy slowly lifting El up into the air as she coughed and gasped for air. Peters hands shook, eyes wide. What could he do? What could he possibly do to help El against a demon?

Without thinking, the Clarke boy charged forward and ran into Billys side. It made it stumble enough to loose his focus on El, giving Mike enough time to hit him over the head with the pipe, "Go to hell, you piece of shit!"

El gasped for air as Peter leaned next to her, feeling her neck and rubbing her shoulders. Mike attempted to hit Billy, having the pipe ripped from his hand and thrown across bee room. They stood face to face, Peter watched in fear of what was about to happen. El followed his gaze, using Peters shoulders to bring herself to stand.

She lifted Billy off the ground before he had the chance to get near Mike. Billy yelled out as El cried, holding him up and getting higher and higher. She made a circle around the room, Max, Will, and Lucas going to Peter so they hadn't been all separated. El and Billy screamed at the same time before her hands yanked to the side, throwing the Hargrove boy out of the side of the brick wall.

Peters heart was racing worse then it ever had been before, feeling sicker then he ever had in his life. El collapsing and starting to cry caught his attention, making his eyes water as he took off out of the door.

"Peter!" Max yelled, thinking what had happened scared him away for good now. But she should have known better by now, she should have known that he wouldn't abandoned any of them. A few moments later, Peter ran back into the locker room with two wet rags, placing one on El's forehead and using the other to hold on her neck.

•

kylie speaks

peter is raising my
expectations and i expect
nothing less from a man
from now on.