Daphne maneuvered her Eldorado into a parking spot at Hawkins High, the engine's gentle hum fading as she turned it off. The parking lot buzzed with the usual morning activity, students gathering in small clusters, chatting and laughing as they prepared for another day of classes.

She spotted Steve's car across the lot, with Nancy beside him in the passenger seat. Steve gave her a quick wave, and Daphne smiled, waving back before heading over to where Tina and Carol were waiting near the school's entrance.

"Hey, girls," Daphne greeted, sliding into the conversation.
"Daph, you remember about the party at my place this weekend? You know, the Halloween party we're supposed to organize together?" Tina asked, her excitement barely contained.

"It's gonna be amazing!" Carol added, flipping her dark curls over her shoulder. "We need your touch to make sure it's the event of the year."

Daphne laughed, leaning against the wall. "I'm in. But let's make sure we've got better music this time, okay? Last time, all we had was that one mixtape on repeat."

"Definitely," Tina said with a giggle. "We'll make sure to bring a bunch of mixtapes so we don't get stuck with the same songs all night, like last year."

Before they could continue, the growl of a powerful engine turned heads across the parking lot. A sleek blue Camaro pulled in, its presence immediately commanding attention. The car rolled to a stop, and for a moment, the entire lot seemed to hold its breath.

The door swung open, and a boy stepped out, oozing an aura of effortless confidence. He wore a denim jacket over a tight white tank top that highlighted his muscular build, and his jeans fit snugly, showing off his athletic frame. A cigarette hung from his lips, and his cowboy boots hit the pavement with a solid thud.

As he straightened up, a red-headed girl hopped out from the passenger side, her skate hitting the ground before she glided away without a backward glance.

The boy took a long drag from his cigarette, his piercing blue eyes scanning the parking lot with a sharp, almost predatory intensity. When his gaze landed on Daphne, Tina and Carol, he paused, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as if he knew exactly the effect he had on those watching.

He flicked the cigarette to the ground, crushing it under his boot before striding toward the school with a confident swagger.

Carol broke the silence first, her voice filled with disbelief. "Who is that?"
Tina giggled, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "I have no idea. But would you check out that ass? Just look at it go."

Daphne watched him for a moment longer before tearing her gaze away, her expression thoughtful. "Yeah, he's definitely got the 'bad boy' look down. But that doesn't mean we should start planning his welcome party."

Tina gave her a playful nudge. "Oh, come on, Daph! You can't tell me you're not at least a little bit interested in that guy. I mean, look at him. He's like trouble wrapped in denim."

Carol nodded, still watching as the boy disappeared into the building. "Yeah, you've rejected every single guy at this school that was drooling over you, but this one's different. He's got that edge."

Daphne shrugged, trying to keep her tone casual. "He's hot, sure, but I'm not interested in guys who think they're too cool for school. Besides, we don't know anything about him."

Tina leaned in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "That's the fun part, though! We get to find out. And who knows? Maybe he's not just a bad boy with a nice car."

Daphne gave her a small smile, though her reluctance remained. "Or maybe he's exactly that. I'm just saying we don't need to get all worked up over the new guy until we know what he's really about."

Carol sighed, crossing her arms. "Maybe you're right. But it wouldn't hurt to keep an eye on him, you know? Just in case he's more than meets the eye."

Daphne nodded, her mind still turning over the encounter. "Yeah, maybe. But for now, let's just focus on making this party the best one yet."

Tina grinned, the conversation shifting back to their plans. But as they talked, Daphne couldn't help but glance toward the school entrance, where the new guy had just walked in.

Something told her that he was going to be more than just another face in the crowd at Hawkins High.

The hum of the classroom was punctuated by the usual shuffle of books and the low murmur of conversation. Daphne sat near the front, her notebook open, doodling absentmindedly as she waited for the class to start.

She liked to sit near the front—not because she was a teacher's pet, but because it kept her focus, and she didn't have to worry about what was going on behind her.

Just as the bell rang, the classroom door swung open. In strolled the new guy everyone had been buzzing about since his arrival that morning. His presence was immediate and commanding. Daphne felt the air shift as he walked in, a slight hush falling over the room.

His gaze scanned the room before landing on Daphne. Their eyes locked for a brief moment, his stare intense and unapologetic. He flashed a crooked smile, one that Daphne knew was meant to disarm, but she quickly turned her attention back to her notebook, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

"Class, I'd like to introduce our new student, Billy Hargrove," the teacher said, his tone carrying the usual formal cheer that accompanied new student introductions.

Billy's expression was far from cheerful. He looked bored, his posture relaxed in a way that bordered on disrespectful. The teacher droned on, talking about where Billy had moved from, though Daphne didn't catch the details.

She was more focused on the way Billy seemed to be completely unfazed by the introduction, his eyes already scanning the classroom as if looking for something—or someone—more interesting.

"Take a seat, Mr. Hargrove. There's one behind Miss Byers there," the teacher added, gesturing to the empty chair behind her.

Daphne felt a slight twinge of irritation as Billy made his way to the seat behind her, but she kept her focus on the notes in front of her.

As Billy passed, she could feel his eyes on her again, and she could smell the scent of a mixture of leather and faint cigarette smoke, mingled with a hint of something sharper, like aftershave or cologne. It was a scent that was both rough and intentionally provocative, perfectly in line with the aura Billy exuded.

As the lesson began, Daphne tried to concentrate, but it wasn't long before she felt something hit her back. A tiny piece of paper landed on her desk, and she glanced down at it, frowning slightly. Another one followed, and then another.

She turned slightly in her seat, catching Billy's smirk as he casually flicked another paper ball at her.

She ignored him, determined not to give him any reaction. But Billy wasn't done. Moments later, a folded note landed on her desk. Daphne hesitated, then slowly unfolded it, her eyes scanning the scribbled message.

Meet me at lunch. Behind the bleachers. Don't be late.
- Billy

Daphne rolled her eyes, crumpling the note and stuffing it into her pocket. She wasn't going to indulge his ego. Billy might have the rest of the school wrapped around his finger, but she wasn't falling for it.

The class dragged on, but Billy didn't seem to lose interest in his attempts to get her attention. He kept flicking paper balls her way, each one landing on her desk with a soft thud. Finally, she'd had enough.

Without turning around, Daphne quietly tore a corner off her notebook paper and wrote a single word on it: No.

She folded the paper and, when she was sure the teacher wasn't looking, tossed it over her shoulder onto Billy's desk.

There was a moment of silence behind her, followed by the faint sound of the paper being unfolded. Then, she felt a shift in the air, as if Billy was no longer amused.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Daphne gathered her things quickly, eager to leave before Billy could say anything. But just as she stood up, she heard his voice, low and close.

"You think you're too good for me, huh?"
Daphne paused, her back still to him. She didn't turn around, but her voice was calm when she replied, "I just don't play your little games, Hargrove."

There was a brief silence, and she could feel the tension between them like a taut wire ready to snap. Then she heard him getting closer and he whispered in her ear, his voice colder now, "We'll see about that, Byers."

"Geez! Just because you're discreetly hot it doesn't mean you can do anything."

And without another word, Daphne walked out of the classroom, her heart pounding in her chest. She had no intention of giving in to whatever game Billy was playing, but something told her this wasn't the last time she'd hear from him.