The final bell rang, releasing a wave of students into the parking lot. Daphne, her books tucked under her arm, made her way through the crowd toward her claret red Eldorado.

She was ready to head to Tina's for their sleepover, but as she neared her car, she noticed Billy Hargrove leaning against the side of his Camaro, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

He pushed off the car as she approached, intercepting her path with a confident swagger. His eyes glinted with the same intensity she'd noticed in class, but now, they were focused entirely on her.

"Hey, Byers," he greeted, his tone casual but with an undercurrent of something more. "Where you off to in such a hurry?"

Daphne paused, glancing up at him with a mixture of curiosity and caution. She could tell he was used to getting what he wanted, but she wasn't about to make it that easy for him.

"Just heading over to Tina's," she replied, her voice light but with an edge. "Why, you planning to follow me?"

Billy chuckled, taking a slow drag of his cigarette before tossing it to the ground and crushing it under his boot. "Maybe," he said, his eyes locked on hers. "Or maybe I'm just trying to figure out why a girl like you hasn't invited me to the party everyone is talking about, yet."

Daphne smirked, sensing the challenge in his tone. She liked a good game, especially when she had the upper hand. "Maybe I was waiting to see if you could keep up," she shot back, reaching into her bag and pulling out one of Tina's Halloween party flyers.

She held it up between them, the bold lettering catching the light. "So, what do you say, Hargrove? You up for a little fun?"

Billy's gaze flicked down to the flyer, then back up to her, his smirk widening. "Depends," he drawled, stepping closer, invading her personal space just enough to make his intentions clear. "You planning to show me a good time?"

Daphne didn't back down, meeting his gaze with a confidence that matched his own. "Let's just say I'll be there," she replied, her voice low and teasing. "Whether or not you can handle that is up to you."

Billy's eyes narrowed slightly, intrigued by her boldness. He reached out and took the flyer from her hand, his fingers grazing hers in a deliberate move. "You've got a sharp tongue, Byers. And I really like that."

Daphne laughed softly, taking a step back to put some distance between them. "Oh, there's a lot more to like," she said with a wink, turning on her heel and heading toward her car. "Just make sure you don't miss it."

Billy watched her walk away, his smirk turning into a full grin as he tucked the flyer into his pocket. "I wouldn't miss it for the world," he murmured to himself, already anticipating the game ahead.

Daphne reached her car where Tina was waiting, leaning against the passenger side door, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Well? Did you do it?" Tina asked eagerly as Daphne unlocked the car.

Daphne slid into the driver's seat, her expression triumphant. "He's coming," she said, starting the engine.

Tina squealed in delight, hopping into the passenger seat. "I knew you could do it! You're going to drive him crazy."

Daphne laughed, the sound full of mischief. "That's the plan," she said, pulling out of the parking lot.

As they drove toward Tina's house, Daphne couldn't help but feel a thrill of anticipation. She had no real interest in Billy, but the game they were playing was one she was determined to win.

After a few minutes of driving, Daphne parked her Eldorado in Tina's driveway, the late afternoon sun casting a warm glow on the quiet suburban street.

Tina hopped out of the passenger seat, still buzzing with excitement from their run-in with Billy, while Daphne shut off the engine, gathering her things.

Carol was already there, leaning against her car in the driveway, having arrived first since Daphne and Tina had taken their time talking with Billy.

As they walked up to the front door, Carol pushed off her car with a smirk, her arms crossed as she eyed them with curiosity.

"Finally! What took you guys so long?" Carol teased, falling in step with them as they headed toward the front door. "Let me guess—tall, dark, and dangerous held you up?"

Tina giggled, nudging Daphne with her elbow. "Something like that."

Daphne rolled her eyes, but couldn't help the smile tugging at her lips. "We ran into Billy in the parking lot. I had a little chat."

Carol's eyes widened, her curiosity piqued. "And? Did you invite him?"

Daphne gave a small, satisfied smile. "Yep. I invited him to the party."

Tina clapped her hands together, her excitement barely contained. "Yes! This is going to be epic."

Inside, Tina's living room was already set up for the night—blankets and pillows scattered across the floor, a stack of VHS tapes by the TV, and an impressive spread of junk food on the coffee table.

This was their tradition, their safe haven where they could let loose and just be themselves.

"Alright, ladies, let's get this night started," Tina announced, tossing her bag onto the couch and pulling out a bag of makeup. "We need to be party-ready for Saturday, and tonight's the perfect time to experiment."

Daphne laughed, sinking into the pile of blankets. "So, we're doing makeovers first, huh? Fine by me."

Carol flopped down next to Daphne, grabbing a handful of chips. "Makeovers, gossip, and horror movies—sounds like the perfect night."

Tina pulled out a bright red lipstick and waved it in the air. "And I've got just the thing to make us look amazing."

Daphne took the lipstick from Tina, inspecting the color. "Bold choice, Tee. But I like it."

Tina grinned. "You'll love it even more when you see it on."

As they began their makeovers, the conversation naturally shifted to the upcoming Halloween party. Carol leaned back, her nails freshly painted a deep, glossy black. "So, about Billy... What was that conversation like? Did he seem into it?"

Tina immediately perked up, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Yeah, Daph, spill the details."

Daphne shrugged, playing it cool. "He was his usual self—cocky, flirty. I invited him, and he accepted. But I'm not getting my hopes up. He's just a guy, and I'm just having fun."

Carol smirked, clearly amused. "You're just having fun, huh? Sure, Daph. But don't be surprised if he's chasing after you all night at the party."

Daphne grinned, applying the red lipstick to her lips. "Let him chase. It'll make things interesting."

Tina laughed, tossing a pillow at Daphne. "Just don't forget, he's the one that should be chasing you, not the other way around."

The girls spent the next few hours painting nails, trying on ridiculous costume ideas, and laughing until their sides hurt. But as the night stretched on and they eventually settled in front of the TV, their minds wandered back to the party and the potential for drama that lay ahead.

As they drifted off to sleep one by one, Daphne couldn't shake the feeling that something big was on the horizon. This party was just the beginning, and whatever came next, she was ready for it.