School had ended for the summer weeks ago, after summer break you and Billy would be seniors and so you both decided to get summer jobs to start saving for college and so you could leave Hawkins. Billy wanted to go back to California before his dad was arrested, Billy had no intentions of leaving so that he could protect Max but that wasn't a problem anymore. At first, Max didn't want Billy to go as the two siblings were getting along better than ever, but she was happy after the promise of being allowed to come over for the holidays.

For about a month, you had been working at an ice cream parlour in Starcourt Mall, Scoops Ahoy, while Billy was working as a lifeguard at the local community pool. Starcourt opened last month and became Hawkins's new popular spot. It had dozens of stores, a variety of restaurants and a built-in cinema as well as a new AC system perfect for the hottest summer Hawkins had in years. Its popularity had unfortunately made the smaller, mostly family-run stores in town close down including Hawk cinema so although the kids loved it, the adults not so much, a lot of them were protesting outside of town hall almost daily. Today was Saturday, the busiest day of the week but thankfully you only had an hour left, the store was closed and all that needed doing was cleaning up. "Date night with Hargrove again huh?" Steve asked, scooping some strawberry ice cream for himself. "Yes Steve, that's what couples do especially when they've been busy at work and haven't been able to see each other. I know you haven't dated anyone since Nancy but surely you're not that rusty?" You teased, Steve just rolled his eyes. "I told you, it's this stupid uniform messing up my hair. Who the hell is gonna be attracted to this stupid sailor's outfit?" He scoffed "Billy likes me in it. Last week we-" "ew gross! Please stop talking" Robin Buckley, a coworker, grimaced. She was in your year at school and was in the school band, you'd seen her around but never really hung out or interacted with her but working with her was the best. She was funny and wasn't afraid to speak her mind and for some reason, she didn't like Steve, you assumed it was because for most of the high school he had been an asshole with Tommy H and Carol.

You laughed at Robin's disgust of your sex life and started mopping the floor for tomorrow as Steve started putting up the chairs, Robin was cleaning the counter and the bowls, scoops and spoons used for the sundaes. Once everything was cleaned for tomorrow, you all left for the parking lot, Steve gave Robin a lift home whilst you waited for Billy. Normally, he was here before you finished but you didn't think much of it until you had been waiting half an hour which became an hour. You sighed and walked over to a phone box and rang his house, maybe he'd just forgotten and gone straight home? "Hello?" It was Max who answered. "Hey Max, it's me. Is Billy there, he's supposed to pick me up from the mall for date night but he hasn't shown up" you explained to her. "He's not here, I haven't seen him since he left for work this morning. He hasn't forgotten about it either cus he wouldn't shut up about it...Maybe he's still at the pool? I know he's supposed to close up with that Heather girl today" "right, thanks, Max." You hung up and walked to the pool but it was closed, no cars and all the doors were locked. Nobody was there.

You went home in defeat after searching his other hang-out areas. You couldn't help but think about what Max said, that Billy was closing up with a girl and now he had disappeared but...he wouldn't do that to you, he wasn't like that anymore, right? You shook your head at the thought. No, Max said he'd been excited to see you today, something was wrong, Billy wouldn't disappear like this without leaving behind a message or something. You decided to leave early and go to the pool to catch him there. If he wasn't there and still wasn't home, you'd get Hop involved. You just hoped that Billy was okay wherever he was.

The following day, you drove to the pool. Yesterday Billy had given you a lift but you weren't waiting around today. Billy's Camero was there but it was damaged as though it had been in a crash, he wouldn't drive it around in this condition. He loved his car almost as much as he loved you. You frowned and went inside and saw Billy walk into the storage area, they kept the chlorine there and you had both sneaked off to that place during your lunch breaks when they did match up. When you went in, Billy had one of the large bottles of Chlorine in his hand and he was holding it to his mouth. Was he drinking it? "Billy? Where were you last night? I was looking for you, did something happen? Are you okay?" Billy didn't turn around, his back still facing you. "Will you please say something? Do you have any idea how worried I've been, nobody knew where you were!" Billy finally turned around, he was sweating a lot and didn't look well, he looked scared. "Stay away from me, I don't want to see you anymore." He pushed past you and headed for the door. "Wait! Just like that, no explanation! You disappear for a night, making everyone worried then we're over! Billy, please tell me what happened!" Billy looked over his shoulder, glaring at you. "I'm seeing someone else. Stay. Away. From. Me. Please..." He left you alone and heartbroken without another word.

You tried your best to work through the day, Dustin was back from summer camp and was in the back room with Steve. Something about cracking a secret code, you didn't really care as Erica was bothering you and Robin with the free ice cream samples policy. In the end, you were left at the front as Robin joined in with whatever stupid game Dustin was working on. It was another two hours before Robin came back to you. "Everything okay? You're quiet today" she asked, leaning against the counter. "Yeah...Just, Billy dumped me today. He told me he's been seeing someone else behind my back and then he ended it." "I always knew he was an asshole, you can do better than him" Steve walked back in, mouth full of food. You and Robin cringed in disgust before you looked away from him. "You're such a dingus! Get the hell out of here Steve!" Robin scolded him before turning back to you, a small smile on her face. "Go home, watch a funny movie and eat some junk food. I'll cover for you" "are...You sure?" You asked. Working all day with what happened with Billy had been exhausting, you could do with a good cry and then a good movie so you could try and move on. "Yeah, I'm sure dingus number two. Go home!" Robin laughed, you didn't need to be told a third time. You grabbed your stuff and started driving home.

On the way, you passed his house. He was at work, there was no point in stopping by. You did it anyway. You knocked on the door, it was a few minutes before Susan answered the door. "Is Max home?" You asked, you thought she'd know why Billy was acting so weird and why he looked so ill this morning, maybe she knew something about this other girl he'd been seeing. "She's having a sleepover at her friend's house, Jane I think her name is. Y'know the chief's daughter?" She was with Eleven. You nodded with a forced smile. "Great, thanks. See you around." You went to Hop's house and knocked again. Max opened "oh it's just you. Did you see Billy? He came home really late last night, he looked weird, especially this morning" she frowned. "Yeah, he...dumped me. he's been seeing someone else. I saw him at work, he looked really ill and his car was smashed up" you explained. "Well, El was about to spy on him. We're playing a game with a bottle and names, she might find out why he's acting like a douchebag again." You followed her into El's room and sat on the floor as Max sat on the bed next to El. "You sure you're okay doing this?" El nodded and put on a blindfold whilst Max made the radio go static.

It was quiet for a few minutes before El spoke. "I found him, he's on the floor...crying, asking someone to stop..." A few seconds later, she ripped the blindfold off and looked terrified, blood dripping from her nose. She looked at you fearfully, something was definitely wrong, you just hoped it wasn't the usual kind of wrong.