ONE MONTH LATER

"Ouch!" Max yells at her mother. "Mom! That hurts!" Susan rolls her eyes at the girl and carries on braiding a strand of her hair back. I'm helping Max get ready for the Snow Ball.

"It's gonna be worth it, I promise," her Mom tells her, continuing with her hair. I watch the two as I long for my Mom to be back to do something like this with me. I see someone stop at the doorway in the corner of my eye. I turn to see Billy standing there, looking like he wants to talk.

"Uh - I'll be back in a second," I tell the pair, standing up from my seat to speak to Billy. I haven't seen him since that night. He walks off into his bedroom, I just follow him. He sits down on his bed as I step into the room. I take in all my surroundings. The first time in his room.

I scan all of his cassette and record collection, running my finger down each pile. I turn to the dresser, finding a collection of the same cologne - his signature scent. Next to the bottles, are two packets of unopened cigarettes and one nearly empty one.

In the top corner of the mirror, I notice a polaroid. Of me. It's the polaroid from the night that Billy stayed over to comfort me. I pull it off to have a look at it. Billy stands up and comes up behind me. "It's still all about you," he whispers, moving my hair from over my shoulder down my back. "I was always about you, and I still am." I turn to face him and shake my head sighing.

"I'm sorry, Billy," I manage to get out in a whisper, my eyes tearing up remembering how much he hurt me - physically and emotionally. "I can't look at you the same way, anymore." I can see he's remorseful now but I can't let myself trust him again. I can't let him in. "I did love you, no matter what anyone says or thinks. I saw the better in you, even at your worst." He smiles at me, taking my hand. I pull it away, shaking my head. "But you hurt me, Billy, and I can't even look back and see the good in you. All I see is hate, lust, and anger."

"Beth," he begins before cutting himself off. "Liz," he corrects. "Don't do this, please." He takes my hand in his, again, holding it tighter this time. "I beg you, give me another chance. Please." I've never seen him so calm, ever. "We can start again, take it the next step, make things official. I'll show everyone you're my girl. No shame of going soft. I can change for you, Liz."

I shake my head at Billy. "I'm sorry, I can't," I tell him. "Things with Steve are heading in the right direction. We're at the best stage we've ever been at," I trail off, seeing the hurt in his eyes. "Look, I care about you a lot, Billy. But I don't want to ruin things with Steve." I place a kiss on his cheek. "So, this can never be a thing while Steve is in the picture." He lets out a soft laugh. "What?"

He looks up at me, what seems like joy and amusement in his eyes. "You know, Tommy once told me that Harrington always gets what he wants," he tells me, keeping his eyes locked on mine. "I always thought he was a pussy. But d'you want to know what I've just realized?" I raise my brows at him to carry on. "He plays the long game." With that, he pushes me out of his room and slams his door in my face.

I blink a couple of times before heading back into Max's room with her Mom. Both are sat in silence, looking at me. "Honey, are you okay?" Susan asks me, standing up. "He didn't hurt you did he?"

I shake my head at her. "No," I say to her. "Not this time. Not ever again." She nods her head, pulling me in for a hug. Max stands up and joins in, also.

Around half an hour later, we all get in the car to drive her to the school dance. Max climbs out of the car and stands in front of her Mom. "Dance finishes at 9," she tells her. Her Mom nods her head and plants a kiss on the top of Max's head. "Bye, guys!" Max waves before entering school.

I look across the parking lot to see Dustin getting out of Steve's car. I smile at the sight of the two waving at one another. "Hey, Susan, I'm going to hang out with Steve for a bit, if that's okay?" I announce, getting my bag from her car.

"Yes, honey, that's fine," she nods her head, pulling me into a hug. "I'll let your father know when I get back." I nod, waving her goodbye and climbing into the front of Steve's car. I throw my bag in the backseat as Steve blinks at me a few times.

"Oh, hey, stalker," he speaks up after a few seconds. "Maybe you are more psycho than I thought," he jokes around.

"Oh, how funny," I joke back, shoving his shoulder. "I was with Max and her Mom. I helped her get ready." Steve nods his head, putting the car into drive. "I spoke with Billy, too."

He turns his head to look at me before turning back to face the road. "Oh, yeah?" He asks, not seeming very keen on the idea. "What was said?"

I turn the radio off and turn to Steve. "He asked me to try things again with him," I tell Steve.

He nods his head. "And I'm guessing you said yes," he responds, the tone in his voice gone glum and dull.

I instantly shake my head at him. "No! Definitely not," I laugh, softly. Steve keeps his eyes on the road, not saying a word. "I told him that things were going great with us and I didn't want to ruin that."

Steve turns his head to face me. "Really?" He asks, hope playing in his eyes as we pull into his driveway. I nod my head at him, smiling. "So how did you leave things?"

"I told him that while you're in the picture, we can't be a thing," I repeat to him. "And then he ended up slamming a door in my face."

Steve nods his head, once, getting out of the car. I open the door and slide out, as well. "So, is it safe to say you won't be hearing from him in a while?" Steve questions, not even trying to hide the excitement. I chuckle and nod my head, walking around to him. He puts his arm over my shoulder and places a kiss on my temple. "How about we take this to the next level?" I freeze in my spot. This isn't happening. Steve is not asking me out. I repeat, Steve Harrington is not asking me out. "You want to make things official? Be my girlfriend?" I blink a couple of time and rapidly nod my head.

"Yes! Yes! A thousand times yes!" I laugh, hugging him tightly. He picks me up in the air and places a kiss on my lips. He puts me down, smiling brightly at me. "I thought you'd never ask." He puts his arm around my waist and guides me into the house.

It's safe to say I stayed the night there. And it won't be the last.