HAWKINS, INDIANA — 1984.

"WHAT IS THAT MULLET-HAIRED FREAK doing here?"

Theresa looked out of the window, shaking her head. She stepped back, throwing up a hand. "I swear to God, I can't have a moment's peace," she mumbled.

Max stood behind Lucas. "He can't know I'm here. He's gonna kill me."

With a scoff, Tess turned to Max. "Not if I can help it."

She looked to Steve, chewing her inner lip.

"Go out there and talk to him. You can take him, right?"

Steve wanted to seem confident, but he quite honestly had no idea. He knew Billy could fight, and Steve was unsure how well he would do against him.

"Yeah," Steve nodded. "I'll be right back."

Theresa nodded back, placing her arm on Max's back reassuringly while Steve opened the front door and walked outside. The kids all began to creep toward the window, trying to see what was going on.

"Get back here!" Tess hissed, rushing over to them and pushing them off of the couch. "Are you guys crazy?"

They all grumbled and rolled their eyes, Theresa looking out of the window herself this time. She could see Billy and Steve talking, a cigarette hanging loosely from Billy's mouth. Tess narrowed her eyes, unable to figure out what was going on.

Then, out of nowhere, Billy gave Steve a hard shove and sent him tumbling to the ground. He kicked him, hard, and started toward the front door.

"Oh shit," Theresa ran toward the door to try and lock it but it was too late, Billy bursting in.

He looked around at everyone in the room, that familiar eerie smile forming on his face.

"Well well well... two Sinclairs in the same room as my sister." Billy turned to Tess. "I thought I told you to keep that little shitbird away from her."

Tess tilted her head down. "Aw, someone's still hurt that I rejected them," she curtly smiled, Billy's own smile fading away.

He scoffed. "You think I really wanted you, Sinclair? You think I want anything to do with your kind?"

Billy started toward her, reaching out and grabbing Theresa by the throat, slamming her against the wall. Her eyes widened with fear, clawing at his hands squeezing her windpipe.

"Let me tell you again, Theresa," Billy spat in her ear. "You are nothing. You're worthless, you hear me? Not shit."

He let her go, Tess sliding down the wall and gasping for air. She had begun to see black in her vision, taking a moment to catch her breath. While she was down, Billy turned on Lucas. He stepped closer to him and Max, staring down at her.

"I thought I told you to stay away from him."

Max glared deeply. "Go away, Billy."

"You disobeyed me," Billy continued. "And do you know what happens when you disobey me?"

Max simply gazed at him, her chest rising and falling angrily.

"I break things."

He grabbed Lucas by the folds of his jacket, picking him up and pushing him all the way back into the kitchen. Billy slammed Lucas into a cupboard, Theresa finally climbing to her feet when she realized what was happening.

"Get away from me!" Lucas shrieked, bringing his knee up to Billy's groin.

He groaned, letting go of Lucas. Steve ran in the door at that moment, looking over at Tess holding her throat. His eyes went wide when he realized what Billy did, swelling with rage.

"You are so dead, Sinclair!" Billy shouted at Lucas. "You're dead."

Steve ran up on him from behind, grabbing Billy by the shoulder.

"No," he spat. "You are."

He threw a punch directly at Billy's face, who took it like it was nothing. Billy laughed maniacally, his nose now bloodied. Theresa crept over to the kids, putting them all behind her while she shielded them with her arms.

"Looks like you got some fire in you after all, huh?" Billy taunted. "I've been waiting to meet this 'King Steve' everybody's been telling me so much about."

Steve pushed Billy back. "Get out," he warned.

Billy swung. Steve ducked and brought his own fist around, hitting Billy again. He threw more punches while the kids cheered him on, Tess just trying to keep them out of harm's way. Billy stumbled back into the counter, reaching to his right and grabbing a plate.

Before Steve could get out of the way, Billy smashed it against his head. Steve staggered, doubling over as Theresa gasped. Billy walked toward him, punching him again. He pushed him back into the living room, grabbing Steve by the jacket and rearing his head back to headbutt him.

Theresa felt scared. She was more scared of Billy than a Demogorgon, and she was not sure why. But in that moment, watching Billy get on top of Steve and begin to punch him nonstop, something was sparked within her. A boiling, seething rage.

She looked around in the kitchen, sliding open a drawer. Her fingers wrapped around the handle of a kitchen knife, pulling it out and turning around. The four kids all watched her, their eyes huge, as Theresa walked into the living room with the knife in her hand.

"Billy!"

He turned his head, Tess grabbing him by the back of his shirt and forcing him to his feet. Her adrenaline was giving her strength, pushing Billy back into the wall and bringing the knife up to his neck. He did not look so cocky now, holding his hands up against the wall in surrender.

"If you ever come near me or my fucking brother again, I will slit your fucking throat," Theresa spat through gritted teeth, holding the blade against his skin.

Billy laughed down at her nervously. "You're not gonna do shit, Sinclair. You're all bark and no bite–"

Theresa forced the knife deeper into his neck, shutting him up. She tilted her head to the side, almost smiling as the blade drew a small amount of blood from his throat. Billy whimpered and closed his eyes, letting out a shaky breath.

"I'm sorry, what were you saying? Now, let's go back to what I was saying. You leave me, Lucas, Max, and the rest of their friends alone. Because I know where you live, and I've got no problem cutting your dick off while you sleep. Do you understand, Hargrove?"

He was quiet, not making a sound. Tess slowly smiled, the kids all watching her in disbelief.

"What's wrong, Billy?" she taunted. "Gonna cry?"

She nearly laughed, pushing off of Billy and taking a step back.

"Leave," she commanded, pointing to the door with her free hand.

Billy stood there for a moment, then scoffed. He still had a glint of fear in his eyes however, darting down to the knife Theresa had in her hand.

"Now!" Tess growled, taking a step toward him.

He moved instantly, feeling for the doorknob and turning it.

"Wait."

Theresa walked forward, reaching Billy's pocket for his car keys. She put them in her jacket pocket.

He glared at her. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"We need a ride. No worries, maybe if you're lucky I'll return it for you." She smiled.

His face deepened into a scowl, still on edge because Tess was holding a knife.

"And how am I supposed to get home?" he asked in an attempt to be calm.

Theresa shrugged nonchalantly. "Walk."

Billy gave her a look, but he did not say anything else. He opened the door and walked out of the house.

She let out a deep exhale, turning back to the kids. They all goggled at her in awe, in shock from what they had just witnessed.

Theresa looked down, noticing Steve on the floor just then.

"Shit," she fretted, dropping the knife and kneeling down beside him, shaking him.

Steve was unconscious, not budging as Tess shook him again.

She looked up at the kids. "Someone go get me an ice pack and some tissue."

They all complied, scrambling to find what Theresa requested. She frowned at Steve, pushing his messy hair out of his face. At least he had tried.

The kids returned with the ice pack and a box of Kleenex, Tess carefully wiping the blood from Steve's nose and lips. Billy had really done a number on him.

"Alright, everyone grab a leg or an arm. Let's get Steve to the car."

They all looked at her.

"Where are we going?" Dustin questioned.

Theresa glanced up. "We're going to the tunnels. To destroy them."

She stood up, walking into the kitchen to grab the can of gasoline she had brought with her.

Dustin turned to Lucas in a daze, muttering, "I think I love your sister."

Lucas made a face of disgust. "Gross!" he shoved him.

She returned, taking Billy's keys out of her pocket and walking outside. Tess put the gasoline in the backseat, then went back inside to help pick up Steve. Thankfully he was not too heavy, but they did almost drop him.

"Keep that ice on his head," Tess instructed, opening the door to the driver's side. She started up the car, Lucas getting in the passenger seat with a map in his hands.

"Where are we headed?" she asked, pulling out of the Byers driveway.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

     STEVE HAD NO IDEA WHERE HE WAS.

When he regained consciousness, he was completely lost. Blinking, Steve winced as he felt the pain in his face, turning his head slightly.

"What's... what's going on–"

"Hey buddy!" Dustin softly said from beside him. "Hey, take it easy. He kicked your ass but you put up a good fight, alright?"

Tess glanced to the backseat. "Is he awake?"

"Yeah," Mike replied, Steve slowly beginning to realize where he was.

"Make a left on Mount Sinai," Lucas instructed to Theresa, who turned just then.

Steve's eyes widened.

"Tess– Tess, what's going on–"

"Calm down," she called, giving him a reassuring look. "We're gonna be fine."

Steve threw his head back with a groan. "Oh my God."

Theresa sped up, pressing on the gas pedal while Lucas gave her directions. She pulled up into a field, putting on the brakes directly in front of a giant hole. She shut the car off, turning to Steve in the back.

"You think you can help us, Champ?"

"Wha– what do you mean?"

Tess unbuckled her seatbelt. "We don't have much time. Come on."

Without anymore clarification, she got out of the car and walked around to the trunk. The kids all began to get ready, putting on goggles and covering the bottom half of their faces with bandanas.

Steve got out of the car, shaking his head. "Tess, what is happening? There is absolutely no way we are going down there! No chance in hell–"

"Steve." She walked over to him, grabbing him firmly by the shoulders and looking into his eyes. "It's not your decision to make. I'm in charge."

She turned around and went back to the trunk, taking a bandana and tying it around her face. Tess was not a big fan of the goggles, but she also did not want to potentially get her face burned off so she put them on.

Steve stood there with reluctance, grunting in annoyance. At once he walked around to the trunk, Theresa handing him his bag, a bandana, and a pair of goggles.

"I knew you'd come around."

Once they had all the materials they needed, Theresa decided to volunteer herself to go first. She was not necessarily thrilled about it, but she did not want to put any of the kids in danger.

So, giving the rope tied to the car a strong tug, Tess inhaled sharply and began to lower herself down.

"Tess!" Steve ran over, looking down into the hole.

She shined a flashlight up at him, placing a hand on her hip.

"Hurry up!"

Steve came down behind her, and then the rest followed.

"Alright, which way are we going?" Theresa questioned, shining her light at the piece of paper Mike was holding.

"Uh... I'm pretty sure it's this way," he pointed ahead.

"Pretty sure, or are you certain?"

Mike nodded. "I'm one hundred percent sure. Just follow me and you'll know."

"No." Theresa held an arm out to stop him. "You're not going first. I am."

Steve made his way to the front, standing beside her.

"We are."

Tess eyed him, then finally shrugged.

"Alright, whatever. Let's go."

She began to lead the way, Steve following directly behind her. He wished she was not so damn brave, because it made him almost feel like a coward when he was around her.

With the paper in her hand, Theresa followed the seemingly never ending maze of tunnels. The ground squished beneath their feet, an awful sound but Tess tried to ignore it.

Suddenly, Dustin let out a scream. She whipped around, not seeing him anywhere. Theresa and Steve both took off running in the direction they had come from.

"Dustin!" Steve called, finding him running toward them. He tripped and fell over, still screaming incomprehensibly.

"What happened?" Tess asked, trying to figure out what he was saying.

"Some got in my mouth! Shit!" he yelled, sputtering and coughing.

Dustin finally looked up at them, a bit goofy looking with his goggles on.

"I'm okay."

Theresa rolled her eyes, turning back around. "Come on."

They continued down the path by Tess' lead, until she slowly came to a stop.

"I think this is the hub," she breathed, shining her flashlight around in front of her.

Mike nodded. "It is. Let's drench it."

Theresa took the can of gasoline, spreading the fuel all over the ground while the others did the same and also sprayed pesticides on the tunnels' walls.

"Alright," Tess pulled Steve's lighter out of her pocket. "Is everyone ready?"

"Tess," Steve tugged at her arm, holding out his hand. "Let me do it. I don't want you to get hurt."

She laughed dryly.

"That's really sweet, Steve, it is, but– I've got this."

Theresa flicked the lighter, taking a few steps back.

"Get ready!"

She tossed it toward the middle of the hub and it instantaneously caught fire, the vines beginning to move as if in agony. There was a loud shrieking noise, piercing all of their ears.

"Okay, let's go!" Steve grabbed her hand, pulling her back through the tunnel.

They ran without stopping, trying to get back to the rope. Theresa and Steve made sure all the kids got up first, then looked to each other.

"After you," Steve muttered.

She was about to argue when they heard another screech, both turning their heads. There were more growls, and they began to grow louder.

"Shit."

Tess grabbed onto the rope and Steve picked her up, boosting her as she pulled herself out of the hole. The kids helped her up as Theresa turned, getting down on her knees as she looked down into the hole.

"Steve, come on!"

She could hear the monsters coming closer, reaching down as Steve frantically climbed. Theresa grabbed his hand as soon as it was in reach and pulled him up, Steve collapsing beside her as Theresa held onto him tightly, panting.

"I've got you," she muttered, catching her breath.

"I've got you."

notes.
the end made me so soft bye

THERESA CLEAREDDDD BILLY AS SHE FUCKING SHOULD BRO, I WAS KICKING MY FEET N CHEESIN SO HARD WRITING THAT

i can't wait for the snowball dance next chapter but i might cry bc of what happens before that 😄 can't wait

tonight's update came a bit sooner ya welcome baes 🫶 gettin y'alls dinner early

who are you most excited to see theresa interact with?