"Am I dreaming, or is that you, Harrington?" - Billy Hargrove

As I open my eyes the next morning I notice two things very quickly. First, Billy didn't leave while I was sleeping, which admittedly, I was a little surprised to discover. At first glance, he definitely struck me as the sort of guy to screw and run. But I was somewhat relieved to notice him still sleeping soundly beside me. 

Second, I was sweating profusely. Probably due to Billy's hot body pressed against my back. Pun intended. Nevertheless, I was trapped underneath one of Billy's arms with no hope of escaping the suffocating heat of his bare chest. 

Pinned beneath his grip I couldn't help but take a moment to stop and reflect on the events of the previous day. Yesterday had been one hell of a day. The discovery that Steve, Dustin and I had made still deeply unnerved me but I was determined to find out the truth of what was really going on in Hawkins.

And Billy.. 

I knew it was foolish of me to wonder if last night had meant anything to him other than to act as a distraction, but I couldn't help it. I wanted it to mean something to him.. because it had meant something to me. 

My greatest fear for this morning is that he'll wake up, make some snide comment and then shut me out like he always does whenever I feel like we're finally getting somewhere. I know, I know what it's like to feel like you can't trust anyone but I pray that Billy will finally see that he can trust me. That he doesn't need to push me away. 

Billy began to stir beside me and it seemed that I didn't need to wonder for much longer. As I felt him stretch behind me I couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu as I recalled the morning after the halloween party when I had slept over at his place. 

Only this time, with Steve and Dustin waiting for me there was no chance of a pleasant trip to the diner for a Happy Hawkins burger today. 

I was about to try and gently shove Billy off of me when he beat me to it and leant over to quickly brush a kiss against my cheek. He then proceeded to sit up and if he had've turned around in that exact moment I'm sure he would have frowned at my mouth gaping open and the expression of pure shock on my face. 

Did he just- I'm dreaming. I must still be dreaming.

With Billy's bare back facing me I had a few spare seconds to work out what exactly I was going to say. Do I ask him about last night? What it means for us? Or am I completely overthinking everything, as usual? Probably. 

But then Billy turned around to face me mid yawn and when he saw that I was awake he gave me a wide and genuine smile. I was completely shocked, no words would form in my head. When I imagined how things would go down this morning I had never pictured this. 

Before I made even more of a fool of myself, I returned his smile quickly only looking away when he did. "So." He said, finally breaking the silence. 

"So.." I say, sitting up and fiddling with my fingers nervously. 

"What do you say we skip class and grab something greasy from the diner for breakfast?" He offered with another smile that I so rarely saw. I couldn't help but wonder how many other people had seen Billy Hargrove smile the way he is in this moment. He seemed so happy, so carefree. So.. not like Billy.

Was this a good sign? Was he perhaps finally willing to let someone in? That someone being me of course. But much to my disappointment, I couldn't accept his offer. 

"I- uh. That actually sounds so perfect Billy but I already promised to ditch and meet somebody else today." I say, scratching the back of my neck in a nervous gesture, hoping that he won't pry or ask difficult questions. 

Billy's face fell and I immediately realised why. He thought that I was brushing him off and I could understand why. But I wouldn't let him think that, even if it meant revealing the real reason. 

Before Billy could escape, I grabbed his arm and tugged him back onto the bed in front of me. "Wait- shit. No, it's not what you're thinking I'm just helping someone out." I say quickly, leaning forward to press a kiss against his lips. 

When I pull back I leave one of my arms on Billy's shoulder, keeping him in a loose embrace and I notice that he is hiding a smile and I grin back at him. "Okay, so who is it?"

I frown at his question. To tell the truth, or to lie?

"Steve... and Dustin."

Billy gave me a quizzical look. It was a strange combination, nobody could deny that. But those two had seemed to make a great team last night. "Yeah, it's sort of hard to explain. But I promised I would help them and it's super important. But when we're done how about I go over to your place and then we can go to the diner?"

Billy considered this for a moment but then he shook his head and grabbed my hips lightly, pulling me closer to him until our noses were almost touching. "I'm coming with you."

"Ah- I'm not so sure that's the best idea." I countered quickly, pulling away slightly. "Why not?" Billy retorted quickly. "It's- kind of hard to explain, Billy." I sighed.

"Try me."  

"You aren't going to give up on this easily, are you?"

"Not likely, Coleman." 

  "Well, we better get going before they wonder where the hell I am. I'll explain on the way." I finished defeatedly.

 * * *

I filled Billy in on the details from last night as best I could in the car ride to the train tracks near the old junkyard, which was the meeting spot that was discussed yesterday. Billy took it surprisingly well and after his initial shock and denial, he almost seemed to be beginning to believe my story. 

I reminded myself that it could have gone much worse. At the very least, Billy hadn't written me off as a psychopath and fled in the opposite direction, yet. 

As I pulled my car in next to Steve's I noted the buckets of meat that Steve was unloading from the back while Dustin seemed to be arguing with someone on his radio. Both boys were wearing bright yellow gloves. 

Before we got out of the car I turned to Billy in the passengers seat, 'Are you sure you wanna come? I'll be fine, I mean Steve is here- and I know you two don't exactly have the greatest track record-"

"-Cass, I want to be here. I'm not leaving you." Billy interrupted with a soft smile that I was beginning to see much more often.

I smiled and reached over to squeeze his hand once before we both opened our doors and joined the strange new pair. Dustin was the first to notice us and he quickly cut off whatever conversation he was having on the radio. 

"Gotta go Lucas, we have company."

"Wait, Dustin? Wha-" Dustin switched off the radio and stalked towards us with a look that could kill. He was talking to Lucas? Does that mean that all of those younger boys are in on this secret operation? How much did they know about what was going on here?

"What the hell is he doing here?" Dustin said, narrowing his eyes at Billy who was standing beside me with his arms crossed, looking almost bored. I suppose he'd decided to slip his usual mask back on. 

"I invited him, Dustin. He knows." I said, crossing my arms to mirror Billy's pose and giving Dustin a look that said, 'Deal with it.'

By now, Steve had finished unloading the buckets full of meat and had joined Dustin in staring Billy down with a scowl. I turned to Steve with a pleading look, "Come on, Steve. Don't make this a big deal. I told him because I trust him and he wanted to help, okay?"

Steve finally broke his glare for long enough to study me and slowly absorb my words. He knew me well enough to know that I would never lie to him and if I said that Billy was trustworthy he would surely believe me. 

"Fine." Steve said, earning a bewildered look from Dustin. "But I'm only allowing this because I trust Andie, and if she trusts you then.. she must have a damn good reason to." 

After a moment of hesitation, Steve stepped forward and held out a hand to Billy in a gesture of peace. When Billy didn't immediately respond, I elbowed him the side and he sighed, finally taking Steve's hand. They shook hands stiffly and Billy gave Steve a nod, "For now, we're on the same team Harrington."

I could feel the concealed warning in those words and elbowed Billy again when the others weren't looking, giving him a warning look of my own, as if to say, 'behave.' And he rolled his eyes but seemed to comply. 

Steve had already retreated to the back of his car before reaching inside and standing up straight again with a grin. "Lucky for you Hargrove, I brought a spare pair of gloves." 

Before I could blink, a pair of bright pink gloves were flying through the air and hitting Billy square in the chest. He caught them just before they could fall to the ground and as he turned to me with a hateful look I simply shrugged and hurried after the other boys, desperately trying to contain the giggle that wanted to escape. 

* * *

hey! i'm sorry this update is kind of uneventful but I wanted to update today & I don't have time to write anymore so i figured i'd give you this for now!  also this is very loosely edited to please excuse any mistakes until i have time to look over it some more.

feel free to comment some of your thoughts, what to you think of me incorporating andie & billy into this dustin/steve storyline? 

- kaeli

a/n: unedited