(1800 words <3)

I fight would've broken out if it wasn't for the coach nearby. I created the most tension in the history of the universe between a girl and the opposite sex. And even worse, it was with the two guys who I genuinely found comfort in.

The rest of the day, Steve didn't talk to me, no one did. Billy of course did, but it made me sad that no else would. I heard gossip about me sleeping with Billy, but even worse people were saying I slept with Steve too.

It was the most embarrassing thing. I walked through the hallways as people side-glanced me and were talking under their breath. Billy walked me around with his arm around my shoulder. He flipped a few people off who were laughing at us.

God, I hated it. This was so stupid, Nancy Wheeler was so stupid, I was so stupid. I acted invisible for the rest of the day.

At the end of school, Jonathan told me that he and Nancy were going to be hanging out. In my head, this could go both ways: A; he could get Nancy to fall in love with him. Or B; she would totally break him before she ran back to Steve. I told him about what she told Steve. He recommended that I talk to her. So, after the two were about to leave, I stopped Nancy. "Nancy?" I yelped, out of breath.

"Yes," she responded. It seemed like she was annoyed with me.

"Why did you tell Steve about me and Billy? Like, you didn't need to."

"Well," her annoying voice rang out. "I didn't want you and him to start anything when you know you are starting something with Billy. You're lucky I didn't tell him any details."

"Well, there was no need to, because now the whole school knows thanks to your ex starting beef with Billy. Because for SOME REASON, you HAD to tell Steve about me and Billy because he just HAD to know? And don't you dare give me crap because, Nancy, I just got here and you don't understand the household I came from because no one needs to know first of all and second you wouldn't care because your life is perfect and you COULDNT WANT OR NEED ANYTHING MORE? RIGHT?"

My face was beat-red. I said all that in one breath, too. She stood there speechless. No one had gotten onto "Perfect Nancy Wheeler" before. She knew she hurt me. "Addie, I'm so sorry. I never thought of you like that."

"I didn't wanna talk about it to make people look at me differently. I don't want people looking at me as some weak-link in the chain," I admitted.

"I'm sorry for not thinking of you," Nancy apologized.

"I don't know i feel still," I stated. "Just whatever you do, if you hurt Jonathan, I won't be able to forgive you."

"I understand. And about Jonathan, I won't. I promise," she remarked.

I was going to trust her to keep her word.

Steve still didn't talk to me on Friday, especially with Nancy and Jonathan not being there. Jonathan told me the previous night what the two were up to. They were going to tell Barb's parents the truth. I was subtly surprised that Steve wasn't going.

I tried approaching Steve that day, but with Billy following me everywhere, he wasn't helping my situation.

I couldn't focus in school. I was sweating like crazy, and I couldn't stop shaking. It was like an everlasting anxiety attack. Even Steve noticed I was off. He looked as though he felt sorry for me, but with zero emotion.

In PE, I was totally out of it. I sucked that day and I wanted to cry. I wanted to vaporize into a cloud and float into the sky.

As the boys came into the gym, Billy noticed me on the sidelines. My face was in my hands. He came up and brushed his fingers through my hair. "You okay, darling?" he whispered, leaning down so only I could hear.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I said shakily.

I obviously wasn't but I didn't want to tell anyone. I thought telling someone would make it worse. "Come home with me?" he asked.

I looked up to see him. So perfect. "I don't know."

"Well, then just, come for dinner, at least," he smiled a little. "I wouldn't mind my parents meeting you."

"Okay," I said quietly. "I'll be there at five."

"See you then," he said as I got up and walked out.

After school, I went home to find Will with is friend Mike over. Will looked really sick, so Aunt Joyce asked me if I could find someone to stay with, like Jonathan did. I planned on house-hopping for the night.

I collected all my stuff and tried to comfort Will and Joyce. Will seemed very off. I believed that whatever happened last year, it was repeating itself.

I grabbed something that was accidentally put in my room. It was a walkie-talkie of some sort. After I got that, I got in my car and headed for Billy's house.

Dinner was good with Billy's family. One part was awkward, though. It was when Billy and Max started fighting. She left the table and it got quiet. The meal was still good.

After dinner, I talked with Billy in his room. He listened, but laughed when I told him about some stuff. It made me angry, but I couldn't do anything about it. With him laughing and shit, I decided to not tell him anything Steve told me. Now, I'm glad I didn't. Steve trusted me with the information, and even though me and him were not really on good terms, I decided to keep the secret

I spent the night at his house. I didn't sleep, though, because I was so worried. Billy fell asleep as he held me, but I didn't.

The next morning, we had breakfast. Max asked her mom if she could take her to the arcade. They told her Billy could take her.

The three of us pulled into the arcade parking lot. "If you aren't out here in an hour-"

"Then I'm walking home, yeah, yeah, I know," Max cut him off.

"Hey, watch the attitude, chipper," Billy said through gritted teeth as she got out of the car.

"Whatever," she rolled her eyes and Billy began to drive off.

She flipped him off as he sped out of the parking lot.

"Do you wanna go do something?" Billy asked as we were at a stop light.

"Sure, why not."

He took me to a movie theatre. We were halfway through the movie when I started to feel nauseous.  I tried not to induce it by rushing myself to go out to the car, but I needed my medicine fast. I tapped Billy's shoulder."Pssst, Billy," I whispered. "I need your keys to get something out of your car."

He didn't take his eyes off the movie and tossed me his keys. I ran out to the car and began fishing through my stuff for my 'emergency pouch', as Aunt Joyce calls it. I heard some faint voice out of my bag. I scrambled through it to find the source. "Guys, this is Dustin, again. Does anyone copy? This is code red, I repeat, code red."

The voice was getting agitated. "All right, it's Dustin, again. I have a code red-"

A voice cut him off. "Can you PLEASE shut up?"

"Erica? Is Lucas there? Can I talk to him?"

"Don't know, don't care."

"Is he with Mike?"

"Like I said, don't know, don't care."

Please, tell me. It's super important. I have a-"

"Code red."

"Yeah, exactly-"

"I have a code for you: code, SHUT. YOUR. MOUTH."

"Erica? Erica? Shit." the other voice, Erica, didn't respond.

"Hello?" I said clicking the button on the side.

"Who is this?" the voice, who I'm assuming is Dustin, said from the other side.

"Hi, I'm Addeline. I'm Will's cousin."

"Is Will there?"

"No, he's sick, why?"

"Well, there's an emergency at my house, and I need any help I can get. I know I don't know you, but I need anyone here. Please, I'm his friend."

"Okay, I'll be there in like," I looked at my watch. "Fifteen, twenty minutes."

"Okay, see you then, and please, HURRY!"

I ran back inside and went into the theatre. I whispered and told Billy that I felt sick and I felt like I was about to vomit  At least I wasn't lying about both, but whoever Dustin was, he really sounded like needed my help.

Billy drove me home really fast. He flew past anyone who was on the road. "Please don't get any throw up on this car. Its a very nice car and its in good condition. Just, please no vomit!"

I pretended to be worried, but I was actually really calm. We got back to his house and I quickly headed to the address that Dustin was telling me to go to. "Let's meet at the Byers, I believe Mike is there, and I at least need to tell Will, over."

"Ok, I'll be there in a minute," I communicated as I slammed on the gas and raced to my house.

When I got there, Dustin was waiting on my porch. Bob's car was there. I went in before Dustin. Joyce scurried us outside. She explained that Will was getting worse and that they might have to take him to a doctor soon.

"This sucks," Dustin mumbled as he sulked down the driveway.

A car pulled in. It was Steve's. "What is he doing here?" I groaned.

He got out, mumbling something to himself. He didn't see us until he got up half the driveway, He was holding a bouquet of flowers. When he saw me, he stood looking like an idiot. I crossed my arms I knew what he was doing there. He probably heard that Nancy would be with Jonathan, so he came here to get back with her because he started a scene earlier about me. "What are you doing here, Harrington?"

He held out the bouquet. "I came to apologize," he uttered.

I took the bouquet. My heart melted. I felt bad for what I thought about him. "Steve," he looked up from the ground. "I'm sorry for yesterday. I was being a bitch, and you were simply looking out for me. I hope you didn't get detention for fighting or something..."

"Oh no, I didn't get in trouble, it was just some yelling, anyway. I forgive you, I mostly came to apologize for acting like your boyfriend," he chuckled like he made a joke.

"I forgive you Steve, and I-"

Dustin cut me off. "Can you save it for later, you two?"

"Geez. Fine, squirt," I affirmed.

"So, Steve," Dustin announced, turning to Steve. "Basically, there's this thing at my house and I need your guys' help getting it out. But, I should warn you guys- "

"Fine, let's go. I mean, I have nothing better to do," Steve cut him off and gestured to his car.