The sun was blazing down harder than ever. It seemed as though everyone in Hawkins was somehow at the pool all at once.

I fanned myself with my Vogue magazine, eyes scanning the pool to ensure safety behind my shades. I actually don't mind my job here. Everyone's decently nice and they all like me so that's a plus.

The one negative is that a certain person works here.

Billy Hargrove.

"Oh God, it's hot out here," my coworker snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Preach, good thing sunset is in thirty minutes," I commented back at Heather.

She pretended to pray. "Thank God."

I chuckled. "Yeah," I smiled.

The water from the pool was splashing onto the burning concrete, and I could've sworn I heard it sizzle.

As Heather started talking about gossip and the sort my mind began to wander. I really needed to decide what the rest of my life was gonna be spent doing.

I don't really see a point of going to college to be honest. There's nothing that quite catches my attention as something that I'd wanna do for the rest of my life. I mostly want to stay here, in Hawkins, with Steve and the kids.

I watched as Karen Wheeler slipped out of the pool in a neon pink and blue swimsuit, teasing at her cleavage. I rolled my eyes as Billy Hargrove approached her.

He handed her a towel and leaned down to incoherently whisper something to her. I looked over at Heather, who sat with steam basically fuming out of her ears. "What's your deal?" I scoffed.

"She's a whole ass grandma!-," she took a deep breath. "Let me rephrase that: he's going for women who are just slightly out of his age range. And when I say slightly I mean like a forty-year difference!"

I snorted. "Jealous much? He wasn't like that before I screwed his ass-"

"YOU FUCKED BILLY?!?!" she gasped.

A few heads turned to look what the noise was. I slapped my hand over her mouth. "Sorry," she mumbled into my hand.

"Thanks for not being obvious about it. We hooked up like once but that was it i swear," I sunk down into my seat, looking around to make sure no one was eavesdropping.

She looked at me with widened eyes.

"What?" I questioned.

She just shook her head and slid her sunglasses on her face. "You're living the dream huh? You got, not only action with Hargrove, but are dating one of Hawkins's most desirable men now."

I chuckled. "I wouldn't say sexual tension with a narcissistic asshole is the dream, but Steve is the best," I smiled upon the mention of my perfect boyfriend.

As was caught up thinking of how he asked me to dinner tonight, I see said narcissistic asshole walking forward towards me. I slumped back down behind my magazine so the approaching boy wouldn't see me, but to my dismay, he unfortunately did.

"Well, what do we have here?" he smirked up at the two of us in the lifeguard station.

"Hi Billy," Heather tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. She hopped down from the lifeguard chair as she kept undressing him with her eyes.

I grimaced. "What's the problem, doll?" Billy turned to me as he replaced Heather's spot next to me.

"Don't call me that," I snapped.

"Ooh feisty today. I like it," he rested his elbows on his knees and looked out upon the crowd of people.

I watched as Heather walked into the locker rooms, I sat wishing I was her instead of in my spot next to Hargrove.

"Please don't talk to me," I muttered as I glanced at my watch.

Ugh, half an hour to go. Still? It's felt like an eternity in this summer weather.

"Mmm no," he smiled in my direction.

I glanced over at him and let out a pathetic laugh. "You're a real dick y'know that right?"

"I don't know about being one, but I have a really nice one," his tongue flicked over his bottom lip.

"Gross," I swatted him away.

"I think you just miss it. I think you just miss me," he got close to my face.

I felt my face heat up and my stomach churn. "Shut the hell up."

I pushed him off of me and hopped down. "Where are you going? You still have a shift, you brat!" he yelled from above me.

"Go find someone else, douchebag," I just stuck my middle finger up and strolled to the locker rooms, pushing through the leaving families and teens. The sun was setting and that meant I could get off without my boss seeing. Thank the Lord.

I rinsed off in my swimsuit and wiped down with a towel. I took down my hair, slid on my shorts, and grabbed my jacket, in case it got cold at night, which it occasionally did in the summer. I grabbed my keys and my wallet and closed my locker in the employee's bathroom.

When I had gotten out, it looked as though people had cleared. Rain began to pour, the sun was setting. Cars had all piled out around the same time, leaving the lot empty.

I ran out and headed to my car in the soaking rain. I heard another set of feet against the gravel and glanced over my shoulder to see Billy walking out too, so I hurried even more to leave.

"Slow down, Byers!" I heard as I opened my car door.

I roll my eyes as slam the door as i whip around. "What?" I snap as the rain soaks me.

He catches up to me and stands and places his hands on his hips as he pants. "Geez give me a moment," he exhales heavily.

"I wanted to apologize-" he began.

"That'd be a first," I snarked.

"Would you just shut up for a moment? Could ya? I'm being genuine here and you're bein an asshole now," his words caught me off guard.

My brow raised. I wanted to so badly yell at him and put him in his place, but I already felt water pouring onto my hair, so I decided to just let him finish. "Sorry, you were saying?"

He looked up at the sky and breathed out before shutting his eyes in thought and lowering his head.

"I'm jus sorry for the trouble I got you in," he said. "But I want you to know-" he paused, exhaling... shakily?

Was Billy Hargrove nervous?

"I wanted you to know that... that I really did actually like you. It wasn't like I wanted to use you or anything of the sort I... You seemed different than the girls at that hell-hole."

My mind flatlined. I couldn't believe what i had heard. "Pardon?" It slipped from my lips as i barely opened my mouth to speak.

"You heard me," is all he said as his eyes burned into me.

"I know- sorry- I just..." It came out as almost a chuckle, but when I saw his expression, I realized he was serious.  "You're not joking are you?" My face and smile fell.

"Why would I fucking joke about that?" He scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"Okay, okay, sorry, this is just new to me. I genuinely had no idea," I look at the ground.

"Hey it... it's okay," tension began to build as he spoke. "I just thought you should know. I'm not asking you to feel bad for me or even be my friend. I just thought you should know."

A flash of vulnerability crossed his face. His eyes begged for understanding and acceptance. For a moment I almost fell for his tricks. Never ever had I thought Billy Hargrove had feelings, period. And that he even felt bad for anyone? Pfft. But it seemed as though he may not be the monster I had made him out to be in my head.

I took a moment before I responded. "You... thought I should know?"

"I'm not gonna repeat myself," he said, his pride coming back.

I inhaled and exhaled slowly. I was finding my patience. "I appreciate your apology, and," I bit the inside of my cheek as I looked down, wondering if I should seriously tell him how I felt.

I decided to just speak. "I really did too. It may have only been like a week, but, I always knew you were a decent guy deep down," I offer a friendly smile.

He smiles back, a smooth chuckle coming forth. "Well thank you."

"Yeah," I smile and look up at him.

For a moment, it seemed as though the world was quiet. The rain stopped. The rustle of the trees in the summer air could be heard and seen dancing in the cool breeze. The street lights flickered on, and the pool's lights shut off. Billy was the only thing in front of me at that moment. I felt almost... content inside.

As he was smiling, he moved closer to me. He stepped close. I could smell sunscreen and chlorine on him. My eyes flashed down at the road before looking at him once more.

"Addie," his hand came to cup my cheek.

I couldn't tell if it was the breeze, or Billy thay sent a chill up my spine. I stepped back. "Billy, you apologized and I thank you, but I should go."

"O-okay," he looked away and his tongue wetter his lips.

I turned to unlock my car again. "Hey, Byers?"

I whipped my head around. "Mhm?"

"We good now, right?"

He awaited my response as he fiddled with his keys. His whole demeanor kept changing from nervous, to frustrated, to anxious. I silently nodded and my lips formed into a straight smile.

He smiled back and nodded his head before turning away. As he was entering his car he looked over at me. "Have a goodnight, Byers."

"Thanks, you too, Hargrove."