7

RAYA

Billy stood up and admired the painting while I avoided his eye. I had spent a few nights painting a collage of the beach from California, his car, a girl in a bikini, cigareattes, a music logo, and then his name.

"This is amazing, Raya." He breathed. "You are so talented."

"So you're not creeped out?" I asked, hiding my face with my hair.

He grabbed me and pulled me to him. "I love you."

"I love you too." I murmured.

"It's just about been an hour." He sighed.

"So let's go pick her up."

We left the art at her house and then we got in his car.

"You know what else you should've added to the painting?" He asked, eyeing me.

I had his sunglasses on and he had the radio off for once.

"Me?" I asked.

"No, my lovely ass."

"What ass?"

"What do you mean, what ass?" He demanded.

"I don't see any ass-"

He playfully yanked the glasses of my face and put them on. "I've seen you checking out my ass."

"I can neither confirm or deny." I said, chuckling.

"Will you be my girlfriend, Raya? We've slept together, argued, went on a date, shared our trauma."

"I'll be your girlfriend, Billy."

The words themselves made me so happy. Now I just had to not fuck any thing up.

Billy raced into the arcade lot and came to a quick stop. I hopped out and leaned on the car as I looked around the lot, seeing the amount of people who came here.

And then my eyes found somebody and I froze. My stomach dropped, my heart began beating erratically, and my mind was telling me to get out of there.

I didn't even notice Max walking to the car until she gave me a quick hello.

"Um, hi." I said quickly trying to mask my terrified expression. Max climbed into the back and I sat in the seat.

"The hell I tell you?" Billy demanded and for a moment I thought he was talking to me.

Max and I both looked at him.

"I'm not late."

"You know what I'm talking about."

"Oh, Lucas?"

Billy scoffed but I was busy eyeing the person who was straight out glaring at me.

"So he has a name now, huh?"

Max began to stammer. "It's a small town, okay? We weren't hanging out."

I would've stepped in but I was trying  not to have a full on panic attack.

"Hmm. Well, you know what happens when you lie."

"I'm not lying."

Billy looked at her. He started the car and drove off.

"Are you okay?" Billy asked me, turning down the radio, "You look like you just seen a ghost."

"I'm fine." I snapped, looking out the window. Tears bubbling in my eyes.

"Billy, we're running out of gas." Max stated.

He swore and found the nearest gas station and got out to fill up his gas tank.

I wiped my eyes and tried to breathe.

"Billy's been better since he started hanging out with you." Max said.

I turned to look at her surprised. "Really?"

"Yeah, he still hates me but he's not as harsh, I even caught him smiling."

I laughed. "He doesn't hate you, Max."

"Sure seems like it."

"Don't tell him I told you this but he doesn't know how to build a relationship with you because of Neil." I explained, taking a deep breath.

We both looked out the window and watched him.

"I don't want to mess it up with him. And we've been going fast with our relationship."

"Did that worry you?"

"A little bit but I was to happy to notice."

He paid and then opened the door, eyeing us and our smiling faces.

"What?" He asked, looking a bit nervous. Max and I both giggled and he got in. "Are you shit talking?"

"Maybe." I said. "Right, Max?"

"Right."

Billy shook his head, a smile on his face. He grabbed my hand and his face softened.

"You okay?"

I nodded. "Now take us home."

"Yes, ma'am."

Billy started the car and raced down towards the direction of my house.

When he pulled into the driveway, I noticed that neither cars were there. I sighed and turned to Billy and Max.

"Thanks."

"No problem." Max said.

"See you soon." I told Max. "Call me." I told Billy before hopping out of the car. Billy waited until I was on the porch before racing off.

I unlocked the front door and swore when I saw the map of the Upside Down tunnels. I hurried to the kitchen phone and dialed Steve's number. Nobody answered. Then I called Hopper. No answer. I called Bob, the Wheelers, and the Hendersons.

Nobody answered.

I sighed and walked to my room to see all my art scattered and I knew my mom had gone through it.

"Son of a bitch."

I walked to the couch, picked out the movie Pirahna, and continued to try and call Billy's house as it played.

"Why won't anybody answer?" I whined, banging my head with a pillow.

I felt crazy. I sighed and paused the movie Pirahna when the phone began to rang. I quickly answered.

"Raya?" Billy asked.

"Why haven't you called me?" I demanded. "I have been losing my mind. And how come your line has been busy for this long?"

"I'm sorry, sweet cheeks." He responded. "Susan was on the phone and never stopped talking with her new shit talking hag friends."

"Billy!" I exclaimed.

"Have you been thinking of me?"

"Yeah. And this movie Pirahna."

"Well I've been thinking of you. We should go on another date."

"For the place or for the sex afterwards?" I asked.

"Both." He answered.

"Well I don't know now because I'm not even sure what happened to my family. Or Steve."

"Maybe they are out partying with out you."

I chuckled. "Jonathan is probably fucking Nancy, Steve's probably still looking for Nancy, Mom and her boyfriend are probably doing I don't know what and my little brother is probably still not feeling good. God, I'm ranting-"

"It's fine, babydoll, I love hearing your voice." Billy responded. "What was up with you earlier? Was it Max? We could've kicked that brat out."

"It wasn't Max, Billy. I saw an ex of mine."

"Did he hurt you?" Billy demanded.

"No, Billy-"

"You're lying." He scoffed. "I'm gonna kill him-"

"I gotta go, Billy."

I hung up and clutched my stomach, groaning in pain. It felt like I was on fire. I let out a cry of pain and screamed as it became worse and worse.