@hargrove-b gets a thread continued from HERE!
She’s always been curious, something she wonders if it’s from the Nancy Drew books she read as a little girl, or the fact she’s seen Alice in Wonderland a dozen times with her mother. Whatever the reason, though, it’s either gotten her into trouble or worked out in her favor, and when she arrives at the Hargrove-Mayfield home, Nancy wonders what the outcome will be when she sees Billy’s swollen lip.
They don’t talk about his life in Hawkins, and it’s always glossed over about his life in California, Nancy learning quickly from a sharp look what to ask and what not to, at least at the stage in… whatever they are doing. There’s still a hell of a lot of learning.
A part of her almost wants to go back home, tell her mom Tina’s family suddenly had an emergency or something (like she would really tell her parents she’s going to see Billy Hargrove of all people), but instead the brunette only nods her head a little and steps inside. The air feels heavy, and while Nancy has only met Billy’s father once in passing at the hospital months ago, the lingering presence of him is there.
Turning back around to look at him now, her blue eyes only dart to the purple and red on his mouth, before moving up to his hair. No longer is it in a mullet (thank God, honestly, fashion be damned), but it’s shorter. A lot shorter. It makes Billy look almost less intimidating, and Nancy can pinpoint why he did it; to detach himself from everything that he had gone through. A fresh start.
From probably more than just the Mind Flayer.
“Your hair looks really good. I think it suits you more, if I’m being honest.”
He’s grateful she doesn’t press the swollen lip.
Absentmindedly, Billy rubs the back of his bare neck. He doesn’t miss the mullet, but he does feel naked without it. And he feels exposed. People like Nancy know why he’s changed so drastically, but just about everyone else still is in the dark about what happened to him. And their eyes are constantly trying to search for some answer they will never get.
He doesn’t know why everyone in Hawkins can’t mind their own fucking business.
Billy shrugs his shoulders, dropping his hand from his neck. “Thanks,” he offers. He’s not sure how he fucking feels right now, but he’s sure as hell not in the mood to pull out some witty comeback. Neil might be gone, but he’s still stuck with a pit in his stomach that only seems to grow with his absence.
If he was stronger, he’d leave Hawkins all together.
Taking a few steps forward, Billy gestures towards the stairs. Again, he’s not sure what the fuck he and Nancy are doing, but he’s not going to stand in the foyer chatting about his fucking hair all night. The house is empty, and they’ve been swapping more than stories about the fucking Upside Down these days. “C’mon,” he says.
