Billy who is forced to work at Hargrove & Harrington for the summer to pay back his father for the Camaro, and Steve who is forced to be an unpaid intern there as well because he failed to get into any colleges and he has no other prospects. Dick Harrington wants to see how he performs before he starts paying him wages.
They meet in the mail room, or something. Billy initially can't stand Steve but that all changes when he finds Steve smoking weed in his car at the back of the staff carpark after work on a Friday night.
They bond over asshole dads and wanting to get the fuck out of Hawkins. Steve moves into Billy's pokey one bedroom apartment and sleeps on the couch, adding his allowance to the "getting the fuck out of Hawkins" fund on Billy's kitchen counter.
His parents don't realise he moved out because they're never actually there. Steve makes sure the cleaner keeps the house spotless (his parents pay for that, she hates them, but loves Steve, so no one finds out).
One night they get really drunk while watching something on tv and spill stuff on the couch so Billy says Steve can just share his bed.
They wake up tangled up in each other, having slept better than they have in months. They don't talk about it. But they keep sharing the bed.
Once Billy has finished paying off Neil in full and the Camaro is officially his, he quits his job, tells his dad to go fuck himself and packs up his stuff.
He's ready to go but it feels wrong to leave while Steve is out. Wrong to leave Steve behind. Wrong to leave Steve.
He sits on the couch, unable to take that last step and leave this shit town behind. He's still sitting there in the dark when Steve gets home.
"Billy, are you home? Jill said you weren't at work today. You okay? Did get her a migraine again?"
Steve turns the light on and flinches when he spots Billy on the couch.
"Jesus, you gave me a fright. What's wrong?"
Billy blinks slowly and looks up at Steve.
"I'm finally free of my dad, you know, and I thought... But it isn't right... I couldn't..."
Steve drops the bags he brought back from the supermarket and kneels in front of Billy, hand going up to cup his face. He swipes his thumb across Billy's cheek and is surprised to find it wet.
"You've been crying. Baby, what...?"
He feels Billy shudder and leans forward to press his forehead against Billy's.
"Hey, it's gonna be okay. Whatever it is, we'll face it together. You and me, Billy."
"Steve..." The quiet devastation in Billy's tone makes Steve's heart break.
"C'mere." Steve wraps his arms around Billy's shoulders and pulls him into his embrace, holding him tight.
Billy makes a high pitched noise before his arms go around Steve's waist, his face buried in Steve's neck.
Steve runs a hand slowly up and down Billy's back, glancing around the room, looking for clues. He notices that Billy's stuff is no longer on the walls. His books are gone. He looks through the bedroom door and the bed is made.
A cold shiver travels down his spine, dread filling him in a second.
"Billy, did you...?" He takes a deep breath, trying to keep the hurt out of his voice, but it bleeds through it anyway. "You were gonna leave without me."
It's not a question. Billy goes rigid in his arms. When Billy pulls away, Steve lets him. He drops his arms, falls on his ass onto the carpet.
"I couldn't. I can't," Billy says, tears flowing down his cheeks now. "You were never part of the plan, but you gave me the strength to tell my dad to shove it. I can't stay here, but I can't leave. Not without you."
"I love you, Steve. I'm so in love with you I can't think straight, and I don't know what to do."
Steve gets off the floor and straddles Billy's lap.
"I love you, too, you idiot. You're gonna help me pack, then we'll get Thai food from downstairs and spend one last night in this shitty apartment, and tomorrow morning we'll get the fuck out of Hawkins.
They seal the deal with a kiss.
You would do this to me on a Saturday night I LOVE YOU YESS OWWWYESSYEYEYSHNOOOAHJJHDEVHDe
