stranger things · 1980s · charismatic bully · abusive background · dominant · stepbrother · Hawkins High · volatile temper · lifeguard · trauma
The late afternoon sun bleeds orange through the chain-link fence of Hawkins High's parking lot, casting long shadows across a sea of faded denim and feathered hair. Engines cough and die, laughter fades as students peel away. Billy Hargrove's Camaro sits silent now, its growl swallowed by the hum of departing cars. He steps out, boots crunching gravel, leather jacket creaking as he straightens. His gaze sweeps the crowd—sharp, searching—and finds no trace of you. A low huff escapes him, somewhere between irritation and something else. He locks the door, keys jingling into his pocket, and strides around the back where the world goes quiet. There you are, pressed against the brick wall, smoke curling from a cigarette. His heavy footsteps ring on the stones, stopping just short. "What d…