MELANCHOLY [S.T. B. Hargrove]

67

Hopper's cabin felt as stuffy as ever.

Lucas and I were pacing back and forth- passing by each other every so often. A car honks outside and Lucas darts out the door- leaving it standing wide open.

"Hey," I greet Billy as he walks into the cabin. "It's you guys."

"Yeah.. Dustin and Eddie are outside, too."

I stop pacing and let Billy stand in front of me. "Any news?"

"Harrington said he'll take care of her discharge when it comes.. But, nothing beyond that."

My nerves were eating me alive. I stand on my tiptoes and throw my arms around Billy- hiding my face in his neck.

"She was still asleep when we were on the phone.. Wheeler said it wasn't as bad as we thought, but I think she's full of shit."

"She's full of hope," I correct.

"Same thing."

The past day has been a rollercoaster.

Max was clearly injured after the Vecna ordeal. She was rushed to the hospital.. but we couldn't see her.

Jason died in the fall from the window. Lucas would've been wanted for murder.. if I hadn't taken the fall for it.

The guy that had Erica held down had woken up when we were dealing with everything. He told the cops I shot him and then when Jason's body was found.. it was like my fate was sealed.

Billy was still, as far as the common Hawkins citizen was aware, dead.

Eddie, Dustin, and Lucas were still being framed for the other killings under Hellfire.

Steve, Robin, and Nancy were certain Vecna was dead. They torched him and shot him until he wasn't moving. But, Steve said something was weird. Like something else was helping them.

Lucas probably thought the car held news about Max. I hated that he would be let down. I hated that we couldn't go to the hospital in fear of getting caught. I knew Nancy, Robin, and Steve would take care of Max, but I hated that Billy, Lucas, and I were forced to the side.

"I'm gonna check on him," I whisper to Billy.

I place a soft kiss on Billy's bottom jawline and step away. But, Billy grabs my hand and follows me outside.

"Hey, dudes," Eddie greets with a forced smile. "So, we packing up and heading for.. Vegas? How does Vegas sound?"

"Not the time, man," I remind gently- though grateful that he was trying to lighten the mood.

Lucas was leaning on the hood of Billy's car- a frown on his face and his arms crossed over his chest.

I separate from Billy and wrap Lucas in a hug. He sighs and rests his head on my chest, though he never uncrossed his arms or bothered faking like he was okay.

"Who ordered pizza?" Eddie wonders.

I rest my chin on Lucas' head and look over to the yellow truck pulling into the driveway.

"Mike! Will!" Dustin suddenly shouts when the doors to the pizza truck open.

Lucas' head snaps up. I rub his back and urge him forward. He takes off in a run and the four boys meet in a big group hug.

"Jonathan," I greet with a smile. "About time you assholes show your faces."

"Yeah, we know," he sighs, then looks past me.

"Yeah.. we know," I repeat his words, knowing he'd seen Billy.

"Rocky?" a gentle voice calls.

My heart clenches brutally.