A/N: Hello everyone. Thanks for clicking in to read. Billy and Evie continue to explore their new relationship together. Max's fourteenth birthday party marks a change for the teens, reminding them that danger isn't too far off. TW: Neil being Neil. Mentions of abuse. Something close to an almost assault/abduction off screen near the end. Light mentions of Pica & fatphobia. Sexual themes. **Thanks again and let me know how you like the story!!!
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"Hold still, I'll poke your eye again."
"I can't breathe, you're killing me." Came a sniffled whine.
"Such a baby. You asked."
"I said I was curious after you put the gunk on my nails!"
"That gunk was a great color on you. You whine just like your big brother." Carol had Max's face clamped in her grip as she applied mascara. "Don't blink, you'll smear it."
"Evie, she's killing me," Max lamented aloud. "This is not worth it." Evie just laughed, setting a bowl of pretzels aside. Carol flicked a mirror up to let Max see her handiwork. "Whoa...It's not terrible." She gruffed in a mumble, tilting her head to see each angle. "Kinda like Madonna."
"I'll take it." Carol stole some M&Ms from another dish as they shared a spot on Heather's fuzzy carpet. A movie rolled on in the corner TV.
Max about howled when Heather came in from the bathroom, face covered in green.
"Monster!"
"It's a face-mask!" Heather planted her hands on her hips, prompting more laughter. "You'll be more into them once your body really changes."
"Girls are way scarier than boys." Max poked at her blushed cheek which had Carol smacking her hand away. Evie was draped across the bottom of the bed in her robe and nightie, half-watching the TV. "Can you do a zombie make-up?"
Carol gave a snort.
"I can do anything. kid."
"Eves, you want another piece of pizza?" Heather crossed with the box.
"I'm so full." Evie shook her head.
"You had like one piece."
"I ate a big lunch. And lots of pretzels." Evie snatched the pretzel bowl again for good measure. Truthfully, her appetite had been up and down lately. Mostly down. What with the pangs in her stomach that always passed and... "You sound like my mother."
"She was...extra peppy at the salon today. My mom and I got our monthly trim."
"Probably some guy she's seeing, it'll pass and another will come. Men are like Kleenex to her. Soft, strong, and disposable." Evie shrugged to pluck up a magazine.
"Hey," Max began as Carol fussed over her, "so I didn't want to make a thing of it, but my mom keeps insisting. My birthday party is coming. She and Neil saved so I could have it just at the roller rink and...they said I could invite whoever I wanted. But, I can't ask the guys to come. So I figured I'd ask El. She's really cool. But, maybe if you guys wanted to come? You can bring boys and pretend you're not even at my party if it's not your thing. I just-"
"Max, we'd love to come." Heather piped up first. "Evie and I rule the rink too."
"I look very cute in skates," Carol agreed with a twitching smirk. "I'm in. I'll bring Tommy, he sucks and he'll fall down a bunch. We'll pretend we ran into each other so your stepdad can get the stick out of his ass."
"Billy has to go too cause Neil says it's a family event." Max turned to Evie. "I think he'd be happier with you there."
"I think Billy and I both are fine being there for you. I had my fourteenth at the rink too. It'll be fun." Evie beamed, legs up to sway idly. "Plus we haven't met the Chief's kid. She's home-schooled, right?"
"Yeah, she might be joining us in school next year." Max stayed still for Carol's brush. "Depends. She was uh...adopted under weird circumstances. You'll like her. I taught her how to do that felting thing because of you and she made this funny one of her dad."
"I'll bet Hopper loved that." Evie winked.
"He's kind of a babe in like a scruffy, rugged way," Carol remarked. "Strong mountain man type."
"Ew. He's so old." Max reeled back to laugh.
"I'm just saying! I like a man in uniform. He rocks the khaki."
"The moms in town do eat him up." Heather shrugged, joining Evie on the bed with a handful of candy. "We all have our strange crushes. I like high cheek-bones. Guys with a little Bowie. Evie? You got one?"
"Gia Carangi even if she isn't modeling any more, I love her face." Evie was flicking pages without looking. Howls from the TV went ignored through the chatter.
"I called that. Fenny being into ladies. Try Iman." Carol winked which earned her a look as if she hadn't planted a kiss on Evie in a fit of rage.
"People say Billy's pretty like a girl." Max had added which got the other girls giggling.
"I like this one, we're so keeping her." Carol got up to root for a bag of chips, popping them open. "Like the zombie face better?"
"I still look too pretty." Max appeared more goth than zombie.
"You are pretty. Deal with it. We redheads stick together." Carol stole Evie's magazine. "Let us know when the party is, we'll be there."
Max looked at the three older girls squished together on Heather's bed. Chattering and supporting. Happy to have her around.
A bright smile touched her face for the first time since Neil Hargrove walked into her home.
** ** **
Most days, all it felt like was floating. Floating through her house. Through Hawkins. Up and down streets. Through school. A stunning illusion she pulled like wool over her dark eyes.
A woman in rippling silks walking endless halls toward a great, cherry red door at the end, but the door gets farther away and she's thrilled to continue on even still. Feather wings glittering to unfold from her back because heaven's light is beyond the door. Crystalline eyes with their hold. Waiting for her. The sky awaits her with caressing clouds. Opulent gold sun rays and twinkling stars when the world lies down.
Evie knew she was too big for her wings most days. Too heavy to leave the Earth.
Knew in her beating heart of hearts that was the first thing people think when they see her. This magnificent soul with drive and neon and talent reduced to a single shrewd glance. And they don't think twice until she's something vaguely sexual. Something marketable you can package and process and sell to the last drop.
Easier to stomach something uncomely if you can slide into it ruthlessly to rut. They always come like animals, wailing as a banshee would to get off better than they ever will in their small lives. They eat it up. Cover it in sweat and regret and blame.
These things that hang as little weights on her heartstrings swinging back and forth. They make her not want to attempt extending those wings to fly. Fear of heads shaking in judgement. Fear of looking uglier. More foolish for even trying. Poor thing.
All because of one glance that couldn't be bothered to see worth in another human life. Sometimes Evie wanted to be skinny not because of beauty, but because she'd get a privilege pass to exist in this world.
They think she shouldn't dress the way she does. She's probably lazy and self loathing because of added pounds. She has no real aspirations or means to achieve them. Those eyes that watch her eat. That shift away before they decide on another seat because the one open next to her just isn't right. They glare because of the extra room she might take up. Even sharing a few cordial words with fat girls seemed to be a task.
Evie always notices and does the polite thing pretending she doesn't. She knows what her body looks like, no need to point out the obvious.
Strange, how these snap judgements, these eyes that don't look twice; can villainize a body utterly. A body. Flesh, bone, and muscle. We're all made in heaven's image. All destined for paths we seek to control. Superiority should have been an illusion. But no, too much or too little, your worth dips low. Fetishes and internalized hatred for things that were shaped and colored differently. Blame.
But, some days, when the wind soars just right...just strong enough...Evie can spread and illuminate. See the births and deaths of a million stars. Drop the little weights to feel the winds between her fingers. In her curls. In her wings. Feel her feet leave the floor for just a few fleeting seconds.
The fleeting seconds of soaring always seem so worth it against a world of unsightly aches. Against snap judgements she can toss back to live in a flower petal haze.
Evie tried hard to live in those moments when they flashed into her. Spotlights. Butterflies delicately landing on her flesh to open and close their stained glass wings for kisses. Evie felt crushed utterly in the most decadent way.
Billy's soft lips on her neck to get lost in the pulse. Deft fingers that would push up her clothing as he moved in her. Eyes that wanted to see her. All of her. The prayers he could whisper against heating skin.
A lot could be said about him. But, Billy was always happy to see her and that alone was air spinning into gold. His eyes would light up. Lips twitching. She could hear the single beat that his heart skipped. Even if they didn't speak, they felt this awareness for each other in the vicinity. Truly magic.
Those eyes. That love of a face. Always staring pointedly to read her up and down. Always plucking the weights from her heart by listening. Always unafraid to touch her. Evie hoped she returned that. She really did.
Fleeting seconds began to linger between them. Seeping slow and saccharine as fresh pouring honey.
Sneaking away on walks while he let her hold his hand. Flirtation against school lockers that ended in several 'just one more' kisses. Double dates to the movies with Tommy and Carol. Sitting separately to make out.
Driving up near Lover's Lake to kiss in a parked Camaro while the sun laid itself down to sleep. Fumbling playfully to undress and explore. Watching the construction of a coming mall with Slurpees from the gas station. Tongues and lips colored all artificial cherry and strawberry.
Evie would stretch her wings completely. Let Billy admire them until the world was all satin rose-tinted. She could forget her urges and worries and insecurities. All together. This was fine.
She was fine. More than fine.
He so liked to admire her wings. Pleasure crushed in as she moaned. Let his fingers explore contours and notches untouched before. Billy would take those prayers on his lips and drape them over her body. Spell them between fleshy thighs. Pulling more fleeting seconds for himself too.
They could roll around under sheets and not worry about anything else. Have conversations that always felt silly and wonderful and weighted because they both mattered to someone so ardently. That alone was an ocean both could sink into.
Something beautiful to behold. The real vision behind the great red door. Your soul mattering.
Evie was in a bubble with Billy Hargrove. A stupid, dopey look on her face when Mona settled dinner down one evening. Steam rising from a huge pot.
"Going out later?" Evie began to create sound or she'd be lost. "You colored your hair brown again."
"Needed another change. Ah, I'm going out just with Karen and Claudia. Dessert and wine night. I asked Susan but that poor thing keeps standing me up. Did you finish Max's gift for her party?" Mona scooped up huge portions in a bowl that Evie would only be prodding at.
"Yeah, it's set. Turned out perfect. She's not much for jewelry but I think a personalized tie dye shirt will be fun. Might look cool while skateboarding. I also have that goody bag of sweets for her to fill up on we made." Evie reminded herself to pick up her spoon. Took a few bites.
"You're not scarfing it down like usual, you love my crawfish soup."
"It's delicious, I just had a big lunch." A lie. Evie pressed herself to eat quicker, tearing a piece of fresh bread to chew. Thing was, she wanted to eat. She wanted to eat so badly despite the sickness welling inside her. The heavy ache made it a task. Mona eyed her daughter there. "My stomach's in knots a lot, just school stuff."
"Well, you are a senior." Mona pushed her own soup around. "I haven't been around as much as I'd like to be. Just the salon and I met-"
"I get it." Evie's lips spread in a flash, not wanting her mother to finish that sentence. "I'm with friends a lot and I keep busy with my music and the cat. I even wrote a new song."
"That's two this week, you. Strumming along blissfully." Mona gushed. "Whatever has you all creative and dewy, chase it." Silverware clicked around and Evie stared at her dish. A broader smile crossed.
"I will."
"What's it called?"
"Ocean Eyes."
Evie could be pretty transparent in the early stages of a relationship.
These short weeks in with Billy. Lyrics flooded free. Sometimes he liked to watch her write and strum when they hung out. Trips to the lounge where she worked other nights got him a full show, but not of her original stuff. Songs marched forth.
"Ocean Eyes."
"Cupid and Psyche."
"Honey Stardust."
"Neon-Tinted Hearts."
Rock. Pop. Lush and obscene with her glowing heartstrings. She wrote them for Fredrick too when they got together.
"Doll Joints."
"Lollipop Lolita."
"Prince Charming."
After dinner, Evie stole a notebook filled with her every sinful lyrical confession of her time with Fredrick Bowers. Burnt it in an empty pot out back until Billy wandered out the back steps of his place. Asking her if she was trying to set the neighborhood on fire.
"How can I help?" He'd snarked while the sky went all pretty peach fuzz. Evie just laughed and never explained what she'd burnt or why it felt this cathartic to watch the smoke rise toward a falling sun. She figured maybe this was the day she'd stop eating foreign and sharp objects. She could do it. She was happier. Lighter. It had to stop.
It had to. She couldn't think about this haze shattering, it hurt too deep.
Billy used the flame to light his cigarette comically and kissed her before inhaling the smoke.
"Can we take a drive? Or walk if you're low on gas?"
"Let's walk, I got some cash doing my odd jobs for the damn neighbors, but I need it to last a bit longer with Max's birthday. Got her this new board she was too chickenshit to beg our parents for."
"Aren't you a darling big brother?" Evie crossed her arms to follow him when the flame dwindled low. They went around the house to the front, started down the street. "Iris has some hours for me that next Saturday night."
"You going to tell your mom about the secret job thing?" Billy inhaled and let smoke billow up into the afternoon light. They walked along Cherry Lane. Not touching. Counting steps while their shadows cast and the streetlights came up. A brisk night loomed, spring begging to creep through the month of March.
"I figured I could this summer. Around graduation. Just say I got something bigger since I'm eighteen and Iris can get me steadier hours. Gigs day or night. Maybe I'll get to host a couple more drag shows. I miss those damn girls, the funniest performers I know. I'll just let my mom down easy about the receptionist thing, hopefully she's fine with it. Make it sound like I took initiative cause I'm a big girl."
"And your grand singer plans?" He liked to ask about her and hang upon the syllables.
"Still up in the air. I'm taking the year off to work and write. Try for a talent agent or manager. I can record maybe...try to get airtime. There's this contest thing, they do it every year and the winners always do well. But, I'm honestly too afraid to ask my mom about it just yet. I'm saving though here and there." Evie beamed. "You? Summer and on."
She was clearly asking if he was sticking around for summer.
"Odd lawn, house, and car jobs are getting me by. This whole street is a mess and the moms in town like to watch me work."
"Yikes."
"It means better pay and tips. I'm taking Heather up on her lifeguard offer this summer. I'll save up, Dad's already going to be asking for rent when I graduate."
"Shit."
"Yeah. Don't wanna bank on that mall they're opening with all the other little shits trying to get jobs first." Billy leaned back to let the cooler air kiss his face, sighing before he tossed his smoke out.
Evie came to the end of the street near the forest, swayed around a streetlamp like she was in an old Hollywood flick. Dreaming long and endless. Sometimes she worried so often that she wasn't living. Just dreaming it all away. Maybe a center line was possible.
Maybe she'd be able to soar over it all.
Billy waited for her to swing back around it before he pressed into her for a slow, lingering kiss. Even better, maybe they both were sharing a dream. Making it of something stronger.
"So, how am I doing?" He joked lighter. Evie gripped the lamp to stay level, head tilting. "Two weeks in, almost three. This whole situation."
"Situation." Evie mused, slyly hiding half her face behind the lamp to hum. The shadowy starlet of a femme fatale she loved to watch on television with her mother. Glinting. Dangerous. "This whole situation?" She lingered to sigh it even slower.
"You and me." He'd sounded out, drawing nearer. "Us..." Evangeline, always the playful nymph, flitted off playfully. Spinning the other way to walk along so Billy came to her side easily.
"I think you're doing fine." She tapped her chin. "What about me? Evaluate my performance."
"Ah. In a sea of slithery tadpoles, you're a goddamn firecracker." He'd laughed and Evie followed, covering her lips with one hand.
"I don't know how any of that correlates or makes sense, but I'll take it."
"Neither do I. Just made it up to see you do that. The scrunchy thing you do when you're too happy or upset with me." Billy's nose crinkled as he grinned there. Evie came up to peck his freckles.
"You're a total sap, Hargrove." Evie continued, hands clasped behind her back before she inhaled the air. "Let's hit that mini mart nearby. I'm craving a Dr. Pepper. Buy you a soda. It's my turn."
"No, it isn't. You're just being too nice again," Billy remarked, feet shifting slower as they crossed the street. "I can't take you fancy places."
"I don't need to go to fancy places, I just like hanging out with you wherever." Evie turned her head to see him. "We're both poor, we make due. Summer will be better. We can just work and...figure this out. I like it right now though, so don't worry because I know how you shiver in those boots."
She pondered it.
"Do you like it?" Evie offered quieter, earning Billy's eyes searching her expression. Lip twitching, he tossed his arm around her. Brought Evie taut into his frame with an easier grin so they could keep walking toward the whirling, illuminated sign in the distance.
"Yeah, I like it." He decided. "I like you plenty. What's not to like, Evangeline?" His free hand gestured out and Evie beamed to point at that darling face. Her Eros. Encouraging her wings to unfold without pressure.
"Wow, you're getting better and better at that." A beat. "Making me blush without rolling my eyes."
"Please, Angel, your knees quiver every time I hit you with this smile. You might as well toss off the panties for me." For good measure, he flashed it and Evie hid from his absolute burning charm. Cheeks felt that fire bloom and billow.
A car hurried past them. Sweeping budding flowers and loose leaves about. Delicate, they danced. Trees wobbled back and forth to the wind picking up. Evie stayed looking away to smile that time. Knew this wind would carry her easily.
"Did you have a best friend back in California?" She moved her arm around his back as they went.
"I don't know. Guess I had a few in orbit."
"Am I your best friend here?" She piped back up and Billy slowed to glance, chuckling.
"I thought you and I were avoiding labels."
"It's different." Came the protest.
"No, it isn't." He paused. "Heather's your best friend."
"Yeah, but I figured I could have more than one. Perfectly carved places for each." Evie shifted in front of him, hands smoothing up Billy's shoulders to clasp fingers round his neck. Blue eyes glittered to search.
"You trying to push some admission outta me, Fenny?"
Lashes batted with all the innocence they could hold.
"Just admit it, Hargrove," she pulled him down for a lip lock, pecking his jaw and cheeks until he broke to laugh and hold her at bay. One brow lifted. "It'll be our dirty little secret."
"Fine. Only cause you twisted my arm about it and it gets you hot. You are my very," he palmed her bottom to make her gasp in one motion, "very best friend. Happy?" Billy stole a kiss when she was still dumbfounded, molding their frames together.
"Maybe I am." Evie sighed, sounding too raw and honest about it. She came out to see his eyes there. Tried to read them. Billy blinked to say something else.
"So, you're already thinking about graduation and summer, huh? Moving quick."
"I'm optimistic is all. It's a rare thing with me so I'm just enjoying it. I'm not used to happy and good." Evie got cheeky to hide anything else, winking over her shoulder before she went inside the tiny store.
Fluorescent lights washed out too many colorful packages. They picked cold cans of soda and bright yellow packs of Jujyfruit candies to curb a sweet craving. Billy gripped the paper bag in one fist and Evie snatched his free hand when they got outside.
"C'mon!" She picked up the pace. "Let's catch the bus to the other side of town."
"Billy Hargrove doesn't take the bus. It's all full." He'd complained, still rushing after her to the stop.
"Try something new." Evie was giggling, tugging at him to get on.
With the bus full of residents leaving work, they took some standing room with a group up front. Fingers curled into the handles above, swaying closer together due to the rocking and crowding. A hard turn sent Evie into Billy's chest, her hand sprang out over his shoulder to catch the bar just above his head.
"Trying to jump my bones in public, little Miss Fenny?" He feigned a look of awe, brows lifting playfully. His free arm slipped around the small of Evie's back, bracing her there into his marble frame. "You know how much easier it is if you just ask, Angel?"
Evie wanted to scoff. Wanted to scrunch that annoyed look she was known for. Wanted to send him to the floor and kiss him for miles and miles. But, she just stood there in the dim, flickering bus lights. Watched his expression relax. Not really breathing until she reminded herself.
Billy seemed to remember as well. At the back and forth shifting of the vehicle, they squished together. Forcing looks away to see the path again. Billy pushed his thigh further between her legs. Both of them idly rubbing together now. Evie felt the heat crawl up her cheeks, lungs tremoring. Billy's fist holding the bag shifting a little lower on her back, firm and scalding hot.
She peered up at his jawline. Looked away. Felt Billy's eyes wander back after before he flickered elsewhere. Denim pushed against denim. Billy hitched this breath as if he might whimper. Swallowed it down. Hips swaying back and forth and back again. A thumb pushed deftly into her back. Evie shifting in, lips parting. Trembling as Billy turned his head to see her centimeters from him.
"This is our stop." She'd said in his ear. Leaning flush into him to pull the cord down. Billy inhaled the amber. Brushed his nose into her own while she came back out.
"Don't wanna stop." His freckles looked especially glowy outlined in a rare blush. The bus skidded and Evie veered back with some amusement. Brown eyes casting Billy up and down before she skipped off in a hurry, leaving him to chase her because he'd always chase her. Bag still wrinkled around Billy's fist, he caught up with her. Under the streetlamps surrounded by dancing moths.
"We near Lover's Lake?"
"Yeah, the park nearby. Figured some loitering would do us good." Evie stepped across the grass and sand. Listened to the dark structures creak. "C'mon. I love the swings."
She plopped back into one, legs kicking some before Billy joined her. He cracked one can of soda to offer it, feet shifting over the sand to sway closer together. Chains creaking.
They clicked drinks and guzzled fizz before Evie snagged the candy out. Stealing a few chewy pieces. The bright box got passed back and forth during a comfortable silence. Billy watched Evie as she observed the moon there.
"Do you know any constellations?" She'd asked quieter, forcing him out of the daze. Curls caught the illumination with stars dotting her dark eyes.
"Not really." He took the candy back as she swallowed a piece.
"You see that crooked line? Those four little guys, they call that...Salem's Lot. And..." Evie touched her lips, pointing again. "Those two bright boys there. Called Shawshank. Oh, and that one-"
"These are Stephen King references." He pushed her.
"No, I'm very smart and they're real-life constellations. Listen and learn, Billy boy."
"So, are you gonna call that grouping, The Shining or The Overlook?" He pointed to a cluster and Evie snickered.
"Obviously that's Carrietta White's Constellation. Duh. Cause it looks like a rain of blood." Evie snorted and Billy joined her, heads pressing together as they giggled like school children.
"You know she wears a crushed red velvet dress in the book? Not pink as seen in the movie." Billy stretched out, finishing his soda.
"You know she's fat in the book, too?" Evie winked at him, eyed the trash, and tried to toss her can at it. Missing badly, it smacked the rim and fell in the sand with a clatter. "Damn it!" Billy laughed at her louder.
"Don't try for a career on the court, Evie." He watched her pout as she plucked it up to throw it away properly. "Now, watch the master work." He aimed as she sat down. One deft hand reeled back and launched it only to have Evie's palm smack it easily the other direction. Almost falling out of her seat cackling, she got the candy pushed into her arm before he gawked and went to get it.
"Oh," she kept up without air, "I thought you were the master? You should have seen your face!"
"Yeah, yeah." He grumbled, dunking it in the can with an echoing clank. For some cheery consolation, she offered the rest of the box to him. Tiny candy pieces fell into his palm before he pushed them all into his mouth at once, eyes lifting to the sky again. Billy made a face and turned to go to push her swing. "Gimme another constellation."
"Hmm." Evie held the chains, began to swing properly at his coaxing. Felt like they were in a secret garden together. Water rippling against the air distantly. Cold chill not bothering either of them. "Those two stars. The little one and the big guy. See?"
Billy gripped the chains, keeping her swing up against him to follow the gaze
"That's Neverland. Second star to the right and straight on till morning." She snickered again as Billy pushed her forward. "Bet I can beat you there. I'll jump from the swing."
"You're on." Billy stole the seat next to her, both of them pumping higher. Curls fluttering. Laughing. Happy because they were together and that mattered.
"I'm going to overthrow Pan and Hook. Become the most fantastic Lost Girl with a siren song to command the island and you'll write your stories."
"Think so?" Billy pushed himself higher. Actually thought he might fly with Evie there.
"Yes! You'll tell the greatest stories ever heard through the land and they'll echo back down here to be loved too." She proclaimed that. Not having heard Billy's stories, but believing what was in his heart.
Time slowed. Wild laughter crackled toward the sky. Utter sparks as they jumped together and collided to roll around the sand. Evie was still alight with joy under him, hair splayed everywhere as Billy snapped up to check her over, hovering. Evie's giggling tapered off against the night air. She stared up at him. Framed in twinkling stars. He said something she didn't catch.
"You have beautiful eyes," Evie sounded out slower, lost in the endless crystalline blue. "Did you mean it?"
"Mean, what?"
"What you said when we were lying in bed together. You said I was the best thing about this place. People never say things like that. Not to girls like me. I believed it when you said it though and it was easy too." Evie skimmed her fingers over his jacket. Watched Billy's eyes flicker to recall that moment and the clouds he floated upon like lily-pads in a pond.
Billy swept down. Planted a hot kiss that was all lips. Swelled her mouth when he pulled out. He left Evie fluttered and came to her ear.
"That was a yes." He pushed up, eyes too sly. "By the way." Evie took a hand when he offered one and got pulled to her feet, bodies stumbling together. They tried to brush the sand off fabric.
"Do you think about that night? The dance, I mean. Not...the sex. Well, I guess it's okay to think about the sex actually." She blushed there when Billy's lip quirked. His fingers still wrapped around her wrist. "Before all that went down with Brock. It was-"
"Not terrible." He finished.
"Not at all. The first part of the night, sometimes I wish we could go back and-"
"Rewrite it." Billy looked around, giving Evie a tug. He pulled her up on the metal roundabout, painted red and blue that was chipping away. "Hold on." Another smile had curled as he braced to get it spinning.
"Billy!" Evie jerked to hold tight to the bars. Hair flying up. Curls coiled out. Fire billowing gracefully. "What are you doing!"
"Turning back the clock," he charged and jumped on with her, wobbling to hold something, "to redo it." Evie grabbed for his coat. Fisting the fabric when they locked eyes. Wind rushed in a thrill with memories tumbling together and apart.
Her wings sprang forth.
Billy made Evie the still point to his turning world. For just a moment. Knew, if anything, that meeting her was something truly important. An unseen force that would twist his heart forever.
Spinning round and round. He recalled the metallic confetti dancing and the way the music pulsed. The carousel began to slow, both teens holding the bars and each other to say level.
Slower, Evie pecked a kiss upon his lips to mirror the first. Unable to come out far, Billy was already closing the distance for the second. Trying to pay her back with a thousand sweet kisses.
Cheers rang and fireworks burst. She remembered it all too. How dizzy and still the world seemed to be. How it hushed for her too sweetly. Billy's hands on her face, cradling delicately to angle the second kiss a little deeper. They felt the metal clink to stillness under them and inched back out.
"I want to go home with you," Evie said the words she wished she had that night. Huge dark eyes glittering. She found his lips again. Not worried about air or what the future held for them. Lost on a rosy haze and perfectly fine for these stolen fleeting seconds. "Can we go?" Billy searched her, thumb sweeping a circle into her jaw. He smiled fully.
"Only if we can take the bus again."
** ** ** **
"Happy Birthday!" Evie gushed, offering a gift to a small pile. Max had her arms around her before she'd gotten a chance to turn. One hand shifted to the shorter girl's back. Music whirled with a campy light show, made the horribly patterned carpets glow. "Carol and Heather are on their way in. Tommy's around but he won't hang near the table."
"Neil's going to be late. Work stuff." This explained why Max's smile was so bright. Evie nudged her chin, head cocking. "You brought your own skates."
"I know it's dorky, but they're my babies." Evie gestured to the red skates swung over one shoulder. "Evie Fenny doesn't rent her skates."
"That's El, come meet her," Max pulled Evie off after she got one wave at Susan behind the table setting up. "Billy's grabbing stuff from the car. He drove us."
El Hopper was a tiny thing. Almost like a little bird compared to Hopper's hulking frame behind her. She peered around and seemed at instant ease upon seeing Max.
"El, this is my neighbor, Evie," Max introduced them, "she's cool."
El made this gesture like she had a needle and poked at her hand.
"Yes!" Max got it, tugging Evie's arm. "She taught me the felting thing."
"Hope the sharp objects weren't a bother in your house, Chief Hopper." Evie perked up at Jim with a sheepish expression. "I should have asked you, I know it might seem a little dangerous."
He actually laughed at that. If only she knew the danger these kids had gotten into prior.
"Believe me, crafts are a welcomed change."
"El, nice to meet you. I'm Evie. Max talks about you all the time." Evie held out her hand and the young girl looked shocked. "Good things."
A slower smile crossed. She took Evie's hand to shake it. Awkward about her navigation but trying to take everything in. Clearly never been to a party like this one. Kids of various ages circled the floor on skates. Laughing. Holding hands.
"Max...talks about you too. I like your hair." El mirrored. Peered to Hopper with a pleased expression he matched. She offered Max a wrapped gift. Evie grinned and touched her curls, pulled up into two high, rounded buns.
"C'mon, let me show you the table they're setting up." Max took El's wrist to usher her off.
"Are you...staying to skate?" Evie turned to the Chief.
"El's, ah, not used to crowds. She came from some unfortunate circumstances. I'd like to stay close. First party. Maybe I'm hovering." He pushed his hands into his pockets. Not in uniform. Evie beamed a little.
"She's young, you're worried. It's sweet, actually. You're just being a good dad." The smile seemed to dither in her eyes. Even when Jack was married to Mona, he wasn't always around. Work and trips kept him busy, but he stayed to close to Evie the moment he arrived home with his little gifts and endless stories. "Don't come running over if she falls, we got her."
"Yeah, uh, if you could keep an eye on El when you see her around. That would mean a lot to me. I know you babysat the Henderson kid. El doesn't need a babysitter, she's just... This is new for her." Jim gestured. Digging for a smoke he couldn't have in the immediate area.
"Heather, Carol, and I will keep an eye out."
"Carol?" He chuckled. "Perkins?"
"Oh, yeah, we made up. Funny thing."
"Almost as funny as you hanging out with the Hargrove boy through winter." He quirked his brow.
"What can I say, Chief..." Evie shrugged. "I'm...branching out."
As if on cue, Billy paced in a side door. Bag clutched under one arm. He caught Evie's glance instantly. Both of them locked in and back out on cue. Blue eyes shifted up and down because she was wearing his denim jacket over a little lacy, floral top tucked into her jeans.
Neil would arrive and they had an act to keep up. Ignoring each other.
"I'll sit far." Jim offered. "Pretend I'm not here."
She about cackled, lost in thought still.
"I'll just pretend you're my real dad," Evie winced at herself, saw him pause with some subtle awe, "oof, I'm not sure where that came from. Ouch. Okay. Walking away now. Sorry, Chief."
"Evie." He eased a gentle hand toward her. "What I said. If there's...anything going on. You can talk to me. On or off the record."
"Yeap. Right. I'm okay. I'm...I'm gonna...skate. Yeah. Sorry. Oh, my..." Evie whirled to hurry off, cringing all the way to the table. "I think I just had a mental break."
"What?" Heather had chuckled.
"Nothing. Time to skate?" Came Evie's begging. Agreement followed.
Hopper made himself scarce with a cigarette and plate of cheese fries in the corner. Billy plopped himself into a chair behind the decorated table, looking disinterested. Not catching Evie's eyes while she sat with the girls to put her skates on. Just watched Susan set out plates for pizza and cake.
Evie went out with Heather first for a lap, both of them giggling and pulling little stunts to show off for Tommy who was on the ground as Carol pulled at him. Max jumped over his leg, cackling before she tried to get El to come out with them.
"Kinda reminds me of us. They're too cute." Heather quipped, whirling to skate backward. They joined the younger girls, hoping to get El relaxed and away from the wall she seemed to cling to. Every turn, Evie shot Billy a look. Got his lips quirking before he ruefully was peering away.
"Do you want to skate, Billy?" Susan had asked after a beat, weary of the music already. Bit of a glittery disco mess. That same dreamy rose haze in the air.
"About as much as I want to give my old man a sponge bath, Susan." Billy frowned for effect and dropped it when she actually laughed at him. It was an easier thing for them to talk without Neil's shadow.
"Well, the offer is open if you want to." Susan thought to tell him Evie looked beautiful today when she caught him staring at her for the third time but decided not to be obvious. Not yet.
"You're supposed to tell me I'm being inappropriate and I'm going to send your only daughter down with me." He recited easily.
"I was your age once, Billy, I know how to laugh still." Susan seemed surprised at the revelation herself. Slowly, she took a seat next to him. Not leaving another chair as a buffer like she usually did. "It might not be so bad. Her following you, you know, after this. When she's older. She still looks up to you."
It became clear what Susan was asking him. Max would resent her one day down the line. For the choices she made. The things she couldn't stop no matter how hard she tried. Maybe Billy and Max didn't always get along, but he'd be a safer place for her than whatever was leftover in that house. Susan would always be under Neil Hargrove, but she could ensure her daughter would not be. One day.
Billy leaned forward on his elbows, palms rubbing. He felt for his ring and remembered it was hidden under Evie's dipping sweetheart neckline. He didn't say anything, but met Susan's eyes.
"Evie's been a good friend to her." Susan crossed her legs and sat back to watch the girls laugh. Slowly easing into the conversation. El wobbled, holding hands with Max and Evie to gain some speed. Heather was trying to help Carol steady poor Tommy. "Don't you think so?"
"I haven't noticed." Billy turned his head aside.
"She's very pretty. Kind. That's all I'm saying. She and her mother, they're nice neighbors to have on Cherry."
"Jesus, Susan, why don't you date them both?" Billy shot up to go to the snack counter. Susan ghosted this smile after him, hands clasping. "Cheese fries. Jalapenos...Extra jalapenos." He got his plate and turned to see Chief Hopper's cigarette glow red. "You got any more of those? My pack is out and they don't have a machine in this joint."
Jim just eyed him.
"I'm legal." Billy puffed before a stick flicked across the table. "Camels. Unfiltered. Disgusting. Are you a flannel hobo of some kind with those?"
The Chief gawked at him.
"Don't you smoke Reds? Baby's first cigarette."
Billy matched him. Offended.
"I'm smoking with the big boys, Hop. You should try it."
"You in a place to complain, kid?" Jim reached to take it back before Billy swiped, lighting up to puff.
"No, sir." His lighter snapped shut. "You unable to cut the cord or is dressing like a lumberjack to hang out at a 70s roller disco a hobby?"
"Haven't seen you down at the station in a while. Few months, in fact. Turning over a new leaf this year?" Jim remarked instead, leaning forward on his elbows.
"Aw. You miss me or something? Your boys finally get tired of chasing me down? Or trying to." Billy gave this comedic pout, head turning to eye Evie again. Graceful swan that she was out there. His jacket hanging off her shoulders, exposing that neck. Little wisps of curls swayed about from her space buns decorated with matching glittery star barrettes, loose hair framing her face. Brown eyes flicked up and he snatched his gaze away. "Guess I found something else to get into that isn't trouble. You guys bore me down there, I like to be amused."
"The real crime-stopper, boredom. Color me impressed and shocked." Jim seemed to like that, eyes rolling. Billy puffed and swept a piece of tobacco from his mouth. "I guess whatever you're doing, keep it up." He watched Billy crunch on some salty jalapenos, plucking five gooey fries at once to swallow them down. Almost starved.
"I intend to." Billy flicked his greasy fingers to his brow. "Chief."
"William."
Billy mumbled as he went off, finishing the smoke to flick it out a back door. Eyes shifting to watch the girls plus poor Tommy. El was already better than him.
"Man, I'm dying out here. Help me. I'll tag you in." Tommy scrambled up the sidewall and clung, out of breath. Freckles all dewy.
"You wanted to be a good boyfriend," Billy cackled for good measure, "that'll teach you."
"Feed me a fry," Tommy begged over the barrier.
"Fuck out of here, they're mine. My dad will show soon so you can disappear to a corner and get your own damn fries." To make it a point, Billy stood there and fed himself.
Behind Tommy, Max skidded and fell with Evie barely catching her. Both girls had gone down in a fit of giggling.
"We're fine, go on!" Max waved to Heather and El ahead of them. Carol came to steal Tommy back as Billy craned to see his step-sister.
"You alright?" Evie was picking her up when Max's shirt slipped closer to her pale shoulder, flashing a burst of purple there the size of a softball. "Oh, my god." It slipped out before she could stop it.
"That's-!" Max cut herself off and fixed her shirt. Spring was creeping and all she donned was long-sleeved and frumpy. Dressing almost like Susan. "I fell, you know, on my board." Evie tried to give her the dignity of a look that said she believed it. Must have cracked. "Evie, it's nothing. Don't worry. Please."
Dressing like Susan. Sounding like Billy.
"Max, my house is-"
"I know, but don't... Don't say anything. Not to Billy or my mom, ah... Neil's here." Max put her head down and skated around Evie to go away.
There was something particularly helpless about watching a young girl flee obediently to her monster. Evie wondered if this was what she looked like to Billy headed to Fredrick's place.
Small. Scared. Lost.
Neil Hargrove started with words. Lots of horrible words that whittled Max down to a hard pit. Then pushing. Then some grabbing. Then shoving. Into walls mostly.
The hit didn't bruise Max. It was more of a swipe to make her go to her room for talking back. Whatever that meant to Neil. But, he was drunk and he caught her jaw with an open palm. That stayed red for the day until she snuck a pack of frozen peas, not wanting Susan or Billy to know.
But, the swipe sent her into the dining room table. Left the violet petals bursting under her skin. Evie lost the urge to skate and came out. Saw Billy's eyes again and paused to help Heather usher El out for food.
"You're a natural." Evie complimented which earned a full smile. El opened her mouth to speak before Billy appeared in front of them.
"They're making us sing." He cocked his head, peering at El. "You're the one with the funny name, aren't you?"
"Jane. But," she seemed to have trouble staring at him for more than three extended seconds and pointed to her chest, "El." Red crept across her cheeks. Billy towered over her, cocking a wider grin to play up the fact that she was all blushy for a pretty older boy.
"El?" He raised one brow. "What's the L stand for?"
"Ignore him." Heather pulled the younger girl around Billy as he chuckled, pausing to see Evie. Her colorless expression.
"You okay?" He said it hard with a furrowed brow.
"Fine." She tried to make it sound cold but it came out near silent. Head turned down as she flitted around him to join the party.
Neil, stiff and stoic, pressing his lips like he was at the damn DMV. Susan plastered a broader grin to dote on him after his long day, lingering close to his side as they set out pizza and readied the cake.
It was all so routine. Like getting your shots.
Pizza. Sing. Candles. Wish. Cake. Gifts. Thank you.
Billy and Evie took the farthest seats from each other. Played a game of glance and ignore that they'd made up on the spot. They both were either losing or winning.
"Strange," Neil remarked as he pulled Max aside for another slice. "You and the high school girls."
"Oh, I invited El too, she's my age. I didn't want to leave Evie out and the girls...they're nice to me."
"They don't dress like nice girls."
Heather and Carol both donned perfectly normal tees and jeans. Nothing would suffice for Neil Hargrove. Max shifted her cake around. No longer hungry for it.
"Maybe we'll talk about the type of girl you should hang around at a later time. The Fenny girl is nice enough, even if her shirt is a little too...low. Dresses kinda tight. Bit of an odd one. She's different. Her friends, well...I'm just not sure, Maxine."
"Yes, sir." She looked at her birthday cake like it was infested with worms. Carefully forced a bite and set it aside.
Max hung around. Smiled and thanked everyone after each birthday present. Even hugged Neil only cause he opened his arms at her. She said bye to El then Heather. Carol seemed to be turning in as well so Tommy went out back to get the car.
As the party went on and dwindled, Evie caught Billy's eyes gesturing to the rental counter. He slipped around the corner into the many shelves and Evie turned back to see Max and Susan at the table. Neil seated in a chair not helping them clean up, eyes elsewhere. Casually, she skated around and got her arm snatched. A gasp snuffed against a pair of lips. Kisses hidden away from the world.
"Paid the kid a few coins and a threat to leave for ten minutes."
Music vibrated the shelves. Evie put her arms around Billy.
"I still have skates on."
"Even better. I might have a thing for girls in red skates." Billy was all hands, holding Evie steady. Pulling one leg around his hip. Pushing denim into denim. Hot friction might have done her in any other day.
"We are not hooking up with all the smelly rental skates." Evie laughed into his lips, still pecking back and peering over her shoulder. She paused to see his eyes. Wanted to blurt what she'd seen on Max's body. Even to Billy now, it felt wrong. So, she said something else.
"Hey, we should...keep an eye on your sister, you know. It's her birthday. She's...She needs her big brother."
Billy huffed into her neck.
"Fine, fine, but you'll regret not taking the adventure on here."
"Yeah, I'm sure." Evie shifted. "My feet hurt and we can make-out in my bed later." She kissed his neck. "I'll do that thing you like if you promise you went easy on the product down there."
"Only dotted the gold crown. Scout's honor." Billy winked and she rolled her eyes. He peered out first. "Give it a second then follow."
"Wait." Evie thumbed her red lipstick from his mouth. "Now, shoo." Billy licked his lips and snuck out. She waited a moment. Let the happy butterflies land in her stomach then followed. Pausing, her skates came off for more comfortable tennis shoes.
"Evangeline, do you need a ride home with us later?" Neil had asked.
"No, thank you, I was getting a ride with Carol now." She smiled and looked for red hair to say her goodbyes. "Where'd Max go?" Evie collected her coat and Susan paused to peer around.
"She was here a second ago. Neil?" Hands dropped a stack of plates into the trash.
"Probably went to the bathroom." He shrugged, squinting at all the moving lights that were making his head pound. "Billy, go find your sister."
Billy seemed to notice the look on Evie's face and feel the same chill before he hurried off without fighting. Susan looked through the sea of kids and teens meandering as Evie passed her to check the ajar side door.
"Max!" The one flickering light at the exit made her skin crawl. A cry echoed distantly followed by a dull crash in the dark. Like a bag of trash hitting the dumpster.
Evie dropped her skates to follow the hollowed-out sound. Exhaust swept up her nose and tires gave a harsh wail, horns sounding while a faraway car disappeared around a row of trees to get to the main street with the rest.
"Max!" Evie charged out. Heart painfully thudding within her ribs.
"Evie?" Carol heard her and footsteps echoed around the building.
"Max!" Evie was near tears now. A shift in some fallen trash bags made her pause when two sneakers appeared around the side of the dumpster. This odd scratching sound left her lips. Evie threw herself over the tiny body there, turned Max's limp frame over.
Her shirt collar was ripped open where someone grabbed her. Or tried to. Dragging then dropping her when she put up a fight. Bleeding scrapes and dirt scuffed all over her pale freckled skin from the rough tumble. Carol got to them first and pulled off her sweater to cover Max's torso while Evie gathered her up.
"Help!" Carol called because Evie couldn't. More bodies arrived. Tommy. Susan. Billy. Neil.
"Neil, she won't wake up." Susan pulled her daughter out of Evie's arms, shaking her. Moans filtered out, but nothing else. "What happened?"
"I don't know. I saw...a car. It was too dark. I just found her here on the ground. Someone tried to..." Evie wheezed out and never finished, gesturing aimlessly.
"Susan, give Maxine to Billy. She needs a hospital." Neil swept down as Billy urged his sister's tiny body away. This hard, flamed expression on his face as if he wasn't really here.
Max looked broken. Not real. A doll left under the bed for too long without love or cherished stories to comfort it. Evie felt the knees of her jeans soak through from the wet pavement. Too many words hit the air and Evie's eyes dropped to where that harsh car had gone to.
Evangeline wondered what kind of monster would grab up a little girl and throw her out into the trash.
And why the world bore so many of that same design.