I feel myself wake up in the bed with an arm draped around my waist. It's warm, a protective feeling to it. I tiredly turn around to face Steve beside me in the bed. I smile gently seeing his peaceful sleeping face and bed hair in the morning.

He ended up taking his jacket and shirt that night while I took off my shirt but had a tank top underneath. He had put the jacket on me to stay warm and we both had our pants still. I leave my head laying on the pillow as I trace shapes boredly as the sun merely shines through the cracks of the curtain.

There's a bit of noise in the background of the house like voices or cluttering but I don't decide to pay any attention to it. Steve's eyes flutter open and I look up at him.

"Morning." He croaks out.

As a good morning, I move my head up and peck his cheek, wrapping his arms around his neck. He smiles and goes and kisses my forehead. As the two of us begin to slowly wake up a bit more, we begin to hear and understand the voices and cluttering.

"Leave her be!"

That was Billy..?

"Oh, so last time I checked you and Y/n did not get along."

My eyes widen. Dad.

"And you. You HATED Steve! You beat him up and now suddenly you want me to hold back from telling her what's good for her?"

Steve's eyes widen and looks in my direction. Shit. Mom & Dad must've come into my room.

"No...No! That's not it!"

"Then what is it, Billy?!"

"Quick. Get under the bed. And whatever you do. DO NOT. Stand up for me." I whisper. He nods his head hesitantly and quickly pulls his jacket off me, grabs his shirt and rolls under the bed.

The door bursts open and Dad comes into the room with what seems to be Billy...trying to stop him.

"H-Hi Dad." I wave nervously.

He furrows his eyes and peers around.

"Where is he?" He asks lowly.

"He left this morning." I respond. Billy glances at me, with anxious eyes.

"Don't lie to me misfortune."

Misfortune was a nickname he gave me. This father of ours has always been rough. He hated me the most. Because I'm a girl...I'm not the favorite child.

"Dad..." Billy tries.

"I'm not lying." I raise my voice a little.

Dad walks up to me and Billy steps into the room. I back up and into the wardrobe where he stares at me close inches away.

I huff. "Y-You can't lay a finger on me."

He suddenly grabs my wrist and holds it against the door. I gasp. Steve stares wide-eyed from under the bed but I mouth a no to him.

"I may not lay a finger on you. But a whole hand."

"Dad. Let her go!" Billy growls.

"First Max and you went missing, when Billy wanted to go on a date with a fucking whore."

His words are toxic which makes both me and Billy quiver with disgrace.

"Then I see you, sleeping with a boy."

"We didn't sleep together!" I protest.

I hear the air break as a slap is used across my face. Steve squints and looks away. My cheek burns and Billy gives me wide eyes.

"Then why was he overnight?" He growls.

"Because I!"

"You don't have an excuse. You know this role in our family household."

"It's a role I won't abide to!" I hiss.

I feel my face slap again and that's when someone pulls him off of me.

"You!"

I look up with shock as Steve has his shirt on, pulling my father from me.

"You shouldn't be hitting your daughter!"

I look toward Billy who seems both annoyed and anxious to see him here.

"You lied to me Y/n!" My father screams.

"Now I see where Billy gets his anger from." Steve spits. Billy puts a hand over his eyes looking down in shame.

"Get out of my house, right now!" My Dad yells.

"As long as you don't hit your daughter." He growls.

The Dad glares at me, then Steve, then Billy before walking out the room.

"Are you okay? Does it hurt? Do you need ice?"

"I'm fine Steve!" I say holding my cheek.

"Harrington."

We both turn to Billy who has a nervous look exchanging to both me and Steve.

"Why we're you over here last night?"

"I was helping her get some rest. She didn't want to be alone, because of recently being out of the hospital after her accident." Steve lies. "I gave her my jacket but my shirt was soaking from rain puddles. So I took it off."

Billy gives him a look but seems too tired to decipher if it's true.

"I know he must've yelled at you once before." I say softly to Billy.

"Yeah." He mutters lowering his head.

"When you and Max ran off. I was going to have a date that night, but he forced me to call it off so I could find you."

"That explains why you seemed pretty mad." I nod.

He looks up at Steve and sighs. "Fucking hell Harrington. When I said there was plenty of fish in the sea, I didn't mean you could take my sister."

I feel my heart drop. Steve stands a bit taller.

"I really love her Billy."

"I know you do."

Wait...

He looks up at him with those blank eyes. "Take care of her. Really, because if something happens to me, I don't want her and Max to deal with Dad all alone."

With that, he walks out the room and shuts the door behind him. The two of us stand there, stunned and confused on what just happened.

"I'll get going." He says softly.

I nod silently and go up and hug him. He hugs back then kisses my forehead.

"I love you Y/n."

"I love you too."

He picks up his jacket and shoes and goes out the front door making sure Dad knew he left this time. I sigh, sitting down in my room. I feel tears sting my eyes as my painful heart pounds.

Some footsteps walk in and I shift my eyes up. Billy.

He sits down in front of me and before he can do anything, I go up and hug him.

He's taken by surprise, shocked and I know he wants to push me away. He sighs, slowly wrapping his arms around me.

"Why does Dad have to be so mean?"

"I don't know. I wanted to know if you wanted to go for a ride in the car. Show you where I might be working next year."

"All right. Anything for fresh air."

He nods and I pull away. He stands up and I grab my jumper. I throw on a beanie and the two of us begin to walk out.

"Me and Y/n are going for a ride." Billy calls.

"Be back before lunch!" Dad snarls.

I see Billy tense a little but we head out the door. I turn my head back to see Max poking her head out the door before she quickly goes back in.

Billy gets in the front seat while I get in the passenger. His car roars to life before he reverses and speeds down the driveway. I sigh, sitting back in the chair.

"Hey, don't let it get to you too much Y/n. A smile looks better on you."

I turn to him and smile weakly, which a small smile tugs at the corners of his lips.

"So...where will you be working?" I ask softly.

"I think I'll be working as a life guard at a pool center."

"That sounds good for you." I nod.

"What about you?" He asks.

"I'm looking at some jobs. But I think I could be a Bartender. For the local Pub not too far from here. You could probably drop by, I know we've both been through a lot and I could probably secretly slip you a free drink if you really wanted it."

"That's a nice offer for a risk at your job." He says.

"I know. It depends on what happens though." I tell him.

He nods silently and I sigh looking down.

"I know you're angry sometimes. But you're a good brother Billy."

"No, I'm not..."

"It's better than having no brother at all. If you weren't there by my side for most of my life, I may not be the same person that I am today. You're angry sometimes and I'm..."

I trail off and he looks in my direction. "You're you. And that's really nice. I'm glad you're my sister."

I give him a weak smile before the two of us continue to drive down the road.

"Whatever happens for the rest of this year Y/n. Know that a lot of people do care about you."

"I want you to know that too."

Billy, Steve, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Will, Max, Nancy, Jonathan, Joyce, Hopper, Eleven.

Next year will be different. For better or for worse. But I'm so happy that these are the people who are in my life.

I shut my eyes as we continue to drive.

Especially you Harrington. I'm glad I met you.