Take Me Back (Deja Vu) -- For @crawlingbackwards

[california_dreaming]

Hawkins, Indiana. Friday, June 30th, 1995.

Ten years ago to the day a young lifeguard was kidnapped by her coworker from the pool, an act that ultimately led to hear death. Ten years and one day ago, the life of a particular asshole from California had been changed forever. Later on he'd blown out of town, not looking back, unable to face the horrors that the now infamously cursed town had in store.

A bit under a year later he read newspapers about a state of emergency that almost made him get back in his beat Ford Escort and drive back. But no. Nothing could ever get him to go back to that hellhole. That's what he told himself.

Hilarious that ten years to the day that his life had been ruined he had done just that, holing up in a hotel for some sleep to recover before what would be yet another life changing weekend in the cursed town. His ten year high school reunion. Hell, Billy didn't even know for sure just how the invitation had gotten to him. Someone must have found his contact information, because it had come and for a laugh he'd agreed.

Mostly because it was long past due when he should check in on Max, and he'd heard she might be in town checking on Susan. The drive was nice too. Good for inspiration. He'd taken it slower than the trip back to California, stopping at points with great views, hauling out a sketchbook, and getting ideas down on paper when he needed it. Never knew when some small detail would create something beautiful. Or terrible. Worked either way. Still gets into town, crashes on the couch in Susan's place after a meal (she'd actually gotten a bit better at cocking, who could have expected it), and then prepares for what comes next.


Billy Hargrove knows how to make an entrance. Has already made one in this small town before, but he does it now for old time's sake. Waits until he'll be half an hour late, so he can ensure all eyes are on him. If he's going to be back in this place of nightmares and memories, he wanted to live out some of the good ones. Which means tearing into the school parking lot in his blue and white Chevy Chevelle, engine roaring, music blaring. Barely anyone is outside of the school building, already headed into the gym, but the few who are...

Oh the looks he gets. They know this entrance. They know what it means. And before he even gets out of the car he knows there are whispers. But he does get out, smooths his fitted and well worn jeans over his legs as he does so. Back then he'd be in some shirt he hadn't bothered to do up all the way. These days he's still too mindful of old scars, choosing instead to have one where he can have the sleeves up and the buttons all done, like self respect. After a moment to psych himself up he gets out and makes for the gym.

"Well damn, Carol, you sure aged like fine wine," he says as he comes to a stop at the check in desk, smiling down at her. She looks so shocked. Like she can't believe he's here. Neither can Billy. But he keeps smiling and she reaches for a badge that is really deep in the box, like no one expected it to be needed.

"You too," she says as she hands it up. "Like what you did with your hair."

Billy reaches up, considers the curls. They're bleached more blonde than ever from all the sun back home, just as changed by California as he had been. But when he touches it he almost laughs. Apparently he'd forgotten to pull his hair out of the sloppy bun he'd put it in earlier while helping tidy a bit around Susan's place. Even reaches for the tie when Carol shakes her head.

"Oh no. Leave it like that," she grins. "You look tasty."

And Billy laughs as he accepts the passed over name tag so he can affix it to his shirt.

"When have I not been a snack?" he asks before nodding to Carol. "See you inside later."

Then he heads past her into the gym and feels the eyes turning on him.

Billy Hargrove had come back to Hawkins High School. Now he just needed to make it through the night. Maybe it would be easier this time, because so much of the old arrogance and steel had been worked off of him, just leaving a softer, happier man in its place.

Comments

[crawlingbackwards]

All those years ago part of Steve had been pissed when Billy tore out of town, he couldn't really blame him but he wanted to. All the others had faced shit and didn't run but Billy had. In the end however, Max had talked to Steve. Told him what their life was like at home and how Neil could be. She explained things that made Steve's chest hurt and he felt bad for being so mad. Who wouldn't run when confronted with nightmares and horror terrors on top of having terrors at home too?

The years had passed, Vecna defeated, and things finally seemed to quiet down. Steve stayed in Hawkins, looking after the brats while they grew up and being there when Robin returned from going away for college. Or maybe she came back for him? No one really knew. People still thought they were an item but that changed when Steve started seeing a girl pretty regularly. They hit it off great at first, but it wasn't long before the night terrors, the paranoia, and everything he couldn't tell her became to much.

Even with a little nugget of their own. A girl with curly brown hair like her dads and her moms green eyes. Elizabeth or Lizzie, Lizard if you were Eddie or Robin. When his at the time fiancé left Steve with their daughter it was hard, being a single dad had never been on his list of life goals but here he was.

When he got the invitation for the school reunion, Steve almost didn't go. He had papers to grade and he didn't want to leave Lizzie alone all night. Of course upon hearing this Robin demanded he went. She'd take care of the kiddo and he could always grade papers later. It was fine. She couldn't go but she wanted to know all the drama from the people who were coming back. Sure some had stuck around like Carol, Tommy, and a few others but there were also a bunch who hadn't. Not that either of them knew that someone had managed to find Billy Hargrove of all people.

Billy, that was a name that made Steve think. He remembered the day that Dustin blew into his office at the school waving a card that he had gotten in some pack. The picture looked all too familiar to the thing they had faced all those years ago. And the artist 'William Hargrove'. Steve said it had to be a coincidence but Dustin was the same as always. He refused to believe it could be anyone else. Which was an interesting little thing to think about, Billy Hargrove...an artist. One that apparently Will was starting to follow closely.

Going to the party was like stepping back in time. Sure he had been in the gym lately, they just had a pep rally the other day and an assemply that he had to be at with his class so of course he'd been there. But now looking at all the familiar faces, some feeling like they hadn't aged a day, Steve felt a familiar claw of anxiety hit his stomach. It was only made worse when he saw Tommy and a few of the old team coming up to clap him on the back and tease him about being a teacher instead of some big time lawyer or something in sports. Steve just laughed it off and took a long swig of his barely cold beer. Tonight was going to suck.

Or that's what he thought until the gymnasium doors swung open and none other than Billy Fucking Hargrove just strutted in like he still owned the place. It was enough to make Steve choke on his drink as the guys next to him saw the ex-usurper king and cheered.

"Well fuck...I owe Robin twenty bucks....this might actually get interesting."