dis·trust

verb

doubt the honesty or reliability of; regard with suspicion

Wrapping up her late shift, Emilia walked through the back parking lot towards her car. It sat tiny with fogged up windows in the distance, and she quickly slid inside and turned it on. Leaving it in neutral, she cranked the defrost and sat there shuddering inside of the car while it heated up. The windows finally cleared and she could see well enough to drive home. Her hands still shook as they gripped the ice-cold steering-wheel, and she had to squint to see through the patch that was clear in the window.

She took to the back roads, and then the sputtering noise startled her into pulling over. Smoke came from the hood of her car, and she quickly threw the car into neutral and pulled the emergency brake. Getting out, Emilia backed up away from the car, ignoring the cold because she was terrified that she was going to be caught in a blast when the car exploded. It sizzled, making strange whirring noises as though it was trying to figure out what was wrong with it and correct the issue, and then all noise faded from it. Aside from a strange hiss in the engine, it made no other noises.

Standing in the middle of the road, she was terrified to go back to her car and dare start it again. She was also starting to feel the cold creep up underneath her jacket like an unwanted hand. She clutched tighter and looked back down the road, wondering how long it would take to walk back to work. But there was not going to be anyone there, since she had closed up and all the others would have headed home when she did. Hopper's was too far to walk, too, especially in this dark and the last time she walked this late at night she was nearly eaten by a monster.

She decided walking back to work would be best, for she would surely run into someone. And if she didn't, she would be able to walk to the station from there. It shut down at night, but sometimes a deputy would stay late. She glanced once more at her car and wondered if she could just sleep in there; she kicked herself for not putting in a blanket in the back like Hopper had told her to do a hundred times. He had the whole safety kit, but she always forgot to put it in the trunk.

Turning her heel, she saw headlights and felt relief flood her. The car came barrelling down the road, and she realized that this was a familiar situation. The bass was cranked and she could hear The Scorpions blasting through the speakers. She quickly hopped into her car and turned on her hazard lights, hoping that Billy would stop.

She waved her hands as he neared, and she was filled with relief a second time when he slowed down and pulled over behind her car. The music was killed when the engine was, and the door opened. The headlights still shone light on them, and Billy got out of the car. His jean jacket was open and his shirt was unbuttoned. A cigarette hung from his lip.

"Thank you for stopping," Emilia said, then gestured to her car. "My car broke down, and I have no idea how to fix it."

"Looks like I'm the hero again, swooping in to save the damsel," he said smoothly, hoping it would impress her.

Emilia began to feel uncomfortable, she did not need Billy thinking that she was a damsel in distress, no. She had hoped he would be the good Samaritan, not the guy who expected her to owe him something just for helping out. But she did not have much of a choice.

She let out a forced laugh, "So, do you think you could do a girl a favour?"

"I'd do whatever you need," he winked.

"Just a ride," she said, and then regretted her words. She stumbled over her sentence then, "My dad, the uhm, the sheriff will be expecting me home soon, you know how worried parents can get."

"Alright, hop on in," he gestured, and then sat back down in his seat.

Emilia walked to her car to grab her purse, digging through it and taking her time. Maybe, just maybe, someone else would drive by. Maybe Hopper would be expecting her home and would come looking for her. But she knew that wouldn't be the case, he was probably with El, and he only expected to see Emilia half the time, for she so often spent the night at the Byers'. She wondered if she asked Billy to drive her to Jonathan's, if he would respond differently knowing that she had a boyfriend.

It ate away at her, this knowledge that perhaps accepting this ride was not in her best interest. But she had stalled long enough, for Billy had started the car and the music was blasting again. That was her cue, the signal that she was taking too long and officially wasting his time. She locked the car doors and then turned back to Billy, and that's when she saw another car in the distance.

Stalling a little longer, she waited until the car came by, and to her surprise they pulled over. The driver left the engine running, but unrolled his window. It was Steve.

"Emilia?" Steve called, "What are you doing out here? Is that- Is that Billy?"

Emilia nodded.

Steve felt something twist in his gut, and he spoke quickly, "Why don't you come with me, hey?"

Billy was now interested, leaning out of his car, "Emilia, come on!"

Steve clutched the steering wheel tightly, "Emilia, you don't want to go with him."

Emilia looked between the two, and she knew that she felt an overall distrust towards Billy, but Steve had changed over the year and had become almost like a friend to her. Either way, she felt that she was making the wrong choice, either way she felt as though she was causing trouble that she didn't want to be involved in. She clutched her purse tight.

"You don't want to be seen with that loser," Billy laughed.

"Actually," Emilia said, "Steve is my friend. Thank you, Billy, for the offer, but I should go with Steve... He knows where my boyfriend lives."

Billy rolled his eyes, seeing her game plan of mentioning her existing boyfriend to make him back off. "I thought you were going to your dads," he growled.

"I'll call him from my boyfriend's," Emilia said.

"Whatever," Billy growled as he revved the engine, slamming the door shut and tearing out. Rocks flew out from behind his tires, and then after a few seconds he was gone from sight.

Emilia quickly scrambled to the other side of Steve's car and hopped in, relieved that she had avoided a situation, but knowing that she had caused trouble for Steve. It was already well known that Steve and Billy didn't get along, and now this would push Billy to do further harm to Steve.

Stevie-boy to the rescue, because everyone loves Steve. The GIF is for all you Billy lovers out there. Don't forget to comment your thoughts!

Question of the Day: Do you think Billy is going to cause trouble for Emilia in the future?