That look has been worse since the gates opened, and continuing even after they closed. Tae gave him medication to sleep, but Billy is stubborn and lets himself run through the nightmares each night I stead of letting her be right about him. Pieces of Billy that are still there even in the wake of everything. The older teen moves past her to go sit on the bed. From under the pillow he pulls out a lollipop to toss to her, and another for himself. Both are cherry.

"Not gonna hit you," he finally remarks. Because she’s the only one that bit back with his threats and he knows Max will keep her word on it. "Been trying to be better about that shit."

A hand ruffles through the wet curls. Billy’s not looking at her. Almost like he’s ashamed. Isn’t he supposed to be happy to see her? Proud to show that he’s been working on being better? But he’s not, because Billy knows he hasn’t made much progress. Even with a friend/sponsor and Robin. And a mentor.

"He’s the first one to give me a chance," the blond says quietly. "To say I can be better when I told him I was gonna try. Told him I was gonna try when you were here last. I keep fucking up though. We talk a little. Over at the diner or here on the beach. We had… a situation a month or so ago."

Time was weird and he can’t keep the dates straight sometimes. "We evacuated underground for a month from a volcano. I tried to take a shower and it…it was cold. Too cold. I started thinking I was—"

Billy doesn’t want to say it. Not to Max. Even if she obviously knew.

"He helped me through it. Got me warm water to clean up with instead."

The talk of cold showers and toeing bad memories helps drop the worse memory of Neil or haunting Max.