Billy had been awful to her, but Max reacted in kind. Regardless, that summer had opened a whole other level of fucked up. And no, none of it was his fault. If anyone could understand that flavor of guilt, it is Max, even if not on the same level. Never mind she still thinks herself responsible.

Then he brings up relationship and Max stops entirely. Her mind runs that through, registers - show up late on one alien planet adventure and miss a lot, apparently.

"You sure they were hiding it from you, or everyone? You don't start sleeping with someone of the same sex and just go," she grins sarcastically and opens her arms, "'Hey, everyone! We're together. Persecute us now!'"

She frowns when he mentions he snapped. "If they were both keeping it from you, why did you punch Steve?" Look, Steve isn't on her shitlist, yet. And he's done a lot for her, so still Steve. And she is starting to suspect there's a reason Billy cared so much they were together in the first place.

"Sounds like you had shitty friends. You need better ones. Tommy's a good start," she's actually matter-of-fact when she says that.

She feels a little better thinking maybe Billy just didn't remember El's name. The idea the others hadn't even mentioned that was odd. He has her name now, though.

"El can do a lot of stuff with her mind. She went into yours, when we were trying to find you. Trying to figure out what was going on. That's how she knew about your memories. She's been in my mind, too."