Billy Hargrove was somebody that Sarah Aston actively avoided.

She definitely found him attractive (who wouldn't?) and, in any other lifetime, would fall for his devilish smirks and smoldering eyes, but not this one. Sarah wanted to avoid anyone that could change someone's inhibitions from a single look.

But, despite all of Sarah's hard work, she couldn't escape the boy that treated everyone like they were beneath him.

The young girl couldn't have been any older than fourteen, but she waiting for someone, and by the looks of it, they were late. Sarah could've easily left her where she was and continued on her way, but something about the impatient and angry look on the girl's face causes Sarah to approach the redhead.

"Excuse me?" Sarah said in greeting, causing the young girl to startle and stare back with wide eyes. "Do you need a ride home? It's starting to get dark, and I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving you out here."

The girl squinted at her distrustfully. "I don't know you."

Sarah cracked a smile at her. "True," she conceded before holding a hand out. "I'm Sarah. And you?"

The younger girl continued to stare at her but shook her hand all the same. "Max."

"So, Max," Sarah continued. "Would you like a ride home? I really don't mind. You look like you've been waiting awhile."

The girl, now dubbed as Max, shuffled her feet and pursed her lips. She adjusted her bag on her shoulder and contemplated the thought some more. Sarah waited patiently for her answer.

"I guess," Max drawled out slowly, blowing some of her red hair out of her face. "My brother probably forgot that he was supposed to pick me up."

Sarah smiled brightly at the young girl and beckoned for her to follow. "Don't most brothers? Mine would do the same thing. I always had to walk home."

Out of the corner of her eye, Sarah could see Max starting to relax little by little. She didn't blame her being suspicious - Sarah was a stranger and had no obligation to take the girl home, and with all of the drama that Hawkins had, Sarah wasn't even a little offended from Max's reaction towards her offer.

As the two girls approached Sarah's vehicle, she smiled sheepishly at the young teen. "It's that not great of a car, and it definitely needs a lot of help, but it'll get us to where we need to go."

Max shook her head and opened the door to get in. "No, it's great. Thanks for giving me the ride, Sarah."

The seventeen year old waved off her thanks and followed her directions to her home. The sky had darkened almost completely, and Sarah could see Max beginning to fidget in her seat uncomfortably. "What's wrong?"

Max stopped abruptly and shook her head, a nervous smile on her face. "Nothing. Just... my brother's home, and I'm not sure how he'll react."

Sarah frowned at the flighty look in Max's eyes before sighing. Max stared at her as she turned her car off and began to get out of the car. Sarah gave her a questioning stare. "Well? I'll talk to him for you - your parents, too, so you don't get into trouble."

Max scrambled out of the worn down Toyota and waved her hands frantically. "No!" she tried to ease. "I-It's fine! You really don't need to say anything."

Just by those words and Max's reaction, Sarah had a feeling exactly why she was worried. The older teen pursed her lips and gave Max a firm nod. "Don't worry."

Max still seemed uncomfortable with the whole ordeal, but quickly realized that her words weren't reaching Sarah. Sarah stared at her and waited for the young girl to lead the way into her home. Max opened and closed her mouth a few more times before dejectedly sighing and trudging towards the door. Clenching and unclenching her fists a few times to calm down, Sarah followed dutifully, thinking of the best way to avoid Max getting in trouble - even though it was her brother's fault for leaving her alone.

"I'm home," Max called out, slowly stepping through the doorway. Sarah looked around the house in quiet speculation as a man, presumably Max's father, stepped into sight with someone that was all too familiar to Sarah following behind with a scowl on his face. She had to blink a few times to make sure it was actually Billy Hargrove in front her as she glanced between him and Max.

"Oh, Max, I'm so glad you're home," Mr. Hargrove said, casting a glance to Billy. "We were worried when Billy came home without you after telling him that he would be picking you up from school. I was about to have a talk with him but I wanted to make sure I have all of the facts."

"Well-"

"Actually, Mr. Hargrove," Sarah butt in, causing the two men in front of her to finally notice her presence. "Sorry to intrude. I'm Sarah Aston," she thrust her hand out to shake and sent him a charming smile. "I wanted to apologize in person. It's my fault that Billy wasn't able to take Max home. I was helping her with some math homework after school, and we lost track of time, so I told him that I would take her home. I'm terribly sorry for the inconvenience. Please don't be upset with either of them."

Behind her, Sarah could feel Max gaping at her in astonishment and wonder, and from the corner of her eye, she could see Billy shooting her a suspicious look, but she maintained eye contact with the man in front her.

Mr. Hargrove recovered from the surprise he must've been feeling and shook her outstretched hand slowly. "Oh, well thank you for doing that, but you really didn't need to. Billy is more than capable of waiting for his stepsister."

Sarah could see Billy clenching his jaw at the word 'sister,' and she could hear Max shift uncomfortably as well, indicating this was a topic that had caused problems within the family before.

Sarah waved off his thanks much like she did to Max earlier. "It's not a problem, Mr. Hargrove. I'd be happy to take her home if the need be. I have an older brother, and he sometimes made plans to do something instead of picking me up, so I understand what's going on."

Mr. Hargrove blinked at her again before laughing heartily, causing Billy to stare at his father in disbelief. Max walked forward and was sharing the same look as her stepbrother.

Sarah decided that it was probably time she head home if she were to avoid her own mother's interrogation. "I just wanted to clear things up and apologize for the time I got Max home. I really must be going. My mother will start to get worried."

"It's no big deal, Sarah. Thank you again. Billy will walk you out," Mr. Hargrove offered - ordered, really - for his son, and Sarah's mood soured slightly.

She couldn't say that she knew Billy Hargrove well. The two have never spoken to each other, and she can't remember a time when their paths actually crossed. He was in a class or two with her, but that was it. She knew of his reputation and his image he tried very hard to maintain. She also knew that he knew he was very good-looking.

For a second, Billy looked ready to protest, but one look from his father stopped whatever argument that was ready to spew out. He grumbled and led her towards the door. Sarah waved a goodbye to Max, who still looked amazed from the entire interaction, and followed the boy. As soon as the door closed behind them, Billy rounded on her.

"What the hell was that?" he seethed. "I've never met you a day in my life, and I'm sure as hell that Max hasn't either."

Sarah returned his glare. "It was me saving both of your asses from getting into trouble. It was obvious as soon as I walked in that there was going to be an argument."

Billy searched her face for any sign of deceit, but she remained steadfast. She would be lying if she said that he didn't intimidate her. He was taller than her, stronger than her, and right now, angrier than her. Her only relief was that there was no way he would cause an altercation right outside of his front door.

"I meant it when I said I wouldn't mind taking Max home if you couldn't."

Billy scoffed, so unlike his persona at school that Sarah was almost unsure how to react. "Stay away from her. Don't come back here, either."

Sarah knew a dismissal when it was there, and she rolled her eyes, holding her hands up as she started to back away towards her car. "Sorry, I didn't know it was a crime to help someone out. I'll keep that in mind next time."

With those words, Sarah got into her beat up car and sped out of the driveway, not regretting any of her decisions she made that night because she definitely recognized what was going on.