✚ || Billy Hargrove

Background Billy was born on March 29, 1967,[1] in California[3] to Neil Hargrove and an unnamed mother. His father was physically abusive to him and his mother. Billy had a strong passion for surfing as a kid, and his mother was very supportive of him. He has fond memories of her standing on the beach watching him surf. His mother left him sometime later when he was about ten years old, due to Neil's abusive behavior.[4] Neil eventually married Susan Mayfield, the mother of Max Mayfield, who was introduced to Billy as his "new sister" which he did not like. Neil's abuse towards Billy turned him into a childhood bully, and he would beat up other kids[4] and began to extend to the abuse of Max.[5]

In 1984, Billy and his new family moved from California to Hawkins, Indiana, and he began attending Hawkins High School.[6]

1984 Billy arrived at Hawkins High School in his blue Camaro with his stepsister, Max. As Max skateboarded towards Hawkins Middle School, Billy got out of his car and was noticed by several students including Steve Harrington and Nancy Wheeler, as well as three other girls who admired his figure.[6]

On October 31st, Billy waited to pick up Max from school. When she arrived, he chastised her for being late and said next time it happened she would have to skateboard home. On the way home, Billy noted that Max seemed to enjoy their new town, despite her denial of this. Billy then asked her whose fault it was that they had to move to Hawkins; Max muttered that it was his. Billy was enraged by this comment and began speeding and yelling. Billy then threatened to run over Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson, and Lucas Sinclair as they were cycling home. Max grabbed the steering wheel and swerved to the other lane to avoid collision with the boys.

Becoming King of Hawkins High That night, Billy attended Tina's Halloween party and impressed many Hawkins teenagers by winning a drinking contest, a contest that Steve Harrington, a very popular student at their school, had (up until then) claimed the title of. Billy quickly gained Tommy H. as a friend and lackey. Tommy H. then introduced Billy to Steve Harrington. Although the introduction was brief, it ignited a rivalry between Billy and Steve.[3]

Billy joined the school basketball team and played against Steve, demonstrating skill and strength over him. Billy's team won easily against Steve's team. That day, Billy was waiting with a date at his car for Max to come. However, Billy got annoyed waiting for Max and left with his date, being angered further when his date called Max his sister. The next day, when Billy played against Steve in basketball, he continued mocking and annoying the latter which he enjoyed. Then, in the showers, he and Tommy wound him up about his failing relationship with Nancy. Billy also made Steve unnerved by telling him that a "big boy" like him has nothing to worry about, and gave him questionable advice about girls in general and that, there are "plenty of bitches in the sea" and would be sure to leave him some, before turning off the showers and leaving the locker room after getting dressed.[7]

After school, when Billy was waiting to pick Max up outside the middle school, he witnessed an argument between Max and Lucas Sinclair, which left Max visibly upset and angry. Billy questioned Max if she knew him, and Max denied knowing Lucas, saying he was someone from her class. When Max got into his car, Billy asked Max why Lucas was talking to her where Max lied that they were only talking about a class assignment. When Billy further questioned Max if Lucas had caused her any trouble as he noticed how upset she was, Max wondered why Billy was starting to care about her feelings, causing Billy to reveal that now they are family, he has to look after her now, something he hates having to do. When Max tried to stand up for herself, Billy tightly gripped her arm and told her that there are people in the world who she should avoid, and that Lucas was one of them where he threateningly demanded her to stay away from Lucas. Once Billy released his grip on her arm, Max quietly cried as they drove home.

The next day, Billy took Max to the arcade where he tried to remind her if she wasn't out by the time he arrived back, she'll have to walk home, which Max replied she already knew. This caused Billy to reprimand Max, telling her to watch her attitude before driving off. Hours later, Billy returned to the arcade to pick up Max, only to see her with Lucas again. Max tried to convince Billy that she wasn't hanging out with Lucas, but she failed to convince him. Billy then reminded Max of what happened when she lied, and despite Max telling him she wasn't lying to him, he possibly broke her skateboard as punishment.

On the very next day, Billy was lifting weights and listening to loud music while Max was trying to fix her skateboard.

Max later left with Lucas without Billy knowing. His father and stepmother arrived home later that night as he was preparing to leave on a date. When his father and stepmother found Max gone from the house, his father angrily questioned Billy where his stepsister had gone. Billy replied he didn't really know where she went before stating that he didn't acknowledge Max as his family. Infuriated with Billy for his behavior and for disrespecting his stepmother, his father pushed him against the wall, called him a gay slur, and hit Billy. He then ordered Billy to cancel his date and find his stepsister. After his father and stepmother left, a few tears escape his eyes, showing the abuse Billy endured at the hands of his father deeply affected him.

Billy first went to the Sinclair house to look for Max. Unable to find her there, he then left for the Wheeler residence. Mike's mother, Karen Wheeler, having just gotten out of the tub because her husband wasn't answering the door, greets him and Billy flirted with her before getting the directions to the Byers residence, the hangout for the boys. Billy drove to the Byers residence, finding Steve and the rest of the kids there. Billy pushed Steve away and threatened Lucas to stay away from Max, and in response Lucas kicked him in the groin. Before Billy could harm him, Steve intervened. Steve then initiated a fist fight with Billy who had the upper hand initially before Billy recovered and started brutally beating Steve repeatedly. Max, having had enough, drugged Billy with the syringe taken from the lab (probably containing sodium thiopental) and made Billy promise to leave her and her friends alone.[8