DONTMAKEMEFALLINLOVE || Billy Hargrove, Stranger Things

Season 4 Bonus Chapter II.

Sunday March 23, 1986

It was in the early hours of dawn when Mrs. Henderson was waiting by her car for her daughter at the airport. It'd been a delight to hear from Diana by phone call about spending her spring break in Hawkins just hours ago. Although news was circulating about the dead teenager that had turned up in the Forest Hills trailer park, Mrs. Henderson had felt as though Dustin was the one she should keep an eye on.

Mrs. Henderson saw her daughter exit the sliding doors of the airport with only her suitcase and a carry on bag. The older woman waved her hand frantically in the air to attract her daughter's attention. Diana peered over other travelers to get a good look at the multiple parked cars and taxis until she heard someone shout her name. "Diana!"

She turned her head in the direction in which the voice was coming from and found her mom. For a moment, Diana had felt as though things were normal; this could've been a normal visit back to her hometown for spring break, until she remembered why she was here.

"Oh, honey!" Mrs. Henderson knocked the air out her daughter when she hugged her, "how was the trip?"

"Pretty good," Diana replied, "how are you, mom?"

"Better now that you're here," Mrs. Henderson said as she pulled away to take in her daughter's appearance, "you've been in that California sun for too long, Diana. Do you use sunscreen?"

"Mom!"

"Right, sorry," her mother said, "oh good that you're here! You can give me a break and watch over your brother."

Diana held back a laugh. Why her mother thought she would watch over her brother, she didn't know. Dustin was a teenager now, and at the ripe age of fourteen Diana remembered how she avoided any parental guidance. She was almost certain Dustin would avoid it at all costs too. "He's a teenager now."

Mrs. Henderson opened the trunk of her car and placed Diana's luggage inside. "I know but uhh—" her mother paused, "oh, just watch the news. I can't even say it without feeling nauseous."

Diana's eyebrow raised; what exactly did her mother mean by that? Her mother never liked foul language, horror movies, or violence, but was never nauseated by those things. What happened that was so bad yesterday? Steve didn't tell Diana much over the phone yesterday; he had kept his explanation as brief as possible. She was starting to suspect Steve kept a lot from her.

Diana was in for the worst horror story she would ever hear in her life.

•

  The drive back to the Henderson household was put to a halt when Diana noticed the gas gauge was hitting E. Driving her mom's car, Diana pulled into the nearest gas station and stationed the car next to an available gas pump. Mrs. Henderson gave cash to her daughter to go pay inside the store as she stayed inside the car.

When Diana returned to the pump she inserted the nozzle in the car and waited for the car to fill up. The Hawkins breeze hitting her face was fresh and it had almost felt like home again. But until recently, she realized home felt like wherever she was with Billy. It was solace.

The sound of a motor getting closer to Diana made her look up. A black Jeep Cherokee was stationed on the other side of the gas pump. All doors of the Jeep opened and out came a band of boys in Hawkins High letterman jackets. Diana diverted her attention back to the gas pump. It was obvious they parked next to her for a reason.

"Diana?" Oh, she knew that voice. Sure it was deeper, but she'd never forget one of her brother's friends. When her head turned to the direction in which the voice was, she found Lucas.