Hell is for Children

Cocaine

The morning sun shone through the window, stirring Diana. She looked over and saw Corinne fast asleep in her bed, while Diana stayed in the Lazy Boy. She looked over at the clock. It was a little past eight in the morning. She quietly grabbed a corduroy skirt and a white t-shirt out of her dresser, slinking to her bathroom. She quickly dressed and snuck down the steps and outside to her car. She drove over to the Hawkins Pool, her long red hair blowing in the convertibles breeze.   

When she arrived she saw the Camaro parked off to the side in its disheveled glory. She shook her head as she removed her aviator sunglasses and looked around. As she began heading for the open gate a small hand grabbed her arm. She quickly turned and came face to face with Max and El. She looked around and then pulled them aside. 

"What the heck are you two doing here?" She demanded. 

Max looked at El who gave her a serious look. 

"We think Billy is...wrong" she said almost nervously. 

Diana took a deep breath "I know. So do I. He was acting really strange the other night, then I had an...episode, I guess" she trailed off. The three girls headed inside the gate, looking around for Billy. What they saw shocked Diana. 

"What the hell..." 

Billy sat up in his lifeguard chair as usual, only this time he was covered head to toe. He had on a long sleeved lifeguards sweater, a blanket draped over his lap, his usual aviator sunglasses and a hat. 

"Ok...now I'll admit that is a little odd" Max said.

"Hes wearing my Niagara Falls hat!" Diana gasped. "When have you ever seen Billy wear a hat? I mean c'mon.." 

"We need help. " El said, never taking her eyes off of Billy. 

The three girls went into the female change room, where they wouldnt be found by Billy. 

"So...what are we thinking here? Im starting to think Cocaine. Originally I had thought meth but.." Diana began. 

"Mindflayer" El cut her off. 

Diana stared at her sister, mouth agape. "Excuse me, what?" 

"We think its the Mindflayer. Remember Will Byers? He thinks whatever was in Hawkins is back to terrorize everyone again. He gets these...feelings" Max explained. 

Diana had known all about the Mindflayer and the Demogorgons thanks to Hopper letting her in on some high profile government secrets. It had been a little hard not to after Diana had came face to face with a Demodog and had been asking questions. 

"What do you mean...the Mindflayer? El closed the gate theres no possible way it could be anything like that. Right?" She asked, eyes getting wide when the girls didnt respond. 

Max shrugged, causing Diana to tug at her hair. 

"Great! Just great! My boyfriends possibly possessed by an evil creature and summer hasnt even barely started. Of course!" She facepalmed. 

"Diana we may be able to tell for sure if its in him or not. But were going to need some help. If we can get him into the sauna we may be able to get it out of him, like they did when it was in Will." Max explained. 

"Ok. Fine. See if you can get your little gang together. We're going to need some hands on deck." Diana said. 

The younger girls began their quest to get help, while Diana headed onto the pool deck. She walked up to Billy's post and looked up at him. 

"Hello, Red." Billy said, not looking at her, just taking a swig from the giant slushie he held. 

"Billy. Thats an interesting new look your going for there" she chuckled nervously. 

He ignore her. "Feeling alright today, Diana?" He asked. 

"Um...yeah I guess so. Why?" She asked, running a hand through her hair nervously. 

"Oh no reason. You just look a bit puffy today" he commented. 

Her jaw went slack. "Puffy? Seriously Billy?" She snapped.

"Just thought it might be your time of the month" he took another sip of the slushie. 

"Ugh! Whatever Billy!" She began to storm away. 

"I'll see you soon, Diana" he called after her. 

She drove the car home, a silent rage building inside her. 

When she slammed the front  door, Corinne looked over from the living room tv. 

"Everything ok?" She asked, mouth full of sandwich. 

"No!" Diana squealed. 

"Whoa! What happened?" Corinne asked. 

"Billy told me I look puffy and asked if it was my time of the month!" Diana almost screamed. 

Corinne gasped at Billy's rudeness. Diana wiped away a single tear that fell. 

"Diana. Are you seriously going to cry over some stupid comment that BILLY HARGROVE of all people made?" Corinne asked with a small smile. 

Diana put both hands over her face "No. I mean yes. I dont know! Im so emotional these days i cant tell which way is up" 

Corinne half hugged her friend. "Are you sure its not your time of the month?" She joked. 

Diana thought for a second. No, it wasnt. And come to think of it, it hadnt been in a while. 

"Diana.." A look of concern crossed Corinne's face "Diana..is it possible that you could be.."

Diana raised an eyebrow at her friend "Could be what?" 

"Pregnant."