Hell is for Children

Goodbyes

One week later 

Diana pulled her faded red Chevelle up in front of the tiny white house on Cherry Road. She had been released from the hospital that morning, clean bill of health aside from the twenty stitches in her side from where she had stabbed herself to stop the Mind Flayer. 

She took a deep breath as she walked up the front steps and knocked on the door. A sad looking Maxine opened the door, not saying a word just looking down toward Diana's small baby bump. Neil Hargrove had gone to make the final funeral arrangements for that evening. Diana gave Max a quick hug before walking down the hallway towards Billy's room. She stopped in front if the closed wooden door. Squeezing her eyes shut, she turned the knob. 

His room looked exactly the same as it always had, Metallica posters on the wall, his radio at his bedside. His signature jean jacket was hung up on a hook behind the door. Diana pulled it down and put it to her nose, inhaling Billy's scent. She felt tears begin to trickle down her face as she set the jacket down. She sat on his bed for a moment, taking in her surroundings. She looked over to the closet, recalling the night Neil attacked Billy because Max took off. Diana had hid in that closet and finally saw why Billy was the way he was. 

She reached down onto the floor and picked up the leather jacket she had gotten him for his birthday. She reached around in the pockets, pulling out a crumpled up piece of paper and a small box. She opened the box and a small ruby ring faintly sparkled up at her. She un crumpled the paper and clapped a hand over her mouth, realizing what it all meant. In the same surprisingly neat cursive that was in her copy of 'Christine' he had given her, Billy had scribbled. 

Will you be my girl? 

You have a great rack, marry me. 

I love you more than I love myself, will you marry me?  

A sob wretched itself out of her as she struggled to catch her breath. She ran into the washroom, emptying the contents of her stomach. He was going to ask her to marry him. She heaved and sobbed uncontrollably, not noticing when Max burst through the door and pulled her into a tight hug. Tears streaked Max's face as she tried to calm Diana down. The two sat like that, in Billy's empty room, for a long while. 

                         The sun had began to set in Hawkins as Diana climbed out of the passengers seat of Rudy's green Nova. She wore a frumpy black skirt and jacket, borrowed from Lynnette, in an attempt to hide her bump. Even as the sun continued to creep down, she left her dark aviator sunglasses on. 

She walked between the graves until she met Neil, Max and Susan, along with a few of their high school classmates, around a wooden casket with no flowers covering it. She ground her teeth in disgust as she looked at the set up. Even in death, Billy's father couldnt give him what he deserved. 

She caught Steve Harrington standing behind the small crowd staring at her in obvious pity. Corinne came up beside her and took her hand. Billy's high school yearbook picture sat behind the casket, blown up large enough that she could see the details of the face that would haunt her for the rest of her life. 

A man began to speak of Billy, and how everything has a season. Diana rolled her eyes behind her glasses, knowing how much Billy would hate all the bullshit. 

"Perhaps we can hear a few words from the person who meant the most to him. Miss Lister?" The man summoned. 

Diana pulled out the same piece of paper Billy had scribbled his proposal on. She had written down a few things to talk about. She took a moment, staring down at the paper, then over at the casket. 

"As I look into the crowd that has gathered here tonight, I realize you all supposedly loved Billy. I also know, that that isnt true. Billy spent a good chunk of his year and a half in Hawkins causing all of you shit." She began. She was met with shocked and confused looks. 

"Billy may have caused people a lot of pain, but it was only because he was hurting so badly. Every single person here, failed him. Myself included. When he needed real friends, he was met with people wanting to hang out with him for the popularity. When he needed family, he was met with ridicule and abuse. When he needed me...I wasnt there. I wasnt there the night he needed me most. The night that set this all into motion. And I will hate myself for it for the rest of my life. Billy didnt deserve what happened to him. Now, you all may think Billy was just some jock. Some jerk. Billy was more than that. So much more than that" a tear ran down her cheek as she continued. 

"Billy died saving my life. Saving my little sisters life. Bet none of his so called "friends" knew he was going to be a father, now did ya? We were going to start building our life together. A life he never had. A life he deserved. We should all be thanking Billy, because his sacrifice saved us all. He was an american badass who died for the greater good and none of you wouldve ever known it. So I'm not here to cry. Im not here for your pity. Im here to say, God speed, Billy Hargrove. The only one crazy enough to raise enough hell to save us all" she held her head high as she walked over, kissing her hand and touching it to his picture, then resuming her spot beside Corinne. 

Corinne's eyes were saucers, as others looked like they wanted to clap for Diana's monologue. After that, the crowd began to disperse quickly. She began heading back towards the car when a strong, rough hand grabbed her arm. 

"Diana, what the fuck was that?" Neil spat. 

A smile fueled with rage and hatred crossed her face as she ripped her arm away from him. 

"What the fuck was that? Neil what the fuck was that set up? Couldnt even spring for some flowers to create an illusion that you loved your son? Where were you Neil? His whole life? You..ruined him" Diana got right up into Neil's face. 

"You aint nothin but a whore. You know that? My son deserved you. And you deserve to raise that bastard child alone" he said through gritted teeth. 

Onlookers watched in horror as Diana wound up and slapped Neil Hargrove so hard across the face that his nose spewed blood. 

"That was for Billy. And thats still not even close to what you deserve. You never deserved to have him as a son. He was twice the man you could ever even hope to be" Diana spat at his feet as she stormed away, a shocked Corinne in tow. 

            

                            Dr. Owens stood over Billy, who lie on a small metal table. His open wounds had been sown shut. His body was beginning to show signs of rejuvenation, thanks to Dr. Owens.  

"Is everyone ready?" He asked his assistants. Everyone nodded. 

"Wonderful. Now I am going to inject the patient with this serum, and we should be back up and running in no time" he smiled.