DONTMAKEMEFALLINLOVE || Billy Hargrove, Stranger Things

LVI.

"In the good times there will be bad times." -Euphoria

Time skip
April 18, 1986

The one element you need to have when living with a drug addict is patience.

Billy's patience was running out.

The one element you need when living with a victim of abuse and suffering from past trauma is also patience.

Diana's patience was running out.

They just didn't know it at the time.

College wasn't any simple task for anyone, and the assignments and research papers were piling up on Diana's desk. She barely had time to go off campus with Billy and she had even less time to speak with Steve over the phone. Finals week was just around the corner and sometimes Avery found her roommate asleep with a textbook on her stomach, and other times Billy and Diana would lay together and Diana would quickly fall asleep as Billy would continue to talk, not realizing she was fast asleep.

The stress got to Diana's emotions, but at least the work kept her occupied. Too occupied to even think about her six month sober streak and too occupied to think about a few withdrawal symptoms this far into her recovery. She couldn't tell Billy about sometimes wanting to roll a joint, or wanting to swallow a pill. Her withdrawal temptations could not compare to Billy's mental recovery. She couldn't relapse.

It was unhealthy to admit, but Billy's only happiness came from Diana. Not even the ocean or surfing could keep him happy for a long time now. When Diana couldn't be with him because of her schoolwork and he had days off from his job, Billy was found in his apartment (payed for by Dr. Owens as an apology) reliving the days his body was taken over by that monster. Those days played in his mind in graphic memory, holding Heather hostage, cutting Diana's legs with glass, and all those people the mind flayer killed. That he killed.

Billy wasn't a killer. He wasn't. But how could he convince everyone else if he couldn't even convince himself?

Billy refused to tell Diana about his reoccurring trauma. She had schoolwork to do, and her addiction recovery was way more important, Billy thought.

How could they help each other if they were hurting internally and silently?

•

8:21 pm

"Oh come on it will be fun! It's a celebration for the end of finals week!"

There stood Avery with a big innocent smile on her face with her boyfriend's arm draped around her shoulders.

"No. Absolutely not."

"Diana please! You never go out, you haven't fully experienced college yet!" Avery begs before she gives up and attempts to convince Billy. "William come on! I know you want to party, we should all go. Diana you deserve it more than anyone, you work too much."

Fear usually decided what choices Diana made ever since her overdose. Ever since then she was in her own bubble, but it had to pop sooner or later. She was basically making no progress if she wasn't exposed to risky places where she had to learn not drink or swallow anything, refraining herself from anything dangerous.

And she felt bad for Billy. Diana knows he missed partying, missed being a regular teen; quite a few months were taken away from him. Billy stood by her side and actually remained sober with her because he was only ever with her. But she couldn't lie; she didn't know if she was ready to take the next step.