Chapter 18: Chapter Seventeen
Billy trudged into the hospital for his daily visit. It'd been a week since Lila had been admitted. A week since she'd did the impossible and brought him back.
"Is she awake?" He rasped as he approached the nurse's station.
The nurse frowned. "I'm afraid not."
Billy stared at her blankly before turning around and walking down the hallway.
He could see Hopper and Eleven through the glass windows. They sat beside Lila, one on each side.
Eleven looked at Billy, sadly as he peered through the window. Lila still laid there, lifeless.
He entered the room before standing at the end of the bed. Guilt washed over him. He should be dead right now. Lila shouldn't have saved him.
"It's not your fault, son." Hopper sighed.
"It is." Billy nodded not bothering to move his eyes from Lila.
"She will wake up." Eleven said. "I saw her."
"You saw her?" Billy asked looking over at her.
"The future." She nodded. "She was with you. And you were happy. And there was a beach."
"She looked older."
A small smile formed on Billy's lips. A future with Lila. It gave him a small amount of hope.
"She's just tired." Hopper said.
"I need her to wake up." Billy stated as he pulled a chair up to the end of the bed.
"Give it time." Hopper replied.
The three of them sat in silence. They watched as Lila's chest moved up and down, hoping that soon her eyes would open.
They never did.
After about four hours of sitting in silence, Hopper insisted that everyone go home and get some rest.
Billy agreed but not easily.
Now, he was sitting on the edge of his bed, staring at the wall.
All he could think about was that night and Lila's lifeless body. And what he could've done differently to completely avoid the situation.
Banging on his door startled him. His father burst in with his arms crossed. "Max is gone."
"Big surprise." Billy stated not breaking his gaze from the wall.
"Where is she?" Neil shouted.
"Why would I know?!" Billy shouted back. "I have bigger problems than Max, dad!"
"Like what?" Neil raged. "Waiting on that girlfriend of yours to wake up?"
"I hate to tell you, she won't!"
Billy's head snapped around as he stood up from the bed, charging at Neil.
Before Billy could get his hands on him, Neil threw a punch knocking Billy right in his nose.
Billy groaned in pain as he leaned over. Neil charged at him, shoving him against the wall.
Billy looked up at his father through teary eyes.
"You're a worthless, low-life, piece of shit, Billy!" Neil seethed. "Do you hear me? You will never get anywhere in life!"
Billy squinted at his father before connecting his fist with to his cheek. Neil shouted in pain before throwing another punch at Billy, knocking him backwards into the wall.
"Pack your shit and get out!" Neil screamed before walking out of Billy's room slamming the door behind him.
Tears streamed from Billy's eyes as he threw things into a duffle bag. He could hear Neil and Susan yelling at each other as he walked through the house. He grabbed his keys from the key holder before slamming the front door behind him.
As he climbed into his car, his head fell against the steering wheel. He screamed in anger as sobbed.
"Everything is my fucking fault!"
After a few minutes of sobbing, he decided to try and get himself together. He fumbled with his keys before starting his car and speeding away.
His mind wandered as he tried to think of somewhere to go. Hopper's cabin came to mind and he began driving towards the woods.
As he pulled into the driveway, he could see Hopper walking onto the porch. He squinted at the boy as he walked up.
"Billy? It's ten at night. What are you doing?" Hopper asked as the boy trudged towards the house.
Billy looked up at him through his black, teary eyes. Hopper sighed before motioning for him to come inside.
"He hit you again?" Hopper mumbled as he sat down in the recliner. Billy sat across from him on the couch, wiping his eyes.
"Yeah."
"Do I need to step in? You know I don't have a problem doing so." Hopper said.
"No, I wouldn't worry about it." Billy shrugged. "He kicked me out."
Hopper frowned before switching on the television. "You can stay here as long as you want. Even when Lila comes back."
Billy nodded before taking his shoes off.
"Thanks, Hop. I appreciate it."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone