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-'ˏ Margo's Pov ˎ'-

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Billy Hargrove's House

Friday , 6:30 a.m

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The footsteps got louder and louder until they finally stopped in front of the door.

It suffered a harsh bang as Neil knocked followed with a "William!".

Billy pushed me behind his large frame. Not to hide me, but protect me when Neil barged in angrily.

"Yes sir?" Billy meekly answered.

The conversation was interrupted by a lighter female voice who called out from farther down the hallway.

A creak in the floorboards coming from Neil shifting his weight was heard, causing Billy and I to flinch.

Neil grunted in response to her before he yelled "Take Maxine to school. Do not be late again son or there will be consequences.".

His footsteps finally faded away until the frontdoor slammed shut and the roar of his pickup truck speeding off rung out. Then it was dead silent. Even a pin drop could be heard as we stood still and waited for good measure.

Finally Billy turned around to face me.

"I'm sorry." He said while brushing my cheek lightly with his fingers.

I eagerly leaned into his outstretched hand.

"It's not your fault." I replied honestly.

He shrugged, clearly signaling that he didn't feel the same way, but stepped back and began to grab his stuff.

"School?"

"I want to go home and change and get my stuff." I told him while sitting cross legged on his bed.

He let out a short and terse laugh. "No."

"Yes."

"No. Because whatever happened was bad enough for you to leave and walk to my house crying."

"Please? I can't go to school looking like this."

He scanned over my outfit that consisted of his hoodie.

"You look very pretty as you are." He said sounding genuine.

"I'm going home." I told him flatly.

He muttered profanities but followed me into the hallway with his own backpack.

Standing at the front door was Max with her skateboard tucked under her arm. She looked anxious and then confused as she saw me.

Billy had disappeared to find his car keys leaving Max and I at the door.

"Well I like you more than anyone else he's brought home."

"Thanks."

"Welcome."

"Wait does he bring home lots of girls usually or-" I began to ask suspiciously before Billy rounded the corner with his keys.

She shook her head at me and I felt a little relieved even though the tension between siblings was almost too much to bear.

I quickly escaped and jogged over to my house. I nervously opened the door and peered in. The house was silent and all of the broken picture frames were still scattered along the hallway floor. I lightly stepped over it and walked to my room still on high alert. When I was sure that the house was empty I quickly did my morning routine so I could leave before anyone came back home.

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-'ˏ Billy's Pov ˎ'-

The tension in the car was already irritating me. I parked in front of Margo's house waiting for her and made Max sit in the back with her skateboard. I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel until I simply couldn't stand being worried for her safety any longer.

"Stay put." I grumbled to Max as I stepped out of the car.

She said something that I didn't catch as I took big strides towards the front door.

Standing awkwardly for a second I weighed the pros and cons of just walking in. I decided to just do it and bumped into something as soon as I opened the door.

Out of instinct I took a big step backwards and as I looked down made eye contact with Margo. Her big eyes looked back up at me as she gave me a crooked smile because she was holding bobby pins in between her teeth. After she shut the door behind her she put the final pin into her messy bun that was already falling apart. My heart pounded even just by looking at her.

Her too big overall straps were threatening to slide off her shoulders. Her converses weren't tied and she overall looked cutely disheveled.

"Hi bubs. Couldn't you have waited in the car?" She asked.

I opened my mouth stupidly to answer but she had already locked the door and turned around to face me. "It's okay I missed you too." She said with a laugh before making her way to my car.

I looked around to make sure nobody could see me before letting out a shit eating grin at her comment.

Once inside the car Margo had turned around completely in her seat to converse with Max.

"Hi!"

"Hey!" Max responded just as cheerily.

"If you happen to see Dustin will you tell him to come talk to me? I have to tell him something."

"Sure. If you see Billy will you tell him not to forget me at the arcade again after school today?"

"I did not fucking forget yo-" I started but was quickly cut off as Margaret turned back around in her seat and said "Don't forget Max at the arcade today after school!"

I rolled my eyes at them as their laughs echoed throughout the car but on the inside I was happy that they got along so well.

They continued on with their light banter on the drive to school.

I was distractedly looking over at Margo's bright smile as she peered back at Max. When she did turn around to face the road she screamed "Holy shit Billy watch out!" as she pointed at something.

It was a small and twisted dog like creature complete with a tail and deformed face. I quickly tried to swerve around it and brake at the same time. But it wasn't enough and the car went rolling.