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-'ˏ Margo's Pov ˎ'-

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Margaret Henderson's Neighborhood

Tuesday , 6:58 p.m

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What are you doing?" Neil questioned in a hard flat voice. Almost as though if he used any more emotion than that his nice facade would crumble and fall. "You are suppose to be babysitting Maxine."

Billy stood there silently with his hands rigid at his sides. Taking this as a sign of disrespect Neil repeated himself in a slow and lethal manner, silently daring Billy to not answer him again.

"I'm sorry sir." Billy said with a blank face. He showed Neil no emotions but his hands were now fidgeting behind his back nervously.

"I'm sorry." I said speaking up in a soft tone. "Billy was actually helping me study for an upcoming test. He made sure Max could get home, she even left with my little brother. Sorry if that caused you any trouble." I told Neil lying straight to his face.

His body posture had softened as if he remembered I was there and had the ability to tell someone else about his actions if he messed things up. The air around the three of us was tense and thick as Neil mulled over what I had said and I hoped that I was helping Billy's situation instead of worsening it.

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-'ˏ Billy's Pov ˎ'-

As soon as Margaret had finished talking I was horrified. I kept my emotions off my face as I watched Neil lean back into his seat. My heart pounded in my chest. There's no way my father would believe her and despite it not even being my lie, I would shoulder the blame for it later.

Margo quickly readjusted her backpack that was slipping off her shoulder as it was way too big for her small frame. She gave me an apologetic look before slowly turning to walk back into her house.

Please don't leave me alone with him. Please.

"Get in the goddamn car William." Neil shouted as soon as Margo's door had clicked shut. I dragged my feet on the way trying to prolong the time before we arrived home. I shut the car door behind me softly and my dad quickly sped off past a couple houses until we reached ours. Pulling the keys out of the ignition he huffed angrily and got out, gesturing for me to walk in front of him. I didn't want to go inside but I knew better than to argue with him.

Better to stay quiet and deal with it than anger him.

The door had only been closed shut for a second before Neil had me up against the wall. I slumped low into the jacket I had on in an attempt to push myself as far away from Neils fists that were currently entangled in the cuffs of the jean material.

Just keep still and this will all be over soon.

"WHAT did we talk about?"

"Respect. And responsibility." I repeated trying to keep my voice level. Susan and Max had appeared and were hovering in the living room doorway watching. They both look terrified for me as I looked anywhere but at Neil.

"Maxine come here."

She quickly walked forward making nervous eye contact with me the whole way.

"Please let him go." She asked him softly. "I was late he didn't have to give me a ride!" Max begged. Neil's grip faltered for a split second before he roughly shoved me back up against the wall again.

"Your little whore told me otherwise. So what is she talking about Billy?" He asked me in a low tone.

Max's eyes widened as she realized she had contradicted what my version of the story was. Her mouth opened as she searched for the right words.

"I don't appreciate being lied to. I will not tolerate this disrespect in my goddamn household."

"Neil honey they are just kids-" Susan started as she walked forward too. Trying to deescalate and failing once again. Before I knew it I had been backhanded across the face and I just let my head hang to the side in defeat.

If I just don't fight back it'll be over with quicker. Just try to stay still.

I braced myself for more impact. Instead of a solid hit that I had been expecting, I felt my necklace being ripped off. I opened my eyes to see Neil had snapped the clasp in half from how roughly he had yanked it off of me. His face was smug as the house became completely silent. Everyone knew that was my mothers necklace. The last piece I had of her. My skin began to heat up in rage and I tried my best to control it.

Don't show any emotions. It'll only make it worse.

"There. The last piece of bad influence from your life is gone." He said as he chucked it across the hall.

"Do NOT let me find out you have any more whores in your life."

Before I could stop myself I had reached out to shove him. It threw him back as he wasn't expecting it but he quickly regained his footing and came at me again. Max screamed for us to stop as Neil had pushed me backwards into the wall again. His fist met my face before I began dodging his attempts. I swiftly leaned down to pick up the charm and what was left of the chain before storming out of the house. Neil began yelling but didn't follow me out as I left.

Hot tears pricked at my eyes but I forced them back as I walked. I wasn't paying much attention to where I was going until I found myself back at Margaret's house. I didn't even have the chance to knock before the door was ripped open.

Her small body engulfed me in a hug without any warning. Margo cried with her face against my chest and let out a string of apologies. Her little fists clung onto the jacket material.

"You know Neil's actions aren't your fault sunshine." I told her.

She briefly released me so she could look up at my face. Her eyes were red with tears and her cheeks were tear stained. It made me feel horrible to look at as she scanned my face taking in the bruises. She slowly made her way down my body with her eyes until she reached my clenched fist. Margo slowly reached out for my hand and pried it open to reveal the necklace. She gasped in horror and took a step back.

"Your mothers necklace?" She whispered to me horrified. She looked back up at my face and took no hesitation in pulling me inside. She grabbed it from my hands before I could object and stared at the clasp that was damaged beyond repair. Then she quickly ran up the stairs. Too tired to fight whatever idea she had, I sat down at her kitchen counter numbly. Margo quickly returned with something in her hands. She set it down on the kitchen counter before getting to work.

It was another necklace of hers. It had a beautiful diamond butterfly on it and it looked well kept and expensive. She tore the charm off like it meant nothing to her before sliding the Saint Christopher charm of mine onto her chain. She held it up with a small smile.

"I think your chain is way too broken to be fixed. But you can have mine." She said handing it to me.

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-'ˏ Margo's Pov ˎ'-

"-you can have mine." I said as I held the necklace out to him.

His expression softened as he slowly grabbed it out of my hands. He opened his mouth to argue with me but ended up not saying anything. Billy quickly clasped it back around his neck and pulled the charm forward.

Next thing I knew he had pulled me forward and into his lap.

"I hope it's an okay substitute." I told him honestly as I sat in his lap. My legs were sprawled out over his thighs as I faced him. He simply nodded and leaned forward to lay his head on my chest.

"We have to clean you up at some point." I told him hoping he would finally speak. He just nodded to me in reluctant agreement again.

"I hate this. I hate seeing you always so upset and hurt." I told him as I cupped his face in my hands.

"Billy. Let's leave."