𝑩𝑳𝑼𝑬 - Billy Hargrove [1]

TWELVE

TWELVE|DATE NIGHT GONE WRONG

Bernadette froze in her seat as she heard a familiar engine pull up outside the house, eyes darting to Max as she questioned why he was here and who he was here for.

"It's my brother." Max informed everyone, running to the window and spotting his car, the loud rock music echoing through the forest. "He can't know I'm here. He'll kill me. He'll kill us."

"I'll speak to him." Birdie offered, standing up and wandering to the front door. Steve grabbed her arm, stopping her as he tried to figure out what they could do. "He won't hurt me, Steve. I know he won't."

"Am I dreaming, or is that you, Harrington?" Billy called out as Steve walked out the house first, Birdie hidden behind him.

"Yeah, it's me. Don't cream your pants." Steve stood with his hands on his hips, waiting to see what Billy wanted. Birdie stepped out from behind him, standing beside her brother quietly.

"I get the honour of both Harrington siblings." Billy chuckled, breathing in his cigarette as he let his eyes trail over Birdie. "What are you doing here, amigo?" He stripped off his coat as Steve walked closer.

"You cancelled date night, why?" Birdie folded her arms over her chest, staring the taller boy down, refusing to fall for his charming smile.

"I'm looking for my step-sister." He informed her, watching carefully as she stepped closer, noticing she was dressed up compared to her brother. "A little birdie told me she was here."

"Huh, that's weird." Steve answered before Birdie could say anything. "I don't know her."

"Small? Redhead? Bit of a bitch."

"Doesn't ring a bell. Sorry, buddy."

"You know, I don't know, this whole situation, Harrington, I don't know." Billy sighed, stepping closer as he made small gestures with his hand. "It's giving me the heebie-jeebies."

"Oh, yeah? Why's that?" Steve said calmly, trying to understand Billy's next move.

"My thirteen year old sister goes missing all day." He explained slowly. "And then I find her with you in a stranger's house. And you lie to me about it."

"Man, were you dropped too much as a child, or what?" Steve chuckled nervously. "I don't know what you don't understand about what I just said. She's not here."

"Then who is that?" He gestured to the window. As Steve turned, noticing the four children poking their heads above the window frame, Billy pushed Steve down to the ground. "I told you to plant your feet."

"Billy, please don't do this!" Birdie instantly stepped in as Billy stamped his foot into Steve's chest.

"Stay out of this." Billy grabbed her by the back of the neck, placing a harsh kiss on her lips before barging past and entering the house.

"Billy!" She screamed, running after him into the house. She froze momentarily as she spotted him holding Lucas against the wall.

"Stay away from her! You hear me?" He screamed in Lucas's face, shaking Birdie off his shoulder as she tried to pull him back.

"Get off of me!" Lucas forced his knee into Billy's crouch, falling to the ground as Billy stepped back, withering in pain.

Bernadette stepped between the two boys, gesturing for Lucas to stay back as she faced Billy. All emotions she had felt for the boy before her were deeply buried down, the only thing she could feel was to protect Lucas, no matter what.

"Stay out of this, Birdie." Billy warned her, walking up to her until their chests were touching. He looked down at her, trying to intimidate her with his height. "I don't want to hurt you."

"You're going to have to kill me if you want to get anywhere near Lucas or Max." She stood her ground, a fire in her eyes as she placed a hand on his chest and pushed him back.

Billy stepped forwards again, grabbing the cheerleader by her waist and throwing her down on the couch beside them. He turned back to Lucas, ignoring everyone's screams of fear as he advanced forwards.

"You're dead, Sinclair."

"No, you are." Steve pushed Billy away from the boy before throwing his fist into Billy's cheek. Birdie screamed with fright, a hand cupping her mouth, watching defenselessly as she didn't know what to do.

"Looks like you've got some fire in you after all, huh?" Billy laughed as he faced Steve, blood dripping out his nose. "I've been waiting to meet this King Steve everybody's been telling me so much about. I'm surprised you didn't do this when you found out I've been banging your little sister."

"Get out." The older Harrington gritted his teeth as he glared at the boy, the final comment getting under his skin.

The two boys fought, both throwing punches and kicks, plates and vases breaking as they flew around the room. Billy managed to overpower Steve, straddling the boys waist and throwing punch after punch at his face.

Bernadette felt as if the world slowed, her heart dropping as her big brothers face became covered in blood. She pounced forwards, pushing the stronger boy off her brother, a kitchen knife gripped tightly in her hand.

"If you want a fight, fight me." She screamed at the surprised boy, her voice breaking and cheeks soaked in salty tears. "But just know, I won't hesitate to kill anyone who hurts my brother."

Max snuck up behind Billy with a needle, jamming it into his neck and realising the drugs into his system. She stepped in front of Birdie, Steve's bat in her hands as Dustin grabbed Birdies hand, slipping the knife from her grasp.

"The hell is this?" Billy pulled the needle from his neck, blinking fast as his vision blurred. "You little shit, what did you do?"

"From here on out, you leave me and my friends alone. Do you understand?" Max raised the bat above her head, threatening her brother.

"Screw you." He mumbled, watching her with drowsy eyes.

"Say you understand! Say it!" Max slammed the bat down between his legs, his eyes widening in shock.

"I understand." Billy said in defeat, the tone of his voice breaking Birdie's heart.

Bernadette quickly checked her brother, sighing as she realised he was out stone cold. She grabbed the tea towel and wiped some of the blood off his face, crying silently as she realised this was all her fault.

"Carry Steve to the car, I'm going to make sure Max didn't kill him." She ordered the boys, waiting till she was in the house alone with Billy before she kneeled beside him.

"I'm sorry." Billy barely managed to say, his hand heavily landing on her lap as he tried to hold her hand.

"Your father did this, didn't he?" Birdie sighed, wiping away her tears with her sleeve. "He threatened you."

Billy didn't answer, his heavy breathing telling Birdie he was barely conscious. She leaned down, kissing his cheek before whispering a small "I can't forgive you" in his ear before standing up.

She glanced over her shoulder once more before running out the house and sliding into the drivers seat.

"Wait, I don't know how to drive."