down hill; billy hargrove

5.1

     ANNABELLE PICKED up the ringing phone reluctantly, not in the mood to deal with any bullshit from her mother's friends. "hello" she greeted boredly, before a familiar voice spoke.

"you sound dull. will hearing my voice make you feel better?" billy questioned as annabelle felt herself smile slightly. "i'm taking you back to my place after school tomorrow. i'll pick you up before. be ready because i'm not waiting around for you, henderson" he told her as she nodeded, before remembering that she was on the phone.

"yeah, whatever hargrove " she murmured, before hanging up without a goodbye.

she sighed, falling back onto her bed and looking at the roof, deep in thought.

why was he so nice with her all of the sudden? were they friends? why'd he want her to go back to his house? what were his motives?

the questions pooled her mind.

it'd been a week since their date and things were going smoothly, which was rather astounding. she'd let her eyes scan around her bedroom, trying to fill the bored void before they landed on the guitar hung on her wall.

she smiled sadly at it before getting up and taking it off. it was her ninth birthday gift from her father, the last one she ever received from him. she couldn't help but feel heartbroken at the very sight of it, but playing the instrument was even worse. it took her back to a time where she was truly happy, having her mother and father's love, along with her brother's.

she traced her hand over the carvings that she'd done on the wood with her first pocket knife, admiting how talented she was at that age and how things had changed for the worse since she started high school. she placed it on her knee before strumming the stings lightly.

the guitar was still in perfect tune which creeped her, and the noise it created sent cold shivers from past memories down her spine. she quickly got up and placed it back on her wall, feeling as if she'd tormented herself emotionally enough already.

without a second thought she changed into her pyjamas, it already being 1am by now and went to sleep.

———————

annabelle woke up a little before seven, groaning at the thought of having to go to school. she grabbed a towel and headed to the bathroom, running herself a warm shower. as she exited the doorbell rang.

"i swear this man has the worst timing." she muttered to herself, tying a towel around her body and making her way to open the door.
"you're early" she informed him, letting him in.

"and you're naked?" he stated, but he spoke as if it was more of a question.

"stop staring hargrove. im sure that you've seen many naked girls in your time" she scolded, entering her room as he followed, sitting on her bed. she opened a few drawers and grabbed clothes before looking at billy.

"close your eyes" she instructed him.

"like you said, it's nothing i haven't seen before" he smirked at her as she threw her socks towards him.

"next will be my pocket knife" she warned as he surrendered, closing his eyes and looking away.

annabelle got changed into a pair of straight-leg trousers and a shirt, her leather jacket hanging onto her shoulders as she sat at her desk and applied some makeup.