͏b͏r͏o͏k͏e͏n || ͏b͏i͏l͏l͏y ͏h͏a͏r͏g͏r͏o͏v͏e

S E V E N

Max persists, though, narrowing her gaze. "But how are you and Steve in the same grade?"

I don't even get a chance to answer before my mom jumps in, "Steve and Ana are twins." Max and Billy's eyes widen in unison, the shock clearly plastered across their faces.

"They didn't tell you?" Mom adds, glancing between them. Both shake their heads, and I feel my stomach knotting up.

"It never came up," Steve says, nonchalantly stabbing his salad. Typical.

Max, ever curious, isn't done yet. "If you're a senior, why do you hang out with the eighth graders? Don't you have friends your own age?"

Steve nearly chokes on his food as he laughs, while I groan internally. Seriously, Max?

"Maxine!" Susan hisses, but Max raises her hands in defense, and I just sigh.

"It's fine, Susan. She's just speaking facts," Steve grins, his tone playful. I shoot him a glare, stomping on his foot under the table. His yelp of pain is strangely satisfying.

"Would you two stop it," Rachel huffs, exasperated.

"He started it," I mutter, crossing my arms as Billy chuckles softly beside me. Ugh, of course he's amused.

I turn to Max, eager to move on. "And for your information, I do have friends my own age."

"Who?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Nancy, Jonathan, and uh..." My voice falters as I poke at my food, and I feel the weight of that name. Barb. God, that still hurts. "Barb and... Eddie."

"I don't think I've met them yet," Max says, her tone oblivious.

"We don't hang out much anymore." The words tumble out before I can stop them, and I quickly clamp my mouth shut. I don't want anyone worrying about me. I can handle Tina. I don't need Steve hovering over me all the time.

***

Dinner's over, and the conversation has finally died down.

As I scrub the dishes, I feel Billy's presence beside me. Steve is unloading the dishwasher, while Max busily clears the table. I can sense Billy's eyes on me, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

"So... fraternal twins, huh?" Billy says, breaking the silence. "Definitely didn't see that one coming."

Steve scoffs. "This is Hawkins. You won't see anything coming." He doesn't even look back as he quips, "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going upstairs to pretend none of you exist. Have a good night." And just like that, he's gone.

"Well, isn't he just a ray of sunshine," Max remarks, shaking her head before leaving the kitchen too. Great. Now it's just me and Billy.

Billy doesn't move. He stands there, leaning casually against the counter, eyes on me as I scrub the grime off a plate. His silence makes my skin crawl, and when I finally look up, he's smirking. Of course.

"Quit staring." I snap.

"I'm not staring."

I roll my eyes, "I gotta say, Hargrove, you put on a good show," I mutter. "You've got my parents fooled, but not the rest of us." I shove a cup into the dishwasher, trying to keep my voice steady.

His face scrunches in confusion. "What are you talking about, princess?"

"Oh, you know. The whole 'Yes, Mrs. Harrington, your children are the best,' while secretly being a complete jerk the rest of the time," I shoot back. "You don't have to pretend to be a good guy around me, especially after that stunt at the table earlier."

"What? I was just being neighborly," he says, voice dripping with fake innocence.

"Well, I didn't appreciate it. Especially not in front of my whole family," I snap, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks.

Billy's smile deepens. "Sorry, doll. I'll make sure I do it in private next time." He winks, and I feel my face heat up even more.

"I-I never said—" I stammer, but it's too late. He's got me flustered, and he knows it.

"Calm down," he says, his voice suddenly softer. His hand brushes my waist as he leans in close, his breath warm against my ear.

I freeze. My grip tightens around the plate in my hands, and I swear my heart might actually stop.

Billy's voice drops to a near whisper. "You're kinda cute when you're mad, you know that?"

I exhale sharply, finally snapping out of my momentary paralysis. "And you're kind of insufferable when you breathe, you know that?" I mutter, jerking my shoulder up to push him away.

He chuckles, stepping back just enough to give me space, but not enough for comfort. "Feisty. I like that."

I roll my eyes, slamming the dishwasher shut. "Are you done? Because I'd really like to finish these dishes without you breathing down my neck."

Billy leans against the counter, arms crossed over his chest like he's settling in for a show.

He knows exactly what he's doing.

When Max finally returns, she shouts from the other room, "Billy, we're leaving! Bye, Ana!"

Billy starts to walk away, but not before turning to me one last time. "I'll see you in the morning, princess."

"See you in the morning, mullet man," I mutter, dashing upstairs before he can see my flushed face.