͏b͏r͏o͏k͏e͏n || ͏b͏i͏l͏l͏y ͏h͏a͏r͏g͏r͏o͏v͏e

N I N E

"Oh, I am. Billy's like a walking rage problem with a mullet."

I barked out a laugh. "Agreed. Honestly, I'll be shocked if he even looks my way again after today."

Her smile faded into curiosity. "Why? What happened?"

I hesitated, scratching my neck. "Let's just say I said some stuff. Maybe crossed a line. Might've hurt his feelings a little."

Max gave me a look. "Anastasia, trust me—nothing you do could ever make him hate you."

My eyes narrowed playfully. "Tell me more, Maxine."

She smirked. "I'll let Billy do that part himself."

Before I could question her further, she hopped on her skateboard. "Walk with me to the car. Maybe he won't verbally assault me if you're there."

I followed her. "I highly doubt that, but sure. Worth a shot."

As we walked, Lucas came jogging up to us, looking frantic. "Hey, Max! We gotta go look for Dart."

"Yeah, good luck with that," Max deadpanned.

Lucas blinked. "What's wrong with you?"

She squared up immediately. "What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you?"

"I don't understand—"

"No! I don't understand!" she shouted. "You act like you want me to be part of your stupid party, then treat me like I don't matter."

"That's not true!"

"It is!" she yelled. "You hide in the AV Club and whisper secrets like you're in second grade. I thought I was part of the team!"

Lucas faltered. "We do want you in the party. But it's complicated."

"But what?"

"There are things we can't tell you. For your safety," he said, almost pleading.

"My safety? Because I'm a girl?"

"It's not because you're a girl—"

"Did you keep secrets from El?"

Lucas went quiet. "That was different."

I noticed Billy standing in the distance, arms crossed, watching them closely. His expression was unreadable, but I knew that look. He was two seconds away from exploding.

"Guys," I said low, gesturing toward him. "Pipe down."

But Max had already had enough. "You know what? Forget it. I don't want to be in your party anyway. I'm out. Have a nice life." She stormed off and grabbed my arm.

"Max—"

"You still stink, by the way!" she called over her shoulder to Lucas.

Lucas sniffed his jacket. "Oh, shit."

I leaned in. "Lucas, run before Billy gets over here and actually throws you."

I turned back to Max. "Okay, I think you can get to the car from here—"

"Nope. You're riding, Harrington." She smirked, dragging me along. "Billy, is it cool if she rides?" she asked as we approached.

Billy didn't even look at us. Still locked on Lucas, jaw tight. But he gave a nod and stalked to the driver's side.

Max gave me a grin like she'd just won something. I had a very bad feeling about this.

As Billy pulled away from the school, the atmosphere inside the Camaro was thick with tension. His jaw was tight, eyes narrowed, and his knuckles had gone bone-white from how hard he was gripping the steering wheel. Every turn he took was deliberate, sharp—but oddly cautious. That was how I knew he was pissed. When Billy was mad, he didn't speed—he calculated.