AN: Billy's malice aforethought is gonna be all over the place in this chapter.

Chapter Six: Anger Issues

Each nerve convulses and tingles as Billy reels back, clutching his arm. As he scrambles for his bearings, another's shadow overlaps his—

With the sunset on her back, Max approaches.

"Billy...what happened?" A question which sounds more curious than concerned.

But, he doesn't answer. He's too focused on Louise, of how her hands are clutched to her chest and her eyes are wide and apologetic, but Billy can't stand it.

"I'll kill you," he seethes as he flexes his fingers. The pain eases. But the sensation is burned into his memory.

"Billy, stop."

"Shut your mouth, Max."

Billy's smile widens when he sees his sister recoil with hurt.

Louise frowns and she wishes her look could harm.

"L-leave her alone." He sees her face at a new angle as she tilts her chin upwards in a subtle demonstration of boldness.

"Oh?" Billy snakes his head back to her. "What? You don't look at me now? I said answer me freak."

The impatient arc in his voice hooks Louise's attention. She learned that he's very insistent with eye contact, something she's not so well practiced in. With him, it's the hardest. She can't bear to look at him without being lost in the angles of his face, the sharp corner of his jaw, the sun-kissed tones of his skin.

It's too bad, really, the sight of him offends her.

"What with you acting like a kicked bitch all the time, I was wondering if you had a backbone."

She can't recall the times she's been angry. It's never come easy to her, but whatever crackles and snaps like fire in her chest, it ignites within her a defiance renewed.

"You would know...all about being— k-kicked like a bitch wouldn't you?."

Even, as Billy advances within a fist in front of her, Louise clenches the straps of her backpack so tight the blood vessels rise to the surface of her knuckles.

She regrets nothing.