~Billy~

This was the usual car ride for us, complete silence.

Max, doing the usual sulk with her arms folded grumpily and headset on. As for me, I was just driving with my private thoughts keeping me entertained. This had been a very eventful first day. Making this Sierra girl embarrassed was definitely the highlight of it. How desperately she wanted to contain her reactions to me so obviously flirting. And now she was my AP English 'partner', whatever the fuck that was supposed to mean. Well, at least I could continue having my fun. My type, as well. AP English was worth it alone. Besides, it was the only subject at school other than anything sports related that I was good at. Mom would have been happy. Him, not so much.

English is for faggots, Billy.

Fuck, not again. Why couldn't I just keep His voice out of my goddamn head?

Could you not have achieved something else other than being a pussy?

Get out of my head. I had make it go away. Gripping my hands around the steering wheel, I could feel beyond the leather. Just focus on that, then He will leave you alone. Driving past the stream of convertibles indicating to go towards what I found was some jock's house, it reminded me that all these kids were different from the ones in California. It appeared like they all came from relatively okay and stable homes. Not to mention wealthy. Fuck, I saw the car that Sierra was driving. That came from money. It wasn't like we weren't financially well off, but I definitely couldn't afford to get a car like that. One day I would. But for now, the Camaro was my chick magnet and home whenever I needed to get out of that fucking house. I tried to think of other good things that had happened today before the dark shadow started making its way across my mind again. It wouldn't be long before I was back home.

Home.

It felt like anything but.

I could go into my room, slam the door and do what it took to make it go away. Grab my lighter, that Swiss army knife Asshole gave me for my birthday last year. Anything but this red hot feeling. At least the burning could make it go away, dull everything into nothing again. I inhaled sharply and balanced the steering wheel with a finger as I fumbled about for a cigarette. That would help keep it at bay. God, why did His voice have to come into my fucking head? Turn up the radio. Listen to the music and it will just go away.

"Billy, that's way too loud!" Max admonished. So now she decided to talk. How Soon Is Now? was about to be turned off until I slapped her hand out of the way. Don't fuck around with me today, kid. "What the hell?"

"Whose car is this, Max?" I asked straightforwardly and looked at her momentarily before lighting the cigarette.

"Yours, but - "

"Okay, so we've established this is mine. So, I can have the music as loud as I fucking want" I stated and let the silence take over again.

I allowed the smoke to twirl in front of my eyes, feeling the sting of it. The music wasn't working, neither was the pain. I could just hear that word echo in my head, like it was on a loop.

Faggot.

As the car went from the newly tarmacked road to the beaten track and finally the new house, I savored one final drag of my cigarette before flicking it out the window with a pang of resentment. Because getting rid of an unfinished cigarette meant we were nearly 'home'. Without even saying a word, Max got out of the car and headed to the house. It wasn't a bad house, an upgrade from our previous one from what you could see on the outside. But a white picket fence would never get rid of the punches and screaming matches. I shook my head - get out of my fucking head.

"Well gee, thanks for the ride, Billy!" I sneered and pushed past Max to get into the house.

I just wanted to get to my room before He would get here. In what I can only call a tantrum, Max threw her bag on the floor by the shoes. No, don't you fucking dare. He would lose His shit if that was still there in 5 minutes. And He wouldn't lose it at her. No, He would lose at me.

"Move your fucking bag, Max" I commanded and went over to grab it for her.

Her tantrum still active, she snatched the bag from me and stormed upstairs to her bedroom. The door slammed, and I bit my bottom lip. Not even a thank you for saving her ass. She was never on the receiving end of it anyway. I always got there first.

"Ungrateful bitch" I muttered.

With a glance at the flip clock, I noted the 5 minutes I had until He came home. Quickly, I went into the kitchen, to the refrigerator. Coke, that leftover ham sandwich from yesterday. It would do just fine until Susan came home. One last clock check, I had 3 minutes to get upstairs. Running up, I slammed the door behind me and made myself comfortable on my bed, taking a huge bite out of the sandwich. Not exactly a feast of the Gods, but it would make do for the now. I took my bag and started tossing the books aside onto my desk. No homework tonight meant a free night. Let's see if this shit hick town could impress me.

My ears could hear the car in the distance. He was back. A minute earlier than what He should be. Fuck, I hoped that He had a good day at work. Only one thing could prove that - utter silence.

If He hollered my name, then I knew how his day had gone. That guy from accounts was being a prick, or there was traffic. He despised traffic.

"Billy! Get down here!"

Shit.

Without a single thought, I jumped out of bed and made my way quickly down the stairs. Max's door was closed. Good, she wouldn't have to hear this and if she did, I'd just take her to that stupid arcade later and go for a drive. I steeled myself, clenching my muscles for what could either be a punch to the face or an endless tirade of lessons I could learn. Because the fucker apparently knew everything.

"What?" I asked as I stopped at the end of the stairs where He greeted me with arms folded and a stern look. I looked around the living room. Cushions straightened by Susan, nothing out of place. It was just a bad day. "What?"

"Don't use that tone with me, Billy" He snapped. With one step forward, I found him directly above me. Trying to control my breathing, I attempted one step backwards. But no, nothing could escape this asshole. "I'm trying to talk to you, goddamnit!"

Then use your words and just tell me the problem, you fucker.

If I said it in my head, then there wouldn't be hell to pay.

"Why is your car over the line of my parking space?" He asked and gestured His head to the window where I could see it plain as day. The left front tire was just slightly over the line. Stifling a sigh, I just looked Him in the eyes. No sign of weakness. He won't make me go to that level. "Did you not pass your driving test, Billy? Huh? The one I spent good money on?"

"Yes, sir"

"I didn't quite hear you"

"Yes, sir"

"Then get your keys and straighten it up. I can't believe I have to explain this basic stuff to you" the Asshole spat and made His way into the kitchen.

There would be a baloney sandwich waiting for him on the side that Susan dutifully prepared earlier. I could hear him eating it from here. With an exhale, quiet so as not to alert Him of any frustration, I grabbed my keys and went out. As I was just about to get onto the porch, I could already hear Him grumbling about something. It was brewing and was only a matter of time before he would make it abundantly clear what was bothering him.

Seriously, fuck this.

Twisting around, I told Him I was going to take Max to the arcade as she had done well at school today. A treat for her, I said. That would make Him happy. In turn, it would keep Max and I out of His reach. He would never go for her like he did with me and I wanted to keep it that way. I opened Max's bedroom door to find that she had her headset on. Good, she hadn't heard a thing. Frowning, she asked what the hell I was doing.

"Get your bag, you're going to the arcade" I said.

I went into my own bedroom and grabbed my leather jacket. Cigarettes, check. The lighter was in the car. Patting down my pockets, I mentally checked off everything else.

"I don't want to go to the arcade though, Billy!" Max protested as she stood in the doorway.

For God's sakes, shut your mouth, Max!

"Well, you are"

And with that, she grumbled down the stairs. Did she want us to get into hot water? If He heard her grumbling, the plan would fail. Thankfully, He was too consumed by a phone conversation. Max got in the car and slouched back, folding her arms and resuming what would be our routine. She wouldn't talk, I would listen to music and then it would just be me.

"I didn't want to go to the arcade, Billy" she muttered.

"You know, Max, sometimes you should just learn when to say thank you" I snapped and turned on the engine.

She'd be quiet, go to the arcade, have a good time. I would drive around, go to the pool perhaps, and wait for enough time to pass that the asshole and Susan would be watching the latest episode of Dynasty in complete silence. He would probably make some remark about how late it would be and then see Max come in. Instant end to any conversation or sign that punches would be thrown. I was so busy thinking about the plan, that I only caught a snippet of Max muttering something under her breath. Would the girl ever learn to shut up?

"Wanna speak up?" I sarcastically asked, to her dismay.

She was silent.

"That's what I thought, kid. Get your seatbelt on" I said and got my cigarette prepared for when we reached the mailbox.

The Bastard didn't like me smoking. But what He can't see, won't hurt. Now, to get away so I could actually see what this town had to offer me.

AC/DC cassette in, I was ready to make my mark.