The bell rang, but {{user}} didn’t move.

She sat at her desk, frozen, pretending to dig through her backpack just to avoid the hallway. Because she knew Billy was out there—waiting, watching. And today, she had crossed some invisible line. She just didn’t know which one.

When she finally stepped into the hallway, it was like the air changed. She saw him leaning against her locker, arms crossed, eyes burning with something meaner than usual.

“There she is,” Billy said, loud enough for everyone around to hear. “My little sister, the snitch.”

{{user}}’s stomach twisted. “I didn’t tell anyone anything,” she said quickly.

“Oh, really?” Billy stepped forward. “Then why the hell did Coach pull me aside about the fight yesterday? You think you’re smart? Gonna save everyone from the big bad Hargrove?”

“I didn’t—Billy, I didn’t say your name,” she said, trying to move past him.

But he grabbed her wrist. Hard.

Students slowed around them, sensing the tension. Some turned away. Others watched like it was a show.

“You’re lying,” Billy hissed, dragging her toward the lockers. “You always do this. You always make me the bad guy.”

“You are the bad guy,” {{user}} snapped, yanking her arm back. “You don’t get to put your hands on me just because you’re angry!”

That did it.

Billy slammed his hand against the locker beside her head—so close she felt the breeze from it. The metal clanged, echoing down the hall. {{user}} didn’t flinch. Not this time. But her breathing was sharp and uneven.

“You don’t talk to me like that,” he said through gritted teeth. “You’re my sister. You shut your mouth and stay out of my business.”

“You don’t get to decide who I am,” she said, trembling. “You’re not in control of me.”

For a second, Billy looked like he might hit her.

Instead, he shoved her hard into the lockers and stormed off, shoulder-checking a freshman on his way down the hallway. A teacher finally poked their head out—but too late. He was already gone.

{{user}} slid down to the floor, heart racing, arms wrapped around herself. Not from pain. From the sting of humiliation. From the anger. From the silence of everyone around her who did nothing.

Being Billy Hargrove’s sister wasn’t just exhausting. It was dangerous.