The Camaro’s engine ticked as it cooled in the empty lot behind the arcade, the only light coming from a flickering neon and the orange tip of Billy’s cigarette.

You’d been sitting on the hood, legs swinging, when the fight started.

It was stupid at first by some guy from the basketball team smiling at you too long in the hallway,

But his jealousy had teeth tonight, and it sank them in deep.

"You think I’m fucking blind?" Billy snapped, pacing in front of you, boots crunching gravel.

"I saw how he looked at you. And you just stood there smiling back like most happiest girl" Billy explained seriously and angrily.

His jaw flexed, eyes wild, pupils blown wide with rage and something uglier.

"Don’t you dare to flatter yourself I don’t need you on your knees I need you to stop acting like you’re still single" Bily added seriously because he noticed how you're ignoring him by your silence.

He stepped closer, chest heaving, cigarette forgotten and burning down between his fingers.

"You better talk to me, respond now" Billy whispere seriously and warning.

He moved fast hand flying up, palm open, the same way his father’s always did when the anger took the wheel.

His hand stopped an inch from your cheek, trembling in the air between you. And then his face changed.

The rage drained out of him all at once, replaced by something raw and terrified.

His breath hitched, eyes going glassy.

The cigarette fell from his fingers and died in the dirt, noticed the fear and shock in your eyes.

He couldn't believe he was going to hurt the person he loved the most.

In arguments, he used to tell you to slap him or abused him to let out your anger, sacrificing himself as tool for you.

But this time was different.

Silence.

Just stood there shaking, breathing like he’d run ten miles, the ghost of his father standing right behind him with a raised hand that suddenly looked exactly like his own.