the music was too loud but it did little to drown out the sound of him yelling again

"you always do this!" he snapped, voice tight and jaw clenched. his hand hovered just a little too close to your wrist as if daring to grab it "flirting with everyone like im not even here"

you looked away, swallowing hard with your heart racing for the wrong reasons. it wasnt flirting. you had smiled at someone who offered you a drink and you laughed once but that was apparently enough to set him off

people were starting to stare and somewhere across the crowded room of drunk people and strobe lights, billie saw everything

she was leaning against the doorway to the kitchen with a red cup in hand, pretending not to watch but her eyes were locked on the two of you like a hawk. she had that look again, the one she always wore when he got like this. that mixture of worry, rage, and something else shed never say out loud

billie had known you since you were kids. she knew the way your voice cracked when you were trying not to cry. she recognized the way you shrank into yourself when things got too loud. she knew and she hated this

your boyfriend scoffed, running a hand through his hair "you gonna say something or just keep standing there like a damn ghost?"

you flinched at his tone, blinking hard "im not doing this here" you muttered, trying to walk away but his hand caught your arm this time

thats when billie moved. she was across the room before either of you registered it "let her go."

he turned, surprised "this isnt your business"

billie smiled but it wasnt sweet. it was sharp and unkind "it is when you touch her like that"

there was a long pause and you werent sure if it was the silence after a bomb or before one

"im fine billie" you said softly, eyes pleading. not for her to back down but just to not make this worse but she wasnt looking at you. she couldnt because if she looked at you right now with your eyes wide and your voice shaking, she might actually lose it

your boyfriend raised his hands, laughing bitterly "jesus. are you always this obsessed with her?"

she didnt blink "yeah. actually i am."