Billy's POV

I left Harrington with the shower turned off and a warning on his lips, heading toward my assigned locker in the locker room. I didn't hear any retort from him as I left the showers, so I assumed he understood my threat and would keep his dirty hands off Maddie. The other guys at the school had likely caught on after the hit I gave Chad at the party, so I wasn't worried about them. The only one I was concerned about was Steve, and the answer to that was simple. Harrington had always been the star of the school, so I understood, which meant all the girls fell at his feet. Despite his innocent act, I was sure that now that he was no longer with Wheeler, nothing would stop him from going after the new girl—my sister.

"I don't think you need to worry about Steve. He's so hung up on Nancy that he'll do everything he can to fix things with her. I doubt he'll look beyond her. What a loser." Tommy laughed, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"For his own sake, he better keep it that way." I responded challengingly.

"Oh come on, it wouldn't be the end of the world if the guy blew off some steam with someone, and that someone includes your sister, of course." he kept up that stupid grin. I was trying hard not to punch him, I didn't want a reprimand, but Tommy was making it very difficult.

"I don't care if he blows off steam or not." I took a deep breath to stay calm. "There are plenty of girls at the school, he can drown his sorrows with another skank, not my sister." I said as I dried my hair with a towel.

"I don't get it. It's completely incomprehensible."I heard Tommy laughing with some irony.

"What's your problem now?" I narrowed my eyes and took the towel off my head.

"You don't want anyone, especially Steve, to sleep with your sister. But then, reading between the lines, you call her a skank. Do you realize the contradiction in that? Although you're probably right, she's a walking provocation. Steve will have a hard time resisting her." he flashed that idiotic grin again.

That was it. My patience was at its limit.

"If you ever call Maddie a skank again, I'll rip out your tongue and shred it to pieces, got it?" I lunged at him, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and slamming his back against one of the lockers with a loud bang.

"P... But you said... I thought you couldn't stand Maddie," I saw the fear in his eyes.

"How I call or don't call my sister is my problem."I let go of one of his sleeves to point a finger at him. "You have no idea of the relationship I have with Maddie. And even if I can't stand her, you better not call her a skank in front of me again." I pushed him against the locker again.

"Have I been clear?"

"Crystal clear." he replied with a trembling voice, raising his hands on either side of his face.

"Perfect." I released him. "Next time, I won't be so nice. Keep that in mind."

"Y... Yes." he cleared his throat. "Well, see you tomorrow, Hargrove." He grabbed his things and ran out, almost half-dressed. It seemed that, after all, I had made myself clear.

I finished drying off and putting on my clothes. The few guys left in the locker room had fallen silent after my threat to Tommy. Good, that way the word would spread, and I wouldn't have to fight half the school to keep them away from Maddie. Once I was ready, I gathered all my things and headed toward the school parking lot to find my blue Camaro.

I left my backpack inside the car, leaned against the door, and lit a cigarette while waiting for Tina, Carol, and Vicky to arrive. When I left the gym, I found them, and they asked me to take them for a ride in the Camaro. I would never deny that to three girls. Besides, it would show Tommy that his girlfriend Carol is the real skank here. Even though she hasn't tried anything directly, she doesn't miss an opportunity to feign a casual touch or shoot me sneaky glances.

As I started smoking the cigarette, I looked up and met Maddie's eyes, which were watching me intently from a distance. She quickly looked away, and although she kept her composure, I knew her well enough to recognize that she was seething inside. I couldn't really blame others for wanting to be with her; her attitude could drive anyone crazy, in every possible sense of the word.

"Are you hearing yourself, Billy?"

"It's even nicer up close." Tina's voice pulled me from my thoughts. "Though not as much as you."she added in a flirtatious tone.

"It's bigger inside. Though I have even bigger things." I smiled and winked at the three of them, who responded with silly grins and noticeable blushes.

The three of them climbed into my car, and I walked around to the driver's side door and opened it. Before getting in, I looked back at Maddie, who was still watching me intently. I was sure she was upset because I was going out with three girls instead of just one, so to make her even angrier, I smiled at her and gave a wink before getting into the car. I started the Camaro and drove past her, intending to give her a threatening glance to make sure she understood it wouldn't be easy to push me around. But instead, it seemed the result was different; the three girls with me shot her a rather smug and mocking look.

At that moment, I saw Maddie roll her eyes and sigh in frustration, crossing her arms over her chest with a sour expression. I drove past and couldn't help but smile victoriously. It still irritated her that I was out with girls while Neil had forbidden her from doing the same. But after this morning's scene in her room, I was left pondering...

Was that look she gave me because she was actually jealous?

Impossible, she hates you. Just like you hate her. Get those thoughts out of your mind, Hargrove.

                             *************

The Next Day
Saturday, November 2, 1984

Last night, well into the evening, Tommy called my house to try to convince me to go on a double date today with him, Carol, and Tina. I was almost certain that this was schemed up by Carol and Tina. Carol probably had a lot of influence over Tommy, because after the dressing-down I gave him in the locker room that morning, I didn't think he would be keen on going out with me. Not that I cared much, to be honest. And despite Tina not being my type at all, she was an easy target, so I wasn't going to say no to letting off some steam without having to woo my prey, she was served on a silver platter, making the wait for the next girl to pass through my bed shorter.

I was finishing getting ready, arranging my hair in front of the mirror and putting cologne everywhere. And when I say everywhere, I mean everywhere. I grabbed my jacket and left the room. To leave the house, I had no choice but to pass by Maddie's room, which unusually had the door open—normally, she keeps it closed. I peeked in and saw her in front of her wardrobe, with a happiness I hadn't seen in years, headphones on, dancing to the rhythm of the music playing on her Walkman.

Why the need to gyrate like that?

I tried to get her attention, her overwhelming happiness didn't sit well with me at all, surely she was up to no good, and I didn't want her causing me any problems with Neil. After several attempts, she still hadn't noticed my presence, I got fed up and went straight to her, roughly pulling off her headphones, causing her to jump.

"What are you doing?" I said seriously, playing with the headphones in my hand.

"FUCKING HELL, BILLY!" she screamed, her eyes wide open. "When the hell are you going to learn to knock before entering my room?"

"For your information, you had the door open, redhead." I tossed the headphones back at her, hitting her chest and making her step back from the force.

"What the hell do you want, William?" she demanded as she let the headphones and Walkman fall onto the bed.

"It's too strange seeing you with that smile when you're usually wearing your typical sour face. What are you up to?" I moved closer to her, looking her directly in the eyes. So close that the floral scent of her hair filled my nostrils.

Damn, she smells insanely good. Too good...

"I'm not up to anything." she pushed me, placing her palm on my chest. My shirt was open, so I felt the tips of her fingers brush against my bare skin, sending a shiver down my spine. "I just haven't had the house to myself in a long time, and I appreciate it. Especially the part where I get to avoid you."

"You know if you bring some guy here, I'll find out, right?" I threatened, ignoring the shiver. Honestly, I didn't care who she slept with, but if Neil found out, I'd be the one getting the beating, not her.

"Why don't you focus more on not being late for your stupid date instead of threatening me?" she scoffed. "I just want to enjoy these little moments life gives me when you're not around." She laughed ironically, winking at me. Damn, I hate when she looks at me with that superiority.

"Whatever you say, but you know deep down you enjoy having me around." I smirked cynically.

Two can play at this game, not just her. I slid an arm around her waist to pull her body against mine. I locked my gaze onto her blue eyes, trying to intimidate her. After what I had seen this morning, maybe I couldn't say anything, but I could use it to my advantage to toy with her.

"That might work with the prudes in this town. I'm sure their legs tremble when you do this." Instead of backing away, Maddie moved even closer to me, caressing the collar of my shirt. I felt her thumbs brushing the skin of my neck, and I inhaled sharply. "But it doesn't work with me, William. I need something more to make my legs tremble." She whispered slowly and softly over my lips, her warm breath too close to them. That electric sensation coursed through my body again.

Damn... Calm down, she's just playing along, it won't go any further.

"I'm convinced I could make your whole body tremble, not just your legs, redhead." I murmured in a deep voice.

Instinctively, my gaze shifted to her lips. Damn, they were too close to mine.

"You talk too much. You know what they say: tell me what you boast about and I'll tell you what you lack..." she managed to say in a faint voice as I moved even closer to her, so close that not even a pin could fit between us. I lowered my gaze a bit more and saw her chest rising and falling irregularly, just like her breath. I had made her nervous.

"And what about you? The heat in your crotch is giving you away... You're so insufferable and so egocentric..." our breaths began to mix. Her mouth was slightly open, and I started to feel a temptation I shouldn't.

"And you're so stupid and narcissistic..." her broken words echoed over my lips, almost touching.

"Damn..." I murmured, wanting to pull away. I hated this closeness, but at the same time, I didn't want to move away from her, her lips were so close to mine...

I instinctively licked my lips, imagining what she might taste like. Barely a couple of seconds passed, though it felt like an eternity to me. In that brief span, I tightened my grip on her waist, and the temptation to kiss her grew stronger and stronger. I swallowed hard and finally came to my senses. I abruptly pulled away from her and hurried off towards the bathroom. I splashed some cold water on my face and neck, hoping to cool down. I looked up and met my own reflection in the mirror.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Billy?"

As soon as I calmed down and got my bearings, I left the house, bidding Susan, Maxine, and Neil goodbye with a simple nod of my head, and headed to my car. I started the car, lit a cigarette, and drove to Tommy's house. The entire drive, I tried to push that strange moment I had just had with Madeleine out of my mind. She's my damn sister, whom I hate more than anyone, except for my father. What the hell was going through my head?

Before I knew it, I had already arrived at Tommy's house. His parents weren't home today either, so we decided to have some beers right there while snacking on something. And thank goodness for the beers, because the conversation with Tina and Carol was truly insufferable. We were in the backyard, with Tommy and me drinking while the two girls chattered like parakeets. Suddenly, it started to rain, and we had to run inside for shelter. Carol gave Tommy a lascivious smile and, after signaling to him, went upstairs, presumably towards his bedroom. Before following her, Tommy told me that if I needed it, the guest room was at the end of the hallway. After that, he gave me a pat on the back, winked, and went after his girlfriend.

I turned to Tina, and, as expected, she was looking at me with hungry eyes. Between the alcohol and her wet clothes clinging to her body, leaving nothing to the imagination, I thought, why not? So, in no time, we were kissing our way to the guest room.

Truthfully, I was kissing her with rage. The image of Maddie crossed my mind, making me tear off Tina's shirt without any mercy. I wanted to erase that image from my head, and there was definitely no better way than screwing Tina. Surely that would relieve all my tension and push all those stupid thoughts out of my brain. Because that's what they were, stupid thoughts. No one could feel any kind of attraction to their sister, especially if she's as hateful as Maddie.

"At least Maddie won't be the only one having fun today." Tina said in a low voice, but not low enough for me not to hear since I was kissing her neck and her mouth was too close to my ear.

"What did you say?" I pulled away from her and looked at her fiercely.

"What?" She looked at me confused, thinking I hadn't heard her. "I didn't say anything." She moved closer to try to kiss me again.

"Bullshit, you didn't say anything." I growled, pushing her away and gripping her shoulders tightly. "What the hell do you mean by Maddie not being the only one having fun today?"

"Nothing important." she huffed, rolling her eyes. "Just that today Steve was supposed to meet George and some others to shoot some hoops. But he called them late yesterday to cancel because he had plans to help Maddie catch up with her subjects. But we all know what Steve and your sister are like. Studying will be the last thing they do." She laughed mockingly.

"That damn idiot. I'm going to kill him." I started to feel my blood boil. I let her go and turned to leave.

"Wait, Billy!" She grabbed my wrist, trying to stop me. "Where are you going?"

"To find my idiot sister." I replied furiously, shaking her hand off my wrist.

"Are you seriously going to leave me like this for your stupid sister?" she huffed, frowning.

"Can't you understand when I talk?" I responded wearily, turning my back on her. "Goodbye, Tina."

"You're an idiot, Hargrove!" She threw something at me, but it missed. She continued following me. "You and your sister are a couple of morons! In fact, you're perfect for each other: you're both equally narcissistic and selfish."

"Stop being such a brat, Tina!" I turned around, fed up with listening to her, and grabbed her by the wrist. "It's not my fault you're hung up on me. You should have known you were just a pastime, I've never said otherwise. So stop acting like a jealous girlfriend and saying stupid things. Maddie and I are nothing alike, and I wouldn't touch her with a ten-foot pole."

"Le-let go of me." she whispered, her eyes welling up with tears.

"It'll be a pleasure." I let her go and gave her an ironic smile. "See you around, Christina." I turned and walked away, hearing her curse my name and Maddie's repeatedly in the distance.

My clothes were still soaked from the downpour, but that was the least of my problems right now. Luckily, she had mentioned where Harrington lived, so without wasting another moment, I got into my Camaro and headed to his house as fast as I could.

Although it wasn't very late, it was already dark, but fortunately, the rain had subsided. It didn't take long to reach Harrington's street, and just as I was about to arrive, my car's headlights illuminated a female figure in a tracksuit with a sports bag. That unmistakable red hair: Maddie. I drove up to her and screeched to a halt, almost skidding, as I reached her.

"Get in." I said curtly after rolling down the passenger window.

"I know how to get home, thanks." she replied, looking straight ahead without glancing at me, and started walking.

"Get in the damn car, I won't say it again." I growled, driving slowly alongside her.

"Get lost, William." she still wouldn't look at me, but she flipped me off.

"You know I can force you in if I have to. So do it the easy way." I said calmly but very threateningly.

"Dammit, Billy!" she growled, turned towards the car, and got in. She slammed the door shut, sitting in the passenger seat. "You're like a fucking pebble in my shoe!" she snapped, crossing her arms over her chest.

"And you're a spoiled brat, Madeleine!" I fixed my eyes on the road and started driving.

"How the hell did you know I was here?" she asked out of nowhere.

"Tina." I simply replied.

Maddie didn't say anything more, and neither did I. We drove home in silence, and even though it was a short drive, it felt long and uncomfortable. Despite the silence, you could almost hear the grinding of her teeth and the creak of the steering wheel from how tightly I was gripping it to avoid punching something. We finally arrived, and I parked, braking abruptly. Maddie quickly got out of the car, slamming the door again, and I followed her at full speed. We entered the house, and just as she was about to reach her room, I grabbed her arm and stopped her.

"Whose clothes are you wearing, Madeleine?" I looked at her seriously.

"Oh come on, as if you didn't know." She smirked ironically and stifled a small laugh in the back of her throat.

"What the hell did I tell you before?!" I demanded, still not letting go of her.

"That I shouldn't bring any guys home. And I haven't, no guy has come to the house."

"I told you to stay away from Harrington. And not only did you disobey me, but you're also wearing his clothes. How good is he in bed, huh?" I said furiously.

"What do you care, idiot?" She stepped closer and glared at me. "Besides, I haven't slept with him, you moron. I've already told you, Steve doesn't interest me, he's just my friend." She jerked away from my grip.

"Tell that to someone who believes you, freckle-face. We both know how you are, you don't look for a guy just for friendship." I said sarcastically.

"Think what you want, I know exactly what I've done." she took a deep breath. "And maybe I've never been able to have a male friend because you scare them all away!" she shouted.

"Who are you trying to convince that you didn't sleep with him, stupid? You're wearing his damn clothes, Madeleine!" I shouted back angrily.

"Because it rained, and we got soaked, idiot! He just lent me dry clothes so I wouldn't catch a cold on the way home."she snapped.

"Yeah, right, tell that to someone else who might believe it. Everyone knows how easy you are, didn't you have a better excuse than that?" I laughed sarcastically.

"I can't stand you! Go to hell!" she growled before entering her room and slamming the door in my face.

"You go first so I don't get lost!" I shouted back.

After that, I went to my room. That woman couldn't get on my nerves more, she was so haughty, arrogant, and conceited. Someone had to bring her down a notch, and I tried in every possible way. I closed the door and tried to calm my pulse, I was in a foul mood. I realized I was still wearing soaked clothes, so I started taking them off with the intention of taking a shower. Maybe that would calm my nerves. Just as I took off my shirt, my door flew open.

"Why the hell won't you let me live in peace, Billy?" she said fiercely, slamming the door behind her. "Just go your way, and I'll go mine, but let me live!"

"YOU KNOW DAMN WELL WHY I DO IT, YOU STUPID IDIOT. IF NEIL FINDS OUT, I'M A DEAD MAN." I shouted, the calm I had managed instantly disappearing.

"THAT'S A LAME EXCUSE, YOU'RE JUST JEALOUS." she snapped out of nowhere and started undressing, throwing Steve's clothes at my head. "I'm not wearing his damn clothes anymore! Happy now? And as you can see, I don't have a single mark on my skin, so NO - I - DIDN'T - SLEEP - WITH - HIM." she punctuated each word by jabbing her index finger into my chest. "So stop acting like a jealous jerk and leave Steve and me alone."

"You're crazy, Madeleine." I laughed incredulously at her behavior, although I couldn't ignore the fact that she was standing there in her underwear. "I just want to avoid getting beaten by my father. Nothing more. Why would I be jealous of you?"

"Because you want me." she said mockingly. "Don't deny it, William..." She moved closer and started tracing my bare chest with her index finger. "You're jealous because all the guys I sleep with aren't you..." she whispered seductively over my lips.

"Not even in your wildest dreams, sweetheart..." I slowly ran my fingers along one strap of her bra, pushing it aside. "Maybe it's you who desperately seeks my attention." I murmured in a deep voice over her mouth. "And that's why you use guys as you please, because you know I'll come after them and you..." I slowly slid the other strap of her bra, brushing the skin of her shoulders.

"You're... you're crazy..." she said in a whisper, her breathing unsteady. Her hand still rested on my bare chest.

"You're even crazier..." I whispered, feeling our lips inching closer. My fingers continued to caress her arms. My heartbeat began to race.