we kept staring at each other.
billy's face is red with rage. his face is frowned up. "billy."
"what's going on?
I ask while walking up to the front porch. billy walks down the staircase and walks past me.
what the hell. I thought this was a no brainer problem where talking and acting concerned about the issue would solve everything.
"billy."
"don't walk out on me bro."
I follow him.
"what happened again?
"hey."
I held his shoulder. he turns around and stares at me. I was about to rebuke him when I saw his left eye. it was swollen. it was as if someone punched and cut him there.
I gasp. I was shocked and more curious.
"are you satisfied." billy said with an angry
voice.
he began to walk away from me but I held his shoulder again.
"am sorry I didn't."
I pause. unsure of my response.
"am sorry."
he nods.
"what are you sorry about?
I look at him. unsure of what to say
"who did this? I ask, sure of the answer to receive.
"my mom."
"damn."
"I knew it."
"why would she do that?
"She does whatever she wants Alex."
"you of all people know that."
"so don't act all suprise."
Billy walks away.
I stood
Watching him go. Was he angry at me or his mom. probably both.
This is what u get for abandoning him. A horse voice spoke and I knew it to be true.
Whenever billy comes to me complaining about his family drama. I always shut him off. Change convo.
Stuff like that. I felt overwhelmed by guilt now.
Suddenly. Billy stops and stares at me.
"are u coming?
I smile a little then walk to his side.
Jethro led the way.
"I didn't mean what I said." billy spoke after seconds of silence.
His voice is calm.
"I know you didn't."
He took deep breaths and closes his eyes.
The left eye had turned purple.
"have your treated it?
"no."
"I can't touch it."
"hurts like hell."
I smirk.
"of course."
"it Will."
"have you seen you."
"hm."
Billy smiles.
I was relieved for a while.
"we should go back to my place."
"we should do what? He says with a bewildered expression on his face.
I was taken aback.
"I am friggin late man."
"what did they say at work?
"why are you smiling dumbass? tell me."
"no one was there."
"I was worried like you but when I got there."
"boom."
"empty."
His face brightened.
"woah."
"that's a relief."
"God."
"I had already imagined my death."
"hanged to a cross or a tree."
we both laugh.
"plus my eye here."
"they would laugh at me."
I stare at him.
"it's not that bad."
"yeah right."
I smirk.
"jerk."
"bitch." I say.
"let's go to your house."
"yeah, we should do that."
"your eyes need treatment and I know what to do."
He looked at me with a curious countenance.
"what's that supposed to mean?
"don't worry."
"you'll find out."
We got to my place. I had put on the fans. the boom boxs were on. a song was playing.
I had attached bandages to Billy's eye.
Now we were eating corn flakes at the dinner table.
The music was loud.
I was eating.
Billy was saying something.
"what."
"I can't hear you."
He stands up and walks over to the boom box before turning it off.
"what tha."
"why? I ask.
Billy did the fuck you sign with his hand.
He sits down and continues to eat.
"am having a headache."
"I can't stand yoursong."
"is that a bad thing?
"yeah."
"not when it's about love."
"what does it matter?
"love or not."
"I don't care."
"I know you don't."
"bitch."
"that's why have adviced."
"go be a reverend father."
"it'll help."
The look on his made me smile.
I always tease him with this line.
He hates it.
I don't care.
"What do you say billy?
"i could even be your assistant."
"but I'll be married to a hot girl and we'll live in san Francisco with seven children."
"huh."
I began to laugh.
I fell down from my chair.
Jetro jumps on the table and began to eat my corn flakes.
"and who are you gonna marry?
"caroline."
I heard Billy ask.
my smile fades.
I stood up from the ground.
My mouth opened in awe.
Caroline is a girl in my school and not any girl. she is the every guy dreams of having as a gf.
Even me. I like adex.
But I still obsessed over her. Billy knew this.
"bitch." I said and sat down.
Jetro stares at me.
"fuck you looking at." I mutter.
"don't take it out on the dog romeo."
I stared at billy.
HE was savoring his victory.
It felt good seeing him smile.
I smiled.
We passed the time at my place. Fm watching movies,to playing tennis then to rapping. Which I always won.
Billy wasn't good at it.
the time was 5:30 now.
Myself and billy sat lazily in the chair watching bright burn. A movie about a kid who goes Ted bundy on his family,the police and neighbours.
My phone rings.
I looked at it.
"ruckus."
"o my God."
"we are doomed."
"act cool."
"act cool."
"act cool."
I said before answering the call.
"where on earth are you boy?
He yells.
"um, I."
"where is the other one?
"what's his name?
"billy." I said.
Billy eyes widens.
"yes."
"where?
"he had an injury sir."
"so we went to treat it."
"we'll be coming back soon."
"did he get run over by a truck." me ruckus asked in between laughter.
"I bet he did."
"no sir."
"it's just a minor one."
"enough boy."
"get your selves over here."
"you have work waiting for you at grams."
He hangs up.
"what do he say?
I sigh.
"we have work waiting for us at grams."
"we better get going."
I put off the tv. Closed the Windows. Carried my bag. A minute later. We were outside walking towards grams.
"how is your sister? I ask.
I was concerned.
Billy shook his head.
"she's good."
"just good."
He sighs.
"what happened today?
Billys face turned into a frown.
"mom got mad."
"that's what happened."
he said.
He stares at me.
Probally to see the Expression on my face.
"she gat hangover last night."
"woke up this morning."
"picked a vase and smashed it on my face."
"cool."
"Right?
He pointed his right hand index finger at his eye.
"no."
it's not."
I said.
"it's not fair dude."
Billy stares at me again. I think he didn't expect my response.
"I know right."
He nods.
"but what can I do?
"Amanda left the house early this morning to God knows where."
"these days she hardly sleeps home."
"maybe she's at roland's."
I said.
"that dick."
Billy says.
"I have warned her against going to see him."
"but what tha hell."
"am nobody to her."
"she said that."
"yap."
"right to my face."
"you and mom are the worst people have met."
Billy rephrased her words in a mocking voice.
"like the bitch ain't worse."
"I hate her."
I was quiet now.
not beacuse I didn't care but beacuse I didn't know to say.
An abusive mom and a heartless twin sister. That was a lot to take in.
I was glad to be the only child.
"you don't have to worry about me Alex."
"am good." billy says.
"money is the reason they act out."
"I guess if I find a job."
"everything would go back to normal."
He smiles. I smile too.
W got to grams.
Mr bobby, mr ruckus and Mr grams were inside the building and they stared at us upon entry.
Jetro starts barking at the three men.
They had serious countenances on their faces. Lke they were going to swallow us alive.
"where have u been?
Asked me grams.
He stares at me. It was like staring into pandora's box.
Seeing all the sin I had committed today.
"we went to treat Billys eye."
"it's true sir."
"I injured myself."
"this morning."
"where did you two meet?
My heart skipped a beat.
I was uncomfortable.
"I called him sir."
"I told him to take me to the clinic."
M grams stares at the both of us.
"I happened to see you go out of this shop in the morning."
"so was it after treating billy you came or before."
"little lairs."
Mr ruckus scoffs.
"you're lucky that a truck didn't hit the both of you."
"am sorry."
"what ."
I heard Billy's voice.
"leave."
I stated at Mr gram.
"both of you."
He was dead serious.