After Joyce took Will home, Daphne and Tina remained at the school, determined to make sure Max got home safely. They stood near Daphne's car, watching as Max spoke with Mike, Lucas, and Dustin. The boys were visibly shaken after what had just happened, their faces pale and their voices hushed.

Daphne and Tina exchanged uneasy glances. Tina finally broke the silence. "That was... intense. Will's going to be okay, right?"

Daphne hesitated, keeping her voice measured. "Mom's got it under control. Will's stronger than he looks."

As Joyce's car disappeared down the road, Daphne knew she had to refocus. She walked over to where Max was still talking to the boys. "Max, I'm taking you home. Let's go."

Max looked surprised but grateful. "Okay, thanks. Bye, guys."

The boys waved, grabbing their bikes as Max climbed into the car with Daphne and Tina. As they drove, the tension was palpable, the car silent except for the low hum of the engine. Finally, Max broke the silence.

"Daphne, why did you come back for me?" Max asked, her voice tentative. "I could've just skated home if Billy left me."

Daphne's expression hardened slightly as she glanced at Max in the rearview mirror. "I wanted to piss Billy off, for one. But mostly, I didn't like the way he treated you. You didn't deserve to skate home alone this late."

Tina chimed in, her tone sympathetic. "Yeah, and we're sorry you have to deal with Billy at all. He's a real jerk."

Max sighed, slumping a little in her seat. "Tell me about it."

When they arrived at Max's house, Daphne couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Billy's behavior than just his usual attitude. As Max reached for the door handle, Daphne couldn't resist asking, "Max, can I ask you something?"

Max turned back to her, eyes wary. "Sure."

"What happened this morning between Billy and his dad?" Daphne asked, her voice careful.

Max's expression darkened, and she started fidgeting with her fingers. "I'm not really supposed to talk about it. I didn't see much, but... I heard some yelling. His dad was probably mad that Billy didn't come home last night or didn't pick me up like he was supposed to. But I was going to walk home anyway."

"Don't worry, Max, I won't say anything," Daphne assured her. "But hey, do you mind if I come in just to say hi?"

Max hesitated for a moment but then nodded. "Yeah, okay."

As Max got out of the car and said goodbye to Tina, Tina looked at Daphne with a mix of confusion and concern. "What are you doing, Daph? You know Billy's probably inside with Vicky. This is just going to hurt you more."

Daphne took a deep breath, her eyes steely. "Don't worry, Tina. I just... I need to get to the bottom of this."

With that, Daphne stepped out of the car, determination in her stride as she headed toward Billy's house, not entirely sure what she was about to find.

Daphne followed Max into the house, her heart thudding in her chest. The Hargrove home was a stark contrast to her own—a dark, oppressive space that felt like it was filled with years of tension. The air was thick, and Daphne felt a creeping sense of dread as she stepped further inside.

A woman, who must have been Max's mother, Susan, emerged from the kitchen, a weary smile on her face. She was tall and slender, with auburn hair tied back tightly, her face marked by worry lines. She looked at Max with a mix of concern and relief.

"Max, you're home," Susan said, her voice soft. Then she turned her gaze to Daphne. "Thank you for bringing Max home. What's your name?"

"Oh I'm Daphne, I'm the sister of one of Max's' friends. Also I have some classes with Billy" she said, her voice shaking because of the tension and the darkness in that place.

Before Susan could respond, heavy footsteps pounded down the hall, and a man appeared an imposing figure with a hard-set face and a glare that could cut through steel. Neil Hargrove, Billy's father.

His eyes narrowed as he took in the scene. "What the hell is this?" His voice was gruff, each word laced with irritation. "Max, you don't need anyone to drive you home. You've got your brother for that."

Max flinched at his tone, her eyes darting to the floor. Daphne, sensing the tension rising, stepped in, trying to keep the situation from escalating. "I just offered her a ride because it was late," she said, keeping her voice calm.

Neil's glare shifted to Daphne, his expression hardening. "I don't need anyone stepping in where they don't belong," he snapped. Then, without another word, he stormed up the stairs, his anger palpable.

Max's eyes widened in fear, and she whispered to Daphne, "He's going to Billy's room."

Daphne's stomach dropped. She knew something bad was about to happen, but before she could react, Neil's voice thundered through the house. "Billy! Get your ass out here!" The walls seemed to shake with the force of his rage.

Upstairs, the sound of a door slamming open was followed by Neil's bellowing, then the sound of something heavy crashing against the wall made Daphne wince. Max looked stricken, her face pale as she stood frozen at the bottom of the stairs.

They couldn't hear what he was saying, just screams and more crashing noises. Daphne and Max remained glued to their spots, their fear holding them in place.

Suddenly, the noise upstairs stopped, replaced by an ominous quiet. Daphne held her breath, waiting for what would come next. Her heart pounded in her chest as the seconds ticked by.

Then, Neil's heavy footsteps began descending the stairs. He appeared first, his face flushed with anger, and he didn't even glance at Max or Daphne as he stormed past them and out the front door, slamming it behind him.

Daphne let out the breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. The tension in the house remained thick, but at least the immediate threat had passed.

Moments later, Billy emerged at the top of the staircase, his face twisted with anger and shame. His cheek was red, and there was a fresh bruise forming under his eye, a silent testament to what had happened upstairs.

He didn't say anything as he walked down the stairs, his eyes briefly meeting Daphne's. There was a flicker of something in his gaze—resentment, perhaps, or maybe just exhaustion.

Billy didn't stop; he walked straight past them, heading toward the back of the house. Daphne and Max exchanged a glance, neither knowing what to say or do. Daphne felt a pang of guilt, wondering if her presence had made things worse for him.

Max tugged at Daphne's sleeve, breaking the silence. "You should go," she whispered, her voice shaky.

Daphne nodded, her heart heavy. She had come here for answers, but now all she felt was a deepening sense of unease. Without a word, Max accompanied her to the front door in silence.

Max paused at the doorway, glancing back toward the house with a mixture of concern and resignation. Daphne forced a reassuring smile onto her face, hiding her inner turmoil. "You'll be okay, Max?" she said softly.

Max nodded, though it was clear she was still rattled. "Thanks for the ride, Daphne. I... I'll be fine. I just need to be here, in case..." Her voice trailed off, and she didn't need to finish the sentence for Daphne to understand.

Daphne watched as Max slowly walked back toward the house, and when Max disappeared inside, Daphne turned back to the car where Tina was waiting.

Tina gave her a questioning look as she approached. "What now?" she asked, her voice hushed as if afraid to break the fragile silence that had settled over them.

Daphne hesitated, glancing back at the house. "I'm going to check on Billy," she said, her voice firm but low. "I just need to see if he's okay."

Tina's eyes widened in surprise. "Are you sure that's a good idea? After everything that just happened and what he did to you?"

Daphne nodded. "I need to make sure he's alright, Tina. I can't just leave like this, even if he was a pain in the ass."

Tina sighed, knowing there was no changing Daphne's mind. "Alright, but be careful. I'll wait here."