Previously on Chapter 9

For the first time, I can finally speak to someone who's not Julia or Joyce. Even if it's just one word. It's still a sign that I can recover. I hope over time, I can speak normally. Maybe Billy can help me achieve that.

-Talk-

Y/N P.O.V

I get on my bike and was about to ride it to school, when someone steps in front of me. I look up to see Billy. "What are you doing?" He said, looking at me in confusion. I gesture to the bike. He looks at the bike, then at me.

"No... you're riding with me to school. That's why I came here. To pick you up. Now... come on" he said. I let out a sigh and get off my bike. I chain it back to the pole and turn to Billy. He gently grabs my hand. He pulls me to his car. He leads me to the passenger seat. I get inside and he rush around the car.

"Ready to go? Do you wanna make sure you don't forget anything?" He asked. I turn to look at him. I shake my head. "No... I'm sure I have everything. So we're good to go now" I said, in a soft voice. His eyes widen as he looks at me with surprise expression.

"I still can't believe I get to hear your voice, Y/N. And if I may add, your voice is soft and soothing" he said, smiling happily at me. I just smile at him. I can feel my cheeks getting warmer at his comment. He let out a chuckle at my reaction. He turn his head to look forward and start to drive.

After a while, we finally reach the school. He get out of the car and opens mine. I smile at him and step out. He wraps his arm around my shoulder, making me look at him with a startled expression. He notice this and remove his arm from me.

"Sorry..." he said. I shake my head, letting him know that it's alright. I gently grab his hand and pulls him along with me. I feel his hand holding mine firmly. I can feel a smile forming on my face. I turn my head away from Billy, so he can't see it.

"I can see it... you don't have to hide it, you know. It suits you. Your smile makes you beautiful" he said. I blushed at his words and looks away. I take my hand from his and head towards my locker.

Billy P.O.V

I watch Y/N walks away from me with a pink cheeks. I shake my head, laughing softly to myself. She's so cute. I can't believe I get to hear her angelic voice. I turn around and head to class.

I hear a loud sound. I turn around to see Y/N on the floor. There's a group of girls hovering above her. In an instant, I figure out what's going on. I instantly feel anger growing within me.

"Hey!" I yelled. I run towards them. I kneel down next to Y/N. "Are you okay?" I asked, softly. She just nods her head, with her head down. I help her stand up and turn to look at the girl angrily.

"What the f*ck do you think you're doing, huh?!" I spat, glaring angrily at them. "We're just showing her where she belongs. Why are you hanging around this loser, anyway?" One of them said. I turn to look at her.

"It doesn't concern you who I'm with, does it??" I said, glaring at her. "Billy! You're literally the most popular boy in this school! Why are you hanging out with this piece of trash?" Another said.

"If you dare to call her that again... I'll turn YOU into a real trash!" I spat, angrily. They instantly shut up after I said that. I grab Y/N's hand and pulls her with me. I glare at them once again and walks towards the classroom.

***

Y/N P.O.V

It's now lunch time. I don't feel like eating, so Billy took me to the school's garden. We sit back to back as I place my head on his shoulder, he do the same with me.

"Are you okay?" He asked, after a while of silence. "Mmhmm..." I said. "You're still not comfortable in talking in public?" He said, moving his body so he can face me. I nod my head.

"I'll help you gain confident. I promise... you'll be able to speak freely in no time" he said, smiling at me. I smile back at him. He lift his hand and gently place it on my cheek.

"Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?" He asked. I shake my head, making him frown. "It's a shame. You need to know you're beautiful... and if no one do it for you. I will... you're so beautiful, Y/N" he said, making me blush deep shade of red at his compliment. He lets out a chuckle and pulls his hand away. 

"There's no one around as it is now lunch time. So can you talk?" He said. I look around to make sure he's right. There's hardly any student. I turn to look at Billy, to see him looking at me expectantly. "Yes..." I said.

"What happened to you, Y/N?" He said, turning his body to face me. He sits crossed leg in front of me, looking at me with a soft gaze. I stare into his eyes for a couple of seconds, and look down.

"A lot..." I mumbled. "Like? Well... you can talk to me, only if you want to. But if it makes you uneasy. Don't..." he said. I let out a sigh and turn my head to look at him.

"My family died in a fire accident. Then I grew up in a very judging environment. It's really hard for me to fit in..." I said. I can feel tears building up in my eyes. I bit my lips, trying to stop myself from crying.

"Everything I said and do, is always judged. There are times when they straight up called me a liar when I tried to warn them about something. Some also sees me as a lunatic. So... I chose to be this quiet girl because I start to have this fear. And as a result, I have this condition where I can only talk to a few people..." I said. He let out a sigh and wrap his arms around me. I lean my head on his shoulder.

"Looks like both of us have a hard past. The only one that cared for me was my mom. But she abandoned me. My Father took his anger on me. Beating me up, out of anger..." he said. I can see pain in his eyes. I place my hand in his, caressing it gently.

"Then that woman and that little girl show up. They somehow manage to slip out of my Father's wrath. It makes me... despise them" he said. Now it's my turn to hold him close.

I can feel his pain. Losing the only person/people that truly cared for us is probably the most painful thing to ever experience. Then growing up in a harsh environment, it can turn someone into a different person. Now I understand why Billy acts this way. He's right... we're both similar in a way.

Both of us felt the true pain of a broken heart. I feel like I can understand him better now. He just wants someone to understand him... the real him. Not this bad-boy facade everyone is used to seeing.

I now understand why he chose to come to me. He somehow able to see through me and feel my pain. Maybe... we are each other's hope to heal from our childhood pain.

*to be continued*