#billyandmorgan

Dan has tried his best, he never expected to be raising a son on his own. He likes a drink, does odd jobs from town to town, moving on whenever he inevitably gets into trouble. Now he is back in his childhood town, running his Uncle's Junkyard. Maybe this time he can stick it out

Billy wakes up with a start. Today is his first day at Windenburg High School...that's no big deal. He has had a lot of first days. But now they have a home, so maybe they will stay here? He looks around his basement room, windowless and stark, but it was his.

He gets up and starts breakfast, making enough for his dad to have when he finally gets up. He sighs to himself, he wondered if Dan would actually get up to see him off to school since it was his first day, but the snores coming from the room told him otherwise.

He brushes his teeth & wonders what the kids at this school will be like... He wonders how people will react to his Last Expansion clothes and out of date hairstyle...he could try and get a part time job, get some new clothes from an actual shop, rather than a charity store.

He gets lost on his way to school, it was further away than he thought, and by the time he got there, classes had started. He was wandering around the empty corridors when a harsh voice barks; 'Billy I presume?' he turns to face the principal and she tuts 'Not a great start'

She leads him to an office and sits him down 'Now I do not know how you were taught to behave at your other schools, but here you get here and early and you are in your seat by the time the bell rings! Do I make myself clear?' she says authoritatively

Billy sits there and takes the ear bashing, already seeing how this was going to go here. Same as everywhere else... 'It's my first day in town Miss, I just got lost on my way here, I was trying to find class...' he starts to explain

'I don't want your excuses!' she shouts at him, venom in her voice. 'If you think you can come here and cause trouble in my school, you have another thought coming. I was at school with your father, and from what I can tell, the apple does not fall far from the tree'

Billy slumps back in the seat, and stops arguing. There was no point, she had already made up her mind. He was trouble. The no good son of bad news Dan Mason, drunk and a waste of space...like father, like son. What was the point in even trying?

The rest of the day passes without event, no-one spoke to him, but he could tell they were talking about him. The side glances and muttering followed him wherever he went. He was on his way to detention, when he stops and stares down the hallway...smiling he mouths 'Wow' silently...

Walking down the corridor toward him was the most beautiful girl Billy had ever seen in real life. She was unreal. He tried to ignore the smug, rich looking guy hanging over her like a rash, then suddenly, the guy was in his face.

What the fuck are you looking at junkrat?' the guy shouted. 'You can't afford her, don't even look' he points in Billy's face. He laughs, a sound without any joy 'As if she would even look at you. I think my mum gave that jacket to the thrift store 2 years ago' he snorts

Billy laughs, and then thinks better of it, and turns it into a cough 'Sorry' he says, trying to sound sincere, 'I didn't see the SOLD sign on her'

The girl let a quiet chuckle slip out, which immediately was noted by her boyfriend

'Come on, lets go, there's a weird smell' he snorts

As the guy stalks away, kicking a locker on the way past, the girl sighs

'Sorry, that's Bruce...he is on his period I think, just ignore him. I'm Morgan. Welcome to the school, maybe see you around' she smiles slightly at him, and walks away to join her hot headed boyfriend

He smiles at her, but his smile drops as he watches her walk away. Bruce, however much of an arsehole he was, was right. Someone like Morgan would never look at him. She looked so polished, so clean. He looks down at his scruffy clothes and feels ashamed...

He gets into detention and the principal is already there, giving instructions to Miss Mayflower

'Just give him some basic work' she is telling her 'I think he will be very behind on his studies. His father has not put his education first, so maybe start with the simple stuff'

Billy bristles, he is smarter than most adults. Just because he looks a bit scruffy, doesn't mean he doesn't have a brain. He spent a lot of time in libraries growing up, it was warmer than the car, and he found a love of books. He opens his mouth to argue, and changes his mind.

Billy finally gets home and his dad is already sitting with a drink in his hand 'What time do you call this!?'

Billy throws down his school bag and scoffs 'What? Were you worried about me?'

'Don't disrespect me and answer back! You were supposed to clean up today!'

Billy looks around at their messy dirty home 'Clean up? Are you kidding? Maybe you could have done it when I was at school? It wasn't my fault anyway, the principal hates you, so now hates me...figures. You fuck up my life even when you are at home sleeping!'

'Enough of the lip! It's always my fault isn't it? Never mind I gave up my life to bring you up, keep you clothed and fed! And this is the thanks I get?' Dan yells, the smell of red wine emanating from him in waves, making Billy feel nauseous.

'I'm your son, its your job and responsibility to bring me up, not a burden' Billy retorts. He stands up and heads to the door 'I'm going out, you should take a shower, you stink' he adds, slamming the door behind him.

Billy heads up to the bluff, and is dismayed to find it crowded, he recognises some faces from school, but no-one pays him any attention. Finding a quiet place, he sits and looks out to sea. It's always the same, wherever he goes, why did he think it would be different this time?

He stays there for hours, as the noises and voices fade behind him as people start to leave, and darkness creeps in all around him. He just doesn't want to go home. Slowly he gets to his feet, stiff from sitting on the cold ground for so long

He starts slowly off in the direction of home, wondering what kind of state his dad will be in when he gets home, and trying to figure out if he had enough money to grab a burger on the way when he hears a voice from above, 'Cheer up, it might never happen'

He spins around, looking for the source of the voice, but to no avail 'Who's there?' he asks, curious. He recognises the voice, the soft and teasing tone

A laugh...'Up here!' the voice continues.

He looks up, and sees Morgan perched on top of the swing set 'What are you doing up there?' he laughs, surprised

'I like to see the world from a different angle sometimes' she said 'And from up there I could see you hiding in the bushes'

She swings down, still talking 'What were you doing there? You were there for ages. Aren't you cold?' she asks, looking curious.

Billy shrugs, 'Didn't feel like talking to people' he answers

She looks at him, 'Well you are never gonna make friends that way'

Billy shrugs, 'Just enjoying the view' he walks over to the swing and jumps up on to it, in what was supposed to be a cool move, but the recent heavy snowfall had made the surface of the seat slick, and he slipped, grabbing on to the swing chain and saving himself

Morgan chuckled, 'Be careful' she said 'I'm sorry again about Bruce earlier, he can be a bit possessive' she says, then pauses 'Billy isn't it?'

He nods 'It's fine' he says, 'He's not your responsibility to apologise for, some guys are just dicks. I get it'

She laughs again. He thinks its the most beautiful sound he has ever heard, he wants to spend the rest of his life making her make that sound... He gives himself a shake, how ridiculous...he barely knew this girl. But he wanted to.