Walking Down The Line, chapter 5

Em sat on the sofa with Mike and Tre, sipping at the vanilla iced coffee Mike had managed to get from somewhere. They were waiting for Billie to get dressed.
"Oh come on," Mike moaned, looking at his watch. "He's taking ages! Why is he so picky? And he's gonna be worse when we get to make-up!" He threw Em a wry smile. "'Spose it'll be worth it though, eh?" Em giggled.
Eventually Billie emerged from the changing room and sat down beside them, accepting his iced coffee and opening the paper again.
"Billie, what's that?" Tre asked.
"A letter from Annie," he replied, and seeing Em looking puzzled, continued. " My sister. She's working up in Canada at the moment, but we always miss each other when we try to phone, so we gave up and send letters to each other instead." He paused to wipe a tear from his eye. "It sucks, I miss her loads."
Mike was about to comfort his friend, when his mobile rang. "Excuse me," he said, getting up and taking his coffee with him, He wandered off to a corner of the room, chatting away. Billie went back to studying his letter.
"Em, can I tlka to you for a moment?"
"Sure Tre, what about?"
"Over here," he said, getting up and leading ehr over to the window. He gazed out for a moment, then sat down on the ledge, indicating she should sit next to him. He looked at her for a moment, then burst into tears.
"Hey," she said, moving closer and putting her arm around him. "It's ok. Come on, tell me what's up?"
"I'm sorry, it's just, lately, I've been feeling like I've let everyone down," he mumbled between sobs. "Claudia moved out and took Frankito, 'cos I'm never there. I hardly see Ramona 'cos she's got a bastard for a step-dad, and he doesn't let Lisea bring her here. I keep turning up late and Billie gets annoyed at me. And, worst of all.." He paused again, taking deep breathes to steady himself. "I feel like I'm letting the fans down, 'cos my heart just jasn't been in it lately. Mike told me it's ok, it's just a pahse, he went through it too and it only lasted a few weeks, but I've been like this for anbout three months now." He broke down again, and Em hugged him close, rocking him gently at the same time.
"Tre, look at me." He didn't move. "Tre, look at me!" He looked up, tears still streaming down his face. "You haven't been letting anyone down, you've just had a few problems. I know how you feel. Three months ago I ran away from home 'cos I couldn't take it anymore, but thanks to you, I'm still here to tell the tale. You haven't let me down." He looked at her, a bit confused, but he seemed to realise where this was going. "Even if you are a bit late, you still turn up when Billie and MIke expect to see you, so you haven't let them down. Claudia understood when she got involved with you that you wouldn't always be there, so you didn't let her down. And you can't help it that Ramona lives so far away, and that this guys' a prick, so you haven't let her down." She smiled at this point. " And just by turning up on stage, you've ensured the fans have a great time, so you most definetly haven't let them down."
She wiped the tears away from his eyes, smiling at him, and he managed a small grin back. "You're perfect as you are Tre Cool, so don't let these little probalems get you down. Everyone loves you, you know this, you have that. Lots of people don't. And don't forget, I will always be here for you."
She glanced up at Billie, who was waving at them to go, it was time for make-up. Em nodded, and turned back to Tre, who was gazing out of the window again. She put a hand on his shoulder, and he turned to lok at her.
"Please don't change," she whispered, planting a gentle kiss on his lips. "You're all I have."
She got up and walked over to Billie and MIke, who were waiting by the elevator. Tre joined them just as it arrived. They squashed inside, and Mike pressed the buton.
"Up, up and away!" Tre cried, grinning like a nutter and raising an arm over his head like some sort of superhero. They all dissolved in to tears as the doors closed.