A Different Perspective, chapter 12

"Joey!" Billie called, pushing me off of him, getting up and darting after him. My head hit the arm rest, bouncing off and back onto it. I winced, biting my lip and rubbing the back of my head.

"Oww.." I said, sighing, and just in that instant, Tre and Mike came bumbling through the door, a six pack in Tre's hand.

"Heeeeeeey!" Tre called, coming into the living room. I rolled over onto my stomach and dug my head into the couch cushion. I loved how impeccable their timing was. "Are you okay?" I felt Tre's finger dig into my side, poking me. "Hello? Haaaaaylieeeeeeegh..?" I mumbled something.. not particularly nice, thankful it was muffled.

"Where's Billie?" Mike asked, looking around. I looked up.

"Upstairs. Joey ran off and Billie followed him," I answered, pushing back a clump of hair that had fallen into my face.

"Oh sure, answer him.." Tre muttered bitterly, plopping down next to me on the couch.

"What's wrong with Joey?" Mike asked, both he and I ignoring Tre.

"He doesn't like me, that's what's wrong.." I was bitter. This wasn't the way everything was supposed to have happened. Wait, what DID happen? Didn't Billie just ask me out? Oh my God, he did. Oh.. fuck. I sighed again and rubbed my temples.

"I'm sure he-"

"No, he really doesn't like me. Can't say I blame him, though.. I don't like myself too much, either," I rambled on. How stupid could I be? I didn't answer Billie. Well, okay, I didn't really have time to answer him either, but I should have said SOMETHING. Dammit.

"Stop saying random shit," Tre teased, scratching the bridge of his nose. I looked and him and shook my head.

"Oh you're one to talk," I snapped, bitterly. We were silent until Billie came back down the stairs, muttering something to himself. "Is Joey okay?" I asked, sitting up. Billie stopped, looked at me for a second, and then continue muttering underneath his breath.

"I'll take that as a no then?" Mike asked.

"I don't fucking know. He's up there, ranting on about some shit about his mother now," Billie said, and he pulled a cigarette carton out of his pocket and walked outside. I raised my eyebrow, not aware that Billie did smoke since he never did it around me. We all got up and reluctantly followed Billie into the darkness that had engulfed the city. The only real visible light, aside from the street light that were only giving off so much, was the glow of the cigarette as it moved up and down, rather quickly.

"I thought you were quitting?" Came Mike's voice from behind me. As we moved closer, we could see Billie lift his head and glare at Mike, before taking another long, taunting drag, the smoke billowing out of his mouth.

"I fucking deserve this right now.." He took in another long drag and closed his eyes, turning his head slightly upward. We all kind of sat there, silent as we watched Billie until he finally threw the bud on the ground and crushed it with his foot.

"So.. what did happen?" I asked, quietly, looking down at my converse. I heard Billie sigh, frustrated not so much with me, but with Joey.
"He.." Billie started, trying to find the right words. I knew he didn't want to hurt my feelings and whatever Joey had said was most definitely being rephrased in his head. "He.. doesn't want me to... like... anyone, but Adrienne. And when he saw us..." He glanced up at Mike and Tre. "And heard what I said... It made him upset." Tre looked at us, suspiciously.

"You two were banging on the couch?" He asked, weary and before I could get the chance to lash out at him, Mike slapped the top of his head, hard. "OW!"

"Shut up," Mike said and Tre gave him an evil little look. I looked between Mike and Billie for a second and decided it was best if Billie talked to him, not me since I knew he was worried about what to say and not say in front of me. I grabbed Tre's arm and pulled towards the door.

"Let's go get ice for that.." I said. "You have a fatty handprint on your face." Tre shot Mike another glare before we stepped inside the house and I closed the sliding glass door behind us.

"Are Daddy and Joey mad at each other?" I heard the sweetest, most innocent voice I think I've ever heard as I looked up to see Jakob rubbing his tired eyes. My lip twitched, a faint smile on my face as I kneeled down to his size.

"They'll be okay," I said, trying to convince myself that as well. "You should be in bed, mister." I lightly tapped his nose and he giggled.

"I couldn't sleep. Joey was yelling at Dad about.. something," he said, stretching and yawning. I slowly stood up and looked around.

"How about we make some hot chocolate, while Uncle Tre ices his face, and watch cartoons?" Jakob nodded furiously and I pulled down the chocolate powder out of a cabinet. "Can you get me two glasses, Jakob?" I heard a chair slid across the floor and watched as Jakob climbed on top and pulled out two cups, jumping off of the chair and pulling it back. "Careful," I warned.

"I'm careful.." He muttered and handed me the two glasses. I pulled the milk out of the fridge and poured an equal amount into both cups, sticking them in the microwave, before capping the milk once more and putting it back.

"Tell me when the microwave goes off. I'm gonna go check on your Uncle over there.." I murmured and walked over to Tre, who looked utterly pissed off. I bit back a smile. "And how are you?"

"Shut up, Hayleigh," he barked, rubbing his temples.

"Do you want some aspirin?"

"Yes.. Yes please.." I shook my head, going to get the aspirin bottle. I set it down on the table and watched as Tre grabbed the bottle and popped out two pills, swallowing them dry. I shuddered at the thought until Jakob came and tugged on my shirt.

"It's done!" He cried and I bent down, picking him up and carrying him back over to the microwave, setting him down in front of it. I pulled out the two glasses and set them on the counter, grabbing a spoon and dishing out the chocolate powder into each cup, stirring accordingly. I handed Jakob his and we walked over to the couch, sitting down and turning the channel from Fuse to Cartoon Network.

"Oh sweet, Scooby-Doo.." I said, excitedly, taking a sip of my hot chocolate.

"You like Scooby?" Jakob asked, looking at me and blinking.

"Yes! He's the coolest dog, ever. If I get another dog, I'm naming it Scooby," I said, smiling. Jakob smiled.

"You're so cool," he said, and snuggled with me as we watched the TV, laughing occasionally at the show. By the time it was over with, Jakob had fallen asleep on my arm, which was tingling and numb from him doing so, and Billie and Mike were just walking in. Billie looked exhausted, his eyes puffy and red to where it looked like he had been crying and Mike.. Well, Mike didn't look much different.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, trying to slowly slide my arm out from underneath Jakob and not to wake him.

"I'll go put him to bed.." Mike said, bending down and picking Jakob up, who merely shifted in his sleep and clung to Mike instead. Mike trotted upstairs with him, and Billie sat down next to me. I wiggled my fingers, trying to get the feeling back in my arm, when Billie laid his head on my shoulder. So much for ridding my arm of its numbness.

"Mike and I just talked about what was going on - got me to see things a bit more clearly," He said, looking up at me. I stared at the wall.

"How so?" I asked, turning my head slightly to look at him.

"He just.. did." Mike came back into the living room and looked at Tre.

"We should prolly head home -" Tre started to interrupt, but Mike continued. "Since we all have rehearsal tomorrow and I don't want anyone to be late AGAIN." Tre shot him a look and reluctantly got off his ass. We waved to them, watching as they left until we heard the door snap closed behind them. I shifted to lay down on the couch, pulling the blanket that Jakob and I had been sharing over me. Not too long after, I felt Billie do the same as he laid behind me, putting his arm over me. We laid there and watched Scooby-Doo, my head resting against Billie's chest.

"I like this.." Billie said, stroking my head.

"What? Scooby? Everyone loves Scooby. I mean, what's not to lo-"

"No, us. There aren't any problems.. I don't like problems," he said, dropping his head back to the pillow we were sharing.

"No, you don't like confrontation," I corrected and he nuzzled his head in my neck.

I heard a muffled, "True." We were again, silent, as I watched the cartoon, giggling a little to myself. Billie raised his head and eyebrow asking, "What?"

"Hmm? Oh, nothing," I said, shaking my head. "Shaggy was just like my first crush." Billie smiled a little.

"You had a crush on a cartoon character?" He asked, blinking.

"... Yes. Yes I did." He let out some sort of exhausted laugh, pulling me closer to him.

"You didn't answer me earlier," he suddenly said.

"Answer? Answer what?" I asked, puzzled.

"You.. know what."

"About Scooby?"

"What is with you and this show?" He asked, and I shrugged.

"Like I said, everyone loves Scoo-" He cut me off, lightly putting his lips against my own.

"Do you want to be more than friends?" I looked at him, wondering if I really needed to even answer this. Did I? YES. I've wanted that since he held me and let me cry, telling him about my parents and what was bothering me. I've wanted that since the second day I knew him.

"Why, are you asking me to be your girlfriend?" I asked, my tone cocky.

"That I am," he said and I smiled.

"Yeah," I said, nodding. He looked at me kind of wide eyed.

"Yeah?" He asked. I nodded again.

"Yes." He looked like he was going to implode on himself as he hugged me, tightly to the point where I could barely breath.

"Billie?" I squeaked.

"Yeah?" He asked, happily.

"You're kinda choking me here.." He released his tight grip.

"Sorry," he said, smiling sheepishly. He was happy. I liked him happy. I kissed him lightly on the forehead and got up.

"It's okay," I said, walking towards the stairs.

"Where are you going?" He asked, slightly confused.

"To bed. I can't sleep on the couch, it'll screw with my back." He nodded, looking at the TV for a second, before hopping to his feet and going upstairs with me.

***

Adrienne came and got the boys early the next morning, dawning sometime around 8:30 A.M. I was barely awake, but I had to get up around then anyway. I, unfortunately, had school and yet another project was due for my submission in the Gallery. I needed a total of five pieces, all ranging in different fields. This time up, I'd chosen portraits and had been working on it for days. I said good bye to Jakob and Joey, who was still furious with the situation, and set to work to add in final details I felt needed in my submission, which focused around none other than Billie. I drew everything I could from what he made me feel, and as I shaded in the dark circles under his closed eyes, I smiled to myself. I had managed to sketch him sleeping one morning and decided to turn it into what it had become now - my best piece. Or so I thought, anyway. I heard the front door close and feet dragging against the stairs, before my door began to slowly creak open. I smiled to myself and continued to shade, working my way up slowly to his hair.

"Whoa.." I heard Billie say, before his arm slipped around my waist.

"Do you like?" I asked, looking at him briefly, before looking back at it. I had screwed up on his eyes.. I sighed. I couldn't turn this in now that I noticed it.

"It looks so fucking awesome.." He said, kissing my cheek.

"Really?" I asked, cocking my head to the side a bit. "I messed up really bad on your eyes.. Not to mention the hair and the lighting is a bit off.." He let go of me and put a finger on my lips.

"You're too harsh on yourself. It's amazing, Hayleigh and you should be able to see that," he explained, softly. "In fact, I want to hang it up." I laughed a little.

"Well, you can't. I have to turn it into my professor today," I said, and I set my pencil down, grabbing the can of hairspray off the ground and misting the canvas.

"Why are you spraying hairspray on it?" Billie asked, puzzled.

"It helps prevent smudging.." I explained, biting my lip as I studied it and nodded in satisfaction. This was as good as it was going to get and I realized it. "If you could drop me off, it'd be much appreciated.."

"Drop you off? Hayleigh, you're still hurt."

"I have to turn it in today," I said, impatient. "And unless you want to wait in the back.."

"That's exactly what I'm going to do. I'm going to wait in the back," he said and I shook my head, sighing.

"At least this'll give me an excuse to show off my new boyfriend," I said, smirking and he leaned in a gave me a quick kiss.

"Damn straight," he said and I smiled. We both got dressed and quickly loaded the portrait into the car, flying down the streets of Berkeley until we hit the Golden Gate Bridge and entered San Francisco. A few minutes later, we turned the corner and, luckily, found a spot right in front of the Academy to park. This was unusual in San Francisco. Normally, you either had to wait a good two hours for the perfect parking spot or park in a garage somewhere two blocks down. Maybe today was going to be a good day after all. I got out of the car and smoothed down my pants, brushing any lint that was lingering on them off. Billie was kind enough to grab the canvas and we headed inside the school's old studio, where a number of people were in line. Billie and I took our seats, and I sat there, nervously fidgeting. If I didn't get at least a C+ on this, I could kiss my entire career good bye..

"Hayleigh.." The judge took off her glasses to get a better view of my name on her clipboard. "Noel. Hayleigh Noel." I stood up and grabbed my portrait off of the ground, Billie giving me the thumbs up as I walked to the front. I placed it on the easel and removed the drape covering it.

"This is a piece I did while my.. boyfriend was asleep," I explained. "I call it, 'Stay With Me.'" I stood there, nervously, as the judge's discussed amongst each other. Oh God.. I thought, shaking. Please.. Please..

"Well, Ms. Noel, we honestly expected better from you based on your previous pieces. However, since you're not majoring in Portrait or Still Life in general, this is decent enough for that. Congratulations, you've passed with a B+.." B+? My heart sank. I mean, yeah, it was a good grade and it was higher than what I needed, but I had put so much effort into it..

"T-Thank.. Y-you.." I croaked and they nodded as I pulled the canvas off and headed towards outside. Billie followed after me and as the light hit my eyes, I could feel that damn stinging sensation of crying again. How I hate crying - yet how often I seemed to do it.

"Hayleigh?" Billie asked, approaching me softly. "Are you okay?"

"No.. I'm a perfectionist, so I'm just having a bit of a breakdown.." It was the truth. I felt like a failure..

"Hey. I don't care what she said, that was the best damn piece there. Everything else was just some colors slapped onto paper. Yours took you time and I love it," he said, pulling me into an embrace. I smiled a little.

"Thanks.." I said and he nodded and let me go, popping open the trunk and putting the portrait back there. I was glad, since I was in no mood to look at it at the moment.

"What do you say we just hang out around here for a little?" He asked and I nodded.

"I'd like that." He put his arm around me again as we headed down the streets of San Francisco. It's funny how fast things can go from good to bad and slowly back to good again. Just being there with Billie was making me feel loads better - or at least it was until I heard the last person on this Earth that I wanted to hear.

"Hayleigh?" My sister looked up at me and my day had just gotten a whole hell of a lot worse.

"Danita.." I said, slowly. What was Danita doing here? Oh please tell me that little brat-

"Auntie Hayleigh!" I heard a little girl shriek and tug on me. Oh fuck. Morgan was there.

"Morgan.." I said, forcing a smile to my face. I looked from Billie, who looked utterly confused, to Danita, who was studying Billie. I knew she knew who he was, so there was no point in trying to avoid this. Dammit. Things just had to go wrong.. "Danita, this is my boyfriend, Billie. Billie.. This is my sister, Danita..." Morgan tugged on my arm again and crossed her arms. I sighed once more. "And that's my niece, Morgan.." Morgan grinned.

"Nice to meet you," Billie said, extending his hand. Danita looked at it for a second, raising her eyebrow.

"Billie as in Billie Joe from Green Day?" She asked, sounding bitchy. Man, I usually got away with only seeing her a few times a year on Holidays. Why'd I have to be so lucky now?

"That would be me, yeah.." Billie said, smiling a bit sheepishly. Danita turned to me.

"Didn't you like Mike Dirt or something?" She asked me and I blushed.

"Er.. Dirnt and yeah.." I really, really wanted to avoid this.

"You liked Mike?" Billie asked, kind of confused. I just shook my head and Danita paid no attention to him in the slightest.

"But, boyfriend, huh? I expect he'll be coming for Thanksgiving?" No. Fuck no.

"I.. hadn't really discussed it-"

"Family tradition, Sis." Damn her.

"It wasn't a family tradition until Mom and Dad passed away," I reminded her and she simply shrugged.

"I expect to see you there. Mom would've wanted it." I felt my blood boil beneath my skin as I stood there, biting back every thing that popped into my head to say. How dare she say that? Before I could think of anything mild to say, she started to speak again. "Oh, I've got to go, but call me and we can set everything up. Bye Hayleigh.." I watched as she trotted off, Morgan behind her. I put my hand on my head and slowly rubbed my temple. My God.

"I am so sorry about that.." I apologized and Billie shook his head.

"Don't worry about it. I.. sort of know how it is, being the youngest and all," he said as we started to walk down the street again.

"It sucks ass. If I could, I wouldn't see her or her fucking spoiled ass kids.." I ranted and Billie slung his arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer to him.

"Chill. I'll go with you to that Thanksgiving thing, just don't stress about it, okay?" He asked and I nodded, still pissed off. He kissed my cheek as we turned the corner. "So.. Did you really like Mike more than me?" I laughed and smiled.

"Yes. Yes I did," I said and Billie pretended to pout, which made me laugh again.

"And do you still think that?" He asked. I thought for a second.

".. Yes. Yes I do." He stuck out his bottom lip and I kissed him quickly. "You know I'm kidding."

"Yeah.. You better be kidding.."