A Different Perspective, chapter 4
A sliver of light had managed to find its way into my room through the small part in my curtains. I was slowly coming
to and like the night before, Billie had managed to entangle himself with me, but today was different - I wasn't
shocked or scared, but, dare I say it, happy. His chest was against me, so when he took in a breath, I could feel it rise
and fall, creating an imaginary beat in my mind. I smiled, turning over and I hadn't realized how close we were until my
nose bumped into his and I was staring at his eyelids, which were covered in smudged eyeliner and eyeshadow. He
slowly started to open his eyes, his beautiful green eyes, so that I was staring directly into them. I could see
everything - the pain, hunger and dishonesty of the world through them, but I could also see happiness and bliss. I
was looking at a world of emotions through his eyes, something I thought no one person could ever hold.
"Hey.." He said, sleepily, rubbing his eyes and breaking the connection.
"Hey," I said, turning my head to look at the ceiling. "Are you feeling better?"
"Yeah," he said, shifting.
"Good," I said and he lifted his head to look at me for a second before letting it hit the pillow again.
"Thanks again," he said, also staring at the ceiling now.
"You don't have to thank me-"
"Yeah, I do. You didn't have to let me in last night, but you did."
"I get the feeling that you would have done the same if it were me," I said, absent-mindedly putting my head on his
chest.
"Yeah, I would have.." He said, and we laid there, caught in the moment until his phone went off. He moved his arm
from underneath me, trying to find it. "Damn phone.." He muttered until he finally pulled it out of his pocket and
answered. "Hello..? Why are you calling this early? What? No. No, I didn't know otherwise I would have been there.
Yes, how'd you - No, Tre. Yes, Tre. Okay, I will. No, just.. Bye Tre." He hung up on Tre and I smiled, shaking my
head. "Tre said hi."
"How'd Tre even know you were over here?" I asked.
"He said he was psychic or some bullshit like that. Look, my kids are my house because my goddamn ex-wife doesn't
know shit and.." He rambled on, but I was only half listening because I was too focused on the way his nose flared
when he was angry. It was cute.. Ugh, what are you doing? I thought, shaking my head. "So, anyway, do you
wanna go?" I finally tuned back in.
"Go? Where?" I asked, confused.
"My house," he said, tying his shoes.
"Sure? Lemme change.." I said, and I got up to pick out something to wear from my closet, ending up just changing in
there since it would be easier for everyone. I walked out, combing the tangles in my hair with my fingers, and finding
Billie looking through my things again. I guess he had stumbled upon my Green Day collection, which only consisted
of a few CDs, some signed crap and the picture I had taken with Mike the other day. I could hear him chuckle to
himself as he looked over the stuff. "Uh.. hey."
"Why do you have all this crap?" He asked, looking at it and then up at me.
"It's not crap, thank you," I said, snatching the Kerplunk CD out of his hands. "And It's your work, so I'd think you'd
be happy someone bought it."
"Well, no I get the CDs, but why the autographs? I mean, all it is Mike's signature on your wall.."
"Exactly."
"What?" He asked, still confused, but I was already walking out of the room. He followed after me, deciding it was
probably best to drop the subject and opened the door to the apartment for me, both of us walking out and letting the
door close on its own behind us.
When we pulled into his driveway, he glanced at me before getting out of the car. I, however, was still as I took
everything in front of me in. I was in pure awe, sitting there in Billie Joe's car, in front of his house and about to meet
his kids. All I can say is it was a bit overwhelming.
"You just gonna sit there?" I finally snapped out of whatever I had fell into as Billie stood outside the window on the
passengers side.
"Hu- what? Oh, no.. Sorry," I said, opening the door and climbing out. He locked the car, putting his keys in the
pocket of his jacket and slung his arm around my shoulders like he had the day before. We walked up to the front
door, wiped our feet, and then stepped inside. It was nice and warm in there, unlike outside where a breeze had begun
to pick up.
"Tre?" Billie called out, grabbing the keys out of his pocket and throwing them onto a table. "Where are you?"
"In heeeeeere," Tre called back, and we headed into the living room where Tre and two little boys were sitting,
watching cartoons and eating cocoa puffs.
"Dad!" One of the boys yelled, running over to Billie and hugging him.
"Hey Jakob," he said, ruffling his hair. Jakob didn't seem to like this at all as he gave his dad a mean little look and
walked back over to the couch. Billie looked over at the couch at the other little boy. "What? No hug?"
"Sorry, Billie.." Tre said, and bounced up, squeezing Billie, who looked unamused. I, on the other hand, started
cracking up because Billie was shooting me looks like, "Will you stop laughing?" And looks like, "Help me!" Tre
finally relented and sat down, leaving Billie muttering to himself.
"Who's she?" The other little boy said, looking at me suspiciously. Billie looked over at me.
"That's Hayleigh," he said, smiling. "Hayleigh, this is Jakob and the one who thinks he's too cool to hug his father, is
Joey." Joey shot him the dirtiest look I've ever seen from a kid who couldn't have been more than ten.
"Hi," I said, shyly, waving. Just as I was about to sit down, Tre suddenly burst out-
"Anyone want anything to drink?" And before anyone said anything, he bounded upward, grabbing me by the arm
and dragged me into the kitchen.
"What the-?" I pondered aloud, looking at him. Oh Jesus.. I had a feeling what was going on. "Tre, don't even start
on me today."
"You know, I'm going to keep bugging you until SOMETHING happens," he simply said.
"Yes and as I explained to you yesterday NOTHING is going to happen," I retorted, not in mood to have Tre start in.
"No, you said you THOUGHT something couldn't happen."
"Same thing."
"Is not."
"Yes it is, and don't start in with that arguing back and forth shit, either."
"Fine, but maybe we should just ask Billie.." My eyes went wide.
"You.. No."
"BILLIE!"
"Tre!"
"BILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLIE!"
"Tre, shut up!" I said, scattering to try and cover his mouth.
"Bwillieeee," he called, his voice muffled by my hand.
"Tre, shh-"
"What's going on now?" I looked away from Tre to see Billie had walked in and was staring at us. My hand fell to my
side as I blushed.
"I wanted to know-" Tre began, but I interrupted.
"He wanted to know where you kept your water bottles," I finished, smiling innocently. Tre shot me a look and Billie
rolled his eyes.
"In the fridge.." He walked back out of the kitchen, Tre still giving me a dirty look.
"You ruin all my fun," he complained.
"I know." He walked out, muttering to himself about how stupid I was and all I could do was smile, even thought he'd
completely embarrassed me. I guess, though, I should expect that coming from Tre since, after all, he's Tre. Time
passed and Tre made no attempt to bring anything back up, so I relaxed a little bit and got to know Joey and Jakob.
Jakob took right to me, which was actually surprising since I'm horribly bad with kids, but Joey kept eyeing me
suspiciously and kept his dad as far away from me as possible. I'd go to talk to Billie and Joey would immediately call
his dad over, which after awhile got really annoying, but I somehow managed to keep my patience.
"Are you okay?" Billie asked me, while Joey was too busy playing some game against Tre.
"Yeah, I'm just a little light headed," I lied, putting on a fake smile. "I get like that when I don't eat for awhile." He
looked at me before turning towards Joey and Jakob.
"You two hungry?" He asked. I hadn't meant for him to assume that I wanted him to buy me something to eat.
"Billie, it's oka-" I started, but he looked at me with such a look that it shut me up.
"Yes," Jakob said, nodding. Joey merely shrugged. Somewhat satisfied, he turned back towards me.
"What do you want to eat?"
"I don't care."
"Oh no, not this again. Can't you ever make up your mind?"
"I don't really need-"
"WILL YOU SHUT UP AND PICK A PLACE ALREADY?" I blinked. This was the first time I'd actually seem him,
well, frustrated. It definitely took me by surprise in a way in which I didn't want to talk after that, but I knew if I didn't
same something, Billie would only get even more so frustrated than he was.
"Umm.. Panda Express?" I said, more like a question then a statement.
"That's not real food, but if you want Chinese, I know where to take you," he said and stood up, brushing lint off his
pants before going over and shutting off the Xbox.
"Hey!" Tre and Joey yelled, both pouting.
"We're going to get food, besides you both spend too much time on this thing," he muttered. Tre lifted himself from
the couch, but Joey sat there, not moving and giving Billie another dirty look. "Joey, get up," Billie said as he
grabbed his keys off of the table and headed towards the door. Jakob and I walked outside, standing at the porch,
waiting for Billie and Joey. "Now, Joey."
"I don't want to go," he whined, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I don't care. Get your ass up and let's go."
"We don't have to go.." I said, biting my lower lip. I didn't want to cause trouble between Billie and Joey, but from the
looks of things, I already did.
"No, he can get up and get in the car," Billie said sternly and glared at Joey until Joey finally gave up and sulked
outside, muttering to himself while doing so.
We all piled in Billie's BMW, which was more than uncomfortable. Poor Tre got stuck in the back in between Joey
and Jakob, who had refused to sit next to each other. Everyone was silent, Joey pouting, Billie sulking and Tre, Jakob
and I not wanting to make them snap at each other again. Nobody dared say a word until we were sitting down at a
table at the Chinese restaurant, and that was only to say their order. Billie finally said something, once Joey had
gotten up to take Jakob to the bathroom.
"I'm sorry that I snapped at you and that Joey's being an ass," he finally said, looking up at me.
"It's okay," I said, quietly, taking a sip of my tea.
"No, it's not. I was getting so frustrated with Joey that I took it out on you, even though you were putting up crap
from Joey to begin with. You weren't in a win-win situation there and I'm sorry."
"Really, it's okay. I'm not the.. best with kids to begin with," I said, shrugging. He looked at me and shook his head as
Joey and Jakob cam back to the table. At least from there, everything started to slowly return to normal - well, as
normal as things had been before. We were all talking again, Tre making us all laugh and forget about the negative
feelings that had been coursing through us just moments before. I was content, eating my orange chicken and sitting
there with Billie, Joey, Jakob and Tre, talking about god-knows-what. I felt like I hadn't felt since my parents had died
- happiness. In the little amount of time I'd known them, they'd grown on me and had unrooted feelings that had been
buried so deep inside of me, I'd forgotten what they'd felt like. And you know what? I liked it. I hummed to myself,
lost in my own little world when I noticed everyone was looking at me.
"What?" I asked, eyebrow raised.
"Nothing," Billie said, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Do I have something in my teeth?" I asked, my eyes wide as I dug out a mirror from my purse. Billie put his hand on
my to stop me and shook his head. I looked up.
"Why is it girls immediately assume they have something wrong with them when guys look at them?" He asked.
"Because... we just do," I answered, zipping my purse back up. When everyone finished and the bill came, I insisted
on paying seeing as how he'd paid for my lunch the day before, but Billie wouldn't have it and paid when my
attention was focused on Tre. The only way I'd known was when the waiter brought out the receipt for him to sign.
"Billie.." I said, my voice melancholy. "I told you I wanted to pay for it."
"I know, but you were busy with Tre, so I didn't want to bother you," he said, smiling innocently. I shook my head, a
slight smile now on my face. Like I said - his smile makes me smile. "So, anyway, are you coming back with us?" I was
about to say yes when I remembered - I had school in the morning. Shit.
"I can't. I have class tomorrow," I said, sadly, for I feared that this dream would end too soon. I didn't want to wake
from it.
"Oh," he simply said, looking down. "I'll give you a ride home then."
"Thanks," was all I could think of saying. NO! NO! You FOOL! Stay with him! My mind hissed at me, but I
knew that I needed to be in school tomorrow. I had presentations. I had things to do before I met Billie and,
unfortunately, needed to keep. The car ride back to my apartment was a very quiet one - it wasn't that anyone was
afraid to talk, it's just that it was awkward.
"Here we are.." Billie broke the silence, pulling up to my apartment building, unbuckling his seatbelt.
"You don't have to walk me up there," I said, getting out of the car.
"I know; I want to." I smiled as he walked over to the sidewalk next to me and walked me up to the entrance to the
apartment building. "Are you sure you don't want to come back?"
I hesitated before saying, "I do, I really do, but I can't. I have presentations due tomorrow and I've been working on
the piece for months.. If I don't do it, I'm never gonna get my degree."
"What are you majoring in?"
"Fine Arts, so basically I want to be a visual effects artist for films and such."
"That's cool."
"Yeah.." An awkward silence fell onto us - again.
"Hayleigh?"
"Yeah?"
"You have really pretty eyes.." I looked up at him, not sure how I should respond to that when he started to lean
down and I knew what was going on. I closed my eyes, our lips almost touching when -
Hooooooooooooonk! "Dad, let's go!" Joey called from the car, blaring the horn. It took both Billie and I by such
surprise that we looked up at Joey, wide eyed, before looking back at each other.
"I should go inside. Jessica's probably panicking again.." I said, blushing. Joey honked the horn again.
"OKAY! Joey, STOP!" Billie called to a pissed off looking Joey and looked back at me. "Yeah, I should go too.."
"Night then," I said, and let myself into the complex. I watched through the window as Billie walked back down to his
car, yelling at Joey for honking his horn and then I watched him drive off into the distance.
to and like the night before, Billie had managed to entangle himself with me, but today was different - I wasn't
shocked or scared, but, dare I say it, happy. His chest was against me, so when he took in a breath, I could feel it rise
and fall, creating an imaginary beat in my mind. I smiled, turning over and I hadn't realized how close we were until my
nose bumped into his and I was staring at his eyelids, which were covered in smudged eyeliner and eyeshadow. He
slowly started to open his eyes, his beautiful green eyes, so that I was staring directly into them. I could see
everything - the pain, hunger and dishonesty of the world through them, but I could also see happiness and bliss. I
was looking at a world of emotions through his eyes, something I thought no one person could ever hold.
"Hey.." He said, sleepily, rubbing his eyes and breaking the connection.
"Hey," I said, turning my head to look at the ceiling. "Are you feeling better?"
"Yeah," he said, shifting.
"Good," I said and he lifted his head to look at me for a second before letting it hit the pillow again.
"Thanks again," he said, also staring at the ceiling now.
"You don't have to thank me-"
"Yeah, I do. You didn't have to let me in last night, but you did."
"I get the feeling that you would have done the same if it were me," I said, absent-mindedly putting my head on his
chest.
"Yeah, I would have.." He said, and we laid there, caught in the moment until his phone went off. He moved his arm
from underneath me, trying to find it. "Damn phone.." He muttered until he finally pulled it out of his pocket and
answered. "Hello..? Why are you calling this early? What? No. No, I didn't know otherwise I would have been there.
Yes, how'd you - No, Tre. Yes, Tre. Okay, I will. No, just.. Bye Tre." He hung up on Tre and I smiled, shaking my
head. "Tre said hi."
"How'd Tre even know you were over here?" I asked.
"He said he was psychic or some bullshit like that. Look, my kids are my house because my goddamn ex-wife doesn't
know shit and.." He rambled on, but I was only half listening because I was too focused on the way his nose flared
when he was angry. It was cute.. Ugh, what are you doing? I thought, shaking my head. "So, anyway, do you
wanna go?" I finally tuned back in.
"Go? Where?" I asked, confused.
"My house," he said, tying his shoes.
"Sure? Lemme change.." I said, and I got up to pick out something to wear from my closet, ending up just changing in
there since it would be easier for everyone. I walked out, combing the tangles in my hair with my fingers, and finding
Billie looking through my things again. I guess he had stumbled upon my Green Day collection, which only consisted
of a few CDs, some signed crap and the picture I had taken with Mike the other day. I could hear him chuckle to
himself as he looked over the stuff. "Uh.. hey."
"Why do you have all this crap?" He asked, looking at it and then up at me.
"It's not crap, thank you," I said, snatching the Kerplunk CD out of his hands. "And It's your work, so I'd think you'd
be happy someone bought it."
"Well, no I get the CDs, but why the autographs? I mean, all it is Mike's signature on your wall.."
"Exactly."
"What?" He asked, still confused, but I was already walking out of the room. He followed after me, deciding it was
probably best to drop the subject and opened the door to the apartment for me, both of us walking out and letting the
door close on its own behind us.
When we pulled into his driveway, he glanced at me before getting out of the car. I, however, was still as I took
everything in front of me in. I was in pure awe, sitting there in Billie Joe's car, in front of his house and about to meet
his kids. All I can say is it was a bit overwhelming.
"You just gonna sit there?" I finally snapped out of whatever I had fell into as Billie stood outside the window on the
passengers side.
"Hu- what? Oh, no.. Sorry," I said, opening the door and climbing out. He locked the car, putting his keys in the
pocket of his jacket and slung his arm around my shoulders like he had the day before. We walked up to the front
door, wiped our feet, and then stepped inside. It was nice and warm in there, unlike outside where a breeze had begun
to pick up.
"Tre?" Billie called out, grabbing the keys out of his pocket and throwing them onto a table. "Where are you?"
"In heeeeeere," Tre called back, and we headed into the living room where Tre and two little boys were sitting,
watching cartoons and eating cocoa puffs.
"Dad!" One of the boys yelled, running over to Billie and hugging him.
"Hey Jakob," he said, ruffling his hair. Jakob didn't seem to like this at all as he gave his dad a mean little look and
walked back over to the couch. Billie looked over at the couch at the other little boy. "What? No hug?"
"Sorry, Billie.." Tre said, and bounced up, squeezing Billie, who looked unamused. I, on the other hand, started
cracking up because Billie was shooting me looks like, "Will you stop laughing?" And looks like, "Help me!" Tre
finally relented and sat down, leaving Billie muttering to himself.
"Who's she?" The other little boy said, looking at me suspiciously. Billie looked over at me.
"That's Hayleigh," he said, smiling. "Hayleigh, this is Jakob and the one who thinks he's too cool to hug his father, is
Joey." Joey shot him the dirtiest look I've ever seen from a kid who couldn't have been more than ten.
"Hi," I said, shyly, waving. Just as I was about to sit down, Tre suddenly burst out-
"Anyone want anything to drink?" And before anyone said anything, he bounded upward, grabbing me by the arm
and dragged me into the kitchen.
"What the-?" I pondered aloud, looking at him. Oh Jesus.. I had a feeling what was going on. "Tre, don't even start
on me today."
"You know, I'm going to keep bugging you until SOMETHING happens," he simply said.
"Yes and as I explained to you yesterday NOTHING is going to happen," I retorted, not in mood to have Tre start in.
"No, you said you THOUGHT something couldn't happen."
"Same thing."
"Is not."
"Yes it is, and don't start in with that arguing back and forth shit, either."
"Fine, but maybe we should just ask Billie.." My eyes went wide.
"You.. No."
"BILLIE!"
"Tre!"
"BILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLIE!"
"Tre, shut up!" I said, scattering to try and cover his mouth.
"Bwillieeee," he called, his voice muffled by my hand.
"Tre, shh-"
"What's going on now?" I looked away from Tre to see Billie had walked in and was staring at us. My hand fell to my
side as I blushed.
"I wanted to know-" Tre began, but I interrupted.
"He wanted to know where you kept your water bottles," I finished, smiling innocently. Tre shot me a look and Billie
rolled his eyes.
"In the fridge.." He walked back out of the kitchen, Tre still giving me a dirty look.
"You ruin all my fun," he complained.
"I know." He walked out, muttering to himself about how stupid I was and all I could do was smile, even thought he'd
completely embarrassed me. I guess, though, I should expect that coming from Tre since, after all, he's Tre. Time
passed and Tre made no attempt to bring anything back up, so I relaxed a little bit and got to know Joey and Jakob.
Jakob took right to me, which was actually surprising since I'm horribly bad with kids, but Joey kept eyeing me
suspiciously and kept his dad as far away from me as possible. I'd go to talk to Billie and Joey would immediately call
his dad over, which after awhile got really annoying, but I somehow managed to keep my patience.
"Are you okay?" Billie asked me, while Joey was too busy playing some game against Tre.
"Yeah, I'm just a little light headed," I lied, putting on a fake smile. "I get like that when I don't eat for awhile." He
looked at me before turning towards Joey and Jakob.
"You two hungry?" He asked. I hadn't meant for him to assume that I wanted him to buy me something to eat.
"Billie, it's oka-" I started, but he looked at me with such a look that it shut me up.
"Yes," Jakob said, nodding. Joey merely shrugged. Somewhat satisfied, he turned back towards me.
"What do you want to eat?"
"I don't care."
"Oh no, not this again. Can't you ever make up your mind?"
"I don't really need-"
"WILL YOU SHUT UP AND PICK A PLACE ALREADY?" I blinked. This was the first time I'd actually seem him,
well, frustrated. It definitely took me by surprise in a way in which I didn't want to talk after that, but I knew if I didn't
same something, Billie would only get even more so frustrated than he was.
"Umm.. Panda Express?" I said, more like a question then a statement.
"That's not real food, but if you want Chinese, I know where to take you," he said and stood up, brushing lint off his
pants before going over and shutting off the Xbox.
"Hey!" Tre and Joey yelled, both pouting.
"We're going to get food, besides you both spend too much time on this thing," he muttered. Tre lifted himself from
the couch, but Joey sat there, not moving and giving Billie another dirty look. "Joey, get up," Billie said as he
grabbed his keys off of the table and headed towards the door. Jakob and I walked outside, standing at the porch,
waiting for Billie and Joey. "Now, Joey."
"I don't want to go," he whined, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I don't care. Get your ass up and let's go."
"We don't have to go.." I said, biting my lower lip. I didn't want to cause trouble between Billie and Joey, but from the
looks of things, I already did.
"No, he can get up and get in the car," Billie said sternly and glared at Joey until Joey finally gave up and sulked
outside, muttering to himself while doing so.
We all piled in Billie's BMW, which was more than uncomfortable. Poor Tre got stuck in the back in between Joey
and Jakob, who had refused to sit next to each other. Everyone was silent, Joey pouting, Billie sulking and Tre, Jakob
and I not wanting to make them snap at each other again. Nobody dared say a word until we were sitting down at a
table at the Chinese restaurant, and that was only to say their order. Billie finally said something, once Joey had
gotten up to take Jakob to the bathroom.
"I'm sorry that I snapped at you and that Joey's being an ass," he finally said, looking up at me.
"It's okay," I said, quietly, taking a sip of my tea.
"No, it's not. I was getting so frustrated with Joey that I took it out on you, even though you were putting up crap
from Joey to begin with. You weren't in a win-win situation there and I'm sorry."
"Really, it's okay. I'm not the.. best with kids to begin with," I said, shrugging. He looked at me and shook his head as
Joey and Jakob cam back to the table. At least from there, everything started to slowly return to normal - well, as
normal as things had been before. We were all talking again, Tre making us all laugh and forget about the negative
feelings that had been coursing through us just moments before. I was content, eating my orange chicken and sitting
there with Billie, Joey, Jakob and Tre, talking about god-knows-what. I felt like I hadn't felt since my parents had died
- happiness. In the little amount of time I'd known them, they'd grown on me and had unrooted feelings that had been
buried so deep inside of me, I'd forgotten what they'd felt like. And you know what? I liked it. I hummed to myself,
lost in my own little world when I noticed everyone was looking at me.
"What?" I asked, eyebrow raised.
"Nothing," Billie said, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Do I have something in my teeth?" I asked, my eyes wide as I dug out a mirror from my purse. Billie put his hand on
my to stop me and shook his head. I looked up.
"Why is it girls immediately assume they have something wrong with them when guys look at them?" He asked.
"Because... we just do," I answered, zipping my purse back up. When everyone finished and the bill came, I insisted
on paying seeing as how he'd paid for my lunch the day before, but Billie wouldn't have it and paid when my
attention was focused on Tre. The only way I'd known was when the waiter brought out the receipt for him to sign.
"Billie.." I said, my voice melancholy. "I told you I wanted to pay for it."
"I know, but you were busy with Tre, so I didn't want to bother you," he said, smiling innocently. I shook my head, a
slight smile now on my face. Like I said - his smile makes me smile. "So, anyway, are you coming back with us?" I was
about to say yes when I remembered - I had school in the morning. Shit.
"I can't. I have class tomorrow," I said, sadly, for I feared that this dream would end too soon. I didn't want to wake
from it.
"Oh," he simply said, looking down. "I'll give you a ride home then."
"Thanks," was all I could think of saying. NO! NO! You FOOL! Stay with him! My mind hissed at me, but I
knew that I needed to be in school tomorrow. I had presentations. I had things to do before I met Billie and,
unfortunately, needed to keep. The car ride back to my apartment was a very quiet one - it wasn't that anyone was
afraid to talk, it's just that it was awkward.
"Here we are.." Billie broke the silence, pulling up to my apartment building, unbuckling his seatbelt.
"You don't have to walk me up there," I said, getting out of the car.
"I know; I want to." I smiled as he walked over to the sidewalk next to me and walked me up to the entrance to the
apartment building. "Are you sure you don't want to come back?"
I hesitated before saying, "I do, I really do, but I can't. I have presentations due tomorrow and I've been working on
the piece for months.. If I don't do it, I'm never gonna get my degree."
"What are you majoring in?"
"Fine Arts, so basically I want to be a visual effects artist for films and such."
"That's cool."
"Yeah.." An awkward silence fell onto us - again.
"Hayleigh?"
"Yeah?"
"You have really pretty eyes.." I looked up at him, not sure how I should respond to that when he started to lean
down and I knew what was going on. I closed my eyes, our lips almost touching when -
Hooooooooooooonk! "Dad, let's go!" Joey called from the car, blaring the horn. It took both Billie and I by such
surprise that we looked up at Joey, wide eyed, before looking back at each other.
"I should go inside. Jessica's probably panicking again.." I said, blushing. Joey honked the horn again.
"OKAY! Joey, STOP!" Billie called to a pissed off looking Joey and looked back at me. "Yeah, I should go too.."
"Night then," I said, and let myself into the complex. I watched through the window as Billie walked back down to his
car, yelling at Joey for honking his horn and then I watched him drive off into the distance.
