The Extraordinary Girl, chapter 16

Billie fell asleep next to April one night after a vigil of watching her. Adrienne and the boys were asleep in chairs on her opposite side. April hadn't stirred yet and her heart rate was steady, but slow.

Billie moved in his sleep and grasped April's hand. At that moment, something weird happened in his head...

He was dreaming, he knew. But he didn't know what was happening. The sky was a light brown with dark brown clouds swirling overhead. Every thing around him was brown and barren, except for some dead, black trees here and there.
Walking around a little, Billie searched the area for some sort of life. He finally saw someone. She had long black, hair and was dressed in a hospital garment, only brown. She was a little ahead of him, and walking towards the horizon. He immediately began to follow the girl at a fast pace, and though she was walking slowly, he couldn't catch up to her.

As he walked, Billie heard voices, but not just any voice, but April's. They were echoing through the wasteland, as if her voice was the air it's self.

"Don't do this."

"Why?"

"It's not your time."

"How do you know?"

"You're still young."

"The good die young."

"Yes, but you're an exception."

"How?"

"You're special."

"Oh, yeah. Two fathers, one that thinks I'm a mistake and the other has no idea I even exist. I am special."

"There's no need to be sarcastic."

"Then shut up and I won't."

What is going on? Billie thought. The two voices were the same person, and it seemed that April was arguing with herself. Then it hit him: April's consciousness was trying to talk her out of something. But what? He found out the answer.

The ground started to shake and the girl stopped. Before her, the ground split in two and the gap grew. It grew bigger and bigger until two cliffs formed, with a wide valley in between them. The gap was so big, Billie could see below; jagged rocks sprouting here and there.

The girl walked again, even slower until she reached the edge of the cliff she was on. Billie panicked and ran towards her. She must have heard him because she turned her head at him. It was April.

But it wasn't the daughter he had come to know and love. Her face was blank and pale and her eyes were also brown and lifeless. The wind blew threw her thin hair. He heard her voices again.

"Don't do it."

"Oh, but I will."

"They love you."

"Yeah, right."

"If you die, many hearts will break and their lives will never be the same again."

"So be it."

She walked closer to the edge. Billie realized what was going to happen. April was going to fall off the cliff; her mind was going to simply slip away.

"NO!" he ran faster, trying to reach her, but she was too far away. She turned completely to face him, staring at him with the same blank look. She closed her eyes and fell back...

"Billie! Billie! Wake up!"

Billie Joe jerked awake to see Adrienne over him, face white.

"We have to call the doctor," she said frantically. "April, her heart monitor." She pointed to the machine. The heartbeats were increasing, going faster and faster by the second. A group of doctors came in and pushed the two of them out of the way and into the halls.

Mike and Tre were with Joey and Jakob, who were crying, scared of what would happen. Adrienne and Billie tried to comfort them as they stared through the window at the people who could possibly save their daughter's life. Billie looked away, unable to face the result.

"Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong?" A doctor came out, wearing a neutral expression.

"Yes?"

He rumpled his hair before speaking. "April's heart rate sky-rocketed and she began to fidget around and sweating. We tried our best to cool her down, but then everything stopped. I'm sorry, but your daughter is... dead."

There was a thump. Adrienne had fainted, and everyone swarmed around her.
She began to hypervenalate, breathing very heavily and wheezily. Then, without warning, began to cry. The doctor left quietly, not wishing to intrude on their sorrow.

Billie felt his heart break. He felt like it was his fault. He didn't get to her on time. She fell and he wasn't there to catch her. Wait, what was he thinking? It was just a dream... or was it?

***

It was Billie's turn. The family and Mike and Tre went in separately to be with April one more time. He had requested to go last. He walked into her hospital room and sat on the chair beside her bed. Billie put a hand on her face and drew away a little. It was stone cold.

He ran his fingers through her hair and felt the tears come.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. He took her hand and in his and cried on it...

He was back in her mind, at the edge of the cliff. Billie was on the ground crying, the tears falling into the dirt. April was gone... wait, she couldn't be. Her mind was still barren, yes, but why wasn't it fading? Why was he still here? He found the answer.

Billie looked over the edge and down below, into the rocky valley. He was surprised and utterly shocked to see April. Her clothes had caught onto a branch and she was trying in vain to get loose and continue falling to her doom. But Billie was going to do something about it.

"April!" he shouted. She looked up, and her eyes went wide. More determined, she continued to try and untangle herself.

"April," he said again and she looked up once more, this time, fixed into his gaze.

"Let me help you up," he said gently. Hesitating, she half-reached up to him. As she moved, the branch gave way a little, and she grew scared.

"Just take my hand." Little by little, she extended her arm and at the last moment, grabbed it as the branch fell completely. April reached out her other arm and Billie pulled her up. She crawled back onto the cliff, but still kept a distance between her and Billie, who was heaving right now.

"Why did you do it?" he asked when he finally caught his breath.

"Wasn't it obvious?" April whispered it, but her voice echoed around them.

"You honestly thought we didn't give a shit?" She smiled a little at his swearing.

"You said it yourself," she answered, the smile fading.

"I was confused and mad. I say stupid things when I'm confused and mad."

"And when you're drunk."

"You know me all too well."

April laughed a little, a real one, but a small one as well. "I guess I did know that. I was just scared."

"Of what?"

"Of how'd you treat me after finding out I have three parents. I didn't know if you'd just ignore it and act like nothing happened, or treat me like a freak of nature." She bowed her head.

"Ok two things," said Billie. "One, you're still my blood and my daughter and nothing is going to change that. Two, unless you start growing two more arms or an extra head, I will not treat you like a freak of nature." He lifted her chin up. "Trust me."

"I guess I should've talked to you first before attempting to kill myself." She sighed. "But would Mom want me back? After all I did to hurt you guys?"

"Of course she does! She's been crying her eyes out, trying to get you to wake up. Then of course, she would have smothered you to death under a pressure of hugs, and probably causing you to go into a coma again." He reached out a hand. "Are you prepared to take that risk?"

April nodded slowly and put her hand in his...

***

April woke up and squinted against the blinding light.

"Ouch!" she whispered. Then she realized someone was right beside her.

"Dad?" she asked. He looked up and let go of her hand.

"HOLY CRAP! April, you're awake!" She smiled. "I miss you, too."

"EVERYONE!!! GET IN HERE, NOW!" Everyone came in, wondering what Billie was shouting about.

"What's the—?" Adie began to ask but then she stopped dead when she saw April sitting up. So did everyone else.

"Hi everyone," April greeted sheepishly. Adie was ecstatic. She ran over to her and hugged her until April couldn't breathe. She was in tears.

Joseph and Jakob were jumping around, happy that their sister was alive. Mike went over and hugged her as well. Tre threw his arms around her and picked her up from the bed and started to swing her around. When he finally put her down, April gasped for breath.

"You're alive! But how? The doctors said you were dead." April and Billie glanced at each other. Silently they agreed that what happened in her mind would be kept secret.

"Well, you can't always believe what doctors say." Billie kissed her on the forehead.

"Look, I don't mean to spoil our reunion, but who has custody of me?"
Everyone smiled.

"We have a surprise for you," said Adie.

***

"April, I Tre Cool—"

"Real name, Tre."

"Fine, Mike. I Frank Edwin Wright III dub you, April Adrienne Armstrong, as not only part of the Armstrong family, but also part of the Green Day family." He grinned at her. "Welcome to the family."

"Was this really neccassary?"

"Yes. Not only is it formal, but it's funny."

"You call this funny? It's ridiculous!" April exclaimed, as she got up from her kneeling position. Earlier that day, they had finally legalized April's custody. Now to celebrate, Tre had just dubbed April as part of the Green Day family in the Armstrong's living room. While he was doing so, April had to wear a tutu, yellow, rubber gloves, a pink wig, and socks on her ears. She also had to wear red lipstick and green eye shadow.

"Aw, don't be kill-joy," scolded Joey. "Now sing the song and you can take that off."

"No," April said defiantly.

"Do it," Mike pleaded.

"No way."

"April, as your mother, I say you have to sing the song." April rolled her eyes and sang monotone,

"I'm a little teapot short and stout."

"Come on," Jakey encouraged. "Do the actions."

April put a hand on her hip and the other shot straight out.

"Here is my handle here is my handle, here is my spout."

"Be more lively," Tre sang. She stopped the monotone in her voice and sang a little.

"When I get all steamed up, hear me shout." She leaned to the side. "Tip me over and pour me out." She put her hands down and straightened up.

"There now, you happy?"

"I think you'll have to sing again," said Billie, coming into the room, holding a camera, and trying to load it.

"I missed the whole thing." He looked up and screamed.

"AHHHHHHH!!!! SHIELD YOUR EYES!" he said, pretending to be terrified.

"Very funny, Dad," said April, rolling her eyes. "Just take the picture so I can change out of this. After, I wanna see what the others looked like when they were 'dubbed'."

"Actually," said Billie mischievously, "You're the first one. And since you're the first, I can send the picture to the whole family and see if they like the idea of dubbing new members in this similar way."

"WHAT?! OH NO YOU DON"T! I'LL—" But whatever she was going to say never left April's mouth.

"Cheese!" Billie clicked the shutter and looked at the screen. "Aww, this brings out your eyes."

April took a menacing step forward. "Give me the camera, Dad."

"You have to catch me first!" And with that, he ran off with April at his heels.
Everyone cheered them on and burst out laughing when April tackled Billie and took the camera from him and deleted the picture.

"Ok, ok. You win," he admitted, getting up.

"You know it. Couldn't beat me in football, and can't beat me now."

"I shouldreally ground you for that," Billie scowled.

***

That night, April sat on her bed with her guitar, playing Time of Your Life.

"It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right," she sang.

"I hope you had the time of your life," Billie finished, walking in and sitting down. "Welcome to the family."

"Thanks." They just stared at each other for a few moments and without warning, April hugged him.

"I really did have the time of my life, and I plan to keep it that way for the rest of my life," she whispered.

"I have no doubt about that," said Billie.

The End