Untitled, chapter 1

Billie Joe smiled, turning the corner to the sound of a zippo clicking open and closed. What a strange sound to become comforting. He had been hearing a lot of it, despite his mother's rules. She was always protesting against his friendship with Tammy, claiming she was a 'horrible influence'. Tammy should have been the least of her worries. Tammy was actually one of the few good things in Billie's life, besides Mike and his music. It was a classic case of judging a book by its cover.

"Hey Billie. How's it going?" Tammy asked, leaning against a brick wall. A cigarette hung from her fingers and she fiddled with the many hoops that adorned her ears with her other hand. A smile, surrounded by smoke, was spread across her face.

"Not too bad."

"You're lying. Don't lie to me Billie. Stop being modest. That's my job," she said with a wink. "Good news with the band?"

He nodded, a similar smile gracing his face. He reached to take a drag off of her cigarette as he told her the good news. "I think we got a big gig. Mike went off and talked to a friend, who talked to a friend, who talked to a friend. Long story short, we're getting a gig at a club."

"A club? Are you even old enough for that?"

"Since when do you ever care? God knows you've been in enough clubs when you were too young. For that matter, you're still too young."

"Don't give me that shit Billie Joe. It hasn't been that many. You know I don't really like drinking anyway."

He snickered at her, shaking his head playfully. "Even better, there are rumors around that people want us to record an EP."

Tammy's eyes widened. "No fucking way! Billie! That is incredible! If you get signed, I promise I'll be your first groupie."

"Mike'll be thrilled with that," he joked. She just punched him in the arm before grabbing him in a hug.

"So where'd you tell your mom you are?" she asked, walking out onto the street.

"Over at Mike's. I figured we could pick him up, maybe walk over to the mall. What do you think?"

"Sure sure, it's all good. I don't think my dad'll get home for a couple of days."

"Where'd he head to this time?" Billie looked at her sympathetically. He knew the trouble she had at home.

"God knows. He said business but I know he was lying. You'd think he'd realize that I'm not seven years old anymore. Dumb ass. At least he bought a bunch of new cigarettes." She chuckled, elbowing Billie in the arm. "It still makes him so mad that I smoke. I don't even really like it anymore. I don't do it when he's not here. It lost its appeal."

"I don't agree but okay. Hand over that cig then."

"Alright," she said, gladly giving up the cigarette and grabbing her zippo again. "Come here for a minute," she exclaimed, grabbing him into an alley and kissing him hard on the lips. They pulled away and stood for a minute.

"What was that for?" He snaked an arm around her waist as she laid a head on his shoulder.

"Because I know how much it bugs Mike. I don't want you thinking that I'm ignoring you so I figured I'd take care of it now."

The two stood in each other's arms before starting to walk down the street again. They had a strange relationship, a love hidden from most, friendship hidden from some. They both knew that they were not fated to be together but did not let their future bother them.

After a few more minutes of walking and talking, they arrived at Mike's house. They grabbed Mike after a quick hello to his parents and left for the mall. The three of them spent that day as they had spent so many others, talking and hanging around. Tammy picked up a few books, feeding the desire to learn, despite being kicked out of school.

Little did the friends know that so much would change in so little time.