Dreams of Tomorrow

The girl young woman that was getting off the plane looking different than the one that was getting on the plane just a week ago.
It wasn’t just because of the numerous bags she was dragging behind her but also the determination that showed on her face.
She didn’t look that lost anymore, holding firmly her bags and suitcase. She scanned the crowd, her eyes moving quickly across the arrival hall, waiting to see a familiar face.
When she finally spotted the person she was looking for, her eyes widened slightly and she hurried in that direction, dragging her luggage behind her.

He was leaning against a pillar, his leatherjacket slightly worn out, his bed-head dyed a dark dirty blond colour, tight black jeans, worn out Chuck Taylor’s. Yeap that was Billie Joe just getting out of bed.

“Hi Dad!” she said cheerfully, dropping her stuff before hugging the man she had so greatly missed.

“Hi Lya, jetlagged much?” he asked, kissing her forehead.

“Not so much, I slept pretty well in the plane. So I’m good.” She said, nodding to herself. BJ nodded and took a hold of her bags and leading the way to his car. It felt weird for him, he didn’t know how to express this feeling but, Lya seemed different, and he had no idea whether it was in a good or a bad way…
He opened the trunk and lifted her bag in car.

“Damn, that’s heavy Lya…”

“Yeah, brought back some stuff…” she said, adding more luggages and then getting into the car, on the passenger seat.
Billie Joe got in the car, slightly uneasy as he started the engine. He got out of the parking lot and headed towards his house.

“Huh, so, how was it to be back home?” he asked, putting on his sunglasses and casting a worried at Lya as she sunk down on the seat, crossing her arms across her chest.

“It wasn’t good, it wasn’t bad… I guess it was… necessary.” she spoke calmly, looking out of the window. “You know, I think it was just what I needed to get my mind straight, and 7 days were just enough.” She added, looking at Billie Joe’s face as he was focussed on the road ahead.

She sighed lightly and dropped her gaze to her knees.
“It’s not the same anymore you know Dad, I feel like I’ve grown up a lot in a few months. Life goes on, I love my mother Shania, but she’s not in this world anymore… I’d love to go back in time, but I can’t, and dwelling in the past won’t help. She wouldn’t want that and I don’t want that either.”

Billie Joe looked away from the road and to the young woman sitting next to him. He paid attention to her T-shirt “Huntington Beach, I was there.” and then looked back at the road, after a few seconds of silent, he opened his mouth to speak but Lya spoke.
“I went to the cemetery you know, after the appointment at my old school. By the way, I don’t have to go back to France to take the exams, just need to find a French high school and take the exams there. So yeah, I was saying that I went to the cemetery… I went to her tombstone, and I kinda… talk to her. Not aloud, in my head you know… But it kind of, lifted weight off my shoulders. I knew she could somewhat hear me, so I just poured out my heart to her, and it became clearer…” she said.

“Before I felt like I had left something behind when I moved to the US, now I realised that what I had left behind was my strength to move on. After Mum died, I thought my world had end. I thought hoped I was going to die soon so I could be with her again. But now, I don’t want to die, because I’m stronger than that you know…”

Billie Joe blinked, feeling a lump forming in his throat as he heard those words coming from her mouth.

“I… I feel thankful now. Thankful to have my grandparents, thankful to have my friends and mostly thankful to have met you, and to be part of your world now. Realizing that gives me a whole new vision. Like, I don’t wanna graduate both with and American and French diploma just for the sake of it but because of the opportunities it can gives me. But I don’t wanna pressure myself, life’s too short, I’d like to enjoy it at least for a while…”

“So that’s why I want to go on tour with you, ‘cause even if I don’t manage to graduate with that French baccalaureate, I’ll join you on tour. I swear. You can tie me to a chair, throw me in the pool with a plastic bag on my head, I’ll still find a way to come with you.” She said, the determination clear in her voice and it also showed on her face.

Billie Joe chuckled lightly, trying to shake away his emotions. It sure felt weird to him to see Lya so serious about something, but in a positive way. The last few months flashed in his mind as he drove to the nearest Starbucks.

**

“And you move that way…” she said, nodding her head.

“Like that?” asked Joey.

She chuckled, “Nope, slower munchkin. In a ‘yeah, I know I’m cool’ way… and you touch the hat.”

“Like that?” he asked, imitating her precedent moves.

“Yeap, pretty much.”

“Aow!” yelled Billie Joe, entering the living-room with a lame imitation of a moon-walk.

“Yeah, but no Dad. Lya just showed me a few minutes ago how do to that, and that’s definitely not like it. You suck at moonwalk!” said Joey.

“Oh yeah? Well show me then!” argued Billie Joe at his eldest son.

“Fine!”

Joey marched to the middle of the kitchen, looked at his father, smiled at Lya and then ‘moon walked’ to the living room.

“That’s how you do it, huh!” he said, doing a Michael Jackson pose with an invisible hat.

“You… you taught him that?” asked BJ, starring with round eyes at Lya and then at his eldest son.

“Well, yeah… taught him just like mum taught me.” She said simply.

“So you start randomly dancing now, huh?” asked BJ, moving to seat on a stool as he watched Joey moon walking and screaming around the house.

“I’ve always loved dancing, in a way, just felt somewhat ashamed to do it. But mum was a great dancer, and teacher. Why shouldn’t I dance too?”

Billie Joe nodded. “Yeah, true… But could you stop dancing for a moment and come to the basement with me? Got something to show you…” he asked.

She nodded and followed him.

As she walked down the steps to the basement, she couldn’t help but wonder why he suddenly decided to dye his hair, it didn’t quite downed on her why he suddenly had decided to end up with dirty blond hair.

“Hey Dad, I was wondering… about your hair…”

“I know… It looks weird… I just felt like changing a bit. I thought maybe it would give me some inspiration for “Warning”, don’t know if it worked but the album should be wrapped up soon.”

“Nice! But yeah, your hair it’s kind of a failure…” she mumbled.

He shrugged, a sheepish smile on his face. As he entered the basement, he walked over to the wall and took off something as Lya scanned the room, feeling the atmosphere, soaking herself in the ambiance.
It was messy, but still ordered.

She sighed contently and focussed back on Billie Joe, who had just taken hold of a guitar, the strap over his shoulder and strumming on it lightly.

“You know Lya, I was wondering if you…” he looked at the guitar’s neck, “… wanted to learn how to play the guitar.”

She looked at him with round eyes.
“If so…” he continued, taking off the strap and coming closer to Lya. “This one is yours…” he whispered in her ear, and he put the strap on her shoulder.

Her eyes widened as she starred down and saw the guitar. She run her hands against the neck of the guitar, lightly streaming the chords. She shivered.

As she looked up, she saw Billie Joe looking at her with a nervous smile. Lya bit her lips and looked back at the guitar before she sat on the carpeted floor, crossing her legs Indian style and resting the guitar on her leg.

When she realized that Billie Joe was just starring at her blankly, she patted the floor in front of her.
“Come on, what are you waiting for… teach me.” She said, before bringing her gaze back on the guitar, feeling the tears coming up. She swallowed the lump in her throat as Billie Joe grabbed a guitar from the wall and came to sit in front of her.

“What do you want to play?” he asked, nervously. “The basics?”

Her bright green eyes met his darker ones.
“I don’t wanna learn the basics. I just want to learn how to play your music, anything from any of your album, anything written by you Dad.” She said, starring right back at him.

**

“Oh come on guys! Are you going to stay mad at one other for the rest of the year? It was all a misunderstanding…” muttered Val as she nudged Brian, who had stopped dead in tracks as he saw Jimmy chilling with their friends in the park.

Brian frowned, looking around in search of Lya, but when he didn’t spot her, he started walking again.

Jimmy was joking with Zacky and Justin as he caught sight of Brian. The 2 young men starred at one other in silence before cracked a smile and Brian came forward to his best friend.

“Sorry bro” he whispered, outstretching his hand. Jimmy pushed himself off the ground and took his hand before pulling him into a “man hug” kind of thing.

“Let’s forget about it…” he said with a wink before letting himself fall on the bench and patted the space beside him.

Their friends looked at them with a small smile before going on with their own conversation.

Just as Brian was about to open his mouth to ask his best friend where Lya was, his attention was caught when he felt warm arms wrapping around his neck. He felt hot breath against his neck and for a moment, he thought it was Lya.
He turned his head, only to face his “girlfriend”, Kate.

“Hey baby!” she said, kissing his cheek and coming to sit next to him. Jimmy starred in wonder at the girl, before getting up to grab a drink and chat with Michelle. Kate settled herself comfortably next to her boyfriend, resting her head against his shoulder.
Brian’s thoughts went back to that day, when Lya came to his house and he was so cold towards her. He hadn’t seen her for a while. He thought about Lya for a second, for a second only, because someone was approaching them.

She was walking with long strides, her head down, hands in her pockets, her hair tied up. She was wearing some jeans, a purple T-shirt and a black hoodie.

Brian’s eyes widen slightly as the girl looked up, smiled and took off running in their direction. She ran to them, unnoticed and jumped on Jimmy’s back, making him stumble forward slightly.

“For Fuck sake Shortshit, don’t do that!” he shouted, turning his head to catch a glimpse of the retard, only to see Johnny standing in front of him, a beer in hand and a cocked eyebrow.

Jimmy frowned, detached the arms from his shoulders and turned around only to see a grinning Athalya standing there.
“Jimmy!” she threw herself to his neck, wrapping her skinny arms around him and squeezing him to death.

“Oh my… Lya! You’re back!” said Michelle, coming to her.

Lya stayed with her arms around Jimmy for a second before letting go of him and going to hug her dearly-missed friends.

“Damn Lya, you look good!” said Matt, lifting his beer.

She chuckled ad shot him a warm smile before she caught a glimpse of Brian, frozen on his spot, with Kate hugging him.

Lya tilted her head to the side and waved at them, smiling.
“Hey guys!” she said, before going back to Johnny.

She went to the picnic table and placed on backpack on it, she opened it and starting taking out stuff. The curiosity made her friends come around the table.

“What’s that?” asked Zacky, picking up a bag.

“Psh!” she hit his hand and took the small bag from his hands.

“I brought you guys some stuff from my small trip to France.”

“Oooh! Yummy!” said Johnny, reaching out to grab something. Lya swat his hand and mock-glared at him.

“So I brought back some typical and less-typical French stuff for you to try… Like biscuits, cakes, drinks, sweets…” she said, as she finished emptying her backpack.
“I would have brought back cheese, but it’s forbidden to enter the US territory with French cheese, and it would have smelled too much…” she joked.

Brian came closer to his friends, looking curiously at the products spread over the table.

“Since the weather isn’t bad, I thought we could have some kind of a picnic in the park…” she continued, taking out plastic cups and paper plates.

“You thought about everything…” joked Justin.

“Damn well I did, I planned it ever since I stepped in the plane to go to France.” She said, smiling warmly. “Go on guys, help yourself… You got biscuits from Normandy, sweets… It’s caramels with salt, it’s typical from France. The taste is peculiar, but it’s nice… Oh and as for the drinks, we got apple cider and others… I have strong liquor at home, next time you come over I’ll show you… I brought back apple liquor, and some old liquor my great uncle used to do. But, it’s really strong…” she said, nodding and smiling to herself.

“Come on guys!” She said cheerfully, opening the bags. Michelle smiled at her twin sister and started to take out the plates.

**

The sun was going down as they finished their ‘French picnic’, all the food and drinks had vanished.

Lya swung her backpack over her shoulder, took one last glance at the empty table, then looked at the sky and smiled brightly before running to catch her friends who were about to leave the park.

She caught up with them and linked her arm with Michelle’s, smiling at her.
“I thought about you when I got in the train in Paris” she said, “You should definitely visit Paris once, I’m pretty sure you and Val would like it.” She commented, adjusting her now empty bag.

“I didn’t have the time to walk around in Paris that time, but I’ve been there quite a few times with my mother. You’ll like it, it’s nice.” She said, smiling at Michelle and then looking ahead of her. Her gaze scanned the scenery in front of her, it had become familiar to her. The houses that all looked somewhat similar, the tidy gardens, the streets, walking with her friends…
Her eyes then fell on Jimmy, who was joking with Brian, and Johnny, while a girl hung on Brian’s arm. She focussed on Jimmy, who wasn’t wearing his crazy bathrobe for once, she took in is appearance and let out a small sigh as she realized how she had missed them, him. She frowned to herself, looking at her shoes and then back at her friends as they arrived in her street.

“Are you going back home now?” asked Michelle, tugging at her arm.

She bit her lip and looked in the driveway. She saw her grandfather’s car parked there.

“I’ll go in there for a bit, need to talk to my grandparents, I’ll be right back.” She said, letting go of Michelle’s arm and jogging to the house.

She opened the front door and called out for her grandparents.
“Hey Mamie, can I go over to one of the guys’ house? I won’t come home late.” She said, after kissing the old woman’s cheek.

“Sure, go ahead Lya. Have fun!”

Lya grinned and was about to turn around and leave when she stopped in tracks,
“Do you need me to help you with anything before I leave?” she asked.

Suzan smiled and shook her head.
“Go on Lya, see you later!”

“See ya Mamie, love you!” and she left, closing the door behind her, looking through her jeans pocket, checking if she had her keys. She patted her pocket, nodded to herself and hurried back to her friends.

Suzan looked out of the window, smiling to herself as she saw Lya, chatting with her friends are they walked down the street, probably towards Matt’s house.

Athalya listened to Johnny as he was telling her all about what had happened while she was away.

“… and Brian and Kate are together now, but you probably noticed that…” he trailed off, making a weird face as he looked at Lya, expecting a reaction.

“I think I’ve seen her before…” she said, frowning as she tried to remember where it was.

“You met her at Brian’s house, Halloween party.” He said. She nodded to herself.

“What do you think?” asked Johnny, lowering his voice and slowing his pace. Lya slowed down slightly as well, matching Johnny’s steps. She shrugged.
“I guess it’s cool for him, right? They kinda look good together I guess…” she said, in a low voice. Johnny kept casting glance at Brian and Kate’s entwined hands. He made a face.

“You know, I kinda expected Brian to end up with someone like you, not her.”

“What?!” she exclaimed, her eyes widening. She frowned, “What the hell Johnny!” she smacked his arm, “Dumbass.”

Jimmy looked at his side but couldn’t see Lya anymore, he frowned, slowed down and looked over at Michelle. Nope, Lya wasn’t there either…

He rolled his eyes as he heard Lya’s voice from behind him, and when he turned around, he couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight: Lya smacking Johnny’s arm, “Dumbass!”

“What’s wrong with you guys?” asked Jimmy, looking at Lya.

“Nothing…” she whispered, her cheeks tainting a light shade of pink. She glared at Johnny.

Jimmy shook his head at the two youngest and then caught up with Brian, just as the group stopped in front of an unfamiliar house.

“Where are we?” asked Lya, quietly, frowning at the big house.

“Kate’s house.” He said.

“Are we going there?” she asked him, frowning even more. She didn’t like the idea of going into a stranger’s house.

Just as Johnny opened his mouth to answer her, Lya’s gaze drifted to Brian as he bent down slightly and kissed Kate before she took a step back, grinning. She waved at everyone and walked towards her house.

Lya’s eyes were glued on what had just happened.

Did Brian just kissed her?

Johnny was trying his best friend to catch his friend’s attention as Brian turned his head, and was met his Lya’s blank face, her eyes starring at him like she had just seen a ghost. Before he could say something, she was back to normal and was walking ahead, with Johnny running behind her, trying to catch up with her.

**

As they reached Matt’s house, Lya took a seat by the window, in his room. She looked outside, as the guys were discussing which game they should play.

She put the hood of her hoodie up, glaring at the tree in the backyard.

What was that, seriously? Why the hell didn’t he tell her he had a girlfriend? He didn’t even introduce her to his girlfriend, what kind of best friend was he? Did he forget about her just because she went back to France? He even ‘rejected’ her when she went to talk to him before leaving, was it because of her?

She crossed her arms and sulked.

Her good mood had vanished, she reluctantly looked away from the tree and her eyes scanned the small crowd in Matt’s room, until it stopped on Brian. She glared at the back of his head for a few seconds before looking away, focussing on a picture hanging on the wall.
Her thoughts went back to France, how she had thought about Huntington while she was back at her mother’s house.

When she was walking around in her hometown, every time she came across a group of people, about her age, she immediately thought back to her friends. She remembered the first time she had met them, how she came to tolerate them in her dark world, how from tolerating them she moved to loving and needing them. Especially those 3 guys: Johnny, Jimmy and Brian.

At first, her world was around them, now, she has become more familiar with the rest of the group and she has learnt to love them too.

Even though she was glad to be back in the US, there was a nagging feeling at the back of her head, as if she was missing something.

She frowned and pulled down the hood even more.

**

Lya stretched in her bed, yawning. She wiggled her toes before throwing away her covers and getting out of bed, tying her hair in a ponytail and opening the shades. She squinted her eyes at the sunlight before opening the window and grabbing her clothes on her way to the bathroom. It was the beginning of March and the weather was definitely warmer than the one in France. She washed her face, brushed her teeth and got ready for the day, getting dressed and applying little make up.
She hurried down the stairs, to eat breakfast. Her grandparents were away for the week, going to Arizona to visit some friends.

She washed the dishes, ran back upstairs to grab her bag and hurried back down, locking the door on her way out.

She put her earphones in her ears and she started walking to school, taking long strides. The morning breeze hit her face and reddened her cheeks and nose as she put the hood of her hoodie up.
Monday morning.

She arrived at school at the same time as the school bus did, and noticed Jimmy getting out of his car. She hurried towards her friends, putting her CD player in her bag as she walked.
As she arrived near them, she saw Brian getting out of the car as well, she smiled brightly but it vanished as he held the door opened for Kate. She frowned slowing down.

What was she doing here?

“She’s going to our school”

Her eyes widened as she looked at her side and saw Johnny, smiling at her.

“Does she? Never seen her around before.” She whispered, giving a quick hug to her friend.

“That’s ‘cause you hang out with them too much, you should pay more attention to your surroundings.” He added with a shrug.

“You weren’t with them?” she asked, walking along side him towards Jimmy’s car.

“My dad dropped me to school.” He said. She nodded and looked down as they had arrived.

“Hey Shortshit, Lya! What’s up with you two, leaving me alone driving those two love birds…” said Jimmy, mock glaring at Kate and Brian.

Lya bit the inside of her cheek, sulking.

“Hey what's up Lya? Why all moody?” asked Jimmy, engulfing her in a hug. She hugged him back.

“Damn, you’re freezing. Did you walk to school?” he asked, touching her nose. She scrunched it up, taking a step back as she nodded. She glanced in their direction and waved in their direction, not looking at them before grabbing Jimmy’s hand and dragging him away from his car and towards school.

“Athalya, are you PMSing?” asked Jimmy, glancing at her curiously.

She stopped to glare at him before turning to look at Johnny.

“What’s PMSing?”

The guys started laughing. She frowned.

“You’re being serious?” asked Johnny.

“Come on Lya, it’s that time of the month, you know… Girls get all moody and whinny for about a week…” he trailed off. Lya’s eyes widened before she blushed and slapped Jimmy’s arm.

“Dumbass.” She growled as the boys kept on laughing.

**

“Seriously Athalya, what’s up with you?” asked Jimmy as he followed Lya into her kitchen. School had just ended and Lya hadn’t stopped frowning ever since the morning.

She stopped as she was about to get some glasses from the cupboard.

“What’s up with me?” she asked, slowly turning around. “You’re wondering what’s up with me?” she repeated louder.

“I’m getting fed up! That’s what’s up with me! I’ve been back for about a week and I haven’t yet been able to come anywhere near my best friend, because of… because of that… that bitch. She’s always there, every fucking time! Shit!” she burst out.

Jimmy blinked.

“She’s always like Brian this, Brian that, well Brian is my best friend for heaven’s sake! I ought to be able to at least talk to him! But no, she’s always there, glued to his body. He isn’t even that good looking, damn it!” she ranted, taking out glasses before slamming the cupboard shut. Jimmy cringed.

“Michelle or Val are able to have a conversation with me, even though they have boyfriends, but that’s ‘cause they are decent person. Do you know what he did?” she asked, pointing a finger inches away from Jimmy’s face.

“When I went to tell him I was leaving for France, he didn’t even talk to me. He stood in the doorway, in shorts and didn’t even smile at me. I am his best friend goddamn it!” she yelled.

“I went to France for a while, trying to sort things out in my life, and it came out much clearer. I wanted to tell him about it, but no! And Billie Joe even offered me a guitar, I thought I could share that with him, but no! He’s too damn busy with his… his bitch. I hate them, both of them. Selfish bastard.” She ranted, going to the living room and letting herself fall on the couch, crossing her arms and pouting like a child.

“I feel betrayed, he knew me first.” She grumbled.

Jimmy chuckled before joining her on the couch and wrapping his arm around her shoulder.

“Come on Lya, he’s a teenager…” he started.

“And so what?! Having sex is more important than talking to his best friend, is that what you mean? Let me tell you something, I hope they won’t get married.” She snapped.

Jimmy stopped chuckling when he spot the serious look on her face, she did look upset.
And by the way she was ranting, she must have had it on her chest for a few days at least.

“You know Jimmy, real friends are forever. Even when we’ll graduate and we will probably go our separate ways, I’ll always remember you and consider you as one of my best friend. Even if one day I’ll have a boyfriend, I’ll tell him about my best friends, and he won’t be able to stop me from seeing you guys. ‘Cause there’s more between us than friendship, I owe you so much Jimmy. And I owe so much to them, even if one day I leave the states, you’ll always be there…” she said, holding her hand to her heart. “And… I will forever remember how this dumbass chose her over us.” She finished, glaring at the switched off TV screen.

“But even if he’s a jackass, I know you’re better than him, right Jimmy?” she asked, turning to look at him. “You wouldn’t let a girl come between you and me, would you?” she asked, “otherwise I’d have to chase her away” she muttered.

Jimmy tried to stop himself from laughing at her face. She looked so cute all crossed up and threatening them. But deep inside, he understood her. He knew what she meant and he was upset too, upset to see that even though she didn’t love Brian, she cared about him and loved him in her own way and Brian had given up too fast. Choosing the easiest way and completely ignoring the girl. He had no idea that it was hurting Lya as well.

“You know Jimmy, I don’t think I’ll go back to France any time soon.” She said, in a low voice.

“What, why?”

She took a deep breath, “I… I talked to David, my step-father. I told you he wanted to sell the house, didn’t I? Well, we talked about it in Paris, before I boarded the plane to come back here… And I…” she paused, looking down at her hands. “I signed the papers saying that we will sell my mother’s house.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “It was too different, it didn’t feel like home anymore. And so I brought back some of my mother’s stuff, I put them in Billie Joe’s attic.”

Jimmy wrapped his arm tighter around her shoulder.

“I’m sorry Lya, it must have been difficult for you to leave your house.”

“Kind of. But I felt ready for this, in a way. And I guess Mom wouldn’t have wanted me to keep it while not living in it. I guess it’s better off that way.”

“And, will David get all the money?” he asked, unsure.

“My name was in the will, it said that if my mother were to die, I would inherit of the house but if I were to sell it, I would have to share with David.” She explained, running a hand through her hair. “80 – 20” she added.

“20 for whom?”

“David gets 20% of the sale, I get 80%” she said.

“Whoa Lya! That’s pretty cool!”

“I know, right?” she said, cracking a smile. “But if I had a choice, I’d rather have my mother by my side…” she whispered. “But anyway, if I were to go to college, I could afford it.”

“You don’t want to go to college?” he asked. She shrugged.

“I’d like to, but I don’t what to study… I guess I’ll just wait a bit.” She said, “And you?”

“I still don’t know… Maybe try to get a demo out and start touring with the guys…”

“No matter what, we’ll keep in touch, right Jimmy?”