Dreams of Tomorrow

“And as she put the last pieces of the puzzle she realized that there as a face watching through the window. And that the house looked like hers. She put the last piece and looked up…”

“WAH”

Lya fell back from her seat as Jimmy appeared in front of her wearing a mask.

“Fuck you!” she swore, rubbing her arm. “You scared me.”

“That was my goal.”

“Dumbass…” she muttered before sitting back.

Everyone was gathered around a fire, drinking beers, eating snacks and telling scary stories.
Lya was leaning against Brian, watching the fire as the laughter
caused by her scare subsided.

It felt good to be there, surrounded by her friends, people she had grown to love. She felt mellow, thinking that in a few weeks she’ll leave.

Talking with Brian made her realize how stupid she had been, locking herself in despair when she could act as if it never happened. She had been struck down before and had managed to get up again, but this time it felt like a low blow.
Hearing Brian tell her that Billie Joe wouldn’t hold it against her, it made her realize how afraid she was of him. She was afraid of his reactions, dreading what he was going to say. And she shouldn’t. He had made it clear ever since the first time they met.

He wasn’t Billie Joe from Green Day, to her he was her mother’s best-friend, kind of like a godfather. He was like family. She shouldn’t fear him, she should be able to rely on him.
She hated herself for bringing herself down like this for no valuable reason, but as Brian said, if something strikes us down, we need to lift ourselves up.

She rested her head against Brian’s shoulder.

No, she wouldn’t let herself feel so down anymore. She had managed to get this far in the last 6 months, she wouldn’t let anyone get in her way. She was going to become that girl she had seen once in her dreams. She already had the black hair, now she needed confidence.

**

“Jimmy…” she whispered, shaking him lightly.

“Lya, it’s late why aren’t you asleep…”

“I can’t sleep.”

“Hmmph.” There was shuffling and then Lya felt a hand on her eyes. “There, now sleep.”

“Jimmy!” she whined, trying to swat his hand away.

“Lya, it’s 4am…” sighed Jimmy.

She let out a sight and got out of the sleeping bag, putting on her shoes and grabbing the hoodie that was by her pillow. She got out of the tent as she zipped up the hoodie. She shoved her hands in the pocket and walked away from the tent, towards the dying fire.

She sat down on one of the plastic stools and rested her head on her knees.

**

He sighed, rubbing his eyes and slowly getting out of the sleeping bag. He grabbed his pants, shoes and got out, following her.
He ran a hand through his hair as he approached her, he sat on a stool next to her.

“Brian? Aren’t you sleeping?”

“Couldn’t sleep…” he lied, stifling a yawn.

“Me too…” she said, glancing back at the fire.

“Got something on your mind?” he asked.

“Kind of…” she said, glancing at the tent where Jimmy was probably still sleeping.

“Want to tell me about it?”

She shook her head. Brian frowned but decided to drop it as he looked up and tried to catch a glimpse of the stars.

“Brian, what is it like to be in love?” she blurted out, still gazing at the fire.

He almost fell of the stool, surprised by the question.

“It’s… It’s amazing and it hurts at the same time.” He started.

“It’s amazing to be with the person you love, you enjoy every minute of it, every seconds of it as if it’d be the last. And it hurts to be apart of that person, you think about her a lot, wondering how she is, how her day went, if she’s thinking about you. When she’s happy, you’re happy. When she’s sad, you’re sad.”
She listened attentively before tilting her head to the side, wondering if this was how felt about Jimmy.

“Is that how you feel about Kate?”
Brian sighed and shook his head in the dark. No, he didn’t feel that way about Kate.

“I guess I do, a little.” He whispered, looking at Lya as she was pulling at the sleeves of her hoodie, still gazing at the burning ashes.

She nodded to herself. “Are you supposed to be happy when that person hugs you, and you feel like you don’t wanna go?”
“Yes…” he said, nodding. “And when another girl/boy comes in the picture, you become angry and jealous.”
Lya nodded to herself. So she did love Jimmy.

They stayed silent, side by side, looking in the same direction, with the same expression on their faces, wonder. Lya kept wondering if Jimmy loved her, and Brian couldn’t help but wonder who Lya was thinking about, was it him?

**

“I’m gonna live my life”

She banged her head to the music, humming, a bottle of water in hand.

”When the world gets in my face I say : have a nice day”

She mouthed the lyrics along to the chorus.

“Yeah!”

Michelle sang along as Lya’s voice started to be heard. Soon the two of them started singing along, sometimes more in tunes than others, turning up the volume. The guitar solo came on and Lya started doing the air guitar as Michelle grabbed her bottle of water to use as a mike.

Zack and Brian walked out of the shop, Bon Jovi blasting in the parking lot with Brian’s car with the windows rolled down.

‘I say : Have a nice day!” yelled the girls, dancing.

Brian looked at the two girls, amused. He had never seen Lya so laid back before. He couldn’t say she was stuck up, he would say cautious. But since their talk in the car, she had been more laid back and easy going, taking part of their conversations and hanging out with the girls more easily.
Zack opened the trunk and put down the bag of groceries before closing it and sitting down on the passenger seat. Brian got on the driver seat and started the engine as Michelle and Lya kept singing.

“Woohoooh!” shouted Michelle as the song ended. Lya nodded her head as the next song came on. The drive back to Matt’s cabin was spent listening to Bon Jovi and singing along with the girls.

Lya got out of the car at the same time as Michelle did and out of nowhere, she started moonwalking to the cabin.

“Oh my God…” exclaimed Michelle.

Lya looked up at her friend, feeling the blush rise to her cheeks before she smiled.

“I can teach you if you want.” She said. Michelle nodded excitedly and went to stand by her friend as the boys got the bags out of the trunk.

Lya moonwalked a little as Michelle glued her eyes on Lya’s feet.

“Where did you learn to do that?” she asked.

“My mom was a dance teacher. She was a fan of Michael Jackson.” Lya explained before she started spinning on her feet and stopped one hand on her head and the other pointing at the ground. She flapped her fingers and started dancing to Billie Jean.

“Wow”

Brian stood outside of the cabin, watching Lya finally opening up about dancing. He knew she could dance.
Jimmy watched the scene from afar, Lya dancing in front of Michelle, Brian looking at her and the others trying to cook lunch in the cabin.

He felt a pang in his chest, thinking back to how he treated her the past days, but he just couldn’t bring himself to make a move on her when Brian just came back in the scene. Lya was glued to Brian, ever since they got there, she was always with Brian.

Sometimes, he couldn’t help but wonder if she really did love him or if she loved Brian, but the way she was with Brian was different that the way she was with him. Brian could see her with her hair undone and creased T-shirt, but if Jimmy came near them, Lya would immediately pull at her T-shirt, and ran a hand through her hair, trying to tam it a bit. It made him smile, but it hurt him at the same time. He knew she’d be leaving soon, and he also knew that no matter if he actually loved Lya or just liked her, he couldn’t risk his friendship with Brian over it.

He had no idea what had happened in the car with Brian but when she came out of it, she seemed different, as if she had finally gotten out of her shell.

Jimmy watched as Lya rushed to Brian’s car, shuffling a little before Michael Jackson’s music could be heard. She skipped the song and then rushed back to stand next to Michelle as she started dancing to ‘Smooth Criminal’. A few weeks or months ago, she’d have never dared.

The smile on her face as she looked at Michelle trying to follow her steps, her hair falling in front of her eyes, the way she moved in rhythm with the music… Brian couldn’t tear his eyes away from her, all thoughts of Kate erased from his mind since he had arrived here. He had Lya all for himself, she was always with him, almost everywhere he went, she was tagging along.

Talking to her, heart-to-heart, he missed those times. No matter how beautiful Kate was, or how cool she was, she couldn’t compete with Lya. She had something that could draw Brian’s attention from the other side of a crowded room. If she was anywhere near him, he would feel it.

Lya had this maturity that a lot of his friends didn’t have. Her own view on things, her strengths and weaknesses. He’d never have thought she’d become so important to him. Thinking that she was about to leave to tour the country, it made him want to wrap his arms around that fragile little thing and never let go, protect her from the world. She had already suffered enough. He hated to see her cry.

He let out a sight, leaning against the wall, still looking at her dancing.

What would happen, once she will leave? Would he see her
again? For how long will she be gone? Will she remember them, him?

Fuck it, he was going to tell her how much she meant to him.

**

“Jimmy, I have something to tell you…”

“You love Lya and you’re finally ready to tell her?”
Brian sighed and shook his head, “I called Billie Joe.”

“You did what?” asked Jimmy, starring at his best friend as if he had grown a second head.

“I called him after Lya cut her hand, told you I took her to the hospital, well then when I came back, I went to her room and saw the letter that said she couldn’t pass the French exams.”

“What? Really?”

“You didn’t know?”

“Fuck no, she didn’t mention it.” Said Jimmy, slightly disappointed to have been kept out of it.

“Well, when I saw the letter, I looked around and found Billie Joe’s number and I called him. I told him about the letter, and told him that Lya would probably not tell him about it, afraid she wouldn’t be able to go on tour with Green Day.”

“Did you tell Lya that?”

“Of course not.”

“Dude, if he ever hears about it, you’re dead.”

“I told her what Billie Joe told me, that it was just papers. It wouldn’t change anything about it.” He explained, before blowing out the smoke. “I did what I thought was the best for her.”

Jimmy looked at his best friend before shaking his head.
“I can’t believe how much of a dickhead you can be, and the next second be the greatest friend to her. It’s just…”

“I know Jimmy, I know I fucked up. She told me…” he muttered, remembering her rant in the car.

Jimmy crossed his arms behind his head and let out a sight, starring at the sky, side by side with his best friend. The others had gone fishing and Jimmy had taken this opportunity to spend some time with his best friend.

“I’m going to break up with Kate.”
Jimmy’s eyes shot open, he turned his head to look at Brian, who kept his eyes closed.

“What the fuck?”

“Come on Jimmy, you don’t like her either.”

“That’s not the point, I thought you two liked each other?”
Brian opened his eyes and turned to look at Jimmy in the eyes.

“Does it really look like it to you?”

“Kind of, I mean you’re all over one other...”

“Jimmy, you know damn well I don’t like Kate, you figured it out even before I did myself. We both know it’s not Kate I’m interested in.”

“Well then grow a pair and do something!” sighed Jimmy.

“She’s leaving soon Jimmy, I don’t know when but soon.”

“Then drop it, watch her say goodbye to you, turn her back to you without knowing when you’ll see her next. Because if I were you, I wouldn’t do that. I would tell her, it might not change a thing, but at least she’ll know.”

Brian pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.

“Jimmy, do you like Lya?”

“Of course I do, she’s my best friend!”

“I didn’t mean it like that, I meant do you like her” he repeated, emphasizing the word : like.
Jimmy stretched and then ran a hand through his hair.

“No I don’t Brian, she’s nice, she’s cute, she’s awesome, but it’s Lya. She’s like my little sister, I feel like I have to protect her. Nothing more…”

Brian let out a small sigh and smiled to himself. Jimmy closed his eyes, hoping he wouldn’t regret his lie.

“We should organize something before she leaves…” he said, looking at Jimmy.

**

That was it. Today was the day. Prom.

Lya kept her eyes closed as Michelle was putting on the last touch of her make-up. Lya went to the twins’ house so they could do her make-up, her heart was hammering in her chest as she felt Michelle walk away.

“All done.” She said, excited.

Lya slowly opened her eyes and stood up, walking towards the full length mirror.

She had to admit, Michelle did a good job, even better than for Jimmy’s birthday. For once, she actually thought she looked pretty.

“Thank you ‘Chelle, I really like it.” She whispered.

“You’re welcome sweetie. You’ll be careful when putting your dress on, allright?” recommended Michelle as she went to zip-up her sister’s dress.

“I know…”

Val’s dress was short, above her knees. It was a strapless red dress. It fitted her perfectly, she had straightened her blond hair and was wearing matching red stilettos. Matt wouldn’t resist.
Michelle’s dress was pretty much the same as Val but in white. She looked stunning too.

She thanked the twins once more before taking her leave, hurrying back to her grandparents’ house to get dressed.

**

Lya starred one last time at her reflection before walking out of her room. She tried to keep her balance, not used to wearing heels. She held onto the handrail and kept her head down as she slowly walked down the stairs, one step after the other. She briefly looked up halfway down the stairs, thinking about her mother when her eyes caught sight of something. She stopped in her tracks, her heart hammering in her chest as she saw a man leaning against the wall by the door.

Billie Joe

They starred at one other for a second before she rushed down the stairs and ran to him, wrapping her arms around his shoulder, biting her lip to prevent herself from crying.
Thoughts were going wild in her mind, her heart was pounding as she reluctantly let go of him.

“Wh-…” she tried to speak but words wouldn’t get out.

“I wouldn’t have missed that night.” He said, smiling at her.

“But, how did you…”

“Your friend Brian, he called me.”
Lya’s heart skipped a beat.

The small hallway was crowded by the presence of her grandparents, Billie Joe and Adrienne, all looking at her, smiling. Suzan was seized with emotion, watching her granddaughter going to prom, just like she had seen her daughter years ago.
“Lya!” squealed a small voice. She spun on her heels and crouched down just in time for Joey to jump on her.

“Wow ! You look pretty!” he said, gazing at her in amazement.

“Oh my God, you came too!” she exclaimed, hugging Joey close to
her. “I’ve missed you buddy!”

They all gathered together, ready to take pictures and the smile on Lya’s face never faltered.

**

When she got out of the car, she took a step as she realized the amount of people that came here that night. She felt slightly nervous, thinking about what they would think when they’d see her. Would they laugh at her?

Billie Joe offered her his arm and she linked arms with him, walking with him to the school entrance.

Her heart was hammering in her chest as each step brought her closer to the gym, were the party was held.

It felt like a dream as Billie Joe smiled warmly at her as they entered the gym, people looking their way as they walked further into the room. The gym was decorated with balloons, plenty of colors. The music was already on and loud. Every student was with their mother/father and everyone seemed pretty happy.

Lya’s face was beaming as she caught sight of her friends. She hurried towards them, Billie Joe by her side.

She slowed down as she reached them and took a deep breath, readying herself to do something she should have done months ago.

“Hey guys!” she said, cheerfully, waving her free hand as she caught their attention.

“Guys, this is Billie Joe. Billie Joe, let me introduce you to my friends.” She said, solemnly. “This is Michelle, and her twin sister Valary. That’s Matt, Zacky, Justin and that’s Matt and his brother Jason. And last but not least Jimmy.”

They greeted with a wave of the hand, smiling. Well, grinning for Michelle as she felt happy to see her friend coming to prom’, with the man she considered as her father.

“It’s starting” whispered Val.

The lights were on and the headmaster took the stage, speaking into the mike about mother-son, father-daughter dance, and that afterwards the parents were to leave so the prom could start.

Lya only half listened as she looked at Billie Joe’s profile, he sure did pay attention to himself. He was shaved, his hair was tamed, he was wearing a white button-up shirt, dark pants and its black chuck taylors. Sure, he didn’t look like any of the other dads there, but he wasn’t like any other.

Dads lead their daughters to the dance floor, and Billie Joe took hold of Lya’s hand before dragging her too, to the middle of the dance floor. She felt uneasy as he placed his hand on her back, bringing her closer to him, she looked up only to see him starring down at her as they started dancing. She was almost at eye-level with him.

He led the dance, as if it was a waltz, just like back then in his living room. Except that this time, people were watching them, her, twirling in her dress, following his steps.

As he kept his eyes on her, she began to forget the others watching her.

It was only the two of them.

“Lya, I have something to tell you, so please hear me out.” He
said, his eyes not leaving hers. She nodded.

“I know you’ve received a letter that didn’t bring good news.”
Lya’s breath got caught up in her throat.

“And I don’t care. What matters to me is that you will, one day,
be able to trust me enough to actually give me a call so I can comfort you. I don’t want you to fear me, or my reaction. You’re important to me Lya, more than you think. I wish you would have called me to come for the father-daughter dance tonight.”

“I…” she gasped, short of air.

He kept dancing.

“On New Year’s Eve I gave you a letter, I guess you still haven’t open or read it. So I’m going to tell you what’s inside, because I want you to know Lya.” He closed his eyes for a second, slightly overwhelmed as he looked at her eyes again.
“Inside the envelop are documents I would have wanted you to fill. These documents would make it easier for the both of us, and it would stop you from worrying about whether you’re important or not. Because you’re important Athalya, you’re part of my family. I want you to know that no matter what, you’ll be going on tour with Green Day, because the thought of being separated from you again hurts me.”

“You’re like a daughter to me Lya, I want to adopt you.”

As those words left his mouth, she thought her heart had stopped. He made her swirl once more before bringing her close to his chest, hugging her as the music stopped.

“Dad” she whispered, in the crook of his neck. “I love you.” She unclasped her hands from around him and starred at him, starred at his face, hoping he wasn’t joking.

His smile and the emotion visible in his eyes made her doubt vanish like smoke.

He was serious, he was going to adopt her.

As they walked out of the dance floor, she briefly waved at her friends as she followed Billie Joe outside, accompanying him back to his car.

It was silent as they walked past the crowd, until the reached the parking lot. Lya slowed down a bit, before turning to look at the gym and then at the cars.

It felt like a dream.

“Hey Lya!” she turned around and saw Brian making his way towards them. Her face broke into a smile as she let go of Billie Joe’s arm and ran to Brian, squeezing him into a hug.

“Thank you for what you did.” She whispered in his ears, “You’re the best.” Before letting him go and going back to Billie Joe’s car, dragging Brian behind her.

“Dad, that’s Brian, my best friend. Brian, this is Billie Joe.” She said, watching carefully their reactions as they greeted. Billie Joe smiled and even extended his hand to shake Brian’s one.

“Thanks again for the phone call” said Billie Joe as he got ready to get back in his car.

Brian nodded and walked further away, giving Lya some space to say her goodbyes.

Lya grabbed the door as Billie rolled down the window. She stayed silent until Billie Joe spoke.

“I’ll see you when you get back…” he said with a small smile.

“Will you help me packing?” she asked, in a small voice.

“Sure thing.” He said, with a warm smile. She nodded and took a step back as he started the engine.

“Have fun tonight Lya, it’s only once in a lifetime.”
She nodded and waved at him as he got out of the parking space.

She dropped her arm as she watched his car leave the school parking lot, and driving back towards her grandparents’ house. Her heart felt heavy for a second, before she recalled that Brian
was still waiting for her.

She hurried back to him and linked arms with him.

“So, how was the father-daughter dance?” he asked, as they walked towards the gymnasium.

“It was just like a dream!”

**

They didn’t stay long at prom, they all had planned to go to Matt’s house to really party, Lya as always, went along with their plans, all the while keeping her mind what she had to do.
She never thought that night would be her last night in Huntington, it was decided so fast that she didn’t really had the time to think about it, to think of a way to tell her friends, Jimmy, Brian…

It was already late in the night when she decided that it was time for her to tell Brian. She scanned the room, looking for him. He
wasn’t there.

Athalya met him outside.

Her dress floating around her as she hurried towards him, two plastic cups in her hands.

“Hey” she whispered, handing out one cup to him. He dropped his cigarette to the ground and stomp on it, taking the cup in his hand.
She looked up at him, starring at his face.
A wave of emotions washed over her as she realized how much he had done for her.

“Brian…” she whispered, “I… I have a lot of things to say to you…”
“Please, let me say what I have to say before cutting me off.” She pleaded, before taking a long sip of her drink.
“I still remember the day we met. It was at your parents’ house, Mc Kenna thought I was Jimmy’s girlfriend… Back then I had no idea I would stay there so long… I also remember my birthday, the Green Day show, when I left for SF, the Halloween party…” she trailed off. “It never occurred to me that you’d become my best friend, that we would share moments and memories together… I’ve never had such a close relationship with guys besides you, Jimmy and Johnny. It’s…” she brought her glass to her lips. “I know that there were times when I wasn’t the best of friends to you, I’ve had mood swings more than a pregnant woman. Also, you always took care of me, supported me in my studies. I’m thankful to have crossed your path Brian. You’ll always have a special place in my heart.”
Brian looked at her, keeping quiet.

“Also, you know I don’t like Kate, I won’t lie. She doesn’t deserve you, you deserve better than that Brian, you do. I wish you all the best in your studies, you’re an artist, I bet that a few years later you’ll be famous. I’ll be your fan…”

“I, I have to confess that I’m leaving Huntington. I can’t graduate with a French diploma, but Billie Joe, thanks to your phone call, knows that and doesn’t care. He still wants to take me on tour with them. I…” she trailed off, “I’m leaving tomorrow.”

“I’ll try to be back for graduation day.”
As those words left her lips, his world crashed down on him. Words couldn’t express what he fell for her, it all became clear in his mind. He wanted to tell her tonight.

He dropped the cup to the ground, making the alcohol spill on the grass.

Instead of speaking, he just reached out for her face and did what he should have done months ago. He cupped her face in his hands as his eyes scanned her face, wishing to remember her face, every single details of her face. When he looked at her eyes, he feared her reaction as he leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers. He waited a few seconds, his heart hammering in his chest as he waited for her reaction. He just prayed she wouldn’t push him away. His prayers were answered as he felt her hands wrapped around him as she kissed him back.

Lya’s heart was pounding as she saw his face coming closer to hers. When she felt his lips on hers, she wondered what to do until her mind made her arms wrapped around him.

She didn’t how much it meant to him, and didn’t know what it meant to her, but it just felt right. One of his hands moved from her face to wrap around her waist, holding her close to him.
He knew she was leaving tomorrow, but it would have killed him to let her go without kissing her one last time. That time at the cemetery meant nothing.

Lya caught her breath, resting her forehead against his, her eyes still closed. She could still feel her heart pounding in her chest.

“I love you”