Dreams Can Come True

47. Tom

"Well, Bill," Elise finally said, "instead of yelling at your brother like that, you'd better apologize." I swallowed, overwhelmed by her determination. "But Tom has no right to disrupt our morning like this," I defended myself.
Elise gave me a look that spoke more than words ever could. It was a look that reminded me that sometimes an apology was the best medicine. With a sigh of resignation, I turned to Tom. "Sorry, Tom," I whispered, knowing it was the right move to restore peace.
Tom started to growl, his anger palpable like an electric charge in the room. His brow furrowed, his muscles tense. It was as if every fiber of his being was poised to explode. It was clear that my apology wasn't enough to soothe his pent-up frustrations.
Elise, always calm and determined, slowly turned to face him, her gaze penetrating. Her voice, though calm, carried an unmistakable undertone of determination. "Tom," she began, her voice calm but resolute, "you have no reason to keep acting so childish. Nothing happened to your guitar, and Bill has apologized."
Tom's reaction was a mix of astonishment and irritation, his facial expression a blend of disbelief and stubbornness. He muttered something unintelligible in response, his voice trembling with frustration.
"I didn't know the other Elise was back in town," he said sarcastically, his eyes fixed on Elise.
Unperturbed by his reaction, Elise simply shrugged. "I know how to respond in a mature way, Tom," she replied calmly. "Hopefully, you can do that one day too."
Tom's mouth fell open in surprise, his normally confident demeanor clearly shattered by Elise's unexpected response. He seemed momentarily at a loss for words, stunned by her determination.
Then Elise stood up from her chair, her movements controlled yet powerful. She slowly pushed the chair back, her eyes still fixed on Tom. "I'm going grocery shopping and then I'll call my realtor," she declared determinedly. "I found an apartment yesterday, and I'm going to apply for it."
Tom nodded slowly, his words temporarily caught in his throat as he tried to process what had just happened. Elise walked to the door, her determined stride reflected in every step she took. Before she left, she turned around one last time and looked at both of us, her gaze penetrating and resolute. "I hope this argument is resolved by the time you guys come home from the studio," she said with a hint of hope in her voice. Tom and I looked at each other, the tension between us palpable like an electric charge in the air.

Tom sighed deeply, his gaze cast down on the table as if he were seeking an answer in the wood. "She's right," he muttered finally, his voice tinged with regret. "Sorry for overreacting like that."
I nodded understandingly and gestured to the chair opposite me. "What's really going on?" I asked as I sat down at the table.
Tom followed my gesture and sat down, his hands restless in his lap. "I apparently got photographed with Valerie," he began, his voice heavy with shame.
"Valerie?" I repeated, surprised. "Georg's girlfriend," Tom continued. "Gustav just sent me the photo, and I suddenly remember going to the bathroom with her," Tom continued, his voice filled with doubt. "I can't remember if anything actually happened."
"But knowing you, something probably did," I added, slowly starting to grasp the seriousness of the situation.
"Exactly," Tom replied, his voice full of self-doubt and shame. He seemed torn between his own uncertainty and the potential consequences of his actions.
"Oh Tom," I began, my voice a whisper of disappointment and concern. "Why can't you ever restrain yourself? You're going to end up tearing Tokio Hotel apart."
"I know," sighed Tom, his shoulders heavy under the weight of his mistakes. "It wasn't intentional."
"Does Georg know yet?" I whispered, almost as if I were afraid the walls had ears. Tom slowly shook his head. "I haven't heard from him yet."
I placed my hand on his shoulder, a gesture of comfort and support. "Please don't say anything to Georg," I begged him. "You're not even sure if you did anything with that Valerie. Don't break his heart, Tom. This could mean the end of Tokio Hotel."
Tom nodded, his eyes filled with regret and remorse. "I'm going to get ready to leave," he said finally, getting up from the table.
As Tom got ready, I decided to shake off the troubles for a moment. With a sigh of frustration, I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my contacts until I found Julie's number. I glanced quickly behind me to make sure Tom was out of sight, then pressed the green call button to dial Julie. Unfortunately, I immediately got her voicemail, and I hesitated before leaving a message, hoping she would call me back as soon as possible. "Hey Julie, it's Bill," I began, trying to make my voice sound as if nothing was wrong. "Please call me back as soon as you hear this message. It's urgent."