When I Come Around(a billie joe armstrong story)

Threads of Connection

The Armstrong household had been unusually quiet since Mike and Tré left a few days ago, and the silence only amplified the tension that still simmered beneath the surface. Billie and Adrienne were trying their best to navigate the fragile state of their family, but one truth was undeniable: Adeline had built walls around herself, and no one could seem to break through.

Adrienne had been relentless in her attempts to reach her daughter, offering gentle encouragement and words of support, but each effort was met with the same distant silence. That's when she decided to call Joey. She knew if anyone could help, it would be him.

Joey returned home later in the week, driving up the familiar street with a sense of trepidation. His own complicated feelings about his father lingered in the background, but his love for Adeline was what brought him back. She needed him now more than ever.

When he pulled into the driveway, the sun was starting to dip low in the sky, casting long shadows across the lawn. Adrienne was waiting for him, leaning against the porch railing with a warm yet worried expression on her face.

"Hey, Mom," Joey said as he stepped out of the car, offering her a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

Adrienne met him halfway, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. "Thank you for coming," she whispered into his shoulder. "I know things have been hard, but she needs you."

"I know," Joey replied, pulling back just enough to look her in the eyes. "How's she doing?"

Adrienne sighed, her hand running through her hair as she glanced toward the house. "She's... not okay. She barely comes out of her room anymore. It's like she's disappearing in front of us."

Joey's heart sank. He hated the thought of his little sister withdrawing from the world, from her family, especially when he knew all too well how lonely that could feel. "I'll talk to her," he promised, his voice firm with determination.

Inside the house, everything felt too quiet, too still. The sound of Joey's footsteps on the hardwood echoed in the space, amplifying the emptiness. He paused outside Adeline's bedroom door, his hand hovering over the wood as he prepared himself for whatever awaited him inside.

He knocked softly. "Adeline?" His voice was gentle, almost hesitant, as if he was afraid of shattering whatever fragile peace existed in her room.

There was a pause, a long, uncomfortable stretch of silence before her response came. "Come in," she said, her voice muffled and distant.

Joey opened the door slowly, stepping into the dimly lit space. Adeline was sitting on her bed, her knees pulled up to her chest, and a sketchbook resting on her lap. She wasn't drawing, though—just staring blankly at the page as if her thoughts were elsewhere.

The room felt different, too. There were the usual posters on the walls, the scattered art supplies, and the familiar chaos of her creative mind, but there was also something heavier, more oppressive, hanging in the air. The music playing in the background was soft, melancholy, adding to the weight of the atmosphere.

"Hey," Joey said, trying to sound casual as he took a seat on the edge of her bed. He leaned back slightly, looking at her with a mixture of concern and affection. "You've been hiding out in here, huh?"

Adeline shrugged, her eyes still focused on the sketchbook in her lap. "It's not like there's much to do out there," she muttered, her voice laced with bitterness.

Joey let out a small sigh, rubbing the back of his neck as he searched for the right words. "Mom's worried about you, you know."

"Mom's always worried about everything," Adeline replied, her tone sharp, though it wasn't directed at him.