Piano Man

Walking Contradiction

Lyla's Pov

November 1988

Mike was sitting in Tre's self-proclaimed beanbag. Tre was sitting with his arms crossed with a fake pouty face. Billie and I were sitting on the loveseat that was next to Tre's new seating arrangement that was forced by Micheal.

I had my legs tucked up in the tight space that Billie and I had been sharing.

"So Lyla?"

Tre's expression seemed to change and he smiled looking over at me.

"Any word from Mr. Richie Rich?"

I felt my cheeks flush red, and Billie looked at me. Like he was waiting for me to answer incorrectly.

"Who are you talking about Tre?"

The truth was I knew exactly who he was talking about. I knew he was referring to the guy I spilled lemonade on. The guy that Billie seemed to try and kill with his eyes. The guy who had those brown curls and that little bit of stumble. He was the perfect height.

"The guy at Gilman."

Billie was unassumed with the conversation and didn't wanna hear any nonsense.

"There hasn't been, well maybe he just, I don't know. No, nothing is going on between us. Chill out guys, it's been like two days."

"Or maybe he doesn't wanna call."

Billie was now the only one with his arms crossed and similarly pissed out of nowhere.

"What? Is baby Billie sad that he's not the only tramp in the group?"

"Hey!"

"Sorry Lyla, poor choice of words."

Tre tended to be quick but not always witted when he spoke. Sometimes he would say something smart and funny but this was a rare occasion. But he did have a point. I sat through all of Billie's hopeless girlfriend fights since 8th grade starting with Penny Janckens. I was such a great listener I could probably list all of them off right now with the charges they are held to in Billie's head.

"Tre's got a point."

Mike pickled his way into the conversation.

"Yeah? And what point is that?"

"That, you can't handle listening to Lyla getting a single boyfriend. Sorry relationship, I mean you even acted like this when she had a small crush on Carlee Ramos."

"No, I did not!"

I laughed, Bill was acting like he was on trial for a crime, in which he knew he was guilty and would be facing the punishment no matter how he pleaded.

"Billie, you have the longest list of Ladies, I don't think it's a big deal that some rich dude asked for my number one time."

Rolled my eyes holding back a laugh.

"I just don't wanna hear you act like some bubbly cheerleader about it."

Billie's green eyes are starting to pierce mine like an angry cat.

"Bill, don't act like this when you do this every time one of the many ladies you've messed around with is attractive."

Mike was trying to put Billie into his place but this only escalated the situation more.

"I am not a man-whore if that's what you're implying Micheal!"

"N,o he's implying your a regular ol' slut."

Tre was just trying to piss him off at this point.

"So you think that I'm a whore because a guy showed a little interest in me?"

"No! That's not what I'm saying!"

"It better not be Billie Joe."

I felt satisfied but also like I had messed up and probably pissed Billie off. I didn't even start the whole ordeal, that was Tre's doing and Mike's fault for agitating him more. I just finished him off in the conversation. I felt like shit.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

He opened his arms to me for a hug which I gladly took.

"I'm Sorry Lyla."

"You're a Walking Contradiction Billie Joe, y'know that."