Too Much, Too Soon

Seven

~THE NEXT DAY~
*Billie's P.O.V.*
As soon as I opened the door to the record store that I've been to thousands of times before, a familiar face greeted me. "Hey, man! How's it been?!" I answered Dillion, "it's been alright. You?" He replied, "it's good. It's good. How's she been?" I smiled, "great. She's actually doing good from what I can tell." "Sick." For a man well past the age that'd you'd expect to hear that tone from, he still used it and pulled it off.

He changed the subject, "well, what are you in for? Strings? Music?" I shrugged, "just kinda lookin' around. Maybe some music." He laughed and turned for the counter, "well, if you think of anything, let me know." "Yeah, will do."

I meandered around the store, not looking for anything in particular. Then, the door opened. Dillion spoke, "Hey! what can I do for you?" The voice rang back and I immediately recognized it, "I was looking for someone actually. His name is Billie. If you see him, say Spencer is looking for him." I froze. I didn't know why he wanted to see me, but I wasn't willing to find out. Unfortunately, Dillion killed that, "I think he's over by the guitar wall." Spencer replied, "okay. Thanks."

His footsteps became quicker and louder as he neared. "Hey. Where did she go?" I knew who he was talking about but I tried to play it off otherwise, "who?" He frustratingly stated, "Hailee, damnit! I need to apologize for that party, and I saw you walking down the street, and I thought maybe she'd be with you." I responded, "she's out of town." "Well," he said as he rubbed the back of his neck, "I'm sorry. I was drunk and she was and I took advantage of that. I'm sorry I didn't say anything to you earlier. I'm apologizing to her and to you. Now I've got to run, but thanks for talking to me." I sat in amazement, "uh yeah you're welcome. I'll pass it along." He nodded his head and turned and left the store.

Dillion came over, "what was that about?" I shook my head, "I don't really know. Well...I do. I just don't know why." He nodded, "I see. I see. Well..." The silence's awkwardness rose. I attempted at breaking it, "uh...well yeah. Yeah. So..." "I'm gonna be over there," he said while pointing at the counter, "if you need me. But you are familiar with the place. So..." He stopped talking and made his way to the other side of the store.

I scanned over the wall; not one guitar caught my eye. I sighed and left the store.

Ever since she left, she seemed so much happier--not that she was unhappy before--she just seemed to be enjoying it back home. I, however, have felt...empty. I'm not sure of that's the word. Just the world seemed gray with only a few dots of color without her as opposed to when I met her, everything became balanced and vibrant and vivid and just down right perfect. I was apathetic about everything and that's not really like me, and I knew her absence must play a part. I wasn't going to kill it for her and tell that I wanted--no, needed--her back for me to feel sane.

*Hailee's P.O.V.*
"MOM!" No answer. I struggled with the zipper on the back of my dress again for the thousandth time. With no luck, I called again. "MOMMM!! I NEED HELP!" No reply. I opened the door to my room and shouted, "MOTHER, PLEASE HELP ME FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE!" She came trotting down the hall, "what was that? Did you say something?" I looked at her bewildered, "I called for you to help a billion times. Please, can you zip up
my dress?" She smiled, "of course." I spun around and lifted my hair up as she zipped up the dress.

She grabbed my shoulders and spun me around, "you look so beautiful! Come on! They'll be here soon." I shook my head, "I want to put a jacket on." She looked at me, "no you can't do that. It'll cut off your figure. You look gorgeous just like this." I protested, "mom, I am cold. I will wear something that covers my shoulders
because of that." I didn't let her answer and I strolled into my room.

I grabbed the black cardigan from my closet and put it on. I was going to wear my denim jacket, but I knew she'd object.

The dining room looked immaculate, just as I'd expect. Not wanting to be forced to make conversation, I tried to quietly take my seat; my attempt failed. "Oh my, you have grown!" I turned to see one of my mom's closest friends and the mom of a girl I used to call a friend, Christina. "Yes I have. A whole zero inches and have gained zero pounds." She smiled and outstretched her arms for a hug, "oh, you're such a jokester!" I forced a smile and hugged her back.

Behind her stood her daughter. She didn't look at me or notion hello. I don't know what I did! Honestly, some people. I waved, "Hey, Christina." She looked to her feet, "hi." I tried to just play it off. She never was a quiet person, so maybe I did something? Whatever.

The doorbell rang and entered another family. My mom greeted the group. I recognized the "ugly bucktoothed son," Justin. He really wasn't ugly or bucktoothed; he honestly could be a model, but I'm not into that. Well, I'm not going to lie, I found him attractive. I've just known him so long that he has become a sibling to me. He, however, has had different views on me in the past

It was known throughout elementary, middle and high school that he liked me; I never reciprocated that. He asked me to Homecoming when we were sophomores. I said yes and I went; it was fun but awkward. After that, we'd go out and hang, but he wanted to be more then friends. Then another guy asked me out--I had a huge ass crush on him--and that's basically the end of that. Summary: we are just friends.

He smiled, "hey!" I waved and smiled back, "hi!" He nodded his head and took a seat at the table. My mom's babbling finally began to cease and everyone else took their seats.

I sat opposite my mom and in between Justin and Christina. Normally, that would be irrelevant, but I was pissed because this means I was going to be forced to socialize.

-1 HOUR LATER-
As the night progressed, the conversation turned to me, "so how's life down in the Bay?" The table fell quieter. I answered Kim, "really good! I've met some great people and yeah." I poked at my food and the questions kept coming.

"Did you meet any boys?" I looked at Marie and laughed, "yeah there's this one." My mom looked at me and glared. I got her covert message, don't tell.  "But," I continued, "he and I kinda took a break when I came back. It would be difficult with distance and all."

My mom interjected, "he was also a rebellious one. Weird hair and in a band. Didn't have any priorities sorted away. I never approved and I believe she finally saw the real him." I nearly spat out the water I was drinking. Her one friend, (I honestly have a hard time telling between the two Barbies), turned to me, "was he a troubled one? Drugs? Alcohol? He probably had some huge, horrible backstory. Father that ran out and crack whore mother." I clenched the fork in my hand tighter and aggressively prodded my food. "He is not troubled. His father past away when he was younger and his mother is a damn amazing lady. He is a great guy and don't protest otherwise. None of you know him how I do."

The silence was deafening. One of their husbands broke the silence, "so, how about school?" I nonchalantly stated, "eh. Never went. Joined a band, had a niceish job." I avoided eye contact with my mom. I don't lie; I don't endorse it. "So, you just pissed the last year of your life away with some low-life losers?" I looked to Christina to answer her seemingly rhetorical question with one of my own, "come again?"

I never thought the absence of sound could be so loud.