Tragedy(Billie Joe Armstrong) (#Wattys2018)

Prologue

Bandit's POV

Another day. Another shitty town. Another school year. Another group of asshole kids. Just the same thing over and over again.

My name is Bandit Dean Coleson. And I want to get out of this place. That's my purpose. I want to get out of here and live a life. I don't care if I have a shitty job and an asshole boyfriend in my future. I just want to be free. Free from psycho parents. Free from school. Free from jerks in the damned school. Free from my past. That's all I want. A fresh start.

I was told moving is a fresh start. No, it's a change in surroundings. People are the same mindless drones no matter where you are. There's the few actually good people, the rest of them are assholes. There's one good teacher, the rest are a pain. There's over working parents no matter where you are. And there's just a shitty economy. No getting out of it. It's how life works.

I'm moving to Rodeo, California from Summit, New Jersey. Across the country. Far from my past. Far from my father. Far from Gerard and Mikey. Far from home. But, my mother's deathly illness and annoying husband stayed. My same thoughts stayed. We left some shit, we kept some shit.

The only thing I'll miss is Gerard and Mikey. Gerard is my best friend. Him and his little brother Mikey are my only friends. They were there for me and I was there for them, until now. I left them, against my will of course. I would never find anyone like them in this even shittier town. I'd probably find no one.

I'd be lucky if I found a friend. A real friend. Not those people you just walk around with so you don't look weird. I doubt I'll find someone I can actually talk to and relate with. But if I do, that's luck. Even though luck doesn't exist.

Only two more years. Then I'll go back east for college then I'm moving far from here. Then I'll have my refresh button. I'll push through high school, then hopefully get into the college I want. And if I get that I'll begin my fresh start, then I'll have my fresh start.

I won't end up like the rest of my family. I won't be a druggie with a shitty job. I already have the druggie part, but I need a good job. I can't struggle anymore. I need a better life. If I get that then I can be rid of the druggie part.

I wouldn't have the druggie part if I didn't smoke that damned cigarette when I was fifteen. If I wasn't stupid I wouldn't be fucked. But I was stupid and then I got smart. Learning from mistakes is how to learn.

Let's hope this little shithole doesn't screw up my future. Let's hope that I can survive another two years.