Tie The Rope
By: Katie
Billy smiled as he slowly came out of the dream, but he didn’t open his eyes. He wanted to savor the moment of awakening, because once he did open them, he wouldn’t be the same. Billy stayed stretched out across is his bed, hoping it would stay this quiet. Of course, that’s only a false hope, he thought as Benji giggled outside his bedroom door and Joel whispered at him angrily to shut up.
The door burst open, Benji singing one of his many nonsense songs at the top of his lungs. Joel commenced with jumping up and down on Billy’s bed. Or, to be more precise, on Billy.
“Today is a big day Billy boy,” Joel said, a grin plastered on his face. He held up two fingers. “Two reasons. First, it’s the best holiday ever after Christmas, Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day, New Year’s, Thanksgiving, the Fourth of July, and Hanukkah.”
“VALENTINE’S DAY!” Benji yelled. Joel nodded, not missing a beat in his jumping.
“Thanks Benj. Okay, the second reason is that our sweet friend William, i.e. you, is getting married to the beautiful Andrea Turner.”
“CAKE!” Benji yelled again.
Billy groaned. “Is Benj drunk or something?”
Joel laughed. “Nah, I just gave him some candy to munch on.”
“That’s even worse…” Billy rolled his eyes. “What time is it?”
Joel frowned, his eyebrows knitting together in concentration. “Uh…Benji, you know what time it is?”
Benji grinned. “Happy time.”
Billy rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Joel, just what kind of candy did you give the little freak? ‘Cause if he’s like that at my wedding, then you’ll have to put him on a leash.” Billy gestured at Benji, who was spinning around in circles. Joel looked at his twin, who was now smiling like a three-year old. He whirled around and began running to exit the room, but ran smack dab into the door, rendering him unconscious.
Billy laughed in spite of himself. “Joel, take care of him. I need to get dressed.”
A few minutes later, Billy was leaning against the bathroom sink/counter, staring at himself in the mirror. He was thinking about Andrea, her short, blonde hair and beautiful gray eyes. Billy sighed. She was just so gorgeous. And at five that afternoon they would be married.
Billy turned on the shower, wincing at the burst of hot water. He stripped off his boxers and stepped in, sighing as the warmth wrapped around him like a blanket. Billy turned off the shower with some regrets, not wanting his private bathroom time to end. With a towel around his waist, he stepped back into his bedroom. Laid out on the bed was his tuxedo, still in its protective bag and some regular street clothes to wear until he arrived at the church.
Billy headed downstairs, dressed, refreshed, and raring to go. Benji seemed to have calmed down. Thank God, Billy sighed. The large lump on Benji's forehead helped prove his assumption correct.
“Where’s Joel?” Billy asked, grabbing his Level 27 sweatshirt off the coat hanger and his car keys.
“Left for the church already. He said there was an extreme Jell-O crisis.”
Benji shrugged. He had sobered up, but Joel must’ve still had some bottled up energy.
Billy sighed again. “What about Paul and Chris?”
“Paul’s at Rosie’s and Chris left with Kelly a few hours ago. I think he’s more determined than you are for your wedding to be perfect. Shall we go then, Sir Martin?” Benji extended his elbow so Billy could link arms with him.
“We shall Sir Madden. Wait, where’s your tux?” Benji’s hands were empty.
Benji pouted. “Chris took it. He was afraid I might burn it like the last one.”
Billy nodded in agreement and they set off for the church.
There was a full-length mirror in Billy’s dressing room. He was turning around, looking at himself from all angles. Something was nagging at him, but he didn’t know quite what was wrong. The feeling itself was like when you believe your plane might crash so you take a later one, or when you know deep down that a close family member died. Billy shook it off, believing it to just be cold feet, which, if he had thought about it, he didn’t really have.
“Hey Billiam, almost time. Father O’Malley wants you out there,” Paul said, his eyes betraying the smile he was attempting to hide. “Andrea’s one helluva lucky girl to get a stud like you Bill.” Paul laughed. “To think we didn’t believe her to be that great.” He shook his head before joining Billy on his way out to the main sector of the church where the altar was.
Billy glanced at his watch. Fifteen minutes until the ceremony begins, he thought.
The church had been decorated in reds, pinks, and white to not only celebrate his wedding, but also Valentine’s Day. Billy hadn’t wanted to get married on this day, but Andrea insisted that it was a great way to celebrate their love on the holiday of love. Billy looked at his watch again. It was now five o’clock exactly. He nodded to the priest, who nodded to the pianist, who began playing.
First down the aisle was Paul and Rosie as the best man and maid of honor. It was sweet how those two had hooked up through Billy and Andrea. Joel followed with his bridesmaid, then Chris, and last, Benji. Billy took a deep breath and stared intently down the aisle for Andrea. For a tantalizing minute or two, nobody appeared. Then, one lone figure was standing in the bright church entrance, and they weren’t wearing a dress.
Mr. Turner walked down the aisle slowly, shaking his head in pity. The first thought Billy had was that something terrible had happened to Andrea, the love of his life. But the look in Mr. Turner’s eyes told a different story.
“She left this,” he said, gently handing Billy a slip of paper. It took several moments before he was finally able to comprehend what Andrea’s note had said.
I’m sorry Billy
Billy slumped down to the floor, tears running like small rivers down his face. Paul was there, trying to comfort him. It’s his duty as a friend, Billy thought, but no amount of solace can help me right now.
The flow of tears slowed to a trickle before Billy found some inner strength to move from his position on the floor. Paul and Joel helped him walk, slinging his arms over their shoulders. There was a limo that the small group slipped into. Benji instructed the driver to take them back to the house they all shared.
“Are you going to be okay?” Chris asked when they were home. Billy was lying perfectly still on his bed. He nodded once.
“I just want to be alone for a bit,” Billy replied, his voice barely above a whisper. Chris sighed, not wanting to leave his friend alone. But Billy was having a tough time, so he left anyways.
Billy stared at the ceiling. When they had first moved in, the guys had drawn lots and he had won this room. It had a beautiful view of the Atlantic Ocean. The room itself had dark green walls that blended perfectly with the antique looking wood beams that crisscrossed the ceiling.
He rose slowly and walked over to where his stereo system was situated and put on some music before looking back at his bed and setting to work.
Downstairs, Benji, Joel, Paul, and Chris sat around the kitchen table drinking their beers in silence. Benji let out a small laugh filled with irony. “Happy Valentine’s Day guys,” he said, raising his beer in a toast.
The bottles made a cacophony of chinks, filling the bitter silence that enveloped the house. Joel cocked his head to one side, listening hard.
“Is that the Format?” he asked, looking over at Paul.
“Yeah, I think so. Ever since we played in Phoenix, he hasn’t been able to listen to anything else besides Silverchair. And even that’s on occasion.”
It got quiet again. The music being emitted from Billy’s room got suddenly louder, so much so that Chris could make out the lyrics being sung.
I’m in envy of addicts
You’re obsessed with stars
Don’t, don’t you go sounding so excited
You’re showing me all your vanity
So whisper it once
Just a little bit
C’mon whisper it twice
I can’t stand to see the spotlight shine one more night
It’s killing me to see you
Just tie the rope and kick the chair
Just leave me hanging there, gasping for air
Yeah don’t mind me three feet from the ceiling
You’d rather watch me drown
Than see your hands get wet
You took the plot from stage to screen
And turned it into an epic scene
So whisper it once
Tell me again
C’mon whisper it twice
I can’t stand to see my whole life flash before my eyes
When I’m with you there’s no point in breathing
Just tie the rope and kick the chair
Just leave me hanging there, gasping for air
Yeah don’t mind me three feet from the ceiling
And I think I know (whoa oh oh)
Why you never get too close
It’s ‘cause you’re too scared to
When I’m with you there’s no point in breathing
So so run away for no apparent reason
‘Cause you and I are changing with the seasons
Don’t give me an answer as to why you’re leaving
The tables are full but nobody’s been dealing
So fold your hand.
C’mon just fold your hand
Just tie the rope and kick the chair
Just leave me hanging there, gasping for air
Yeah don’t mind me three feet from the ceiling
And I think I know (whoa oh oh)
Why you never get too close
Its ‘cause you’re too scared to
When I’m with you there’s no point in breathing
“Oh my God,” Benji whispered after the song was over, his eyes widening. “Billy!”
There was a shuffle of chairs and the thudding of feet as they ran towards Billy’s room. Joel was the first to arrive on the scene. He threw open the door and gasped in horror.
They stood there, staring for what seemed like hours. Soon, everybody except Benji had left to make phone calls to their family and friends.
“Happy Valentine’s Day Bill,” Benji whispered. Billy’s dangling legs waved a sad reply.