Billy's arrival in London was strange, frustrating, and another reminder that she had vanished again, ignoring his messages. He didn't know what had happened. All he could do now was return to the studio and start the recording sessions. The tracks had already been sent to him; all he had to do was sit down and play the songs in his head.
-Women are insane, - he muttered to himself. He texted Robert to see if he wanted to play some video games. After chatting for a while with the women on his WhatsApp, he mused that when one door closes, another opens. Alessandra had cursed him out in every way possible—fighting, insulting, and saying everything on her mind. Adriana, however, laughed it off, remarking that hot tempers ran in the blood of Brazilians. It was just how they were when something got stuck in their heads. The idea of Billy sticking with her was enough for both of them to strike a deal.
He checked the slow, dial-up internet, which took ages to load, and was connected through a cable. His desk was stacked with all the latest gadgets. His blog hadn't been updated in a month, and he needed to upload some photos and work on promotions for his page.
-Mrs. G, - Billy said as he saw her starting to serve him.
-It's such a pleasure to have you back. The English press has been full of stories about you, - Mrs. G replied.
-What happened with Avril?-
-She just left. You hurt that girl deeply, like a little bird who fell in love with you only to be forgotten when you came to London, - Mrs. G said, her tone sharp. Billy gave her a boyish smile—one she wanted to resist but couldn't. After all, she'd watched this rascal grow up.
-I don't like that look on your face. I made empanadas with that spicy sauce you love. I've got a new recipe to make them flakier, - she said, serving him empanadas with extra meat slices and a hearty soup. This was the kind of home-cooked meal his mom used to make—the kind he missed desperately. He ate so eagerly that he couldn't resist going for seconds.
-You were starving, - Mrs. G commented, clearing the plates. Billy helped her carry them to the pantry, and she handed him a cloth to wipe down the table.
-You should make more for dinner, - Billy called out from the kitchen as Mrs. G washed the dishes.
-There are some left, but we need to stick to your diet. You've had too much bread for today. Maybe tomorrow, - she replied.
-Yeah, yeah, - Billy muttered, ordering books online. He wanted to start reading and had posted a massive recommendation request on his blog.
"Recommend me books," read the title on his page. The response was overwhelming—many were generic titles, but a few stood out as interesting. He ended up buying 50 books, though focusing for more than 10 minutes proved difficult. Eventually, the books piled up on a small shelf, untouched.
Taking a deep breath, he muttered, -I'm an idiot who can't focus on anything but music.- He gave himself a playful knock on the head, realizing he was in trouble if he didn't improve. He decided to start with easier books—those under 200 pages—but had no clue what would qualify as "easy."
Robert arrived around eight, cheerful as always, wearing his usual jeans and plaid shirt—hardly fashionable. They played video games and finished off the leftover empanadas from lunch.
-What roles will you pick after the tour?- Robert asked.
-I have no idea, - Billy replied. -If you hear about anything good for me, let me know—unless you want it yourself. I like roles that don't require me to bust my ass.-
-Sure thing, buddy. But with your tour, we're looking at roles for next March. Don't worry, you'll find something. You've got the look, and you're not half-bad at acting. You're no match for me, of course, but you'll do, - Robert teased, taking advantage of Billy's distraction to win their Mortal Kombat match.
-Hey! You cheated!- Billy yelled, seeing his defeat on screen.
-What a shame, losing to the best, - Robert laughed, enjoying Billy's frustration as he demanded a rematch to even the score.
-Losing to the worst,- Billy muttered under his breath.
***
Avril was drowning in heartbreak, utterly shattered.
-Paint it black; I don't care about the rest, - Avril said, fixated on cutting ties completely. She decided to dye her hair black, embracing the madness of the idea. The darkness seemed to mirror the rage she couldn't purge from her heart. Time had passed, and her first album was now entirely dedicated to Billy—a breakup record brimming with fury and despair.
The album channeled every ounce of her pain, a catharsis guided by her new friend Lily Allen, who taught her to turn raw emotion into art. It couldn't have worked better.
-Damn, girl, - Lily said.
-I'm completely broken. That bastard did nothing but destroy me. I gave him everything—my virginity, my heart—and he used it to manipulate and blackmail me. He dragged me into a nightmare, forcing me to relive all my worst fears. He's a son of a bitch, a wretched scumbag, an idiot who broke me into a thousand pieces. He always promises and never delivers, - Avril ranted.
She had recently canceled all collaborations with Billy and his band. He had metaphorically spat in her face, mocking her efforts and erasing any chance of reconciliation.
-Well, it's not my business, but it's pathetic he didn't even warn you, - Lily said.
-Look… just dye my hair, - Avril insisted, trying to calm down but failing miserably. Her heart was too broken, consumed by anger she couldn't shake.
-Relax a little, - Lily said. -I'm just saying, the bastard may be awful, but he's damn sexy.-
Avril shot her a look of pure disgust, her hatred for Billy Carson burning in her bright eyes. Memories of their time together haunted her, and tears threatened to fall. Lily, understanding the moment, resisted the urge to hug her friend and focused on finishing the dye job instead.
-Let's watch some movies. Order ice cream. We can curl up and suffer in silence, - Lily suggested, putting the finishing touches on Avril's hair.
...