Chapter Eight - Loss Of Control

It was my first FULL day of school, and I had extremely debilitating anxiety because of it. The night prior, I made sure Jessica said nothing about Billie and Adrienne being my adoptive parents. I told her about Nick; I didn't want to admit to it yet, but I had a tremendous crush on him.

 Whenever I walked into my first period, the teacher spotted me and she inquired, "Are you, Emily Armstrong?"

 I replied a moment later, "Yes."

 "Well, I'm Mrs. Macleod, I'm you're English teacher for this year. I would like for you to stand up in front of the class and introduce yourself tell us about some things like - your family, your teachers, and possibly your old school," the teacher said smiling. She continued a moment later, "Well, just to let you know, you will do this at the beginning of class, okay? You don't have to be shy, I would understand, unfamiliar people." After the bell rang, the principal finished the morning announcements, Mrs. Macleod said whenever I started walking up to the front of the class, "Okay, class this is Emily Armstrong." 

I started sweating, my heart started beating fast, I murmured, "UMM... Hello. My name is Emily Armstrong. I UMMM... recently moved here from Seattle, Washington, to live with my adoptive parents. Oh... I have two adoptive brothers, two dogs (one is a puppy). I play the guitar, I play the flute in the school band. I had one friend named Jessica, at my old school. We would hang out all the time. Uh... Does anyone have questions?"

 One girl raised her hand, I noticed she had a Green Day shirt, Oh, great I thought sarcastically. "Nice to meet you, Emily, welcome to our school. Anyway, you said your last name is Armstrong. Right? This might be a weird question, but are you related to Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day?" 

I thought for about a minute, I remembered Billie saying NOT TO TELL ANYONE! 

"Oh... Uh... No, no. I mean, I guess it's just a common last name, a big fan of Green Day, though."

 Mrs. Macleod said, "Does anyone else have any questions?" she looked around the class for a moment. I sat down to my seat and paid every ounce of attention I had to Mrs. Macleod. (I have ADD or Attention Deficit Disorder, I found out I had it in fourth grade.) 

I went to math next period, I truly didn't pay any attention in his class and I didn't get his name. Then I had band, Mr. Parsons notice me walk into the class. 

"Oh hey, Emily! UMM... You have gotten first chair! CONGRATS! I would like for you to introduce yourself to the class. I would like to ask you a quick question. Your dad contacted me about a week ago, about the tour. Well, I just paid money to go to a concert. I'm so thrilled! Aren't you going?"

 I replied, "Yes! He said he just announced it a few days ago."

 I realized that it was going to be a month since he mentioned the tour. "Well, Emily... your secret about your family would be safe with me, okay."

 Mr. Parsons said, smiling happily. "Oh, okay!" I replied. 

Once the tardy bell rang, I stood in front of the class on Mr. Parson's podium, I noticed the girl with the Green Day shirt sitting in the flute section, Oh god, NOT HER AGAIN, I thought, "Err... Hello. My name is Emily Armstrong, I'm from Seattle, Washington. I just moved here to live with my adoptive family... I play the guitar, flute, and French horn... Well, um... Yeah, that's about it."

A girl in the flute section, with a black pixie, lifted her hand, "UMMM... Emily... You mentioned your last name was Armstrong... Stupid question, your adoptive family that you brought up, is Billie Joe from Green Day your dad?"

 "UH... NO, I mean he is- isn't my dad or anything. I'm probably related to Lance Armstrong, a professional skateboarder. Well, I haven't DNA tested, yet... My parents said, that we are related."

 By the time school was over, Billie picked me up around 3:10, during the car ride back home,

 "Hey, honey, how was your first full day?" Billie asked while he was driving the car out of the school parking lot.

 I replied "Well, Billie, I don't like it there. And it's been giving me stress and anxiety since I went yesterday. EVERYONE kept asking the same question if I'm related to you or a part of our family."

 "Well, did you tell them what I told you?" Billie said while steering into the driveway.

"Yes... but I don't want to mislead them. I feel like I'm living a double life," I answered.

"Well, hun... I don't know what I can do right now. If you don't know, I'm busy, anyway honey, I have to go do some things," Billie said shutting the master bedroom door behind him.

 I went into my room, I wish I didn't make Billie mad or anything and I noticed Adrienne coming into my room, "Hey, Emily. I heard Billie and you come into the house. Don't be mad or sad. I know Billie can be a d*ck sometimes. He's just stressed. How was your first day?" 

"Well, it was fine... I guess people kept asking me the same question..." I said.

 Adrienne replied, "And what was that?"

 "If I'm related to Billie or if I'm a part of our family, it was driving me crazy," I spoke stressed. 

"Well, hun, just know we are here for you, all right. If you don't like it there, we do anyway we can to make you happy, all right." 

 I had two things I was happy about: I was overjoyed that it was Friday because the weekend and I didn't have to attend that school. I was also fortunate that I could still talk to Nick.