CHAPTER ONE
William was now lying in his bed taking opportunity of the empty room. Any minute now and Dylan would walk through the door and start a big mess. Funny enough, this didn't bother William anymore, he was now used to Dylan's vivacity. But it was nice to have some alone time to think about his life. How everything was going to change now. William was thrilled with the idea of finally settling down. He never complained to this father about the moves and when he was little his mother always made them look like fun new adventures. But he always wanted to know what it was like to be part of something; to not be afraid of making a new friend knowing that he wouldn't stay around for much longer or to get too involved with a girl because it couldn't last. And now, with the help of his family, he was elected president of the student's body. For the first time he felt like he belonged to a place. And then there was the way he got the news… His grin actually grew wider when he remembered Phoebe running into his arms, happy with his victory…
He remembered how he felt when his father told them that they would leave. William was devastated, but he tried not to show. He knew that Phoebe was disappointed at him for not arguing with his father and just accepting another move. He had moved around the country for countless times, he knew the drill. But at that moment he realized how much he started to care about his new family, how much he was enjoying this new town… And he felt ashamed too. When he looked into the sad eyes of his father, he was ashamed at how selfish they had been. How selfish he had been. They were so worried about themselves, that they didn't realize that, for the first time in a long time, their parents were really happy. Of course his father wasn't depressed or somber before he met Helen. But when he found her again William could see true happiness in his father's manners. William hadn't seen his father behaving like that since his mom was alive… The awful thing was that William and his siblings ignored all this just because they wouldn't at least try to get along.
But that was in the past now. They were together again and that was all that mattered. Of course they were all grounded and William was ok with that. It was actually fun to be at home with a bunch of kids. They were loud and annoyed the hell out of him. But he loved them all. He was happy with his family. He was happy that everyone seemed to be happy together. He was happy that his dad finally found a woman that made him smile again. And Helen was a great woman, with her group hugging and all the craziness that came with her. William liked her a lot and loved the fact that she made his dad happy and that she balanced his father in every way. She would never be his new mother; no one could replace his mom. But if his father had to marry again, William was glad he did with someone so capable of loving like Helen. And he was learning to love her with each passing day.
As for her kids, they were simply great. William couldn't understand why they took so much time to realize that they were great together. The little Norths he already considered his new siblings. As for Dylan and Phoebe it was a different story. Maybe it was because they were so close in age, so it is difficult to start seeing them as a brother and a sister. You just don't wake up one day and start thinking about someone you previously didn't know and had absolutely nothing in common as a brother or a sister just because your parents are married. Well, with the young ones it is not so difficult (maybe it was the protective big brother instinct in him), but it is difficult with the older one.
He now considers Dylan as a great friend. When they passed the angry I-don't-like-you-because-ours-parents-married-and-we-don't-have-anything-in-common faze, they started to really get along. Dylan was completely different from William. He was loud, talkative, creative, impulsive, disorganized and an artist. Everything William wasn't and that's why they made a great duplet. Hell, if William was now president it was because of Dylan's ideas! William was 18 and a senior he took school very seriously and was what you could call a straight A student. Dylan was 16 and a junior and school to him was only for fun. But he was very intelligent and despite his lack of effort he didn't get bad grades at all. They disagreed in everything, but had lots of fun together teasing each other and flirting with random girls or just doing guy's stuff. The only thing they had in common was the fact that they were both on the basketball team. They hang out together in school a lot these days, as contrary to those days they avoided each other like the plague. And William was much happier the way things were right now. If Dylan was actually his brother he didn't think they would get along this well. They were friends and that's what it was important.
As for Phoebe, William was still trying to figure her out. He recorded that the first time he saw her, his first thought was: "She's hot!" Then he remembered that their parents were married and that made them stepsiblings, so he pushed the thought out of his mind immediately. And then she really started to get on his nerves because she was always making fun of him and Cristina, trying to be superior with her sarcasm. He was really furious with her when Cristina told him the story about Phoebe kissing some guy Cristina had her eyes on, even if she was the one that warned Cristina about him. Yes, he was very protective of his sister, but even now he didn't understand why he was so worked up about that image. Maybe it was because he never thought Phoebe would go for a superficial guy like that just to spite Cristina. Or maybe he already had protective feelings towards her too, just the way he had for Cristina. He didn't know. But the way he felt about her was completely different from the way he felt about Cristina. For example, he would throw up if someone suggested that he should kiss Cristina (ew!), but William actually considered kissing Phoebe when Dylan suggested it. And he didn't want to admit at the time, but he kinda liked the idea. But then she made a face like she was disgusted with the idea and he pretended he didn't liked the idea too. And the way he felt when she was in his arms, happy because he won the election, well… he never felt that way when he hugged his sister.
He didn't know how to label his and Phoebe's relationship. He guessed they were friends, but he couldn't explain exactly what happened, it was like there was this tension between them all the time. At least on his part it was always there. He just never felt at ease with her when they were alone. But he tried to put it aside and most of the time they got along just fine. Phoebe was an interesting companion. She was fun and free minded and at the same time a strong girl. She had interesting opinions about everything, she was sarcastic, but she appeared to be was always smiling. And her smile could light up the whole room… At school they didn't hang out much. Sometimes she and Cristina joined him and Dylan. Sometimes it was just her and Cristina alone in some table. And sometimes she hung out with her group of friends, a bunch of musicians and actors. She wasn't one of the "popular" girls at school, but William noticed how the guys looked at her. Once, one of the guys from the team made a crude comment about her. He forgot that Dylan was her brother and got punched on the nose. If he hadn't done that, William would have gladly done it.
At home they didn't talk much. Sometimes she asked him how were things at school, with him being the president and all. And he asked her about her songs and stuff like that. Mostly they were interrupted by one of the younger kids. But William liked her a lot, even if he didn't know her enough. And he knew she cared about him too, it was evident by the way she was happy when he won the election and by the sad and disappointed look she throw at him when she realized he didn't tell his dad about his victory. And he was also happy that Phoebe and Cristina were great friends now too. Phoebe was a good influence for Cristina. William couldn't help the big smile when he remembered the story Phoebe told him about how Cristina threw some disgusting mixture on that jerk at the party… He really wanted to get to know more about her.
Just at that moment, the door opened with a bang and Dylan entered the room talking to someone over the phone.
- Come on, Carol, it wasn't like that at all… I was showing her my new song… Of course I was going to show it to you too, but Cristina was the one who gave me the idea… Of course she is not my muse, are you crazy? Yeah, yeah I know you don't like her, but she is my stepsister…
William chose that moment to leave the room, he really wasn't in the mood to listen to another of Dylan and his on and off girlfriend's discussions. He and Carol were always fighting and William really didn't understand how they always managed to get back together. Maybe they liked the prospect of making up. William had once a glimpse of how that went and let's just say that the temperature of the room must have climbed a few degrees… It was steamy! But William didn't see a future for them, they never stayed together for more than two weeks! Carol was a nice girl (hot as hell!) but she was possessive and always drove Dylan crazy with her jealousy. And William had to admit that Dylan gave her reason to be jealous must of the time…
William didn't want a relationship like that for him. It looked like it was consuming. Actually he wasn't looking for the right girl at the moment. He preferred to have fun while The Right Girl didn't show up. He was a popular guy at school, so the girls were always throwing themselves at him. It was kind of annoying sometimes, because he knew none of them wanted to know the real William. They just wanted to show off to their friends or were looking for fun. He wasn't a saint at all, but when he went out with a girl he always made clear to them that he wasn't looking for a relationship. William was always so stressed out with school stuff and worrying about his future that sometimes he wanted to just have a good time and relax.
He went into the living room and it was a mess. The younger kids were running around the room while Helen tried to calm them down. Jimi was listening to some loud music while the girls tried to dance to it and looking like they were having the time of their life. Joni, of course, was taping everything while Harry couldn't stop laughing at them. Cristina was lying on the sofa listening to her ipod, while reading some novel. She was oblivious to her surroundings, but William needed some quietness. He went upstairs to the lighthouse. He stopped first in his room to get a book (almost got def with Dylan's screaming).
When William was getting to his destiny his ears got the sound of a guitar and a sweet voice. He could have turned his back and got back downstairs, but he was charmed. He loved that song and the voice was so beautiful… He felt like he was hearing the calling of a mermaid. He wasn't surprised to find Phoebe sitting there with her hair flying with the wind, playing her guitar, with her eyes closed and singing with all her heart. That didn't mean that she was screaming, just that she was feeling every word of the song. She didn't notice that William was watching her. That probably was a good thing because otherwise she could see the open admiration in his eyes.
He knew that song. And he loved it. His father used to hear that song a lot; it was a Joni Mitchell song. His dad wasn't a Joni fan, but he loved that song. He used to sit at home some times and listen to it with his eyes closed and a smile to his face. But right now William was sure that in the future whenever he hears this song, he would remember this moment. The song never sounded so beautiful to him before. He silently sat opposite Phoebe and heard her singing.
Oh
I am a lonely painter
I live in a box of paints
I'm frightened
by the devil
And I'm drawn to those ones that ain't afraid
I
remember that time you told me, you said,
"Love is touching
souls"
Well surely you touched mine
'Cause part of you
pours out of me
In these lines from time to time
Oh, you're in
my blood like holy wine
You taste so bitter and so sweet
Oh I
could drink a case of you, darling
And I would still be on my
feet
I would still be on my feet
I
met a woman
She had a mouth like yours
She knew your life
She
knew your devils and your deeds
And she said,
"Go to him,
stay with him if you can
But be prepared to bleed"
But you
are in my blood
You're my holy wine
So bitter, Bitter and so
sweet
Oh, I could drink a case of you, darling
And I would
still be on my feet
I would still be on my feet.
At the end of the song she opened her eyes and was a little startled to find William staring at her. Their eyes met and she just smiled. He smiled back.
- How long are you there? - she asked shyly.
- For awhile... Long enough to know that you are amazing. – William said sincerely.
- Thanks. – And she looked down to hide her blushing – That means a lot to me.
- I really love this Joni Mitchell's song, but it never sounded so beautiful to me before.
His answer made her blush deeper. But she looked up and asked surprised:
- Do you like Joni Mitchell?
- Well, I don't know her work really well, but what I know I really like. This song in particular I love. This was the song that introduced me to Joni Mitchell. My dad used to hear it from time to time and I fell in love with it. How about you?
- Oh, my mom loves Joni's work. She named one of her daughters Joni for Christ's sake! – Her smile grew, but she continued: - I grew up listening to her songs and I guess it is only natural that I totally love her work and she became a model for me. Her songs are about the things that really matter in life. But this song is my favorite. I remember my mom hearing it with her eyes closed and a huge smile on her face…
- Funny that you are saying this, because I remember my father doing the same thing. – William interrupted her – Do you think they were remembering each other?
- Probably. – She answered with a beautiful smile.
- So, do you think of someone in particular when you sing this song?
"Shoot, where did this come from?" William thought alarmed.
Phoebe looked down before answering:
- No one. I just like the idea of finding someone that makes me feel so strongly like that. Someday, that is.
- I will always remember you when I hear this song again. – "Damn, damn, damn! Did I just say that aloud? Well, by her shocked face I guess I did." – I mean, I just loved the way you sang it. So I guess I will always remember this moment.
- Thanks, William. This means a lot coming from you.
- What do you mean? – He was surprised by her answer.
- I don't know. I always got the impression that you were kinda annoyed by my singing…
- Actually, I think this is the first time I have the pleasure to hear you really singing something. The other times you were always around the house just stringing your guitar and mumbling some words, but I never saw you like this. I'm sorry you felt that way, because now I can say you are truly great. To prove my point, may I stay here with you? I would love to hear more and I promise you I won't annoy you.
Phoebe smiled to him:
- Of course you can stay! But I'm sure you are just trying to run away from that massive mess Jimmi and the kids are doing downstairs and probably hiding from some screaming match between Dylan and Carol again. Am I close?
- Guilty as charged!
Phoebe just laughed and started to sing "I'm Like a Bird". William opened his book and while he heard her singing, he thought that he really wanted to know Phoebe more.
