Untitled, chapter 3
Billie Joe waded through the essentially black sea that was the pile of clothes he owned and was too lazy to fold and put away, and picked up his pair of pants again. Well, maybe he might have been able to get the place into some sort of order had Gaia not oh-so-contently invited herself into his room and just randomly started chatting to him. He quickly whipped off his travel clothes and began to put on a clean outfit. The kid was gonna do fine in LA, with that fucking self-confidence and the superior, smart ass. She'd give it to the fakes-tits and the wannabes just like it is, maybe a little too harshly even, if any ever had the lack of brains to get on her nerves.
He suddenly stopped with his head halfway out of his t-shirt when a lilting country melody drifted into the room. Shit. Was that Gaia playing? Billie Joe didn't recognize the song, but she was good regardless.
Billie Joe stood listening to the music. For some crazy reason it made him think of sunny, lazy afternoons, lemonade, kids playing hide and seek and their carefree laughter. He grinned to himself and went in search of socks, coming up only with a pair that didn't match a minute later. He pulled them on and went and yanked the door open.
The music stopped abruptly; Gaia fell inwards at his feet, clutching a harmonica.
"Ow."
"Sorry. Didn't know you were there."
"Yeah you did. I'm right where you put me. Bastard."
Aaaand... the lazy afternoon mood was fast deteriorating.
"Where'd you learn to play like that?" he asked as she wandered back into his room. Gaia pushed a pile of boxers onto the floor and sat on the chair.
"My friend taught. He was pretty good. I can't play guitar though," she added, picking up an acoustic leaning against the wall. Attempted to strum a G, but ended up grimacing. She couldn't actually remember what a G sounded like, but it was for damn sure not that.
Glancing up, she caught Billie Joe just stupidly looking at her.
"Um, may I introduce you to a tool for keeping orderly hair, called a comb?" she said mildly.
Billie Joe turned slightly so he could see himself in the speckled vanity mirror. His dark hair looked like a bird had attempted to build a nest there. "Yeah, well, it's kinda uncontrollable. Can't find my gel." He ran a hand through it. "You play any other instruments?"
"I took some drumming lessons before I left Wellington, but my hand-eye co-ordination sucked. So mainly I was just making a lot of noise."
Billie Joe snickered and accepted the guitar from her. He strummed a tune she didn't recognize and said, "I play drums. This here, piano, harmonica, and the mandolin. Know what that is?"
The redhead bobbed her head full of curls. "It's honestly beautiful. I saw Nicholas Cage in Captain Corelli's Mandolin, and the I heard what it sounded it when there were scenes where his character played it." All of a sudden her face was dreamy and full of wonder. "I've kind of wanted learn it ever since."
Her eyes flickered back to him. "Isn't that stupid?"
From where he sat cross legged on his bed, tuning his guitar, Billie Joe stared back at her, surprised she cared for his opinion. "I'm not gonna discourage you from playing music, kid."
"Yeah, okay... "
For a whole minute they sat in silence, with Billie Joe wondering why Gaia all of a sudden wasn't so keen to annoy him anymore. She sat, staring at him intently with a slight frown. Oh damn, his zipper wasn't undone again, was it? He checked. Nope.
"So... " he said finally. "I'm gonna write some crap lyrics and maybe make up some crap music to go with it, and... you will fuck off so I can do that."
"Okay," she replied, sliding off the chair and sauntering past him out the door.
"Well, that was easy," he muttered, surprised again, and turned his focus to his guitar.
Gaia made her way downstairs. The only reason she left Billie Joe to it was because Green Day's music was blissfully kick ass rock, and if what he needed was peace and quiet to do his thing, well, he was gonna get it. The only problem was, that left her back at square one. She had NOTHING to do. Again.
"Hey honey," Jill called out to her as she passed the living room. "What are you up to?"
"Billie Joe told me to get lost. But in different words. So I'm getting lost."
"Well, we're leaving for dinner in about thirty... right?" she looked to Ollie for confirmation. "Yup, thirty. 'Kay?"
"Right," Gaia mumbled.
"Oh, and what was with all that screaming awhile ago?"
"I saw Billie Joe's face."
Jill rolled her eyes, but Ollie just laughed.
***
Thirty minutes came and gone, and right on time, there were thundering footsteps down the stairs as Billie Joe emerged, eager for food.
"Well, where's Gaia?" his mother demanded.
"I dunno. She left."
They called for her. No response. The three of the walked through the house, peeking into every room, but she was nowhere to be found. They checked the yard. She wasn't there either.
It wasn't until Billie Joe muttered, "I only told her to get outta my room, not to vanish into the fucking air" that Jill clapped her hands over her mouth and gasped.
"Oh, goddammit. She wandered off. Outside." And with a groan she sank onto the couch.
"What?"
"It's what she does. If ever she gets bored she just leaves the house and off to do god knows what at god knows where. Never mind that nobody knows what she's up to and will probably get worried upon discovering she's gone. But no, that's just not Gaia's way," she finished sarcastically.
"What do you mean she—" Billie Joe gaped at her. "She just went? Is she fucking crazy? She doesn't even know her way around here!"
"Exactly," his mom cut in sharply. "So you'd better you find her sound and safe and hope that I'm not going to kick your ass any harder than I'm already planning to."
"Wha—" he wanted to know why he had to be the one looking, but the fire in his mother's eyes was enough to shove him out the door.
Damn girl. He said 'fuck off', not 'get lost'. Literally.
***
After the first twenty minutes of roaming the surrounding neighborhood and a little beyond, Billie Joe started to feel panicky, all the while silently cursing Gaia for being the insensitive, spoilt little bitch she was.
Finally - FINALLY - he spotted her alone on the beach while he was sprinting past the water, slightly hyper from the ever mounting dread of not finding her.
"WHAT THE FUCK—" he began as he reached her, but the words died in his throat from lack of oxygen. All he could do was stand beside her gasping like a fish out of water while she peered up at him calmly.
"You told me to go. So I went."
"Well I didn't mean—" he gestured around them, "—this!" and dropped down next to her in the sand, inhaling deeply. After a minute he caught his breath, and was preparing to tell her off, but stopped short and checked himself. The girl was probably going to twist everything he said around to form smart ass comebacks, being as gifted with that particular talent as she was.
So he said instead, "Let's get back."
"No."
He whipped around incredulously, and almost groaned to see she was wearing that daring smile again. "We gotta go. Your mom's worrying."
"She's a smart woman and knows worrying won't help the least."
"Okay. But MY mom's worrying too."
"Are you saying YOUR mom's not a smart woman and doesn't know that worrying won't help the least?"
Fuck, fuck, fuck. Stupid girl! He was close to losing it, so he did what worked the last time. He scooped her up.
BIG mistake.
"Put me down mother fucker! HELP! HE'S A TRANSVESTITE KILLER! HE'S GOING TO RAPE ME! SOMEBODY HEEEEELP! GET HIM OFF ME!"
"All right!" He hurriedly released her. "Just shut the fuck up, okay?" Luckily there was no one around to catch that little scene.
"I ain't coming."
"The hell you're not."
"I'm not." She smiled sweetly. "Coz you're gonna buy me a candy bar first."
"Don't have money."
"That's all right. I took some change from your desk."
Oh sweet Jesus. Someone kill him now.
"I get my candy, then I'll come."
Billie Joe stared down at the fifteen year old before him. Defeat was inevitable; she was well practiced in the art of torture; her skills were VERY well refined. If she didn't get her way soon he's going to end up needing psychological help.
So he huffed out a breath and tried to remember the nearest store.
He suddenly stopped with his head halfway out of his t-shirt when a lilting country melody drifted into the room. Shit. Was that Gaia playing? Billie Joe didn't recognize the song, but she was good regardless.
Billie Joe stood listening to the music. For some crazy reason it made him think of sunny, lazy afternoons, lemonade, kids playing hide and seek and their carefree laughter. He grinned to himself and went in search of socks, coming up only with a pair that didn't match a minute later. He pulled them on and went and yanked the door open.
The music stopped abruptly; Gaia fell inwards at his feet, clutching a harmonica.
"Ow."
"Sorry. Didn't know you were there."
"Yeah you did. I'm right where you put me. Bastard."
Aaaand... the lazy afternoon mood was fast deteriorating.
"Where'd you learn to play like that?" he asked as she wandered back into his room. Gaia pushed a pile of boxers onto the floor and sat on the chair.
"My friend taught. He was pretty good. I can't play guitar though," she added, picking up an acoustic leaning against the wall. Attempted to strum a G, but ended up grimacing. She couldn't actually remember what a G sounded like, but it was for damn sure not that.
Glancing up, she caught Billie Joe just stupidly looking at her.
"Um, may I introduce you to a tool for keeping orderly hair, called a comb?" she said mildly.
Billie Joe turned slightly so he could see himself in the speckled vanity mirror. His dark hair looked like a bird had attempted to build a nest there. "Yeah, well, it's kinda uncontrollable. Can't find my gel." He ran a hand through it. "You play any other instruments?"
"I took some drumming lessons before I left Wellington, but my hand-eye co-ordination sucked. So mainly I was just making a lot of noise."
Billie Joe snickered and accepted the guitar from her. He strummed a tune she didn't recognize and said, "I play drums. This here, piano, harmonica, and the mandolin. Know what that is?"
The redhead bobbed her head full of curls. "It's honestly beautiful. I saw Nicholas Cage in Captain Corelli's Mandolin, and the I heard what it sounded it when there were scenes where his character played it." All of a sudden her face was dreamy and full of wonder. "I've kind of wanted learn it ever since."
Her eyes flickered back to him. "Isn't that stupid?"
From where he sat cross legged on his bed, tuning his guitar, Billie Joe stared back at her, surprised she cared for his opinion. "I'm not gonna discourage you from playing music, kid."
"Yeah, okay... "
For a whole minute they sat in silence, with Billie Joe wondering why Gaia all of a sudden wasn't so keen to annoy him anymore. She sat, staring at him intently with a slight frown. Oh damn, his zipper wasn't undone again, was it? He checked. Nope.
"So... " he said finally. "I'm gonna write some crap lyrics and maybe make up some crap music to go with it, and... you will fuck off so I can do that."
"Okay," she replied, sliding off the chair and sauntering past him out the door.
"Well, that was easy," he muttered, surprised again, and turned his focus to his guitar.
Gaia made her way downstairs. The only reason she left Billie Joe to it was because Green Day's music was blissfully kick ass rock, and if what he needed was peace and quiet to do his thing, well, he was gonna get it. The only problem was, that left her back at square one. She had NOTHING to do. Again.
"Hey honey," Jill called out to her as she passed the living room. "What are you up to?"
"Billie Joe told me to get lost. But in different words. So I'm getting lost."
"Well, we're leaving for dinner in about thirty... right?" she looked to Ollie for confirmation. "Yup, thirty. 'Kay?"
"Right," Gaia mumbled.
"Oh, and what was with all that screaming awhile ago?"
"I saw Billie Joe's face."
Jill rolled her eyes, but Ollie just laughed.
***
Thirty minutes came and gone, and right on time, there were thundering footsteps down the stairs as Billie Joe emerged, eager for food.
"Well, where's Gaia?" his mother demanded.
"I dunno. She left."
They called for her. No response. The three of the walked through the house, peeking into every room, but she was nowhere to be found. They checked the yard. She wasn't there either.
It wasn't until Billie Joe muttered, "I only told her to get outta my room, not to vanish into the fucking air" that Jill clapped her hands over her mouth and gasped.
"Oh, goddammit. She wandered off. Outside." And with a groan she sank onto the couch.
"What?"
"It's what she does. If ever she gets bored she just leaves the house and off to do god knows what at god knows where. Never mind that nobody knows what she's up to and will probably get worried upon discovering she's gone. But no, that's just not Gaia's way," she finished sarcastically.
"What do you mean she—" Billie Joe gaped at her. "She just went? Is she fucking crazy? She doesn't even know her way around here!"
"Exactly," his mom cut in sharply. "So you'd better you find her sound and safe and hope that I'm not going to kick your ass any harder than I'm already planning to."
"Wha—" he wanted to know why he had to be the one looking, but the fire in his mother's eyes was enough to shove him out the door.
Damn girl. He said 'fuck off', not 'get lost'. Literally.
***
After the first twenty minutes of roaming the surrounding neighborhood and a little beyond, Billie Joe started to feel panicky, all the while silently cursing Gaia for being the insensitive, spoilt little bitch she was.
Finally - FINALLY - he spotted her alone on the beach while he was sprinting past the water, slightly hyper from the ever mounting dread of not finding her.
"WHAT THE FUCK—" he began as he reached her, but the words died in his throat from lack of oxygen. All he could do was stand beside her gasping like a fish out of water while she peered up at him calmly.
"You told me to go. So I went."
"Well I didn't mean—" he gestured around them, "—this!" and dropped down next to her in the sand, inhaling deeply. After a minute he caught his breath, and was preparing to tell her off, but stopped short and checked himself. The girl was probably going to twist everything he said around to form smart ass comebacks, being as gifted with that particular talent as she was.
So he said instead, "Let's get back."
"No."
He whipped around incredulously, and almost groaned to see she was wearing that daring smile again. "We gotta go. Your mom's worrying."
"She's a smart woman and knows worrying won't help the least."
"Okay. But MY mom's worrying too."
"Are you saying YOUR mom's not a smart woman and doesn't know that worrying won't help the least?"
Fuck, fuck, fuck. Stupid girl! He was close to losing it, so he did what worked the last time. He scooped her up.
BIG mistake.
"Put me down mother fucker! HELP! HE'S A TRANSVESTITE KILLER! HE'S GOING TO RAPE ME! SOMEBODY HEEEEELP! GET HIM OFF ME!"
"All right!" He hurriedly released her. "Just shut the fuck up, okay?" Luckily there was no one around to catch that little scene.
"I ain't coming."
"The hell you're not."
"I'm not." She smiled sweetly. "Coz you're gonna buy me a candy bar first."
"Don't have money."
"That's all right. I took some change from your desk."
Oh sweet Jesus. Someone kill him now.
"I get my candy, then I'll come."
Billie Joe stared down at the fifteen year old before him. Defeat was inevitable; she was well practiced in the art of torture; her skills were VERY well refined. If she didn't get her way soon he's going to end up needing psychological help.
So he huffed out a breath and tried to remember the nearest store.
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