A Tale Of Two Popstars, chapter 2
“Excited to see the wife?�
Billie Joe removed his gaze from the airplane window and looked over at his questioning band-mate. He hesitated for a brief moment before breaking out into the smile that was no doubt plastered on walls around the world. It was more sincere than not, but it was practiced. It was the same one he turned on when the cameras were rolling, and this time it was no different. It was just another smile to cover up what he was really feeling. It was all part of the job. He had to remind himself he was doing this for not just his career but for the band’s.
“Does it show that much?� he replied trying to maintain the happy exterior he had committed himself to after the incident in Las Vegas.
I’d rather sit through a thousand interviews being asked the same question over and over again for hours non-stop than to face that woman one more time.
“You’ve only been jumpy ever since we left New York!� Mike cracked as he playfully tapped him on the shoulder. “Man. Who would have believed huh? This time last year we were both single and now look at us - married men!�
“Yeah. I’m still getting over it myself,� Billie Joe replied.
In more ways than one…
“I’d placed my money on Tre being the next one… but you! You and Stef C! None of us ever suspected!�
“Well it was spontaneous.�
Mike frowned, his forehead crinkling, his face tinged with traces of regret. “I’m so sorry Billie Joe. We should have been there for you. I mean at least… I should have been there for you at your wedding…�
“You don’t have to keep apologizing Mike. I didn’t plan it. It just happened. How could you guys have known?�
And I still don’t know how it happened…
“I know but I still feel terrible that you guys didn’t have anyone there. I mean you only have your wedding once…I just wish I could have been more supportive.�
“You and the other lads have been more than supportive of the whole thing,� Billie Joe commented remembering the yelling he had the morning after when their manager found out.
“Manager still giving you a hard time about it all?� Mike asked reading his thoughts.
That would be an understatement.
“It’s better. Emma talked to him the other day about how the rumours had been giving us all this free publicity… And with the album coming out …you know he always did say bad publicity is still publicity. I guess now we’ll just have to wait and see how everyone reacts to it now that it’s been confirmed.�
Mike nodded in understanding. “Manager approved or not - I’m happy for you.�
Billie Joe put on another one of his forced smiles. He gritted his teeth a bit as he muttered out a thanks. If Mike noticed at all, he didn’t let on.
“You want to know something funny? I always figured you’d get back with Adrienne…� Mike admitted sheepishly.
Billie Joe raised an eyebrow.
“I know! I know! It’s silly now that I think about it. Especially after you told us that you’d been talking to Stef for months…I still don’t know how you kept it a secret for that long. With Meg…I know I didn’t tell you all straightaway about it…anyhow,� Mike said shaking his head. “You were so heartbroken after you two broke up, mucking about for months…I didn’t think you’d move on…�
“I’m over Adrienne,� Billie Joe said lightly tensing up at speaking his ex-girlfriend’s name.
Mike chuckled. “Obviously.�
Billie Joe shook his head as a small laugh overtook him. It was the first time the situation seemed laughable.
Oh if they only knew! God. At this point I’d rather have Adrienne than her!
“I think you did good, Armstrong. Stef is a nice girl…� Mike said in all seriousness.
“Correction Dirnt. I’d say she’s a knockout,� Tre commented, overhearing them as he passed them to get to his seat.
“OH YEAH,� Mike readily agreed smirking.
“I’ll say! She’s got great legs!� Tre interjected from behind them.
“Do you remember that mini-skirt she wore in that video?�
“She was hot!�
“Those high heels…�
“Excuse me!� Billie Joe coughed interrupting the banter between his two band-mates. They turned questioningly towards him, bemused expressions on their faces. “Are we done talking about this like I’m not even here?� Billie Joe said loudly.
Mike grinned slyly. “Well you have to admit she looks good in a pair of high heels!� he cracked before the other guys burst out laughing.
Billie Joe buried his head in his hands.
At least they’re taking this well…
“Cheer up man. You’ll be seeing them up close and personal in no time!� Mike added as he picked up his mobile. “Speaking of…got to call my significant other…�
Yeah. And I have to face mine…and not by choice…
Billie Joe removed his gaze from the airplane window and looked over at his questioning band-mate. He hesitated for a brief moment before breaking out into the smile that was no doubt plastered on walls around the world. It was more sincere than not, but it was practiced. It was the same one he turned on when the cameras were rolling, and this time it was no different. It was just another smile to cover up what he was really feeling. It was all part of the job. He had to remind himself he was doing this for not just his career but for the band’s.
“Does it show that much?� he replied trying to maintain the happy exterior he had committed himself to after the incident in Las Vegas.
I’d rather sit through a thousand interviews being asked the same question over and over again for hours non-stop than to face that woman one more time.
“You’ve only been jumpy ever since we left New York!� Mike cracked as he playfully tapped him on the shoulder. “Man. Who would have believed huh? This time last year we were both single and now look at us - married men!�
“Yeah. I’m still getting over it myself,� Billie Joe replied.
In more ways than one…
“I’d placed my money on Tre being the next one… but you! You and Stef C! None of us ever suspected!�
“Well it was spontaneous.�
Mike frowned, his forehead crinkling, his face tinged with traces of regret. “I’m so sorry Billie Joe. We should have been there for you. I mean at least… I should have been there for you at your wedding…�
“You don’t have to keep apologizing Mike. I didn’t plan it. It just happened. How could you guys have known?�
And I still don’t know how it happened…
“I know but I still feel terrible that you guys didn’t have anyone there. I mean you only have your wedding once…I just wish I could have been more supportive.�
“You and the other lads have been more than supportive of the whole thing,� Billie Joe commented remembering the yelling he had the morning after when their manager found out.
“Manager still giving you a hard time about it all?� Mike asked reading his thoughts.
That would be an understatement.
“It’s better. Emma talked to him the other day about how the rumours had been giving us all this free publicity… And with the album coming out …you know he always did say bad publicity is still publicity. I guess now we’ll just have to wait and see how everyone reacts to it now that it’s been confirmed.�
Mike nodded in understanding. “Manager approved or not - I’m happy for you.�
Billie Joe put on another one of his forced smiles. He gritted his teeth a bit as he muttered out a thanks. If Mike noticed at all, he didn’t let on.
“You want to know something funny? I always figured you’d get back with Adrienne…� Mike admitted sheepishly.
Billie Joe raised an eyebrow.
“I know! I know! It’s silly now that I think about it. Especially after you told us that you’d been talking to Stef for months…I still don’t know how you kept it a secret for that long. With Meg…I know I didn’t tell you all straightaway about it…anyhow,� Mike said shaking his head. “You were so heartbroken after you two broke up, mucking about for months…I didn’t think you’d move on…�
“I’m over Adrienne,� Billie Joe said lightly tensing up at speaking his ex-girlfriend’s name.
Mike chuckled. “Obviously.�
Billie Joe shook his head as a small laugh overtook him. It was the first time the situation seemed laughable.
Oh if they only knew! God. At this point I’d rather have Adrienne than her!
“I think you did good, Armstrong. Stef is a nice girl…� Mike said in all seriousness.
“Correction Dirnt. I’d say she’s a knockout,� Tre commented, overhearing them as he passed them to get to his seat.
“OH YEAH,� Mike readily agreed smirking.
“I’ll say! She’s got great legs!� Tre interjected from behind them.
“Do you remember that mini-skirt she wore in that video?�
“She was hot!�
“Those high heels…�
“Excuse me!� Billie Joe coughed interrupting the banter between his two band-mates. They turned questioningly towards him, bemused expressions on their faces. “Are we done talking about this like I’m not even here?� Billie Joe said loudly.
Mike grinned slyly. “Well you have to admit she looks good in a pair of high heels!� he cracked before the other guys burst out laughing.
Billie Joe buried his head in his hands.
At least they’re taking this well…
“Cheer up man. You’ll be seeing them up close and personal in no time!� Mike added as he picked up his mobile. “Speaking of…got to call my significant other…�
Yeah. And I have to face mine…and not by choice…
