A Note Don't Come Easy, chapter 49
Christmas Morning.
And I was the first one to wake up between Tre and I. Listening outside it was so quiet, hardly anything seemed to move out there. Just the odd passing of a vehicle somewhere down the line.
Rubbing my eyes, I looked at the clock on the bedside table to see that it was half 6 in the morning. I stretched a little, trying not to hit Tre in the process or disturb him.
He smacked his lips together during his sleep, licking his bottom lip whilst turning over.
He opened one of his eyes for second, before closing them shut again. Then he fully opened them for a second time, looking at me through a stream of sleepness. He smiled.
"Why are you staring at me?" he asked, yawning.
"I'm not. I'm just laughing at the funny things you do when you sleep."
He raised an eyebrow at me, still waking himself up. "And what might that be? Do I play with my cock?"
I giggled. "No, you just... you know... scrunch your nose and look as if your eating nothing... and lick your lips... "
"Ok, Stef. Shut up," he laughed. "No need to give a description of what I do during nap time in constrictive detail."
There was a pause between us as we just sort of smiled at the comment before drifting off into thought.
But I spoke before we could do much of that.
"Merry Christmas Tre."
He looked at me and smiled - smiled innocently and happily. Not fake, or forced for the benefit of the doubt. It was true.
"Merry Christmas Stef," he returned, beaming as I smiled back at him.
He leant in and gave me a hug, which I accepted and did the same to him. And there we lay in the bed, hugging each other on Christmas Day.
Two close friends.
The noise of sudden running footsteps filed through the hall and into the room as Joey and Jakob ran from their bedrooms and into their parents.
"Dad!" I heard Jakob scream with excitement. "Dad! It's Christmas Day!!! Wake up!"
"Fuck, my nuts... " I heard Billie Joe groan along with his youngest son leaping into him mid-sleep.
It made me laugh. Tre smirked too. The excited cries and screams continued from the Armstrong boys, who by the sounds of it, were now jumping up and down on Billie Joe in the process to wake him up.
"Dad! Santa's been! Santa's been! Hasn't he mom?"
"Yes Jakob. He has." I heard Adrienne answer him.
"See dad! He has! He really has! Because I've been good!"
The sound of running footsteps echoed again as one of them jumped off of the bed again and ran down the hallway, stopping outside our door to knock on it.
"Stef! Tre! Santa's been! He has!!! It's Christmas! Come downstairs!" Jakob squealed with excitement before running off somewhere again.
I heard a grunt part from someone's lips from outside, followed by the voice of Mike.
"Hey kiddo," he said to Jakob as he had just ran excitedly into the bass player. "What's up? You say Santa came?"
"Uh-huh!" Jakob cried happily, jumping up and down on the spot.
"Wanna go check it out?" Mike asked him.
"Yes please Mike!"
The small Armstrong boy couldn't be any more ecstatic than what he was.
I listened as the two of them went downstairs, Jakob running and dragging Mike further and further down the stairs; so much that he nearly yanked the bass player down the stairs with him.
And then there was the sound of two other pairs of padding feet out from the hallway, and a groan from what sounded like a half attempted yawn from Billie Joe.
"Jesus Christ, my nuts fucking ache... " he grumbled to himself, rubbing himself.
Adrienne laughed. "Nothing you've not felt before then," she replied, making me feel a little awkward.
"Hmm," he mumbled back as she snaked her arm around his waist delicately and kissed him on the lips.
"Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas babe."
Tre looked at me with concern at what I was listening to, as I just stared at the duvet in front of me, listening to them.
"It'll be ok soon." He whispered to me, patting my hand. "It'll all be over in a week or so and then you and him can be back together."
"Yeah." That's all that I could reply with.
"Come on," he sighed, pulling the duvet back and stepping out of bed. "Let's go downstairs."
Following him, I shifted myself round and lifted off of the bed, a sudden echo of excited screams and laughs being able to be heard from downstairs; Mike's voice somewhere in between.
"You ready to play happy couple for another day?" Tre asked me, facing me after having slipped on his dressing gown.
"Yeah." I sighed. "Yeah, let's try and make it as painless as possible."
And then I put my hand in his and we walked downstairs together to sit with the others.
* * * * * * * *
It was just after mid day, and Adrienne had already started to prepare the Christmas dinner. Jakob and Joey sat on the floor in their own separate space; playing with their new toys that Santa had brought them. Jakob seemed sucked into the world of his new Lego set, whilst Joey sat looking through a guitar book. Tre sat with a party hat happily on top of his head; Mike sitting on the sofa chair opposite with Billie and Adrienne sat practically in each other's pockets on the couch - huddled up together.
And then there was me.
I felt so awkward, sitting next to Tre, and seeing Billie Joe and Adrienne together so loved up within each other.
And then I had to do things with Tre that I would normally do with Billie - like kiss him, hug him, and tell him that I loved him.
And Billie would see it.
And then he'd get mad.
And I'd stop it because I could see it in his eyes - and it hurt to know that I was torturing him.
But Adrienne would suspect something if we didn't act like a comfortable couple who supposedly loved each other.
And what was worse?
Make Billie Joe jealous and hurt inside because of what he was seeing?
Or give up and let Adrienne find out and put him through the most hellish ordeal ever?
I would say the first one would be the lesser of two evils in this situation.
But then it came across my mind. Did Billie ever stop to think about me?
He said it tore him up inside just watching Tre and I. (Even though it had been his idea.)
Did he ever think about what it was like for me to watch him and Adrienne? Maybe he had it in his head that I had to get used to it because it had always been that way - Adrienne had always been number 1.
Everybody's got their problems.
Everybody says the same thing to you.
It's just a matter of how you solve them.
And knowing how to change the things you've been through.
I feel I've come to realise,
How fast life can be compromised.
Step back to see what's going on.
I can't believe it's happened to you...
It's happened to you.
* * * * * * * *
Joey and Jakob had finished opening all of their presents now; and were off playing with them in various parts of the room, leaving the adults to exchange gifts and talk amongst each other.
And to say I was scared about it was an understatement.
"Ok, well I'm gonna start first." Mike said, leaning back and pulling out an envelope from behind him and handing it to me.
Looking at him in surprise, I took it from him; examining it as I did.
"Happy Christmas Stef."
"Oh my god, Mike. You didn't have to get me anything." I told him, tearing it open as I felt them all watching me.
"You, wait a sec... " I gasped in amazement. "You got me an appointment at the hair salon to have my hair done?"
The bassist nodded, causing me to stand up and hug him as well as give a kiss on the cheek.
"Any particular reason?" I asked gently, sitting back down in my spot - next Tre who was now swaying his head from side to side to see if his hat would slide off.
"No, no special occasion. I just thought you would like it and besides, I think you deserve it for everything you've been through."
A lump rose in my throat at what he had said.
"Oh yeah, Billie told me about your parents. I can't imagine what you went through hun." Adrienne said, smiling at me warmly.
And I felt the biggest smug ever smiling back at her, Billie Joe also feeling the hairs on the back of his neck rising.
"But you have us now." She added. "You're always welcome here, you know that ok?"
I nodded before Tre then proceeded to hand out his, both Mike and I finishing after him, and Billie Joe and Adrienne giving the gifts from them to the other two Green Day members.
Leaning across his wife, Billie Joe lent towards me, handing me a gift.
"Happy Christmas Stef," he said, smiling at me - an extra twinkle in his eyes as he locked eyes with me; also with a twinge of doubt.
"Aw, thanks Billie."
"It's from me and Addi."
Smiling at Adrienne as gratitude of thanks, I unwrapped it to reveal a small box, my heart beating madly inside of me.
Opening it, I found a set of simple but elegant earrings and necklace. My lips forming into an ecstatic smile, I turned to both of them - grinning from ear to ear and a small tear in my eye.
"They're so beautiful. Thank you so much."
Adrienne smiled briefly at her husband before back at me.
"We thought they'd compliment your face lovely," she told me. "Not that you need anything to make you look pretty. You've got such a beautiful face."
I felt my cheeks go red in embarrassment as I blushed, Billie Joe nodding his head at me - a feeling felt between us that went unnoticed by everyone else.
"And here's my present to you." Tre but in, handing me another box.
Taking it from him and putting down the one Billie had just given me beside my chair.
I saw the guitarist's eyes linger towards Tre, who watched me open his present with anticipation.
Removing the paper, I opened the velvet box to reveal a sparkling diamond necklace. My eyes nearly jumped from their sockets. I was so surprised, shocked - but also so guilty and heartbroken.
"Tre, it's... it's so beautiful." I sobbed, letting a tear fall.
He smiled at me. "Diamonds are a girl's best friend right?"
I nodded, biting my bottom lip; daring not to look at Billie Joe - who by now looked as if he had been hit by a ton of bricks.
"Here, let me put it on you." He said, leaning down from off his chair and crouching down beside me.
Taking off his hat and disposing of it on the floor, he nimbly took the necklace out of its case and placed it around me, like he had done it a million times.
Looking down to look at it, I felt Tre softly kiss the back of my neck - and it made my whole body stiffen.
"Thank you so much Tre." I whispered, feeling myself starting to well up.
And I started to cry. It looked as if I were crying because I was so happy and stunned by what Tre had done. But really, my tears were for the man who was sitting on the couch with his arm around his wife. I missed him so much and all I wanted was him. I didn't want this anymore.
"You're worth it babe. You're worth a thousand diamonds."
Billie Joe's body fell rigid as Adrienne put her hand to her heart.
"Oh, isn't it sweet Billie?"
But he didn't answer. He just let his wife look on as he bored holes into Tre's head.
* * * * * * * *
To say that it was awkward amongst Tre, Billie Joe and I for the rest of the day was an understatement. I couldn't even look Billie in the eye. He just made it worse by the way he looked at me and glared at Tre. Not to mention totally blank him.
And it made things even worse when Joey and Jakob protested that Tre and I kissed under the mistletoe after Billie and Adrienne had done.
It was torture, and even though I knew Tre meant none of it, there was still this feeling of hesitation in the back of my head. Not because I felt for Billie Joe, but because of what had been said that night long ago when Tre and I ran from the cops.
"Well, let's just say I like you, a bit... more... than... a... friend."
And it made me wonder whether what he was saying was partly true.
* * * * * * * *
It was the day after Boxing Day, and Billie Joe was raging inside. Not only was he angry with Tre, but he couldn't do anything to help him feel better. On the evening of Christmas Day, Tre had dragged me up the stairs, telling the others that we had some 'un-finished' business to attend in the bedroom. And it sent Billie over the edge so much that he slipped out of the house and hit the bottle, returning home drunk and crashing out on the couch, as everyone else was asleep. And even on Boxing Day, Tre had been practically glued to my side, mucking about with me and joking about. And I didn't mind that. It was somewhat fun. But Billie hated it. And all he had heard from Adrienne was how sweet Tre and I seemed together; when he was screaming inside. He couldn't say anything to help himself and the pressure was mounting inside of him. And he knew that if he didn't do something soon, he would blow and do something stupid that he didn't even want to think about it.
He sat on the armchair in one of the spare rooms, looking out of the window and out, deep in thought. Running his hand over his brow he sighed deeply, his heart aching and the pressure building up inside of him - making him so confused in what he wanted and what he had to do in able to make things right.
He could hear Tre and I laughing together whilst talking in the living room, sat closely next to each other before I let out a squeal as he suddenly tickled me. It made him clench his fists together and frown as he listened.
Fuck you Tre. Fuck, fuck, fucking you.
"I'm just taking the kids out ok honey?"
Billie Joe suddenly snapped up from his thoughts to look up at his wife.
"Hmmm? ... Ok, yeah, sure." He replied lamely.
"You know, bit of scouring the shops and stuff. I've got to nip into work on the way back too. Pick up some files for the new band that needs interviewing."
"Oh yeah."
"We'll be out most of the day. We'll be back about late afternoon hon."
She slipped on her gloves and coat, leaning in to give Billie a kiss on the cheek as she opened the door; Jakob and Joey in tow.
"Ok. No need to rush home." He told her, following close behind to close the door and watch them go.
The three of them walked out of the front door, goodbyes called out to their dad from the boys as they hopped into the car.
The guitarist watched in the doorframe as the vehicle slowly veered out from the driveway and down the road.
He watched - and he didn't close the door until he knew for sure that they were surely gone and away from the house.
And there was only one thing on his mind - Tre and I.
Sighing deeply; his shoulders hunching in the process, he bit his lip and followed the sounds of my laughter as Tre tickled me on the couch.
"Stop it Tre!" I squealed, my sides aching as he dug his fingers into my ribs and tickled me until I could breathe no more.
Billie Joe walked through the doorway to the living room, and took one look at me. I stared straight up , face to face with his eyes.
"Billie... " I cried out, happy that he was here and now Adrienne was out I could now finally spend time with him.
Sitting up from Tre, I kneeled up and went to walk over to give him a hug.
But before I could reach him any further he had swung forward and grabbed a hold of Tre's T-Shirt.
"Hey, what-the-fuck man?" Tre cried out suddenly, frowning at the guitarist just before Billie threw his fist into the side of his face.
"Billie!" I practically screamed, too stunned to move. "What the fuck are you doing?"
"Ah shit... " Tre grunted, the one side of his face swelling up.
Looking up, he could swear to God that he was seeing stars.
Anger still raging inside of him, Billie Joe cupped his fists around the collar of the younger man's T-Shirt and threw him against the wall; Tre's back clicking in the process from the force and a pain shooting up his spine.
"Billie, what-the-bloody-fu-" He tried to yell at him as he threw his fist across his face again, causing his head to be thrown back and hit the wall.
Panic ripping right through me, my eyes fixed upon the two of them, Billie Joe constantly beating Tre until he could stand no more.
"Stop it! Billie Joe! Please... What are you doing?!"
"Don't you EVER try that again!" Billie yelled at the top of his voice, this time hitting Tre centre face and causing his nose to spurt blood.
"Billie... what-have-I... " Tre gasped, shaking his head to stop it from spinning and letting the blood run slowly down his front.
"Don't give me bullshit!!!"
Billie grabbed hold of him again and threw him to the floor like an unwanted dump of shit.
I heard him fall with a thud, and then that's when I snapped.
"What the fucking hell do you think you're doing?!" I screamed, running forward and throwing my arms around Billie's neck, pulling him back awkwardly to stop him from thrashing Tre anymore.
But my strength was nothing compared to his.
"Stay out of this Stef," he growled, shoving me off and turning back to Tre. "He should have thought about this before he fucked with my head."
"Fucked with your head?!" Tre suddenly yelled, rage building inside of him. "You think you're the victim here? Well fuck you Billie Joe Armstrong, but you didn't stop to think about what's going on in my head did you?"
Lunging forward, he grabbed hold of Billie's legs and took him crashing to the floor. Watching in shock horror, and my heart beating madly inside of me at the thought of what was happening, I knew that I had to stop them - before they killed each other.
And that was easily possible by the way they were thrashing each other.
Putting my hands to my head, I watched as the two of them fought like hell against each other on the floor to Billie Joe's living room before I ran off to find Mike - and quickly.
And then I felt sickened.
This was all because of me.
And I was the first one to wake up between Tre and I. Listening outside it was so quiet, hardly anything seemed to move out there. Just the odd passing of a vehicle somewhere down the line.
Rubbing my eyes, I looked at the clock on the bedside table to see that it was half 6 in the morning. I stretched a little, trying not to hit Tre in the process or disturb him.
He smacked his lips together during his sleep, licking his bottom lip whilst turning over.
He opened one of his eyes for second, before closing them shut again. Then he fully opened them for a second time, looking at me through a stream of sleepness. He smiled.
"Why are you staring at me?" he asked, yawning.
"I'm not. I'm just laughing at the funny things you do when you sleep."
He raised an eyebrow at me, still waking himself up. "And what might that be? Do I play with my cock?"
I giggled. "No, you just... you know... scrunch your nose and look as if your eating nothing... and lick your lips... "
"Ok, Stef. Shut up," he laughed. "No need to give a description of what I do during nap time in constrictive detail."
There was a pause between us as we just sort of smiled at the comment before drifting off into thought.
But I spoke before we could do much of that.
"Merry Christmas Tre."
He looked at me and smiled - smiled innocently and happily. Not fake, or forced for the benefit of the doubt. It was true.
"Merry Christmas Stef," he returned, beaming as I smiled back at him.
He leant in and gave me a hug, which I accepted and did the same to him. And there we lay in the bed, hugging each other on Christmas Day.
Two close friends.
The noise of sudden running footsteps filed through the hall and into the room as Joey and Jakob ran from their bedrooms and into their parents.
"Dad!" I heard Jakob scream with excitement. "Dad! It's Christmas Day!!! Wake up!"
"Fuck, my nuts... " I heard Billie Joe groan along with his youngest son leaping into him mid-sleep.
It made me laugh. Tre smirked too. The excited cries and screams continued from the Armstrong boys, who by the sounds of it, were now jumping up and down on Billie Joe in the process to wake him up.
"Dad! Santa's been! Santa's been! Hasn't he mom?"
"Yes Jakob. He has." I heard Adrienne answer him.
"See dad! He has! He really has! Because I've been good!"
The sound of running footsteps echoed again as one of them jumped off of the bed again and ran down the hallway, stopping outside our door to knock on it.
"Stef! Tre! Santa's been! He has!!! It's Christmas! Come downstairs!" Jakob squealed with excitement before running off somewhere again.
I heard a grunt part from someone's lips from outside, followed by the voice of Mike.
"Hey kiddo," he said to Jakob as he had just ran excitedly into the bass player. "What's up? You say Santa came?"
"Uh-huh!" Jakob cried happily, jumping up and down on the spot.
"Wanna go check it out?" Mike asked him.
"Yes please Mike!"
The small Armstrong boy couldn't be any more ecstatic than what he was.
I listened as the two of them went downstairs, Jakob running and dragging Mike further and further down the stairs; so much that he nearly yanked the bass player down the stairs with him.
And then there was the sound of two other pairs of padding feet out from the hallway, and a groan from what sounded like a half attempted yawn from Billie Joe.
"Jesus Christ, my nuts fucking ache... " he grumbled to himself, rubbing himself.
Adrienne laughed. "Nothing you've not felt before then," she replied, making me feel a little awkward.
"Hmm," he mumbled back as she snaked her arm around his waist delicately and kissed him on the lips.
"Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas babe."
Tre looked at me with concern at what I was listening to, as I just stared at the duvet in front of me, listening to them.
"It'll be ok soon." He whispered to me, patting my hand. "It'll all be over in a week or so and then you and him can be back together."
"Yeah." That's all that I could reply with.
"Come on," he sighed, pulling the duvet back and stepping out of bed. "Let's go downstairs."
Following him, I shifted myself round and lifted off of the bed, a sudden echo of excited screams and laughs being able to be heard from downstairs; Mike's voice somewhere in between.
"You ready to play happy couple for another day?" Tre asked me, facing me after having slipped on his dressing gown.
"Yeah." I sighed. "Yeah, let's try and make it as painless as possible."
And then I put my hand in his and we walked downstairs together to sit with the others.
* * * * * * * *
It was just after mid day, and Adrienne had already started to prepare the Christmas dinner. Jakob and Joey sat on the floor in their own separate space; playing with their new toys that Santa had brought them. Jakob seemed sucked into the world of his new Lego set, whilst Joey sat looking through a guitar book. Tre sat with a party hat happily on top of his head; Mike sitting on the sofa chair opposite with Billie and Adrienne sat practically in each other's pockets on the couch - huddled up together.
And then there was me.
I felt so awkward, sitting next to Tre, and seeing Billie Joe and Adrienne together so loved up within each other.
And then I had to do things with Tre that I would normally do with Billie - like kiss him, hug him, and tell him that I loved him.
And Billie would see it.
And then he'd get mad.
And I'd stop it because I could see it in his eyes - and it hurt to know that I was torturing him.
But Adrienne would suspect something if we didn't act like a comfortable couple who supposedly loved each other.
And what was worse?
Make Billie Joe jealous and hurt inside because of what he was seeing?
Or give up and let Adrienne find out and put him through the most hellish ordeal ever?
I would say the first one would be the lesser of two evils in this situation.
But then it came across my mind. Did Billie ever stop to think about me?
He said it tore him up inside just watching Tre and I. (Even though it had been his idea.)
Did he ever think about what it was like for me to watch him and Adrienne? Maybe he had it in his head that I had to get used to it because it had always been that way - Adrienne had always been number 1.
Everybody's got their problems.
Everybody says the same thing to you.
It's just a matter of how you solve them.
And knowing how to change the things you've been through.
I feel I've come to realise,
How fast life can be compromised.
Step back to see what's going on.
I can't believe it's happened to you...
It's happened to you.
* * * * * * * *
Joey and Jakob had finished opening all of their presents now; and were off playing with them in various parts of the room, leaving the adults to exchange gifts and talk amongst each other.
And to say I was scared about it was an understatement.
"Ok, well I'm gonna start first." Mike said, leaning back and pulling out an envelope from behind him and handing it to me.
Looking at him in surprise, I took it from him; examining it as I did.
"Happy Christmas Stef."
"Oh my god, Mike. You didn't have to get me anything." I told him, tearing it open as I felt them all watching me.
"You, wait a sec... " I gasped in amazement. "You got me an appointment at the hair salon to have my hair done?"
The bassist nodded, causing me to stand up and hug him as well as give a kiss on the cheek.
"Any particular reason?" I asked gently, sitting back down in my spot - next Tre who was now swaying his head from side to side to see if his hat would slide off.
"No, no special occasion. I just thought you would like it and besides, I think you deserve it for everything you've been through."
A lump rose in my throat at what he had said.
"Oh yeah, Billie told me about your parents. I can't imagine what you went through hun." Adrienne said, smiling at me warmly.
And I felt the biggest smug ever smiling back at her, Billie Joe also feeling the hairs on the back of his neck rising.
"But you have us now." She added. "You're always welcome here, you know that ok?"
I nodded before Tre then proceeded to hand out his, both Mike and I finishing after him, and Billie Joe and Adrienne giving the gifts from them to the other two Green Day members.
Leaning across his wife, Billie Joe lent towards me, handing me a gift.
"Happy Christmas Stef," he said, smiling at me - an extra twinkle in his eyes as he locked eyes with me; also with a twinge of doubt.
"Aw, thanks Billie."
"It's from me and Addi."
Smiling at Adrienne as gratitude of thanks, I unwrapped it to reveal a small box, my heart beating madly inside of me.
Opening it, I found a set of simple but elegant earrings and necklace. My lips forming into an ecstatic smile, I turned to both of them - grinning from ear to ear and a small tear in my eye.
"They're so beautiful. Thank you so much."
Adrienne smiled briefly at her husband before back at me.
"We thought they'd compliment your face lovely," she told me. "Not that you need anything to make you look pretty. You've got such a beautiful face."
I felt my cheeks go red in embarrassment as I blushed, Billie Joe nodding his head at me - a feeling felt between us that went unnoticed by everyone else.
"And here's my present to you." Tre but in, handing me another box.
Taking it from him and putting down the one Billie had just given me beside my chair.
I saw the guitarist's eyes linger towards Tre, who watched me open his present with anticipation.
Removing the paper, I opened the velvet box to reveal a sparkling diamond necklace. My eyes nearly jumped from their sockets. I was so surprised, shocked - but also so guilty and heartbroken.
"Tre, it's... it's so beautiful." I sobbed, letting a tear fall.
He smiled at me. "Diamonds are a girl's best friend right?"
I nodded, biting my bottom lip; daring not to look at Billie Joe - who by now looked as if he had been hit by a ton of bricks.
"Here, let me put it on you." He said, leaning down from off his chair and crouching down beside me.
Taking off his hat and disposing of it on the floor, he nimbly took the necklace out of its case and placed it around me, like he had done it a million times.
Looking down to look at it, I felt Tre softly kiss the back of my neck - and it made my whole body stiffen.
"Thank you so much Tre." I whispered, feeling myself starting to well up.
And I started to cry. It looked as if I were crying because I was so happy and stunned by what Tre had done. But really, my tears were for the man who was sitting on the couch with his arm around his wife. I missed him so much and all I wanted was him. I didn't want this anymore.
"You're worth it babe. You're worth a thousand diamonds."
Billie Joe's body fell rigid as Adrienne put her hand to her heart.
"Oh, isn't it sweet Billie?"
But he didn't answer. He just let his wife look on as he bored holes into Tre's head.
* * * * * * * *
To say that it was awkward amongst Tre, Billie Joe and I for the rest of the day was an understatement. I couldn't even look Billie in the eye. He just made it worse by the way he looked at me and glared at Tre. Not to mention totally blank him.
And it made things even worse when Joey and Jakob protested that Tre and I kissed under the mistletoe after Billie and Adrienne had done.
It was torture, and even though I knew Tre meant none of it, there was still this feeling of hesitation in the back of my head. Not because I felt for Billie Joe, but because of what had been said that night long ago when Tre and I ran from the cops.
"Well, let's just say I like you, a bit... more... than... a... friend."
And it made me wonder whether what he was saying was partly true.
* * * * * * * *
It was the day after Boxing Day, and Billie Joe was raging inside. Not only was he angry with Tre, but he couldn't do anything to help him feel better. On the evening of Christmas Day, Tre had dragged me up the stairs, telling the others that we had some 'un-finished' business to attend in the bedroom. And it sent Billie over the edge so much that he slipped out of the house and hit the bottle, returning home drunk and crashing out on the couch, as everyone else was asleep. And even on Boxing Day, Tre had been practically glued to my side, mucking about with me and joking about. And I didn't mind that. It was somewhat fun. But Billie hated it. And all he had heard from Adrienne was how sweet Tre and I seemed together; when he was screaming inside. He couldn't say anything to help himself and the pressure was mounting inside of him. And he knew that if he didn't do something soon, he would blow and do something stupid that he didn't even want to think about it.
He sat on the armchair in one of the spare rooms, looking out of the window and out, deep in thought. Running his hand over his brow he sighed deeply, his heart aching and the pressure building up inside of him - making him so confused in what he wanted and what he had to do in able to make things right.
He could hear Tre and I laughing together whilst talking in the living room, sat closely next to each other before I let out a squeal as he suddenly tickled me. It made him clench his fists together and frown as he listened.
Fuck you Tre. Fuck, fuck, fucking you.
"I'm just taking the kids out ok honey?"
Billie Joe suddenly snapped up from his thoughts to look up at his wife.
"Hmmm? ... Ok, yeah, sure." He replied lamely.
"You know, bit of scouring the shops and stuff. I've got to nip into work on the way back too. Pick up some files for the new band that needs interviewing."
"Oh yeah."
"We'll be out most of the day. We'll be back about late afternoon hon."
She slipped on her gloves and coat, leaning in to give Billie a kiss on the cheek as she opened the door; Jakob and Joey in tow.
"Ok. No need to rush home." He told her, following close behind to close the door and watch them go.
The three of them walked out of the front door, goodbyes called out to their dad from the boys as they hopped into the car.
The guitarist watched in the doorframe as the vehicle slowly veered out from the driveway and down the road.
He watched - and he didn't close the door until he knew for sure that they were surely gone and away from the house.
And there was only one thing on his mind - Tre and I.
Sighing deeply; his shoulders hunching in the process, he bit his lip and followed the sounds of my laughter as Tre tickled me on the couch.
"Stop it Tre!" I squealed, my sides aching as he dug his fingers into my ribs and tickled me until I could breathe no more.
Billie Joe walked through the doorway to the living room, and took one look at me. I stared straight up , face to face with his eyes.
"Billie... " I cried out, happy that he was here and now Adrienne was out I could now finally spend time with him.
Sitting up from Tre, I kneeled up and went to walk over to give him a hug.
But before I could reach him any further he had swung forward and grabbed a hold of Tre's T-Shirt.
"Hey, what-the-fuck man?" Tre cried out suddenly, frowning at the guitarist just before Billie threw his fist into the side of his face.
"Billie!" I practically screamed, too stunned to move. "What the fuck are you doing?"
"Ah shit... " Tre grunted, the one side of his face swelling up.
Looking up, he could swear to God that he was seeing stars.
Anger still raging inside of him, Billie Joe cupped his fists around the collar of the younger man's T-Shirt and threw him against the wall; Tre's back clicking in the process from the force and a pain shooting up his spine.
"Billie, what-the-bloody-fu-" He tried to yell at him as he threw his fist across his face again, causing his head to be thrown back and hit the wall.
Panic ripping right through me, my eyes fixed upon the two of them, Billie Joe constantly beating Tre until he could stand no more.
"Stop it! Billie Joe! Please... What are you doing?!"
"Don't you EVER try that again!" Billie yelled at the top of his voice, this time hitting Tre centre face and causing his nose to spurt blood.
"Billie... what-have-I... " Tre gasped, shaking his head to stop it from spinning and letting the blood run slowly down his front.
"Don't give me bullshit!!!"
Billie grabbed hold of him again and threw him to the floor like an unwanted dump of shit.
I heard him fall with a thud, and then that's when I snapped.
"What the fucking hell do you think you're doing?!" I screamed, running forward and throwing my arms around Billie's neck, pulling him back awkwardly to stop him from thrashing Tre anymore.
But my strength was nothing compared to his.
"Stay out of this Stef," he growled, shoving me off and turning back to Tre. "He should have thought about this before he fucked with my head."
"Fucked with your head?!" Tre suddenly yelled, rage building inside of him. "You think you're the victim here? Well fuck you Billie Joe Armstrong, but you didn't stop to think about what's going on in my head did you?"
Lunging forward, he grabbed hold of Billie's legs and took him crashing to the floor. Watching in shock horror, and my heart beating madly inside of me at the thought of what was happening, I knew that I had to stop them - before they killed each other.
And that was easily possible by the way they were thrashing each other.
Putting my hands to my head, I watched as the two of them fought like hell against each other on the floor to Billie Joe's living room before I ran off to find Mike - and quickly.
And then I felt sickened.
This was all because of me.
