Age Is Only A Number!, chapter 10
Its three years later. Katie is 20 and Mike is 25. Nimrod just came out and Green Day had just come out from a year break. They were on top of the world. Billie Joe had a little boy called Joey who was already two years old, Mike was married and so was Tre. They were also both expecting children. Katie on the other hand was doing excellent at university, the only downside was that Abi was at Yale but she got used to it, she was in her third and final year and was with Aaron all the way. She was also a big feminist and was in an organization for women's right. She came home for the holidays still but didn't see Mike because he lived in his own home, she didn't mind much though.
The year was 1997 and it was October, just a week before thanksgiving. Mike was coming home for thanksgiving and bringing Anastascia and his little girl Estelle with. Katie was also coming home, when she heard Mike was coming she was half-excited half-nervous the last time she spoke to Mike was after Woodstock and she was angry at him. She did speak to him afterwards but it was the occasional 'Hi, how are you?' But they hadn't actually properly talked to each other and also they hadn't seen each other in two years.
Katie arrived home, she always loved returning home for the holidays, sure it was only a few days she was going to be there but they were always a great few days. She opened the door with her keys and saw it was quiet. "Guys I'm home, C'mon is anyone here." As she said that two young teenagers came running down the stairs both screeching "Katie your home." They hugged there sister tightly.
"Hey Annie, hey Harry" Katie hugged her brother and sister tightly. Harry aged 14 was your average trouble maker and Annie was 15, she reminded Katie of herself when she was 15, Annie even had the same type of braces Katie had. She let go of her brother and sister and her mum came in, she went upstairs and unpacked the things into her wardrobe, she sat on her bed and noticed something, it was a ticket to Katie's first art exhibition, it was all her artwork from high-school and her work from university. It was so exciting for Katie, and it meant everything to her that her family was coming. She looked at the ticket closer it said 9 people on it. There were only 6 people in her family, her, her parents, Annie, Harry and her older brother Jake. She couldn't think who the other three people were but didn't really care much.
It was mid-afternoon and Katie was helping her mum with the cooking. Granted last time she tried to cook a family dinner the kitchen nearly went on fire but she tried her best this time... also her mum didn't let her anywhere near the cooker or any electrical product. She was cutting up some vegetables when suddenly someone grabbed her from behind. She looked back just to see it was her older brother Jake and he said "Hey little sis."
"Hey Jake, how's the world of work for you?" Katie replied putting the knife down.
"Good, excited for the art exhibition" Jake asked letting go of Katie.
"Ye, do you know who the three extra people on the ticket are though" Katie answered, Jake looked like he knew, Katie also knew that Jake was a bad liar and had been for the whole 22 years of his life. "I dunno, and even if I did I wouldn't tell you." Katie knew he knew but he wouldn't tell.
It was the evening and Thanksgiving was in the air. Katie changed into a simple top and skirt, it didn't really suit her but she had to otherwise her grandma would get angry at her. She went downstairs and greeted family. She didn't know that Mike, Billie Joe and Tre were coming and so were there wives and kids. Mike came up to the door with Anastasia and Estelle in her arms. Katie opened the door to them and Mike saw Katie. She had cut her hair off and it was up to her eyebrows, it was like a boy starting to grow his hair. Her hair was clipped back though but it was still scary to see, he stared at her in awe while holding yams they made for dinner. Katie and Anastasia were wondering why Mike's mouth was open; Katie took the yams off him, Mike's hand stayed in position though. "I see yams always do this to him" Katie remarked, Anastasia came in and shook Katie's hand. Mike came in after a couple of seconds and noticed Katie was holding the yams and said "So your hair"
"Yes I chopped it off, no I don't regret it and yes I do look like a brat in this get-up especially considering my hair" Katie answered every question he could think of in 5 seconds, it did seem like the questions he was going to ask had been asked by everyone else at least 5 times.
She went inside and put the yams on the table. Katie went up to Anastasia and looked at Estelle, she was tiny. "So what's her name?" Katie asked, looked at Estelle, she opened her eyes, she had Anastasia's eyes. "Her name is Estelle" Anastasia replied, Estelle smiled at Katie, she was Mike's daughter definitely, she had his smile. The doorbell rang and Katie opened the door and saw Billie Joe with Adrienne and little Joey in buggy and Tre was with Claudia and little Ramona in Claudia's arms. Instantly before Tre and Billie Joe could even comment on her hair she said simply "Don't, I know my hair is short I don't need telling." Billie Joe thought 'Ye that's definitely Katie' she let them in and took the food off them and put it on the table. She went up to Billie Joe and greeted him and went down to Joey's level, he looked so much like Billie Joe. Billie Joe knelt down next to Katie, and said "Isn't he so cute, I love him so much."
"Ye, you seem like a great father" Katie said to Billie Joe, Joey woke up and smiled at Katie, Joey then said to Katie "Hi."
"Hey little guy what's you name?" Katie smiled and asked Joey. Joey gave a cute little laugh and answered "My name's Joey what's yours?" Katie thought he was so cute, it was like shrinking Billie Joe and that's what you got, Katie then replied "My name's Katie."
"I like your name, its nice" Joey replied. The boy had such manners.
Dinner started and Katie sat next to Annie and also she was next to Joey. After they said thanks they started to eat, all anyone could here was "Pass this" and "Pass that." Katie started eating, opposite her was Mike; he looked at Katie she had changed so much. It seemed each time they were separated from each other she had changed, and also she cut her hair shorter each time. Mike wasn't in love with her anymore, he couldn't be he had a wife and daughter but he still thought she was beautiful and had a personality that could keep her going for years to come. They started talking about what they've been doing the past couple of years. "Katie what's happened to you in university then?" Tre asked Katie.
"Well I have been doing art history and a course in photography and I have my first ever art exhibition tomorrow, it's only for one or two nights but it's definitely worth it, what have you been doing." Katie explained.
"Well you can switch to MTV and find out, our new album Nimrod has been doing great, we've been touring the world don't cha know" Tre answered Katie. Katie just tried to ignore the last two words and answered simply "Cool."
Dinner ended and the guy's mingled with the adults while there kids were sleeping on the couch. Katie decided to sit on the edge of the patio in her garden; she let off some steam and smoked a cigarette. Billie Joe came out and noticed Katie there with a cigarette he sat down next to her and said "You know that's bad for you."
"You know that taking it away from me is bad for you" Katie remarked. She blew some smoke out of her mouth. "My have you changed in the last couple of years" Billie Joe said to Katie, she put out her cigarette and blew out of the last bit of smoke. "I haven't changed, it's just I'm growing up no-one will let me, my great aunt still thinks I'm 15 for fuck sake" Katie explained. Katie's eyes welled up with tears, a tear came down the smooth skin of her cheek and Billie Joe looked into her eyes and saw there was something else wrong. "What else is wrong I know there's something else to it?" Billie Joe asked.
"It's just that what Tre said earlier when he was saying about your album and he ended it by saying 'don't cha know', it hurt, and earlier when I opened the door to Mike he just looked at me like I was a freak and it hurt so much" Katie answered. She starting crying and so Billie Joe put an arm around her and hugged her. Tre came outside and saw Billie Joe and Katie sitting there; he walked a bit closer and saw Katie was crying. He asked Billie Joe "What's wrong with Katie?"
"She hates everyone treating her like a baby and when you said 'don't cha know' when explaining about Nimrod it really hurt her along with Mike looking at her weirdly" Billie Joe explained to Tre. Tre then sat down next to Katie and hugged her along with Billie Joe; it really meant a lot to Katie that they were there. They had to leave her to attend to there kids, it was then Mike came out, as he passed Billie Joe and Tre both of their heads dropped down as if saying 'Your in deep shit'.
Mike sat down next to Katie; she had stopped crying and was looking down. She knew Mike was there and so purposefully looked down, he knew that it was something to do with him. He looked around at the surroundings and saw that there was a cigarette burning out next to her and so he assumed it was hers but to check asked "Is that cigarette yours?" Katie tried ignoring him, she quickly looked at him and saw he genuinely cared; she gave in and answered "Ye it's mine." When Mike heard her answer it shocked him so much, he never thought of Katie as a smoker. He had always thought of her as one of those people who marched against smoking, he looked at her weirdly when she answered; this just made Katie even more hurt than before. She stood up and walked off to her room, she just wanted to get away from her family, her house, and heck even her life. She looked through her window and saw a note in the tree. Katie picked up the note and it said
'Katie get out of your house and come down to the coffee house, you know you need some time away from Thanksgiving and so do we!
Aaron and Abi (ye I'm back baby)'
She read it and saw the names, was it really true was Abi back for the holidays, she barely ever came back from Yale for the holidays, and it was like she was ashamed of where she came from. It hurt Katie but she kinda understood though, for a while now she'd been wanting to get out of Berkeley, ye she loved her hometown but it got too much after a while. She took the note and changed into jeans and her converses and put a jacket on. Her hair was still as neat as hell and her top screamed little house on the prairie but she went anyway, she climbed out the window and climbed down the tree. The note though fell out of her hand and onto the window ledge, she jumped down from halfway down the trunk and went to her usual hangout at a coffee place called 'The Mezze'. Mike went upstairs to Katie's room and saw she wasn't there, he also noticed the note on the window ledge, and he read it and knew she ran off.
Katie got on a bus and went to the other side of town to 'The Mezze'; it was a coffee place that she and Aaron discovered on the first day of semester. Aaron was studying sociology at Berkeley, hoping to become a social worker. It was a small place and often had performers there; it could be poets, bands, or even once a magician. Aaron and Katie loved it there and often went there to cool off from heavy lectures and after bad dates. She got to 'The Mezze' and saw Aaron there at a table, she went up to the table and he asked simply "What excruciating pain has your family inflicted on you then?" Katie sat down and answered "Not much actually just a million questions on my hair, you?"
"Lucky, my family decided to fight over that I got better grades in my exams then my cousin Joel" Aaron answered. Katie ordered a coke and saw that a local band were playing, she then said "Guess who was there that wasn't family"
"Who?" Aaron asked
"Green Day and their wife and kids" Katie answered
"Cool... there's Abi now, late as usual" Aaron pointed out and pointed to Abi who was walking through the door, she locked eyes with Katie and both girls screamed and ran to each other, they hugged each other tightly. Aaron had yet to understand this phenomenon; he carried on listening to the band playing. "So how has Yale been?" Katie asked as the girls sat down and swapped stories. "It's been cool, met a few guys, dated them, I've been dumped by them or broken up with them, you know normal stuff, how's Berkeley?"
"I've done the same basically, although I have my first art exhibition tomorrow" Katie answered. Abi ordered a diet soda and replied to Katie "Ye I know, got a ticket for it, like hell I'm going to miss my best friend's art exhibition." It made Katie feel better that her best friend would be there.
The dinner was over and everyone left, as Mike, Anastasia and Estelle left Mike took the note out of his pocket, he didn't know which coffee place they were talking about. There were about a dozen of them in Berkeley and the threesome could be at any one of them. He tried not thinking about it but failed miserably, as he was driving home he just had to get to Katie, he dropped Anastasia and Estelle off and said to them that he had to pick something up. He started driving to any coffee house he knew of, he tried so many in that side of town, he was ready to give up when he saw from a distance a coffee house, out came three twenty-something's come out and noticed it was Abi, Aaron and Katie. He went out of his car and locked it. He went up to Katie and asked her "What the hell? Why did you bail on your family?"
"Why did you bail on me?" asked Katie who was slightly tipsy, Abi was totally out of it and Aaron was slightly tipsy as well. "How did I bail on you?" Mike answered; he knew there was some of Katie in what she said, maybe more than he needed. "You bailed on me because you stared at me earlier like I was an absolute positively a stupid freak" Katie half-slurred out. "When" Mike retaliated, he didn't know if he'd win or not but it was worth trying. "When you first came in and stared at my hair and then stared at me when you found out I smoked" Katie replied stumbling, Abi fell over and Aaron was thankfully holding onto Katie so he was fine unless she fell over, Mike helped Abi up. "I'm sorry if you've changed so much over the past 2 years"
"I haven't changed, I've grown up, something no-one will let me do" Katie screamed out so nearly the whole street could hear.
That was it for Mike, he picked her up by the waist and flung her onto his shoulder, he got Abi onto the other shoulder, they both started slapping his back to get off, and Aaron followed Mike to his car and got in. Mike got Abi and Katie in easily because they fell asleep. He looked at Katie; she looked so cute sleeping, so did Abi, Aaron started dozing off as well, Mike had a flash camera in the car so he, Estelle and Anastasia could take some pictures to remember that Thanksgiving, he had a couple of pictures left. He took a couple of pictures and went into the front seat of the car. He drove to Katie's house first, he went out the car and up to the door and before he could knock on the door Katie's mum came out and was worried. "Mike, do you know where Katie is?" Katie's mum asked him.
"Ye she's at my house, she's staying with me for a night, don't worry, I just came round to tell you 'cause I'm guessing she didn't tell you" Mike replied. Katie's mum calmed down and they said goodbye to each other. He got into the car and started to drive to his house.
He got to his house and opened the door, Anastasia answered in her nightgown and half-asleep. She wondered why he was so late and asked "Mike, why are you late, what needed picking up?"
"I had to pick up a drunk Katie, Abi and Aaron" Mike answered, Anastasia looked at the car and saw three kids sleeping, she didn't believe him until she saw the threesome. She just touted as she went inside, Mike wondered why she did but tried to ignore it. He carried each one in and laid them down on a sofa. He didn't know what their reaction would be in the morning but he didn't care, they were in a safe place and that's all that matters. He went upstairs and said goodnight to Estelle and went to bed.
It was 8 am and the girls were sound asleep, it was the boys who were awake. Mike woke up first and started to come downstairs, Aaron then woke up not knowing where he was. He was scared as hell; he saw Katie and Abi next to him he knew whatever the hell was happening at least he was with his best friends. He moved Abi's head off his shoulder and stood up, he looked at his surroundings, he had no clue where he was, all his friends lived in an All-American House, and this was far from it. He heard footsteps coming down the stairs and got scared. He stayed in position and he saw the person, he had no clue it was Mike. He decided to use self defense and jumped over the sofa and pinned Mike down, he pulled Mike's head towards him so Mike's neck was outstretched. Aaron then screamed "Who are you and where am I you psycho freak." Mike was barely awake but he did manage to say "It's me Mike you idiot." Aaron let go of Mike and stood up quickly and just stood there as Mike got up and massaged the back of his head. Aaron stood there like a goofball; Mike looked at him and said "Why the hell did you do that?"
"Self-defense, I thought you kidnapped me, actually I thought it was some weird perve" Aaron stuttered out, he didn't know what to do just stood there and waited for Mike's answer "Look you three were drunk last night and I decided for you not to be disowned by your parents."
"Oh thanks then, sorry about pinning you" Aaron replied feeling even more embarrassed. Mike just went inside to his kitchen and got himself some orange juice, Aaron went to sit down on the sofa he was originally sleeping on. Abi and Katie woke up and wondered where they were, they looked around and assumed the same thing as Aaron, and this wasn't a friend's place. They also assumed that they were kidnapped, Mike then came in, still hurt from before when suddenly he heard Katie and Abi screaming. Mike was just pissed off now, he then just said "Look fuck-heads, I just woke up, I brought you here last night so your parents wouldn't get mad at you for running off and your parents would get mad for getting drunk ok you absolute idiots." Katie and Abi felt a bit stupid but mainly angry at Mike, he should've at least woken them up and told them instead of just taking them home.
They soon got over it though and Mike let them help themselves to some breakfast. They weren't that hungry because they discovered from first hand experience that while having a hangover everything tastes the same... and that taste isn't nice. Katie was sitting on a stool with Abi next to her while Aaron was throwing up in the bathroom; they both only had a vague remembrance of what happened last night. Mike was annoyed with Katie, surely she knew better than that. But he then thought who was he to judge, Green Day have songs about being pissed and drunk, and he did all of this when he was there age. Mike just sat there while Abi and Katie were trying with all their might to remember last night and what happened. Just as they were getting somewhere Aaron came in but with Anastasia's hand by the scruff of his collar, she was in her nightgown still and didn't look happy. "Why was he in the bathroom puking his head off?"
"Because he got completely drunk and that's what happens the day after" Mike answered. Anastasia let Aaron go and he stumbled and sat down next to Katie joining in the recollection of the last night. "Look Mike I get your being nice but there parents will get mad at them" Anastasia told him.
"I know and I went to there parents and explained the whole thing to them and there fine with it" Mike explained, Anastasia still saw something wrong about it but she didn't really care much as long as there okay.
The threesome called there parents and arranged to be picked up. While Abi and Aaron were calling there parents Katie was inside with Mike while he played with Estelle. She looked at him playing father and it was really sweet, Katie always knew he'd make a great father it was just in his nature and it came out that very minute. "So Katie I've heard that you've got your very first art exhibition tonight" Mike said to Katie while Estelle was playing with a teddy. "Ye, it's really exciting, I just hope I'm awake enough for it" Katie replied and then saying "How do you know?" Just before Mike could answer Abi and Aaron came in and said "Katie, our parents are here." She stood up and started walking out of the room when Mike answered "I know because I'm going with the guys and your family, we're the three extras on the ticket."
The year was 1997 and it was October, just a week before thanksgiving. Mike was coming home for thanksgiving and bringing Anastascia and his little girl Estelle with. Katie was also coming home, when she heard Mike was coming she was half-excited half-nervous the last time she spoke to Mike was after Woodstock and she was angry at him. She did speak to him afterwards but it was the occasional 'Hi, how are you?' But they hadn't actually properly talked to each other and also they hadn't seen each other in two years.
Katie arrived home, she always loved returning home for the holidays, sure it was only a few days she was going to be there but they were always a great few days. She opened the door with her keys and saw it was quiet. "Guys I'm home, C'mon is anyone here." As she said that two young teenagers came running down the stairs both screeching "Katie your home." They hugged there sister tightly.
"Hey Annie, hey Harry" Katie hugged her brother and sister tightly. Harry aged 14 was your average trouble maker and Annie was 15, she reminded Katie of herself when she was 15, Annie even had the same type of braces Katie had. She let go of her brother and sister and her mum came in, she went upstairs and unpacked the things into her wardrobe, she sat on her bed and noticed something, it was a ticket to Katie's first art exhibition, it was all her artwork from high-school and her work from university. It was so exciting for Katie, and it meant everything to her that her family was coming. She looked at the ticket closer it said 9 people on it. There were only 6 people in her family, her, her parents, Annie, Harry and her older brother Jake. She couldn't think who the other three people were but didn't really care much.
It was mid-afternoon and Katie was helping her mum with the cooking. Granted last time she tried to cook a family dinner the kitchen nearly went on fire but she tried her best this time... also her mum didn't let her anywhere near the cooker or any electrical product. She was cutting up some vegetables when suddenly someone grabbed her from behind. She looked back just to see it was her older brother Jake and he said "Hey little sis."
"Hey Jake, how's the world of work for you?" Katie replied putting the knife down.
"Good, excited for the art exhibition" Jake asked letting go of Katie.
"Ye, do you know who the three extra people on the ticket are though" Katie answered, Jake looked like he knew, Katie also knew that Jake was a bad liar and had been for the whole 22 years of his life. "I dunno, and even if I did I wouldn't tell you." Katie knew he knew but he wouldn't tell.
It was the evening and Thanksgiving was in the air. Katie changed into a simple top and skirt, it didn't really suit her but she had to otherwise her grandma would get angry at her. She went downstairs and greeted family. She didn't know that Mike, Billie Joe and Tre were coming and so were there wives and kids. Mike came up to the door with Anastasia and Estelle in her arms. Katie opened the door to them and Mike saw Katie. She had cut her hair off and it was up to her eyebrows, it was like a boy starting to grow his hair. Her hair was clipped back though but it was still scary to see, he stared at her in awe while holding yams they made for dinner. Katie and Anastasia were wondering why Mike's mouth was open; Katie took the yams off him, Mike's hand stayed in position though. "I see yams always do this to him" Katie remarked, Anastasia came in and shook Katie's hand. Mike came in after a couple of seconds and noticed Katie was holding the yams and said "So your hair"
"Yes I chopped it off, no I don't regret it and yes I do look like a brat in this get-up especially considering my hair" Katie answered every question he could think of in 5 seconds, it did seem like the questions he was going to ask had been asked by everyone else at least 5 times.
She went inside and put the yams on the table. Katie went up to Anastasia and looked at Estelle, she was tiny. "So what's her name?" Katie asked, looked at Estelle, she opened her eyes, she had Anastasia's eyes. "Her name is Estelle" Anastasia replied, Estelle smiled at Katie, she was Mike's daughter definitely, she had his smile. The doorbell rang and Katie opened the door and saw Billie Joe with Adrienne and little Joey in buggy and Tre was with Claudia and little Ramona in Claudia's arms. Instantly before Tre and Billie Joe could even comment on her hair she said simply "Don't, I know my hair is short I don't need telling." Billie Joe thought 'Ye that's definitely Katie' she let them in and took the food off them and put it on the table. She went up to Billie Joe and greeted him and went down to Joey's level, he looked so much like Billie Joe. Billie Joe knelt down next to Katie, and said "Isn't he so cute, I love him so much."
"Ye, you seem like a great father" Katie said to Billie Joe, Joey woke up and smiled at Katie, Joey then said to Katie "Hi."
"Hey little guy what's you name?" Katie smiled and asked Joey. Joey gave a cute little laugh and answered "My name's Joey what's yours?" Katie thought he was so cute, it was like shrinking Billie Joe and that's what you got, Katie then replied "My name's Katie."
"I like your name, its nice" Joey replied. The boy had such manners.
Dinner started and Katie sat next to Annie and also she was next to Joey. After they said thanks they started to eat, all anyone could here was "Pass this" and "Pass that." Katie started eating, opposite her was Mike; he looked at Katie she had changed so much. It seemed each time they were separated from each other she had changed, and also she cut her hair shorter each time. Mike wasn't in love with her anymore, he couldn't be he had a wife and daughter but he still thought she was beautiful and had a personality that could keep her going for years to come. They started talking about what they've been doing the past couple of years. "Katie what's happened to you in university then?" Tre asked Katie.
"Well I have been doing art history and a course in photography and I have my first ever art exhibition tomorrow, it's only for one or two nights but it's definitely worth it, what have you been doing." Katie explained.
"Well you can switch to MTV and find out, our new album Nimrod has been doing great, we've been touring the world don't cha know" Tre answered Katie. Katie just tried to ignore the last two words and answered simply "Cool."
Dinner ended and the guy's mingled with the adults while there kids were sleeping on the couch. Katie decided to sit on the edge of the patio in her garden; she let off some steam and smoked a cigarette. Billie Joe came out and noticed Katie there with a cigarette he sat down next to her and said "You know that's bad for you."
"You know that taking it away from me is bad for you" Katie remarked. She blew some smoke out of her mouth. "My have you changed in the last couple of years" Billie Joe said to Katie, she put out her cigarette and blew out of the last bit of smoke. "I haven't changed, it's just I'm growing up no-one will let me, my great aunt still thinks I'm 15 for fuck sake" Katie explained. Katie's eyes welled up with tears, a tear came down the smooth skin of her cheek and Billie Joe looked into her eyes and saw there was something else wrong. "What else is wrong I know there's something else to it?" Billie Joe asked.
"It's just that what Tre said earlier when he was saying about your album and he ended it by saying 'don't cha know', it hurt, and earlier when I opened the door to Mike he just looked at me like I was a freak and it hurt so much" Katie answered. She starting crying and so Billie Joe put an arm around her and hugged her. Tre came outside and saw Billie Joe and Katie sitting there; he walked a bit closer and saw Katie was crying. He asked Billie Joe "What's wrong with Katie?"
"She hates everyone treating her like a baby and when you said 'don't cha know' when explaining about Nimrod it really hurt her along with Mike looking at her weirdly" Billie Joe explained to Tre. Tre then sat down next to Katie and hugged her along with Billie Joe; it really meant a lot to Katie that they were there. They had to leave her to attend to there kids, it was then Mike came out, as he passed Billie Joe and Tre both of their heads dropped down as if saying 'Your in deep shit'.
Mike sat down next to Katie; she had stopped crying and was looking down. She knew Mike was there and so purposefully looked down, he knew that it was something to do with him. He looked around at the surroundings and saw that there was a cigarette burning out next to her and so he assumed it was hers but to check asked "Is that cigarette yours?" Katie tried ignoring him, she quickly looked at him and saw he genuinely cared; she gave in and answered "Ye it's mine." When Mike heard her answer it shocked him so much, he never thought of Katie as a smoker. He had always thought of her as one of those people who marched against smoking, he looked at her weirdly when she answered; this just made Katie even more hurt than before. She stood up and walked off to her room, she just wanted to get away from her family, her house, and heck even her life. She looked through her window and saw a note in the tree. Katie picked up the note and it said
'Katie get out of your house and come down to the coffee house, you know you need some time away from Thanksgiving and so do we!
Aaron and Abi (ye I'm back baby)'
She read it and saw the names, was it really true was Abi back for the holidays, she barely ever came back from Yale for the holidays, and it was like she was ashamed of where she came from. It hurt Katie but she kinda understood though, for a while now she'd been wanting to get out of Berkeley, ye she loved her hometown but it got too much after a while. She took the note and changed into jeans and her converses and put a jacket on. Her hair was still as neat as hell and her top screamed little house on the prairie but she went anyway, she climbed out the window and climbed down the tree. The note though fell out of her hand and onto the window ledge, she jumped down from halfway down the trunk and went to her usual hangout at a coffee place called 'The Mezze'. Mike went upstairs to Katie's room and saw she wasn't there, he also noticed the note on the window ledge, and he read it and knew she ran off.
Katie got on a bus and went to the other side of town to 'The Mezze'; it was a coffee place that she and Aaron discovered on the first day of semester. Aaron was studying sociology at Berkeley, hoping to become a social worker. It was a small place and often had performers there; it could be poets, bands, or even once a magician. Aaron and Katie loved it there and often went there to cool off from heavy lectures and after bad dates. She got to 'The Mezze' and saw Aaron there at a table, she went up to the table and he asked simply "What excruciating pain has your family inflicted on you then?" Katie sat down and answered "Not much actually just a million questions on my hair, you?"
"Lucky, my family decided to fight over that I got better grades in my exams then my cousin Joel" Aaron answered. Katie ordered a coke and saw that a local band were playing, she then said "Guess who was there that wasn't family"
"Who?" Aaron asked
"Green Day and their wife and kids" Katie answered
"Cool... there's Abi now, late as usual" Aaron pointed out and pointed to Abi who was walking through the door, she locked eyes with Katie and both girls screamed and ran to each other, they hugged each other tightly. Aaron had yet to understand this phenomenon; he carried on listening to the band playing. "So how has Yale been?" Katie asked as the girls sat down and swapped stories. "It's been cool, met a few guys, dated them, I've been dumped by them or broken up with them, you know normal stuff, how's Berkeley?"
"I've done the same basically, although I have my first art exhibition tomorrow" Katie answered. Abi ordered a diet soda and replied to Katie "Ye I know, got a ticket for it, like hell I'm going to miss my best friend's art exhibition." It made Katie feel better that her best friend would be there.
The dinner was over and everyone left, as Mike, Anastasia and Estelle left Mike took the note out of his pocket, he didn't know which coffee place they were talking about. There were about a dozen of them in Berkeley and the threesome could be at any one of them. He tried not thinking about it but failed miserably, as he was driving home he just had to get to Katie, he dropped Anastasia and Estelle off and said to them that he had to pick something up. He started driving to any coffee house he knew of, he tried so many in that side of town, he was ready to give up when he saw from a distance a coffee house, out came three twenty-something's come out and noticed it was Abi, Aaron and Katie. He went out of his car and locked it. He went up to Katie and asked her "What the hell? Why did you bail on your family?"
"Why did you bail on me?" asked Katie who was slightly tipsy, Abi was totally out of it and Aaron was slightly tipsy as well. "How did I bail on you?" Mike answered; he knew there was some of Katie in what she said, maybe more than he needed. "You bailed on me because you stared at me earlier like I was an absolute positively a stupid freak" Katie half-slurred out. "When" Mike retaliated, he didn't know if he'd win or not but it was worth trying. "When you first came in and stared at my hair and then stared at me when you found out I smoked" Katie replied stumbling, Abi fell over and Aaron was thankfully holding onto Katie so he was fine unless she fell over, Mike helped Abi up. "I'm sorry if you've changed so much over the past 2 years"
"I haven't changed, I've grown up, something no-one will let me do" Katie screamed out so nearly the whole street could hear.
That was it for Mike, he picked her up by the waist and flung her onto his shoulder, he got Abi onto the other shoulder, they both started slapping his back to get off, and Aaron followed Mike to his car and got in. Mike got Abi and Katie in easily because they fell asleep. He looked at Katie; she looked so cute sleeping, so did Abi, Aaron started dozing off as well, Mike had a flash camera in the car so he, Estelle and Anastasia could take some pictures to remember that Thanksgiving, he had a couple of pictures left. He took a couple of pictures and went into the front seat of the car. He drove to Katie's house first, he went out the car and up to the door and before he could knock on the door Katie's mum came out and was worried. "Mike, do you know where Katie is?" Katie's mum asked him.
"Ye she's at my house, she's staying with me for a night, don't worry, I just came round to tell you 'cause I'm guessing she didn't tell you" Mike replied. Katie's mum calmed down and they said goodbye to each other. He got into the car and started to drive to his house.
He got to his house and opened the door, Anastasia answered in her nightgown and half-asleep. She wondered why he was so late and asked "Mike, why are you late, what needed picking up?"
"I had to pick up a drunk Katie, Abi and Aaron" Mike answered, Anastasia looked at the car and saw three kids sleeping, she didn't believe him until she saw the threesome. She just touted as she went inside, Mike wondered why she did but tried to ignore it. He carried each one in and laid them down on a sofa. He didn't know what their reaction would be in the morning but he didn't care, they were in a safe place and that's all that matters. He went upstairs and said goodnight to Estelle and went to bed.
It was 8 am and the girls were sound asleep, it was the boys who were awake. Mike woke up first and started to come downstairs, Aaron then woke up not knowing where he was. He was scared as hell; he saw Katie and Abi next to him he knew whatever the hell was happening at least he was with his best friends. He moved Abi's head off his shoulder and stood up, he looked at his surroundings, he had no clue where he was, all his friends lived in an All-American House, and this was far from it. He heard footsteps coming down the stairs and got scared. He stayed in position and he saw the person, he had no clue it was Mike. He decided to use self defense and jumped over the sofa and pinned Mike down, he pulled Mike's head towards him so Mike's neck was outstretched. Aaron then screamed "Who are you and where am I you psycho freak." Mike was barely awake but he did manage to say "It's me Mike you idiot." Aaron let go of Mike and stood up quickly and just stood there as Mike got up and massaged the back of his head. Aaron stood there like a goofball; Mike looked at him and said "Why the hell did you do that?"
"Self-defense, I thought you kidnapped me, actually I thought it was some weird perve" Aaron stuttered out, he didn't know what to do just stood there and waited for Mike's answer "Look you three were drunk last night and I decided for you not to be disowned by your parents."
"Oh thanks then, sorry about pinning you" Aaron replied feeling even more embarrassed. Mike just went inside to his kitchen and got himself some orange juice, Aaron went to sit down on the sofa he was originally sleeping on. Abi and Katie woke up and wondered where they were, they looked around and assumed the same thing as Aaron, and this wasn't a friend's place. They also assumed that they were kidnapped, Mike then came in, still hurt from before when suddenly he heard Katie and Abi screaming. Mike was just pissed off now, he then just said "Look fuck-heads, I just woke up, I brought you here last night so your parents wouldn't get mad at you for running off and your parents would get mad for getting drunk ok you absolute idiots." Katie and Abi felt a bit stupid but mainly angry at Mike, he should've at least woken them up and told them instead of just taking them home.
They soon got over it though and Mike let them help themselves to some breakfast. They weren't that hungry because they discovered from first hand experience that while having a hangover everything tastes the same... and that taste isn't nice. Katie was sitting on a stool with Abi next to her while Aaron was throwing up in the bathroom; they both only had a vague remembrance of what happened last night. Mike was annoyed with Katie, surely she knew better than that. But he then thought who was he to judge, Green Day have songs about being pissed and drunk, and he did all of this when he was there age. Mike just sat there while Abi and Katie were trying with all their might to remember last night and what happened. Just as they were getting somewhere Aaron came in but with Anastasia's hand by the scruff of his collar, she was in her nightgown still and didn't look happy. "Why was he in the bathroom puking his head off?"
"Because he got completely drunk and that's what happens the day after" Mike answered. Anastasia let Aaron go and he stumbled and sat down next to Katie joining in the recollection of the last night. "Look Mike I get your being nice but there parents will get mad at them" Anastasia told him.
"I know and I went to there parents and explained the whole thing to them and there fine with it" Mike explained, Anastasia still saw something wrong about it but she didn't really care much as long as there okay.
The threesome called there parents and arranged to be picked up. While Abi and Aaron were calling there parents Katie was inside with Mike while he played with Estelle. She looked at him playing father and it was really sweet, Katie always knew he'd make a great father it was just in his nature and it came out that very minute. "So Katie I've heard that you've got your very first art exhibition tonight" Mike said to Katie while Estelle was playing with a teddy. "Ye, it's really exciting, I just hope I'm awake enough for it" Katie replied and then saying "How do you know?" Just before Mike could answer Abi and Aaron came in and said "Katie, our parents are here." She stood up and started walking out of the room when Mike answered "I know because I'm going with the guys and your family, we're the three extras on the ticket."
