80, chapter 2
2:34 A.M.
That’s what the red glowing figures on the alarm clock read. 2:34 A.M. Adrienne turned over on her bed, looking at the spot which was usually occupied by her husband, but for the past few months, it had been empty. She lay there thinking. It suddenly occurred to her that her foot was jingling. She heard music. Why’s there music playing now? She thought to herself. Well, can’t let the electricity bills get any longer can I? She got out of bed and as got off the bed, she could here the song “I’ll Be Home For Christmas� playing softly. Adrienne opened the door and walked towards the stairs. She turned a corner when suddenly she found herself looking into a pair of brown eyes outlined with eyeliner. She couldn’t really see in the dark, but who else could it be other than:
“Billie Joe?� she reached up to touch the cheek, which seemed unfamiliarly different.
“Um...actually it’s Mike.�
“Oh,� Adrienne jumped back, startled. “I couldn’t see too well, it’s dark.�
“Uh, right.� came back the sarcastic reply.
“Gees, do you think I haven’t slept with someone for so long that I’d be desperate enough to sleep with you?�
“Ouch, that hurt!�
“Sorry, did that comment really hurt?�
“No, Tre will you stop pinching my ass!�
Adrienne looked passed Mike and saw a silhouette with that signature gelled up hair.
“Tre?! O.K. guys, it’s nice chatting and all, but where is my husband.� Adrienne demanded.
“Damn, 80, you’re clearly not a morning person.� said Tre.
“Well, I’m not a three-in-the-morning person, I’ll admit that.� she replied.
“We’re still jetlag, anyway, he’s outside unloading the luggage.� Mike chuckled.
“Thank you, Mike.�
Adrienne hurried downstairs, and without bothering to put any shoes on, she went outside to the taxi where she saw Billie Joe handing the driver some bills. Once the taxi pulled out of the drive-way, she ran towards Billie Joe, the only thing keeping her running out in the cold, barefoot, was the prospect of a warm hug from her husband. And she got it.
“You came.� Adrienne whispered in his ear.
“I told you I would.�
“Well, technically, you never did.�
“Hey, at least I came.�
“That’s what I said.�
“Exactly.�
Billie Joe brought her back in, carrying her over the threshold of the door. Adrienne giggled when she realized what he just did.
“Remember when I carried you in, after the wedding.� asked Billie Joe.
“How could I forget? You almost slipped on the tiles and would’ve dropped me if you didn’t reach the couch on time.�
“No,� Billie Joe said blushing at the memory. “After that.�
“You mean after you dropped me on the couch?�
“No,� said Billie Joe, blushing even more. “After I carefully placed you onto the couch. And I told you that if you jumped off a cliff, I wouldn’t jump with you...�
“...You’d be at the bottom to catch me.� finished off Adrienne. “Of course, I remember.�
“Yeah, then the next day you found out you were pregnant. Then you almost fainted. And I caught you!� Billie Joe said proudly.
They stood their for a second remembering way-back-when, then all of a sudden their moment of remembrance was disrupted by shrieks of delight as Jakob and Joey sleepily, but hurriedly made their way down the stairs towards their dad followed by Mike and Tre.
“Did you have to wake them up so early?� Adrienne asked Tre and Mike.
“No, they were already awake.� said Tre.
“We heard a car.� said Joey who was hugging Billie Joe around the waist.
“I wanna hug!� squealed Jakob.
Billie Joe scooped him up, “You want a hug Mister? You’re getting big, you are!� Billie Joe started walking away towards the living room with the kids with Jakob pleading for him to set up the VCR so that they could watch his soccer match.
“Oooh, a Kodak moment.� exclaimed Tre as he was bringing back the luggage which Billie Joe left outside. “Thanks buddy,� Tre yelled at Billie Joe. �when we asked you to unload the luggage, we also meant bring it in instead of leaving it outside.�
“So, 80,� Mike said as Adrienne, Mike, and Tre made their way towards the kitchen to grab a bite. “What have you been up to?�
“Looking after the kids. That’s about it.�
Did you hear our Christmas songs?� asked Tre.
“Yeah, awesome.� replied Adrienne.
“What day is it today?� asked Mike
“Today? Wait.� she started counting off with her fingers. “Fuck. Today’s Christmas!�
That’s what the red glowing figures on the alarm clock read. 2:34 A.M. Adrienne turned over on her bed, looking at the spot which was usually occupied by her husband, but for the past few months, it had been empty. She lay there thinking. It suddenly occurred to her that her foot was jingling. She heard music. Why’s there music playing now? She thought to herself. Well, can’t let the electricity bills get any longer can I? She got out of bed and as got off the bed, she could here the song “I’ll Be Home For Christmas� playing softly. Adrienne opened the door and walked towards the stairs. She turned a corner when suddenly she found herself looking into a pair of brown eyes outlined with eyeliner. She couldn’t really see in the dark, but who else could it be other than:
“Billie Joe?� she reached up to touch the cheek, which seemed unfamiliarly different.
“Um...actually it’s Mike.�
“Oh,� Adrienne jumped back, startled. “I couldn’t see too well, it’s dark.�
“Uh, right.� came back the sarcastic reply.
“Gees, do you think I haven’t slept with someone for so long that I’d be desperate enough to sleep with you?�
“Ouch, that hurt!�
“Sorry, did that comment really hurt?�
“No, Tre will you stop pinching my ass!�
Adrienne looked passed Mike and saw a silhouette with that signature gelled up hair.
“Tre?! O.K. guys, it’s nice chatting and all, but where is my husband.� Adrienne demanded.
“Damn, 80, you’re clearly not a morning person.� said Tre.
“Well, I’m not a three-in-the-morning person, I’ll admit that.� she replied.
“We’re still jetlag, anyway, he’s outside unloading the luggage.� Mike chuckled.
“Thank you, Mike.�
Adrienne hurried downstairs, and without bothering to put any shoes on, she went outside to the taxi where she saw Billie Joe handing the driver some bills. Once the taxi pulled out of the drive-way, she ran towards Billie Joe, the only thing keeping her running out in the cold, barefoot, was the prospect of a warm hug from her husband. And she got it.
“You came.� Adrienne whispered in his ear.
“I told you I would.�
“Well, technically, you never did.�
“Hey, at least I came.�
“That’s what I said.�
“Exactly.�
Billie Joe brought her back in, carrying her over the threshold of the door. Adrienne giggled when she realized what he just did.
“Remember when I carried you in, after the wedding.� asked Billie Joe.
“How could I forget? You almost slipped on the tiles and would’ve dropped me if you didn’t reach the couch on time.�
“No,� Billie Joe said blushing at the memory. “After that.�
“You mean after you dropped me on the couch?�
“No,� said Billie Joe, blushing even more. “After I carefully placed you onto the couch. And I told you that if you jumped off a cliff, I wouldn’t jump with you...�
“...You’d be at the bottom to catch me.� finished off Adrienne. “Of course, I remember.�
“Yeah, then the next day you found out you were pregnant. Then you almost fainted. And I caught you!� Billie Joe said proudly.
They stood their for a second remembering way-back-when, then all of a sudden their moment of remembrance was disrupted by shrieks of delight as Jakob and Joey sleepily, but hurriedly made their way down the stairs towards their dad followed by Mike and Tre.
“Did you have to wake them up so early?� Adrienne asked Tre and Mike.
“No, they were already awake.� said Tre.
“We heard a car.� said Joey who was hugging Billie Joe around the waist.
“I wanna hug!� squealed Jakob.
Billie Joe scooped him up, “You want a hug Mister? You’re getting big, you are!� Billie Joe started walking away towards the living room with the kids with Jakob pleading for him to set up the VCR so that they could watch his soccer match.
“Oooh, a Kodak moment.� exclaimed Tre as he was bringing back the luggage which Billie Joe left outside. “Thanks buddy,� Tre yelled at Billie Joe. �when we asked you to unload the luggage, we also meant bring it in instead of leaving it outside.�
“So, 80,� Mike said as Adrienne, Mike, and Tre made their way towards the kitchen to grab a bite. “What have you been up to?�
“Looking after the kids. That’s about it.�
Did you hear our Christmas songs?� asked Tre.
“Yeah, awesome.� replied Adrienne.
“What day is it today?� asked Mike
“Today? Wait.� she started counting off with her fingers. “Fuck. Today’s Christmas!�
