Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut, chapter 6
-A week later-
I woke up early to the sound of my alarm clock blarring some incredibly stupid and disgusting song. I rolled over, glared at my clock, and slammed my hand on the snooze button. It was only 6:00; I didn't have to be anywhere for another two hours. The older of my two younger was coming down to visit me before she headed to college in Idaho.
I was really excited about seeing her, considering I hadn't seen her in about a month, but I wasn't sure how she would treat the guys or how they would treat her. They did get along with me pretty well, and she was a lot like me, but she could get old MUCH faster. I had told them all about her when I found out she was coming, and they were fine with meeting her... Even after finding out she was almost a bigger fan than me, but it still worried me. I wanted things to go PERFECT. Of course they never do, and being the fanatical believer in Murphy's Law I should have known that, but one can worry her pretty little head off in hope of.
I tried to fall back to sleep, but less than perfect situations started running at marathon speed through my head. I was really imagining everything from my sister dying in a plane crash on the way down to her telling the guys all the embarrassing stories of our childhood, like the time I kissed one of my many Green Day posters a little too passionatly in a dare.
In an attempt to make them go away, I got up, turned on my stereo, and headed downstairs to drown my sorrows in a few good cups of coffee. My coffee maker was already starting to make the lovely drink when I reached the kitchen. I grabbed my favorite Pacman cup from the cup rack on the wall, poured a packet of hot chocolate in, and drenched the chocolate with my blessed coffee.
After I drank three heavenly cups, I headed back upstairs to get ready. I only had an hour, give or take a few minutes, but I wanted to look my best since I hadn't seen her, or any of my family for that matter, since her graduation. I ran around my room getting my clothes and makeup together, grabbed whatever CD I found first (it was the Foo Fighters... The Colour and the Shape) and sprinted across the hall the my once again blinding white bathroom. I popped the CD in the radio that I've kept in my the bathroom of whatever house I was living in since... I don't remember when, hit the shuffle button, and hopped into the shower in record time while Everlong relaxed my slowly growing panic.
As I ran back into the room, I glanced at the clock; I had half an hour to get dressed, do my makeup, and get to the airport... In San Fransico. I started one of my usual melodramatic freak out sessions before I realized that my sister really wouldn't care. Although we hate being late to things, we always wanted to look our best for the weirdest things. She would totally understand if I were a few minutes late. She'd forget all about it once she met the guys anyway. I slowly calmed down as I watched myself smudge eyeliner on my upper lid. Prettifying myself was always relaxing...
-Two Hours Later-
"Why didn't you TELL me?"
My sister was practically having a mental breakdown in Billie Joe's living room after being introduced to Billie Joe and Adrienne; Mike and Tré hadn't shown up yet. I couldn't wait to see her reaction when they finally came... Or when I told her what had happened the week before...
"I didn't really think it was really any of your business when you called. Besides, I wanted to suprise you..." I mumbled, trying to adjust the halter top I was wearing, still afraid a T-shirt might kill my back that was still a smidge sore.
"How exactly is that not my business?"
"Just trust me, it's not!"
"FINE!"
Ahhhh... Sisterly love. It's such a wonderful thing, isn't it? She slammed the door as she left, storming across both yards, and nearly breaking every stair leading to my front door. I couldn't worry about that right now...
"Why'd your sister leave?" Damn, my sister can really slam doors... Adrienne had been down in the basement.
"She's just being her..."
"Gotcha! She's a little drama queen."
"Nah, I'm the drama queen... She's just one big massive tantrum."
"Still? Isn't she 18?"
"Yep! It's just one of those things."
"Still... You'd think she'd grow up a little bit. I mean, SHE'S 18!"
"I KNOW! It's genetic, though. No one in my family enjoys giving up the joys of childhood."
Adrienne and me had become pretty close over the week I'd been here. Besides the guys, she was my only real friend around here. It was nice to have a girl around to talk to, even if both of us get along better with guys. In the short time I'd know her, she'd become the big sister I never had. In fact, I had become so comfortable with her that she'd been the only one I'd told about what happened between Tré and I.
Adrienne and I laughed all the way back to the kitchen while Billie Joe, Joey, and Jakob gave us weird looks on their way into the living room and upstairs. We didn't have the time to explain to them what had just happened, so we laughed our way back to the stove and continued making the scrumdidlyumptious breakfast we'd been working on since my sister and me had gotten back from the airport.
The lovely breakfast consisted of everyone's favorites; French toast, Blueberry pancakes, Overly buttered toast, real bacon for those who could stomach the fat, Turkey bacon for my sister and me, and scrambled eggs. My sister would love it... If she decided to forgive me and join us.
While flipping over a couple of pieces of French toast, I heard the distinctive sound of Mike's car pull into the driveway, indicating that our last two guests were here; Tré had hitched a ride with Mike to save on gas... Even if they were lucky enough to afford it. I casually, still afraid of looking too clingy to my newfound friends, walked to the door and let the two men in.
"HEY!" I greeted them, "My sister just left. You guys wanna go with me to get her ass back over here?"
With a nonchalant "sure" out of both of them, we walked across the beautifully green yards and up the stairs, into my extremely loved house. I peeked my head around the corner as I opened the door, in fear my sister might be standing there waiting for me.
"Umm... Make yourselves at home. I'll go upstairs and try to find her."
Tré walked in and took a seat at one of the dining room chairs, with Mike following, as if trying to avoid the living room where we had shared our kiss. Honestly, we hadn't really talked much since that day, and it made me wonder if he regretted the whole thing. Sure, it was just a kiss, but for some of us, a kiss is still a big deal, no matter how many they've had before. Not being able to stop myself from thinking about it, I walked to the stairs and slowly made my way up, but stopped half way up because I heard Tré talking to Mike.
No matter how many times my mom told to never eaves drop, I've never been able to stop myself. My boyfriend and his best friend, along with me of course, would waste whole bus rides and lunches just listening to other people's conversations. I doubt any of us got out of the habit. ANYWAY... Their voices were slightly muffled, so I took a few steps back down as quietly as possible so I could hear the better.
"We were drunk. I don't know if it meant anything to either of us. I can't stop thinking about it, though. It's driving me CRAZY!" So maybe Tré didn't regret it... Hehehe.
"Obviously it meant something to you. You need to talk to her about it. If it meant something to both of you, then maybe something beautiful could blossom from it." Mike was much too sweet... And weird... How many people actually say stuff like that?
"But what if it DIDN'T mean anything to her?"
"Just talk to her about it!"
With a sigh from Tré, their conversation ended, making me finish going up the stairs and find my sister. I couldn't help but smile at the thought of one of the guys on my Top 20 Hottest Guys in the World list was actually stressing over a drunken kiss shared with ME! Sure, it might not sound that amazing, but most of the guys on that list I only dreamed of meeting, let alone actually get the chance to KISS them! It was enough to make a girl whip out her smelling salts! Looking for my sister was the only thing keeping me from fainting at the moment.
I walked down my hallway, the dark green carpet cushioning my feet, peeking my head around my bedroom door. Seeing as she wasn't to be found in there, I continued my trek across the hallway until I reached the bathroom. I couldn't help but stop and stare at the bathroom that was still as white as when I first moved here, even after my lovely puking session.
After passing out and falling out of the tree that I had climbed out of my bathroom on to avoid Tré, I really didn't have the mental capacity, or the conciousness, to clean a bathroom. Tré was sweet enough to clean it up for me after putting me back in bed and before he crashed on the couch to still giving me the company I had begged for earlier.
I stepped inside, knowing she'd be hiding behind my Hello Kitty shower curtain. I quietly tip-toed over to it and carefully pulled it back. And there she was, laying on her back, staring at the ceiling I'd added a thin coat of silver glitter to, seeing as the people I was renting from didn't care what I did with the place as long as it stayed in one piece.
"Hey Kroker. Whatcha doin'?" I whispered, using the voice I used to calm her down when we were younger.
"Leave me alone." Usual reaction...
"Come on Hopey! I wanted to suprise you, not make you mad at me!"
"Didn't work very well, did it?"
"I dunno. That's kinda up to you isn't it?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Adrienne and me have been slaving over a hot stove to make breakfast for you all morning and there's some stuff downstairs for you. Now, are you going to stay mad at me or suck it up and be suprised?"
She sighed and smiled like she always did when I'd won my case. She pushed herself up onto her elbows before getting to her feet and stepping out of the shower. Linking her arm with mine, she followed me down the hallway and down the stairs. Half way down I made her close her eyes to make the surprise even more supsensful. I led her through the living room and into the dining room where Tré and Mike were still waiting patiently for us.
"Open your eyes" I whispered, smiling as she slowly opened her eyes.
She blinked a few times, as if waiting for them to disappear. Once she realized she wasn't seeing things, she turned to me and smiled before screaming her petite lungs out.
"OH. MY. GOD! It's THEM! THEM! Tré and MIKE! OH MY GOD!"
All three of us older people smiled at her reaction. It went better than I thought it would, suprisingly, after her outburst in Billie's living room.
"Did she do this when she met Billie?" Tré asked me, carefully pulling on my arm to bring my ear down to his level.
"Nope. She's not that fond of him. You two are family favorites. Our mom and younger sister are more fond of Mike, she's been in love with you FOREVER, and I'm not picky." I whispered back, smiling... As usual.
"Wow..."
"Yeah, I know..."
We turned away from each other slowly, still holding a gaze with each other, before turning back to Mike and Hope.
"So, you ready to head back to Billie's for breakfast?" Mike smiled at my sister, making sure she wasn't going to tackle him. Hope nodded, still smiling too much to talk.
All four of us headed back to Billie's, Mike and Hope making small talk while Tré and me both battled with ourselfs if we should talk about what happened or not. Just as I was about to open my mouth and let him know that I was cool with everything, Jakob and Joey came storming out of the house to greet Mike and Tré, who I'd taken away before anybody could see them.
The kids tackled their "uncles" while Hope and I watched on briefly, smiling at how cute they all were, before leaving them to their greetings and heading back into the huge house.
My sister followed me into the kitchen, sitting down on one of the bar stools, as I helped Adrienne finish up the massive breakfast.
The smell of the delicious food brought all the guys back to kitchen to enjoy the breakfast we'd somehow managed not to burn. We all sat there, enjoying our food and coffee, and orange juice for the kids and my sister, laughing, smiling, and babbling on and on like one big family. It made my heart swell, really. I'd found another family outside of my family like I could love as much as I had loved my friends in college and high school.
I woke up early to the sound of my alarm clock blarring some incredibly stupid and disgusting song. I rolled over, glared at my clock, and slammed my hand on the snooze button. It was only 6:00; I didn't have to be anywhere for another two hours. The older of my two younger was coming down to visit me before she headed to college in Idaho.
I was really excited about seeing her, considering I hadn't seen her in about a month, but I wasn't sure how she would treat the guys or how they would treat her. They did get along with me pretty well, and she was a lot like me, but she could get old MUCH faster. I had told them all about her when I found out she was coming, and they were fine with meeting her... Even after finding out she was almost a bigger fan than me, but it still worried me. I wanted things to go PERFECT. Of course they never do, and being the fanatical believer in Murphy's Law I should have known that, but one can worry her pretty little head off in hope of.
I tried to fall back to sleep, but less than perfect situations started running at marathon speed through my head. I was really imagining everything from my sister dying in a plane crash on the way down to her telling the guys all the embarrassing stories of our childhood, like the time I kissed one of my many Green Day posters a little too passionatly in a dare.
In an attempt to make them go away, I got up, turned on my stereo, and headed downstairs to drown my sorrows in a few good cups of coffee. My coffee maker was already starting to make the lovely drink when I reached the kitchen. I grabbed my favorite Pacman cup from the cup rack on the wall, poured a packet of hot chocolate in, and drenched the chocolate with my blessed coffee.
After I drank three heavenly cups, I headed back upstairs to get ready. I only had an hour, give or take a few minutes, but I wanted to look my best since I hadn't seen her, or any of my family for that matter, since her graduation. I ran around my room getting my clothes and makeup together, grabbed whatever CD I found first (it was the Foo Fighters... The Colour and the Shape) and sprinted across the hall the my once again blinding white bathroom. I popped the CD in the radio that I've kept in my the bathroom of whatever house I was living in since... I don't remember when, hit the shuffle button, and hopped into the shower in record time while Everlong relaxed my slowly growing panic.
As I ran back into the room, I glanced at the clock; I had half an hour to get dressed, do my makeup, and get to the airport... In San Fransico. I started one of my usual melodramatic freak out sessions before I realized that my sister really wouldn't care. Although we hate being late to things, we always wanted to look our best for the weirdest things. She would totally understand if I were a few minutes late. She'd forget all about it once she met the guys anyway. I slowly calmed down as I watched myself smudge eyeliner on my upper lid. Prettifying myself was always relaxing...
-Two Hours Later-
"Why didn't you TELL me?"
My sister was practically having a mental breakdown in Billie Joe's living room after being introduced to Billie Joe and Adrienne; Mike and Tré hadn't shown up yet. I couldn't wait to see her reaction when they finally came... Or when I told her what had happened the week before...
"I didn't really think it was really any of your business when you called. Besides, I wanted to suprise you..." I mumbled, trying to adjust the halter top I was wearing, still afraid a T-shirt might kill my back that was still a smidge sore.
"How exactly is that not my business?"
"Just trust me, it's not!"
"FINE!"
Ahhhh... Sisterly love. It's such a wonderful thing, isn't it? She slammed the door as she left, storming across both yards, and nearly breaking every stair leading to my front door. I couldn't worry about that right now...
"Why'd your sister leave?" Damn, my sister can really slam doors... Adrienne had been down in the basement.
"She's just being her..."
"Gotcha! She's a little drama queen."
"Nah, I'm the drama queen... She's just one big massive tantrum."
"Still? Isn't she 18?"
"Yep! It's just one of those things."
"Still... You'd think she'd grow up a little bit. I mean, SHE'S 18!"
"I KNOW! It's genetic, though. No one in my family enjoys giving up the joys of childhood."
Adrienne and me had become pretty close over the week I'd been here. Besides the guys, she was my only real friend around here. It was nice to have a girl around to talk to, even if both of us get along better with guys. In the short time I'd know her, she'd become the big sister I never had. In fact, I had become so comfortable with her that she'd been the only one I'd told about what happened between Tré and I.
Adrienne and I laughed all the way back to the kitchen while Billie Joe, Joey, and Jakob gave us weird looks on their way into the living room and upstairs. We didn't have the time to explain to them what had just happened, so we laughed our way back to the stove and continued making the scrumdidlyumptious breakfast we'd been working on since my sister and me had gotten back from the airport.
The lovely breakfast consisted of everyone's favorites; French toast, Blueberry pancakes, Overly buttered toast, real bacon for those who could stomach the fat, Turkey bacon for my sister and me, and scrambled eggs. My sister would love it... If she decided to forgive me and join us.
While flipping over a couple of pieces of French toast, I heard the distinctive sound of Mike's car pull into the driveway, indicating that our last two guests were here; Tré had hitched a ride with Mike to save on gas... Even if they were lucky enough to afford it. I casually, still afraid of looking too clingy to my newfound friends, walked to the door and let the two men in.
"HEY!" I greeted them, "My sister just left. You guys wanna go with me to get her ass back over here?"
With a nonchalant "sure" out of both of them, we walked across the beautifully green yards and up the stairs, into my extremely loved house. I peeked my head around the corner as I opened the door, in fear my sister might be standing there waiting for me.
"Umm... Make yourselves at home. I'll go upstairs and try to find her."
Tré walked in and took a seat at one of the dining room chairs, with Mike following, as if trying to avoid the living room where we had shared our kiss. Honestly, we hadn't really talked much since that day, and it made me wonder if he regretted the whole thing. Sure, it was just a kiss, but for some of us, a kiss is still a big deal, no matter how many they've had before. Not being able to stop myself from thinking about it, I walked to the stairs and slowly made my way up, but stopped half way up because I heard Tré talking to Mike.
No matter how many times my mom told to never eaves drop, I've never been able to stop myself. My boyfriend and his best friend, along with me of course, would waste whole bus rides and lunches just listening to other people's conversations. I doubt any of us got out of the habit. ANYWAY... Their voices were slightly muffled, so I took a few steps back down as quietly as possible so I could hear the better.
"We were drunk. I don't know if it meant anything to either of us. I can't stop thinking about it, though. It's driving me CRAZY!" So maybe Tré didn't regret it... Hehehe.
"Obviously it meant something to you. You need to talk to her about it. If it meant something to both of you, then maybe something beautiful could blossom from it." Mike was much too sweet... And weird... How many people actually say stuff like that?
"But what if it DIDN'T mean anything to her?"
"Just talk to her about it!"
With a sigh from Tré, their conversation ended, making me finish going up the stairs and find my sister. I couldn't help but smile at the thought of one of the guys on my Top 20 Hottest Guys in the World list was actually stressing over a drunken kiss shared with ME! Sure, it might not sound that amazing, but most of the guys on that list I only dreamed of meeting, let alone actually get the chance to KISS them! It was enough to make a girl whip out her smelling salts! Looking for my sister was the only thing keeping me from fainting at the moment.
I walked down my hallway, the dark green carpet cushioning my feet, peeking my head around my bedroom door. Seeing as she wasn't to be found in there, I continued my trek across the hallway until I reached the bathroom. I couldn't help but stop and stare at the bathroom that was still as white as when I first moved here, even after my lovely puking session.
After passing out and falling out of the tree that I had climbed out of my bathroom on to avoid Tré, I really didn't have the mental capacity, or the conciousness, to clean a bathroom. Tré was sweet enough to clean it up for me after putting me back in bed and before he crashed on the couch to still giving me the company I had begged for earlier.
I stepped inside, knowing she'd be hiding behind my Hello Kitty shower curtain. I quietly tip-toed over to it and carefully pulled it back. And there she was, laying on her back, staring at the ceiling I'd added a thin coat of silver glitter to, seeing as the people I was renting from didn't care what I did with the place as long as it stayed in one piece.
"Hey Kroker. Whatcha doin'?" I whispered, using the voice I used to calm her down when we were younger.
"Leave me alone." Usual reaction...
"Come on Hopey! I wanted to suprise you, not make you mad at me!"
"Didn't work very well, did it?"
"I dunno. That's kinda up to you isn't it?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Adrienne and me have been slaving over a hot stove to make breakfast for you all morning and there's some stuff downstairs for you. Now, are you going to stay mad at me or suck it up and be suprised?"
She sighed and smiled like she always did when I'd won my case. She pushed herself up onto her elbows before getting to her feet and stepping out of the shower. Linking her arm with mine, she followed me down the hallway and down the stairs. Half way down I made her close her eyes to make the surprise even more supsensful. I led her through the living room and into the dining room where Tré and Mike were still waiting patiently for us.
"Open your eyes" I whispered, smiling as she slowly opened her eyes.
She blinked a few times, as if waiting for them to disappear. Once she realized she wasn't seeing things, she turned to me and smiled before screaming her petite lungs out.
"OH. MY. GOD! It's THEM! THEM! Tré and MIKE! OH MY GOD!"
All three of us older people smiled at her reaction. It went better than I thought it would, suprisingly, after her outburst in Billie's living room.
"Did she do this when she met Billie?" Tré asked me, carefully pulling on my arm to bring my ear down to his level.
"Nope. She's not that fond of him. You two are family favorites. Our mom and younger sister are more fond of Mike, she's been in love with you FOREVER, and I'm not picky." I whispered back, smiling... As usual.
"Wow..."
"Yeah, I know..."
We turned away from each other slowly, still holding a gaze with each other, before turning back to Mike and Hope.
"So, you ready to head back to Billie's for breakfast?" Mike smiled at my sister, making sure she wasn't going to tackle him. Hope nodded, still smiling too much to talk.
All four of us headed back to Billie's, Mike and Hope making small talk while Tré and me both battled with ourselfs if we should talk about what happened or not. Just as I was about to open my mouth and let him know that I was cool with everything, Jakob and Joey came storming out of the house to greet Mike and Tré, who I'd taken away before anybody could see them.
The kids tackled their "uncles" while Hope and I watched on briefly, smiling at how cute they all were, before leaving them to their greetings and heading back into the huge house.
My sister followed me into the kitchen, sitting down on one of the bar stools, as I helped Adrienne finish up the massive breakfast.
The smell of the delicious food brought all the guys back to kitchen to enjoy the breakfast we'd somehow managed not to burn. We all sat there, enjoying our food and coffee, and orange juice for the kids and my sister, laughing, smiling, and babbling on and on like one big family. It made my heart swell, really. I'd found another family outside of my family like I could love as much as I had loved my friends in college and high school.
