Whatever It Takes, chapter 3
Chapter 3: Crazy In Love
"And when the fields go falling down,
For which we will all drown,
I will hold the arms of hope,
And it's pretty hard to cope,
Drowning in my thoughts of you,
And trying to pay attention to the day I must get through,
I'm living but I'm not feeling,
And you cannot live if you don't feel,
I've got a broken heart only your love can heal,
Typical of me,
Broken by verse b,
And nothing can take my mind off of your smile,
Getting over you might take a while.";
"Feeling down Crash?"; Amber suggested referring to the song Cassady had just sang.
"Dunno,"; Cassady replied tossing a box of Amber's things onto a bed, "I just spurted out some random words from the top of my head.";
"Really?"; Amber asked with a semi impressed expression, "I do that all the time, in the shower and stuff, just start putting together random lines of songs that don't make sense when together. But I thought that it sounded pretty good, I have one that Alicia wrote the other day that I'll read to you later on.";
"Hmm,"; Cassady nodded not paying much attention to her best friend.
She was truly excited that Amber was coming to live with her and her brother Derek, she'd consider it her parent's home too if they weren't away so often. In fact her parents had just called to say they'd be away for another week and lectured Cassady on how she was old enough to take care of herself even though she didn't argue. Her mom was like that, she liked to jump to conclusions when Cassady just nodded and proceeded to say okay. It got annoying. Amber living with her was supposed to be exciting, but she still felt weird when Billie Joe was always around. And he was ALWAYS around, helping Amber with practically everything, though it was nice to have some one help fix the bathroom sink for no charge. But Cassady always got that sick sticky jealous feeling in the pit of her stomach every time she spotted the two making out.
Billie Joe walked in carrying probably the most heavy box that Amber had, "Shit what was in that thing it weighs about two tons.";
"So it weighs as much as your girlfriend then,"; Derek teased.
"That's not funny,"; Billie Joe replied, "And why aren't you helping you realize it would much easier for all of us if we all helped to get Amber moved in here. The faster it happens the better, then we wont have to make it into some sort of big project or something like that.";
"It is a big project,"; Derek replied. "And I will help. For Amber.";
With that Derek left the room leaving a puzzled Cassady staring at Billie Joe, who lifted an eyebrow. Amber had already left to get things from the car again, she told them she'd show Derek what to bring in while she was out there. This was another thing that Cassady hated, when Amber left her in the room alone with Billie Joe, there was always that awkward silence. And Cassady could tell that she wasn't Billie Joe's favorite person, not because he hated her, but just because she was quiet around her. He didn't even try to start up a conversation anymore.
Things between Derek and Billie Joe were bad before, but they had gotten worse when Amber mentioned that she was going to live with Derek they had their first argument over it. Billie Joe didn't like the fact that Amber was going to be spending a lot of time in a house with another guy, who she had basically dated before. Not to mention that there would be times when Amber and Derek would be alone in the house where neither he or Cassady could stop them from doing something. So Billie Joe made a motion to spend every second of the day, in Cassady's opinion, over at their house with Amber. Just so she wouldn't do anything with Derek, not that he didn't trust her, he just didn't trust Derek.
"Do you really think that I'm heavy Derek?"; Amber asked him twisting to look at herself from the side.
"No,"; Derek told her looking puzzled. "Why do you think that I do?";
"Because of what you said in the room, you know 'So then it weighs as much as your girlfriend' did you really mean that? Do you think that I'm fat?"; Amber asked him again.
"Amber, no, you are perfect,"; Derek informed her then asked, "What box do you want me to take?";
"That one,"; Amber told him while pointing at a large box.
He picked it up then carried it inside of the house passing by Billie Joe on the way, who looked at him over his shoulder. Billie Joe watched Amber for a moment, she stood there with her arms crossed, sleeves rolled up so that he could see her shoulders. She shook her head, making her pony tail swish back and forth, he watched it like he was in a trance. Amber then picked up a small box off of the ground with both hands turning to see him then placing one of her hands on her heart looking scared.
"Billie you scared me,"; Amber told him then smiled.
"Don't make fun, it's not nice.";
Amber smiled at him, "Like that face could do anything, but make your stomach twist into knots.";
"Are you calling me a hottie miss?";
"Yes, you are the most fucking hot person I've ever met in my fucking life Billie fucking Joe,"; Amber announced.
"I knew it,"; Billie Joe teased, "You know that I feel the same way about you Amber fucking Marie.";
"Yeah I know,"; She told him walking up to him then placing a larger box in his hands adding, "Last one, thanks for your help Billie.";
"Anytime, accept for tomorrow because I have a date.";
"Really with who?"; Amber asked him.
"You.";
"Really, and how come I didn't hear anything about this date?";
"Because it was a surprise.";
"Uh huhhhh.";
"My date's going to be picked up at 8 o' clock in the country hick version of a stretch limo, a.k.a. my personal batmobile. The super cool, super fly, super exciting, piece of shit on wheels, or my mom's old car that she gave to me as some sort of early 17th birthday present,"; Billie Joe told her scratching the back of his head before picking up the box that was on the ground.
"Billie!"; Amber yelled excitedly, "You have your own car?!?!";
"Hell yes,"; Billie Joe answered.
Amber through her arms around him after dropping the box, "You know a man with his own car is very sexy to me, very, very, very sexy.";
"Really? And what do men get for being so very, very, very, very sexy?"; He questioned quirking an eyebrow at her.
"You get nothing, but the knowledge and great feeling that you have when some one like me thinks that you're sexy,"; Amber told him getting back to work.
"Great,"; He told her sarcastically.
"You should be grateful that you got that.";
"Uh huh.";
Derek stood in the room near Cassady, she could barely hear him mumble, "I've had my own car for 2 years, and she never thought I was that great.";
Cassady turned to her older brother debating on whether to roll her eyes at him or to just shake her head to herself. Deciding on the head shake she wondered why her parents could have raised such a pathetic child, when the other two were just fine. Cassady also had another older brother named DJ who'd moved out long since then, she called him every once in a while, but she wasn't as close to him as they used to be. She and Derek were always the two that bickered to each other about the other's bad habits, like how Derek burped, and how Cassady didn't replace the toilet roll. They annoyed each other a ton, but still they had learned to live with one another on friendly terms, just so they didn't rip each other's heads off, like her mother had said.
"Why don't you just come and live with me?"; Billie Joe questioned as he and Amber entered the room.
"And sleep where exactly?"; Amber asked him setting the box down.
"In my sister, Annie's, old bedroom,"; he suggested putting down his own box on the floor.
"You mean the 'craft' room?";
"My mom would clear it out if you wanted to come live with us, and there is always the spare room in the apartment that Mike lives in. I'm sure he'd be more than happy to have a room mate to keep him company down there.";
"Billie Joe, I'm not going to sleep in your basement,"; Amber told him appalled by the idea.
"You wouldn't have to, just put your things down there and you can sleep in my bed with me,"; he replied with a grin plastered across his face.
Derek cringed at this thought feeling a pang of jealously in the pit of his stomach when he saw the two of them all happy like this. He really did have feelings for Amber, and it killed him to see her with this Billie Joe guy, who in his opinion was a piece of shit who was going to fail in life. Not that Derek was the most successful person in the world, but at least he had a fucking job that he could maintain. And Billie Joe just sat around like a lazy ass playing his stupid guitar all day, what puzzled him is how Billie Joe could do so little and still maintain his physical level. Maybe he should start playing guitar. Derek decided that he would leave the room to give them space and stop thinking of ways that he could kill Billie Joe and make it look like an accident.
Amber rolled her eyes.
"Come on, why not?";
"You know what I don't understand how you can suggest that I stay in the apartment with Mike, but you don't like me living here when there's one guy here. I'm not interested in Derek and you know it so what's the problem, I really don't understand why you don't trust me, and if you don't believe me ask Cassady. She wont let me do anything behind your back,"; Amber replied.
"Well, if you lived with Mike, not only is he my best friend and I know he wouldn't do anything with you because it's Mike, but I also would be in the same house. This would save me not only gas money, but it would save me from the feeling that I get when I wake up and you're not next to me,"; Amber got that sympathetic look along with Cassady that meant they thought what he said was sweet. "I know that you're not interested in Derek, but if you have a little too much to drink he could start to look really good. And it's not you that I don't trust it's Derek, and I know that Cassady would try to keep Derek away, but she's not there all the time.";
Amber sighed, "Billie, I don't think that I'm ready to move in with you, not to mention I had been planning to move in here even before I was dating you. Plus I don't want to live here because I want to be around Derek, even though he is cool, it's because I love my best friend.";
Amber walked up to Billie Joe then put her arms around his neck.
Billie Joe lifted an eye brow, "Really?";
She punched his arm softly then smiled, "Not like that you sick-o.";
"Yeah, but we share a mutual love that only two best friends could experience between each other in this special relationship,"; Cassady joined in. "We are in love,"; she put her hands to her heart dramatically causing both the others to grin, "On friendly terms.";
Amber rolled her arms, "Yeah.";
"Well then I guess there is no room for me,"; Billie Joe said being sarcastic.
"Are you kidding, we'll kick Cassady off,"; Amber told him kissing his cheeks then his nose.
"You missed the lips hun, have you been drinking too much are you going all 'Pretty Woman' on me? And if so then we can have sex, we just can't kiss so take off your pants now,"; Billie Joe demanded grinning.
Amber laughed, "I don't know.";
"Fine then let me help you,"; Billie Joe kissed her on the lips softly enough to make Amber's knees weak.
She loved it when Billie Joe kissed her like that, not open mouthed, no tongue, just lips, softly and passionately even with out the other two elements. It made him seem sincere, sweet, and like he truly wanted more than just sex out of their relationship. And even though Billie Joe tended to kid around a lot, and egg her on, he really did care for her deep down. That was why he kissed her like that holding onto her waist so she wouldn't slip, he didn't get much out of kissing her like that. It was when she kissed back that he got the full experience, it was when she kissed back that he got the gooey feeling in his stomach. All the time he just pushed the feeling to the back of his mind, he didn't want to fall in love, it almost scared him. Like it scared her.
Cassady managed to sneak out of the room before they got really mushy. She didn't like to see them like that because every time she just wished that she was Amber, but they never noticed her. He never noticed her, he only saw Amber, even in the most crowded room, she was the only one there in his eyes. In her opinion he was farsighted.
"Another semimetal argument and bitter love,"; Cassady said aloud almost stumbling into him by mistake.
"What are you going on about now?"; he asked her appalled by her touch.
"Nothing,"; Cassady said drawing back, "It's just a line to a song that I'm thinking of writing, well the only line that I have right now, but it's pretty damn good so far.";
"Whatever I'm going to help Amber finish unloading some of her boxes,"; Derek said trying to get passed her at the same time mumbling, "And kick Billie fucking Joe out.";
"Woah there,"; Cassady placed her arm in his path, "You do not want to go in there, trust me, I know that you don't like to see Amber all in love and starry eyed.";
"Do you honestly think she's in love?"; Derek asked turning to face her.
Cassady shrugged, "Dunno.";
"So you mean maybe?";
"I guess.";
"Are you sure?";
"I really don't know Derek. And what confuses me even more is that you are asking these questions about her when you have a girlfriend and she's a whole year younger than you. You should be able to tell that if Amber isn't in love with Billie Joe then she's most definitely falling in love with him. I mean come on, she's all over him.";
"I don't think of it that way really I think of it as him being more all over her.";
"I don't agree, I think that she likes him more than he likes her.";
Derek stared at his sister in confusion then a thought dawned upon him for a moment lightening up his face and replacing the look of jealousy with that of confusion, "You're in love with Billie Joe?";
"What?"; Cassady asked positioning her self to look at Derek's confused expression.
"You are,"; Derek looked at her surprised.
Cassady covered her face, knowing that it was the only way for her brother to see the truth, in her eyes is where it lies. She tired her best to put the thoughts of Billie Joe into the back of her head, she wouldn't say that she loved him per say. But if she got anymore obsessed then she'd have a shrine in the back of her room, including a lock of hair from his head. Derek could tell from that second that Cassady was in love with Billie Joe, he could tell it by the look in her eyes that she was jealous. The thought of Cassady being selfish had dawned on him at the same time, that's when he realized that he was also being selfish.
Amber was happy with Billie Joe, and Billie Joe was happy with Amber. So why were they both taking it so hard and not just getting over it, that's what they should be doing after all. They shouldn't care what's happening, after all Cassady was practically with Tre, and Derek had been dating Alicia for over a year now. They should be happy, but instead they were acting depressed enough to draw attention to them from their friends.
Billie Joe finally broke away from their kiss, "Do you want me to take off your pants now?";
"I do believe that in 'Pretty Woman' their lips weren't supposed to meet, you just kissed me full on the lips. And I also see that we have a lot of unpacking to do here and you did claim to help me with it like a good boyfriend should,"; Amber replied picking up a box of books.
Billie Joe sighed, "Why don't we do some carrying down the stairs and into my car, then some driving back to my place a.k.a. your new home?";
Amber rolled her eyes then made her way over to the bed.
"Don't,"; Billie Joe grabbed her hand before it reached the box, "Here I'll call up Mike, we'll get the stuff in your room all set up for you and you can go out with Cassady for the day. It's the least I could do to make you change your mind about living with me.";
"Billie, I don't want to live in the same house with your mom, and thank you that would be great,"; Amber told him then walked out of the room messing with her hair.
Billie Joe mumbled to himself, "Sure she tries to make herself look good when she leaves me.";
Cassady eyed Amber as she came out of the room looking quite suspicious with Derek standing there like that. Since they both were staring at her this made Amber more than slightly uncomfortable as she gestured to the bathroom then walked in still messing with her hair. They both turned their attention back to each other then Cassady went to join Amber as Derek went to help Billie Joe.
"Hey,"; Derek told him walking into the room.
"Hey,"; Billie Joe replied then turned to watch him pick up something out of a box, "You don't have to do anything I'm going to call up Mike and we're going to set up her room for her.";
"Well I'm sure that you could always use an extra hand am I right?"; Derek asked.
"Sure, but you don't have to if you don't want to, it is your house after all you shouldn't have to do any work for her. We can handle it if you really don't want to,"; Billie Joe told him.
"I'm fine doing this, I've got nothing better to do,"; Derek told him trying to put to pieces of Amber's bed together.
"Okay,"; Billie Joe shrugged then went for the phone.
He called up Mike.
"Hello?";
"Hey.";
"Billie Joe?";
"Yeah.";
"What do you want man it's early?";
"It's 3 o' clock in the after noon you idiot.";
"You're one to talk. So what do you want?";
"I need you to come down and help me set up some shit at Amber's.";
"You need me?";
"Yeah.";
"Fine. I'll be over in a half an hour okay.";
"Okay, bye.";
"Bah bye.";
Billie Joe hung up the phone then turned to find Derek struggling to set up the bed, he decided that he'd go help him even though he wasn't he biggest handy man in the world. He helped Derek set up the bed before he saw Amber coming in the room, dressed much nicer, and looking even more beautiful. Billie Joe walked up to her then pressed his body against his carefully looking her over with a lustful expression. He widened her eyes at her then bit his lip, as if asking her to stay instead of leave. In response she wrapped her arms around him leaning back slightly, he laced his fingers together at the small of her back holding her up.
"I'm going to go shopping with Cassady,"; Amber told him smiling slightly.
"Not looking like that you're not, you are not going anywhere. See we've got where you need to go set up right over there,"; he gestured with his head to the bed.
Amber rolled her eyes smiling, "Maybe later.";
He grinned as she pulled him closer so that their foreheads were touching before placing her lips on to his softly. Billie Joe opened his mouth slightly waiting for her to do the same before letting his tongue enter her mouth and vise versa. Cassady stood in the door way with a hand on her hip every few seconds looking at her watch on her wrist. Derek just stood there glaring at Billie Joe then looking at Cassady, his eyes begging her to make it stop.
"Come on Amber,"; Cassady told her.
Amber broke away, "Okay.";
She looked at Billie Joe then kissed him lightly on the lips before pushing him away, "Bye, bye, see you in a little while.";
"Bye babe,"; Billie Joe told her watching her as she walked out the door, he subconsciously bit his lip.
"So you and Amber,"; Derek said.
"Yeah,"; Billie Joe replied looking back at him.
Derek nodded.
"Man I know that you like her,"; Billie Joe finally got out.
"What?"; Derek looked at him.
"I know that you like her, I see you always looking at her, trying to do nice things for her like helping to set up her room. And I know that you guys saw each other for a while, Amber already told me all about,"; Billie Joe told him.
"Huh,"; Derek told him as if uninterested.
"Just don't do anything stupid okay?";
"What do you mean by that,"; Derek looked at him again offended.
"I mean stay the fuck away from her,"; Billie Joe alliterated.
"I can't do that Billie, you know that I can't I'm going to be living in the same house with her for a looong time. And the way I see it, pretty soon she'll forget about you, she'll forget about all the guys like you who do something stupid and screw with her. All you want is sex, that's what all of you want, but I want her. And all of you always break her heart, and I swear if you do you'll never get near this house again,"; Derek replied.
"I'd never do anything to break her heart,"; Billie Joe informed him.
"Yeah well it doesn't matter because when she forgets you I'll be here.";
With that Billie Joe punched Derek in the face although smaller and a few months younger, he packed a hard punch. Derek fell to the floor putting his thumb to his nose which had blood running down it then got back up coming at Billie Joe. He hit him hard in the cheek bone then went for the stomach, causing Billie Joe to clutch his gut. Billie Joe then ran at him tackling him in the midsection and ramming him into the bed which for now was just metal bars. Derek pushed Billie Joe almost crying out in pain, he threw his head back cringing then looked back at Billie Joe angrily. He picked up the much smaller boy by the shirt then pressed him up against the wall of Amber's room making Billie Joe look away.
Derek put his face very close to Billie Joe's then whispered, "Listen you no good piece of shit, if you want some one to stay away from your girlfriend you better hope it's a second grader because I don't think you could defend yourself against anyone else. And you better stay away from Amber, and if you break her heart I'll kill you.";
Billie Joe turned back to Derek with a sly look on his face, "If I can't break her heart then how can I stay away from her.";
Derek looked into Billie Joe's green eyes then replied, "I don't think she'd be too heart broken after living with me.";
"Did I come in at a bad time?"; Mike asked from the door way which was wide open.
Derek looked at him then set Billie Joe down, then left pushing his way past Mike. Billie Joe just looked at his best friend from the floor where he was now sitting. His lip was bleeding, along with a cut on his cheekbone, and he was holding his rib cage. Mike also noticed that Derek's nose was bleeding, and he was going to have a shiner on his right eye, only to match the one Billie Joe was going to have on his left.
"Uh does this mean we wont have some extra help,"; Mike asked extending his hand for Billie Joe to grab still holding on to his rib cage with the other.
"Probably not, unless you want extra help getting the shit beaten out of you,"; Billie Joe replied making a hurt face as he touched a sensitive spot on his ribs.
"I think that we could have taken him together BJ,"; Mike replied, "So what happened anyways?";
"Well all I can really remember is something about me accusing him of liking Amber, this is when I regret being always right. Then he said something about her falling for him after I do something bad, and by then I was already thinking of where I should fucking punch him first. So I decided that the face was best, I got his nose,"; Billie Joe began.
"I saw, looks like you almost broke it,"; Mike told him trying to act slightly impressed for his sake.
"Yeah so then he didn't like that very much and got me in the face and the ribs really hard, even though he looks skinny it seems like he was the fucking best offensive lineman on the football team. Then I decided that I wanted payback and did something really fucking stupid. I tackled him and managed to hit him into the bed frame, which just made him even more angry. So then he picked me up and pinned me onto the wall, that was when you walked in.";
"Ah, I see. Are you okay man?";
"Yeah. I'll be fine, here let's go set up Amber's stuff,"; Billie Joe told him using his arm to wipe away some of the blood from his lip then his cheekbone.
"Okay,"; Mike told him picking up a box.
Amber grinned at Cassady while holding up a bunch of her hair and spinning around in a dress that she had just tried on. She smiled bigger at Cassady, who was cracking up. They were in a thrift shop trying on all of the stupidest dresses until they got kicked out for laughing so much or just not buying anything. Right now Amber was wearing a plaid black and red dress that, in Cassady's words, made her look like a checker board. Amber said that she thought that she was going to have to die if she didn't get the dress, while rolling her eyes then re-entering the dressing room. She came out in a flower dress then spined around acting like a model of some sorts, Cassady started laughing at her again. Amber gave Cassady one last look before going back into the dressing room to find some other dress to try on.
Finally she found a very old fashioned blue dress that almost looked like it was from the middle ages. She slipped it on the walked out acting as if she was some movie star striking poses then looked at Cassady waiting for her laugh. But instead of laughing Cassady just stared at Amber for some strange reason, she kept her mouth strait.
"That bad huh?"; Amber asked looking at it and holding out some of it to see for herself.
"No, it looks really good on you Amber, I mean it really does,"; Cassady told her getting up and directing Amber to a mirror.
"Wow,"; Amber said staring at her reflection.
Her hair was wavy and hung over her shoulders, and her green eyes were coated in eyeliner with purple around them to bring out the green. She was wearing lip gloss over her lips, and just plain old black converse, which really didn't go with the dress in the least bit. The dress was blue with very thin straps and criss-cross ribbon in the back like shoe laces almost, it was truly beautiful. Amber nodded making a face and twisting to look at her back then her side.
"I never thought I'd actually find something decent here.";
"Well you really never know,"; Cassady replied.
"Huh,"; Amber answered her, "Well we should be getting back to check on the guys, I bet Derek is inside laughing with Mike and they probably have Billie Joe hanging upside down from his shoelaces on the tree outside my bedroom window. You know how mean they can be.";
"Yeah probably,"; Cassady replied with a slight laugh, "And they always have to pick on Billie because he's the smallest, and he's the only one who can fit places.";
"I know, remember when they were playing catch when they were younger and Mike threw the ball in the crawl space under your house. And Billie Joe was the only one small enough to fit underneath, and he barely got through, then he couldn't get back out,"; Amber had to stop to laugh, "Then your dad had to tear off a part of the deck to get Billie back out.";
Cassady laughed, "Or the time he got stuck in the fence because the Frisbee went over the fence then he got stuck and the neighbors wouldn't pull him out because they said he should have just walked up to the front and asked for it back. And Mike and Derek thought it would be funny to put make up on him while one arm was on the other side. Then they thought it would be even funnier to just leave him over night.";
"Yeah then we had go outside and get him out because we couldn't got to sleep with all of his singing,"; Amber added then made a weird facial expression, "I always wonder why he was singing.";
"Well BJ always loved to sing,"; Cassady told her.
"Yeah, and he's really good.";
"Of course.";
"I'm going to get the dress.";
"Cool.";
Amber pulled off the dress then got dressed into her normal clothes then walked up to the cash register to pay. She walked up there eyes on the counter then stared at the person who worked there. It was a boy about 17 with dark brown hair and ice blue eyes, his skin was tan and he was looking about the room. When his eyes met Amber's he smiled.
"Hey, how can I help you?"; He asked.
"Hi,"; Amber smirked, "I'd like to get this please.";
"Good manners and everything,"; He remarked taking the dress from her.
"My mother raised me well,"; Amber replied tapping her fingers.
"I bet, it's gonna be 15 dollars with the special discount I put in,"; he said winking at her.
Amber smiled, "Thanks.";
She handed over the money, his hand lingered a little while longer than it probably should then she closed her wallet and picked up the dress in the bag he put it in.
"Hey,"; the boy asked. "What's your name?";
"Amber, and yours?";
"Jake.";
Amber smiled then linked arms with Cassady who was holding out her arm for her then walked out of the store and to her car. Cassady went on and on about how cute Jake was and how he absolutly and totally liked Amber and how she should go out with him. Amber rolled her eyes then replied that she'd never leave Billie Joe for some guy just like that. Cassady said okay slightly disappointed. They reached home to find Derek gone and noise coming from the up stairs. The two girls walked up stares to find Billie Joe's back facing them, he was working on a shelf, and quickly Mike looked up and smiled.
Amber walked over to Billie Joe as quietly as she could then put her arms around him laying her head on his shoulder, "I'm back.";
Billie Joe put his hands on hers, "Good.";
"Billie?";
"Hmm?";
"Give me a hug.";
"No,"; Billie Joe told her not wanting her to see his eye, lip, or cheekbone at the moment, and he was straining not to cry out from her hands on his ribs.
She squeezed him tighter which made him squeak, she then paused and took her hands off of him, "Billie what's wrong?";
"Nothing,"; he told her still not turning around.
Amber put her hand on his shoulder then turned him around to face her at the same time gasping at his appearance. His lip was cut and bleeding, there was a cut on his right cheek bone that was also bleeding, and his eye was turning purple and looked like it might swell. She licked her thumb then wiped off some of the blood from his cheekbone, he flinched when she did this. Amber frowned at him, she then wrapped both arms around his neck.
"Billie, I thought they would have done something, but what really did happen here? You're all scratched up,"; Amber told him.
"I'm okay,"; he replied putting his own arms around her waist.
"What happened?"; Amber asked again pulling away to look at him.
"Well Derek and I didn't agree on something.";
"Did you tell him to fuck off?";
"Well, actually,"; Billie Joe began putting his hand behind his neck, "I um, kind of punched him because of something that he said. Then he beat the shit out of me, and left when Mike came.";
"Oh, Billie I'm sorry,"; Amber told him putting her arms around his waist then pressing her head into his chest.
"I'm okay,"; Billie Joe repeated, putting his arms around her.
"Maybe I shouldn't move in here,"; Amber told Cassady looking kind of sad.
"Why?"; Cassady asked not wanting her to leave.
"Well, if your brother is going to beat up my boyfriend every time I come over here then I don't really think I want to live here.";
"Why don't we just kick out Derek?";
"We can't do that it's his house too.";
"You're way too nice,"; Mike told Amber, "Just come live with us. I have a spare room in the apartment of BJ's house.";
"Right now that sounds really great. And it's not very far from here so you can come over and stuff Crash,"; Amber looked at her hopefully.
"Do what ever you want,"; Cassady waved her hand in the air, "Just as long as you don't move out of state or anything.";
"Yes!"; Billie Joe shouted.
Amber rolled her eyes, "Now you have to take apart the bed though.";
"Nope, we have a bed in the spare,"; Mike told her.
"Okay, cool. Then I guess I'm moving in,"; Amber told them all.
"And when the fields go falling down,
For which we will all drown,
I will hold the arms of hope,
And it's pretty hard to cope,
Drowning in my thoughts of you,
And trying to pay attention to the day I must get through,
I'm living but I'm not feeling,
And you cannot live if you don't feel,
I've got a broken heart only your love can heal,
Typical of me,
Broken by verse b,
And nothing can take my mind off of your smile,
Getting over you might take a while.";
"Feeling down Crash?"; Amber suggested referring to the song Cassady had just sang.
"Dunno,"; Cassady replied tossing a box of Amber's things onto a bed, "I just spurted out some random words from the top of my head.";
"Really?"; Amber asked with a semi impressed expression, "I do that all the time, in the shower and stuff, just start putting together random lines of songs that don't make sense when together. But I thought that it sounded pretty good, I have one that Alicia wrote the other day that I'll read to you later on.";
"Hmm,"; Cassady nodded not paying much attention to her best friend.
She was truly excited that Amber was coming to live with her and her brother Derek, she'd consider it her parent's home too if they weren't away so often. In fact her parents had just called to say they'd be away for another week and lectured Cassady on how she was old enough to take care of herself even though she didn't argue. Her mom was like that, she liked to jump to conclusions when Cassady just nodded and proceeded to say okay. It got annoying. Amber living with her was supposed to be exciting, but she still felt weird when Billie Joe was always around. And he was ALWAYS around, helping Amber with practically everything, though it was nice to have some one help fix the bathroom sink for no charge. But Cassady always got that sick sticky jealous feeling in the pit of her stomach every time she spotted the two making out.
Billie Joe walked in carrying probably the most heavy box that Amber had, "Shit what was in that thing it weighs about two tons.";
"So it weighs as much as your girlfriend then,"; Derek teased.
"That's not funny,"; Billie Joe replied, "And why aren't you helping you realize it would much easier for all of us if we all helped to get Amber moved in here. The faster it happens the better, then we wont have to make it into some sort of big project or something like that.";
"It is a big project,"; Derek replied. "And I will help. For Amber.";
With that Derek left the room leaving a puzzled Cassady staring at Billie Joe, who lifted an eyebrow. Amber had already left to get things from the car again, she told them she'd show Derek what to bring in while she was out there. This was another thing that Cassady hated, when Amber left her in the room alone with Billie Joe, there was always that awkward silence. And Cassady could tell that she wasn't Billie Joe's favorite person, not because he hated her, but just because she was quiet around her. He didn't even try to start up a conversation anymore.
Things between Derek and Billie Joe were bad before, but they had gotten worse when Amber mentioned that she was going to live with Derek they had their first argument over it. Billie Joe didn't like the fact that Amber was going to be spending a lot of time in a house with another guy, who she had basically dated before. Not to mention that there would be times when Amber and Derek would be alone in the house where neither he or Cassady could stop them from doing something. So Billie Joe made a motion to spend every second of the day, in Cassady's opinion, over at their house with Amber. Just so she wouldn't do anything with Derek, not that he didn't trust her, he just didn't trust Derek.
"Do you really think that I'm heavy Derek?"; Amber asked him twisting to look at herself from the side.
"No,"; Derek told her looking puzzled. "Why do you think that I do?";
"Because of what you said in the room, you know 'So then it weighs as much as your girlfriend' did you really mean that? Do you think that I'm fat?"; Amber asked him again.
"Amber, no, you are perfect,"; Derek informed her then asked, "What box do you want me to take?";
"That one,"; Amber told him while pointing at a large box.
He picked it up then carried it inside of the house passing by Billie Joe on the way, who looked at him over his shoulder. Billie Joe watched Amber for a moment, she stood there with her arms crossed, sleeves rolled up so that he could see her shoulders. She shook her head, making her pony tail swish back and forth, he watched it like he was in a trance. Amber then picked up a small box off of the ground with both hands turning to see him then placing one of her hands on her heart looking scared.
"Billie you scared me,"; Amber told him then smiled.
"Don't make fun, it's not nice.";
Amber smiled at him, "Like that face could do anything, but make your stomach twist into knots.";
"Are you calling me a hottie miss?";
"Yes, you are the most fucking hot person I've ever met in my fucking life Billie fucking Joe,"; Amber announced.
"I knew it,"; Billie Joe teased, "You know that I feel the same way about you Amber fucking Marie.";
"Yeah I know,"; She told him walking up to him then placing a larger box in his hands adding, "Last one, thanks for your help Billie.";
"Anytime, accept for tomorrow because I have a date.";
"Really with who?"; Amber asked him.
"You.";
"Really, and how come I didn't hear anything about this date?";
"Because it was a surprise.";
"Uh huhhhh.";
"My date's going to be picked up at 8 o' clock in the country hick version of a stretch limo, a.k.a. my personal batmobile. The super cool, super fly, super exciting, piece of shit on wheels, or my mom's old car that she gave to me as some sort of early 17th birthday present,"; Billie Joe told her scratching the back of his head before picking up the box that was on the ground.
"Billie!"; Amber yelled excitedly, "You have your own car?!?!";
"Hell yes,"; Billie Joe answered.
Amber through her arms around him after dropping the box, "You know a man with his own car is very sexy to me, very, very, very sexy.";
"Really? And what do men get for being so very, very, very, very sexy?"; He questioned quirking an eyebrow at her.
"You get nothing, but the knowledge and great feeling that you have when some one like me thinks that you're sexy,"; Amber told him getting back to work.
"Great,"; He told her sarcastically.
"You should be grateful that you got that.";
"Uh huh.";
Derek stood in the room near Cassady, she could barely hear him mumble, "I've had my own car for 2 years, and she never thought I was that great.";
Cassady turned to her older brother debating on whether to roll her eyes at him or to just shake her head to herself. Deciding on the head shake she wondered why her parents could have raised such a pathetic child, when the other two were just fine. Cassady also had another older brother named DJ who'd moved out long since then, she called him every once in a while, but she wasn't as close to him as they used to be. She and Derek were always the two that bickered to each other about the other's bad habits, like how Derek burped, and how Cassady didn't replace the toilet roll. They annoyed each other a ton, but still they had learned to live with one another on friendly terms, just so they didn't rip each other's heads off, like her mother had said.
"Why don't you just come and live with me?"; Billie Joe questioned as he and Amber entered the room.
"And sleep where exactly?"; Amber asked him setting the box down.
"In my sister, Annie's, old bedroom,"; he suggested putting down his own box on the floor.
"You mean the 'craft' room?";
"My mom would clear it out if you wanted to come live with us, and there is always the spare room in the apartment that Mike lives in. I'm sure he'd be more than happy to have a room mate to keep him company down there.";
"Billie Joe, I'm not going to sleep in your basement,"; Amber told him appalled by the idea.
"You wouldn't have to, just put your things down there and you can sleep in my bed with me,"; he replied with a grin plastered across his face.
Derek cringed at this thought feeling a pang of jealously in the pit of his stomach when he saw the two of them all happy like this. He really did have feelings for Amber, and it killed him to see her with this Billie Joe guy, who in his opinion was a piece of shit who was going to fail in life. Not that Derek was the most successful person in the world, but at least he had a fucking job that he could maintain. And Billie Joe just sat around like a lazy ass playing his stupid guitar all day, what puzzled him is how Billie Joe could do so little and still maintain his physical level. Maybe he should start playing guitar. Derek decided that he would leave the room to give them space and stop thinking of ways that he could kill Billie Joe and make it look like an accident.
Amber rolled her eyes.
"Come on, why not?";
"You know what I don't understand how you can suggest that I stay in the apartment with Mike, but you don't like me living here when there's one guy here. I'm not interested in Derek and you know it so what's the problem, I really don't understand why you don't trust me, and if you don't believe me ask Cassady. She wont let me do anything behind your back,"; Amber replied.
"Well, if you lived with Mike, not only is he my best friend and I know he wouldn't do anything with you because it's Mike, but I also would be in the same house. This would save me not only gas money, but it would save me from the feeling that I get when I wake up and you're not next to me,"; Amber got that sympathetic look along with Cassady that meant they thought what he said was sweet. "I know that you're not interested in Derek, but if you have a little too much to drink he could start to look really good. And it's not you that I don't trust it's Derek, and I know that Cassady would try to keep Derek away, but she's not there all the time.";
Amber sighed, "Billie, I don't think that I'm ready to move in with you, not to mention I had been planning to move in here even before I was dating you. Plus I don't want to live here because I want to be around Derek, even though he is cool, it's because I love my best friend.";
Amber walked up to Billie Joe then put her arms around his neck.
Billie Joe lifted an eye brow, "Really?";
She punched his arm softly then smiled, "Not like that you sick-o.";
"Yeah, but we share a mutual love that only two best friends could experience between each other in this special relationship,"; Cassady joined in. "We are in love,"; she put her hands to her heart dramatically causing both the others to grin, "On friendly terms.";
Amber rolled her arms, "Yeah.";
"Well then I guess there is no room for me,"; Billie Joe said being sarcastic.
"Are you kidding, we'll kick Cassady off,"; Amber told him kissing his cheeks then his nose.
"You missed the lips hun, have you been drinking too much are you going all 'Pretty Woman' on me? And if so then we can have sex, we just can't kiss so take off your pants now,"; Billie Joe demanded grinning.
Amber laughed, "I don't know.";
"Fine then let me help you,"; Billie Joe kissed her on the lips softly enough to make Amber's knees weak.
She loved it when Billie Joe kissed her like that, not open mouthed, no tongue, just lips, softly and passionately even with out the other two elements. It made him seem sincere, sweet, and like he truly wanted more than just sex out of their relationship. And even though Billie Joe tended to kid around a lot, and egg her on, he really did care for her deep down. That was why he kissed her like that holding onto her waist so she wouldn't slip, he didn't get much out of kissing her like that. It was when she kissed back that he got the full experience, it was when she kissed back that he got the gooey feeling in his stomach. All the time he just pushed the feeling to the back of his mind, he didn't want to fall in love, it almost scared him. Like it scared her.
Cassady managed to sneak out of the room before they got really mushy. She didn't like to see them like that because every time she just wished that she was Amber, but they never noticed her. He never noticed her, he only saw Amber, even in the most crowded room, she was the only one there in his eyes. In her opinion he was farsighted.
"Another semimetal argument and bitter love,"; Cassady said aloud almost stumbling into him by mistake.
"What are you going on about now?"; he asked her appalled by her touch.
"Nothing,"; Cassady said drawing back, "It's just a line to a song that I'm thinking of writing, well the only line that I have right now, but it's pretty damn good so far.";
"Whatever I'm going to help Amber finish unloading some of her boxes,"; Derek said trying to get passed her at the same time mumbling, "And kick Billie fucking Joe out.";
"Woah there,"; Cassady placed her arm in his path, "You do not want to go in there, trust me, I know that you don't like to see Amber all in love and starry eyed.";
"Do you honestly think she's in love?"; Derek asked turning to face her.
Cassady shrugged, "Dunno.";
"So you mean maybe?";
"I guess.";
"Are you sure?";
"I really don't know Derek. And what confuses me even more is that you are asking these questions about her when you have a girlfriend and she's a whole year younger than you. You should be able to tell that if Amber isn't in love with Billie Joe then she's most definitely falling in love with him. I mean come on, she's all over him.";
"I don't think of it that way really I think of it as him being more all over her.";
"I don't agree, I think that she likes him more than he likes her.";
Derek stared at his sister in confusion then a thought dawned upon him for a moment lightening up his face and replacing the look of jealousy with that of confusion, "You're in love with Billie Joe?";
"What?"; Cassady asked positioning her self to look at Derek's confused expression.
"You are,"; Derek looked at her surprised.
Cassady covered her face, knowing that it was the only way for her brother to see the truth, in her eyes is where it lies. She tired her best to put the thoughts of Billie Joe into the back of her head, she wouldn't say that she loved him per say. But if she got anymore obsessed then she'd have a shrine in the back of her room, including a lock of hair from his head. Derek could tell from that second that Cassady was in love with Billie Joe, he could tell it by the look in her eyes that she was jealous. The thought of Cassady being selfish had dawned on him at the same time, that's when he realized that he was also being selfish.
Amber was happy with Billie Joe, and Billie Joe was happy with Amber. So why were they both taking it so hard and not just getting over it, that's what they should be doing after all. They shouldn't care what's happening, after all Cassady was practically with Tre, and Derek had been dating Alicia for over a year now. They should be happy, but instead they were acting depressed enough to draw attention to them from their friends.
Billie Joe finally broke away from their kiss, "Do you want me to take off your pants now?";
"I do believe that in 'Pretty Woman' their lips weren't supposed to meet, you just kissed me full on the lips. And I also see that we have a lot of unpacking to do here and you did claim to help me with it like a good boyfriend should,"; Amber replied picking up a box of books.
Billie Joe sighed, "Why don't we do some carrying down the stairs and into my car, then some driving back to my place a.k.a. your new home?";
Amber rolled her eyes then made her way over to the bed.
"Don't,"; Billie Joe grabbed her hand before it reached the box, "Here I'll call up Mike, we'll get the stuff in your room all set up for you and you can go out with Cassady for the day. It's the least I could do to make you change your mind about living with me.";
"Billie, I don't want to live in the same house with your mom, and thank you that would be great,"; Amber told him then walked out of the room messing with her hair.
Billie Joe mumbled to himself, "Sure she tries to make herself look good when she leaves me.";
Cassady eyed Amber as she came out of the room looking quite suspicious with Derek standing there like that. Since they both were staring at her this made Amber more than slightly uncomfortable as she gestured to the bathroom then walked in still messing with her hair. They both turned their attention back to each other then Cassady went to join Amber as Derek went to help Billie Joe.
"Hey,"; Derek told him walking into the room.
"Hey,"; Billie Joe replied then turned to watch him pick up something out of a box, "You don't have to do anything I'm going to call up Mike and we're going to set up her room for her.";
"Well I'm sure that you could always use an extra hand am I right?"; Derek asked.
"Sure, but you don't have to if you don't want to, it is your house after all you shouldn't have to do any work for her. We can handle it if you really don't want to,"; Billie Joe told him.
"I'm fine doing this, I've got nothing better to do,"; Derek told him trying to put to pieces of Amber's bed together.
"Okay,"; Billie Joe shrugged then went for the phone.
He called up Mike.
"Hello?";
"Hey.";
"Billie Joe?";
"Yeah.";
"What do you want man it's early?";
"It's 3 o' clock in the after noon you idiot.";
"You're one to talk. So what do you want?";
"I need you to come down and help me set up some shit at Amber's.";
"You need me?";
"Yeah.";
"Fine. I'll be over in a half an hour okay.";
"Okay, bye.";
"Bah bye.";
Billie Joe hung up the phone then turned to find Derek struggling to set up the bed, he decided that he'd go help him even though he wasn't he biggest handy man in the world. He helped Derek set up the bed before he saw Amber coming in the room, dressed much nicer, and looking even more beautiful. Billie Joe walked up to her then pressed his body against his carefully looking her over with a lustful expression. He widened her eyes at her then bit his lip, as if asking her to stay instead of leave. In response she wrapped her arms around him leaning back slightly, he laced his fingers together at the small of her back holding her up.
"I'm going to go shopping with Cassady,"; Amber told him smiling slightly.
"Not looking like that you're not, you are not going anywhere. See we've got where you need to go set up right over there,"; he gestured with his head to the bed.
Amber rolled her eyes smiling, "Maybe later.";
He grinned as she pulled him closer so that their foreheads were touching before placing her lips on to his softly. Billie Joe opened his mouth slightly waiting for her to do the same before letting his tongue enter her mouth and vise versa. Cassady stood in the door way with a hand on her hip every few seconds looking at her watch on her wrist. Derek just stood there glaring at Billie Joe then looking at Cassady, his eyes begging her to make it stop.
"Come on Amber,"; Cassady told her.
Amber broke away, "Okay.";
She looked at Billie Joe then kissed him lightly on the lips before pushing him away, "Bye, bye, see you in a little while.";
"Bye babe,"; Billie Joe told her watching her as she walked out the door, he subconsciously bit his lip.
"So you and Amber,"; Derek said.
"Yeah,"; Billie Joe replied looking back at him.
Derek nodded.
"Man I know that you like her,"; Billie Joe finally got out.
"What?"; Derek looked at him.
"I know that you like her, I see you always looking at her, trying to do nice things for her like helping to set up her room. And I know that you guys saw each other for a while, Amber already told me all about,"; Billie Joe told him.
"Huh,"; Derek told him as if uninterested.
"Just don't do anything stupid okay?";
"What do you mean by that,"; Derek looked at him again offended.
"I mean stay the fuck away from her,"; Billie Joe alliterated.
"I can't do that Billie, you know that I can't I'm going to be living in the same house with her for a looong time. And the way I see it, pretty soon she'll forget about you, she'll forget about all the guys like you who do something stupid and screw with her. All you want is sex, that's what all of you want, but I want her. And all of you always break her heart, and I swear if you do you'll never get near this house again,"; Derek replied.
"I'd never do anything to break her heart,"; Billie Joe informed him.
"Yeah well it doesn't matter because when she forgets you I'll be here.";
With that Billie Joe punched Derek in the face although smaller and a few months younger, he packed a hard punch. Derek fell to the floor putting his thumb to his nose which had blood running down it then got back up coming at Billie Joe. He hit him hard in the cheek bone then went for the stomach, causing Billie Joe to clutch his gut. Billie Joe then ran at him tackling him in the midsection and ramming him into the bed which for now was just metal bars. Derek pushed Billie Joe almost crying out in pain, he threw his head back cringing then looked back at Billie Joe angrily. He picked up the much smaller boy by the shirt then pressed him up against the wall of Amber's room making Billie Joe look away.
Derek put his face very close to Billie Joe's then whispered, "Listen you no good piece of shit, if you want some one to stay away from your girlfriend you better hope it's a second grader because I don't think you could defend yourself against anyone else. And you better stay away from Amber, and if you break her heart I'll kill you.";
Billie Joe turned back to Derek with a sly look on his face, "If I can't break her heart then how can I stay away from her.";
Derek looked into Billie Joe's green eyes then replied, "I don't think she'd be too heart broken after living with me.";
"Did I come in at a bad time?"; Mike asked from the door way which was wide open.
Derek looked at him then set Billie Joe down, then left pushing his way past Mike. Billie Joe just looked at his best friend from the floor where he was now sitting. His lip was bleeding, along with a cut on his cheekbone, and he was holding his rib cage. Mike also noticed that Derek's nose was bleeding, and he was going to have a shiner on his right eye, only to match the one Billie Joe was going to have on his left.
"Uh does this mean we wont have some extra help,"; Mike asked extending his hand for Billie Joe to grab still holding on to his rib cage with the other.
"Probably not, unless you want extra help getting the shit beaten out of you,"; Billie Joe replied making a hurt face as he touched a sensitive spot on his ribs.
"I think that we could have taken him together BJ,"; Mike replied, "So what happened anyways?";
"Well all I can really remember is something about me accusing him of liking Amber, this is when I regret being always right. Then he said something about her falling for him after I do something bad, and by then I was already thinking of where I should fucking punch him first. So I decided that the face was best, I got his nose,"; Billie Joe began.
"I saw, looks like you almost broke it,"; Mike told him trying to act slightly impressed for his sake.
"Yeah so then he didn't like that very much and got me in the face and the ribs really hard, even though he looks skinny it seems like he was the fucking best offensive lineman on the football team. Then I decided that I wanted payback and did something really fucking stupid. I tackled him and managed to hit him into the bed frame, which just made him even more angry. So then he picked me up and pinned me onto the wall, that was when you walked in.";
"Ah, I see. Are you okay man?";
"Yeah. I'll be fine, here let's go set up Amber's stuff,"; Billie Joe told him using his arm to wipe away some of the blood from his lip then his cheekbone.
"Okay,"; Mike told him picking up a box.
Amber grinned at Cassady while holding up a bunch of her hair and spinning around in a dress that she had just tried on. She smiled bigger at Cassady, who was cracking up. They were in a thrift shop trying on all of the stupidest dresses until they got kicked out for laughing so much or just not buying anything. Right now Amber was wearing a plaid black and red dress that, in Cassady's words, made her look like a checker board. Amber said that she thought that she was going to have to die if she didn't get the dress, while rolling her eyes then re-entering the dressing room. She came out in a flower dress then spined around acting like a model of some sorts, Cassady started laughing at her again. Amber gave Cassady one last look before going back into the dressing room to find some other dress to try on.
Finally she found a very old fashioned blue dress that almost looked like it was from the middle ages. She slipped it on the walked out acting as if she was some movie star striking poses then looked at Cassady waiting for her laugh. But instead of laughing Cassady just stared at Amber for some strange reason, she kept her mouth strait.
"That bad huh?"; Amber asked looking at it and holding out some of it to see for herself.
"No, it looks really good on you Amber, I mean it really does,"; Cassady told her getting up and directing Amber to a mirror.
"Wow,"; Amber said staring at her reflection.
Her hair was wavy and hung over her shoulders, and her green eyes were coated in eyeliner with purple around them to bring out the green. She was wearing lip gloss over her lips, and just plain old black converse, which really didn't go with the dress in the least bit. The dress was blue with very thin straps and criss-cross ribbon in the back like shoe laces almost, it was truly beautiful. Amber nodded making a face and twisting to look at her back then her side.
"I never thought I'd actually find something decent here.";
"Well you really never know,"; Cassady replied.
"Huh,"; Amber answered her, "Well we should be getting back to check on the guys, I bet Derek is inside laughing with Mike and they probably have Billie Joe hanging upside down from his shoelaces on the tree outside my bedroom window. You know how mean they can be.";
"Yeah probably,"; Cassady replied with a slight laugh, "And they always have to pick on Billie because he's the smallest, and he's the only one who can fit places.";
"I know, remember when they were playing catch when they were younger and Mike threw the ball in the crawl space under your house. And Billie Joe was the only one small enough to fit underneath, and he barely got through, then he couldn't get back out,"; Amber had to stop to laugh, "Then your dad had to tear off a part of the deck to get Billie back out.";
Cassady laughed, "Or the time he got stuck in the fence because the Frisbee went over the fence then he got stuck and the neighbors wouldn't pull him out because they said he should have just walked up to the front and asked for it back. And Mike and Derek thought it would be funny to put make up on him while one arm was on the other side. Then they thought it would be even funnier to just leave him over night.";
"Yeah then we had go outside and get him out because we couldn't got to sleep with all of his singing,"; Amber added then made a weird facial expression, "I always wonder why he was singing.";
"Well BJ always loved to sing,"; Cassady told her.
"Yeah, and he's really good.";
"Of course.";
"I'm going to get the dress.";
"Cool.";
Amber pulled off the dress then got dressed into her normal clothes then walked up to the cash register to pay. She walked up there eyes on the counter then stared at the person who worked there. It was a boy about 17 with dark brown hair and ice blue eyes, his skin was tan and he was looking about the room. When his eyes met Amber's he smiled.
"Hey, how can I help you?"; He asked.
"Hi,"; Amber smirked, "I'd like to get this please.";
"Good manners and everything,"; He remarked taking the dress from her.
"My mother raised me well,"; Amber replied tapping her fingers.
"I bet, it's gonna be 15 dollars with the special discount I put in,"; he said winking at her.
Amber smiled, "Thanks.";
She handed over the money, his hand lingered a little while longer than it probably should then she closed her wallet and picked up the dress in the bag he put it in.
"Hey,"; the boy asked. "What's your name?";
"Amber, and yours?";
"Jake.";
Amber smiled then linked arms with Cassady who was holding out her arm for her then walked out of the store and to her car. Cassady went on and on about how cute Jake was and how he absolutly and totally liked Amber and how she should go out with him. Amber rolled her eyes then replied that she'd never leave Billie Joe for some guy just like that. Cassady said okay slightly disappointed. They reached home to find Derek gone and noise coming from the up stairs. The two girls walked up stares to find Billie Joe's back facing them, he was working on a shelf, and quickly Mike looked up and smiled.
Amber walked over to Billie Joe as quietly as she could then put her arms around him laying her head on his shoulder, "I'm back.";
Billie Joe put his hands on hers, "Good.";
"Billie?";
"Hmm?";
"Give me a hug.";
"No,"; Billie Joe told her not wanting her to see his eye, lip, or cheekbone at the moment, and he was straining not to cry out from her hands on his ribs.
She squeezed him tighter which made him squeak, she then paused and took her hands off of him, "Billie what's wrong?";
"Nothing,"; he told her still not turning around.
Amber put her hand on his shoulder then turned him around to face her at the same time gasping at his appearance. His lip was cut and bleeding, there was a cut on his right cheek bone that was also bleeding, and his eye was turning purple and looked like it might swell. She licked her thumb then wiped off some of the blood from his cheekbone, he flinched when she did this. Amber frowned at him, she then wrapped both arms around his neck.
"Billie, I thought they would have done something, but what really did happen here? You're all scratched up,"; Amber told him.
"I'm okay,"; he replied putting his own arms around her waist.
"What happened?"; Amber asked again pulling away to look at him.
"Well Derek and I didn't agree on something.";
"Did you tell him to fuck off?";
"Well, actually,"; Billie Joe began putting his hand behind his neck, "I um, kind of punched him because of something that he said. Then he beat the shit out of me, and left when Mike came.";
"Oh, Billie I'm sorry,"; Amber told him putting her arms around his waist then pressing her head into his chest.
"I'm okay,"; Billie Joe repeated, putting his arms around her.
"Maybe I shouldn't move in here,"; Amber told Cassady looking kind of sad.
"Why?"; Cassady asked not wanting her to leave.
"Well, if your brother is going to beat up my boyfriend every time I come over here then I don't really think I want to live here.";
"Why don't we just kick out Derek?";
"We can't do that it's his house too.";
"You're way too nice,"; Mike told Amber, "Just come live with us. I have a spare room in the apartment of BJ's house.";
"Right now that sounds really great. And it's not very far from here so you can come over and stuff Crash,"; Amber looked at her hopefully.
"Do what ever you want,"; Cassady waved her hand in the air, "Just as long as you don't move out of state or anything.";
"Yes!"; Billie Joe shouted.
Amber rolled her eyes, "Now you have to take apart the bed though.";
"Nope, we have a bed in the spare,"; Mike told her.
"Okay, cool. Then I guess I'm moving in,"; Amber told them all.
