Your House is Waiting For You to Walk in, But You're Missing., chapter 1
Billie woke up with the sun shining mercilessly in his eyes. He squinted and blinked, shading his eyes to see the clock. As he turned over and saw the sleeping figure beside him he smiled. He pulled her hair back off her cheek and kissed her there, careful not to wake her up, then slid out of bed and got dressed. When he came downstairs Joey was already up, eating Lucky Charms and watching Spongebob. Billie smiled at his son.
"Where's your brother?"
"Asleep," Joey replied, without even looking up.
Billie chuckled to himself and grabbed a cup of coffee, then took it back upstairs. As he entered the room Adrienne was just waking up. She smiled as she saw him come in, and sat up.
"Hey you," she greeted him, teasingly.
"Hey," he smiled back, handing her the comics as he always did on these lazy Sundays. It was their joke, Sex on Saturdays, Sleep on Sundays. They had barely had any time together since he had gone on tour, and now he was finally home, and going to make the most of it. While her eyes were fixed on Garfield he surveyed her up and down. He still felt everything he had felt the first time he laid eyes on her. The intake of breath as he saw those eyes, the quickening of his heart when he surveyed her lips, the mind-blowing finale of taking it all in at once. He never forgot for one moment how lucky he was to have her. And sometimes these rushes of feeling just happened, as they did now, and he leaned over and felt those soft lips on his own, her breath escaping in surprise; and he couldn't, he wouldn't stop. Because after 11 years he still had all those rushing emotions of a 10-grader, joining together like this for the first time, and having those feelings flow back and forth as if they were suddenly connected. As he pulled away finally she stared at him, puzzled, but, he could tell, suppressing a giggle.
"What was that for," Adrienne gave him a quizzical look.
"Do you really want the 5-page answer?" Billie asked.
"Maybe later," she laughed.
He smiled at her for a minute before getting out of bed. "Come on," he beckoned to her.
"Where? I'm comfy.."
"Breakfast. I'm taking you out. And you're coming because if I go alone I'll be sad, which ruins my appetite, and therefore wastes food."
"I suppose I can't argue with that," she laughed, and got up to go to the bathroom. While she was changing he went to get Jakob up and dressed, and got him and Joey to eat some Froot Loops. Then he walked them next door, where there baby-sitter lived. She was a college student in need of money, and she got a lot of business from the Armstrongs. She tried to hide it, but he knew from having seen her room once out of the corner of his eye, that she was a big Green Day fan. He appreciated that she didn't mob him every time he came over, which was mostly why he kept bringing the boys back.
He rang the doorbell and was greeted by April, rubbing her eyes, and brightening up when she saw the boys.
"Hey you guys. I had actually just turned on the playstation. You know where it is." She beckoned behind her as Joey high-tailed into the next room, closely followed by his brother. Billie chuckled.
"Thanks. We should only be gone a couple hours.."
"Take all the time you need." She smiled and waved as he walked out of her driveway and into his own. Adrienne was in the kitchen when he returned, drinking a cup of coffee by the light of the kitchen window, and reading an article in the newspaper. He couldn't help but stare as he saw her in that light. What was with him today? He went behind her and put his arms around her waist, rocking her a bit, and kissed her neck.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Yeah." She followed him out to the car and they were soon on their way under the Southern California sun. Adrienne rolled down her window and took in the fresh air, letting the breeze blow her hair into her face. She admitted to herself quite often now that these days were the best she had ever had, and this was just one more. She turned on the radio and skimmed stations for a while, pausing when she heard a Green Day song on. She smiled and at almost the same moment they both hit each other's arms playfully, as most people do during a game of "Punch-Bug." Adrienne beat him to it and he looked mockingly defeated.
"Dammit," he joked.
She loved this game. They had been doing it for as long as she could remember, every time they heard one of his songs. She found that as her husband became more popular her arms became sufficiently sorer. She laughed to herself and looked out the window once more, as they pulled into Rudy's, Mike's coffee shop. Adrienne made a mocking noise.
"How did I guess?" Billie smiled at her and came around to her side to let her out. The door jingled faintly as he was bombarded by the familiar smells of coffee and Mike's cologne. As usual there were only one or two other people, usually regulars, and he knew Mike liked it that way. His friend looked up from his newspaper as he and Adrienne walked in.
"Hey guys!" he smiled at them and came over to sit with them at the table.
"Where's Tre," Billie asked, as he plopped into one of the retro dining chairs.
Mike pointed behind him, where Tre was standing with his head pressed against the juke box, pounding on it in a defeated sort of way.
"GIVE. ME. MY. QUARTER."
Billie couldn't help but laugh at this. He threw a quarter over at Tre, and it bounced off the juke box into his face. Tre blinked at the machine for a minute, then bent down and picked up the quarter, fliped it in the air, and pocketed it.
"Thanks man." He gave Billie and Adie a nod of recognition.. The four slid into booths and talk for a while, Tre put everyone into stitches as usual. Billie smiled as he felt Adie's foot slide up his leg from across the table. Suddenly they were in a very inappropriate spot. He smiled at her, and gave her a mockingly shocked face, completely unnoticed by the other two occupants of the table. He rolled his eyes at her, showing her his ecstasy. Why did she have to tease when they were somewhere he couldn't get to her? She got up from the table so suddenly it took Billie a minute to open his eyes.
"I'm going to the bathroom," she said, winking at Billie.
"Good idea" he said, taking the hint. But Mike and Tre seemed far too engrossed in their argument over car apholstery... As soon as Bill and Adie were out of sight Mike turned to Tre with a smile.. "They can't keep their fucking hands off each other."
"I know," sighed Tre. "It's cute."
Adrienne slipped into the bathroom with Billie right after her, and he had barely locked the door before she had him pressed up against it. He turned her so she was against the door now, moaning softly, and their lips never parted as Adie went for his belt, fumbling until he was free, and he did the same for her. She was glad to see she could still have this effect on him after all these years. Soon they were both free of their material prisons, Adie lifted off the ground, still pressed against the door, her hands around his neck and her head tilted backwards. He was amazing, and she didn't deserve him, but she didn't care. Billie lost himself inside her as he always did. He had to close his eyes to keep from yelping aloud. She was everything to him. Absolutely fucking everything. And if he could make her half as happy as he was for a few damn minutes, he was going to. He entered her again and again, until she didn't think she could take it anymore, and he lifted her up and set her down on the sink, gently. She got up, looked at him mischievously, and tilted her head towards the ground. He raised his eyebrow and obeyed her command, and soon they were on the floor, starting all over again, falling in love over and over. And he almost died with shame as he felt a tear come to his eye, but he still understood it. He couldn't imagine life without her. Since the moment she had entered his life his entire outlook had changed. Of course, he couldn't reflect that in his songs, and disappoint people with his happiness. But he was happy, so fucking happy. They heard a scuffle outside the door, and Billie looked at her, not sure what she would do; but she slapped her hand to her mouth and surpressed a laugh, and he let his head hang above her chest, laughing as well. They were like kids!
"We should go," Adrienne breathed, but Billie cut her off with a sharp kiss, and entered her once more, a bit more roughly. "Oh gooodd.." she almost whined, but he knew she was loving every minute. There was another shuffling of feet outside of the door.
"Fuck man." Billie burst out. "They won't give up, will they?"
Adie laughed. "We should go."
They got dressed and went to the door, and as Billie pulled it open there was a tumbling as two bodies collapsed at his feet. He glared down at his two best friends as they scrambled to get up.
"Eavesdrop much?" Billie shot at them.
"We-um.. And then we.. Well, did you have a nice time in the bathroom?" Tre stammered. Mike laughed, but stopped short as he saw the look on Billie's face. However, Billie found it hard to stay mad too long, and soon enough was chuckling along with them. They all went back to the table and finished their meals, talking and laughing as they had for the past 15 years. Eventually everyone said their good-bye's and went off to their cars. The car ride home was quiet and peaceful, Billie and Adie each in their own little words. But they were soon rudely awakened. As the Armstrong's pulled up their street, Billie felt his heart stop, and heard his wife's sharp intake of breath as they pulled close. There were three police cars outside April's house, and he could see her standing there in the driveway, mascara running down her face. Something was terribly wrong. Billie got out of the car and ran next door, Adrienne right behind him. Little did Billie know, that morning would be the last time he saw his kids.....
"Where's your brother?"
"Asleep," Joey replied, without even looking up.
Billie chuckled to himself and grabbed a cup of coffee, then took it back upstairs. As he entered the room Adrienne was just waking up. She smiled as she saw him come in, and sat up.
"Hey you," she greeted him, teasingly.
"Hey," he smiled back, handing her the comics as he always did on these lazy Sundays. It was their joke, Sex on Saturdays, Sleep on Sundays. They had barely had any time together since he had gone on tour, and now he was finally home, and going to make the most of it. While her eyes were fixed on Garfield he surveyed her up and down. He still felt everything he had felt the first time he laid eyes on her. The intake of breath as he saw those eyes, the quickening of his heart when he surveyed her lips, the mind-blowing finale of taking it all in at once. He never forgot for one moment how lucky he was to have her. And sometimes these rushes of feeling just happened, as they did now, and he leaned over and felt those soft lips on his own, her breath escaping in surprise; and he couldn't, he wouldn't stop. Because after 11 years he still had all those rushing emotions of a 10-grader, joining together like this for the first time, and having those feelings flow back and forth as if they were suddenly connected. As he pulled away finally she stared at him, puzzled, but, he could tell, suppressing a giggle.
"What was that for," Adrienne gave him a quizzical look.
"Do you really want the 5-page answer?" Billie asked.
"Maybe later," she laughed.
He smiled at her for a minute before getting out of bed. "Come on," he beckoned to her.
"Where? I'm comfy.."
"Breakfast. I'm taking you out. And you're coming because if I go alone I'll be sad, which ruins my appetite, and therefore wastes food."
"I suppose I can't argue with that," she laughed, and got up to go to the bathroom. While she was changing he went to get Jakob up and dressed, and got him and Joey to eat some Froot Loops. Then he walked them next door, where there baby-sitter lived. She was a college student in need of money, and she got a lot of business from the Armstrongs. She tried to hide it, but he knew from having seen her room once out of the corner of his eye, that she was a big Green Day fan. He appreciated that she didn't mob him every time he came over, which was mostly why he kept bringing the boys back.
He rang the doorbell and was greeted by April, rubbing her eyes, and brightening up when she saw the boys.
"Hey you guys. I had actually just turned on the playstation. You know where it is." She beckoned behind her as Joey high-tailed into the next room, closely followed by his brother. Billie chuckled.
"Thanks. We should only be gone a couple hours.."
"Take all the time you need." She smiled and waved as he walked out of her driveway and into his own. Adrienne was in the kitchen when he returned, drinking a cup of coffee by the light of the kitchen window, and reading an article in the newspaper. He couldn't help but stare as he saw her in that light. What was with him today? He went behind her and put his arms around her waist, rocking her a bit, and kissed her neck.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Yeah." She followed him out to the car and they were soon on their way under the Southern California sun. Adrienne rolled down her window and took in the fresh air, letting the breeze blow her hair into her face. She admitted to herself quite often now that these days were the best she had ever had, and this was just one more. She turned on the radio and skimmed stations for a while, pausing when she heard a Green Day song on. She smiled and at almost the same moment they both hit each other's arms playfully, as most people do during a game of "Punch-Bug." Adrienne beat him to it and he looked mockingly defeated.
"Dammit," he joked.
She loved this game. They had been doing it for as long as she could remember, every time they heard one of his songs. She found that as her husband became more popular her arms became sufficiently sorer. She laughed to herself and looked out the window once more, as they pulled into Rudy's, Mike's coffee shop. Adrienne made a mocking noise.
"How did I guess?" Billie smiled at her and came around to her side to let her out. The door jingled faintly as he was bombarded by the familiar smells of coffee and Mike's cologne. As usual there were only one or two other people, usually regulars, and he knew Mike liked it that way. His friend looked up from his newspaper as he and Adrienne walked in.
"Hey guys!" he smiled at them and came over to sit with them at the table.
"Where's Tre," Billie asked, as he plopped into one of the retro dining chairs.
Mike pointed behind him, where Tre was standing with his head pressed against the juke box, pounding on it in a defeated sort of way.
"GIVE. ME. MY. QUARTER."
Billie couldn't help but laugh at this. He threw a quarter over at Tre, and it bounced off the juke box into his face. Tre blinked at the machine for a minute, then bent down and picked up the quarter, fliped it in the air, and pocketed it.
"Thanks man." He gave Billie and Adie a nod of recognition.. The four slid into booths and talk for a while, Tre put everyone into stitches as usual. Billie smiled as he felt Adie's foot slide up his leg from across the table. Suddenly they were in a very inappropriate spot. He smiled at her, and gave her a mockingly shocked face, completely unnoticed by the other two occupants of the table. He rolled his eyes at her, showing her his ecstasy. Why did she have to tease when they were somewhere he couldn't get to her? She got up from the table so suddenly it took Billie a minute to open his eyes.
"I'm going to the bathroom," she said, winking at Billie.
"Good idea" he said, taking the hint. But Mike and Tre seemed far too engrossed in their argument over car apholstery... As soon as Bill and Adie were out of sight Mike turned to Tre with a smile.. "They can't keep their fucking hands off each other."
"I know," sighed Tre. "It's cute."
Adrienne slipped into the bathroom with Billie right after her, and he had barely locked the door before she had him pressed up against it. He turned her so she was against the door now, moaning softly, and their lips never parted as Adie went for his belt, fumbling until he was free, and he did the same for her. She was glad to see she could still have this effect on him after all these years. Soon they were both free of their material prisons, Adie lifted off the ground, still pressed against the door, her hands around his neck and her head tilted backwards. He was amazing, and she didn't deserve him, but she didn't care. Billie lost himself inside her as he always did. He had to close his eyes to keep from yelping aloud. She was everything to him. Absolutely fucking everything. And if he could make her half as happy as he was for a few damn minutes, he was going to. He entered her again and again, until she didn't think she could take it anymore, and he lifted her up and set her down on the sink, gently. She got up, looked at him mischievously, and tilted her head towards the ground. He raised his eyebrow and obeyed her command, and soon they were on the floor, starting all over again, falling in love over and over. And he almost died with shame as he felt a tear come to his eye, but he still understood it. He couldn't imagine life without her. Since the moment she had entered his life his entire outlook had changed. Of course, he couldn't reflect that in his songs, and disappoint people with his happiness. But he was happy, so fucking happy. They heard a scuffle outside the door, and Billie looked at her, not sure what she would do; but she slapped her hand to her mouth and surpressed a laugh, and he let his head hang above her chest, laughing as well. They were like kids!
"We should go," Adrienne breathed, but Billie cut her off with a sharp kiss, and entered her once more, a bit more roughly. "Oh gooodd.." she almost whined, but he knew she was loving every minute. There was another shuffling of feet outside of the door.
"Fuck man." Billie burst out. "They won't give up, will they?"
Adie laughed. "We should go."
They got dressed and went to the door, and as Billie pulled it open there was a tumbling as two bodies collapsed at his feet. He glared down at his two best friends as they scrambled to get up.
"Eavesdrop much?" Billie shot at them.
"We-um.. And then we.. Well, did you have a nice time in the bathroom?" Tre stammered. Mike laughed, but stopped short as he saw the look on Billie's face. However, Billie found it hard to stay mad too long, and soon enough was chuckling along with them. They all went back to the table and finished their meals, talking and laughing as they had for the past 15 years. Eventually everyone said their good-bye's and went off to their cars. The car ride home was quiet and peaceful, Billie and Adie each in their own little words. But they were soon rudely awakened. As the Armstrong's pulled up their street, Billie felt his heart stop, and heard his wife's sharp intake of breath as they pulled close. There were three police cars outside April's house, and he could see her standing there in the driveway, mascara running down her face. Something was terribly wrong. Billie got out of the car and ran next door, Adrienne right behind him. Little did Billie know, that morning would be the last time he saw his kids.....
