When He Came Around, chapter 7
Walking into the studio would have been near to impossible for Mercedes alone, but thankfully, she stood just behind Billie Joe and everything seemed a little easier. Mike and Tre were already there and picking away at various guitars.
Mercedes was standing beside Billie Joe and the two other band mates looked up. Mike and Mercedes locked eyes first and she smiled at him. Mike returned the smiled and mouthed a simple 'hi' before Billie Joe spoke. "Alright, so let's get down to it."
Billie Joe and Tre were in the recording area and Mike and Mercedes were sitting in front of the soundboard. Mike continued to steal glances at Mercedes and then finally spoke. "I'll skip asking you if everything's okay and just go right to what's wrong?" Mike spoke softly.
Mercedes looked at the man and looked back towards Billie and Tre. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but I'm here to help you. I'll always be there for you Mercedes, you know that, right?"
Mercedes scrunched her lips together tightly like a child trying to avoid having to take some kind of disgusting cough medicine. She blinked and Mike was rather surprised and pained to see her eyes swell up and loose tears stream down her face. "I don't know what's wrong with me. I don't know why it's bothering me so much... everything with Tre."
Mike, his gaze never faltering, walked towards Mercedes and sat opposite her. As he sat there, Mike couldn't believe at how much she reminded him of a delicate porcelain doll.
"I mean... it was barely a relationship now that I look at it. I just don't understand why I'm so... I don't know... bummed."
"Well because Tre was the first guy to show you any type of romantic affection in a long time."
Mercedes looked up instantly. "What?"
Mike smiled awkwardly and shifted in his seat. "Well, since your last potential marriage. You haven't dated anyone since."
"And how do you know that for sure?"
"Billie Joe told me."
"Oh, so you guys just talk about me when there's nothing better to talk about?" Mercedes joked.
"No no. I asked," he sputtered out.
For a second that seemed to last forever, Mike and Mercedes looked upon each other with mixed, unreadable expressions etched in their features. Mercedes was fueled by a new curiosity but also surprise. Mike however, was a little disappointed. For some reason, he was never good at keeping his mouth shut about certain things.
"I'm just tired of being the one that has to always make sure everything is alright. Sometimes... I wanna be the one that's being taken care of and being held. And for a second, I thought I was."
Mike watched every contour of Mercedes' beautiful face fall from sadness. "Well... have you spoken to him much?"
"No, not really. He said he's sorry... "
"He is," Mike said, slightly defending his friend. "He feels like shit. He's a good guy, just sometimes he gets his head mixed up."
"Yeah... "
"Look, there are other men out there. Maybe better... the point is, I don't want to see you frown. Ever."
Mercedes looked up at the man and smiled. "Oh, well since you don't want something," she began in a mocking tone.
Mike laughed and was interrupted by Billie Joe. "Mike, are you ready? Tre's just about done."
Mike nodded and just kissed Mercedes on the cheek. "Here. Now you have a perfect opportunity to talk to him."
Mercedes rolled her eyes, but knowing that Mike was right, she sat up a little straighter. Billie Joe winked at her and Mike walked into the recording area as she watched Tre start to make his way towards the exit door.
As the drummer pushed the door open and took the same seat as Mike had occupied a short time earlier, he nervously looked over at Mercedes. "Hey you," he said quietly.
Mercedes looked over and offered a pathetic excuse for a smile. Tre seemed to laugh though, and it was he who spoke first. "You don't have to smile at me. Hell, you don't even have to look at me if you don't want."
Mercedes averted her eyes down for a second and felt Tre's hand reach over and cover hers. "Look Mercedes, I can apologize a million and one times, but that's not enough. I still care a lot about you, but with Claudia and Frankito, there's just this relationship that we have that's different that anything else."
Mercedes nodded and looked at Tre. Meeting his large clue eyes, she smiled, a little more honestly. "I know. It's just I was so happy that someone was giving me that little bit of attention that I'd been lacking in such a long time."
Tre laughed. "And good sex, if I do say so myself," he teased.
Mercedes couldn't help but laugh. "Sure. Whatever you need to tell yourself."
"Hey!"
"It's fine though Tre. I'm not a child. I do understand where you're coming from and I don't mind. Actually, I do kind of respect the fact that you and Claudia can make amends and stuff."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Not many people can do that. But I guess that's what makes you so speacial."
Tre ran a hand through his brown hair and smiled. "You know, I was ready for all this yelling and even a slap in the face Mercedes."
"Well, then you don't know me that well, do you?" she smiled.
Tre nodded. "I don't. But I'm hoping that can all change," he said honestly as he encouragingly squeezed her hand.
Mercedes nodded. Despite everything, when push comes to shove, Tre was a good man. He really was. "It can."
* * *
"See, I knew they would makeup again. It's Tre we're talking about here. And Mercedes," Billie Joe said as he watched the two talk like old friends in the other room.
Mike looked over and smiled. "Yeah... " he sighed and put all of his attention into his bass.
Billie Joe looked over at Mike. "Dude, you alright?"
"Fine? Why?"
Billie Joe narrowed his eyes. "Because, you just seem a little... not with me, you know?"
"I'm fine. I don't know what you mean?"
Billie Joe nodded, but continued to watch his friend. "Can I ask you something?"
"Always could."
"Right. Hey... that song you wrote the other night... when you fucking called me at three in the morning to make me listen to it... was that about Mercedes?"
Mike's head snapped up. "What?"
Billie Joe smiled. "Well, all the songs we've been working on have mostly been indirectly about her or what she's done to us, and I was just curious because that song was... well the lyrics anyway were rather serious."
Mike shook his head. "They just came to me I guess. We're all older so naturally our music gets better."
Billie Joe nodded but wasn't happy with that answer. "Yeah alright."
As Mike watched his friend turn and pick up his guitar, he thought about the conversation. 'He didn't really like Mercedes? Well, at least not in such a serious manner. But then again, he was thinking of Mercedes when he wrote that song... could it possibly mean... '
No, that's just stupid!
Mike strummed the last chord and found himself yet again, watching Mercedes from the other side of the glass window.
* * *
Mercedes had gotten up early and with Joey and Liam ready to go, she drove down to meet up with Adrienne. They were going to go out and pick up anything they needed for Mike's birthday. It was going to be at Mercedes' apartment tomorrow night and as Mercedes drove, she thought about all the things that she had to do from now until tomorrow night.
"Alright, let's get all of this out of the way," Adrienne said as she stepped into the car with Jacob. Adrienne's Joey was spending the day with Frankito and the other 'boys' at the recording studio.
"I already finished baking a cake for Mike, it's at home now cooling off. And we just have to pick up little decorations and in your case, something for Mike," Mercedes spoke.
Adrienne nodded. "Billie and I saw this bass at a guitar shop not too far from here. We already paid for it but just have to go pick it up. Hey that reminds me, did you eventually decide on something to get Mike?"
Mercedes smiled as she stopped for a red light. "I did... although it's not something that anyone can buy, but I know it's the one thing that he'll want."
Adrienne looked in the mirror to make sure the boys were all talking and not listening to their conversation. Adrienne then leaned over and looked at Mercedes. "Are you going to sleep with him?" she questioned with a worried expression.
Mercedes turned and looked at Billie's wife. "What? No! Adrienne!"
Adrienne sighed in relief and leaned back in her seat. "Well what. It's something Mike would definitely want."
Mercedes turned and looked at Adrienne as the light turned green. "What?"
Adrienne smirked. "Oh come on, you can't tell me you're that blind? Billie's been talking about it with me for ages. Mike's always seemed a little different around you. Since the moment you baked them gingerbread men until now even. Mike even called me the other night to ask if you were alright because he knew that we had gone out to lunch together a few days ago. I mean, he really cares about you and if he just wants to be friends, he's definitely fooling all of us. Personally, I think he really likes you."
Mercedes, trying her hardest not to smile, bit her lip. "Really?"
Adrienne shrugged. "Well I think so. As does Billie Joe. So... what are you giving him?"
Mercedes told Adrienne of everything she had to do, but when she was finished, Adrienne just gushed with delight. "Oh Mercedes... that's so... really, that's just beyond good. Mike will be so surprised and just so happy."
"I hope so," said Mercedes. "But I'm going to need you to watch the boys then... if that's alright. I haven't told anyone yet because it's all been short notice and everything, but is it alright?"
Adrienne waved the thought away. "Of course it is. I don't mind in the least bit. And neither will Billie Joe when he gets home. Can I tell him?"
"Oh of course. I just really want to surprise Mike is all. You can even tell Tre if you see him."
"Speaking of, how are things between you and him?" Adrienne asked.
"Oh... we had a good period of time to speak about everything. It's fine, it's as if it's never happened, but there's a part of our relationship that we'll always have. At least there's that to look back on and laugh at I guess."
Adrienne nodded but didn't push it further. Although she believed that Tre could have handled the situation differently, she was just content with the fact that Mercedes and Tre had resolved what needed to be mended.
The two women continued to talk about Mike for a while longer before the boys in the back got restless and started to ask the long list of questions; why id the sky blue? Are cows black with white spots or white with black spots? And so on.
After a no too eventful day of shopping for little things here and there for tomorrow night, Mercedes found herself back at Adrienne's 'home'. "I'll come and pick them up as soon as I can," Mercedes said.
"Not a problem," Adrienne said.
Mercedes turned and looked at Joey and Liam. "Now, you two are going to be good for Mrs. Armstrong, right?"
They nodded and looked at Mrs. Armstrong and then back at their mother. "Are you going to be long?" Joey asked.
"No no, but you know what we talked about," Mercedes said as she bent her knees to reach their height.
The twins nodded. "Is she going to be nice?" Liam asked.
"Well," Mercedes said looking at Adrienne. Adrienne stepped forward.
"I've met her before guys, and she's very nice."
"Who's very nice?"
Everyone turned and saw Billie Joe stepping out of the car with Tre, Mike, Frankito and Joey. Mercedes and Mike again locked eyes first and Billie kissed Adrienne. "Who's very nice?" he asked again.
Adrienne and Mercedes looked at each other and then back at Billie Joe. Luckily, Mercedes had chosen that moment to look at Liam who was opening his mouth to speak. Mercedes quickly rushed and scooped Liam in her arms, covering his mouth. "What did mommy say?" she asked softly.
Joey looked at his mom and brother. "To keep it a secret."
"What's going on?" asked Tre.
Mercedes lowered a laughing Liam and stepped towards her car. "I don't want to be late. Adrienne, I'll call you when I can."
"Alright. We'll all be here. If it runs late, the boys can sleep here."
"Wait... what's going on?" Billie Joe asked again, gently stomping his foot on the ground.
"Nothing. Just Liam and Joey are going to be staying with us this evening," Adrienne replied softly.
"Why where's Mercedes' going?" Mike asked.
"I have something I have to do. And I don't want to be late so really... I gotta go. Come on boys, give mommy a kiss."
Joey and Liam skipped towards Mercedes and planted kisses on her cheeks and wrapped their little arms around her neck in a tight hug. Peeling her beloved boys away from her, she kissed their foreheads and sent them off. "Thanks again Adrienne."
Mercedes stepped into her vehicle and drove off, leaving the rest of them standing in the driveway. "Can someone explain to me what's going on?" Billie Joe asked one last time.
Adrienne smiled. "Oh come on. Let's all go have something to eat. Tre, is Claudia coming?"
"Yeah, she's on her way here now. I just called her."
"Alright... well let's get inside then. And don't worry about Mercedes. She's just meeting someone and can't be late," Adrienne announced.
"Who's she meeting?" Tre asked as they all started to walk inside.
"No one... " Adrienne started.
Mike watched as a small smile formed on Adrienne's face and he wondered if maybe Mercedes had met some guy or something. Wondering why that would bother him, he shook his head and stepped inside.
* * *
A little later in the night, when the adults were still sitting around the table finishing desert and the kids were playing in the living room, the telephone rang. Adrienne darted up and went to the phone. She still hadn't been able to tell anyone where Mercedes had went because Mike had always been within an earshot, so she was the only one that was aware of everything. "Hello?" Adrienne said softly.
"Adrienne, it's Mercedes."
"Mercedes," Adrienne said as everyone suddenly gave their full and undivided attention to whatever Adrienne was saying.
"Yeah. Alright, I'm here and everything's fine. I'm going to spend a little more time here with her mom and everything, but she's taken a bit of a liking to me, so everything should be fine. By the way, she wants to talk to you."
"She does?"
"Yeah, here... "
Adrienne waited on the line and then was greeted by a familiar voice. "Adrienne Nesser... it's been a while since I've spoken to you."
"Yeah... maybe too long. How've you been?"
"Good. I just wanted to see what you were up to and everything."
Adrienne continued the conversation and tried to make sure she hadn't said any name other than Mercedes. She didn't want to give away the surprise. When Mercedes was back on the phone, they exchanged a little more words and hung up. "Adie, who was that?"
"Mercedes... who else?" she said as she sat down.
"But you said it's been 'too long' and you were talking to someone else," Billie concluded
"Look, it's no ones business alright. I was talking to Mercedes and someone else, big deal. Forget about it alright?"
Mike looked at Tre and exchanged glances. Looking towards Adrienne again, Mike noticed that she didn't make full eye contact with anyone for the rest of the evening and carried a silly grin on her face.
* * *
Claudia, Frankito, Adrienne, Joey, Jacob, Liam and the second Joey were all in Mercedes' home and with the decorations finished, they stayed in the living area and just enjoyed every one's company.
However, much to Mercedes' surprise, Claudia and Frankito were the first ones to arrive. Mercedes was forced into talking to Claudia for at least a half hour before Adrienne came, but she learned that Claudia wasn't half bad. In fact, she was really great.
So with all awkwardness aside, the mothers and children waited for the men to come back. Billie Joe and Tre had taken Mike for the day and were planning on bringing him back to Mercedes' apartment for dinner and cake and presents. Just like a birthday should be, surrounded by loved ones.
When Mercedes had finished with everything in the kitchen, she went to her room and decided to change. Claudia and Adrienne were both wearing shirts, but Mercedes' was never one who really wore anything girly, apart from her pajamas. Choosing a pair of jeans and a simple white blouse that seemed to expose a little more than necessary cleavage, Mercedes tied her hair back in a loose ponytail and heard someone knock on the front door. Smiling, she started to apply minimal makeup and then heard the men of Green Day walk into her apartment.
* * *
As Mike was being led down the hall by Tre and Billie Joe, he couldn't help but noticed the smirks on their faces. "Alright, what is it?"
Billie Joe and Tre, who both knew what was in store for their friend, kept their mouths shut and Billie first knocked on the door before opening it. Mike was made first to walk in and was greeted by the people that he held dear shouting 'surprise!'
However, there was one person there that he hadn't expected to see.
Mercedes was standing beside Billie Joe and the two other band mates looked up. Mike and Mercedes locked eyes first and she smiled at him. Mike returned the smiled and mouthed a simple 'hi' before Billie Joe spoke. "Alright, so let's get down to it."
Billie Joe and Tre were in the recording area and Mike and Mercedes were sitting in front of the soundboard. Mike continued to steal glances at Mercedes and then finally spoke. "I'll skip asking you if everything's okay and just go right to what's wrong?" Mike spoke softly.
Mercedes looked at the man and looked back towards Billie and Tre. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but I'm here to help you. I'll always be there for you Mercedes, you know that, right?"
Mercedes scrunched her lips together tightly like a child trying to avoid having to take some kind of disgusting cough medicine. She blinked and Mike was rather surprised and pained to see her eyes swell up and loose tears stream down her face. "I don't know what's wrong with me. I don't know why it's bothering me so much... everything with Tre."
Mike, his gaze never faltering, walked towards Mercedes and sat opposite her. As he sat there, Mike couldn't believe at how much she reminded him of a delicate porcelain doll.
"I mean... it was barely a relationship now that I look at it. I just don't understand why I'm so... I don't know... bummed."
"Well because Tre was the first guy to show you any type of romantic affection in a long time."
Mercedes looked up instantly. "What?"
Mike smiled awkwardly and shifted in his seat. "Well, since your last potential marriage. You haven't dated anyone since."
"And how do you know that for sure?"
"Billie Joe told me."
"Oh, so you guys just talk about me when there's nothing better to talk about?" Mercedes joked.
"No no. I asked," he sputtered out.
For a second that seemed to last forever, Mike and Mercedes looked upon each other with mixed, unreadable expressions etched in their features. Mercedes was fueled by a new curiosity but also surprise. Mike however, was a little disappointed. For some reason, he was never good at keeping his mouth shut about certain things.
"I'm just tired of being the one that has to always make sure everything is alright. Sometimes... I wanna be the one that's being taken care of and being held. And for a second, I thought I was."
Mike watched every contour of Mercedes' beautiful face fall from sadness. "Well... have you spoken to him much?"
"No, not really. He said he's sorry... "
"He is," Mike said, slightly defending his friend. "He feels like shit. He's a good guy, just sometimes he gets his head mixed up."
"Yeah... "
"Look, there are other men out there. Maybe better... the point is, I don't want to see you frown. Ever."
Mercedes looked up at the man and smiled. "Oh, well since you don't want something," she began in a mocking tone.
Mike laughed and was interrupted by Billie Joe. "Mike, are you ready? Tre's just about done."
Mike nodded and just kissed Mercedes on the cheek. "Here. Now you have a perfect opportunity to talk to him."
Mercedes rolled her eyes, but knowing that Mike was right, she sat up a little straighter. Billie Joe winked at her and Mike walked into the recording area as she watched Tre start to make his way towards the exit door.
As the drummer pushed the door open and took the same seat as Mike had occupied a short time earlier, he nervously looked over at Mercedes. "Hey you," he said quietly.
Mercedes looked over and offered a pathetic excuse for a smile. Tre seemed to laugh though, and it was he who spoke first. "You don't have to smile at me. Hell, you don't even have to look at me if you don't want."
Mercedes averted her eyes down for a second and felt Tre's hand reach over and cover hers. "Look Mercedes, I can apologize a million and one times, but that's not enough. I still care a lot about you, but with Claudia and Frankito, there's just this relationship that we have that's different that anything else."
Mercedes nodded and looked at Tre. Meeting his large clue eyes, she smiled, a little more honestly. "I know. It's just I was so happy that someone was giving me that little bit of attention that I'd been lacking in such a long time."
Tre laughed. "And good sex, if I do say so myself," he teased.
Mercedes couldn't help but laugh. "Sure. Whatever you need to tell yourself."
"Hey!"
"It's fine though Tre. I'm not a child. I do understand where you're coming from and I don't mind. Actually, I do kind of respect the fact that you and Claudia can make amends and stuff."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Not many people can do that. But I guess that's what makes you so speacial."
Tre ran a hand through his brown hair and smiled. "You know, I was ready for all this yelling and even a slap in the face Mercedes."
"Well, then you don't know me that well, do you?" she smiled.
Tre nodded. "I don't. But I'm hoping that can all change," he said honestly as he encouragingly squeezed her hand.
Mercedes nodded. Despite everything, when push comes to shove, Tre was a good man. He really was. "It can."
* * *
"See, I knew they would makeup again. It's Tre we're talking about here. And Mercedes," Billie Joe said as he watched the two talk like old friends in the other room.
Mike looked over and smiled. "Yeah... " he sighed and put all of his attention into his bass.
Billie Joe looked over at Mike. "Dude, you alright?"
"Fine? Why?"
Billie Joe narrowed his eyes. "Because, you just seem a little... not with me, you know?"
"I'm fine. I don't know what you mean?"
Billie Joe nodded, but continued to watch his friend. "Can I ask you something?"
"Always could."
"Right. Hey... that song you wrote the other night... when you fucking called me at three in the morning to make me listen to it... was that about Mercedes?"
Mike's head snapped up. "What?"
Billie Joe smiled. "Well, all the songs we've been working on have mostly been indirectly about her or what she's done to us, and I was just curious because that song was... well the lyrics anyway were rather serious."
Mike shook his head. "They just came to me I guess. We're all older so naturally our music gets better."
Billie Joe nodded but wasn't happy with that answer. "Yeah alright."
As Mike watched his friend turn and pick up his guitar, he thought about the conversation. 'He didn't really like Mercedes? Well, at least not in such a serious manner. But then again, he was thinking of Mercedes when he wrote that song... could it possibly mean... '
No, that's just stupid!
Mike strummed the last chord and found himself yet again, watching Mercedes from the other side of the glass window.
* * *
Mercedes had gotten up early and with Joey and Liam ready to go, she drove down to meet up with Adrienne. They were going to go out and pick up anything they needed for Mike's birthday. It was going to be at Mercedes' apartment tomorrow night and as Mercedes drove, she thought about all the things that she had to do from now until tomorrow night.
"Alright, let's get all of this out of the way," Adrienne said as she stepped into the car with Jacob. Adrienne's Joey was spending the day with Frankito and the other 'boys' at the recording studio.
"I already finished baking a cake for Mike, it's at home now cooling off. And we just have to pick up little decorations and in your case, something for Mike," Mercedes spoke.
Adrienne nodded. "Billie and I saw this bass at a guitar shop not too far from here. We already paid for it but just have to go pick it up. Hey that reminds me, did you eventually decide on something to get Mike?"
Mercedes smiled as she stopped for a red light. "I did... although it's not something that anyone can buy, but I know it's the one thing that he'll want."
Adrienne looked in the mirror to make sure the boys were all talking and not listening to their conversation. Adrienne then leaned over and looked at Mercedes. "Are you going to sleep with him?" she questioned with a worried expression.
Mercedes turned and looked at Billie's wife. "What? No! Adrienne!"
Adrienne sighed in relief and leaned back in her seat. "Well what. It's something Mike would definitely want."
Mercedes turned and looked at Adrienne as the light turned green. "What?"
Adrienne smirked. "Oh come on, you can't tell me you're that blind? Billie's been talking about it with me for ages. Mike's always seemed a little different around you. Since the moment you baked them gingerbread men until now even. Mike even called me the other night to ask if you were alright because he knew that we had gone out to lunch together a few days ago. I mean, he really cares about you and if he just wants to be friends, he's definitely fooling all of us. Personally, I think he really likes you."
Mercedes, trying her hardest not to smile, bit her lip. "Really?"
Adrienne shrugged. "Well I think so. As does Billie Joe. So... what are you giving him?"
Mercedes told Adrienne of everything she had to do, but when she was finished, Adrienne just gushed with delight. "Oh Mercedes... that's so... really, that's just beyond good. Mike will be so surprised and just so happy."
"I hope so," said Mercedes. "But I'm going to need you to watch the boys then... if that's alright. I haven't told anyone yet because it's all been short notice and everything, but is it alright?"
Adrienne waved the thought away. "Of course it is. I don't mind in the least bit. And neither will Billie Joe when he gets home. Can I tell him?"
"Oh of course. I just really want to surprise Mike is all. You can even tell Tre if you see him."
"Speaking of, how are things between you and him?" Adrienne asked.
"Oh... we had a good period of time to speak about everything. It's fine, it's as if it's never happened, but there's a part of our relationship that we'll always have. At least there's that to look back on and laugh at I guess."
Adrienne nodded but didn't push it further. Although she believed that Tre could have handled the situation differently, she was just content with the fact that Mercedes and Tre had resolved what needed to be mended.
The two women continued to talk about Mike for a while longer before the boys in the back got restless and started to ask the long list of questions; why id the sky blue? Are cows black with white spots or white with black spots? And so on.
After a no too eventful day of shopping for little things here and there for tomorrow night, Mercedes found herself back at Adrienne's 'home'. "I'll come and pick them up as soon as I can," Mercedes said.
"Not a problem," Adrienne said.
Mercedes turned and looked at Joey and Liam. "Now, you two are going to be good for Mrs. Armstrong, right?"
They nodded and looked at Mrs. Armstrong and then back at their mother. "Are you going to be long?" Joey asked.
"No no, but you know what we talked about," Mercedes said as she bent her knees to reach their height.
The twins nodded. "Is she going to be nice?" Liam asked.
"Well," Mercedes said looking at Adrienne. Adrienne stepped forward.
"I've met her before guys, and she's very nice."
"Who's very nice?"
Everyone turned and saw Billie Joe stepping out of the car with Tre, Mike, Frankito and Joey. Mercedes and Mike again locked eyes first and Billie kissed Adrienne. "Who's very nice?" he asked again.
Adrienne and Mercedes looked at each other and then back at Billie Joe. Luckily, Mercedes had chosen that moment to look at Liam who was opening his mouth to speak. Mercedes quickly rushed and scooped Liam in her arms, covering his mouth. "What did mommy say?" she asked softly.
Joey looked at his mom and brother. "To keep it a secret."
"What's going on?" asked Tre.
Mercedes lowered a laughing Liam and stepped towards her car. "I don't want to be late. Adrienne, I'll call you when I can."
"Alright. We'll all be here. If it runs late, the boys can sleep here."
"Wait... what's going on?" Billie Joe asked again, gently stomping his foot on the ground.
"Nothing. Just Liam and Joey are going to be staying with us this evening," Adrienne replied softly.
"Why where's Mercedes' going?" Mike asked.
"I have something I have to do. And I don't want to be late so really... I gotta go. Come on boys, give mommy a kiss."
Joey and Liam skipped towards Mercedes and planted kisses on her cheeks and wrapped their little arms around her neck in a tight hug. Peeling her beloved boys away from her, she kissed their foreheads and sent them off. "Thanks again Adrienne."
Mercedes stepped into her vehicle and drove off, leaving the rest of them standing in the driveway. "Can someone explain to me what's going on?" Billie Joe asked one last time.
Adrienne smiled. "Oh come on. Let's all go have something to eat. Tre, is Claudia coming?"
"Yeah, she's on her way here now. I just called her."
"Alright... well let's get inside then. And don't worry about Mercedes. She's just meeting someone and can't be late," Adrienne announced.
"Who's she meeting?" Tre asked as they all started to walk inside.
"No one... " Adrienne started.
Mike watched as a small smile formed on Adrienne's face and he wondered if maybe Mercedes had met some guy or something. Wondering why that would bother him, he shook his head and stepped inside.
* * *
A little later in the night, when the adults were still sitting around the table finishing desert and the kids were playing in the living room, the telephone rang. Adrienne darted up and went to the phone. She still hadn't been able to tell anyone where Mercedes had went because Mike had always been within an earshot, so she was the only one that was aware of everything. "Hello?" Adrienne said softly.
"Adrienne, it's Mercedes."
"Mercedes," Adrienne said as everyone suddenly gave their full and undivided attention to whatever Adrienne was saying.
"Yeah. Alright, I'm here and everything's fine. I'm going to spend a little more time here with her mom and everything, but she's taken a bit of a liking to me, so everything should be fine. By the way, she wants to talk to you."
"She does?"
"Yeah, here... "
Adrienne waited on the line and then was greeted by a familiar voice. "Adrienne Nesser... it's been a while since I've spoken to you."
"Yeah... maybe too long. How've you been?"
"Good. I just wanted to see what you were up to and everything."
Adrienne continued the conversation and tried to make sure she hadn't said any name other than Mercedes. She didn't want to give away the surprise. When Mercedes was back on the phone, they exchanged a little more words and hung up. "Adie, who was that?"
"Mercedes... who else?" she said as she sat down.
"But you said it's been 'too long' and you were talking to someone else," Billie concluded
"Look, it's no ones business alright. I was talking to Mercedes and someone else, big deal. Forget about it alright?"
Mike looked at Tre and exchanged glances. Looking towards Adrienne again, Mike noticed that she didn't make full eye contact with anyone for the rest of the evening and carried a silly grin on her face.
* * *
Claudia, Frankito, Adrienne, Joey, Jacob, Liam and the second Joey were all in Mercedes' home and with the decorations finished, they stayed in the living area and just enjoyed every one's company.
However, much to Mercedes' surprise, Claudia and Frankito were the first ones to arrive. Mercedes was forced into talking to Claudia for at least a half hour before Adrienne came, but she learned that Claudia wasn't half bad. In fact, she was really great.
So with all awkwardness aside, the mothers and children waited for the men to come back. Billie Joe and Tre had taken Mike for the day and were planning on bringing him back to Mercedes' apartment for dinner and cake and presents. Just like a birthday should be, surrounded by loved ones.
When Mercedes had finished with everything in the kitchen, she went to her room and decided to change. Claudia and Adrienne were both wearing shirts, but Mercedes' was never one who really wore anything girly, apart from her pajamas. Choosing a pair of jeans and a simple white blouse that seemed to expose a little more than necessary cleavage, Mercedes tied her hair back in a loose ponytail and heard someone knock on the front door. Smiling, she started to apply minimal makeup and then heard the men of Green Day walk into her apartment.
* * *
As Mike was being led down the hall by Tre and Billie Joe, he couldn't help but noticed the smirks on their faces. "Alright, what is it?"
Billie Joe and Tre, who both knew what was in store for their friend, kept their mouths shut and Billie first knocked on the door before opening it. Mike was made first to walk in and was greeted by the people that he held dear shouting 'surprise!'
However, there was one person there that he hadn't expected to see.
