Times change...people shouldn't, chapter 3
Brooke came at a reasonable hour to find her mom passed out on the couch with a few empty bottles of alcohol surrounding her. She sighed as she knelt down to pick them up.
Her parents just got divorced and she lived in California with her mother while her father and sister lived in Boston. She had been able to come out of the divorce ok but her mom suffered and drank heavily causing that eat at away Brooke from the inside out.
When she was done cleaning up the mess, she put a blanket over her mother and ran downstairs to get more black paint. She tip toed up the stairs and into her room being careful not to spill on the white carpet.
She got to her room and put on some old pj's that she wouldn't mind if paint got on and walked over to her hot pink wall by her bed and looked at it. It had a few lyrics written already. On the left side of the bed they read.. "bite my lip and close my eyes, take me away to paradise"...., "Remember whatever it seems like forever ago...", and her favorite song's title "Dearly Beloved." On the right side it only had a few..one from Whatsername "And in the darkest night, if my memory serves me right. I'll never turn back time, forgetting you but not the time" and one from Jesus of Suburbia... "On therapy can you please fill the void?". She stood back and thought about which ones she wanted next, and where.
She dipped a very thin brush in and began to paint on the right side of her bed. Her hand went careful but fast and she got more emotional with every word written. When she stepped back she admired her new words that read.. "She gets so sick of crying", "Don't get lonely now..and dry your whining eyes", and her favorite out of the three.. " She said I can't take this place..im leaving it behind. She said I can't take this town, im leaving you tonight..." She stared at them for a minute before sitting on her cold hard wood floor and bringing her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them for closer, this year had been a rough one for her. She put her forehead to her knees and closed her eyes as a few tears dripped out of them. She should have been happy tonight. She met an awesome guy, not to mention the fact that he's Billie Joe's son, and was going back to their house for a party tomorrow, why did she have to cry? Why did her parents break up? Why isn't her one and only sister who shared such a close bond with for long not here? And why is her mother like her child? Who needs to be taken care of? All these thoughts ran through her mind as she buried her head deeper and deeper into her knees until she couldn't cry anymore.
After a few minutes of catching her breath and listening to nothing but silence, she got up to wash her face and brush her teeth in her bathroom that was connected to her room. As soon as she got up she heard her mom drag herself up the stair and into the bathroom, as she slammed the door, making Brooke jump from fright as she knocked over a perfume bottle and glass shattered everywhere. She stared down at one particular piece. It was jagged around the edges and came to a sharp point. She continued to look at it as the sound of her mother gaging could be heard in the background. She knelt down to it and rose back to her feet with it in her hand. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her green eyes were now gray and puffy and her radiant glowing skin was dull and stained with mascara. She looked back down at the glass as she rolled up her pants and placed it against her skin. She looked around for a moment before sighing and shaking her head. "No, Brooke, no You know that it's wrong to do No " she said to herself as she rocked back and forth. She gave the sharp object one last look before she put it in her medicine cabinet and washed up for bed.
*****
Brooke woke up a little later the next day to her cell phone ringing. "Dearly beloved are you listening?....." It sang to her like the loudest thing she had ever heard. "Im coming, im coming geez." she said reaching over to her night stand and answering the strange number that flashed across her caller id. "hello?" she said sleepily into the phone. "Brooke? Hi, its Joey." she heard the voice from the other line say. She immediately sat up and perked up in bed. "O hey . What's up?"
"Nothing really..you?"
"Same..just woke up."
"Sorry did I wake you?"
"Nahh it's ok"
"ok..umm I just wanted to um ask you for your address so I have it went we uh pick you up tonight."
Brooke could tell Joey was fiddling with something in his lap..like he's been doing everytime he went to ask her something.
"Sure..it's 33 Hillside ave." she said smiling into the phone
"great . I'll uh see you later then?"
"Yea..bye"
"bye."
Brooke hung up the phone and smiled to herself, for that 3 minute conversation Joey made her feel loved and wanted, and she liked it. She decided to call her best friend Lauren up, to hang out for a little while and tell her about Joey. She dialed the number and heard it ring in her ear a few times before she heard a very tired Lauren answer her phone in between a yawn. "Hel..*yawn* lo?" she said. "LAUREN " Brooke chanted into the phone. "Get up and get dressed and drive your lazy ass over here." Lauren was used to this wake up call by now (she should be after 14 years of friendship) "ok ok im coming." she sighed as they hung up, and Brooke got up to make sure her house didn't look completely wrecked from her mother last night.
She trotted down her stairs and to her relief it was pretty much clean, and her mom was sleeping upstairs. Brooke went back to her room and into the bathroom to brush her teeth and do her hair and make up. She left her Pj's on, because she decided that her and Lauren would run over to Starbuck's to grab some coffee and breakfast.
She was just about to put on MTV for the morning music videos when she heard Lauren come through the front door. "Brooke?" she called through the house. "In my room " Brooke responded, knowing her friend was probably half way up the stairs by now anyway. "Hey hun " Lauren said walking in and putting her bags by door. "Hey Lau." Brooke said plopping on her bed.
Lauren was about Brooke's height, with long brownish strawberry hair. She wasn't really that into punk like Brooke but listened to it on the occasion, she mostly just listened to whatever was on the radio. Her clothes style was kinda preppie like Brooke, only Brooke would occasionally dress a little more "punk" depending on her mood and Lauren would never dream of it. She was extremely smart and well put together, she could usually be found wearing a sophisticated tank top with a matching blazer and jeans.
"Come on lets head over to Starbucks....my mom is still uh sleeping.." Brooke said heading out of the room. Lauren nodded and followed, she knew all about Brooke's home situation....actually she was the only one who knew.
The two girls got their purses, and decided to take Brooke's car. The second they got in Brooke shoved American Idiot in and went over to letterbomb. "Brooke, it's to damn early " Lauren groaned from the passengers seat "it's never to early for Green Day " Brooke said smiling over to her best friend, who rolled her eyes and put up with it. "Speaking of Green Day...." Brooke said pulling into the parking lot of their favorite coffee spot. "I kinda met Billie's son..." Lauren's eyes widened "really?...where?" Brooke opened the door with Lauren following..hanging on every word she said. "At school....I have a few classes with him. He invited me over to his parent's party tonight." Lauren's jaw dropped to the floor. "No way ..do you like him?" Brooke blushed as she ordered her drink and stepped aside for Lauren to order her's and nodded. Lauren smiled over at her friend "little whore." she teased nudging her.
They waked over to the seats that practically had their names written in it by a side window that over looked some woods. "Do you realize, that we come here to talk about everything?" Brooke said sitting in "her" seat and wrapping her hands around the hot beverage. Lauren nodded as she joined her. "We've had just about conversation imaginable here....boys, schools, work, sex....." Brooke laughed as she agreed. "Speaking of boys how's Steve?" Lauren nodded with a mouthful of coffee as she wiped donut powder off her nose. "He's good." Steve was Lauren's long time boyfriend, since about 8th grade. They would get married one day, Brooke could tell. "I would ask how your guy was, but you change boys more then you change your underwear." Lauren said cracking herself up. "Damn it I am funny." she said still laughing. "O yea, you're a real riot." Brooke said sarcastically, standing up to toss out her cup. "I really, like Joey though. I don't know if I ever felt ths way before." Brooke said sitting back down and brining her knees to her chest. "Well, you said he's having a party tonight?" Lauren said mimicking her position. Brooke nodded "but he's picking me up before hand to go hang out with him and some friend or something." "Well..." Lauren started, reaching across the table for her friend's keys. "Let's get home so we cam make you hot " Brooke laughed as her friend pulled her up out of her seat and dragged her back to her car.
***back at Joey's house***
Joey had just hung up with Brooke and had a huge gleam across his face as he ran down the stairs to grab some food. He slid all over the tile floor in his socks once he got into the kitchen and fell flat on his ass. "Son of a bitch." he mumbled getting up to see his parents sitting at the island looking confused. "O uh...good morning?" Joey said looking back at them as he opened the fridge and grabbed some orange juice and started to pour a glass while thinking about how much longer he had to wait to see Brooke. . "Joey what hell are you doing?!" Adrienne said jumping up and grabbing the juice out his hands. Apparently he had been day dreaming a bit to long and had overflowed the glass. "What? O shit sorry mom " he said kneeling down to clean it up. She sighed and sat back down next to her husband who was laughing at him. "So, who is she this time Joey?" he finally said as his son joined them with his clean glass and cereal. "No one..it's nothing." Joey said looking down at his food trying to eat it as fast as he could before he had to be asked any more questions. "O come on, you fucking flew down the stairs with a smile on like a little girl and then made a huge mess while staring off into space." Billie said giving him a sly little grin. "Is it Brooke?" Adi said chiming in on the torture. "Who?" Billie said looking over at his wife. "This new girl at Joey's school. He invited her here for dinner yesterday but you were in your studio." "O0o0oO" Billie said looking over to his son who looked like he just wanted to die right then and there. "So when do I get to meet her?" he asked. "You don't " Joey said standing up and putting his dirty dishes in the sink. Adi once again chimed in "he invited her to the party tonight too." "Ok, I think I've been humiliated enough for one day." Joey said jumping out of his chair and heading back into his room. "Aww Joeyyyy...this is soooo cute " Billie teased before laughing a little and returning back to his breakfast, as his son went to his room and took out his guitar.
** later on @ Brooke's house**
"You sure I look ok?" Brooke said looking at her self in the mirror. "Ok? Brooke you look hot " Lauren said sitting down. Brooke was wearing a tight mini denim skirt, a tight black cami, and a pair of black pumas. Her hair was pin straight and her eyeliner was perfectly ringed around her eyes. She put on a little more then usual because of the fact that Joey and all his friends were rockers, but she still looked good. "Ok, my work here is done." Lauren said slipping her shoes back on and heading towards the door. "You wanna come tonight?" Brooke said adding some lip gloss and perfume. "Nahh, Steven is taking me out to dinner tonight." Brooke nodded. "O Lau " she called right before her friend shut the door. "Yea?" she said popping her head back in. "When my mom comes home from wherever she is and is to drunk to find my letter. She'll probably call your house so jus.." Lauren cut her off, she knew the drill by now "tell her your over my house, I know I know. Go out have fun and be safe ok. Don't do anything stupid " Lauren said giving her friend a comforting kiss goodbye on the cheek. "Yes mommy " Brooke called after her . Lauren stuck her tongue out and left "no sex you whore " called before shutting the door and pulling out of her driveway. Brooke laughed to herself and she sat on her couch and waited for Joey to come pick her up.
*meanwhile at the Armstrong's*
Joey got out of the shower, got changed, gelled his jet black hair an put on only a little eyeliner. "Why the fuck do I have to look just like him?" Joey muttered looking at himself and then over to a poster of his dad from his American Idiot tour at Milton Keys. He sighed and went downstairs to see what everyone else was up to. "Jake, where's mom and dad?" Joey said to his younger brother who was sitting with his girlfriend watching a movie. Jakob looked over to his brother annoyed and pointed downstairs. Joey nodded and walked down to find his dad strumming his guitar and his mom just lounging around watching tv. "Shouldn't you guys be getting ready?" Joey asked sitting next to his mom. "Ready for what?..We have 3 hours till the party, and we have enough beer to fill up the ocean." Billie said putting his guitar down and facing his son. "Whatever" Joey sighed as he started to get up. "Im going out with a couple of friends for while and then we are coming back here to get drunk." he said with a smirk on his face. "Have fun " Billie said waving him off as Adi gave him a look. He rolled his eyes as she got up to follow him. "Joey ..wait up " Billie said climbing the basement stairs, following his son. "What?" Joey said turning around. "Just um watch out tonight k? Don't do anything stupid like last time you got pissed off your ass." Joey rolled his eyes "Dad I was 14, I know what to do know ok?" Billie sighed and nodded as he pushed his son out the door with a smile "have fun you little fuck " "Will do " Joey said grabbing his keys to his Black BMW convertible and speeding off to get his friends...starting with Brooke.
*@ Brooke's*
Brooke sat in her living room and waited for Joey anxiously "what if he forgot?" she though as she watched the clock, seeing every minute pass by. Just then she heard the doorbell, and felt her heart jump into her throat. She ran to check her reflection and then opened the door for Joey. "Hey " she said opening up the door and standing to the side to let him in. "Hey, you look...um...wow " Joey said with his electric eyes scanning her in awe. Brooke actually felt special as he looked at her and stepped inside to her house. "So you ready to go?" he asked looking at her body still. "Yea, just let me run up and get my bag." Joey nodded and stood by the door and waited like a gentleman. Brooke couldn't help it and laughed. "You don't have to act all proper with me, don't worry...Come on you can come up." she said motioning for him to follow her. Joey eagerly listened and followed her into her room and sat by her computer. "Wow. I love the whole lyrics thing." he said gazing at her walls. "Really? I didn't think you would..since their your Dad's or whatever." Joey shook his head. "Your writing things that mean something to you....it doesn't matter who sings them." Brooke blushed and grabbed a matching black purse and tossed a few things in there, cell phone ,make up keys, etc. "ready?" she said when she was done. Joey nodded as he got up, opened the door, and lead her to his car.
When Brooke climbed in she found his cd stash. "Mind if I look?" she said pointing to them. "Knock yourself out." he said turning onto Ramona and his friend Jimmy's block. They lived next door to each other so it made is easier for them to be picked up. Brooke decided on putting in a mixed cd as she skipped over to Nirvana "Smells like Teen Spirit," and waited as Joey went in and got them. She noticed how Ramona was practically throwing herself at Joey and had a shirt on that basically let her boobs come up to her chin. Brooke giggled from the car as she noticed how hard Joey was trying not laugh at her attempts. She then looked over to Joey's other friend, Jimmy. Who ironically, played Jimmy in the Jesus of Suburbia video.
When they all got in Ramona shot Brooke the 'back off tonight' look as Brooke simply gave her the 'no' look with a nasty little smile. "Brooke, this is Jimmy. Jimmy, Brooke" Joey said pulling out of the driveway and off to a local punk scene where they were meeting more people. "Hey, what's up?" Jimmy said leaning in closer to her "not much you?" Brooke said turning to face him with a little flirty smile. She didn't like Jimmy like that, she had always just been the flirt of her group so it was a habit, and Jimmy was cute so it made it easier. Joey shifted in his seat, letting Jimmy know now wasn't the time to be flirting. Jimmy laughed quietly as he cranched up the radio and leaned back.
When they had gotten to the punk hangout of Oakland, Brooke felt out of place. Every one here was hard core. Hair was spiked in mohawks so high they could be used as a lethal weapon, and people wearing the weirdest things she had ever seen. She knew all eyes were on her, some from the punk girls who wanted to kick her ass, and some who were jealous, some from the boys who wanted her, and some who wanted her out. She tried to ignore it as much as possible as she followed her group inside where it was less intimidating. She noticed Joey point out a few friends and walk them over to meet them. Brooke smiled sweetly and greeted all of them as nice as she could. She noticed Jimmy with a few other friends, and Ramona outside talking to one of the punk girls who didn't seem to like Brooke to much. 'I wonder what she's talking about..' Brooke thought to herself before she felt Joey tap her shoulder. "Hey, you wanna go watch the next band up?" Brooke smiled and nodded. This place was like Gilman's. Only minus the fact that if they actually went to Gilman's they would be killed because of Joey being Billie's son. Brooke liked this new side of her. She didn't have to feel left out for liking this music, she was finally starting to realize that she could come out of this good girl, happy happy image that she was tied to for so long, and Joey was just the person to help her.....
*meanwhile...outside*
"Jinnie!" Ramona called out to one of the girls outside. "Ray Ray!" she said motioning for her come over to her. "What's up?" Jennie asked leaning back on a fence. "Nothing really, heading over to Joey's for a party after this..you?" Ramona said joining her. "Same shit...ya know?" the punk girl replied "who was that bitch I saw with you, Joey, and Jimmy?" she finally asked. "Ugh. This new girl Brooke. I thought she was cool but she likes Joey and won't back off..I mean everyone knows im trying to get with him. The problem is..he likes her...I can tell." Ramona said annoyed and disappointed. "Man that sucks. Bitches like that get whatever they want...at least she's not going after Jimmy." Jinnie had her eye on him for months now, and beat up any one else who liked him. "Actually...." Ramona said with a grin coming over her face. "She was a little touchy with him before.." "WHAT? Ok where is she? Im going to add her to my list of things to kill!" Jinnie yelled. "Wait!" Ramona said holding her back. "What if we got revenge a different way?"Jinnie looked at her carefully. "Ok Ray, what's your idea?" Ramona's eye lit up and then got very small and sly. "Remember Andy Gilndale?" she almost whispered. Jinnie nodded "the kid who is that big football player who sleeps with like the world?" Ramona nodded slowly "well what if he just so happened to come to Joey's tonight. I happen to know he's had his on eye on Brooke for a while, so what if someone happened to tell him that she liked him and wanted to sleep with him?" Jinnie looked happy but then realized something. "She's not going to want to sleep with him you ass!" Ramon laughed "I know that you idiot, which is why we'll slip something into her drink. She'll be so out of it she won't even know what's going on and we'll have Joey and Jimmy all to ourselves..."Jinnie pulled back and gave an evil grin "I love the way you think Ray." She said pulling out her cell and dialing Andy's number.
Her parents just got divorced and she lived in California with her mother while her father and sister lived in Boston. She had been able to come out of the divorce ok but her mom suffered and drank heavily causing that eat at away Brooke from the inside out.
When she was done cleaning up the mess, she put a blanket over her mother and ran downstairs to get more black paint. She tip toed up the stairs and into her room being careful not to spill on the white carpet.
She got to her room and put on some old pj's that she wouldn't mind if paint got on and walked over to her hot pink wall by her bed and looked at it. It had a few lyrics written already. On the left side of the bed they read.. "bite my lip and close my eyes, take me away to paradise"...., "Remember whatever it seems like forever ago...", and her favorite song's title "Dearly Beloved." On the right side it only had a few..one from Whatsername "And in the darkest night, if my memory serves me right. I'll never turn back time, forgetting you but not the time" and one from Jesus of Suburbia... "On therapy can you please fill the void?". She stood back and thought about which ones she wanted next, and where.
She dipped a very thin brush in and began to paint on the right side of her bed. Her hand went careful but fast and she got more emotional with every word written. When she stepped back she admired her new words that read.. "She gets so sick of crying", "Don't get lonely now..and dry your whining eyes", and her favorite out of the three.. " She said I can't take this place..im leaving it behind. She said I can't take this town, im leaving you tonight..." She stared at them for a minute before sitting on her cold hard wood floor and bringing her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them for closer, this year had been a rough one for her. She put her forehead to her knees and closed her eyes as a few tears dripped out of them. She should have been happy tonight. She met an awesome guy, not to mention the fact that he's Billie Joe's son, and was going back to their house for a party tomorrow, why did she have to cry? Why did her parents break up? Why isn't her one and only sister who shared such a close bond with for long not here? And why is her mother like her child? Who needs to be taken care of? All these thoughts ran through her mind as she buried her head deeper and deeper into her knees until she couldn't cry anymore.
After a few minutes of catching her breath and listening to nothing but silence, she got up to wash her face and brush her teeth in her bathroom that was connected to her room. As soon as she got up she heard her mom drag herself up the stair and into the bathroom, as she slammed the door, making Brooke jump from fright as she knocked over a perfume bottle and glass shattered everywhere. She stared down at one particular piece. It was jagged around the edges and came to a sharp point. She continued to look at it as the sound of her mother gaging could be heard in the background. She knelt down to it and rose back to her feet with it in her hand. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her green eyes were now gray and puffy and her radiant glowing skin was dull and stained with mascara. She looked back down at the glass as she rolled up her pants and placed it against her skin. She looked around for a moment before sighing and shaking her head. "No, Brooke, no You know that it's wrong to do No " she said to herself as she rocked back and forth. She gave the sharp object one last look before she put it in her medicine cabinet and washed up for bed.
*****
Brooke woke up a little later the next day to her cell phone ringing. "Dearly beloved are you listening?....." It sang to her like the loudest thing she had ever heard. "Im coming, im coming geez." she said reaching over to her night stand and answering the strange number that flashed across her caller id. "hello?" she said sleepily into the phone. "Brooke? Hi, its Joey." she heard the voice from the other line say. She immediately sat up and perked up in bed. "O hey . What's up?"
"Nothing really..you?"
"Same..just woke up."
"Sorry did I wake you?"
"Nahh it's ok"
"ok..umm I just wanted to um ask you for your address so I have it went we uh pick you up tonight."
Brooke could tell Joey was fiddling with something in his lap..like he's been doing everytime he went to ask her something.
"Sure..it's 33 Hillside ave." she said smiling into the phone
"great . I'll uh see you later then?"
"Yea..bye"
"bye."
Brooke hung up the phone and smiled to herself, for that 3 minute conversation Joey made her feel loved and wanted, and she liked it. She decided to call her best friend Lauren up, to hang out for a little while and tell her about Joey. She dialed the number and heard it ring in her ear a few times before she heard a very tired Lauren answer her phone in between a yawn. "Hel..*yawn* lo?" she said. "LAUREN " Brooke chanted into the phone. "Get up and get dressed and drive your lazy ass over here." Lauren was used to this wake up call by now (she should be after 14 years of friendship) "ok ok im coming." she sighed as they hung up, and Brooke got up to make sure her house didn't look completely wrecked from her mother last night.
She trotted down her stairs and to her relief it was pretty much clean, and her mom was sleeping upstairs. Brooke went back to her room and into the bathroom to brush her teeth and do her hair and make up. She left her Pj's on, because she decided that her and Lauren would run over to Starbuck's to grab some coffee and breakfast.
She was just about to put on MTV for the morning music videos when she heard Lauren come through the front door. "Brooke?" she called through the house. "In my room " Brooke responded, knowing her friend was probably half way up the stairs by now anyway. "Hey hun " Lauren said walking in and putting her bags by door. "Hey Lau." Brooke said plopping on her bed.
Lauren was about Brooke's height, with long brownish strawberry hair. She wasn't really that into punk like Brooke but listened to it on the occasion, she mostly just listened to whatever was on the radio. Her clothes style was kinda preppie like Brooke, only Brooke would occasionally dress a little more "punk" depending on her mood and Lauren would never dream of it. She was extremely smart and well put together, she could usually be found wearing a sophisticated tank top with a matching blazer and jeans.
"Come on lets head over to Starbucks....my mom is still uh sleeping.." Brooke said heading out of the room. Lauren nodded and followed, she knew all about Brooke's home situation....actually she was the only one who knew.
The two girls got their purses, and decided to take Brooke's car. The second they got in Brooke shoved American Idiot in and went over to letterbomb. "Brooke, it's to damn early " Lauren groaned from the passengers seat "it's never to early for Green Day " Brooke said smiling over to her best friend, who rolled her eyes and put up with it. "Speaking of Green Day...." Brooke said pulling into the parking lot of their favorite coffee spot. "I kinda met Billie's son..." Lauren's eyes widened "really?...where?" Brooke opened the door with Lauren following..hanging on every word she said. "At school....I have a few classes with him. He invited me over to his parent's party tonight." Lauren's jaw dropped to the floor. "No way ..do you like him?" Brooke blushed as she ordered her drink and stepped aside for Lauren to order her's and nodded. Lauren smiled over at her friend "little whore." she teased nudging her.
They waked over to the seats that practically had their names written in it by a side window that over looked some woods. "Do you realize, that we come here to talk about everything?" Brooke said sitting in "her" seat and wrapping her hands around the hot beverage. Lauren nodded as she joined her. "We've had just about conversation imaginable here....boys, schools, work, sex....." Brooke laughed as she agreed. "Speaking of boys how's Steve?" Lauren nodded with a mouthful of coffee as she wiped donut powder off her nose. "He's good." Steve was Lauren's long time boyfriend, since about 8th grade. They would get married one day, Brooke could tell. "I would ask how your guy was, but you change boys more then you change your underwear." Lauren said cracking herself up. "Damn it I am funny." she said still laughing. "O yea, you're a real riot." Brooke said sarcastically, standing up to toss out her cup. "I really, like Joey though. I don't know if I ever felt ths way before." Brooke said sitting back down and brining her knees to her chest. "Well, you said he's having a party tonight?" Lauren said mimicking her position. Brooke nodded "but he's picking me up before hand to go hang out with him and some friend or something." "Well..." Lauren started, reaching across the table for her friend's keys. "Let's get home so we cam make you hot " Brooke laughed as her friend pulled her up out of her seat and dragged her back to her car.
***back at Joey's house***
Joey had just hung up with Brooke and had a huge gleam across his face as he ran down the stairs to grab some food. He slid all over the tile floor in his socks once he got into the kitchen and fell flat on his ass. "Son of a bitch." he mumbled getting up to see his parents sitting at the island looking confused. "O uh...good morning?" Joey said looking back at them as he opened the fridge and grabbed some orange juice and started to pour a glass while thinking about how much longer he had to wait to see Brooke. . "Joey what hell are you doing?!" Adrienne said jumping up and grabbing the juice out his hands. Apparently he had been day dreaming a bit to long and had overflowed the glass. "What? O shit sorry mom " he said kneeling down to clean it up. She sighed and sat back down next to her husband who was laughing at him. "So, who is she this time Joey?" he finally said as his son joined them with his clean glass and cereal. "No one..it's nothing." Joey said looking down at his food trying to eat it as fast as he could before he had to be asked any more questions. "O come on, you fucking flew down the stairs with a smile on like a little girl and then made a huge mess while staring off into space." Billie said giving him a sly little grin. "Is it Brooke?" Adi said chiming in on the torture. "Who?" Billie said looking over at his wife. "This new girl at Joey's school. He invited her here for dinner yesterday but you were in your studio." "O0o0oO" Billie said looking over to his son who looked like he just wanted to die right then and there. "So when do I get to meet her?" he asked. "You don't " Joey said standing up and putting his dirty dishes in the sink. Adi once again chimed in "he invited her to the party tonight too." "Ok, I think I've been humiliated enough for one day." Joey said jumping out of his chair and heading back into his room. "Aww Joeyyyy...this is soooo cute " Billie teased before laughing a little and returning back to his breakfast, as his son went to his room and took out his guitar.
** later on @ Brooke's house**
"You sure I look ok?" Brooke said looking at her self in the mirror. "Ok? Brooke you look hot " Lauren said sitting down. Brooke was wearing a tight mini denim skirt, a tight black cami, and a pair of black pumas. Her hair was pin straight and her eyeliner was perfectly ringed around her eyes. She put on a little more then usual because of the fact that Joey and all his friends were rockers, but she still looked good. "Ok, my work here is done." Lauren said slipping her shoes back on and heading towards the door. "You wanna come tonight?" Brooke said adding some lip gloss and perfume. "Nahh, Steven is taking me out to dinner tonight." Brooke nodded. "O Lau " she called right before her friend shut the door. "Yea?" she said popping her head back in. "When my mom comes home from wherever she is and is to drunk to find my letter. She'll probably call your house so jus.." Lauren cut her off, she knew the drill by now "tell her your over my house, I know I know. Go out have fun and be safe ok. Don't do anything stupid " Lauren said giving her friend a comforting kiss goodbye on the cheek. "Yes mommy " Brooke called after her . Lauren stuck her tongue out and left "no sex you whore " called before shutting the door and pulling out of her driveway. Brooke laughed to herself and she sat on her couch and waited for Joey to come pick her up.
*meanwhile at the Armstrong's*
Joey got out of the shower, got changed, gelled his jet black hair an put on only a little eyeliner. "Why the fuck do I have to look just like him?" Joey muttered looking at himself and then over to a poster of his dad from his American Idiot tour at Milton Keys. He sighed and went downstairs to see what everyone else was up to. "Jake, where's mom and dad?" Joey said to his younger brother who was sitting with his girlfriend watching a movie. Jakob looked over to his brother annoyed and pointed downstairs. Joey nodded and walked down to find his dad strumming his guitar and his mom just lounging around watching tv. "Shouldn't you guys be getting ready?" Joey asked sitting next to his mom. "Ready for what?..We have 3 hours till the party, and we have enough beer to fill up the ocean." Billie said putting his guitar down and facing his son. "Whatever" Joey sighed as he started to get up. "Im going out with a couple of friends for while and then we are coming back here to get drunk." he said with a smirk on his face. "Have fun " Billie said waving him off as Adi gave him a look. He rolled his eyes as she got up to follow him. "Joey ..wait up " Billie said climbing the basement stairs, following his son. "What?" Joey said turning around. "Just um watch out tonight k? Don't do anything stupid like last time you got pissed off your ass." Joey rolled his eyes "Dad I was 14, I know what to do know ok?" Billie sighed and nodded as he pushed his son out the door with a smile "have fun you little fuck " "Will do " Joey said grabbing his keys to his Black BMW convertible and speeding off to get his friends...starting with Brooke.
*@ Brooke's*
Brooke sat in her living room and waited for Joey anxiously "what if he forgot?" she though as she watched the clock, seeing every minute pass by. Just then she heard the doorbell, and felt her heart jump into her throat. She ran to check her reflection and then opened the door for Joey. "Hey " she said opening up the door and standing to the side to let him in. "Hey, you look...um...wow " Joey said with his electric eyes scanning her in awe. Brooke actually felt special as he looked at her and stepped inside to her house. "So you ready to go?" he asked looking at her body still. "Yea, just let me run up and get my bag." Joey nodded and stood by the door and waited like a gentleman. Brooke couldn't help it and laughed. "You don't have to act all proper with me, don't worry...Come on you can come up." she said motioning for him to follow her. Joey eagerly listened and followed her into her room and sat by her computer. "Wow. I love the whole lyrics thing." he said gazing at her walls. "Really? I didn't think you would..since their your Dad's or whatever." Joey shook his head. "Your writing things that mean something to you....it doesn't matter who sings them." Brooke blushed and grabbed a matching black purse and tossed a few things in there, cell phone ,make up keys, etc. "ready?" she said when she was done. Joey nodded as he got up, opened the door, and lead her to his car.
When Brooke climbed in she found his cd stash. "Mind if I look?" she said pointing to them. "Knock yourself out." he said turning onto Ramona and his friend Jimmy's block. They lived next door to each other so it made is easier for them to be picked up. Brooke decided on putting in a mixed cd as she skipped over to Nirvana "Smells like Teen Spirit," and waited as Joey went in and got them. She noticed how Ramona was practically throwing herself at Joey and had a shirt on that basically let her boobs come up to her chin. Brooke giggled from the car as she noticed how hard Joey was trying not laugh at her attempts. She then looked over to Joey's other friend, Jimmy. Who ironically, played Jimmy in the Jesus of Suburbia video.
When they all got in Ramona shot Brooke the 'back off tonight' look as Brooke simply gave her the 'no' look with a nasty little smile. "Brooke, this is Jimmy. Jimmy, Brooke" Joey said pulling out of the driveway and off to a local punk scene where they were meeting more people. "Hey, what's up?" Jimmy said leaning in closer to her "not much you?" Brooke said turning to face him with a little flirty smile. She didn't like Jimmy like that, she had always just been the flirt of her group so it was a habit, and Jimmy was cute so it made it easier. Joey shifted in his seat, letting Jimmy know now wasn't the time to be flirting. Jimmy laughed quietly as he cranched up the radio and leaned back.
When they had gotten to the punk hangout of Oakland, Brooke felt out of place. Every one here was hard core. Hair was spiked in mohawks so high they could be used as a lethal weapon, and people wearing the weirdest things she had ever seen. She knew all eyes were on her, some from the punk girls who wanted to kick her ass, and some who were jealous, some from the boys who wanted her, and some who wanted her out. She tried to ignore it as much as possible as she followed her group inside where it was less intimidating. She noticed Joey point out a few friends and walk them over to meet them. Brooke smiled sweetly and greeted all of them as nice as she could. She noticed Jimmy with a few other friends, and Ramona outside talking to one of the punk girls who didn't seem to like Brooke to much. 'I wonder what she's talking about..' Brooke thought to herself before she felt Joey tap her shoulder. "Hey, you wanna go watch the next band up?" Brooke smiled and nodded. This place was like Gilman's. Only minus the fact that if they actually went to Gilman's they would be killed because of Joey being Billie's son. Brooke liked this new side of her. She didn't have to feel left out for liking this music, she was finally starting to realize that she could come out of this good girl, happy happy image that she was tied to for so long, and Joey was just the person to help her.....
*meanwhile...outside*
"Jinnie!" Ramona called out to one of the girls outside. "Ray Ray!" she said motioning for her come over to her. "What's up?" Jennie asked leaning back on a fence. "Nothing really, heading over to Joey's for a party after this..you?" Ramona said joining her. "Same shit...ya know?" the punk girl replied "who was that bitch I saw with you, Joey, and Jimmy?" she finally asked. "Ugh. This new girl Brooke. I thought she was cool but she likes Joey and won't back off..I mean everyone knows im trying to get with him. The problem is..he likes her...I can tell." Ramona said annoyed and disappointed. "Man that sucks. Bitches like that get whatever they want...at least she's not going after Jimmy." Jinnie had her eye on him for months now, and beat up any one else who liked him. "Actually...." Ramona said with a grin coming over her face. "She was a little touchy with him before.." "WHAT? Ok where is she? Im going to add her to my list of things to kill!" Jinnie yelled. "Wait!" Ramona said holding her back. "What if we got revenge a different way?"Jinnie looked at her carefully. "Ok Ray, what's your idea?" Ramona's eye lit up and then got very small and sly. "Remember Andy Gilndale?" she almost whispered. Jinnie nodded "the kid who is that big football player who sleeps with like the world?" Ramona nodded slowly "well what if he just so happened to come to Joey's tonight. I happen to know he's had his on eye on Brooke for a while, so what if someone happened to tell him that she liked him and wanted to sleep with him?" Jinnie looked happy but then realized something. "She's not going to want to sleep with him you ass!" Ramon laughed "I know that you idiot, which is why we'll slip something into her drink. She'll be so out of it she won't even know what's going on and we'll have Joey and Jimmy all to ourselves..."Jinnie pulled back and gave an evil grin "I love the way you think Ray." She said pulling out her cell and dialing Andy's number.
