They Changed My Life, chapter 17

I was feeling ashamed of my past, but Mike gave me an encouraging smile and I knew that I had to go on.

"He leaned over me and I could smell the bitter smell of alcohol on his breath. He slid my shirt up to my neck and pressed the cold blade against my stomach. Slowly he carved another gash into my body and asked me why I chose who I did because I could have escaped all of that. I was scared and pissed, so I spit in his face and tried to claw at his eyes. I ended up giving him a sizable scratch. He only ever said one more thing to me. 'Now it's your turn, bitch.' But then the sound of sirens in the distance stopped him, and his pressure on me lessened. I pushed him off of me completely and scrambled onto my stomach. Stephen really tried to kill me then. He swiped repeatedly at my back and I went unconscious. Next thing I knew, I was in the hospital. My mom was next to me, and she was happy that I was alright, but her face was grim. She told me that Darren and Stephen were dead. Stephen was shot in the woods by the police. The next day I managed to go to Darren's funeral, but I stayed away from Stephen's. His friend, Jarrett, was arrested...and that's my story, I suppose."


Both Mike and Tré had tears in their eyes. Tré got up quickly to refill his mug, but I saw that my story had shaken him. Mike gave me a hug, and I clung to him.

"And we're the first people you told this to willingly?" he whispered.

I nodded. "And you know what? It actually feels relay good to tell people-friends-this. That's what we are now, right? Friends?"

"I would hope so. Mike saved your ass, so I'd hope you wouldn't hate him," Tré said.

Mike nodded. "Already we've done things that people that've been friends their whole life will never do. And we've only known you for a day now," Mike said, smiling. "You should probably tell Billie Joe this."

Yes, I supposed I would have to, but not yet.

"I don't think either of us is ready to make up yet."

"Ahh," Tré said, sitting back down. "Just as stubborn as he is. So what's up with you two anyway? Obviously you like him and he likes you."

"What do you mean?" I asked curiously, blushing.

"Well, you're upset about fighting with him, you went nuts when you saw Laurie here, and your face went completely red when I said that." Tré folded his arms triumphantly.

I gave him an embarrassed grin, and then frowned.

"Yeah, I guess I still like him, but if he liked me before all of this shit-which is unlikely-he probably hates me now..."

"Oh-I doubt that," Mike said. "He wouldn't have gotten extremely angry at us if he didn't care."

I shrugged miserably. I doubted that Billie Joe would ever want to speak to me again. Then I had a horrible thought.

"What will happen to the band? You don't think this will be the end of Green Day-do you?"

Tré and Mike's faces clouded over briefly, but then Tré broke out in a smile. "If I know Billie-and I think I do-he won't hold a grudge. We've been through worse than this; he just needs awhile to cool off. It would help if you'd talk to him."

I looked at Mike, who drained his coffee cup and said, "Whatever's happening, it'll have to wait until tomorrow. I think that a good night's sleep will do us all good."

"Yes, mother," Tré mocked.

Mike looked at me. "Obviously you're staying here tonight. You can't go home to your sister. You'll sleep in my bed."

I shook my head, and Tré snapped his fingers. "That's right," he said.

"She agreed to sleep with me."

"I'd rather sleep on the couch." I looked at Mike pleadingly. "I don't want to be a burden."

Mike laughed. "Trust me-you're not. Come on, I'll get you situated."

Tré told me goodnight and even managed to give me a non-horny hug before heading to bed. Mike handed me a blanket and said, "You know-it was really cool of you to tell Tré and me that story. You chose to trust us."

"It felt good to confide in someone."

"Well, I hope you sleep alright. Tomorrow we'll attempt to speak to Billie Joe. Even if we have to tie him down, we'll get through to him somehow."

"Sounds good," I yawned, and then asked, "Does it hurt?"

Mike touched the sensitive skin around his eye and winced, "I'll live. The ice was a good call. Thanks."

I gave him a humongous hug and said, "No-thank you. If it weren't for you I would have done something drastic tonight."

He smiled, hugging me back. "No problem."

After Mike left the room, I collapsed on the couch. Little did I know that my sleep would be disturbed tonight by the person I dreaded seeing most.