It's Not As Easy As It Looks, chapter 16
I guess the phrase, 'time flies by when your having fun' is true, because it was Monday already, through out the week me and Billie had explored town, I talked to Jasmine and was cool again with her, managed to sell my house, move my bank account to the one in Oakland, visited my best friends Aggie and Katie and now I was seeing my parents, it was 1pm, my flight was scheduled for 9pm, so I didn't have much time to waste there.
I hoped to God everything would go fine.
The sun almost lit up my father's golden Vectra car as we walked up to the front door; I glanced to the Cotton Easter which would soon to be swarmed with bees.
A headache made me groan as I knocked on the door to my old child hood house, Billie looked strangely at me as I rubbed my forehead.
"Oww," I cried as my head thumped like someone was hitting it with a hammer.
"S'up?"
"Bad headache."
"Oh," The door opened to reveal my mom smiling at me.
"Hey Jen, come in." Last time I walked into this house; I ran away and moved to America...
"Where's dad?"
"Pub."
"Oh...well, err, tell him I stopped by, 'cause he doesn't come home for age's right?"
"Yep," I smiled as I walked into my living room; I stared at Sally and smiled smugly.
"You are so old and fat," I poked the 14 year old cat and stared in disbelief as she didn't wake.
"Lazy," I laughed quietly and sat on the couch.
"Wow...this house is tiny," Billie muttered to me, I giggled and nodded.
"Yeh, 2 bedrooms, one bathroom, tiny kitchen, quite a large living room... so out of proportion."
"It's cool."
"Mom, we have to go in a few hours so ya know, I'm sorry for storming out like that, but I'm my own person I can make my own choices and no one can stop me."
"Except me," I turned around to be confronted by my dad, a strange sensation of fear swept over me as my head became clammy.
"Listen to me, I'm a fucking young woman who has responsibilities and a life god damn it, let me live it you asshole," I mumbled as my dad's heart rate quickened up, not only was he drunk, he was angry.
"You fucking stupid bitch," he said through gritted teeth and raised his fist to me, Billie and my mother narrowed their eyebrows and stepped out in front of me. Low and behold my personal body guards.
"Are you that stupid Billie Joel Jenni talked about?"
"No, it's Billie Joe and you better leave your daughter alone, why can't you realize she's old enough to do what she likes?!"
"Because I'm her father and I can do what I like" My dad said, looking pissed off.
"I'm not having a stupid cunt like you telling me what I can or can't do with my daughter," I rolled my eyes and backed away, feeling my eyes sting from all the drama.
"Leave her alone."
"That's it," my dad shouted, raising his fist and throwing a punch towards Billie's nose, he stumbled backwards, bumping into me, I screamed, looking from Billie Joe to my dad.
"I hate you so fucking much," I shouted at him through fresh tears, Billie Joe got up and walked towards my dad, Billie pushed forward and raised his arm to hit him but was pushed back by mother.
"Don't you hit him!"
"Mom!" I yelled tearing her away from Billie's grasp. Billie looked to me, as if to ask if he could hit my father, I looked to the floor, sighing. This week was never meant to end like this.
"Look, Mr. Walker, your daughter... she loves you and your wife, she loves this life so much she could never forget about it, she just wants a bit of freedom, I know how you feel about protecting your daughter, I have two sons, but that does not give you the right to own her life and decide what she is going to do next with it."
"B-But... I don't want her to go."
"Why?" Billie asked calmly as the two men settled down, giving each other eye contact again.
"I love her, I don't want her to go to the other side of the planet and get hurt, and the fact I wouldn't see her... she's...she's my little girl."
"But dad, I'm not little."
"You will always be to me."
"Well, I came to say what Billie said, and since you reacted to this by beating the shit out of him-"
"Are you two going out?"
"Don't interrupt me." I said firmly looking from him to Billie, answering his question in my mind. Of course not, why would Billie like me?
"How can you be so full of anger dad? How can you solve things with violence, it doesn't get you anywhere. I wasn't happy here, I didn't really have a life, and my time in America... it's been really good, I have been able to do things that I would never be able to do in England and if I never run away, like...like go to the Grammies" my parents sighed and stood next to each other.
"If-If your happier there, then it's safe to say that's your home, but don't forget about us," I went up to them and hugged them.
"I never will," I pulled out of the hug and smiled.
"Bye." With that, me and Billie left me house.
"I think I got that thing I was looking for."
"Huh?" Billie asked, rather confused.
"I left England, and after awhile in Oakland, I missed home and felt really bad for storming out, now I have this feeling that everything here is fine, I can leave because I got my point across to everyone, my friends and family know what I was going through my mind when I left, so I feel like I can live my life in America now without having a big burden over my head."
"I'm happy for you, I really am."
"So... let's get to Raych's and get our luggage."
***
We actually strolled around Cannock one last time, and walked home through the forest known as the Cannock Chase. We got to Raych's house and walked in, for the first time after the little scene between my dad and Billie I could see the damage my father had done to him under the dim light of the hall light.
"Oh crap, lemme get something for that."
"No, I'm okay."
"Just let me help, it's the least I could do," Billie gave me a heart stopping smile and nodded.
"Okay," Billie sat down on the couch as I took a towel from the kitchen and quickly ran it under the cold tap. I rinsed it and walked to Billie, sitting down next to him.
"That went so well," I mumbled, putting the towel over Billie's cut eye.
"I'm sorry, I didn't want this to happen," I sighed as I took the towel of his eye and then smiled.
"Thanks for sticking up for me and helping my dad see sense."
"S'ok, I'm sure-" Billie winced as I pressed the cool towel to his eye again, sighing as I took it off to let him finish his sentence.
"-I'm sure you would do the same for me" Maybe if I had more muscles.
"Yeh, I would," I took the towel off from Billie's face and looked into his eyes, my hormones took over as they controlled my body, I leant forward as Billie caught on, leaning in as well, it almost seemed like time was actually slowing down around us.
"So, how did it-" Raych stopped what she was doing going wide eyed, I quickly pulled away from what I was going to do and smiled at her.
"Hey."
"Err... did I interrupt you?"
"Nah, what was you going to ask?"
"How did it go with your parents?"
"Not too well," I moved Billie's face so Raych could see the damage.
"Ow....damn."
"Yeh, but its okay now."
"Mhm, looks that way too," Raych smiled smugly as I blushed, I laughed and chewed my lip, I shook my head and looked away, I heard a car horn and looked outside to see a cab waiting outside for me and Billie.
"So, you heading off now?" Raych asked with a sad expression.
"Yeh."
"Aw, make sure you visit again though!"
"I will," I smiled walked up to Raych and hugging her, I rested the damp towel on the kitchen table and turned away; Raych walked up to Billie and hugged him too, taking him by surprise.
"Don't hurt her, keep her happy for me, kay?"
"Of course I will, and I would never hurt her," he whispered back and pulled out of the hug smiling.
"Bye," he waved as he grabbed his suitcase and I grabbed mine, I waved as well as we walked out of the door and to the awaiting cab.
***
Me and Billie actually had a 2 row plane as we sat down and got settled in our chairs; preparing for the long flight. The cabin crew went through all the usual procedures as I smiled.
"We're going home."
"England not your home now?"
"Well, they say 'home is where your heart is', and my heart is in Oakland."
"Aw, how sweet," I nodded, giggling, looking into his emerald green eyes, but then pulling sharply back to look out the window and wonder why my hormones were playing up. Or was I just putting off some emotions?
"Well at least I'm not sitting by a stupid teenager this time."
"Yeh," I laughed and sunk lower in my seat to try and get comfy, but I didn't...plane seats sucked.
"I think I'm gonna go to sleep for the rest of the ride."
"Yeh... I probably will," I closed my eyes. I tried to go to sleep, but half an hour later I opened them, sighing. I looked to Billie, his eyes also open.
"Didn't work ey?"
"I just can't sleep on a plane," he smirked as he looked down the aisle and I looked out the window. Why didn't this plane have a TV so I could watch a movie?
"So...did the trip help?" I jumped and looked to Billie nodding.
"Yeh, I don't think I have to worry about that life anymore, I can focus 100% on living in America without the burden that I'm hated back home...well... I'm not sure about that, I still could be hated," I smirked.
"Well, I know that your dad can pack a punch."
"Yeh, didn't need to tell me twice."
"Did he ever hit you?"
"No, but he did mentally, and he did hit my mother, which I couldn't stand to watch."
"I'm sorry to hear that, no wonder you hate that thoughtless bastard."
"He's more then that, he always used to say to me how I always thought about myself, but it was him that was like that, if he got an injury it would be all 'oh, I'm so hurt everyone look after me', yet if I was ill he would say, 'stop pulling that trick, I told you, you don't get a day off school until you have cancer' or 'don't give it me'..That's just one of the reasons why I hated him and why he ruined my life."
"Ugh, that's pathetic, why didn't your mom leave him?"
"Because she loved the house so much she wouldn't leave it."
"That's...low, I mean, ruining her own life and yours?"
"I know, just because of one house."
"I would leave."
"So would I, if a guy ever treated me like that...well, I'd kick him out," I laughed as Billie nodded.
"That's good to know that you wouldn't let them just kick you around like your mom, it means you've learnt something."
"I learnt a lot, some good, some bad, some completely useless to know..."
"Mhm, I haven't learnt anything over these years... maybe how to lose a wife but..."
"Don't say that Bill, it wasn't your fault Adie has an affair, she's the one that did the things, you didn't make her-"
"But if I spent more time with her, loved her more, maybe I would still be with her, I mean since then I married a girl I didn't know and that's it, and how longs it been?"
"Not long Billie, but seriously don't say that, your gonna get loads of girlfriends, there's thousands of girls out there that want to be with you."
"Or just fuck me and marry me, and they're all 15...I mean ew."
"Yeh... ew," I shuddered and then laughed.
"Don't think like that kay?"
"Okay, but I bet I don't get a girlfriend soon, and if I do I bet it ends in 2 days," I groaned and shook my head.
"You were married for ages, you can keep a relationship together, just have faith!"
"Alright alright," I smirked, finally getting Billie to realize he was going to fall in love again.
"Thanks."
"No problem," I grinned as I leaned my head back.
"Now I'm really gonna try and get some sleep."
"Yeh me too," Billie replied back as we both eventually fell asleep.
***
"Thanks," I murmured getting out of the humid black cab and stumbling up to my house, Billie following me.
"Aren't ya going home?" I asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"Err, no... it's boring there," I made an 'o' shape with my mouth and nodded, I unlocked my door and walked inside, for some strange reason I smiled and walked around, almost like I was checking everything was still there after the devastation from my previous home. I turned to look at Billie who was focusing on looking at his bruised eye in my chrome mirror; I stopped and smirked, walking towards him.
"It doesn't look that bad."
"What am I going to tell the guys?"
"You fell in front of a lorry," I rolled my eyes sarcastically before grinning.
"The truth."
"But..." Billie sighed, looking down onto me.
"Billie it doesn't matter okay? My dad this to you, they have a right to know the truth, I just want to really forget that."
"Okay, sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?" Billie sighed and looked at me lightly smiling.
"I don't know." I laughed and hugged Billie.
"I should say sorry."
"Why?"
"For dragging you into my problems."
"It's okay, because I helped...right?" I could tell he was rather unsure, since he asked me. I nodded and looked up to him smiling.
"Sure did" I pulled out of the hug and looked to the clock in the kitchen.
"Happy birthday Billie," Billie smiled to me and nodded, he also looked to the clock and yawned.
"I'm going home; I don't want to fall asleep on my birthday tomorrow,"
"Yeh, 'cause that would look so good in front of everyone, bye Billie," I waved as he walked out the door, I shut it quietly, leaning against it. I was tired, but yet I was ready to run a marathon. Sometimes my body freaks me out...
I opened the door to my refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of orange juice, I closed the door and went to the pantry to get a bag of chips. What was I doing at 12:17am eating a snack? I sighed as I finished my midnight snack and put everything away, I checked on Haushinka's food and water supply, I stalked upstairs into my bathroom and took a shower, and I hopped out and looked in the mirror. Jetlag makes you look like shit. I sighed and walked out, I took the towel from around me and changed into a short sleeved top and pajama bottoms, I crawled into bed but my phone rang out, I groaned as I rolled off the bed and looked into my jean pockets, I answered the call with a groggy, "Hello?"
"Hey, it's Mike."
"Why are you calling at half 12 in the morning?"
"Because I am?"
"Miiiiike...I'm tired, I have jetlag and...Well I'm tired."
"I get that ok? But I was thinking can I come by your house tomorrow like 10?"
"Uh sure, if I'm awake by then, why?"
"To talk."
"About?"
"That's the point of me coming over at 10am tomorrow."
"Okay okay, jeez... that all?"
"Yes Miss Grumpy."
"Bye Mr. Wake up the girl with jetlag for fun."
"Bye." The phone call ended as I turned off my phone and threw it on the desk next to me, I rubbed my tired face and set my alarm clock to half 9 in the morning to make sure I was awake for when Mike came.
***
"What do you get a millionaire turning 34?" I asked, sighing. It was 10am, I would be meeting Billie at 12pm at his house and I still didn't have a present for him.
"Err, I don't know,"
"Great help Mike... great," Mike laughed, shaking his head.
"Don't worry, you'll think of something, you always think of something..."
"Normally something stupid," I mumbled sitting down on my couch as Mike lifted Haushinka off the next seat and sat down, putting her on his lap and gently stroking the kitten.
"She's growing really fast."
"I know, I'm gonna miss her being all small."
"Okay back to Billie's birthday, which is today..." I bit my lip and laughed.
"I know I know, I'll go to the shops now, wanna help?"
"Uhm, sure," Mike lifted Haushinka off his lap and placed her gently on the ground.
"I think I still have jetlag," I groaned walking out of my house and locking it once Mike was also out.
"Feel hung over?"
"Something like that..."
"Maybe your pregnant"
"Uh yeh sure, with Billie's demon spawn... what the fuck Mike?! Of course not."
"Did you and Billie do anything?"
"Hell no."
"Oh," Mike raised his eyebrow, unsure of my answer, I looked to him and sighed, and I stopped walking and stared at him.
"Mike, we're just friends."
"The Grammy's?"
"I don't know, we haven't talked about it or done anything since then, I think he was just happy" Mike smirked, shaking his head.
"Jen, I know you have feelings for him, and I know he has feelings for you."
"W-What?"
"Billie likes you... and the question is, are you two both afraid of admitting your feelings?" I shrugged, I've never been an open person with my emotions so that didn't really help, I hated people seeing me sad and crying, or people knowing I liked them. Probably because I was scared of what they would say to me.
"It's just...what if he doesn't like me and I say I like you...and he just laughs?"
"I think he would say it back...it may even be a good birthday present."
"Saying I like him?"
"Yeh."
"Not really," I gazed through some shop windows, sighing as half the stuff he probably had already.
"You see, he probably has half the stuff here, and if I bought it, it would seem cheap."
"No it wouldn't, because you brought it."
"Enough already Mike!" I shouted throwing my hands into the air.
"I have about 2 hours to get him a present okay?! Just help me look. Don't... don't mention the me and Billie thing, makes things seem complicated"
"But they're not!"
"He has kids Mike, I'm 9 years younger them him, I've known him for about 5 months..."
"All of those things are stupid excuses."
"I know okay?! What else am I supposed to say?!"
"Say you like him and you'll tell him."
"Yeh I do like him Mike but no, I can't...he'll look at me like I'm crazy, and what if Mike...what if we go out with each other and split up, then we're not friends, and he's one of the greatest friends I've ever had."
"If you said that to me on my birthday I'd be a very happy man."
"You're not Billie though."
"I've known him for a long time; just admit your true feelings."
"I already did."
"To him."
I hoped to God everything would go fine.
The sun almost lit up my father's golden Vectra car as we walked up to the front door; I glanced to the Cotton Easter which would soon to be swarmed with bees.
A headache made me groan as I knocked on the door to my old child hood house, Billie looked strangely at me as I rubbed my forehead.
"Oww," I cried as my head thumped like someone was hitting it with a hammer.
"S'up?"
"Bad headache."
"Oh," The door opened to reveal my mom smiling at me.
"Hey Jen, come in." Last time I walked into this house; I ran away and moved to America...
"Where's dad?"
"Pub."
"Oh...well, err, tell him I stopped by, 'cause he doesn't come home for age's right?"
"Yep," I smiled as I walked into my living room; I stared at Sally and smiled smugly.
"You are so old and fat," I poked the 14 year old cat and stared in disbelief as she didn't wake.
"Lazy," I laughed quietly and sat on the couch.
"Wow...this house is tiny," Billie muttered to me, I giggled and nodded.
"Yeh, 2 bedrooms, one bathroom, tiny kitchen, quite a large living room... so out of proportion."
"It's cool."
"Mom, we have to go in a few hours so ya know, I'm sorry for storming out like that, but I'm my own person I can make my own choices and no one can stop me."
"Except me," I turned around to be confronted by my dad, a strange sensation of fear swept over me as my head became clammy.
"Listen to me, I'm a fucking young woman who has responsibilities and a life god damn it, let me live it you asshole," I mumbled as my dad's heart rate quickened up, not only was he drunk, he was angry.
"You fucking stupid bitch," he said through gritted teeth and raised his fist to me, Billie and my mother narrowed their eyebrows and stepped out in front of me. Low and behold my personal body guards.
"Are you that stupid Billie Joel Jenni talked about?"
"No, it's Billie Joe and you better leave your daughter alone, why can't you realize she's old enough to do what she likes?!"
"Because I'm her father and I can do what I like" My dad said, looking pissed off.
"I'm not having a stupid cunt like you telling me what I can or can't do with my daughter," I rolled my eyes and backed away, feeling my eyes sting from all the drama.
"Leave her alone."
"That's it," my dad shouted, raising his fist and throwing a punch towards Billie's nose, he stumbled backwards, bumping into me, I screamed, looking from Billie Joe to my dad.
"I hate you so fucking much," I shouted at him through fresh tears, Billie Joe got up and walked towards my dad, Billie pushed forward and raised his arm to hit him but was pushed back by mother.
"Don't you hit him!"
"Mom!" I yelled tearing her away from Billie's grasp. Billie looked to me, as if to ask if he could hit my father, I looked to the floor, sighing. This week was never meant to end like this.
"Look, Mr. Walker, your daughter... she loves you and your wife, she loves this life so much she could never forget about it, she just wants a bit of freedom, I know how you feel about protecting your daughter, I have two sons, but that does not give you the right to own her life and decide what she is going to do next with it."
"B-But... I don't want her to go."
"Why?" Billie asked calmly as the two men settled down, giving each other eye contact again.
"I love her, I don't want her to go to the other side of the planet and get hurt, and the fact I wouldn't see her... she's...she's my little girl."
"But dad, I'm not little."
"You will always be to me."
"Well, I came to say what Billie said, and since you reacted to this by beating the shit out of him-"
"Are you two going out?"
"Don't interrupt me." I said firmly looking from him to Billie, answering his question in my mind. Of course not, why would Billie like me?
"How can you be so full of anger dad? How can you solve things with violence, it doesn't get you anywhere. I wasn't happy here, I didn't really have a life, and my time in America... it's been really good, I have been able to do things that I would never be able to do in England and if I never run away, like...like go to the Grammies" my parents sighed and stood next to each other.
"If-If your happier there, then it's safe to say that's your home, but don't forget about us," I went up to them and hugged them.
"I never will," I pulled out of the hug and smiled.
"Bye." With that, me and Billie left me house.
"I think I got that thing I was looking for."
"Huh?" Billie asked, rather confused.
"I left England, and after awhile in Oakland, I missed home and felt really bad for storming out, now I have this feeling that everything here is fine, I can leave because I got my point across to everyone, my friends and family know what I was going through my mind when I left, so I feel like I can live my life in America now without having a big burden over my head."
"I'm happy for you, I really am."
"So... let's get to Raych's and get our luggage."
***
We actually strolled around Cannock one last time, and walked home through the forest known as the Cannock Chase. We got to Raych's house and walked in, for the first time after the little scene between my dad and Billie I could see the damage my father had done to him under the dim light of the hall light.
"Oh crap, lemme get something for that."
"No, I'm okay."
"Just let me help, it's the least I could do," Billie gave me a heart stopping smile and nodded.
"Okay," Billie sat down on the couch as I took a towel from the kitchen and quickly ran it under the cold tap. I rinsed it and walked to Billie, sitting down next to him.
"That went so well," I mumbled, putting the towel over Billie's cut eye.
"I'm sorry, I didn't want this to happen," I sighed as I took the towel of his eye and then smiled.
"Thanks for sticking up for me and helping my dad see sense."
"S'ok, I'm sure-" Billie winced as I pressed the cool towel to his eye again, sighing as I took it off to let him finish his sentence.
"-I'm sure you would do the same for me" Maybe if I had more muscles.
"Yeh, I would," I took the towel off from Billie's face and looked into his eyes, my hormones took over as they controlled my body, I leant forward as Billie caught on, leaning in as well, it almost seemed like time was actually slowing down around us.
"So, how did it-" Raych stopped what she was doing going wide eyed, I quickly pulled away from what I was going to do and smiled at her.
"Hey."
"Err... did I interrupt you?"
"Nah, what was you going to ask?"
"How did it go with your parents?"
"Not too well," I moved Billie's face so Raych could see the damage.
"Ow....damn."
"Yeh, but its okay now."
"Mhm, looks that way too," Raych smiled smugly as I blushed, I laughed and chewed my lip, I shook my head and looked away, I heard a car horn and looked outside to see a cab waiting outside for me and Billie.
"So, you heading off now?" Raych asked with a sad expression.
"Yeh."
"Aw, make sure you visit again though!"
"I will," I smiled walked up to Raych and hugging her, I rested the damp towel on the kitchen table and turned away; Raych walked up to Billie and hugged him too, taking him by surprise.
"Don't hurt her, keep her happy for me, kay?"
"Of course I will, and I would never hurt her," he whispered back and pulled out of the hug smiling.
"Bye," he waved as he grabbed his suitcase and I grabbed mine, I waved as well as we walked out of the door and to the awaiting cab.
***
Me and Billie actually had a 2 row plane as we sat down and got settled in our chairs; preparing for the long flight. The cabin crew went through all the usual procedures as I smiled.
"We're going home."
"England not your home now?"
"Well, they say 'home is where your heart is', and my heart is in Oakland."
"Aw, how sweet," I nodded, giggling, looking into his emerald green eyes, but then pulling sharply back to look out the window and wonder why my hormones were playing up. Or was I just putting off some emotions?
"Well at least I'm not sitting by a stupid teenager this time."
"Yeh," I laughed and sunk lower in my seat to try and get comfy, but I didn't...plane seats sucked.
"I think I'm gonna go to sleep for the rest of the ride."
"Yeh... I probably will," I closed my eyes. I tried to go to sleep, but half an hour later I opened them, sighing. I looked to Billie, his eyes also open.
"Didn't work ey?"
"I just can't sleep on a plane," he smirked as he looked down the aisle and I looked out the window. Why didn't this plane have a TV so I could watch a movie?
"So...did the trip help?" I jumped and looked to Billie nodding.
"Yeh, I don't think I have to worry about that life anymore, I can focus 100% on living in America without the burden that I'm hated back home...well... I'm not sure about that, I still could be hated," I smirked.
"Well, I know that your dad can pack a punch."
"Yeh, didn't need to tell me twice."
"Did he ever hit you?"
"No, but he did mentally, and he did hit my mother, which I couldn't stand to watch."
"I'm sorry to hear that, no wonder you hate that thoughtless bastard."
"He's more then that, he always used to say to me how I always thought about myself, but it was him that was like that, if he got an injury it would be all 'oh, I'm so hurt everyone look after me', yet if I was ill he would say, 'stop pulling that trick, I told you, you don't get a day off school until you have cancer' or 'don't give it me'..That's just one of the reasons why I hated him and why he ruined my life."
"Ugh, that's pathetic, why didn't your mom leave him?"
"Because she loved the house so much she wouldn't leave it."
"That's...low, I mean, ruining her own life and yours?"
"I know, just because of one house."
"I would leave."
"So would I, if a guy ever treated me like that...well, I'd kick him out," I laughed as Billie nodded.
"That's good to know that you wouldn't let them just kick you around like your mom, it means you've learnt something."
"I learnt a lot, some good, some bad, some completely useless to know..."
"Mhm, I haven't learnt anything over these years... maybe how to lose a wife but..."
"Don't say that Bill, it wasn't your fault Adie has an affair, she's the one that did the things, you didn't make her-"
"But if I spent more time with her, loved her more, maybe I would still be with her, I mean since then I married a girl I didn't know and that's it, and how longs it been?"
"Not long Billie, but seriously don't say that, your gonna get loads of girlfriends, there's thousands of girls out there that want to be with you."
"Or just fuck me and marry me, and they're all 15...I mean ew."
"Yeh... ew," I shuddered and then laughed.
"Don't think like that kay?"
"Okay, but I bet I don't get a girlfriend soon, and if I do I bet it ends in 2 days," I groaned and shook my head.
"You were married for ages, you can keep a relationship together, just have faith!"
"Alright alright," I smirked, finally getting Billie to realize he was going to fall in love again.
"Thanks."
"No problem," I grinned as I leaned my head back.
"Now I'm really gonna try and get some sleep."
"Yeh me too," Billie replied back as we both eventually fell asleep.
***
"Thanks," I murmured getting out of the humid black cab and stumbling up to my house, Billie following me.
"Aren't ya going home?" I asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"Err, no... it's boring there," I made an 'o' shape with my mouth and nodded, I unlocked my door and walked inside, for some strange reason I smiled and walked around, almost like I was checking everything was still there after the devastation from my previous home. I turned to look at Billie who was focusing on looking at his bruised eye in my chrome mirror; I stopped and smirked, walking towards him.
"It doesn't look that bad."
"What am I going to tell the guys?"
"You fell in front of a lorry," I rolled my eyes sarcastically before grinning.
"The truth."
"But..." Billie sighed, looking down onto me.
"Billie it doesn't matter okay? My dad this to you, they have a right to know the truth, I just want to really forget that."
"Okay, sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?" Billie sighed and looked at me lightly smiling.
"I don't know." I laughed and hugged Billie.
"I should say sorry."
"Why?"
"For dragging you into my problems."
"It's okay, because I helped...right?" I could tell he was rather unsure, since he asked me. I nodded and looked up to him smiling.
"Sure did" I pulled out of the hug and looked to the clock in the kitchen.
"Happy birthday Billie," Billie smiled to me and nodded, he also looked to the clock and yawned.
"I'm going home; I don't want to fall asleep on my birthday tomorrow,"
"Yeh, 'cause that would look so good in front of everyone, bye Billie," I waved as he walked out the door, I shut it quietly, leaning against it. I was tired, but yet I was ready to run a marathon. Sometimes my body freaks me out...
I opened the door to my refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of orange juice, I closed the door and went to the pantry to get a bag of chips. What was I doing at 12:17am eating a snack? I sighed as I finished my midnight snack and put everything away, I checked on Haushinka's food and water supply, I stalked upstairs into my bathroom and took a shower, and I hopped out and looked in the mirror. Jetlag makes you look like shit. I sighed and walked out, I took the towel from around me and changed into a short sleeved top and pajama bottoms, I crawled into bed but my phone rang out, I groaned as I rolled off the bed and looked into my jean pockets, I answered the call with a groggy, "Hello?"
"Hey, it's Mike."
"Why are you calling at half 12 in the morning?"
"Because I am?"
"Miiiiike...I'm tired, I have jetlag and...Well I'm tired."
"I get that ok? But I was thinking can I come by your house tomorrow like 10?"
"Uh sure, if I'm awake by then, why?"
"To talk."
"About?"
"That's the point of me coming over at 10am tomorrow."
"Okay okay, jeez... that all?"
"Yes Miss Grumpy."
"Bye Mr. Wake up the girl with jetlag for fun."
"Bye." The phone call ended as I turned off my phone and threw it on the desk next to me, I rubbed my tired face and set my alarm clock to half 9 in the morning to make sure I was awake for when Mike came.
***
"What do you get a millionaire turning 34?" I asked, sighing. It was 10am, I would be meeting Billie at 12pm at his house and I still didn't have a present for him.
"Err, I don't know,"
"Great help Mike... great," Mike laughed, shaking his head.
"Don't worry, you'll think of something, you always think of something..."
"Normally something stupid," I mumbled sitting down on my couch as Mike lifted Haushinka off the next seat and sat down, putting her on his lap and gently stroking the kitten.
"She's growing really fast."
"I know, I'm gonna miss her being all small."
"Okay back to Billie's birthday, which is today..." I bit my lip and laughed.
"I know I know, I'll go to the shops now, wanna help?"
"Uhm, sure," Mike lifted Haushinka off his lap and placed her gently on the ground.
"I think I still have jetlag," I groaned walking out of my house and locking it once Mike was also out.
"Feel hung over?"
"Something like that..."
"Maybe your pregnant"
"Uh yeh sure, with Billie's demon spawn... what the fuck Mike?! Of course not."
"Did you and Billie do anything?"
"Hell no."
"Oh," Mike raised his eyebrow, unsure of my answer, I looked to him and sighed, and I stopped walking and stared at him.
"Mike, we're just friends."
"The Grammy's?"
"I don't know, we haven't talked about it or done anything since then, I think he was just happy" Mike smirked, shaking his head.
"Jen, I know you have feelings for him, and I know he has feelings for you."
"W-What?"
"Billie likes you... and the question is, are you two both afraid of admitting your feelings?" I shrugged, I've never been an open person with my emotions so that didn't really help, I hated people seeing me sad and crying, or people knowing I liked them. Probably because I was scared of what they would say to me.
"It's just...what if he doesn't like me and I say I like you...and he just laughs?"
"I think he would say it back...it may even be a good birthday present."
"Saying I like him?"
"Yeh."
"Not really," I gazed through some shop windows, sighing as half the stuff he probably had already.
"You see, he probably has half the stuff here, and if I bought it, it would seem cheap."
"No it wouldn't, because you brought it."
"Enough already Mike!" I shouted throwing my hands into the air.
"I have about 2 hours to get him a present okay?! Just help me look. Don't... don't mention the me and Billie thing, makes things seem complicated"
"But they're not!"
"He has kids Mike, I'm 9 years younger them him, I've known him for about 5 months..."
"All of those things are stupid excuses."
"I know okay?! What else am I supposed to say?!"
"Say you like him and you'll tell him."
"Yeh I do like him Mike but no, I can't...he'll look at me like I'm crazy, and what if Mike...what if we go out with each other and split up, then we're not friends, and he's one of the greatest friends I've ever had."
"If you said that to me on my birthday I'd be a very happy man."
"You're not Billie though."
"I've known him for a long time; just admit your true feelings."
"I already did."
"To him."
