It's Not As Easy As It Looks, chapter 9
I stepped out of the hot shower, shivering as I put the towel around my waist. I looked at the mirror but it was all steamed up. I wiped it and stood there looking at myself, I bobbed out my tongue and went into my room. Once I had dried myself off I slipped on a white dress and white flat shoes, I did up my hair and put a bit of make up on.
I had been invited to Tré's Christmas Eve party at his house. I even wondered why, let's just say Tré was a bit sour towards me now, but he had informed me that he and Stevie were back together. I was going to see Stevie and Brittany for the first time, and I was scared shitless due to the fact I was just a little 'teenie fan' in their eyes, I wasn't Green Day's photographer anymore, hell I expected that, but I couldn't just invade their lives..could I?
There was a knock on my door and I rushed to it, quickly glancing in the mirror beside the door as I opened it.
"Hey Billie." I smiled as he grinned, stretching out his arm as I walked out to his car. I hopped in and started to become more twitchy then before, I kept thinking, 'what will they think of me?'
I hated hanging around with people I didn't know, I was too shy to speak up to them and I was always beaten down. I wasn't a loner in school and I wasn't a 'popular bitch', I didn't want to be, I put the people I knew into groups - best friends, close friends, friends, acquaintainces, and last but not least, enemies. All of my enemies seemed to be those 'popular bitches', take Nicci for example, she enjoyed hurting me mentally but gained nothing of it, she thought she was the best and the best looking. Now I have to say I would rather stick my fingers down my throat then take a glance at her again, which was why I was glad to leave school and go to college to study art and become a Photographer...who knew my career would end so soon?
We arrived at Tré's house where I could already hear the raving music blasting from the speakers.
"Adie's going to be here...right?" I asked Billie, glancing down regretting what I had just said.
"I dunno, she said she never wants to see me again, and if she does tonight, I hope she re thinks that statement."
"Do you think you can have a second chance?"
"I want a second chance with her. I'll never get it though, she's right, I should move on, get a girlfriend, marry her. Hell, maybe even start a new family, but it's so hard when I loved her for so long. I mean, she's the mother of my kids, the situation sucks. I'm wondering if I should of divorced her..I dunno I really am confused." I placed my hand on Billie's shoulder, comforting him, trying to help, although there wasn't much I could do, it was his business not mine.
"Shall we go in?" Billie smiled after awhile of nothing but pure silence and the sound of distant music and shouting blaring from Tré's house.
"Yeah, let the night begin." At least I wouldn't have to worry about one thing - getting fired for being late, I laughed silently to myself.
"May I take your coat?" Said an old man by Tré's door, I jumped I didn't see him there.
"Uh...yeah," I smiled.
"What the fuck!? Tré hired a coat man?" Billie laughed from behind, I turned around.
"He's kinda scary...like a really old lame person."
"Ah he's not lame...he's probably cool...probably will even dance with you! Ha because he loves you."
"Shut up Sandy," Billie shook his head and bit his lip, before looking down at me.
"You freak me out sometimes...freak."
"Loser."
"Whatever." Billie stuck his right hand out and put it near my face, I slapped it away and laughed.
"You're going the right way for a smacked bottom mister."
"Oh yeaah."
I rolled my eyes as I walked into the lounge where a mixture of smoke and drugs took over my body as I breathed it in. I almost became light headed and tripped over a person lying on the floor, their eyes half open and half not when I realised who it was.
"So...the host of the party is passed out? Pathetic" I laughed as I poked Tré with me foot, he grunted and I sighed, walking into the kitchen. I looked for a beer but the house was empty, everything had been drank.
I felt a light tapping on my shoulder. I swiveled around on my heal to find Billie looking annoyed.
"This party sucks, Tré is on the floor, no alcohol or even weed, and Mike and Brittany fucked off somewhere."
"Should we go?"
"This was the lamest Christmas Eve ever."
"I highly doubt it...plus it's just Christmas Eve."
"Exactly...it's an important day, it has a name."
"Yeah the eve before Christmas, whoop de fucking do," I smiled pathetically before Billie sighed.
"Should I take you home?"
"Well...we could hit the bars," I laughed, Billie nodded and thought of something.
"Too many people bug me out in public."
"Aw, what a shame...wait, Sandy actually has fans?!" Billie playfully slapped my arm as we walked over Tré again.
"Hey Bill!" A woman called out, me and Billie turned around to be greeted by a woman with light brown hair and hazel eyes.
"Hey Stevie...you have such an excellent party," Billie said in a sarcastic manner.
"I know, it's great isn't it...who's this? Your girlfriend?"
"No no...my friend Jenni, she became our photographer and then she-"
"Quit," I cut in, not wanting anyone to know I had lost my job because it was my own god damn fault.
"Not good enough pay?"
"No, the people were hard to work with," I laughed as Billie stomped his foot.
"Right! No pudding for you!"
"Darn...I like pudding."
"Well we best be going and all, yeah it's been uh...different," Billie waved as we went to the old man and got our coats.
"Would you dance with her?" Billie smiled, I shook my head and pushed Billie out of the door.
"You're a retard...ya know?" Billie sighed.
"I know," He said all serious, and then looked up to the sky and back at me looking confused.
"What?"
"Can you feel that?"
"What?"
"Snow. I just felt some, I'm sure."
We were silent for awhile and I smiled.
"Yeah...it's snowing."
"OoOoOoOo! Looks like we'll have a white Christmas, I can spend all day building a snowman with my boys!"
"And I'll be sitting with a hot chocolate...no matter if I'm allergic to milk."
"Why don't you come to my house? Don't want you to be lonely on Christmas day."
"I don't mind, I'll spend some time with Haushinka, plus I'll probably end up having Morgan around."
"Okay...can I invite you?"
"To your house? Are you cooking?"
"Yes."
"Then I'm not coming."
"Why?"
"Men stink at cooking!"
"They do not! Take that back you..you sexist pig!"
"I'm not sexist...just saying men suck at cooking."
"Okay, I'll prove to you I can cook great!"
"How many times have you cooked a meal?"
"Loads..why? Never seen a man cook?"
"Not much, my dad never cooked."
"Oh okay, so will you come to my house so I can prove I'm a good cook?"
"I'll think about it," Billie groaned, I raised an eyebrow.
"Don't throw a tantrum, it's my life."
"Yeah and I want you to have a great one compared to the one you left behind," I smiled.
"Bill, of course I'm having a better time over here, I mean come on, I'm standing in front of my God talking about men cooking. I never though I'd do that."
"God?" He quirked an eyebrow as I smirked.
"Not in the holy worshipping way, I'm not that sad. I didn't kiss my poster of you lot either...that's just..-"
"-Scary."
"Darn right!"
"Darn? Heh...I love your accent."
"We don't say darn, I just like saying it...we say bloody hell and stuff, but we don't really have that stupid accent they portray us to have on television."
"No you don't..."
"I haven't even used my slang yet."
"No..? Tell me some of your slang then," Billie smiled as we sat down on a cold and frosty bench.
"Okay, we shorten down shortened version of words, like are not turns into ain't, and well we say ay, same with woh...it's won't, car is can't, doh is don't and so on."
"Heh...doh!" He said doing a lame impression of Homer Simpson, but still making me smile. I went bozzeyed as a snowflake landed on the tip of my nose.
"It's so cold, like colder then England. Well I doubt that, but it's snowing and I hate snow."
"Why?"
"Well at school they used to throw snowballs and it hurt and you fall over on it, it's cold and wet, but I do love it sometimes, like when I had snow days or when I could build an awesome snow man...OR even when I did a snow angel and got completly soaked."
"Sounds like fun."
"Not real fun, I was still alone, fake smile is the best thing I can do except crocodile tears."
"And your comedy and sarcastic side."
"Yeah...my personality rocks huh?"
"You rock."
"Thanks, so do you." I bit my lip as I looked to my beaten up blue converses, noticing my laces dangling into the snow. I leant down and tucked them into my shoe, shivering a little as a bit of snow went into my shoe.
"I'm so bored," Billie yawned.
"Well so-rry."
"What can we do?"
"Run around pretending to be police cars going nee naw nee naw," Billie quirked an eyebrow before I giggled.
"You're crazy."
"Well durr, being normal is so boring."
"And overrated."
"Just like Green Day."
"What?"
"Eh?"
"What did you say?"
"Just like being mean is gay."
"Er...okay," I burst out lauging as the gentle snow drift started to turn into a mini blizzard.
"What time is it?" Billie looked to his watch.
"Erm...11:15pm."
"45 minutes to Christmas."
"Cool."
"You know once I stayed up and I heard some jingle bells, I was about 6 and I was so happy."
"Awesome," He laughed.
"Well once I stayed up with my dad and my mom didn't know, and I wished upon a star that I could be a rockstar. I guess that star granted my wish." I looked up to the sky at all the twinkling stars, well those that weren't blocked by the dull grey cloud.
"My wishes never come true...though they are ridiculous."
"What are they?"
"I'm not allowed to say."
"Right..."
"Wanna go back to my place for a hot drink? I think Haushinka is getting lonely."
"Yeah sure," Billie Joe smiled as we stood up and walked down the sidewalk.
***
"You're evil...we could of took a cab to my place," I moaned, climbing up a set of stairs.
"Where are we going?" Everytime I asked a question Billie would ignore me and walk a bit faster.
"Okay, we're here," Billie said as he got to the top out of breath. I walked up and looked around, gasping at the beauty.
"Oh my god Billie, it's so beautiful." I stood looking out onto the bay and Berkeley, looking out to say the dazzling lights and the moon's reflection on the bay. Billie placed his arm around my shoulders and smiled.
"Merry Christmas Jenni," I looked up to Billie also smiling.
"Merry Christmas Billie."
***
*BEEP BEEP*
"Well beeping beep to you as well." I mumbled whacking my alarm clock and rolling over, making Haushinka fall off the bed and moan.
"Aw sorry baby, did I hurt you?" She looked up to me with her dazzling blue eyes and moaned again.
"Damn I wish I could speak cat."
"Do you always talk to yourself at home?" I jumped out of my skin to be greeted by Morgan's laughing face.
"Jeez, you know how to scare a girl."
"Merry Christmas," She laughed, squeezing me.
"Merry Christmas Morg," I laughed and managed to break free.
"What are you doing in my house?"
"Well I haven't left it..."
"Oh...what about your hotel apartment...your stuff..."
"It's kinda here...I was gonna ask you last night...but you never came back." I remembered how me and Billie just spent the night talking and climbing up that hill.
"No...but anyways, what was you gonna ask me?"
"Can I move in until my holiday has passed? It's only like another week."
"No."
"Oh...okay," She said miserably. "Can I-I know why?"
"I'm joking!"
"You're evil, you know that? Thank you."
"Yep, now lets go downstairs to see if Santa left us anything."
"He's not real, I don't think so anyways."
"Of course he's real, parents just say it's them to get the kids to like them more." Morgan nodded, she was so gullible.
***
"You know...you didn't have to get me anything, you got me moving in presents."
"Shuddap and open it!" Tré laughed, I rolled my eyes and opened it.
"YAY! Trousers."
"Now now, if you're gonna be an American, the correct term is 'pants'," I stuck out my tongue.
"Pants are what you wear to cover your genitals."
"Exactly the thing if you're going commando."
"Ugh Tré."
"Don't orgasm."
"Hey I invited you into my house, please be kind," I laughed as I added my 'pants' to the pile of presents I had recieved of Mike, Morgan and Billie who had all gotton me jewelry so I had enough to look like a chav.
After the gang spent 2 hours at my place it was midday and everyone returned to their families. Morgan was set to go back to her family for the day, Tré was with Stevie and Mike was with Brittney. I was the odd one, I was heading out to Billie's to see if he could cook or not.
Billie pulled upto into the driveway, noticing the 4 by 4 outside and got out of his seat, he quickly went around to my side and opened it up.
"Aw, how gentlemanly."
"Is that even a word?"
"Be quiet," I giggled as Billie stared at the car hoping it would go away.
"Who is it?"
"I think it's Adie."
"Well I think she was pissed when she said she would never see you again."
"Must of been if she's in there, shoulda changed the damn locks."
"Don't you want to talk to her? Don't you need to talk to her?"
"No, I wanted to change things, make things better, but she was a fucking stubborn jackass, so she can go fuck herself."
Billie opened the door - he was right, it was Adie, since no one else had the keys to his house.
"Hello?" Billie called out, looking in each room, opening the lounge door to be greeted with a warm hug from his youngest son Jakob.
"Hey kiddo," Billie smiled and ruffled his hair.
"Santa came this morning."
"Jakob he doesn't exist."
"He does too Joey!" I laughed under my breath and lifted my eyes from my shoes to Adrienne.
"Hey," She smiled at Billie, he smiled back.
"Hey," Her smile vanished when she saw me. I think she got the wrong idea.
"Billie can I talk to you? Out there?" She said pointing into the hall. Her and Billie walked out and closed the door, leaving me alone with two hyper kids.
"Billie, you blurt out you love me over the phone and then all of a suddern your fucking another girl?!"
"What?"
"That girl."
"She's a friend."
"A girlfriend? Please Billie you don't bring a girl into a house unless you love her."
"I don't...she's a close friend, honestly." There was a silence for awhile.
"Why did you tell me you would never see me again then show up in my house?"
"Because Billie...I want the house."
"What?!"
"I want it, it's my home."
"Fuck off Adie! There is no way in hell you're getting my home."
"This is the kid's home, don't you think about them? About the stress your putting them through!"
"What the fuck?! You're the one who was fucking around when we were married, you broke us apart, you stressed out the kids, so shut the fuck up."
I silently opened the door.
"Guys, could you keep it down, you sorta made Jakob cry with your yelling and I can't help him."
"Keep your filthy hands off my son, bitch."
"Excuse me?"
"Go and die."
"What have I done?"
"Nothing yet."
"You're crazy...I thought you were a really cool person, ya know, I actually looked up to you. I mean, you're beautiful and everything and then..then you go and commit adultery, ruining your ex husbands and your children's lives, so don't come into Billie's house and yell at him for ruining your marriage and don't you fucking yell at me," I managed to say without screaming. Adrienne shot me a really dirty look and stormed out of the house.
"Ding dong the witch has gone," Billie laughed.
I shook my head and walked into the living room.
"Hey don't get pissy with me!"
"You didn't really say anything."
"Daddy what's wrong?" Billie ignored at him, glaring at me.
"Shut the hell up, I'm at the worst peak in my life, my life is crumbling down and all you can say is 'you didn't really say anything', don't you think I have? Don't you think I've shouted enough?! I don't need this shit, I don't need her shouting, I don't need my sons crying and I don't need you going pissy on my ass."
"I guess I have to go then, Merry Christmas." I left the house, shutting the door, not slamming, and walked down the path and onto the street, noticing Adie sitting at her car steering wheel, crying her eyes out.
And then I felt it, guilt.
I had gotten involved and hurt someone's feelings...but didn't she deserve it? Either way, it still lost my friendship with Billie. But an alarm rang out in his head and I heard him call my name. I turned around, frowning, he embraced me and I sighed.
"I'm sorry, I was a lit fuse with Adie shouting at me like that, and I blew up on you."
"It's okay."
"No it's not...and you know what?"
"What?"
"I do need your pissyness Jenni. I need you, you lift my spirits, make me smile, which is hard for me to do at the moment." I pulled out of the hug and smiled.
"I'm always here for you, okay? I'm here to make you happy, well first I was here to be your photographer, but meh okay, I wanted to repair your marriage and when that was broken, I wanted to repair you."
"Well Miss Fix It, thank you."
"No thank you, because you're helping me as well, forgetting my horrible past and stupid life."
"I guess we help each other then ay?"
"Yeah...yeah we do."
***
I stared down at the plate which had just been served by Billie. I smiled knowing, I had to take back what I had said.
"Daaaad, Joey has more turkey then me."
"Have not, your plate's just bigger" Joey said, obviously lying.
"Oh okay, sorry Joey."
"Okay eat up."
"So Jenni, how long have you known our dad?" Jakob smiled innocently. I became nervous and looked at my fork.
"Uhm...like 3 weeks or so...maybe a month."
"That's cool, do you love him?"
"JAKOB!" Billie shouted, his eyes as wide as the dinner plate in front of him.
"What? Just wanted to know." I blushed, fiddling around with the food on my plate.
"I like him, as a close friend...not love..."
"Why?"
"Because that would be kinda weird...I dunno..."
"Why would it be weird"
"Jake eat your dinner and stop questioning the guest," Billie said.
I sighed a sigh of relief, but after dinner I was questioned more in the living room, only this time it was just me and little Jakob.
"Why would it be weird?"
"Because we're friends...you have them right? Tell me one of their names...one of the girl's names."
"I have one friend that's a girl, named Nina."
"And would you go out with her?"
"No yuck! She's my-"
"-Friend, exactly my point."
"Oh okay you win, but would you love him if you wasn't friends?" I laughed, and shook my head.
"If I wasn't friends with him, I would either hate him or not know him."
"Or love him."
"Whatever Jakob."
"Whatever," He said and laughed.
"Where's my dad?"
"Clearing the table."
"Why aren't you helping him?"
"Because I'm a guest"
"But you're a woman."
"Are you being sexist?!"
"What does that mean?"
"Like when you say, a woman should do this because she is a woman."
"Well yeah, then my dad says it all the time."
"And he called me sexist," I mumbled under my breath.
"What? He called you sexy? Then he loves you, and you should love him and you should get married and be my new mommy."
"Jakob," I sighed and looked at him shaking my head.
I kneeled down to his level and smiled.
"You have a mother."
"I don't like her much, she's always drinking that stuff daddy says never to drink till I'm older."
"Alcohol."
"Yeah alchyol."
"Alcohol."
"Alcohol."
"Yeah!"
"ALCOHOL!" Billie came running into the lounge, gasping.
"What the hell?" I poked my head above the couch so he could just see my eyes and fingertips.
"I may of taught him how to say alcohol."
"Daddy? Can I have some alcohol, you said when I'm older and I am, oh please! Please please please please-"
"No."
"Pleeeeease."
"No."
"Pleeeee-"
"Shut up!"
"DAAAAAAD" He cried, lying on the lounge floor, throwing a tantrum.
"I want alcohol!" Joey walked into the room and quirked an eyebrow at his 7 year old brother.
"Has he gone phsyco again?"
"Jakob Danger Armstrong, stop it or you'll get no dessert." Jakob bolted right up and wiped his tears.
"O-okay," He sniffled, dashing off somewhere.
"OoOoOo," I mocked laughing.
"Shut up, or you'll get none either."
I had been invited to Tré's Christmas Eve party at his house. I even wondered why, let's just say Tré was a bit sour towards me now, but he had informed me that he and Stevie were back together. I was going to see Stevie and Brittany for the first time, and I was scared shitless due to the fact I was just a little 'teenie fan' in their eyes, I wasn't Green Day's photographer anymore, hell I expected that, but I couldn't just invade their lives..could I?
There was a knock on my door and I rushed to it, quickly glancing in the mirror beside the door as I opened it.
"Hey Billie." I smiled as he grinned, stretching out his arm as I walked out to his car. I hopped in and started to become more twitchy then before, I kept thinking, 'what will they think of me?'
I hated hanging around with people I didn't know, I was too shy to speak up to them and I was always beaten down. I wasn't a loner in school and I wasn't a 'popular bitch', I didn't want to be, I put the people I knew into groups - best friends, close friends, friends, acquaintainces, and last but not least, enemies. All of my enemies seemed to be those 'popular bitches', take Nicci for example, she enjoyed hurting me mentally but gained nothing of it, she thought she was the best and the best looking. Now I have to say I would rather stick my fingers down my throat then take a glance at her again, which was why I was glad to leave school and go to college to study art and become a Photographer...who knew my career would end so soon?
We arrived at Tré's house where I could already hear the raving music blasting from the speakers.
"Adie's going to be here...right?" I asked Billie, glancing down regretting what I had just said.
"I dunno, she said she never wants to see me again, and if she does tonight, I hope she re thinks that statement."
"Do you think you can have a second chance?"
"I want a second chance with her. I'll never get it though, she's right, I should move on, get a girlfriend, marry her. Hell, maybe even start a new family, but it's so hard when I loved her for so long. I mean, she's the mother of my kids, the situation sucks. I'm wondering if I should of divorced her..I dunno I really am confused." I placed my hand on Billie's shoulder, comforting him, trying to help, although there wasn't much I could do, it was his business not mine.
"Shall we go in?" Billie smiled after awhile of nothing but pure silence and the sound of distant music and shouting blaring from Tré's house.
"Yeah, let the night begin." At least I wouldn't have to worry about one thing - getting fired for being late, I laughed silently to myself.
"May I take your coat?" Said an old man by Tré's door, I jumped I didn't see him there.
"Uh...yeah," I smiled.
"What the fuck!? Tré hired a coat man?" Billie laughed from behind, I turned around.
"He's kinda scary...like a really old lame person."
"Ah he's not lame...he's probably cool...probably will even dance with you! Ha because he loves you."
"Shut up Sandy," Billie shook his head and bit his lip, before looking down at me.
"You freak me out sometimes...freak."
"Loser."
"Whatever." Billie stuck his right hand out and put it near my face, I slapped it away and laughed.
"You're going the right way for a smacked bottom mister."
"Oh yeaah."
I rolled my eyes as I walked into the lounge where a mixture of smoke and drugs took over my body as I breathed it in. I almost became light headed and tripped over a person lying on the floor, their eyes half open and half not when I realised who it was.
"So...the host of the party is passed out? Pathetic" I laughed as I poked Tré with me foot, he grunted and I sighed, walking into the kitchen. I looked for a beer but the house was empty, everything had been drank.
I felt a light tapping on my shoulder. I swiveled around on my heal to find Billie looking annoyed.
"This party sucks, Tré is on the floor, no alcohol or even weed, and Mike and Brittany fucked off somewhere."
"Should we go?"
"This was the lamest Christmas Eve ever."
"I highly doubt it...plus it's just Christmas Eve."
"Exactly...it's an important day, it has a name."
"Yeah the eve before Christmas, whoop de fucking do," I smiled pathetically before Billie sighed.
"Should I take you home?"
"Well...we could hit the bars," I laughed, Billie nodded and thought of something.
"Too many people bug me out in public."
"Aw, what a shame...wait, Sandy actually has fans?!" Billie playfully slapped my arm as we walked over Tré again.
"Hey Bill!" A woman called out, me and Billie turned around to be greeted by a woman with light brown hair and hazel eyes.
"Hey Stevie...you have such an excellent party," Billie said in a sarcastic manner.
"I know, it's great isn't it...who's this? Your girlfriend?"
"No no...my friend Jenni, she became our photographer and then she-"
"Quit," I cut in, not wanting anyone to know I had lost my job because it was my own god damn fault.
"Not good enough pay?"
"No, the people were hard to work with," I laughed as Billie stomped his foot.
"Right! No pudding for you!"
"Darn...I like pudding."
"Well we best be going and all, yeah it's been uh...different," Billie waved as we went to the old man and got our coats.
"Would you dance with her?" Billie smiled, I shook my head and pushed Billie out of the door.
"You're a retard...ya know?" Billie sighed.
"I know," He said all serious, and then looked up to the sky and back at me looking confused.
"What?"
"Can you feel that?"
"What?"
"Snow. I just felt some, I'm sure."
We were silent for awhile and I smiled.
"Yeah...it's snowing."
"OoOoOoOo! Looks like we'll have a white Christmas, I can spend all day building a snowman with my boys!"
"And I'll be sitting with a hot chocolate...no matter if I'm allergic to milk."
"Why don't you come to my house? Don't want you to be lonely on Christmas day."
"I don't mind, I'll spend some time with Haushinka, plus I'll probably end up having Morgan around."
"Okay...can I invite you?"
"To your house? Are you cooking?"
"Yes."
"Then I'm not coming."
"Why?"
"Men stink at cooking!"
"They do not! Take that back you..you sexist pig!"
"I'm not sexist...just saying men suck at cooking."
"Okay, I'll prove to you I can cook great!"
"How many times have you cooked a meal?"
"Loads..why? Never seen a man cook?"
"Not much, my dad never cooked."
"Oh okay, so will you come to my house so I can prove I'm a good cook?"
"I'll think about it," Billie groaned, I raised an eyebrow.
"Don't throw a tantrum, it's my life."
"Yeah and I want you to have a great one compared to the one you left behind," I smiled.
"Bill, of course I'm having a better time over here, I mean come on, I'm standing in front of my God talking about men cooking. I never though I'd do that."
"God?" He quirked an eyebrow as I smirked.
"Not in the holy worshipping way, I'm not that sad. I didn't kiss my poster of you lot either...that's just..-"
"-Scary."
"Darn right!"
"Darn? Heh...I love your accent."
"We don't say darn, I just like saying it...we say bloody hell and stuff, but we don't really have that stupid accent they portray us to have on television."
"No you don't..."
"I haven't even used my slang yet."
"No..? Tell me some of your slang then," Billie smiled as we sat down on a cold and frosty bench.
"Okay, we shorten down shortened version of words, like are not turns into ain't, and well we say ay, same with woh...it's won't, car is can't, doh is don't and so on."
"Heh...doh!" He said doing a lame impression of Homer Simpson, but still making me smile. I went bozzeyed as a snowflake landed on the tip of my nose.
"It's so cold, like colder then England. Well I doubt that, but it's snowing and I hate snow."
"Why?"
"Well at school they used to throw snowballs and it hurt and you fall over on it, it's cold and wet, but I do love it sometimes, like when I had snow days or when I could build an awesome snow man...OR even when I did a snow angel and got completly soaked."
"Sounds like fun."
"Not real fun, I was still alone, fake smile is the best thing I can do except crocodile tears."
"And your comedy and sarcastic side."
"Yeah...my personality rocks huh?"
"You rock."
"Thanks, so do you." I bit my lip as I looked to my beaten up blue converses, noticing my laces dangling into the snow. I leant down and tucked them into my shoe, shivering a little as a bit of snow went into my shoe.
"I'm so bored," Billie yawned.
"Well so-rry."
"What can we do?"
"Run around pretending to be police cars going nee naw nee naw," Billie quirked an eyebrow before I giggled.
"You're crazy."
"Well durr, being normal is so boring."
"And overrated."
"Just like Green Day."
"What?"
"Eh?"
"What did you say?"
"Just like being mean is gay."
"Er...okay," I burst out lauging as the gentle snow drift started to turn into a mini blizzard.
"What time is it?" Billie looked to his watch.
"Erm...11:15pm."
"45 minutes to Christmas."
"Cool."
"You know once I stayed up and I heard some jingle bells, I was about 6 and I was so happy."
"Awesome," He laughed.
"Well once I stayed up with my dad and my mom didn't know, and I wished upon a star that I could be a rockstar. I guess that star granted my wish." I looked up to the sky at all the twinkling stars, well those that weren't blocked by the dull grey cloud.
"My wishes never come true...though they are ridiculous."
"What are they?"
"I'm not allowed to say."
"Right..."
"Wanna go back to my place for a hot drink? I think Haushinka is getting lonely."
"Yeah sure," Billie Joe smiled as we stood up and walked down the sidewalk.
***
"You're evil...we could of took a cab to my place," I moaned, climbing up a set of stairs.
"Where are we going?" Everytime I asked a question Billie would ignore me and walk a bit faster.
"Okay, we're here," Billie said as he got to the top out of breath. I walked up and looked around, gasping at the beauty.
"Oh my god Billie, it's so beautiful." I stood looking out onto the bay and Berkeley, looking out to say the dazzling lights and the moon's reflection on the bay. Billie placed his arm around my shoulders and smiled.
"Merry Christmas Jenni," I looked up to Billie also smiling.
"Merry Christmas Billie."
***
*BEEP BEEP*
"Well beeping beep to you as well." I mumbled whacking my alarm clock and rolling over, making Haushinka fall off the bed and moan.
"Aw sorry baby, did I hurt you?" She looked up to me with her dazzling blue eyes and moaned again.
"Damn I wish I could speak cat."
"Do you always talk to yourself at home?" I jumped out of my skin to be greeted by Morgan's laughing face.
"Jeez, you know how to scare a girl."
"Merry Christmas," She laughed, squeezing me.
"Merry Christmas Morg," I laughed and managed to break free.
"What are you doing in my house?"
"Well I haven't left it..."
"Oh...what about your hotel apartment...your stuff..."
"It's kinda here...I was gonna ask you last night...but you never came back." I remembered how me and Billie just spent the night talking and climbing up that hill.
"No...but anyways, what was you gonna ask me?"
"Can I move in until my holiday has passed? It's only like another week."
"No."
"Oh...okay," She said miserably. "Can I-I know why?"
"I'm joking!"
"You're evil, you know that? Thank you."
"Yep, now lets go downstairs to see if Santa left us anything."
"He's not real, I don't think so anyways."
"Of course he's real, parents just say it's them to get the kids to like them more." Morgan nodded, she was so gullible.
***
"You know...you didn't have to get me anything, you got me moving in presents."
"Shuddap and open it!" Tré laughed, I rolled my eyes and opened it.
"YAY! Trousers."
"Now now, if you're gonna be an American, the correct term is 'pants'," I stuck out my tongue.
"Pants are what you wear to cover your genitals."
"Exactly the thing if you're going commando."
"Ugh Tré."
"Don't orgasm."
"Hey I invited you into my house, please be kind," I laughed as I added my 'pants' to the pile of presents I had recieved of Mike, Morgan and Billie who had all gotton me jewelry so I had enough to look like a chav.
After the gang spent 2 hours at my place it was midday and everyone returned to their families. Morgan was set to go back to her family for the day, Tré was with Stevie and Mike was with Brittney. I was the odd one, I was heading out to Billie's to see if he could cook or not.
Billie pulled upto into the driveway, noticing the 4 by 4 outside and got out of his seat, he quickly went around to my side and opened it up.
"Aw, how gentlemanly."
"Is that even a word?"
"Be quiet," I giggled as Billie stared at the car hoping it would go away.
"Who is it?"
"I think it's Adie."
"Well I think she was pissed when she said she would never see you again."
"Must of been if she's in there, shoulda changed the damn locks."
"Don't you want to talk to her? Don't you need to talk to her?"
"No, I wanted to change things, make things better, but she was a fucking stubborn jackass, so she can go fuck herself."
Billie opened the door - he was right, it was Adie, since no one else had the keys to his house.
"Hello?" Billie called out, looking in each room, opening the lounge door to be greeted with a warm hug from his youngest son Jakob.
"Hey kiddo," Billie smiled and ruffled his hair.
"Santa came this morning."
"Jakob he doesn't exist."
"He does too Joey!" I laughed under my breath and lifted my eyes from my shoes to Adrienne.
"Hey," She smiled at Billie, he smiled back.
"Hey," Her smile vanished when she saw me. I think she got the wrong idea.
"Billie can I talk to you? Out there?" She said pointing into the hall. Her and Billie walked out and closed the door, leaving me alone with two hyper kids.
"Billie, you blurt out you love me over the phone and then all of a suddern your fucking another girl?!"
"What?"
"That girl."
"She's a friend."
"A girlfriend? Please Billie you don't bring a girl into a house unless you love her."
"I don't...she's a close friend, honestly." There was a silence for awhile.
"Why did you tell me you would never see me again then show up in my house?"
"Because Billie...I want the house."
"What?!"
"I want it, it's my home."
"Fuck off Adie! There is no way in hell you're getting my home."
"This is the kid's home, don't you think about them? About the stress your putting them through!"
"What the fuck?! You're the one who was fucking around when we were married, you broke us apart, you stressed out the kids, so shut the fuck up."
I silently opened the door.
"Guys, could you keep it down, you sorta made Jakob cry with your yelling and I can't help him."
"Keep your filthy hands off my son, bitch."
"Excuse me?"
"Go and die."
"What have I done?"
"Nothing yet."
"You're crazy...I thought you were a really cool person, ya know, I actually looked up to you. I mean, you're beautiful and everything and then..then you go and commit adultery, ruining your ex husbands and your children's lives, so don't come into Billie's house and yell at him for ruining your marriage and don't you fucking yell at me," I managed to say without screaming. Adrienne shot me a really dirty look and stormed out of the house.
"Ding dong the witch has gone," Billie laughed.
I shook my head and walked into the living room.
"Hey don't get pissy with me!"
"You didn't really say anything."
"Daddy what's wrong?" Billie ignored at him, glaring at me.
"Shut the hell up, I'm at the worst peak in my life, my life is crumbling down and all you can say is 'you didn't really say anything', don't you think I have? Don't you think I've shouted enough?! I don't need this shit, I don't need her shouting, I don't need my sons crying and I don't need you going pissy on my ass."
"I guess I have to go then, Merry Christmas." I left the house, shutting the door, not slamming, and walked down the path and onto the street, noticing Adie sitting at her car steering wheel, crying her eyes out.
And then I felt it, guilt.
I had gotten involved and hurt someone's feelings...but didn't she deserve it? Either way, it still lost my friendship with Billie. But an alarm rang out in his head and I heard him call my name. I turned around, frowning, he embraced me and I sighed.
"I'm sorry, I was a lit fuse with Adie shouting at me like that, and I blew up on you."
"It's okay."
"No it's not...and you know what?"
"What?"
"I do need your pissyness Jenni. I need you, you lift my spirits, make me smile, which is hard for me to do at the moment." I pulled out of the hug and smiled.
"I'm always here for you, okay? I'm here to make you happy, well first I was here to be your photographer, but meh okay, I wanted to repair your marriage and when that was broken, I wanted to repair you."
"Well Miss Fix It, thank you."
"No thank you, because you're helping me as well, forgetting my horrible past and stupid life."
"I guess we help each other then ay?"
"Yeah...yeah we do."
***
I stared down at the plate which had just been served by Billie. I smiled knowing, I had to take back what I had said.
"Daaaad, Joey has more turkey then me."
"Have not, your plate's just bigger" Joey said, obviously lying.
"Oh okay, sorry Joey."
"Okay eat up."
"So Jenni, how long have you known our dad?" Jakob smiled innocently. I became nervous and looked at my fork.
"Uhm...like 3 weeks or so...maybe a month."
"That's cool, do you love him?"
"JAKOB!" Billie shouted, his eyes as wide as the dinner plate in front of him.
"What? Just wanted to know." I blushed, fiddling around with the food on my plate.
"I like him, as a close friend...not love..."
"Why?"
"Because that would be kinda weird...I dunno..."
"Why would it be weird"
"Jake eat your dinner and stop questioning the guest," Billie said.
I sighed a sigh of relief, but after dinner I was questioned more in the living room, only this time it was just me and little Jakob.
"Why would it be weird?"
"Because we're friends...you have them right? Tell me one of their names...one of the girl's names."
"I have one friend that's a girl, named Nina."
"And would you go out with her?"
"No yuck! She's my-"
"-Friend, exactly my point."
"Oh okay you win, but would you love him if you wasn't friends?" I laughed, and shook my head.
"If I wasn't friends with him, I would either hate him or not know him."
"Or love him."
"Whatever Jakob."
"Whatever," He said and laughed.
"Where's my dad?"
"Clearing the table."
"Why aren't you helping him?"
"Because I'm a guest"
"But you're a woman."
"Are you being sexist?!"
"What does that mean?"
"Like when you say, a woman should do this because she is a woman."
"Well yeah, then my dad says it all the time."
"And he called me sexist," I mumbled under my breath.
"What? He called you sexy? Then he loves you, and you should love him and you should get married and be my new mommy."
"Jakob," I sighed and looked at him shaking my head.
I kneeled down to his level and smiled.
"You have a mother."
"I don't like her much, she's always drinking that stuff daddy says never to drink till I'm older."
"Alcohol."
"Yeah alchyol."
"Alcohol."
"Alcohol."
"Yeah!"
"ALCOHOL!" Billie came running into the lounge, gasping.
"What the hell?" I poked my head above the couch so he could just see my eyes and fingertips.
"I may of taught him how to say alcohol."
"Daddy? Can I have some alcohol, you said when I'm older and I am, oh please! Please please please please-"
"No."
"Pleeeeease."
"No."
"Pleeeee-"
"Shut up!"
"DAAAAAAD" He cried, lying on the lounge floor, throwing a tantrum.
"I want alcohol!" Joey walked into the room and quirked an eyebrow at his 7 year old brother.
"Has he gone phsyco again?"
"Jakob Danger Armstrong, stop it or you'll get no dessert." Jakob bolted right up and wiped his tears.
"O-okay," He sniffled, dashing off somewhere.
"OoOoOo," I mocked laughing.
"Shut up, or you'll get none either."
