Choices, chapter 1
“Caution, police sign, you better not cross! Is the cop or am I the one that’s really dangerous? Sanitation expiration date-� I was suddenly cut off by the vibration in my pocket. I looked at the caller I.D. of my cell phone. It was my half-brother, Ryan.
“Hey.� He said, cheerfully.
“What’s up?� I asked, with “Warning� still playing silently in my brain.
“Do you wanna come hang out?� He asked. “They’re here.�
He didn’t even have to say who “they� were. I knew. They were my brother’s best friends from way back when. He had known Trè, formally Frank, since he was about 4. I was born fourteen years after Ryan, after his dad married my mom. I don’t think he liked me coming into the picture, but I guess he got over it. Ryan moved out when I was 10. I was home alone a lot. The first time I can remember seeing them on TV was when I was probably about 6 or 7 years old. Ryan was babysitting me and I remember looking back at him on the couch and he was smiling. Like, the biggest smile I’ve ever seen in my life. I remember that, by the end of the video I was dancing. I think it was “Longview.� I’m not sure.
“Umm yeah.� I said.
I had fallen in love with these three guys. They were 15 years my senior, but I still considered them my best friends and I was pretty sure they felt the same about me. No one knows I know them, though. No one would believe me, so it doesn’t really matter. I don’t really have any friends. I’m not a people person. Honestly, I’d rather kill a person than kill an animal. I don’t believe in God, or Jesus or who ever he is. I’m anti-Bush. I’m not a punk, or goth, or preppy, or gangster or anything. I don’t wear Converse, Vans, or fishnets. I don’t dress in all black. I don’t shop at expensive stores. I’m just me. Alana. And I’m best friends with Green Day. Which is fucking awesome if you ask me!
“Alana!� I heard someone squeal like a little girl. I knew it was Tre.
I almost turned around, but before I could I was knocked over by a hyperactive drummer. Tre and I had always been the closest. Probably because he’s the closest to my age. Okay, not really, but between Billie Joe, Mike and him, yeah. He gave me a sloppy ass kiss on the cheek.
“Eww! Nasty!� I yelled as I wiped off my cheek.
We both got up off the ground and I went over to Mike and Billie Joe and I hugged them both. They both kissed me on each cheek which was so cute!
“Umm, Alana, I gotta go talk to Brandi, so I’ll see you guys later.� Ryan said. Brandi was his girlfriend. She was not allowed to know that Ryan knew the members of Green Day. She’s like an overgrown teenie. It’s quite sad, actually. She freaks out every time they come on the tv. It used to be funny. Now it’s just dumb.
Later that night, Tre decided to raid Ryan’s liquor cabinet. Nope, he wasn’t home yet. Probably cuz Brandi wanted to come over here.
“Woo…� Tre started. He gulped. “I think…that this is a GREAT time to sing “D.U.I.� if I do say so myself!� His words were all jumbled and slurred. Then he fell onto the couch sending me and Billie Joe an inch into the air.
“Billie..if I was a guy, “ He paused. “Oh wait. I am!� He totally started cracking up which made all of us laugh.
I laid my head on Billie’s shoulder and closed my eyes.
“What’s wrong?� He whispered.
“Nothing. I’m tired.� I said and I walked up to the guest bedroom and fell asleep on the bed.
“Hey.� He said, cheerfully.
“What’s up?� I asked, with “Warning� still playing silently in my brain.
“Do you wanna come hang out?� He asked. “They’re here.�
He didn’t even have to say who “they� were. I knew. They were my brother’s best friends from way back when. He had known Trè, formally Frank, since he was about 4. I was born fourteen years after Ryan, after his dad married my mom. I don’t think he liked me coming into the picture, but I guess he got over it. Ryan moved out when I was 10. I was home alone a lot. The first time I can remember seeing them on TV was when I was probably about 6 or 7 years old. Ryan was babysitting me and I remember looking back at him on the couch and he was smiling. Like, the biggest smile I’ve ever seen in my life. I remember that, by the end of the video I was dancing. I think it was “Longview.� I’m not sure.
“Umm yeah.� I said.
I had fallen in love with these three guys. They were 15 years my senior, but I still considered them my best friends and I was pretty sure they felt the same about me. No one knows I know them, though. No one would believe me, so it doesn’t really matter. I don’t really have any friends. I’m not a people person. Honestly, I’d rather kill a person than kill an animal. I don’t believe in God, or Jesus or who ever he is. I’m anti-Bush. I’m not a punk, or goth, or preppy, or gangster or anything. I don’t wear Converse, Vans, or fishnets. I don’t dress in all black. I don’t shop at expensive stores. I’m just me. Alana. And I’m best friends with Green Day. Which is fucking awesome if you ask me!
“Alana!� I heard someone squeal like a little girl. I knew it was Tre.
I almost turned around, but before I could I was knocked over by a hyperactive drummer. Tre and I had always been the closest. Probably because he’s the closest to my age. Okay, not really, but between Billie Joe, Mike and him, yeah. He gave me a sloppy ass kiss on the cheek.
“Eww! Nasty!� I yelled as I wiped off my cheek.
We both got up off the ground and I went over to Mike and Billie Joe and I hugged them both. They both kissed me on each cheek which was so cute!
“Umm, Alana, I gotta go talk to Brandi, so I’ll see you guys later.� Ryan said. Brandi was his girlfriend. She was not allowed to know that Ryan knew the members of Green Day. She’s like an overgrown teenie. It’s quite sad, actually. She freaks out every time they come on the tv. It used to be funny. Now it’s just dumb.
Later that night, Tre decided to raid Ryan’s liquor cabinet. Nope, he wasn’t home yet. Probably cuz Brandi wanted to come over here.
“Woo…� Tre started. He gulped. “I think…that this is a GREAT time to sing “D.U.I.� if I do say so myself!� His words were all jumbled and slurred. Then he fell onto the couch sending me and Billie Joe an inch into the air.
“Billie..if I was a guy, “ He paused. “Oh wait. I am!� He totally started cracking up which made all of us laugh.
I laid my head on Billie’s shoulder and closed my eyes.
“What’s wrong?� He whispered.
“Nothing. I’m tired.� I said and I walked up to the guest bedroom and fell asleep on the bed.
