Worlds Apart, chapter 8
I can’t remember what time Ellen and I got to bed. I can’t remember how we got to bed. But we must have managed it somehow because we woke up next to each other in one of the huge double beds in our suite the next morning. Impressively, I didn’t have that much of a hangover, but Ellen felt pretty rough.
“Put Top of the Pops on� she mumbled from under the duvet, “I wanna see if they look as bad as I feel�
“Good idea� I said, yawning. I couldn’t believe the guys would have been at the studio for eight thirty. I turned on the TV, to see a whiny indie band playing.
“Ummmgh� mumbled Ellen, “This is making my headache worse�
I laughed and sleepily wandered into the en suite bathroom to take a shower. As I got in I heard Fearne Cotton’s voice drifting through from the bedroom and chuckled to myself, thinking of Tre. Once I had been standing up for a minute or two my head started hurting. I guess my alcohol tolerance hadn’t improved as much as I’d thought. I got out of the shower just in time.
“…the one and only, punk rock royalty….Green Day!� Fearne was babbling, looking just as excited as she had been when introducing Britney Spears a couple of minutes earlier.
“Yeah� I smiled, sitting down on the edge of the bed as Ellen’s head appeared from under the bedclothes for the first time.
The camera panned over to the guys as they played the opening chords of Holiday. Billie Joe was leaning over his guitar, belting out his power chords all decked out in his eyeliner and his shirt and tie. He looked great. I groaned inwardly. Ellen noticed.
“So…you still fancy him to bits then?� she smirked.
I bit my lip and nodded.
“Don’t worry. It’s hard not to. The man is stunning. It doesn’t mean anything. Oh God, look at Tre�
He looked pretty fucked. The look of concentration on his face was hilarious, and it was impossible to tell if it was due to concentrating on the performance or on keeping down the vomit. And what was that on his forehead? Oh God. Up until then I had forgotten about his accident with the drinks table. I doubt he had remembered it himself.
At the end of the performance, Fearne joined them on stage
“Wow, that was fantastic guys. You’ve just finished your tour, haven’t you, how was it?�
She pointed the mike at Billie Joe.
“It was awesome� he said simply, “We’ve had a great time�
“So are you going back to America now?�
“Yeah, back to California in a week’s time. We’re taking a coupla months off then coming back for the festivals�
“Well, we’ll look forward to that, Green Day everyone!�
Ellen and I cheered. Then we watched Tre turn even whiter and run off the stage.
Once we were ready, we went out into the city to do some shopping. We barely ever come to London, so we thought we might as well make the most of it while we were there. As we walked round Camden market I told her about what Mike said about Billie Joe the night before.
“You really like him…don’t you?� Ellen asked me
I sighed, then nodded.
“I do,� I said, “I mean, I like all of them. They’re such nice guys. And I’m thrilled they want to be friends with me…not just cause of who they are but cause…we have a lot of fun together, we get on well.�
I looked down at my feet for a moment. Ellen didn’t say anything. I kicked at a discarded drinks can in frustration, then carried on.
“But I just can’t stop thinking about what happened with Billie Joe. I just…. I think…I find him too attractive to be friends with him, it’s a distraction. Every time he touches me I go all weak and my insides feel kind of mushy�
She grinned,
“I noticed� she said, “But there’s nothing you can do about that, and you could get over it. I mean…you are so lucky to be hanging out with Green Day. Think how many people all over the world would love to do that. You can’t just chuck it away because of a crush�
I knew she was right. She usually is, and she knows it.
“So…cheer up� she said taking my hand and swinging it, “Life’s good. It’s your 21st next week and your party is going to rock. It’s summer and the sun is shining. And in 3 months it will still be shining on you because you’ll be in San Francisco, you bitch�
I WAS excited about that. 8 months in San Francisco on an internship with a design company. I’d had it planned so long I’d sort of stopped thinking about it, but when Ellen brought it up I realized it wasn’t that far away anymore. And right now I needed a fresh start more than ever.
I cheered up completely when we found the dress for my party. I loved it the moment I set eyes on it and knew I had to have it. And I’m not normally a dress girl, so that’s a big statement from me. I tried it on and Ellen’s jaw dropped.
“You look amazing� she said, “It’s perfect�
I grinned.
“There’s just one problem� she continued.
“What?�
“Tom is going to die when he sees you in that dress. We’re trying to put him off you, remember?�
I sighed, staring at my reflection. Tom always loved it when I got all dressed up. He told me once it reminded him how beautiful I was, cause when he saw me in jeans and chucks every day he didn’t think about it. I guess I should have seen that as a sign things weren’t right. He was supposed to think I was beautiful in jeans and chucks even if he saw me in them every day for fifty years…right?
Back at the hotel, the guys were being interviewed by journalists in their room. We checked back a few times, but there seemed to be a steady stream of reporters coming and going all afternoon so we just sat on the bed in our room reading magazines and chatting. It was nice, actually. At about five, there was a knock on our door.
“Come in!� we called at the same time.
I looked up as Billie Joe’s head poked round the door. He was still wearing eyeliner but had changed from his stage gear into his Explosion T-shirt and a leather jacket. He looked great.
“Hi girls� he smiled.
“Hi� we greeted him. He came into the room and closed the door, then collapsed onto the couch and ran a hand through his messy hair.
“We watched you this morning� I said, “You did a good job of looking sober�
“You watched?� he smiled, “Oh...man. We felt like shit…Tre ran off at the end to hurl, could you tell?�
“Yeah� we answered together.
He laughed,
“Oh well� he smiled, “He was so confused when he woke up with that bump on his head this morning. He has no memory of getting it whatsoever. Mike doesn’t remember him getting it either. It took me a few minutes myself…�
“Me too� said Ellen, “Ugh. I felt rough this morning�
“At least we didn’t have to get up at stupid-o-clock� I said, “What have you guys been doing all day?�
“Interviews and stuff� said Billie Joe, “Pretty boring. Well, some of it was ok. We’re finished for the day now. What have you guys been up to?�
“Shopping� I replied,
“Anything good?� he asked,
“Sophie got an awesome dress for her party�
“What party?�
I told him about mine and Ben’s birthdays.
“Cool� he smiled, “So this is your first gig with the new band?�
“Yeah…I’m kinda nervous but…excited too. They’re really good and I’m getting on with them really well, so…�
“Great� said Billie Joe, “So where’s this dress?�
“I’m not putting it on now�
“Ohhh, go on�
“Maybe later� I smiled, even though I had no intention of doing a fashion show for the guys.
“Ok� he smiled back. He knew I had no intention of it either. “So look, d’you guys wanna go and get some food soon, I’m starving�
“Sure� I said, and Ellen nodded.
“Cool. I’ll wait for Mike and Tre to wake up, then we’ll go�
“They’re asleep?� said Ellen, incredulously.
“Hey, it was a pretty heavy night last night and we had to be up early. We aren’t all lazy students, you know�
“Hah� smiled Ellen, “Don’t use that old jibe with us. You have no idea how stressful our lives are�
“Right…�he grinned, “Stressful. And now you have, what, three months off to do nothing?�
“Yeah, that is pretty cool� said Ellen, “But this is our last year. In September we have to actually get jobs. I’m going to miss being a student�
“Me too� I said, still flicking through my magazine.
“I’m going to miss you more� Ellen said sadly,
“Why?� asked Billie Joe, “Its not like she’s leaving the country�
He lifted his feet up onto the couch and lay out with his head resting on the armrest.
“Umm…yes she is� said Ellen, looking confused, “She’s going to San Francisco�
Billie Joe lifted his head and looked at me.
“What?�
“I’m moving to San Francisco…. in September� I said, “I have this internship for 8 months�
“Why didn’t you tell me?� he asked, frowning.
“…It sorta never came up…was I supposed to tell you?�
My stomach fluttered when I saw the interest in his eyes. I loved that he was interested in me.
“No� he said, resting his head back down again, “I just…thought you’d have told me…I mean, cause…we’re from the area and all�
“Oh. Well, I’m telling you now. I’m going in September. And I’m really looking forward to it�
“Awesome� he said, smiling slightly and looking up at the ceiling.
“Hey� said Ellen, grabbing my arm, “I think we should make some coffee�
She pulled me into the kitchen.
“Soph� she whispered, “He’s totally not planning on this being the last time you guys meet. Did you see the look on his face? He’s obviously considering the fact you’re both going to be living in California�
“Yeah, cause he’s never there� I replied, rolling my eyes, “Ellen, don’t read too much into this, ok? Even if he did like me – and that’s highly unlikely – but even if he did, nothing could happen. We’re from completely different worlds�
“That is such a cliché, it makes me want to puke.�
“But it’s true! He’s a millionaire rock star, I’m an art student with a rapidly growing overdraft. My home is here, his is 2000 miles in that direction�
My arm flailed vaguely towards the window. I had no idea which direction it was in. I continued,
“I’d see him for what, two minutes a year? And let’s not forget the not-so-minor issues of his two children…oh and his wife. Let’s not forget her either�
“They aren’t together anymore�
“But she’s still…there. They’re still married, for a start. Besides, he’s too old for me�
“You sound like you’re trying to convince yourself of that� said Ellen.
I sighed in frustration as I poured out three cups of coffee.
“You…always know me,� I said softly.
“I know� she said, smiling, “It’s like a gift�
“Put Top of the Pops on� she mumbled from under the duvet, “I wanna see if they look as bad as I feel�
“Good idea� I said, yawning. I couldn’t believe the guys would have been at the studio for eight thirty. I turned on the TV, to see a whiny indie band playing.
“Ummmgh� mumbled Ellen, “This is making my headache worse�
I laughed and sleepily wandered into the en suite bathroom to take a shower. As I got in I heard Fearne Cotton’s voice drifting through from the bedroom and chuckled to myself, thinking of Tre. Once I had been standing up for a minute or two my head started hurting. I guess my alcohol tolerance hadn’t improved as much as I’d thought. I got out of the shower just in time.
“…the one and only, punk rock royalty….Green Day!� Fearne was babbling, looking just as excited as she had been when introducing Britney Spears a couple of minutes earlier.
“Yeah� I smiled, sitting down on the edge of the bed as Ellen’s head appeared from under the bedclothes for the first time.
The camera panned over to the guys as they played the opening chords of Holiday. Billie Joe was leaning over his guitar, belting out his power chords all decked out in his eyeliner and his shirt and tie. He looked great. I groaned inwardly. Ellen noticed.
“So…you still fancy him to bits then?� she smirked.
I bit my lip and nodded.
“Don’t worry. It’s hard not to. The man is stunning. It doesn’t mean anything. Oh God, look at Tre�
He looked pretty fucked. The look of concentration on his face was hilarious, and it was impossible to tell if it was due to concentrating on the performance or on keeping down the vomit. And what was that on his forehead? Oh God. Up until then I had forgotten about his accident with the drinks table. I doubt he had remembered it himself.
At the end of the performance, Fearne joined them on stage
“Wow, that was fantastic guys. You’ve just finished your tour, haven’t you, how was it?�
She pointed the mike at Billie Joe.
“It was awesome� he said simply, “We’ve had a great time�
“So are you going back to America now?�
“Yeah, back to California in a week’s time. We’re taking a coupla months off then coming back for the festivals�
“Well, we’ll look forward to that, Green Day everyone!�
Ellen and I cheered. Then we watched Tre turn even whiter and run off the stage.
Once we were ready, we went out into the city to do some shopping. We barely ever come to London, so we thought we might as well make the most of it while we were there. As we walked round Camden market I told her about what Mike said about Billie Joe the night before.
“You really like him…don’t you?� Ellen asked me
I sighed, then nodded.
“I do,� I said, “I mean, I like all of them. They’re such nice guys. And I’m thrilled they want to be friends with me…not just cause of who they are but cause…we have a lot of fun together, we get on well.�
I looked down at my feet for a moment. Ellen didn’t say anything. I kicked at a discarded drinks can in frustration, then carried on.
“But I just can’t stop thinking about what happened with Billie Joe. I just…. I think…I find him too attractive to be friends with him, it’s a distraction. Every time he touches me I go all weak and my insides feel kind of mushy�
She grinned,
“I noticed� she said, “But there’s nothing you can do about that, and you could get over it. I mean…you are so lucky to be hanging out with Green Day. Think how many people all over the world would love to do that. You can’t just chuck it away because of a crush�
I knew she was right. She usually is, and she knows it.
“So…cheer up� she said taking my hand and swinging it, “Life’s good. It’s your 21st next week and your party is going to rock. It’s summer and the sun is shining. And in 3 months it will still be shining on you because you’ll be in San Francisco, you bitch�
I WAS excited about that. 8 months in San Francisco on an internship with a design company. I’d had it planned so long I’d sort of stopped thinking about it, but when Ellen brought it up I realized it wasn’t that far away anymore. And right now I needed a fresh start more than ever.
I cheered up completely when we found the dress for my party. I loved it the moment I set eyes on it and knew I had to have it. And I’m not normally a dress girl, so that’s a big statement from me. I tried it on and Ellen’s jaw dropped.
“You look amazing� she said, “It’s perfect�
I grinned.
“There’s just one problem� she continued.
“What?�
“Tom is going to die when he sees you in that dress. We’re trying to put him off you, remember?�
I sighed, staring at my reflection. Tom always loved it when I got all dressed up. He told me once it reminded him how beautiful I was, cause when he saw me in jeans and chucks every day he didn’t think about it. I guess I should have seen that as a sign things weren’t right. He was supposed to think I was beautiful in jeans and chucks even if he saw me in them every day for fifty years…right?
Back at the hotel, the guys were being interviewed by journalists in their room. We checked back a few times, but there seemed to be a steady stream of reporters coming and going all afternoon so we just sat on the bed in our room reading magazines and chatting. It was nice, actually. At about five, there was a knock on our door.
“Come in!� we called at the same time.
I looked up as Billie Joe’s head poked round the door. He was still wearing eyeliner but had changed from his stage gear into his Explosion T-shirt and a leather jacket. He looked great.
“Hi girls� he smiled.
“Hi� we greeted him. He came into the room and closed the door, then collapsed onto the couch and ran a hand through his messy hair.
“We watched you this morning� I said, “You did a good job of looking sober�
“You watched?� he smiled, “Oh...man. We felt like shit…Tre ran off at the end to hurl, could you tell?�
“Yeah� we answered together.
He laughed,
“Oh well� he smiled, “He was so confused when he woke up with that bump on his head this morning. He has no memory of getting it whatsoever. Mike doesn’t remember him getting it either. It took me a few minutes myself…�
“Me too� said Ellen, “Ugh. I felt rough this morning�
“At least we didn’t have to get up at stupid-o-clock� I said, “What have you guys been doing all day?�
“Interviews and stuff� said Billie Joe, “Pretty boring. Well, some of it was ok. We’re finished for the day now. What have you guys been up to?�
“Shopping� I replied,
“Anything good?� he asked,
“Sophie got an awesome dress for her party�
“What party?�
I told him about mine and Ben’s birthdays.
“Cool� he smiled, “So this is your first gig with the new band?�
“Yeah…I’m kinda nervous but…excited too. They’re really good and I’m getting on with them really well, so…�
“Great� said Billie Joe, “So where’s this dress?�
“I’m not putting it on now�
“Ohhh, go on�
“Maybe later� I smiled, even though I had no intention of doing a fashion show for the guys.
“Ok� he smiled back. He knew I had no intention of it either. “So look, d’you guys wanna go and get some food soon, I’m starving�
“Sure� I said, and Ellen nodded.
“Cool. I’ll wait for Mike and Tre to wake up, then we’ll go�
“They’re asleep?� said Ellen, incredulously.
“Hey, it was a pretty heavy night last night and we had to be up early. We aren’t all lazy students, you know�
“Hah� smiled Ellen, “Don’t use that old jibe with us. You have no idea how stressful our lives are�
“Right…�he grinned, “Stressful. And now you have, what, three months off to do nothing?�
“Yeah, that is pretty cool� said Ellen, “But this is our last year. In September we have to actually get jobs. I’m going to miss being a student�
“Me too� I said, still flicking through my magazine.
“I’m going to miss you more� Ellen said sadly,
“Why?� asked Billie Joe, “Its not like she’s leaving the country�
He lifted his feet up onto the couch and lay out with his head resting on the armrest.
“Umm…yes she is� said Ellen, looking confused, “She’s going to San Francisco�
Billie Joe lifted his head and looked at me.
“What?�
“I’m moving to San Francisco…. in September� I said, “I have this internship for 8 months�
“Why didn’t you tell me?� he asked, frowning.
“…It sorta never came up…was I supposed to tell you?�
My stomach fluttered when I saw the interest in his eyes. I loved that he was interested in me.
“No� he said, resting his head back down again, “I just…thought you’d have told me…I mean, cause…we’re from the area and all�
“Oh. Well, I’m telling you now. I’m going in September. And I’m really looking forward to it�
“Awesome� he said, smiling slightly and looking up at the ceiling.
“Hey� said Ellen, grabbing my arm, “I think we should make some coffee�
She pulled me into the kitchen.
“Soph� she whispered, “He’s totally not planning on this being the last time you guys meet. Did you see the look on his face? He’s obviously considering the fact you’re both going to be living in California�
“Yeah, cause he’s never there� I replied, rolling my eyes, “Ellen, don’t read too much into this, ok? Even if he did like me – and that’s highly unlikely – but even if he did, nothing could happen. We’re from completely different worlds�
“That is such a cliché, it makes me want to puke.�
“But it’s true! He’s a millionaire rock star, I’m an art student with a rapidly growing overdraft. My home is here, his is 2000 miles in that direction�
My arm flailed vaguely towards the window. I had no idea which direction it was in. I continued,
“I’d see him for what, two minutes a year? And let’s not forget the not-so-minor issues of his two children…oh and his wife. Let’s not forget her either�
“They aren’t together anymore�
“But she’s still…there. They’re still married, for a start. Besides, he’s too old for me�
“You sound like you’re trying to convince yourself of that� said Ellen.
I sighed in frustration as I poured out three cups of coffee.
“You…always know me,� I said softly.
“I know� she said, smiling, “It’s like a gift�
