Worlds Apart, chapter 9
When Ellen had finished interrogating me in the kitchen, we carried the coffee back through to the lounge area to find Billie Joe fast asleep on the couch, one arm and one leg dangling off the side. He looked so beautiful sleeping it made my stomach lurch.
Ellen grinned,
“Wow, how long were we in there?� she asked, looking back towards the kitchen, “We aren’t very good hosts.�
I didn’t answer. I was too busy staring at him, longingly. She jokingly waved a hand in front of my face. I blinked and smiled guiltily. She giggled,
“You really have got it bad� she said, “So much worse than you’re letting on. He does look cute though. Who’d have thought?�
We turned the TV down quiet and sat on the bed to watch it. We decided there wasn’t much point in waking him, if Mike and Tre were zonked out as well. It made me think about what Billie Joe said the night I met him. That they really weren’t as hardcore as I thought.
Billie Joe didn’t stir for an hour, when he rolled over and started to slide off the couch. He woke with a start.
“Woah…� he mumbled, groggily, “Must’ve dropped off for a minute�
“Try an hour� I smiled, as he sat up, rubbing his eyes and messing up his eyeliner.
“I was pretty fucked� he yawned, stretching, “Man, I’m starving. I’m gonna go wake Tre and Mike, ok?�
“Yeah� Ellen and I said in unison.
“We’ll come and call on you in ten�
We ended up in a pizza place in Soho, with all the Green Day crew and, surprisingly, nobody in there recognized the guys. They do a good job of blending in when they want to. I sat next to Billie Joe, opposite Tre who was looking a lot more fresh-faced than he had on TV that morning. Well, as fresh faced as he could manage with the bruise on his forehead.
“Are you sure you feel ok?� I asked Tre, “You hit the table pretty hard. You knocked yourself out completely for a couple of minutes�
“I’m ok� he said, “I mean, my vision was a little blurred this morning but I think that’s got something to do with all the fucking tequila I had last night. Jeez. Apparently I had fun though so…it wasn’t all in vein.�
Mike laughed,
“I’m laying off that stuff tonight� he said, “I feel like my body is crying out for a sober night. I feel like I’ve been drunk for like two months�
“We pretty much have been� said Tre, “Apart from when BJ’s kids were here and we had to be responsible�
“I’d have liked to have seen that� I said, as my mobile started ringing.
I answered it. It was Tim, the lead singer of Dead Like Jack. They were the headline band playing at mine and Ben’s party.
“I have a problem� he said,
“What, why?�
“We can’t play on Thursday�
“What?! Why not? You’re headlining it, you can’t back out now!�
“Because on Friday night we’re doing that Battle of the Bands in Durham and I’ve just found out that there are going to be record company scouts there. We need Thursday night to practise�
“What the fuck? What better way to practise than doing a gig?�
“I mean we need to fine tune everything and sort out what we’re going to play. Thursday night’s the only time we can all get together. I’m sorry Sophie. You’re going to have to get a replacement. We just…we have more important commitments�
“It’s my birthday� I said, angrily. “You’re supposed to be my friend. And now none of you guys are even coming, and you’re talking about your other important commitments like you’re the fucking Rolling Stones.�
Luckily the others were engrossed in conversation and so weren’t witnessing my rant. All apart from Billie Joe who was looking at me with increasing interest as I got more worked up.
“Look Tim, if you’re out…we’re all out. My band and Ben’s only have about half an hour of material each. And you’re the only ones with a decent PA system�
“I’m sorry but…that’s not really my problem�
“Well, fuck you then, if you’re gonna have that attitude� I said.
“Fine� said Tim, defiantly.
I hung up and put my head in my hands. Billie Joe put his hand on my knee.
“You alright?� he asked,
I groaned in frustration, and relayed the phone conversation to him. He shook his head.
“What a selfish dick� he said, “He could at least have helped you solve all the problems he’s causing�
“I don’t think they’re solvable� I said, miserably, “We’ve got loads of people coming, and its going to suck�
“Don’t worry� he said, reassuringly, “Something will work out. Eat your pizza, it’ll make you feel better�
And then he winked at me and I felt a little better already. Moments later, it was Billie’s mobile that was ringing. I began to wonder if we were going to get to talk to each other at all. I picked at my food and thought about how I was going to break the news about the party to Ben while Billie answered his call.
“Hey Joey….what’s up, man?�
I smiled. I kept forgetting he was a dad.
“….Aaah, dude. I’m sorry.� He was saying, “Don’t cry, it’s not your fault…has Mommy buried him?…Oh, she flushed him down the toilet…�
I grinned. I hoped they were talking about a goldfish.
“Look, don’t worry. All drains lead to the ocean, remember?…And I’ll be home soon and we’ll go and get another one. Look, I’m eating dinner right now but I’ll call you back in one hour and we’ll talk properly., ok?….I love you too. Bye�
He hung up just as my heart was about to melt completely.
“My son� he explained, “The goldfish died. He’s pissed at Adrienne because she flushed it down the toilet instead of giving him a proper burial�
“Aaah.� I said, “I always used to make my dad bury all my pets�
“It’s a Dad Job� he said, “I feel bad I’m not there�
I smiled,
“Eat your pizza� I said, “It’ll help you feel better�
Back at the hotel, we hung out in the guys suite, played video games and goofed around for a while. I was so tired after the night before I was having trouble keeping my eyes open. I sat on the couch between Ellen and Tre and felt myself dropping off to sleep. I tried to stay awake, but it just wasn’t happening. I must have fallen asleep eventually because I woke up to find myself spread out on the couch with Billie Joe perched on the end playing Mario Kart.
“Hey Sleepy� he said, his eyes darting from the TV and back again for a fraction of a second.
“Where is everybody?�
“Gone down to the bar to play pool. I said I’d stay and let you have a nap while I called Joey and Jake…then I got caught up in this. I wish they didn’t make these games so fucking addictive�
I smiled,
“How’s the dead fish situation?� I asked, sitting up and stretching.
“Better� he said, “They’re already thinking up names for his replacement�
“How old are they, anyway?� I asked him.
“Umm. Joey’s eight and Jake’s five� he replied.
He pressed pause on the game.
“Wanna see pictures?�
I nodded.
He took out his wallet and flipped it open, then pulled out a handful of pictures and passed them to me. He scooted closer to me as I looked at them. One of Joey and Jakob, two of them individually, and one of them with Billie Joe and Adrienne. They all looked so happy in that picture, it made me wonder what went wrong.
“Joey looks like you� I commented, “He has your eyes�
“I know� he smiled, “Jakob looks more like Adie�
I nodded, comparing them.
“D’you think you guys will ever work it out?� I asked softly.
He didn’t say anything as I passed the pictures back. I worried that I had crossed the line. I had felt like we were getting close enough to ask personal questions, but maybe I had been wrong. I was about to apologize when he spoke.
“I’d like to say yes� he said, slowly, “…For the boys’ sakes. Especially Joey. He’s old enough for it to be hard on him. But…I can’t see it ever happening. The passion went…we argued all the time…it just wasn’t a happy environment to live in. We get on much better now�
I nodded,
“I think me and Tom will be like that� I said, “We’re getting on better already�
“No chance of a reunion?�
I shook my head,
“I still care about him. So much. But it’s just…not in the same way anymore�
Billie nodded. I could tell he knew exactly what I meant, and it was a huge comfort. None of my other friends had had relationships like that. They were all really supportive, but I knew they didn’t really understand exactly how I was feeling.
“You’ll be fine, y’know� he said, “I mean…you’re still young. You’ve got plenty of time to find your soul mate�
I bit my lip and nodded, dragging my eyes away from his. I couldn’t tell him I was feeling more and more like I’d already found it.
“Come on� I said, standing up, “I think I should go and show off my pool skills.…and make sure Tre hasn’t found any more tequila�
Ellen grinned,
“Wow, how long were we in there?� she asked, looking back towards the kitchen, “We aren’t very good hosts.�
I didn’t answer. I was too busy staring at him, longingly. She jokingly waved a hand in front of my face. I blinked and smiled guiltily. She giggled,
“You really have got it bad� she said, “So much worse than you’re letting on. He does look cute though. Who’d have thought?�
We turned the TV down quiet and sat on the bed to watch it. We decided there wasn’t much point in waking him, if Mike and Tre were zonked out as well. It made me think about what Billie Joe said the night I met him. That they really weren’t as hardcore as I thought.
Billie Joe didn’t stir for an hour, when he rolled over and started to slide off the couch. He woke with a start.
“Woah…� he mumbled, groggily, “Must’ve dropped off for a minute�
“Try an hour� I smiled, as he sat up, rubbing his eyes and messing up his eyeliner.
“I was pretty fucked� he yawned, stretching, “Man, I’m starving. I’m gonna go wake Tre and Mike, ok?�
“Yeah� Ellen and I said in unison.
“We’ll come and call on you in ten�
We ended up in a pizza place in Soho, with all the Green Day crew and, surprisingly, nobody in there recognized the guys. They do a good job of blending in when they want to. I sat next to Billie Joe, opposite Tre who was looking a lot more fresh-faced than he had on TV that morning. Well, as fresh faced as he could manage with the bruise on his forehead.
“Are you sure you feel ok?� I asked Tre, “You hit the table pretty hard. You knocked yourself out completely for a couple of minutes�
“I’m ok� he said, “I mean, my vision was a little blurred this morning but I think that’s got something to do with all the fucking tequila I had last night. Jeez. Apparently I had fun though so…it wasn’t all in vein.�
Mike laughed,
“I’m laying off that stuff tonight� he said, “I feel like my body is crying out for a sober night. I feel like I’ve been drunk for like two months�
“We pretty much have been� said Tre, “Apart from when BJ’s kids were here and we had to be responsible�
“I’d have liked to have seen that� I said, as my mobile started ringing.
I answered it. It was Tim, the lead singer of Dead Like Jack. They were the headline band playing at mine and Ben’s party.
“I have a problem� he said,
“What, why?�
“We can’t play on Thursday�
“What?! Why not? You’re headlining it, you can’t back out now!�
“Because on Friday night we’re doing that Battle of the Bands in Durham and I’ve just found out that there are going to be record company scouts there. We need Thursday night to practise�
“What the fuck? What better way to practise than doing a gig?�
“I mean we need to fine tune everything and sort out what we’re going to play. Thursday night’s the only time we can all get together. I’m sorry Sophie. You’re going to have to get a replacement. We just…we have more important commitments�
“It’s my birthday� I said, angrily. “You’re supposed to be my friend. And now none of you guys are even coming, and you’re talking about your other important commitments like you’re the fucking Rolling Stones.�
Luckily the others were engrossed in conversation and so weren’t witnessing my rant. All apart from Billie Joe who was looking at me with increasing interest as I got more worked up.
“Look Tim, if you’re out…we’re all out. My band and Ben’s only have about half an hour of material each. And you’re the only ones with a decent PA system�
“I’m sorry but…that’s not really my problem�
“Well, fuck you then, if you’re gonna have that attitude� I said.
“Fine� said Tim, defiantly.
I hung up and put my head in my hands. Billie Joe put his hand on my knee.
“You alright?� he asked,
I groaned in frustration, and relayed the phone conversation to him. He shook his head.
“What a selfish dick� he said, “He could at least have helped you solve all the problems he’s causing�
“I don’t think they’re solvable� I said, miserably, “We’ve got loads of people coming, and its going to suck�
“Don’t worry� he said, reassuringly, “Something will work out. Eat your pizza, it’ll make you feel better�
And then he winked at me and I felt a little better already. Moments later, it was Billie’s mobile that was ringing. I began to wonder if we were going to get to talk to each other at all. I picked at my food and thought about how I was going to break the news about the party to Ben while Billie answered his call.
“Hey Joey….what’s up, man?�
I smiled. I kept forgetting he was a dad.
“….Aaah, dude. I’m sorry.� He was saying, “Don’t cry, it’s not your fault…has Mommy buried him?…Oh, she flushed him down the toilet…�
I grinned. I hoped they were talking about a goldfish.
“Look, don’t worry. All drains lead to the ocean, remember?…And I’ll be home soon and we’ll go and get another one. Look, I’m eating dinner right now but I’ll call you back in one hour and we’ll talk properly., ok?….I love you too. Bye�
He hung up just as my heart was about to melt completely.
“My son� he explained, “The goldfish died. He’s pissed at Adrienne because she flushed it down the toilet instead of giving him a proper burial�
“Aaah.� I said, “I always used to make my dad bury all my pets�
“It’s a Dad Job� he said, “I feel bad I’m not there�
I smiled,
“Eat your pizza� I said, “It’ll help you feel better�
Back at the hotel, we hung out in the guys suite, played video games and goofed around for a while. I was so tired after the night before I was having trouble keeping my eyes open. I sat on the couch between Ellen and Tre and felt myself dropping off to sleep. I tried to stay awake, but it just wasn’t happening. I must have fallen asleep eventually because I woke up to find myself spread out on the couch with Billie Joe perched on the end playing Mario Kart.
“Hey Sleepy� he said, his eyes darting from the TV and back again for a fraction of a second.
“Where is everybody?�
“Gone down to the bar to play pool. I said I’d stay and let you have a nap while I called Joey and Jake…then I got caught up in this. I wish they didn’t make these games so fucking addictive�
I smiled,
“How’s the dead fish situation?� I asked, sitting up and stretching.
“Better� he said, “They’re already thinking up names for his replacement�
“How old are they, anyway?� I asked him.
“Umm. Joey’s eight and Jake’s five� he replied.
He pressed pause on the game.
“Wanna see pictures?�
I nodded.
He took out his wallet and flipped it open, then pulled out a handful of pictures and passed them to me. He scooted closer to me as I looked at them. One of Joey and Jakob, two of them individually, and one of them with Billie Joe and Adrienne. They all looked so happy in that picture, it made me wonder what went wrong.
“Joey looks like you� I commented, “He has your eyes�
“I know� he smiled, “Jakob looks more like Adie�
I nodded, comparing them.
“D’you think you guys will ever work it out?� I asked softly.
He didn’t say anything as I passed the pictures back. I worried that I had crossed the line. I had felt like we were getting close enough to ask personal questions, but maybe I had been wrong. I was about to apologize when he spoke.
“I’d like to say yes� he said, slowly, “…For the boys’ sakes. Especially Joey. He’s old enough for it to be hard on him. But…I can’t see it ever happening. The passion went…we argued all the time…it just wasn’t a happy environment to live in. We get on much better now�
I nodded,
“I think me and Tom will be like that� I said, “We’re getting on better already�
“No chance of a reunion?�
I shook my head,
“I still care about him. So much. But it’s just…not in the same way anymore�
Billie nodded. I could tell he knew exactly what I meant, and it was a huge comfort. None of my other friends had had relationships like that. They were all really supportive, but I knew they didn’t really understand exactly how I was feeling.
“You’ll be fine, y’know� he said, “I mean…you’re still young. You’ve got plenty of time to find your soul mate�
I bit my lip and nodded, dragging my eyes away from his. I couldn’t tell him I was feeling more and more like I’d already found it.
“Come on� I said, standing up, “I think I should go and show off my pool skills.…and make sure Tre hasn’t found any more tequila�
