Welcome To Paradise, chapter 7
"Rai." Billie Joe whispered. "Rai, honey, wake up."
"Hmm?" replied Rai.
"Go to bed, sweetie."
"Mm... okay." Rai said as she got up from the couch and walked upstairs to their room.
Billie walked over to the other couch and bent down so he was eyelevel with a sleeping JoAnna.
"Jo. Jo, wake up."
"What?" JoAnna whispered.
"Jo, you were asleep. Want me to take you home?"
"No, no it's okay." she replied while sitting up and rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"No Jo, really. I don't want you getting in an accident. Let me take you home."
"Billie, I'm fine." she said while getting up.
"Jo, please. I'd feel much better if I took you home."
"Ugh... fine!"
"Thank you. Now give me your keys."
JoAnna sighed and pulled the keys out of her purse that was sitting in the coffee table.
"Good. Now get your ass in the car." replied Billie with a smile.
***
JoAnna was in the passenger seat of her Lexus while Billie was driving. She had her head resting in her hand, leaning on the door.
"Hun, you okay?" asked Billie, glancing at her.
"Yea..." she replied, not sounding that convincing.
"Spill it."
JoAnna sighed. "I really don't feel like talking about it."
"Who's the asshole?" Billie asked, ignoring her last statement.
JoAnna looked at him. "Your best friend."
Billie quirked an eyebrow. "What happened? You guys were okay at the wedding."
"Yea, so I thought."
"Well... what happened?" Billie asked again.
"He.. he doesn't want a relationship. Well, I understand why, I mean the age, and the media. I think."
Billie nodded. "Jo, don't worry about it. Seriously, everything will be okay. If things don't work out with Mike, you'll find someone else. Trust me... guys would have to be dillusional not to like you." said Billie, sincerely.
JoAnna smiled. "Thanks, Billie."
"No problem, babe." he responded.
They pulled into her driveway and Billie parked the car.
"Thanks. For everything." said JoAnna.
"It was nothing. Really." he replied.
JoAnna and Billie stepped out of the vehicle.
"Wait. How are you gonna get home?"
"Oh I was just gonna call a cab."
"Billie, don't be stupid. Take my car. I'll pick it up tomorrow."
"Well, that's nice of you, but the taxi's already on it's way."
"Oh...okay, well thanks again."
"No problem... again." he smiled.
***
Rai, Billie Joe, Jakob, and Joey were eating breakfast at the Armstrong dining table.
"So did you guys have fun yesterday?" asked Rai, before stuffing a forkful of pancakes in her mouth.
"Yes! It was so much fun!" yelled Jakob.
Rai smiled.
"I got on a big roller coaster! And it wasn't even scary! But.. Daddy kept screaming and he gave me a headache."
Rai burst out laughing, looking over at Billie Joe.
"I was just playing around. It wasn't scary." said Billie, taking a sip from his orange juice.
"Nah-uh! You kept squeezing my arm!" interjected Joey.
Rai laughed even harder.
"Boys, don't exaggerate. I was just kidding around with you." said Billie.
"Aww... it's okay, Billie. Don't be embarrassed. Lots of people scream on roller coasters." laughed Rai.
Billie glared at Joey and Jakob who started laughing as well.
"Anyways the Grammy's are coming up. Did you want to go, Rai?" Billie asked, trying to change the subject.
Rai eventually stopped laughing and looked up at Billie.
"Sorry, what did you say, Bill?" she asked.
"Grammy's, you coming?"
"Holy shi-er.. wow." said Rai, suddenly realizing that the kids were still present.
Billie chuckled. "I'll take that as a yes?"
"Oh, wow. I don't know, Billie. The Grammy's?"
"Yea, c'mon. It'll be fun."
"I don't know."
"What? Why not?"
"Billie, I don't know."
"C'mon Rai, I want you to go."
Rai sighed.
"Please." Billie said, pouting.
"Billie, please. I said I don't know." Rai got up from the table. "You guys done?" she asked while gesturing towards the plates.
The kids nodded and Rai picked up the plates, carrying them into the kitchen. Billie looked at his two sons, who were shrugging. Billie picked his plate up and followed after Rai.
"Rai, what's wrong?"
Rai looked up at Billie from washing the dishes.
She sighed, "Bill, I said I don't know if I want to go. Why is it such a big deal?"
"Babe, It's the Grammy's. They are a big deal. Besides, you're my wife. I'd really love for you to be there."
Rai looked down and continued washing the dishes.
Billie walked up to Rai, resting his hands on her waist.
"Baby, what's the matter?"
"Billie, can we please drop this?"
"No. This is really bothering you, and I want to know what it is."
Rai sighed. " I really don't want you to take this wrong, and I'm really sorry about bringing it up."
Billie nodded, listening intentively.
"I don't know if I want to go, because... because I would feel as if I'm trying to take Adie's place. I know she always went with you."
Billie stared at her.
"Billie, I'm sorry I brought Adie back up, but I'd feel really uncomfortable, not to mention shitty, if I went."
"Rai... " began Billie.
Rai started to walk back to the table, "I'm sorry, Billie. I shouldn't have said anything."
Billie Joe grabbed her hand. "Rai," he tried again. "Listen."
She turned around, then looked at the ground. Billie reached forward and lifted her chin up.
"Don't you ever say you think you're trying to take Adie's place, because I know your not. And the reason why Adie went to these award shows was for her to be there for me, she went for support. That's why I want you to be there... and also because celebrity's drive me crazy and I need someone to keep me sane. But, the most important reason, is because I love you and you're the person I really want to share my glory with after we win that award." smiled Billie Joe.
Rai felt a tear roll down her cheek. She pulled Billie in and kissed him softly on the lips.
"I love you." she whispered.
"Oh good. So you're coming?"
Rai sighed, "Yes, I'm coming."
Billie Joe kissed her cheek. "Good. I'm glad. Hell, you can even bring someone if you still don't feel comfortable."
"Really? You wouldn't mind?"
"No. They gave us three extra seats if we wanted to bring someone, and since Mike or Tre don't have anyone to bring."
"Awesome. I'm gonna call JoAnna."
"JoAnna? Are you sure she'll be okay with going somewhere with Mike?"
"Oooh yea. Good point. Well I'll just ask her anyways."
Rai walked to the phone receiver and picked up the phone, dialing JoAnna's number.
"Hello?" JoAnna answered.
"Hey Jo, it's Rai. How are you?"
"Hey Rai, I'm good and yourself?"
"I'm great, Listen, Grammy's are coming up. Ya wanna go?"
"What? You're inviting me to the Grammy's?" JoAnna asked.
"Yep. So you wanna go?"
"Holy shit, fuck yea! Oh my god! We have to go shopping!"
"Awesome! Yea, we'll go shopping." responded Rai.
She looked up as she saw Billie enter the room. "Mike" mouthed Billie.
"Oh yea, Jo, will you be okay? Mike's gonna be there."
JoAnna nodded, even though knowing Rai couldn't see her. "Yea, I'll be fine. Billie and I had a talk last night."
Rai raised her eyebrows looking at Billie. "Oh, did you now?"
"Yea, we did. By the way Rai, he's a keeper."
Rai smiled. "I know."
"Well I better get going. I have to make a nail appointment and a facial. Ah! I'm so excited! The Grammy's are only in three days."
Rai laughed. "Alrighty. Call me tomorrow to set our shopping date."
"Alrighty. I'll talk to you later. Bye Rai."
"Bye JoAnna."
"Hmm?" replied Rai.
"Go to bed, sweetie."
"Mm... okay." Rai said as she got up from the couch and walked upstairs to their room.
Billie walked over to the other couch and bent down so he was eyelevel with a sleeping JoAnna.
"Jo. Jo, wake up."
"What?" JoAnna whispered.
"Jo, you were asleep. Want me to take you home?"
"No, no it's okay." she replied while sitting up and rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"No Jo, really. I don't want you getting in an accident. Let me take you home."
"Billie, I'm fine." she said while getting up.
"Jo, please. I'd feel much better if I took you home."
"Ugh... fine!"
"Thank you. Now give me your keys."
JoAnna sighed and pulled the keys out of her purse that was sitting in the coffee table.
"Good. Now get your ass in the car." replied Billie with a smile.
***
JoAnna was in the passenger seat of her Lexus while Billie was driving. She had her head resting in her hand, leaning on the door.
"Hun, you okay?" asked Billie, glancing at her.
"Yea..." she replied, not sounding that convincing.
"Spill it."
JoAnna sighed. "I really don't feel like talking about it."
"Who's the asshole?" Billie asked, ignoring her last statement.
JoAnna looked at him. "Your best friend."
Billie quirked an eyebrow. "What happened? You guys were okay at the wedding."
"Yea, so I thought."
"Well... what happened?" Billie asked again.
"He.. he doesn't want a relationship. Well, I understand why, I mean the age, and the media. I think."
Billie nodded. "Jo, don't worry about it. Seriously, everything will be okay. If things don't work out with Mike, you'll find someone else. Trust me... guys would have to be dillusional not to like you." said Billie, sincerely.
JoAnna smiled. "Thanks, Billie."
"No problem, babe." he responded.
They pulled into her driveway and Billie parked the car.
"Thanks. For everything." said JoAnna.
"It was nothing. Really." he replied.
JoAnna and Billie stepped out of the vehicle.
"Wait. How are you gonna get home?"
"Oh I was just gonna call a cab."
"Billie, don't be stupid. Take my car. I'll pick it up tomorrow."
"Well, that's nice of you, but the taxi's already on it's way."
"Oh...okay, well thanks again."
"No problem... again." he smiled.
***
Rai, Billie Joe, Jakob, and Joey were eating breakfast at the Armstrong dining table.
"So did you guys have fun yesterday?" asked Rai, before stuffing a forkful of pancakes in her mouth.
"Yes! It was so much fun!" yelled Jakob.
Rai smiled.
"I got on a big roller coaster! And it wasn't even scary! But.. Daddy kept screaming and he gave me a headache."
Rai burst out laughing, looking over at Billie Joe.
"I was just playing around. It wasn't scary." said Billie, taking a sip from his orange juice.
"Nah-uh! You kept squeezing my arm!" interjected Joey.
Rai laughed even harder.
"Boys, don't exaggerate. I was just kidding around with you." said Billie.
"Aww... it's okay, Billie. Don't be embarrassed. Lots of people scream on roller coasters." laughed Rai.
Billie glared at Joey and Jakob who started laughing as well.
"Anyways the Grammy's are coming up. Did you want to go, Rai?" Billie asked, trying to change the subject.
Rai eventually stopped laughing and looked up at Billie.
"Sorry, what did you say, Bill?" she asked.
"Grammy's, you coming?"
"Holy shi-er.. wow." said Rai, suddenly realizing that the kids were still present.
Billie chuckled. "I'll take that as a yes?"
"Oh, wow. I don't know, Billie. The Grammy's?"
"Yea, c'mon. It'll be fun."
"I don't know."
"What? Why not?"
"Billie, I don't know."
"C'mon Rai, I want you to go."
Rai sighed.
"Please." Billie said, pouting.
"Billie, please. I said I don't know." Rai got up from the table. "You guys done?" she asked while gesturing towards the plates.
The kids nodded and Rai picked up the plates, carrying them into the kitchen. Billie looked at his two sons, who were shrugging. Billie picked his plate up and followed after Rai.
"Rai, what's wrong?"
Rai looked up at Billie from washing the dishes.
She sighed, "Bill, I said I don't know if I want to go. Why is it such a big deal?"
"Babe, It's the Grammy's. They are a big deal. Besides, you're my wife. I'd really love for you to be there."
Rai looked down and continued washing the dishes.
Billie walked up to Rai, resting his hands on her waist.
"Baby, what's the matter?"
"Billie, can we please drop this?"
"No. This is really bothering you, and I want to know what it is."
Rai sighed. " I really don't want you to take this wrong, and I'm really sorry about bringing it up."
Billie nodded, listening intentively.
"I don't know if I want to go, because... because I would feel as if I'm trying to take Adie's place. I know she always went with you."
Billie stared at her.
"Billie, I'm sorry I brought Adie back up, but I'd feel really uncomfortable, not to mention shitty, if I went."
"Rai... " began Billie.
Rai started to walk back to the table, "I'm sorry, Billie. I shouldn't have said anything."
Billie Joe grabbed her hand. "Rai," he tried again. "Listen."
She turned around, then looked at the ground. Billie reached forward and lifted her chin up.
"Don't you ever say you think you're trying to take Adie's place, because I know your not. And the reason why Adie went to these award shows was for her to be there for me, she went for support. That's why I want you to be there... and also because celebrity's drive me crazy and I need someone to keep me sane. But, the most important reason, is because I love you and you're the person I really want to share my glory with after we win that award." smiled Billie Joe.
Rai felt a tear roll down her cheek. She pulled Billie in and kissed him softly on the lips.
"I love you." she whispered.
"Oh good. So you're coming?"
Rai sighed, "Yes, I'm coming."
Billie Joe kissed her cheek. "Good. I'm glad. Hell, you can even bring someone if you still don't feel comfortable."
"Really? You wouldn't mind?"
"No. They gave us three extra seats if we wanted to bring someone, and since Mike or Tre don't have anyone to bring."
"Awesome. I'm gonna call JoAnna."
"JoAnna? Are you sure she'll be okay with going somewhere with Mike?"
"Oooh yea. Good point. Well I'll just ask her anyways."
Rai walked to the phone receiver and picked up the phone, dialing JoAnna's number.
"Hello?" JoAnna answered.
"Hey Jo, it's Rai. How are you?"
"Hey Rai, I'm good and yourself?"
"I'm great, Listen, Grammy's are coming up. Ya wanna go?"
"What? You're inviting me to the Grammy's?" JoAnna asked.
"Yep. So you wanna go?"
"Holy shit, fuck yea! Oh my god! We have to go shopping!"
"Awesome! Yea, we'll go shopping." responded Rai.
She looked up as she saw Billie enter the room. "Mike" mouthed Billie.
"Oh yea, Jo, will you be okay? Mike's gonna be there."
JoAnna nodded, even though knowing Rai couldn't see her. "Yea, I'll be fine. Billie and I had a talk last night."
Rai raised her eyebrows looking at Billie. "Oh, did you now?"
"Yea, we did. By the way Rai, he's a keeper."
Rai smiled. "I know."
"Well I better get going. I have to make a nail appointment and a facial. Ah! I'm so excited! The Grammy's are only in three days."
Rai laughed. "Alrighty. Call me tomorrow to set our shopping date."
"Alrighty. I'll talk to you later. Bye Rai."
"Bye JoAnna."
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