The Start of A Story., chapter 12

"Hey Mikey Boy you excited?" Tre asked cheerfully when Mike walked into Gilman.

"Yeah Tre totally." Mike said not as enthusiastically as Tre would think.

"Hey man, are you okay?"

"Tre we kissed!" Mike blurted out.

"Who kissed?"

"Me and Allie." Mike replied.
Tre was stunned that was obvious.

"That's... Um - that's bad Mike, real bad. You're going to tell BJ right?"

"Of course. I just don't know how and - where is he anyway?"

"He finished early and is doing the 'surprise pick-up' thing."

"Shit. Do you think she'll tell him?"

"I wish I knew. Sorry Mike."
Mike sat down on a cooler and ran a hand through his blonde hair.

"Look Mike, here they come now. It doesn't look like she said anything... So I don't know you figure it out because I don't know what to tell you."
Mike looked up and saw Billie and Allie walking toward him, Billie's hand was around Allie's waist and he was smiling.

"You're right but when do I tell him?"

"Play the show and figure it out later. The last thing we need is an on-stage guitar war." Tre answered quietly just as Billie and Allie walked up.

"Hey what's up Mike?" Billie asked moving his arm to Allie's shoulders. Mike looked up at them - moving his eyes from Billie to Allison and looked down again.

"Nothing - lets just get ready, we're about to go on." Mike said flatly then got up and walked to his bass.

"What was that all about?" Billie asked Allison who was just trying to avoid the situation.
"Not sure." She shrugged. "But you heard him. I think I saw Operation Ivy backstage already.
Billie gave her a questionable look but smiled.

"I guess you're right. See you close up again soon." He kissed her softly and made his way to the stage just as they were being introduced.

"Hello Gilman. How is everyone tonight!" Billed shouted into the mic when he got on stage. "We are 'Sweet Children' about to play an Operation Ivy classic with... Tre, drum roll please, Mike dramatic bass line... " Billie let the happy tension build before getting to the point and nodded at Mike. " OPERATION IVY!"

***

Throughout the whole song, Mike kept fumbling his bass lines and was basically completely out of it. At one point he even stopped playing because he wasn't sure what came next. Luckily it wasn't noticeable to anybody but to Billie and Tre. Then finally when the song ended and he walked off stage - head hanging - and straight out the back door. Billie followed him and eventually found him sitting on the wall smoking.

"Hey Mike, are you alright buddy?" Billie asked leaning against the wall. Mike shook his head slowly at first then faster.

"No, no... FUCK No!"

"Whoa calm down. There are three things you need to do right now. One, breath before you have a panic attack. Two, give me that joint and three, tell me -CALMLY- what's going on. Because I know whatever it is affected the way you played tonight." Billie said.

" I don't know what to tell you Bill, I cant."

"Its all good man. After 6 years nothing you say could surprise me."

"I don't know about that Billie Joe."

"Jesus Mike, what happened?"

"She... I... We - we kissed Bill, and I'm so sorry." Mike felt relived to have told him until he saw the look on Billie's face.

"What- what do you mean? You and Allison? You kissed my girlfriend... "

Mike got off the wall

"Look, Billie I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to, it just happened."
Billie backed away from Mike and went back inside.

"SHIT!" Mike screamed and followed Billie."
Billie started walking to Allison who was talking to Tre.

"Is it true?" he asked her in a commanding voice that made her jump " Is it true about Mike?" Allison stayed quiet "Tell Me Allison!" She jumped again.

"Yes Billie, it's true." She said sadly.

"How - How the fuck could you!?"

"Billie, its ok. They both feel bad about what happened and regret it."

"You Knew Too? Who else knows that you made-out with my fucking best friend? SHIT!"
Mike was sprinting towards them and Billie turned to face him, rage written on his face.

"Billie... Please, let me explain... Please." Mike panted.

"I have nothing to say to you Mike, so just leave me alone before I do something I want to do." Billie replied angrily.

"Bill, I'm trying to - *BAM*"
Billie punched Mike in the face before he could say anything else. Mike fell to the floor holding his jaw, stunned by the smaller teen's force, and just plain in shock that his best friend hit him in the jaw and meant it.
Mike stood up and pushed Billie to the floor. Billie stood up fast and pushed him right back but Mike didn't fall, just retaliated, He slapped Billie across the face hard. Before anyone knew what was happening Billie tackled Mike to the floor where they exchanged blows to the head and body.
Mike's lip was bleeding and had a bloody nose. Billie had a cut under his right eye and an already appearing bruise on his cheek from where Mike had slapped him.
Tre jumped in and grabbed Mike by both arms, dragging him off of Billie; he pushed Mike back towards Allie and grabbed Billie by the collar. After he let them go, they went back at each other, Tre stopped them, grabbed their arm and began pulling them outside.

"Allison - follow NOW!" Tre's voice boomed commandingly. Allie followed them outside watching as Tre became forceful and separated them both. Actually surprising her.

"HEY! Calm the fuck down!" Tre said pushing Billie away as he tried to star another fight. Billie slapped Tre's hand away. "You two have known each other to fucking long to pull this kind of shit! So here is what we are going to do. Allie?"

"Yes?"

"Do you have Billie's keys?"

"Yes."

"Give them to me." Allison gave Tre his keys " Now, Allie you are going to drive Mike's truck home, I'm going to take them back to THEIR house, where they will figure everything the fuck out. Get It? GOOD. Lets go." Tre said not waiting for them to answer.

"Allie go - here are Mike's keys will you be ok?"

"Yeah... Yes"

"Ok - I'll swing by tomorrow to get you and the truck after that we will go to Billie AND Mike's house." Tre said pointing at Mike and Billie "Lets Go"
Mike wiped his nose and went to the car. Billie spat, glared at Tre and followed Mike.

"Don't worry about them Allie, they'll sort everything out."

"Thanks Tre."

"You owe me one. I hate being the mature one."

"See you tomorrow."

Tre walked to Billie's car and pushed passed Billie Joe who was at the drivers' side. Billie reluctantly moved to the back. The ride back was silent and when they got to the house Billie and Mike went straight to their rooms slamming every door.

***

When Billie Joe got up the next morning, he could hear Mike downstairs making coffee. He knew he should go down there and apologize for hitting him. Really its not like they had sex or anything right? Just kissed. God. What was going to happen if they didn't apologize? What would happen to Sweet Children or Green Day -still haven't decided yet-.
Billie walked downstairs into the kitchen and leaned against the counter.

"Mike, I'm sorry."

"Don't be, you have no reason to be. I'm the one that betrayed you. Hell I should be - on my hands hoping you'd forgive me."

"You're overreacting. You just kissed; you didn't have sex or anything. I'll admit I was mad, but I just needed to vent. We've been friends for six years, this was bound to happen right?"
Mike chuckled.

"Yeah I guess you're right. I'm just surprised it was me first."
Billie nodded to agree but then stopped.

"Wait, what does that mean?" Billie Joe asked shocked.
Mike started to laugh and the doorbell rang. He put a hand on Billie's shoulder.

"Don't even worry about it Bill. Come on lets just tell them the news." Mike was still laughing as he walked away.

"No Really! What Is That Supposed To Mean?"