You Know I Love You, Wright?, chapter 1

Ramona Wright was lying down on her bed, pissed off at her dad, for missing another birthday, since he was on tour. She really couldn't blame him, but three birthdays in a row? That is just sad. She just missed so much. It was like he didn't care anymore.

A miserable Tre Cool sat on the couch of the tour bus, with a beer at hand. He had missed another one of Ramona's birthdays. In a way, he knew it wasn't his fault, but still had the thought of him being a bad father inside his head. He tried to drown it out with booze, but it still didn't help. This was her thirteenth birthday, the same birthday that had been thrilling for him as a child, and he was now about to Miss Ramona turning into a beautiful young teenager.

Ramona was still lying on her bed, thinking about her dad, when there was a knock on the door.

"What?" Ramona moaned. There was a shuffle behind the door, and a bit of mumbling.

"Ray, your Mom and I have decided to take you out tonight, it's your thirteenth." Derrick, her step dad said softly. Ramona smiled. 'At least someone cares...' she thought.

"Okay, I'll be ready in a sec," she said. She threw on a green tank with some black jeans, and they were all out the door.

Tre was still drinking when Billie sat next to him. He looked at Tre and suddenly remembered why he was getting trashed. He sighed and patted Tre's back.

"She'll be alright, don't worry. This isn't the first time." Billie soothed. Tre just shook his head, the put his head in his hands.

"Bill, she hates me! I'm never there for her. She probably thinks I don't care!" Tre yelled. Billie sighed and gave Tre a half hearted smile.

"Tre, don't think like that. She loves you, you know that." Billie said and gave his blue eyed friend a one arm hug, and left him to get a coke.

Ramona and her family were all in the car, listening to to the radio. American Idiot came on and she quickly changed it. Her mom and step dad looked at her, and she gave a faint smile.

"Ray, you know your father wants to be with you." Derrick said, patting her shoulder. Ramona just sighed and shrugged.

"He would be here then, wouldn't he?" she said, fighting back tears. Her mom and Derrick decided to change the subject.

"So, where do you want to go?" Derrick asked. Ramona looked up at him, smiling.

"Um, I want to go to the skate park." Ramona answered. The skate park was her home. She loved the smell of the rubber wheels and the sight of the neon graffiti that created the perfect atmosphere. They were silent the rest of the ride.

Tre was pacing his room on the bus. He was sober now. He was frantic; he needed to find a present for Ramona. He decided that a Green Day t-shirt would be good, and went to get Billie.

"He, Bill, do you think this is a good present for Ray?" Tre asked, holding up the t-shirt. Billie took on look at and sighed. He shook his head.

"Nope, why don't you visit her? We'll be in New York in a few days." Billie suggested. Tre immediately nodded.

"That would be great!" Tre exclaimed. Billie smiled, knowing his friend was ecstatic to see his daughter.