Apocalips, chapter 2

Since my meeting with Apocalips, I had come to know each of them slightly better. Antonia, Mars, and Jenny seemed to be warming up to me, but Abbey still acted like I didn't exist. I knew from the start she hated me, and that first impressions really DO matter. They were excellent. No doubt about it. They had a great sound, and I was happy they had signed to the label. But me, being the asshole self I am, nit-picked until they were ready to shoot me--literally. I resented the way I acted towards her that day, but most people who know who I am may not accept my behavior and sense of humor, but they at least tolerate it. Abbey, however, had decided that she loathed my "egocentric personality"; as she liked to call it.

I had since sat in on several of their band practices at Adeline, and finely critiqued them, as if searching through someone's hair with a fine-tooth comb, digging for lice.

Lovely analogy, I know.

"I really think that the chord progression would sound better if-,";
I was cut off by the lovely, permanently PMSing Abbey. "It's our song, not yours. We'll do whatever the fuck we want with it."; she replied sourly.

"Really, Abbey. I think the song would sound better too."; Mars hesitantly said.
"Yea, I agree."; Antonia responded.
"Me too."; Jenny quietly added.

"Well, I guess everyone's on the Bastard's side then, huh?"; she huffed and plopped down on the bean bag chair in the corner of the room. She had just recently taken up calling me "Bastard";, which I frequently corrected with, "Excuse me, but my parents were married";, and that was usually followed with an eye roll. I found it pretty damn funny.

"Ya know, we were way better off before we signed to this fucking label."; Abbey continued sulkily.

"Hey, I have every right to kick you off of it."; I replied, a grin of sarcastic satisfaction billowing on my lips.

"You wouldn't dare."; she growled.
"And why wouldn't I?"; I questioned, a slight edge to my voice, "You seem to hate me so much.";

"Okay, you guys. Break it up."; Mars interrupted.
"You guys are acting like fucking five years old."; Antonia pouted, setting her guitar on a stand.
"Yea, just grow up."; Jenny added.

Okay, Jenny is the most immature person I know, and she's telling me to grow up?

Fuck that.

I sat back in my metal fold-up chair and glared at my rival. Mars paced the room for a moment and stopped in between the large space in between me and Abbey.

"Now Abbey, Billie Joe is here to help us, not hurt us. He's just doing what's best for the band."; she said.

Abbey grumbled something that I didn't catch.

"What was that?"; Mars asked.

"I said,"; Abbey began, her voice clarifying each word, "that it would be best for the band if he would get out our life."; Her cheeks were now a shade of dark red and her
eyes had this fury about them. She folded her arms over her chest and sat back in her chair. I couldn't help but laugh. As soon as the first little laugh was out, she burst through the exit door madder than hell.

I got up and followed her out to the car, in which she was already sitting in listening to the local metal station on the radio. I knocked on the window of the car door, but she simply pressed the automatic lock button.

I waited outside the car a few minutes before she finally leaned over and unlocked the door. I opened it, and slid into the passenger seat.

"I, uh, like the pink, fuzzy dice."; I joked pointing at the two cushy cubes hanging on the rear view mirror. I waited for a response, but didn't get one so I continued.

"Look, I'm sorry for what happened in there. I've been a real ass, and I apologize.";

Abbey just sat there without a word. I gave her hand a pat and got out of the car. I walked back into the studio where Antonia, Mars, and Jenny were sitting in the floor talking about what had happened. They immediately shut up as soon as I entered the room. I lowered myself to the floor with them and groaned, "God, she pisses me off.";

"Don't worry. She'll come around."; Antonia replied reassuringly.