A Patchwork Life, chapter 2
(KIM)
“Ahh!� I sit bolt upright in bed and scream. Jess wakes up too.
“Jesus, Kim! What’s wrong?!� Jess stares at me, a worried look on her face.
“I, you, there,� I stutter and point to her side of the bed. “He, oh, god, Jess, I had a dream that I woke up next to Billie Joe.� I sigh and hang my head. Jess bursts into laughter. I scowl at her.
“Sorry.� Jess apologises. “Jeez, look at the time! It’s 11am, we’ve hardly got any time to get ready!�
“For what, I say, thinking hard.
“The party you’re throwing, duh. You’ve only invited everyone…�
“Oh yeah.� I smile. Something to look forward to.
“Oh. My. God. Have you asked Billie’s band to play?!� Screams Jess.
“Oh, jesus. No, I haven’t�
“Well, you’ll have to ring him.�
“Well, um, I was kinda thinking you could ring him for me…� I say, blushing. Jess rolls her eyes.
“Fine.� She says, grabbing the cordless phone. She dials Billie’s number.
“Hey. Mrs. Armstrong? Yeah. It’s Jess. Kim’s friend. Yeah. No. Good thanks. Yeah. And you? That’s good to hear. Oh, hey, listen, I was wondering if I could speak to Billie. Yeah. Oh, he is? Sure. Nah, We’ll go find him. Ta. Bye.� Jess hangs up
“Well?� I ask, raising my eyebrows
“He’s out, down at the mall his mom said.� Answers Jess. “so, I thought we could go find him. It’ll give us a chance to get out, and grab the stuff we need.� I roll my eyes this time. Jess stares at me. I give in.
“Oh, fine then. But I’m first shower.�
*
(BILLIE JOE)
“Hey� I say. “Hey!� Trè and Mike turn around. “Are we going to the party tonight?� I ask.
“Yeah.� Says Mike.
“Duh. Any chance to get wasted is a good chance to get wasted!� says Trè. Him and Mike high-five each other. I shake my head and roll my eyes, even though I secretly agree with them.
“Hey!� I hear from behind me. “HEY!� we all turn around. It’s Kim and Jess.
“Oh god. They’re stalking us.� Says Mike. Trè laughs. The girls catch up with us.
“Hi.� Says Kim. I look at her, then quickly look away, trying not to be obvious. Awkward silence.
“Kim was wondering,� starts Jess. I elbow her in the ribs.
“I’d like to know, if it’s not too short notice, or if you guys aren’t doing anything, could you play at the party tonight?� I try to smile sweetly, which turns out more like an evil grin.
“oh, uh, sure.� I say. “We were coming to the party anyway, right guys?� Trè and Mike nod.
“Thanks so much!� Kim says. “I owe ya stacks.� She gives them the thumbs up. Kim and Jess turn, and walk out of the mall, pushing and shoving each other. I stare until they’re out of sight.
“Jeez Billie. You weren’t kidding when you said you liked Kim, were you?� says Trè.
*
(KIM)
I throw clothes around my room. Jess sits in front of the mirror smudging on heaps of eyeliner and lipgloss. The phone rings. I make an annoyed kind of grunting noise.
“I better get it.� I sigh. I pick it up.
“I’ll see you later!� whispers Jess, grabbing her stuff. I smile and wave good bye as she closes the door behind her. I press the phone to my ear.
“Hello?�
“Hi honey, how are you?� it’s my mom.
“Oh. Hi mom. How are you?�
“I’m just fabulous, honey. Thanks for asking. Well, I’m just ringing to tell you I won’t be home for a while longer, so I’ve put some more money on your card.�
“Oh. Thanks. I guess. Uh, why won’t you be home?�
“My new husband and I, we’re going on our honeymoon, silly!�
“YOU’RE WHAT AND YOU ARE DOING WHAT!!! YOU GOT MARRIED?!� I shout down the phone.
“Oh, don’t make it such a big deal. Miss you, love you, bye!� she hangs up on me before I can get another word in.
“OH FUCK!� I scream and throw the phone at the wall. It breaks into unfixable pieces, leaving a big hole in the wall. I kick over the coffee table and run outside, slamming the door. I sit on the front steps.
*
(BILLIE-JOE)
“FUCK� I hear from outside. I look out my window. Kim comes out of her house, slamming her door, and sits on the front steps, hugging her knees to her chest. I turn back to my guitar and start playing. After about 5 minutes I can’t concentrate anymore. I chuck my guitar on my bed and run downstairs. I walk outside and go over to Kim.
“Hey,� I say, standing in front of her.
“Oh, hi.� She says, looking up. “What do YOU want?�
“Nothing. I just heard you scream a little loudly, then slam your door. I just figured something was up. Are you ok?� I stare down at her.
“Yeah. I’m just fine.� She looks at me, then bursts into tears.
“oh, god! I’m sorry! Um, come on, come here!� I pick her up and take her inside her house. I shut the door behind us and stumble my way through her house till we find the kitchen.
“Tell me what happened� I ask her. She sniffs loudly.
“I, uh, oh, it’s my mom. I hate her so much. She doesn’t care about me at all. She’s always away, on some “business� or whatever the hell she likes to call it. It’s probably why you’ve never seen her. Anyway, she rings me up today and tells me she won’t be home for a while coz her and her new husband are HONEYMOONING. I mean, for fucks sake. I only have about 5 different fathers now. She loves herself so much.� Kim finishes, breathing hard. She looks up at me again. “Not that you’d care.�
“You’d be surprised.� I say, a little too loudly. She gives me a funny look.
“Uh, so I’ll see you tonight then?� I say.
“Um, oh, yeah, sure. Around 6?�
“Yeah. Ok, take it easy then.�
“I will.� She says. I turn and walk out of her house.
*
(LIQUOR STORE, JESS, MIKE AND TRÈ)
“Oh, and a bottle of vodka, a big one� she adds.
“Hey� she turns around. “Jess, right? We’ve met a few times.�
“Oh, hey Mike.� Jess says, blushing a little.
“So, you like to drink or you buying for the party?�
“Oh, most of it’s for the party, but Kim likes vodka. Coz she’s younger than all of us, she asks me to buy it for her.�
“Oh, coz she’s 16, right? But still in the 11th grade..�
“Yeah.� She laughs.
“well, we’ll see you later then. TRÈ!� Mike truns and yells out Trè’s name. He appears from behind a stack of dirty magazines, reading one. When he looks up and sees Jess, he hides it behind his back, and tries to give an innocent grin. Jess giggles.
“Um, before you guys go, I dunno how to say this, and I know I’m being a really bad friend to Kim by telling you this, but she has a huge crush on Billie Joe.� She tries to smile. The guys just stare at her. “Oh, um, well then. I gotta go. Bye!� she grabs her things off the counter and walks off. Mike turns to Trè.
“That was SO weird…�
*
(KIM)
“Yeah. He came over today.� I say to Jess.
“Oh, yeah?� she asks.
“Yeah. And I feel awful 'cause I was such a bitch to him. I just don’t want anyone to know I like him. Yet anyway.� I sigh.
“Well, was HE being nice to you?�
“Yeah.�
“Was anyone around?�
“No.�
“Well then maybe tonight you should apologise to him.� I look at her. She gives and all-knowing nod. “Oh,� she adds. “About what time was this?� she adds.
“About 12. why?�
“No reason.� She tries to disguse her face but her eyebrows are up to far.
“What the fuck did you do?� I say, jumping on her. “AND DON’T SAY NOTHING!!!�
“ok. OK!� she pleads. I get off her. “Ok, I saw Mike and Trè today at the liquor store. I kinda told them you like Billie Joe.�
*
(AT THE PARTY)
“Thanks everyone! Enjoy the party!� I hear Billie Joe say to the crowd of people in my garage, on my front lawn and in my house. I tip a bottle of vodka to my lips.
“I mean,� I continue my conversation with Jess. “Even if they did tell him, it’s not like HE likes me. I’m so awful to him all the time.� I stick a cigarette between my lips. “Got a lighter?� I ask her, feeling my pockets.
“Here.� Says a voice from behind me. I take the lighter as the figure sits next to Jess in front of me. It’s Billie Joe.
“Thanks.� I say, handing it back and looking at my feet. “I uh, wanted to apologise for today.� I say. “I was pretty awful to you. Thanks for listening to me though. I really did need someone to talk to.� I take a drag on my smoke. “And I know I’m awful to you all the time, but I don’t really mean it.� I look at my feet again.
“Hey,� he says. “Don’t worry about it. I’m pretty awful to you myself.� I look up at him, and bite my lip.
“Um, this is gonna sound weird,� I start.
“I like you,� he says quickly. I sit there, dumbstruck. He takes my hands and pulls me into him, giving me the most passionate kiss I’ve ever had. “I’m sorry.� He apologises after he lets me go.
“Don’t be.� I tell him. “look, I know Mike and Trè told you I like you 'cause I know Jess told them. I’m glad you know. I just…�
Billie tells me to shush. He grabs my hand, pulls me up, and runs across the street with me. We disappear into his house.
“Ahh!� I sit bolt upright in bed and scream. Jess wakes up too.
“Jesus, Kim! What’s wrong?!� Jess stares at me, a worried look on her face.
“I, you, there,� I stutter and point to her side of the bed. “He, oh, god, Jess, I had a dream that I woke up next to Billie Joe.� I sigh and hang my head. Jess bursts into laughter. I scowl at her.
“Sorry.� Jess apologises. “Jeez, look at the time! It’s 11am, we’ve hardly got any time to get ready!�
“For what, I say, thinking hard.
“The party you’re throwing, duh. You’ve only invited everyone…�
“Oh yeah.� I smile. Something to look forward to.
“Oh. My. God. Have you asked Billie’s band to play?!� Screams Jess.
“Oh, jesus. No, I haven’t�
“Well, you’ll have to ring him.�
“Well, um, I was kinda thinking you could ring him for me…� I say, blushing. Jess rolls her eyes.
“Fine.� She says, grabbing the cordless phone. She dials Billie’s number.
“Hey. Mrs. Armstrong? Yeah. It’s Jess. Kim’s friend. Yeah. No. Good thanks. Yeah. And you? That’s good to hear. Oh, hey, listen, I was wondering if I could speak to Billie. Yeah. Oh, he is? Sure. Nah, We’ll go find him. Ta. Bye.� Jess hangs up
“Well?� I ask, raising my eyebrows
“He’s out, down at the mall his mom said.� Answers Jess. “so, I thought we could go find him. It’ll give us a chance to get out, and grab the stuff we need.� I roll my eyes this time. Jess stares at me. I give in.
“Oh, fine then. But I’m first shower.�
*
(BILLIE JOE)
“Hey� I say. “Hey!� Trè and Mike turn around. “Are we going to the party tonight?� I ask.
“Yeah.� Says Mike.
“Duh. Any chance to get wasted is a good chance to get wasted!� says Trè. Him and Mike high-five each other. I shake my head and roll my eyes, even though I secretly agree with them.
“Hey!� I hear from behind me. “HEY!� we all turn around. It’s Kim and Jess.
“Oh god. They’re stalking us.� Says Mike. Trè laughs. The girls catch up with us.
“Hi.� Says Kim. I look at her, then quickly look away, trying not to be obvious. Awkward silence.
“Kim was wondering,� starts Jess. I elbow her in the ribs.
“I’d like to know, if it’s not too short notice, or if you guys aren’t doing anything, could you play at the party tonight?� I try to smile sweetly, which turns out more like an evil grin.
“oh, uh, sure.� I say. “We were coming to the party anyway, right guys?� Trè and Mike nod.
“Thanks so much!� Kim says. “I owe ya stacks.� She gives them the thumbs up. Kim and Jess turn, and walk out of the mall, pushing and shoving each other. I stare until they’re out of sight.
“Jeez Billie. You weren’t kidding when you said you liked Kim, were you?� says Trè.
*
(KIM)
I throw clothes around my room. Jess sits in front of the mirror smudging on heaps of eyeliner and lipgloss. The phone rings. I make an annoyed kind of grunting noise.
“I better get it.� I sigh. I pick it up.
“I’ll see you later!� whispers Jess, grabbing her stuff. I smile and wave good bye as she closes the door behind her. I press the phone to my ear.
“Hello?�
“Hi honey, how are you?� it’s my mom.
“Oh. Hi mom. How are you?�
“I’m just fabulous, honey. Thanks for asking. Well, I’m just ringing to tell you I won’t be home for a while longer, so I’ve put some more money on your card.�
“Oh. Thanks. I guess. Uh, why won’t you be home?�
“My new husband and I, we’re going on our honeymoon, silly!�
“YOU’RE WHAT AND YOU ARE DOING WHAT!!! YOU GOT MARRIED?!� I shout down the phone.
“Oh, don’t make it such a big deal. Miss you, love you, bye!� she hangs up on me before I can get another word in.
“OH FUCK!� I scream and throw the phone at the wall. It breaks into unfixable pieces, leaving a big hole in the wall. I kick over the coffee table and run outside, slamming the door. I sit on the front steps.
*
(BILLIE-JOE)
“FUCK� I hear from outside. I look out my window. Kim comes out of her house, slamming her door, and sits on the front steps, hugging her knees to her chest. I turn back to my guitar and start playing. After about 5 minutes I can’t concentrate anymore. I chuck my guitar on my bed and run downstairs. I walk outside and go over to Kim.
“Hey,� I say, standing in front of her.
“Oh, hi.� She says, looking up. “What do YOU want?�
“Nothing. I just heard you scream a little loudly, then slam your door. I just figured something was up. Are you ok?� I stare down at her.
“Yeah. I’m just fine.� She looks at me, then bursts into tears.
“oh, god! I’m sorry! Um, come on, come here!� I pick her up and take her inside her house. I shut the door behind us and stumble my way through her house till we find the kitchen.
“Tell me what happened� I ask her. She sniffs loudly.
“I, uh, oh, it’s my mom. I hate her so much. She doesn’t care about me at all. She’s always away, on some “business� or whatever the hell she likes to call it. It’s probably why you’ve never seen her. Anyway, she rings me up today and tells me she won’t be home for a while coz her and her new husband are HONEYMOONING. I mean, for fucks sake. I only have about 5 different fathers now. She loves herself so much.� Kim finishes, breathing hard. She looks up at me again. “Not that you’d care.�
“You’d be surprised.� I say, a little too loudly. She gives me a funny look.
“Uh, so I’ll see you tonight then?� I say.
“Um, oh, yeah, sure. Around 6?�
“Yeah. Ok, take it easy then.�
“I will.� She says. I turn and walk out of her house.
*
(LIQUOR STORE, JESS, MIKE AND TRÈ)
“Oh, and a bottle of vodka, a big one� she adds.
“Hey� she turns around. “Jess, right? We’ve met a few times.�
“Oh, hey Mike.� Jess says, blushing a little.
“So, you like to drink or you buying for the party?�
“Oh, most of it’s for the party, but Kim likes vodka. Coz she’s younger than all of us, she asks me to buy it for her.�
“Oh, coz she’s 16, right? But still in the 11th grade..�
“Yeah.� She laughs.
“well, we’ll see you later then. TRÈ!� Mike truns and yells out Trè’s name. He appears from behind a stack of dirty magazines, reading one. When he looks up and sees Jess, he hides it behind his back, and tries to give an innocent grin. Jess giggles.
“Um, before you guys go, I dunno how to say this, and I know I’m being a really bad friend to Kim by telling you this, but she has a huge crush on Billie Joe.� She tries to smile. The guys just stare at her. “Oh, um, well then. I gotta go. Bye!� she grabs her things off the counter and walks off. Mike turns to Trè.
“That was SO weird…�
*
(KIM)
“Yeah. He came over today.� I say to Jess.
“Oh, yeah?� she asks.
“Yeah. And I feel awful 'cause I was such a bitch to him. I just don’t want anyone to know I like him. Yet anyway.� I sigh.
“Well, was HE being nice to you?�
“Yeah.�
“Was anyone around?�
“No.�
“Well then maybe tonight you should apologise to him.� I look at her. She gives and all-knowing nod. “Oh,� she adds. “About what time was this?� she adds.
“About 12. why?�
“No reason.� She tries to disguse her face but her eyebrows are up to far.
“What the fuck did you do?� I say, jumping on her. “AND DON’T SAY NOTHING!!!�
“ok. OK!� she pleads. I get off her. “Ok, I saw Mike and Trè today at the liquor store. I kinda told them you like Billie Joe.�
*
(AT THE PARTY)
“Thanks everyone! Enjoy the party!� I hear Billie Joe say to the crowd of people in my garage, on my front lawn and in my house. I tip a bottle of vodka to my lips.
“I mean,� I continue my conversation with Jess. “Even if they did tell him, it’s not like HE likes me. I’m so awful to him all the time.� I stick a cigarette between my lips. “Got a lighter?� I ask her, feeling my pockets.
“Here.� Says a voice from behind me. I take the lighter as the figure sits next to Jess in front of me. It’s Billie Joe.
“Thanks.� I say, handing it back and looking at my feet. “I uh, wanted to apologise for today.� I say. “I was pretty awful to you. Thanks for listening to me though. I really did need someone to talk to.� I take a drag on my smoke. “And I know I’m awful to you all the time, but I don’t really mean it.� I look at my feet again.
“Hey,� he says. “Don’t worry about it. I’m pretty awful to you myself.� I look up at him, and bite my lip.
“Um, this is gonna sound weird,� I start.
“I like you,� he says quickly. I sit there, dumbstruck. He takes my hands and pulls me into him, giving me the most passionate kiss I’ve ever had. “I’m sorry.� He apologises after he lets me go.
“Don’t be.� I tell him. “look, I know Mike and Trè told you I like you 'cause I know Jess told them. I’m glad you know. I just…�
Billie tells me to shush. He grabs my hand, pulls me up, and runs across the street with me. We disappear into his house.
