A Patchwork Life, chapter 3
(KIM)
I open my eyes slowly. I see Tre. I frown, get ready to scream, then smile. ‘It must be a dream again’ I think to myself. I close my eyes then re-open them. I let out a scream.
“Sorry!� Tre somehow manages to get out in between laughing. I have a shocked look on my face. My scream wakes Billie Joe up.
“WHAT. IS. GOING. ON!!!� he says loudly. I turn to him, still looking shocked. He looks past me at Tre then turns a bright shade of red.
“GET OUT NOW!� he yells. Tre, still laughing, gets up and walks out. Billie Joe turns to me.
“I’m sorry for waking you up.� I apologize. I look at him.
“No, don’t be.� He says, shaking his head. “I’M sorry. Tre is an idiot.�
“I know.� I reply. “I DID date him as well.� We both grin. I roll on top of him and kiss him.
(BILLIE-JOE)
I kiss Kim back.
“So, what’s on for today?� I ask.
“Not much, I don’t think.� She says. “Seeing what’s messed up around my house I guess. What’s been trashed and how much cleaning I need to do.� She laughs and gets up. “You better see to your visitor.�
“Yeah. Visitors.� I say. She gives me a puzzled look. I shrug. “Wherever Tre is, Mike’s sure to be not far behind.� She gives an understanding nod.
-DOWNSTAIRS-
We walk into the kitchen, faces red. I avoid eye contact with everyone. Mike stops throwing darts at a picture of the president on the wall, and Tre stops (loudly) singing an oddly familiar song about masturbation.
“So.� Tre says.
“So what?� I reply. Trying to act innocent. Failing miserably.
“Oh Come on!� he says. “You guys are SUCKY actors! We KNOW what you guys got up to last night.� He winks. Just when I thought me and Kim couldn’t get any redder, we do. I shift uncomfortably.
“Yup.� Adds Mike. Quite unnecessarily. I shift uncomfortably.
“After you guys snuck away from your own party,� he points at Kim. “And ran away to Silly Billie’s house over here,� he points to me. “You guys just couldn’t keep your hands off each other.� He grins. I kinda scratch my head embarrassedly. Kim takes a cue to leave.
“Uh, it’s been great talking to you all,� she looks around. “But I gotta go. See you later, Billie.� She gives me a quick kiss, then kinda half runs, half sprints out the door.
(KIM)
-AN HOUR LATER-
I tie the ends of the last trash bag.
“Thanks.� I look over at Jess.
“No problemo.� She says.
“Come on. Ask me.� I say.
“What!�
“I know you wanna ask me. You have for the last half an hour. So just ask me.�
“ok. Ok. I just wanted to get the story straight, that’s all.� She looks at me, grinning. “So, last night, you ran off with Billie Joe and had awesomely hot, mind blowing sex?� she widens her grin. I hit her on the arm.
“Jesus!� I say sarcastically. “When you say it like that you make it sound so sleazy!� we burst out in a fit of giggles. “Thanks so much for helping me out today.� I say, hugging her.
“It’s fine, really. Any time.�
“I’ll see you tomorrow then?�
“Yeah. At school. Don’t forget. I don’t think you can afford to miss another double math class.� She laughs. I roll my eyes and open the door.
“Bye then.� I say. She smiles. I close the door behind her.
(BILLIE-JOE)
-A FEW HOURS LATER-
I roll over and punch my pillow. I glance at the alarm clock. 3: 45 am. I groan and fall back into bed. Just as I drift off to sleep, I hear screaming and shouting from the street below. I walk over to my window and look out. I can see Kim, and a woman I guess to be her mom.
“Come back here! You are in so much trouble, young lady!� says the other woman.
“NO!� Kim shouts back. “YOU JUST KEEP FUCKING UP! YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT ME! TO YOU, YOU DON’T CARE WHO YOUR ACTIONS AFFECT! SO WHILE YOU’RE GETTING MARRIED AND HOLIDAYING IN FUCK KNOWS WHERE, I’M HERE IN THIS SHIT HOLE OF A TOWN, WASTING MY TIME! SO YOU KNOW WHAT? I’M GONE. I’LL BE HAPPY IF I NEVER EVER SEE YOU AGAIN.� She shouts all of this, her voice breaking as she starts to cry. She runs off down the street, into the dark. I think about following her, but if she’s upset, she won’t wanna talk about it. Not yet anyway. I fall back into bed and try to sleep.
(KIM)
I wipe tears away from my eyes and slow to a walk. I stop to catch my breath and think about where I’m going to go. Not Billie’s…he’ll want to know whats wrong. I need someone who won’t ask any questions... The answer comes like one of those cartoon characters where the lightbulb comes on. Tre’s. I walk the few blocks to his house.
“Tre!� I whisper and tap on his bedroom window. “Tre!� I hear banging, crashing, smashing and an array of swears from inside. He pulls the curtains open.
“Kim!� he says. “what the fuck are you doing? It’s 3 fucking AM!�
“I had a fight with my mom. Let me stay with you tonight, please?� I ask him. He rolls his eyes and pulls up the window. I climb in and shut it behind me. When I turn around he’s already fast asleep again. I pull the pillow out from under his head, the blanket from around him, and lie on the floor.
-IN THE MORNING-
I rub my eyes and try to eat a cold piece of toast. I look at it in disgust then throw it in the trash. Tre walks in yawning. He mumbles some kind of ‘hello’ or ‘gmorning’ then sits down at the table. I smile at him.
“SHIT!� I remember, breaking the silence. “School today!� I look at the clock. 11 am. Not really any point now. Tre shrugs.
“We’re staying home today� he says, yawning again. Someone knocks at the door.
“Tre!� yells the person. “It’s Billie! I need to talk to you!� Tre looks at me.
“Shit.� I say. My mind races. “Ok, I was never here, ok? I’m gonna climb out your bedroom window.� He just stares at me.
(BILLIE-JOE)
Tre opens the door. I scowl at him. He holds it open and I walk inside.
“Have you seen Kim? At all?� I ask him. He shrugs.
“Maybe.�
“Come on man, tell me. I need to talk to her.� I say angrily. He sighs.
“Bedroom.� He says. I look at him, worried.
“You guys didn’t…�
“No.� he says flatly.
“Ok, just asking.� I run to the bedroom.
(KIM)
I get halfway out the window when I feel something or someone grab my ankles…
I open my eyes slowly. I see Tre. I frown, get ready to scream, then smile. ‘It must be a dream again’ I think to myself. I close my eyes then re-open them. I let out a scream.
“Sorry!� Tre somehow manages to get out in between laughing. I have a shocked look on my face. My scream wakes Billie Joe up.
“WHAT. IS. GOING. ON!!!� he says loudly. I turn to him, still looking shocked. He looks past me at Tre then turns a bright shade of red.
“GET OUT NOW!� he yells. Tre, still laughing, gets up and walks out. Billie Joe turns to me.
“I’m sorry for waking you up.� I apologize. I look at him.
“No, don’t be.� He says, shaking his head. “I’M sorry. Tre is an idiot.�
“I know.� I reply. “I DID date him as well.� We both grin. I roll on top of him and kiss him.
(BILLIE-JOE)
I kiss Kim back.
“So, what’s on for today?� I ask.
“Not much, I don’t think.� She says. “Seeing what’s messed up around my house I guess. What’s been trashed and how much cleaning I need to do.� She laughs and gets up. “You better see to your visitor.�
“Yeah. Visitors.� I say. She gives me a puzzled look. I shrug. “Wherever Tre is, Mike’s sure to be not far behind.� She gives an understanding nod.
-DOWNSTAIRS-
We walk into the kitchen, faces red. I avoid eye contact with everyone. Mike stops throwing darts at a picture of the president on the wall, and Tre stops (loudly) singing an oddly familiar song about masturbation.
“So.� Tre says.
“So what?� I reply. Trying to act innocent. Failing miserably.
“Oh Come on!� he says. “You guys are SUCKY actors! We KNOW what you guys got up to last night.� He winks. Just when I thought me and Kim couldn’t get any redder, we do. I shift uncomfortably.
“Yup.� Adds Mike. Quite unnecessarily. I shift uncomfortably.
“After you guys snuck away from your own party,� he points at Kim. “And ran away to Silly Billie’s house over here,� he points to me. “You guys just couldn’t keep your hands off each other.� He grins. I kinda scratch my head embarrassedly. Kim takes a cue to leave.
“Uh, it’s been great talking to you all,� she looks around. “But I gotta go. See you later, Billie.� She gives me a quick kiss, then kinda half runs, half sprints out the door.
(KIM)
-AN HOUR LATER-
I tie the ends of the last trash bag.
“Thanks.� I look over at Jess.
“No problemo.� She says.
“Come on. Ask me.� I say.
“What!�
“I know you wanna ask me. You have for the last half an hour. So just ask me.�
“ok. Ok. I just wanted to get the story straight, that’s all.� She looks at me, grinning. “So, last night, you ran off with Billie Joe and had awesomely hot, mind blowing sex?� she widens her grin. I hit her on the arm.
“Jesus!� I say sarcastically. “When you say it like that you make it sound so sleazy!� we burst out in a fit of giggles. “Thanks so much for helping me out today.� I say, hugging her.
“It’s fine, really. Any time.�
“I’ll see you tomorrow then?�
“Yeah. At school. Don’t forget. I don’t think you can afford to miss another double math class.� She laughs. I roll my eyes and open the door.
“Bye then.� I say. She smiles. I close the door behind her.
(BILLIE-JOE)
-A FEW HOURS LATER-
I roll over and punch my pillow. I glance at the alarm clock. 3: 45 am. I groan and fall back into bed. Just as I drift off to sleep, I hear screaming and shouting from the street below. I walk over to my window and look out. I can see Kim, and a woman I guess to be her mom.
“Come back here! You are in so much trouble, young lady!� says the other woman.
“NO!� Kim shouts back. “YOU JUST KEEP FUCKING UP! YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT ME! TO YOU, YOU DON’T CARE WHO YOUR ACTIONS AFFECT! SO WHILE YOU’RE GETTING MARRIED AND HOLIDAYING IN FUCK KNOWS WHERE, I’M HERE IN THIS SHIT HOLE OF A TOWN, WASTING MY TIME! SO YOU KNOW WHAT? I’M GONE. I’LL BE HAPPY IF I NEVER EVER SEE YOU AGAIN.� She shouts all of this, her voice breaking as she starts to cry. She runs off down the street, into the dark. I think about following her, but if she’s upset, she won’t wanna talk about it. Not yet anyway. I fall back into bed and try to sleep.
(KIM)
I wipe tears away from my eyes and slow to a walk. I stop to catch my breath and think about where I’m going to go. Not Billie’s…he’ll want to know whats wrong. I need someone who won’t ask any questions... The answer comes like one of those cartoon characters where the lightbulb comes on. Tre’s. I walk the few blocks to his house.
“Tre!� I whisper and tap on his bedroom window. “Tre!� I hear banging, crashing, smashing and an array of swears from inside. He pulls the curtains open.
“Kim!� he says. “what the fuck are you doing? It’s 3 fucking AM!�
“I had a fight with my mom. Let me stay with you tonight, please?� I ask him. He rolls his eyes and pulls up the window. I climb in and shut it behind me. When I turn around he’s already fast asleep again. I pull the pillow out from under his head, the blanket from around him, and lie on the floor.
-IN THE MORNING-
I rub my eyes and try to eat a cold piece of toast. I look at it in disgust then throw it in the trash. Tre walks in yawning. He mumbles some kind of ‘hello’ or ‘gmorning’ then sits down at the table. I smile at him.
“SHIT!� I remember, breaking the silence. “School today!� I look at the clock. 11 am. Not really any point now. Tre shrugs.
“We’re staying home today� he says, yawning again. Someone knocks at the door.
“Tre!� yells the person. “It’s Billie! I need to talk to you!� Tre looks at me.
“Shit.� I say. My mind races. “Ok, I was never here, ok? I’m gonna climb out your bedroom window.� He just stares at me.
(BILLIE-JOE)
Tre opens the door. I scowl at him. He holds it open and I walk inside.
“Have you seen Kim? At all?� I ask him. He shrugs.
“Maybe.�
“Come on man, tell me. I need to talk to her.� I say angrily. He sighs.
“Bedroom.� He says. I look at him, worried.
“You guys didn’t…�
“No.� he says flatly.
“Ok, just asking.� I run to the bedroom.
(KIM)
I get halfway out the window when I feel something or someone grab my ankles…
