Destination Unknown (sequel to Worlds Apart), chapter 6
By that weekend, I had started to feel better about meeting Joey and Jakob. I called Ellen the day before to get some advice.
“They’re just kids� she said, “How bad can it be? They probably won’t question it at all, they’re only young. They aren’t going to understand that you’re shagging their dad.�
I smiled, “Delicately put, but good point Ellen� I said.
“How old is the oldest?�
“Eight or nine?�
“Ah, it’ll be fine. They’ll probably be excited they’ve got someone new to talk to. Kids are like that. I know, I’ve babysat for a lot of brats. And they won’t be brats cause Billie Joe is nice�
“Ok� I said,
“Just chill out� she said, “This is good news. He wouldn’t be introducing you if he didn’t think this thing with you and him was gonna last. You should be excited�
“I am. I’m really excited about him. He’s amazing.�
I told her all about how he surprised me at the airport and our day in San Francisco.
“You are properly smitten,� she said.
“I know�
“I know you’re sitting there with that soppy look on your face�
“What look?� I smiled,
“That ‘so in love’ look�
I laughed,
“I am not. You’re making that look up� I said, “How do you know I’m not sitting here scowling�
“Cause I know you too well,� she said, “By the way, Tom knows about you guys�
“What?� I asked, feeling a stab of guilt, “How?�
“It got out. And it wasn’t my fault, I swear. But it spread round the alternative society like wildfire.�
“How is he?�
“He seemed to take it ok. But I’m not sure. I haven’t seen him much. He’s been out getting pissed a lot and I’m working now, so…but don’t worry. Just maybe, send him an email or something, straighten things out�
“Ok� I said, softly. I hated to think of Tom finding out on the grapevine like that.
“I have to go now cause this is one expensive call, ok Soph? Good luck with the brats�
“Thanks� I said, “Say hi to everyone there for me�
“I will. Newcastle misses you�
“I miss it too,� I said, honestly.
That weekend was really warm. When I got to Billie Joe’s house I could hear the kids playing out in the backyard. Billie Joe opened the door and greeted me with a long kiss.
“You look great� he smiled,
“Thanks� I smiled back, as he took my hand and I followed him into the kitchen where he poured me a cold drink. It was just what I needed. We were standing there talking when the boys walked in.
“Hey� smiled Billie Joe.
“Joey hit the ball over the fence again� said Jakob
Billie rolled his eyes.
“Well, you’ll have to go and ask next door if they’ll give it back�
“Will you go?� Jakob asked, hopefully,
“No…not right now. You hit the ball, you go ask for it. Nicely�
I watched as Joey looked at me like he noticed me for the first time.
“Who are you?� he asked, pointedly.
“This is Sophie� Billie Joe explained, “She’s my friend, she came by to say hi�
“Hi� said Jakob, looking up at me. “Do you wanna come with me to get our ball back?�
I smiled,
“Jake, go with Joey to get the ball� said Billie, messing up his hair.
Joey just kept staring at me.
“I will later. I don’t want to play anymore.� Jakob said. Then he looked at me. “You wanna come see my new goldfish?�
“Sure� I smiled,
He put his hand in mine and started to lead me out of the room. That was too easy, I thought. I glanced back at Joey, who was standing close to Billie Joe looking at me darkly. Something told me he wasn’t going to be as eager to get to know me.
Jakob took me upstairs to his room and introduced me to his five goldfish. He told me all about them and what their names were and which ones were friends and I couldn’t get a word in edgeways. I grinned as I listened to him. He was really cute. I knew I didn’t need to worry about him. When we got back downstairs, Joey was sitting on the worktop in the kitchen having a drink and Billie Joe was on the phone.
“Come on Jake� said Joey, sliding off the worktop, “Lets go get our ball back�
Jakob looked at me,
“Will you come with us…our neighbour is scary sometimes�
“Sure, if you like� I said,
“He isn’t scary,� said Joey, frowning, “You’re just a wuss�
“I am not� protested Jakob, “I want Sophie to come with us�
I looked nervously from one of the boys to the other.
“Maybe I’ll just watch from the driveway� I compromised, “And then if he starts being scary I can come and help you guys out�
“Ok� said Jakob,
“How come you talk funny?� asked Joey, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Joey, don’t be rude� Billie Joe frowned, coming into the kitchen, “She doesn’t talk funny, she has an English accent�
He rolled his eyes at me apologetically.
“You’re from England?� Jakob asked, “We went to England. Daddy was there�
“How come you’re here?� Joey asked me,
“I got a job here� I told him,
“What kind of job?�
Talk about an interrogation.
“Well…I draw stuff for people…�
“Like an artist?� Jakob asked, looking excited,
“Yeah, kind of an artist� I said.
Jakob looked impressed. Joey didn’t. He dragged Jakob off to get the ball and I let out a long breath.
“Are you ok?� Billie Joe asked, putting his arms round me.
I nodded,
“Yeah� I smiled, “I just think Joey might take some winning over�
“I’m really sorry about him� Billie frowned, “He’s just grumpy. I don’t know why. He isn’t normally like this. “
“I know� I said, “I think…he’s not stupid, Billie. He knows we’re not just friends. He’s just defensive. I mean I just turn up here unannounced, I can’t expect him to welcome me with open arms�
Billie Joe nodded, thoughtfully.
“He’ll be ok� he said, “Don’t worry. And Jake is already fine. Everything’ll be alright�
I nodded. I hoped so. Billie Joe looked towards the door to check the boys had gone, then leaned in and kissed me on the lips. I slid my fingers into his hair and kissed him back. I knew he was worth all this.
I didn’t stay at Billie Joe’s that night. We decided it wouldn’t be a good way to win the boys over. But Billie let me drive his car back to San Francisco that evening, which was pretty cool, but a little scary seeing as I wasn’t used to driving on the right. I got honked at by a few people, but decided that Americans were a lot more zealous with their car horns than the English, so it was best not to take offence. I had just got back and was about to make some food when my mobile started ringing. It was a British number, so I answered it eagerly. I knew that hearing another British voice was what I needed right then.
“Caaaaliforniaaaaaaaa!� sang a voice at the other end. “Heeeere we cooooooome…�
I laughed,
“Tom?!�
“Yeah!� he laughed, “Wow! You sound far away�
It was so good to hear his voice again.
“I am far away� I said, smiling, “You sound drunk�
“I am drunk� he said, matter-of-factly, “It’s three in the morning here. I’ve been on this alt society pub crawl….ohh it was messy. It’s fancy dress. I’m Johnny Quest!�
“Johnny Quest…�
“Less Than Jake! I’m wearing a T-shirt that says I think Less Than Jake are sellouts. I made it.�
“That’s awesome� I smiled, “Where are you?�
“In town. With Tim Armstrong and Brody Dalle, otherwise known as Steve and Kirsty. Kirsty’s got her hair all spiked up…its wicked�
“Oh my God� I smiled, feeling so homesick it hurt, “That’s sounds so cool.�
“And Josh…from your band…is Billie Joe Armstrong…and I saw him and thought, hey, that reminds me I should call Sophie, cause she’s a proper rock and roll girlfriend now.�
I felt sick to my stomach.
“Tom…I’m really sorry�
“Hey, its ok. I can see why you didn’t tell me.�
“There just never seemed to be the right time�
“Of course. Hey whatever, I don’t care. I think its cool. I mean, I hear he’s in San Fran with you now right?�
“Well, yeah he lives nearby. We’re…seeing each other.�
“And you’re happy with him?�
“Yeah…I am really happy,� I said, honestly.
“Then that’s cool. It’s awesome. I can’t believe it, but it’s awesome. In fact, I’ve been going round telling everyone that my ex is sleeping with Billie Joe from Green Day. Everyone just thought I was talking drunken crazy shit though.�
“Are you sure you’re ok?�
“Of course. This is my only claim to fame. I mean, I slept with you, then you slept with him. You know, I kind of feel like I’ve had sex with Billie Joe Armstrong too. And that feels good. And you can tell him that from me�
“Right� I smiled, “Tom, I think I’d better call you back another time on the landline. I mean this mobile call is going to cost us both an actual fortune�
“That’s ok, I probably wont remember it tomorrow. By the way, how is San Fran Bay? Remember when I hurled into it that day we were there?�
“Yeah� I smiled, “How could I forget? I bet the seals love you for it�
“Ohhh fuck. I have to go and pee now. I drank a lot of beer tonight. I’m going now�
“Ok Tom� I said, “Say hi to everyone and….get a cab home�
“Don’t worry I can walk. I’m ok. My alcohol tolerance has improved a lot lately�
“Yeah…sounds like it� I said wryly.
“I really, really have to wee now� he said pleadingly.
“Ok, ok, I don’t want to know about that� I said, “Bye�
After I hung up I felt tears come to my eyes. I hadn’t realized quite how much I missed everyone. And Tom sounded so…weird. I had a feeling that when he sobered up he wouldn’t be ok about Billie Joe and me at all. I wished I could talk it over with him face to face, but then maybe things were easier this way. Maybe this distance is what we needed to just get over the whole thing once and for all.
“They’re just kids� she said, “How bad can it be? They probably won’t question it at all, they’re only young. They aren’t going to understand that you’re shagging their dad.�
I smiled, “Delicately put, but good point Ellen� I said.
“How old is the oldest?�
“Eight or nine?�
“Ah, it’ll be fine. They’ll probably be excited they’ve got someone new to talk to. Kids are like that. I know, I’ve babysat for a lot of brats. And they won’t be brats cause Billie Joe is nice�
“Ok� I said,
“Just chill out� she said, “This is good news. He wouldn’t be introducing you if he didn’t think this thing with you and him was gonna last. You should be excited�
“I am. I’m really excited about him. He’s amazing.�
I told her all about how he surprised me at the airport and our day in San Francisco.
“You are properly smitten,� she said.
“I know�
“I know you’re sitting there with that soppy look on your face�
“What look?� I smiled,
“That ‘so in love’ look�
I laughed,
“I am not. You’re making that look up� I said, “How do you know I’m not sitting here scowling�
“Cause I know you too well,� she said, “By the way, Tom knows about you guys�
“What?� I asked, feeling a stab of guilt, “How?�
“It got out. And it wasn’t my fault, I swear. But it spread round the alternative society like wildfire.�
“How is he?�
“He seemed to take it ok. But I’m not sure. I haven’t seen him much. He’s been out getting pissed a lot and I’m working now, so…but don’t worry. Just maybe, send him an email or something, straighten things out�
“Ok� I said, softly. I hated to think of Tom finding out on the grapevine like that.
“I have to go now cause this is one expensive call, ok Soph? Good luck with the brats�
“Thanks� I said, “Say hi to everyone there for me�
“I will. Newcastle misses you�
“I miss it too,� I said, honestly.
That weekend was really warm. When I got to Billie Joe’s house I could hear the kids playing out in the backyard. Billie Joe opened the door and greeted me with a long kiss.
“You look great� he smiled,
“Thanks� I smiled back, as he took my hand and I followed him into the kitchen where he poured me a cold drink. It was just what I needed. We were standing there talking when the boys walked in.
“Hey� smiled Billie Joe.
“Joey hit the ball over the fence again� said Jakob
Billie rolled his eyes.
“Well, you’ll have to go and ask next door if they’ll give it back�
“Will you go?� Jakob asked, hopefully,
“No…not right now. You hit the ball, you go ask for it. Nicely�
I watched as Joey looked at me like he noticed me for the first time.
“Who are you?� he asked, pointedly.
“This is Sophie� Billie Joe explained, “She’s my friend, she came by to say hi�
“Hi� said Jakob, looking up at me. “Do you wanna come with me to get our ball back?�
I smiled,
“Jake, go with Joey to get the ball� said Billie, messing up his hair.
Joey just kept staring at me.
“I will later. I don’t want to play anymore.� Jakob said. Then he looked at me. “You wanna come see my new goldfish?�
“Sure� I smiled,
He put his hand in mine and started to lead me out of the room. That was too easy, I thought. I glanced back at Joey, who was standing close to Billie Joe looking at me darkly. Something told me he wasn’t going to be as eager to get to know me.
Jakob took me upstairs to his room and introduced me to his five goldfish. He told me all about them and what their names were and which ones were friends and I couldn’t get a word in edgeways. I grinned as I listened to him. He was really cute. I knew I didn’t need to worry about him. When we got back downstairs, Joey was sitting on the worktop in the kitchen having a drink and Billie Joe was on the phone.
“Come on Jake� said Joey, sliding off the worktop, “Lets go get our ball back�
Jakob looked at me,
“Will you come with us…our neighbour is scary sometimes�
“Sure, if you like� I said,
“He isn’t scary,� said Joey, frowning, “You’re just a wuss�
“I am not� protested Jakob, “I want Sophie to come with us�
I looked nervously from one of the boys to the other.
“Maybe I’ll just watch from the driveway� I compromised, “And then if he starts being scary I can come and help you guys out�
“Ok� said Jakob,
“How come you talk funny?� asked Joey, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Joey, don’t be rude� Billie Joe frowned, coming into the kitchen, “She doesn’t talk funny, she has an English accent�
He rolled his eyes at me apologetically.
“You’re from England?� Jakob asked, “We went to England. Daddy was there�
“How come you’re here?� Joey asked me,
“I got a job here� I told him,
“What kind of job?�
Talk about an interrogation.
“Well…I draw stuff for people…�
“Like an artist?� Jakob asked, looking excited,
“Yeah, kind of an artist� I said.
Jakob looked impressed. Joey didn’t. He dragged Jakob off to get the ball and I let out a long breath.
“Are you ok?� Billie Joe asked, putting his arms round me.
I nodded,
“Yeah� I smiled, “I just think Joey might take some winning over�
“I’m really sorry about him� Billie frowned, “He’s just grumpy. I don’t know why. He isn’t normally like this. “
“I know� I said, “I think…he’s not stupid, Billie. He knows we’re not just friends. He’s just defensive. I mean I just turn up here unannounced, I can’t expect him to welcome me with open arms�
Billie Joe nodded, thoughtfully.
“He’ll be ok� he said, “Don’t worry. And Jake is already fine. Everything’ll be alright�
I nodded. I hoped so. Billie Joe looked towards the door to check the boys had gone, then leaned in and kissed me on the lips. I slid my fingers into his hair and kissed him back. I knew he was worth all this.
I didn’t stay at Billie Joe’s that night. We decided it wouldn’t be a good way to win the boys over. But Billie let me drive his car back to San Francisco that evening, which was pretty cool, but a little scary seeing as I wasn’t used to driving on the right. I got honked at by a few people, but decided that Americans were a lot more zealous with their car horns than the English, so it was best not to take offence. I had just got back and was about to make some food when my mobile started ringing. It was a British number, so I answered it eagerly. I knew that hearing another British voice was what I needed right then.
“Caaaaliforniaaaaaaaa!� sang a voice at the other end. “Heeeere we cooooooome…�
I laughed,
“Tom?!�
“Yeah!� he laughed, “Wow! You sound far away�
It was so good to hear his voice again.
“I am far away� I said, smiling, “You sound drunk�
“I am drunk� he said, matter-of-factly, “It’s three in the morning here. I’ve been on this alt society pub crawl….ohh it was messy. It’s fancy dress. I’m Johnny Quest!�
“Johnny Quest…�
“Less Than Jake! I’m wearing a T-shirt that says I think Less Than Jake are sellouts. I made it.�
“That’s awesome� I smiled, “Where are you?�
“In town. With Tim Armstrong and Brody Dalle, otherwise known as Steve and Kirsty. Kirsty’s got her hair all spiked up…its wicked�
“Oh my God� I smiled, feeling so homesick it hurt, “That’s sounds so cool.�
“And Josh…from your band…is Billie Joe Armstrong…and I saw him and thought, hey, that reminds me I should call Sophie, cause she’s a proper rock and roll girlfriend now.�
I felt sick to my stomach.
“Tom…I’m really sorry�
“Hey, its ok. I can see why you didn’t tell me.�
“There just never seemed to be the right time�
“Of course. Hey whatever, I don’t care. I think its cool. I mean, I hear he’s in San Fran with you now right?�
“Well, yeah he lives nearby. We’re…seeing each other.�
“And you’re happy with him?�
“Yeah…I am really happy,� I said, honestly.
“Then that’s cool. It’s awesome. I can’t believe it, but it’s awesome. In fact, I’ve been going round telling everyone that my ex is sleeping with Billie Joe from Green Day. Everyone just thought I was talking drunken crazy shit though.�
“Are you sure you’re ok?�
“Of course. This is my only claim to fame. I mean, I slept with you, then you slept with him. You know, I kind of feel like I’ve had sex with Billie Joe Armstrong too. And that feels good. And you can tell him that from me�
“Right� I smiled, “Tom, I think I’d better call you back another time on the landline. I mean this mobile call is going to cost us both an actual fortune�
“That’s ok, I probably wont remember it tomorrow. By the way, how is San Fran Bay? Remember when I hurled into it that day we were there?�
“Yeah� I smiled, “How could I forget? I bet the seals love you for it�
“Ohhh fuck. I have to go and pee now. I drank a lot of beer tonight. I’m going now�
“Ok Tom� I said, “Say hi to everyone and….get a cab home�
“Don’t worry I can walk. I’m ok. My alcohol tolerance has improved a lot lately�
“Yeah…sounds like it� I said wryly.
“I really, really have to wee now� he said pleadingly.
“Ok, ok, I don’t want to know about that� I said, “Bye�
After I hung up I felt tears come to my eyes. I hadn’t realized quite how much I missed everyone. And Tom sounded so…weird. I had a feeling that when he sobered up he wouldn’t be ok about Billie Joe and me at all. I wished I could talk it over with him face to face, but then maybe things were easier this way. Maybe this distance is what we needed to just get over the whole thing once and for all.
