When There's No Such Things As Heroes.., chapter 1
"Thank you! You've all been great!" shouted Billie into the mic. The crowd was still screaming for more Green Day but it was over.
Billie walked back stage, handed his guitar to the tech and headed for the change rooms.
"That was fucking awesome guys!" said Billie as he entered the change rooms.
"I reckon, here have a beer." said Tre, handing Billie a bottle. Just as he was about to open it, the guitar pick around his neck began to sing 'Minority'.
"Oh God! This cannot be happening! We just finished a show!" yelled Tre, dropping his beer.
Billie sighed and took off the chain. He pressed the center of the guitar pick and a male's voice began to brief Green Day on their next mission.
"Sorry guys, bad timing I know, but Team Emo are lose. Captain Wannabe is brainwashing teens with thoughtful lyrics that make other Emo's cry. He must be stopped. I have reports of fans liking both Green Day and Simple Plan. Team Minority, its time to finish Pierre off once and for all. I'm sending his location. Please stop him before more of your fans turn to the 'dark side'.." he said.
"Fucking great! Captain Wannabe again? Jesus! How many times do we have to beat this fucker!? He sucks, can't he just face that?" said Mike.
"I know, I know. Look, we might as well just get this mission over and done with. Outfits on then we are out of here. In the tunnel in 5 guys!" said Billie, clapping his hands as each followed his orders and went to get changed.
Billie walked into a room marked 'Billie'. The light inside was green which sent an eerie glow over everything. Ever since they had taken up the fight against people such as Simple Plan, they had installed these special change rooms at their main concert arenas. There was a fireman's pole located next to the door. Billie hooked his leg around the bright red pole and began to descend quite rapidly down it into his lair.
Meanwhile, Mike and Tre entered similar rooms and swung down the poles to join Billie in the 'tunnel'.
When Billie reached the bottom, he was dressed in his Team Minority outfit: black button up shirt with the 'M' logo on the back, black leather pants with a studded belt and his black converses. Green Day, but in Billie's point of view - Himself, had designed the outfit for their team.
At the end of the pole, Billie grabbed his mask from the table and began the sprint to his motorbike. At the end of his tunnel, Mike entered from the right and Tre from the left, each wearing the same uniform as they raced to their motorbikes.
As they mounted the bikes and started the ignitions, Tre asked the question that he always asked.
"Do you think these leather pants make my butt look big?"
"Tre! For the last time NO!" yelled Mike from Billie's right.
"Lets Go." said Billie, revving the bike before speeding from the tunnel out into the streets of California.
The streets were empty. Only every few minutes they passed a car, but they paid no attention to them. They sped to the co-ordinates on the screens of the body of the bike that the man had given them. They arrived at the small concert on a street packed with cars. They could hear Pierre's voice from outside. They parked the bikes in the alley and they prepared themselves for the challenge ahead.
"Ok. We storm this place. Team Emo is inside but they are no match for us. You know we can beat them. So lets get in there and show them Emo's what it means to be a rock star!" yelled Billie. Mike and Tre loudly agreed and together they sung the chorus to Minority - Because it was the team song.
As Mike knocked down the back door, the music from the song 'Welcome To My Life' came and met their ears.
"I fucking hate that song!" yelled Tre. Mike agreed and said that the bass line was shit. Billie said the guitarist didn't eve know what chords he was probably playing. After this musical discussion, they crept along one of the back stage hallways.
"Ok, what now?" whispered Mike as he re-adjusted his mask.
"We beat the shit out of them Emo's!" said Billie.
"I second that!" said Tre grinning.
Billie unlocked the door and it swung on the rusty hinges back towards them, revealing a dank basement type of room, almost completely pitch black except for the strobe and spot lights flying around the room, obviously trying to focus on the band members up on stage.
Pierre was belting out a long note during the song as the other band members lamely played their instruments.
"You don't know what its like to be like meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" sand Pierre.
"Fuck, I don't want to know." said Tre. Billie and Mike briefly laughed before stepping into the crowd. No one took any notice of the 3 masked figures. The crowd was too busy singing along, yelling out things like "I love you!" or crying over something that Billie didn't understand.
"Ok, Mike, you take the back two. Tre, take that fucking awful drummer and that guitarist. Leave Pierre to me." ordered Billie was a very serious look on his face.
All three of them went their separate ways. Mike went round the side to take care of the bassist and the other guitarist. Tre round the back to get the drummer and the guitarist near him.
As for Billie, he stayed in the crowd, starring up at Pierre.
'His lyrics are shit' thought Billie. Pierre was now leaning over the side of the stage, touching fans' hands.
'How can so many people like Simple Plan? ' raged Billie inside his head. Anger and hate coursed through his body.
Before he became a superhero, Billie didn't mind Simple Plan. They got along ok, but ever since they were told about the dangers of them and their emo ways, Billie had a constantly growing resentment.
Billie saw Tre put the 'American Idiot' tape into the player as Mike switched off the instruments and amps. The sudden change of music brought Billie back to the present. The opening guitar sounds to 'American Idiot' could be heard and out of nowhere, Mike and Tre attacked.
"What's this shit?" Billie heard Pierre say before Billie leaped. He pushed off hard from the floor with his converses and lunged at Captain Wannabe with all his strength. He landed on top of him, startling Pierre quite a bit.
"Hello Pierre, or should I say Captain Wannabe?" sneered Billie.
"Well, Well. If it isn't my good pal Captain Hotpants!" whispered Pierre.
"Its Captain Danger to you, Emo!" said Billie.
"You ready for a re-match pretty boy?" laughed Pierre.
"Fucking bring it, Wannabe." said Billie, rolling off Pierre so that they could fight fair.
Mike easily took out the horrible bassist and guitarist and was now trying to direct the hundreds of hysterical fans out the door, safely as possible.
Tre had decided to take the guitarist first and leave that God awful drummer till last. As Tre smashed the drummers' head through the snare, he saw Billie and Pierre sizing each other up.
"I'm going to break your nose and scar your face so bad that not one teenie will want you!" yelled Pierre.
"Really? Well I don't think me hitting your face will make much difference - It's already fucked up!" said Billie, standing his ground.
Suddenly enraged, Pierre took a swing at Billie, but he easily ducked.
"To slow emo!" laughed Billie.
"Wanna bet, Danger?" whispered Pierre as he opened and completed a round house kick, right to Billie's stomach. Billie flew across the room, landing next to the mic.
He picked it up and swung it high over his head. He then aimed it at Pierre, narrowly missing. Pierre came back for more and he belted Billie again and again, and each time was he was flung across the room by an emo.
Tre and Mike didn't step in. They knew this was Billie's fight and he would only get angry if they helped him.
"Face it Captain Hotpants, you're no match for me." yelled Pierre with a smile on his face like he had already won the fight.
Billie looked up from his place on the ground and wiped the blood away from his mouth. His mask had come off and his uniform was torn in several places. His body ached all over from the constant beating and he could feel the bruises already starting to form.
He stood up with some difficulty and told Pierre what Pierre had always told him.
"This isn't over." And Billie simply walked away, Mike and Tre solemnly following behind.
Jumping on his motorbike, Billie felt ashamed. Pierre had beaten him. He felt worthless. He sped away from the building, away from his best friends, away from Pierre. Billie just wanted someone to tell him everything was going to be ok, someone to relieve the pressure of the fight from his shoulders.
Mike and Tre sat on their bikes, watching Billie driving like a maniac as he sped in the direction of home.
"What's his problem?" asked Tre.
"Dunno. But I have to get home. Brittany is waiting.." said Mike.
"Same. Night Mike" said Tre as he started his bike.
"Night Tre." said Mike as he revved his bike then sped off east of the way that Billie had went.
As Billie pulled up to his driveway, he could seen the bedroom light still on.
'Adrienne' thought Billie. He sighed. He wasn't looking forward to seeing his wife in the state he was in now. He would have to make up an excuse as to why he was so beaten up. He unlocked the front door and dumped his jacket and car keys on the lounge as he headed upstairs.
"Billie?" said Adrienne just as he turned the corner to their bedroom.
"It's me. I'm home. Sorry I'm late honey." he said, kissing her on the cheek.
"Oh my goodness, Billie what happened to you?" said Adrienne, jumping up to examine his cuts and bruises.
"Ah, some fans got a little out of hand at the concert, nothing too drastic." he said simply like he was in no pain at all.
"Are you okay?" she said worriedly, running her hand through his hair.
"I'm fine, now lets get some sleep." he said, stripping to his boxers and climbing into bed beside Adrienne.
"Night." she said, giving him a quick peck on the lips.
"Night." he said, turning his back to his wife.
It took Adi about 10 minutes to fall asleep, but Billie didn't get to sleep til much later. Images of the fight came back, floating through Billie's vision.. Pierre's mocking laugh, the pain of continuously smashing against the wall and worst of all, Pierre's happiness when he had beat Billie.
'Next time he won't be around to mock me.." thought Billie.
He lay in bed still thinking about the events of the day and where he went wrong and how he could improve. What were Simple Plan's weaknesses? He finally fell asleep sometimes after concocting a plan to defeat Captain Wannabe.
***
The next day, Billie woke early and went for a walk. He planned on meeting Tre and Mike later to discuss defeating Team Emo.
So; at lunch time, Billie went to Mike's house so they could al talk privately.
"Hey" said Mike as he opened the door to let Billie in.
"Hey, is Tre here?" asked Billie.
"He's here alright!" said Tre walking out the kitchen, stuffing his face with some kinda of chips.
"Ok, lets get to it." said Billie, making his way to the lounge room where they all sat on the sofa's and began planning.
"What did you have in mind Bill?" asked Mike.
"Ok. Well, this plan is more 'in-depth' than any of our previous plans. Tre, you're cross dressing. I need you to strip or lap dance a couple members of Simple Plan. Mike, I need you to bar tend. Slip something in their drinks. I need time alone with Pierre." said Billie, looking at both of them in turn.
Tre looked excited. The thought of cross dressing for a reason then stripping pleased Tre a great deal.
Mike was quiet. He wasn't entirely sure of drugging people, but if that's what Billie wanted, then Mike would do it.
"What are you gonna do to him?" asked Mike with a worried look on his face.
Billie was silent for a moment. "Finish him off."
The rest of their meeting was spent discussing tactics, strategies and moves. They planned the attack Simple Plan in 2 weeks time. Simple Plan were holding an after party from one of their concerts and that's when Team Minority would strike.
The next two weeks of Billie's life was spent in what could only be described as perfect. He spent the days playing with Joey and Jacob and spent the night cuddled up by his wife. He spent an hour every day teaching Joey the guitar and helped Jacob do his homework and took him to the park afterwards. But there was something plaguing the back of his mind. Why was he spending all this time with his family? He never done it before. To him, it felt like he was saying goodbye to his family. Like he was going to die.
But he wasn't going to die. He was going to defeat Pierre and come home to his family and spend the rest of his life doing the things in life worth doing.
He felt like nothing could bring him down during those 2 weeks.
But the two weeks weren't long enough and the time to finish Pierre off came around, and this time, Billie was ready for it.
***
At the beginning of the Simple Plan concert, Billie, Mike and Tre met at Mike's house to go through their plan one last time.
"Are you sure about this Bill?" asked Mike, looking Billie in the eyes.
"Mike, this is what we have to do. After tonight, there won't be any more Team Emo to worry about." Billie said.
After discussing the plan again, Mike and Tre went to get changed for the plan. Billie was already in his Team Minority uniform and he sat patiently on the couch until Tre came out.
Tre was dressed in a pink mini dress with a long blonde wig. He has put on make-up and painted his nails. He was a pretty convincing girl.
"Wow, Tre, good work!" said Billie, studying Tre again.
"You think so?" he said, fixing his fake breasts.
"Yeah, its awesome. You'll convince them that you're a girl with no trouble." said Billie smiling.
Mike stepped our from the bedroom and into the kitchen dressed as a bar tender.
"Dude, you look professional." said Billie.
Mike had his hair ruffled up all over the place and he had a black shirt and black pants on.
"Thanks, are we going?" said Mike.
"Yeah, Tre, you ready?" asked Billie.
"Uh-huh. And it's Tina, not Tre." said Tre laughing.
At the venue, the concert had just finished and the after party had started.
"We better get in there." said Mike, looking to Tre.
"Yeah.." he said.
"Ok, Cya guys. If the worst should happen, I just wanna tell you that you two are the best friends a man can ask for." said Billie, smiling.
"Billie, you'll be fine." said Mike, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Thanks. I'll meet you all later." said Billie, heading to the queue. Mike and Tre headed round the back to the staff entrance.
Billie got in the venue pretty fast, considering he was the lead singer of Green Day. Billie wasn't wearing his mask but he had the other elements of the uniform on.
Once inside, Billie scouted the area for Pierre. He was talking with some producers. Billie looked towards the bar and saw Mike begin his work. Tre or 'Tina' was parading around the room, clearly loving the looks he was attracting.
Billie hadn't spotted Pierre for some time, and he was dying for a smoke. Billie began the climb up the stairs to the roof. Once up on the 5 storey building, he lit up his smoke. The smoke filled his lungs and brought instant relief.
Walking to the edge of the building, Billie got a better view of the city. The street lights were steadily burning and people went about their business on the street.
"Captain Hotpants! Good to see you could make it." sneered Pierre from behind Billie.
Billie slowly turned around to face him.
"Ready for a re-match?" asked Billie slowly.
"Oh, a rematch, or a repeat of last time?" asked Pierre.
"I heard that seeing someone fall from a 5 storey building is pretty gruesome, but I'll do my best." said Billie laughing.
"Well, I hope you have learned how to fly then, pretty boy." said Pierre.
The fight was on. This time they were evenly matched. Each of Billie's kicks were blocked, as were Pierre's punches. This process of lunging then retreating continued for a while before they both broke apart to rest.
"Face it Billie! You'll never beat me!" yelled Pierre.
"I can and will. I'm better than you at everything!" screamed Billie.
"That's not what 80 said." said Pierre, laughing.
Billie looked at Pierre in shock. Him and Adrienne?
"Yeah Billie, me and Adrienne. She said I was better than you!" yelled Pierre.
Billie could feel his blood boiling. He was going to pay for that. Billie lunged at Pierre but Pierre had been expecting it and he used Billie's momentum against and Billie was pushed over the edge of the building. Falling for Billie seemed to take forever, but he finally hit.
He lifted himself off the cold floor. He wasn't dead? He opened his eyes and stood up. He was in a pale yellow room with an open window and a bed... A bed with restraints.
"What's going on?" said a woman, entering the room and looking at Billie.
"Billie, you're awake!" she cooed, like she was talking to a baby.
"Where am I?" he asked, starting to get annoyed and slightly angry.
"Billie, we've been through this before. You are in a home for sick people." she said calmly.
"Where is Mike and Tre?!" screamed Billie.
"Billie! Calm down please. There is no one called 'Mike' and 'Tre'. You made them up." she said simply.
"What?! No I didn't! Let me out of here!" he yelled, trying to run to the door but 2 security guards grabbed him and hauled him to the bed, in which he was strapped to by the restraints.
"Help! There's been a mistake! I'm a member of Green Day! I'm Billie Joe Armstrong!" he yelled, struggling against the bonds that tied him down.
"Of course you are dear." said the nurse as she came over and injected something into Billie that produced a cold sensation as it traveled along his veins.
"I.. I'm a guitar legend... I.. Sing in Green Day...." he said sleepily.
As he was drifting into the black nothingness of sleep, he could hear two nurses talking about him.
"Poor guy. He hasn't been the same since his little brother Pierre died in a car accident. He thinks he is some kind of 'hero' and he's in a famous band. I feel really sorry for him." she said sadly.
Billie then slipped into his slumber.
***
Billie woke each day and asked the nurses of the whereabouts of his 2 best friends. She said that no one with those names knew Billie.
Billie knew that what had happened wasn't fake and he was determined to find them. So, he planned his escape for Friday. He snuck out of his room and to the office. The nurse was on her break so Billie looked through the log book til he got to 2 names he knew.
101) Michael Ryan Pritchard Room 304
104) Frank Edwin Wright III Room 307
Billie's heart was beating furiously as he ran the corridors of the institute til he reached Mike's room.
He peered through the small window of the locked door and what met his eyes was Mike lying on the bed starring at the ceiling. Every so often he would blink but apart from that he didn't move. Billie ran to room 307 and looked through the window at Tre. He was running around the room like a lunatic (which he probably was), screaming things at no one in particular. When Billie listened closely, he understood that it was a song that Tre was singing. Not just any song, but Basket Case. Billie recognized it instantly. So, Tre did remember being in Green Day! This was enough for Billie, and he decided to go and talk to Mike. He unlocked the door and walked over to Mike.
Mike looked over to Billie and his eyes widened.
"Billie?" he said uncertainly.
"Mike! I'm so glad that you're here." said Billie, crying for the first time he could remember. He was so happy to not be dreaming this and that he had his best friend with him.
"I drugged them Billie.. I drugged them all.." said Mike, starring back at the ceiling.
"And I got killed. Pierre pushed me off the side of the building." said Billie, and this got Mike's attention.
"Where's Tre?" asked Mike, looking back to Billie.
"A couple of rooms down. But we need to get out of here. Do you know how long its been from the fight til now?" asked Billie.
"Nope," said Mike, "Can you undo these restraints please? I'm not dangerous.."
"Oh, sorry.." said Billie, unlatching them so Mike could get up.
They proceeded down the hall to Tre's room. He was still running around his room. Billie unlocked his door and him and Mike stepped inside.
"I think I'm cracking up. Am I just paranoid? I'm just ston-" he then caught sight of Billie and Mike.
"Hey Tre." said Billie, smiling just like old times.
"You- You're real?" he said, walking over to them.
"Uh-huh. Remember the last mission we had together? And you cross dressed? Well, something happened and we were all put in here.." said Billie.
"So, I really am good at banging things! I knew it!" said Tre excitedly.
"Whatever you say, man." said Mike, cracking a smile as Tre starting humming to himself.
"Don't, you sound crazy.." said Billie.
"Well, we ARE in a mental institution.." said Tre laughing.
Tre grabbed both Mike and Billie and hugged them. Billie felt all of his memories come back and he once again felt the security that comes from being near your friends.
"Now, lets find out what they've done with us!" said Billie, leading the way out of Tre's room and back into the hall.
"Look who's woken up... Captain Hotpants.."
Billie walked back stage, handed his guitar to the tech and headed for the change rooms.
"That was fucking awesome guys!" said Billie as he entered the change rooms.
"I reckon, here have a beer." said Tre, handing Billie a bottle. Just as he was about to open it, the guitar pick around his neck began to sing 'Minority'.
"Oh God! This cannot be happening! We just finished a show!" yelled Tre, dropping his beer.
Billie sighed and took off the chain. He pressed the center of the guitar pick and a male's voice began to brief Green Day on their next mission.
"Sorry guys, bad timing I know, but Team Emo are lose. Captain Wannabe is brainwashing teens with thoughtful lyrics that make other Emo's cry. He must be stopped. I have reports of fans liking both Green Day and Simple Plan. Team Minority, its time to finish Pierre off once and for all. I'm sending his location. Please stop him before more of your fans turn to the 'dark side'.." he said.
"Fucking great! Captain Wannabe again? Jesus! How many times do we have to beat this fucker!? He sucks, can't he just face that?" said Mike.
"I know, I know. Look, we might as well just get this mission over and done with. Outfits on then we are out of here. In the tunnel in 5 guys!" said Billie, clapping his hands as each followed his orders and went to get changed.
Billie walked into a room marked 'Billie'. The light inside was green which sent an eerie glow over everything. Ever since they had taken up the fight against people such as Simple Plan, they had installed these special change rooms at their main concert arenas. There was a fireman's pole located next to the door. Billie hooked his leg around the bright red pole and began to descend quite rapidly down it into his lair.
Meanwhile, Mike and Tre entered similar rooms and swung down the poles to join Billie in the 'tunnel'.
When Billie reached the bottom, he was dressed in his Team Minority outfit: black button up shirt with the 'M' logo on the back, black leather pants with a studded belt and his black converses. Green Day, but in Billie's point of view - Himself, had designed the outfit for their team.
At the end of the pole, Billie grabbed his mask from the table and began the sprint to his motorbike. At the end of his tunnel, Mike entered from the right and Tre from the left, each wearing the same uniform as they raced to their motorbikes.
As they mounted the bikes and started the ignitions, Tre asked the question that he always asked.
"Do you think these leather pants make my butt look big?"
"Tre! For the last time NO!" yelled Mike from Billie's right.
"Lets Go." said Billie, revving the bike before speeding from the tunnel out into the streets of California.
The streets were empty. Only every few minutes they passed a car, but they paid no attention to them. They sped to the co-ordinates on the screens of the body of the bike that the man had given them. They arrived at the small concert on a street packed with cars. They could hear Pierre's voice from outside. They parked the bikes in the alley and they prepared themselves for the challenge ahead.
"Ok. We storm this place. Team Emo is inside but they are no match for us. You know we can beat them. So lets get in there and show them Emo's what it means to be a rock star!" yelled Billie. Mike and Tre loudly agreed and together they sung the chorus to Minority - Because it was the team song.
As Mike knocked down the back door, the music from the song 'Welcome To My Life' came and met their ears.
"I fucking hate that song!" yelled Tre. Mike agreed and said that the bass line was shit. Billie said the guitarist didn't eve know what chords he was probably playing. After this musical discussion, they crept along one of the back stage hallways.
"Ok, what now?" whispered Mike as he re-adjusted his mask.
"We beat the shit out of them Emo's!" said Billie.
"I second that!" said Tre grinning.
Billie unlocked the door and it swung on the rusty hinges back towards them, revealing a dank basement type of room, almost completely pitch black except for the strobe and spot lights flying around the room, obviously trying to focus on the band members up on stage.
Pierre was belting out a long note during the song as the other band members lamely played their instruments.
"You don't know what its like to be like meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" sand Pierre.
"Fuck, I don't want to know." said Tre. Billie and Mike briefly laughed before stepping into the crowd. No one took any notice of the 3 masked figures. The crowd was too busy singing along, yelling out things like "I love you!" or crying over something that Billie didn't understand.
"Ok, Mike, you take the back two. Tre, take that fucking awful drummer and that guitarist. Leave Pierre to me." ordered Billie was a very serious look on his face.
All three of them went their separate ways. Mike went round the side to take care of the bassist and the other guitarist. Tre round the back to get the drummer and the guitarist near him.
As for Billie, he stayed in the crowd, starring up at Pierre.
'His lyrics are shit' thought Billie. Pierre was now leaning over the side of the stage, touching fans' hands.
'How can so many people like Simple Plan? ' raged Billie inside his head. Anger and hate coursed through his body.
Before he became a superhero, Billie didn't mind Simple Plan. They got along ok, but ever since they were told about the dangers of them and their emo ways, Billie had a constantly growing resentment.
Billie saw Tre put the 'American Idiot' tape into the player as Mike switched off the instruments and amps. The sudden change of music brought Billie back to the present. The opening guitar sounds to 'American Idiot' could be heard and out of nowhere, Mike and Tre attacked.
"What's this shit?" Billie heard Pierre say before Billie leaped. He pushed off hard from the floor with his converses and lunged at Captain Wannabe with all his strength. He landed on top of him, startling Pierre quite a bit.
"Hello Pierre, or should I say Captain Wannabe?" sneered Billie.
"Well, Well. If it isn't my good pal Captain Hotpants!" whispered Pierre.
"Its Captain Danger to you, Emo!" said Billie.
"You ready for a re-match pretty boy?" laughed Pierre.
"Fucking bring it, Wannabe." said Billie, rolling off Pierre so that they could fight fair.
Mike easily took out the horrible bassist and guitarist and was now trying to direct the hundreds of hysterical fans out the door, safely as possible.
Tre had decided to take the guitarist first and leave that God awful drummer till last. As Tre smashed the drummers' head through the snare, he saw Billie and Pierre sizing each other up.
"I'm going to break your nose and scar your face so bad that not one teenie will want you!" yelled Pierre.
"Really? Well I don't think me hitting your face will make much difference - It's already fucked up!" said Billie, standing his ground.
Suddenly enraged, Pierre took a swing at Billie, but he easily ducked.
"To slow emo!" laughed Billie.
"Wanna bet, Danger?" whispered Pierre as he opened and completed a round house kick, right to Billie's stomach. Billie flew across the room, landing next to the mic.
He picked it up and swung it high over his head. He then aimed it at Pierre, narrowly missing. Pierre came back for more and he belted Billie again and again, and each time was he was flung across the room by an emo.
Tre and Mike didn't step in. They knew this was Billie's fight and he would only get angry if they helped him.
"Face it Captain Hotpants, you're no match for me." yelled Pierre with a smile on his face like he had already won the fight.
Billie looked up from his place on the ground and wiped the blood away from his mouth. His mask had come off and his uniform was torn in several places. His body ached all over from the constant beating and he could feel the bruises already starting to form.
He stood up with some difficulty and told Pierre what Pierre had always told him.
"This isn't over." And Billie simply walked away, Mike and Tre solemnly following behind.
Jumping on his motorbike, Billie felt ashamed. Pierre had beaten him. He felt worthless. He sped away from the building, away from his best friends, away from Pierre. Billie just wanted someone to tell him everything was going to be ok, someone to relieve the pressure of the fight from his shoulders.
Mike and Tre sat on their bikes, watching Billie driving like a maniac as he sped in the direction of home.
"What's his problem?" asked Tre.
"Dunno. But I have to get home. Brittany is waiting.." said Mike.
"Same. Night Mike" said Tre as he started his bike.
"Night Tre." said Mike as he revved his bike then sped off east of the way that Billie had went.
As Billie pulled up to his driveway, he could seen the bedroom light still on.
'Adrienne' thought Billie. He sighed. He wasn't looking forward to seeing his wife in the state he was in now. He would have to make up an excuse as to why he was so beaten up. He unlocked the front door and dumped his jacket and car keys on the lounge as he headed upstairs.
"Billie?" said Adrienne just as he turned the corner to their bedroom.
"It's me. I'm home. Sorry I'm late honey." he said, kissing her on the cheek.
"Oh my goodness, Billie what happened to you?" said Adrienne, jumping up to examine his cuts and bruises.
"Ah, some fans got a little out of hand at the concert, nothing too drastic." he said simply like he was in no pain at all.
"Are you okay?" she said worriedly, running her hand through his hair.
"I'm fine, now lets get some sleep." he said, stripping to his boxers and climbing into bed beside Adrienne.
"Night." she said, giving him a quick peck on the lips.
"Night." he said, turning his back to his wife.
It took Adi about 10 minutes to fall asleep, but Billie didn't get to sleep til much later. Images of the fight came back, floating through Billie's vision.. Pierre's mocking laugh, the pain of continuously smashing against the wall and worst of all, Pierre's happiness when he had beat Billie.
'Next time he won't be around to mock me.." thought Billie.
He lay in bed still thinking about the events of the day and where he went wrong and how he could improve. What were Simple Plan's weaknesses? He finally fell asleep sometimes after concocting a plan to defeat Captain Wannabe.
***
The next day, Billie woke early and went for a walk. He planned on meeting Tre and Mike later to discuss defeating Team Emo.
So; at lunch time, Billie went to Mike's house so they could al talk privately.
"Hey" said Mike as he opened the door to let Billie in.
"Hey, is Tre here?" asked Billie.
"He's here alright!" said Tre walking out the kitchen, stuffing his face with some kinda of chips.
"Ok, lets get to it." said Billie, making his way to the lounge room where they all sat on the sofa's and began planning.
"What did you have in mind Bill?" asked Mike.
"Ok. Well, this plan is more 'in-depth' than any of our previous plans. Tre, you're cross dressing. I need you to strip or lap dance a couple members of Simple Plan. Mike, I need you to bar tend. Slip something in their drinks. I need time alone with Pierre." said Billie, looking at both of them in turn.
Tre looked excited. The thought of cross dressing for a reason then stripping pleased Tre a great deal.
Mike was quiet. He wasn't entirely sure of drugging people, but if that's what Billie wanted, then Mike would do it.
"What are you gonna do to him?" asked Mike with a worried look on his face.
Billie was silent for a moment. "Finish him off."
The rest of their meeting was spent discussing tactics, strategies and moves. They planned the attack Simple Plan in 2 weeks time. Simple Plan were holding an after party from one of their concerts and that's when Team Minority would strike.
The next two weeks of Billie's life was spent in what could only be described as perfect. He spent the days playing with Joey and Jacob and spent the night cuddled up by his wife. He spent an hour every day teaching Joey the guitar and helped Jacob do his homework and took him to the park afterwards. But there was something plaguing the back of his mind. Why was he spending all this time with his family? He never done it before. To him, it felt like he was saying goodbye to his family. Like he was going to die.
But he wasn't going to die. He was going to defeat Pierre and come home to his family and spend the rest of his life doing the things in life worth doing.
He felt like nothing could bring him down during those 2 weeks.
But the two weeks weren't long enough and the time to finish Pierre off came around, and this time, Billie was ready for it.
***
At the beginning of the Simple Plan concert, Billie, Mike and Tre met at Mike's house to go through their plan one last time.
"Are you sure about this Bill?" asked Mike, looking Billie in the eyes.
"Mike, this is what we have to do. After tonight, there won't be any more Team Emo to worry about." Billie said.
After discussing the plan again, Mike and Tre went to get changed for the plan. Billie was already in his Team Minority uniform and he sat patiently on the couch until Tre came out.
Tre was dressed in a pink mini dress with a long blonde wig. He has put on make-up and painted his nails. He was a pretty convincing girl.
"Wow, Tre, good work!" said Billie, studying Tre again.
"You think so?" he said, fixing his fake breasts.
"Yeah, its awesome. You'll convince them that you're a girl with no trouble." said Billie smiling.
Mike stepped our from the bedroom and into the kitchen dressed as a bar tender.
"Dude, you look professional." said Billie.
Mike had his hair ruffled up all over the place and he had a black shirt and black pants on.
"Thanks, are we going?" said Mike.
"Yeah, Tre, you ready?" asked Billie.
"Uh-huh. And it's Tina, not Tre." said Tre laughing.
At the venue, the concert had just finished and the after party had started.
"We better get in there." said Mike, looking to Tre.
"Yeah.." he said.
"Ok, Cya guys. If the worst should happen, I just wanna tell you that you two are the best friends a man can ask for." said Billie, smiling.
"Billie, you'll be fine." said Mike, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Thanks. I'll meet you all later." said Billie, heading to the queue. Mike and Tre headed round the back to the staff entrance.
Billie got in the venue pretty fast, considering he was the lead singer of Green Day. Billie wasn't wearing his mask but he had the other elements of the uniform on.
Once inside, Billie scouted the area for Pierre. He was talking with some producers. Billie looked towards the bar and saw Mike begin his work. Tre or 'Tina' was parading around the room, clearly loving the looks he was attracting.
Billie hadn't spotted Pierre for some time, and he was dying for a smoke. Billie began the climb up the stairs to the roof. Once up on the 5 storey building, he lit up his smoke. The smoke filled his lungs and brought instant relief.
Walking to the edge of the building, Billie got a better view of the city. The street lights were steadily burning and people went about their business on the street.
"Captain Hotpants! Good to see you could make it." sneered Pierre from behind Billie.
Billie slowly turned around to face him.
"Ready for a re-match?" asked Billie slowly.
"Oh, a rematch, or a repeat of last time?" asked Pierre.
"I heard that seeing someone fall from a 5 storey building is pretty gruesome, but I'll do my best." said Billie laughing.
"Well, I hope you have learned how to fly then, pretty boy." said Pierre.
The fight was on. This time they were evenly matched. Each of Billie's kicks were blocked, as were Pierre's punches. This process of lunging then retreating continued for a while before they both broke apart to rest.
"Face it Billie! You'll never beat me!" yelled Pierre.
"I can and will. I'm better than you at everything!" screamed Billie.
"That's not what 80 said." said Pierre, laughing.
Billie looked at Pierre in shock. Him and Adrienne?
"Yeah Billie, me and Adrienne. She said I was better than you!" yelled Pierre.
Billie could feel his blood boiling. He was going to pay for that. Billie lunged at Pierre but Pierre had been expecting it and he used Billie's momentum against and Billie was pushed over the edge of the building. Falling for Billie seemed to take forever, but he finally hit.
He lifted himself off the cold floor. He wasn't dead? He opened his eyes and stood up. He was in a pale yellow room with an open window and a bed... A bed with restraints.
"What's going on?" said a woman, entering the room and looking at Billie.
"Billie, you're awake!" she cooed, like she was talking to a baby.
"Where am I?" he asked, starting to get annoyed and slightly angry.
"Billie, we've been through this before. You are in a home for sick people." she said calmly.
"Where is Mike and Tre?!" screamed Billie.
"Billie! Calm down please. There is no one called 'Mike' and 'Tre'. You made them up." she said simply.
"What?! No I didn't! Let me out of here!" he yelled, trying to run to the door but 2 security guards grabbed him and hauled him to the bed, in which he was strapped to by the restraints.
"Help! There's been a mistake! I'm a member of Green Day! I'm Billie Joe Armstrong!" he yelled, struggling against the bonds that tied him down.
"Of course you are dear." said the nurse as she came over and injected something into Billie that produced a cold sensation as it traveled along his veins.
"I.. I'm a guitar legend... I.. Sing in Green Day...." he said sleepily.
As he was drifting into the black nothingness of sleep, he could hear two nurses talking about him.
"Poor guy. He hasn't been the same since his little brother Pierre died in a car accident. He thinks he is some kind of 'hero' and he's in a famous band. I feel really sorry for him." she said sadly.
Billie then slipped into his slumber.
***
Billie woke each day and asked the nurses of the whereabouts of his 2 best friends. She said that no one with those names knew Billie.
Billie knew that what had happened wasn't fake and he was determined to find them. So, he planned his escape for Friday. He snuck out of his room and to the office. The nurse was on her break so Billie looked through the log book til he got to 2 names he knew.
101) Michael Ryan Pritchard Room 304
104) Frank Edwin Wright III Room 307
Billie's heart was beating furiously as he ran the corridors of the institute til he reached Mike's room.
He peered through the small window of the locked door and what met his eyes was Mike lying on the bed starring at the ceiling. Every so often he would blink but apart from that he didn't move. Billie ran to room 307 and looked through the window at Tre. He was running around the room like a lunatic (which he probably was), screaming things at no one in particular. When Billie listened closely, he understood that it was a song that Tre was singing. Not just any song, but Basket Case. Billie recognized it instantly. So, Tre did remember being in Green Day! This was enough for Billie, and he decided to go and talk to Mike. He unlocked the door and walked over to Mike.
Mike looked over to Billie and his eyes widened.
"Billie?" he said uncertainly.
"Mike! I'm so glad that you're here." said Billie, crying for the first time he could remember. He was so happy to not be dreaming this and that he had his best friend with him.
"I drugged them Billie.. I drugged them all.." said Mike, starring back at the ceiling.
"And I got killed. Pierre pushed me off the side of the building." said Billie, and this got Mike's attention.
"Where's Tre?" asked Mike, looking back to Billie.
"A couple of rooms down. But we need to get out of here. Do you know how long its been from the fight til now?" asked Billie.
"Nope," said Mike, "Can you undo these restraints please? I'm not dangerous.."
"Oh, sorry.." said Billie, unlatching them so Mike could get up.
They proceeded down the hall to Tre's room. He was still running around his room. Billie unlocked his door and him and Mike stepped inside.
"I think I'm cracking up. Am I just paranoid? I'm just ston-" he then caught sight of Billie and Mike.
"Hey Tre." said Billie, smiling just like old times.
"You- You're real?" he said, walking over to them.
"Uh-huh. Remember the last mission we had together? And you cross dressed? Well, something happened and we were all put in here.." said Billie.
"So, I really am good at banging things! I knew it!" said Tre excitedly.
"Whatever you say, man." said Mike, cracking a smile as Tre starting humming to himself.
"Don't, you sound crazy.." said Billie.
"Well, we ARE in a mental institution.." said Tre laughing.
Tre grabbed both Mike and Billie and hugged them. Billie felt all of his memories come back and he once again felt the security that comes from being near your friends.
"Now, lets find out what they've done with us!" said Billie, leading the way out of Tre's room and back into the hall.
"Look who's woken up... Captain Hotpants.."
