So Go Ahead and Kill Yourself! It All Amuses Me, chapter 15
Still in Oakland
The house is alive with the hustle and bustle of the morning after. The sounds of bacon sizzling in the pan, the chitter chatter, rumbling stomachs and radio echo from the kitchen. Smells of delicious and delectable origin drifted through the house, exciting the taste buds.
This had a particular effect upon the forms of two friends, slumped against each other. Mike's nose twitched as the sweet smell reached him. Cracking open his right eye he was met with another blue eye staring back at him.
Yelping, he jumped away in fright. As his vision began to clear, the situation he found himself in became even more confusing. The figure of his friend sat propped up against the couch in a semi-conscious state.
He had almost no memory of the previous and was disgusted to feel a small wet patch on his shirt.
"Tre you drooled on my shirt!" he shouted loudly, disturbing his friend. Tre's eyes snapped open at the alarmingly ear splitting sound of his friends voice.
A sickening pain shot through their heads as their slight hangovers made themselves known in an excruciating way.
"Don't shout so loud! My head hurts." Blinking his eyes and holding back a yawn Tre shakily tried defending himself. "And besides I don't drool when I..." he halted in his speech, suddenly lifting his nose to the air he took a long drawn out sniff. A lazy smile appeared on his face, forgetting about the drool incident. "...Do I smell Adie's cooking?" he asked excitedly.
Remembering what had woke him up; Mike pulled himself up from the floor as quickly as possible.
Glancing back at Tre he stumbled towards the smell and sound of people.
"Shouldn't you change your shirt? Or do you want to walk round wearing essence of Tre?"
Mike stopped abruptly swearing to himself in silence. In a flash Tre had sped past Mike with his arms flailing wildly, racing towards the kitchen.
"Make sure you tell Adie to save me some, Tre!" He doubted Tre had heard him.
Cursing once more Mike turned in the direction of the stairs to change and have a shower as well.
As the scenery began to resemble the kitchen entrance, Tre started to stop. His socked feet slid across the linoleum, sending him crashing into the legs of Billie Joe's stool. Hopping up as if nothing happened he slid onto the stool next to Billie.
He took in the surprised faces of all the people sitting around. Ramona's eyes were wide with disconcertion. Jakob and Joey were shocked to say the least, Adie's mouth was hanging open slightly and Billie Joe just continued eating his eggs.
Noting this, Tre's mouth started watering as he began ogling Billie Joe's plate.
"Would you like some Tre?" Adrienne asked from her position by the stove. From the look he was still sending Billie Joe's plate, Adie guessed he hadn't heard her. She tried again, "Tre?"
There still wasn't any change in Tre's demeanor, even when Billie Joe waved his head in front of Tre's face. Becoming frustrated Adie turned to Ramona for help.
"Daddy!" she screamed fearfully.
Snapping his eyes away from the food at the sound of his daughters call, he jumped up ready for action.
"What? What is it? What's wrong baby?" he asked his daughter frantically.
"Aunt Adie said would you like some breakfast?" came her sweet voice, accompanied with a smile. Sighing in relief he sat back down. He took notice of the word breakfast in his daughter's sentence.
This perked him up considerably. Turning his pleading eyes to Adie, he smiled sickly sweet. "Please!" he begged, showing all his teeth in a wide smile. Pulling him out a plate, she indicated all the food.
"What do you want? Eggs? Pancakes? What?"
Tre bit his lip in thought, unable to decide, he cried out, "Everything!"
Adie shrugged, "Okay how much?"
"Just a little," he uttered after a thought.
Billie snorted orange juice out of his mouth, attempting to hide his amusement. Adie put the food on his plate and held it out to him. Tre eyed the small amount of food.
"A little more."
"There's the Tre we know and love" Billie Joe laughed as Adrienne put more food on and held it out once again.
"A little more." As a last resort, Adie pilled the rest of the food onto Tre's plate. This time he took it without question. Adie sat down to eat her cereal, as Tre tucked into his mountain of food.
"Wait. What about Mike? Is he hungry? Did he want some Tre?" Adie asked as she remembered that he hadn't come down yet.
"Erm..." Grinning to himself, he made a decision. "Nah. He said he wasn't hungry." Adie accepted this quickly and began eating her own breakfast.
Unable to suffocate his urges anymore Billie Joe turned to Tre with a smirk. "So...Tre did you and Mike have a nice night last night?" he cracked up.
"Hardy har har. Very funny Bill," sounded a voice from the doorway.
Mike walked into the kitchen wearing fresh clothes and a cheeky grin. His grin slipped away when he saw no extra plate or food for him. He turned to Tre in anger.
"Tre I can't believe you. You didn't tell Adie to save me some," he vented.
"Wait. In my defence Mike, Tre told me you said you weren't hungry," Adie informed him sheepishly.
"What?!" Mike froze where he stood. Billie Joe turned his head to the side, cowering away and shielding his eyes.
"Uh oh. Watch out kids. Here comes the look of death!" Joey, Jake and Ramona (Frankito went home with Claudia) all followed Billie's example and hid.
Mike slowly and purposely turned to face Tre. His eyes where horizontal slits, his forehead had scrunched up in anger and he was biting his bottom lip. Through the small gap of his eyelids, Tre could see venom building in Mike's pupils.
Both Adie and Tre were paralyzed by the sight. Mike took a threatening step forwards. In response Tre reared back holding his hands up.
"Wait!" Tre stuffed his last pancake into his mouth and chewed hurriedly. Downing his coffee in one go, he retracted his arms. "Okay. Go."
Continuing his advance Mike's voice became angrier. "I'm gonna kill you!"
"Er...um...I gotta go," and with that Tre sprinted round the table and out of the kitchen, without Mike even having to move.
With every step that took Tre further away, Mike's scowl dissolved into a smile.
"Is it safe to come out? Is the look gone?" Billie Joe voice drifted from under the table.
"Yeah it's gone and so is Tre."
Four pairs of scared eyes began to peak over the counter. Noting Mike's airy smile, they sighed and sat back on their stools.
"Would you like me to make you some breakfast?" Adie offered.
Mike waved off her offer lightly, "No that's okay. I'll make myself some thanks." He set about making some pancakes for himself. As be begun to mix the batter, Tre walked back into the kitchen, worriedly shifting his eyes.
In his hand he held a drumstick and a tissue like a white flag. "I surrender! Please don't hurt me Mike"
"It's okay Tre. I'm not angry but I am making myself some pancakes."
"Oohh. Can I have some please? You make the world's bestest pancakes." Mike raised one of his eyebrows and stared at Tre looking astonished. "Okay, I know I shouldn't have asked, I know, I know," Tre answered glaring at the ground to avoid Mike's gaze.
"So Billie Joe, you all packed yet?" Mike asked as he began cooking his pancakes.
"Erm," Billie mumbled, copying Tre's example by looking to the ground.
"Billie Joe!" Adie scolded.
"You have to leave to go to the airport at 1. Go finish packing before you run out of time and have to borrow Leo's things."
He brought his hand to the side of his head and gave a showy salute. Then he began marching out of the kitchen and up the stairs. Adie started rubbing her temples feeling a headache coming on.
"Kids - Go help him and make sure he packs everything I've laid out for him."
They stamped, thumped and shouted all the way up the stairs making Adrienne grab her head. A new silence filled the room only to be broken by Tre coughing loudly.
This hearty cough quickly turned into hysterical laughter. "It's like sentences Billie Joe to death - sending those kids up there to...help." He shuddered and small giggles escaped Adie and Mike as loud screams and laugher echoed from up the stairs.
"My pancakes are ready!" Tre shouted as Mike began to pile 3 plates full of the yummy treats.
"Oh Mike! You shouldn't have."
"Yes I should. You've never eat my pancakes before Adie."
She took a tentative bite as Tre dug into his plateful. "Mmm...MMM! Mike these are amazing."
"I told you so...but you didn't believe me," sounded a voice mumbled through a mouth full of pancakes.
"Okay Tre - Now I believe you."
3 minutes later, a fork landed down onto an empty plate...Tre's plate to be exact. Mike and Adie still sat savoring their pancakes in little bites. Tre then turned his hungry eyes on Mike's plate.
Mike raised both his eyebrows at Tre looking perplexed. "You're just a bottomless pit, aren't you?" Tre nodded excitedly.
"Yep I can just..." he started.
"It was a rhetorical question Tre," Mike answered rolling his eyes.
"So I'll answer it for him. Yes, Tre eats and eats and eats and still wants more. Enough chit chat, I can hear trouble - Let's go help that husband of mine."
"Do we have to?" Tre whined at her pouting like a little child.
"Yes we do," was the reply.
"Please, can't we just sit hear and listen? It's a lot more fun," Tre countered.
"And less dangerous," Mike muttered under his breath.
"Nope. Now no more arguing from you 2 - Let's go." Adie grab each of their arms and began pulling them through the hallways and up a flight of stairs until they reached their room.
As they approached the closed door they heard strange noises from inside. Grunts, rumbles, groans and growls sounded through the mahogany wood, worrying the approaching adults. They glanced at each other - perturbed.
Mike pressed his ear against the flat door panel, attempting to hear more. He shook his head as he withdrew.
"I can't hear anymore than you can," he muttered. "So what shall we do?" Tre whispered as if he was trying to break into the white house. Adie pretended to think seriously - all the while watching Mike and Tre pace up and down.
"Hmm...How about we just open the door," she suggested and pulled on the handle, swinging the door open widely. The site they were greeted with was the one they were not expecting.
Two suitcases were lying on the floor, full with an amazing amount of clothes and necessities. On top of the first black leather suitcase, stood Billie Joe. On the second they saw Jakob and Ramona.
"Okay!" shouted Billie Joe waving his arms "On the count of three, 1...2...3!" In that moment, All 3 bodies began jumping up and down violently, attempting to squash everything in.
"We got it!" chorused the young pair on the second suitcase. Joey dove over and clicked the latch shut before it could spring back open. Billie Joe crossed his arms indignantly and jumped up and down frantically with every word he spoke.
"Why...won't...you...shut...you...stupid...thing!?" He lifted his eyes finally noticing the 3 new occupants. They lit up eagerly "Tre come help me!" he squealed. Tre joined him without question. Together they were finally able to close the case containing Billie Joe's clothes.
"Yay. Thanks Tre," Billie Joe cried, pulling Tre against him in a hug. "Wait. Do I smell pancakes a la Mike on your breath?" Tre broke away from him looking solemn. "I did. I can't believe you. Kids!" he called, "Go downstairs, I might just start crying."
Mumbling about how unfair life was, all 3 of them trudged down the stairs dragging their feet. "How do you do that?" Mike asked when he couldn't hear the kids anymore.
"Do what?" Billie replied.
"Do that!" Mike shouted, pointing indignantly at the direction the kids had disappeared to.
"Oh. I don't know. Erm...good parenting?" he guessed.
"He has the Midas touch," Adie interjected quickly as a way of a proper explanation.
"Oh."
"I thought you were gonna cry," a voice said in annoyance.
"Alas my dear Tre, I said 'I might just start crying', there is of course a difference."
Tre scrunched up his nose in confusion. "Why are you speaking like that?"
"Like what?" Billie Joe asked.
"Like you're British."
"Huh?" Billie Joe, Adie and Mike chorused.
"He was speaking in a British accent!" Tre exploded, shouting loudly in a high pitched and exasperated voice.
"Calm down Tre. Just calm down," Adie whispered as she ushered him into a sitting position on the bed. Tre breathed in deep and lied down with his legs hanging off the bed. His head touched down softly on the mattress and he finally released the breath he was holding.
"I'm calm. I'm calm"
"That's good," Billie uttered, sarcastically rolling his eyes in the process. Tre's look of calmness slowly disintegrated into one of terror. His eyes snapped open wide and grew constantly larger with each passing second. His mouth and nose scrunched up, resembling an appearance of disgust.
With every second of realization, Mike, Billie Joe and Adie became increasingly worried for their mutual friend. Suddenly Tre sprung up from the bed and dove to the floor screeching.
"Ewww. I can't believe that. Get it off, get it off!" He began rolling around on the floor, wriggling like termites were crawling under his skin.
"Tre what's wrong?" was the question emanating from everyone's lips. Tre stopped moving frantically. He lifted his head, facing the other people in the room.
"I laid down where you two had S-E-X last night. Mary mother of god wash your sheets, that's disgusting." By the time these words had left Te's lips, Mike, Adie and Billie Joe had already crawled onto the bed to get closer to Tre.
As soon as he heard these words Mike looked down at what he was sitting on. He too jumped from the bed like lightening. Billie Joe and his wife stayed on the bed laughing like hyenas.
"That's not funny. It's disgusting and now I need a shower," Tre complained.
"Tre, you always need to take a shower" Adie spoke slowly as if talking to a child.
'You didn't seem to mind when you jumped onto Tasha's bed after our night together,' Mike grinned to himself as Tre headed out of the room. 'If you only knew.'
"Don't be long Tre. You guys have gotta take me to the airport soon!" Billie shouted from his position next to Mike. Excluding Tre they all headed down the stairs to get ready for their journey. Half way to the living room Mike's phone began beeping.
"Mike you're beeping," Billie Joe informed him.
"Thank you captain obvious," Mike reached into his pocket extracting his cell phone. Flipping it open he informed them, "It's a text message from Tasha."
"What does it say?" Billie Joe asked as he jumped up trying to see the phone's screen over the taller mans shoulder.
"It says 'thank you so much for the gift. It's beautiful - I'll wear it all the time. Call me! Love Tasha' Not much really," he said, quickly typing a reply and pocketing the small object.
"What gift?" Billie asked adamantly.
"Oh, I bought her a charm bracelet while I was over there."
"That's so cute," Adie said at the same time Tre appeared saying "You bought her something? We said we both wouldn't."
"Well you can buy her something when she gets over here."
"Okay," Tre uttered brightly.
Mike turned his head to talk to Billie Joe when he realized that BJ wasn't there. They hurried their paces until they came to the living room where they found Billie Joe sitting quietly.
"What's wrong Beej?" Mike asked as he sat in front of Billie Joe on the floor. When he couldn't get an answer, he glanced to Adie who was sitting on the arm of Billie's chair. "Do you know what's wrong with him?"
"Nope - He just got moody all of a sudden," she sighed and rubbed her thumb over Billie Joe's hand lightly.
"Seriously Bill, we need to know what's up"
"The sky," was the reply they received.
"Billie Joe," Tre spoke sternly.
"Why do you need to buy her stuff?" Billie mumbled to himself.
"What?" Mike asked having not heard what had been uttered clearly.
"Why do you buy her stuff when I'm trying to fix my relationship with her?"
Mike looked amazed. "This is about me buying her a charm bracelet?" he asked gesturing between the two of them.
"NO! This is about me. This is about me not knowing how to make things right with my daughter!" Billie Joe shouted in outrage.
"We both like to pretend, so I don't know if we're okay or not."
"I was gonna say 'cause if this was about gifts you just went half and half on Tasha's favorite car," Tre laughed as he attempted to lighten the mood.
"Yeah but Bill - Just trust that everything will work out and in the end it will." Billie Joe let out a long sigh and silently agreed with what had been said.
Adie stood up from the chair and dusted off her jeans. "Well if you girls are finished. It's about time we head off for the airport."
"Mike - Do me a favor and grab my bags from the upstairs will ya?" Billie Joe asked as Joey and Jake strolled into the room looking gloomy.
"Do you have to go Dad?" Jake asked while Joey was smothered in a hug by his dad.
"Yep but don't worry I'll be back soon. If you're lucky I might bring home presents." With one statement Billie Joe had turned their demeanors from sad to out of control excited.
"Yay Presents!"
"Just be good for Mike while your mum takes me to the airport and drops Tre and Ramona off at Tre's house. Okay?"
"Okay Daddy," the both cheered, grinning wildly plans forming in their identical eyes.
Mike appeared from around the corner, carrying both of Billie Joe's bags in his arms. "To the car my dear Michael," Billie Joe sung and pointed the way to the BMW. Mike followed orders and begrudgingly made his way towards the entrance hall. Tre picked Ramona up into his arms and followed the trail Mike took to the car.
"Dad, can we watch a payperview movie while it's only us and Mike?" Jake asked innocently jutting out his lower lip and fluttering his eyelids.
"You can as long as Mike approves the film." Billie Joe pulled both Jake and Joey into one armed hugs. He lowered himself to his knees and placed single kisses on their foreheads. "I love you guys," he whispered, gently pushing their hair away from their faces.
"Love you dad."
"Me too."
He ushered them onto the sofa and headed towards the door. He turned back at the last moment and gave them each a small wave. Adie and Billie Joe both hurried through the house. Billie had a small hop and a skip in his step. Just as they stepped over the threshold of their house, they watched Mike load the last of Billie's luggage into the trunk.
As Billie Joe approached his friend, Mike held out his hand expectantly, "You're not getting a tip before you even ask." All that Mike got was a pat on the back. Billie Joe climbed into the driver's seat of the car.
"What about me?" Mike asked through the glass of the car door. Tre and Ramona were sitting at the ends of the back row of seats. Mike could see he wouldn't fit. Billie Joe slowly rolled down his window, grinning like a manic.
"You can go look after my boys while we do this."
"Wait. No," Mike cried as the car sped down the road leaving him. From the rear-view mirror Billie Joe watched his friend walk into the house with a scowl on his face.
A fire of excitement and anticipation lit in the pit of his stomach. It grew warming his mind, body and soul. As the car drove closer to its destination, his enthusiasm grew. He was on his way to visit his daughter and that feeling didn't compare to anything.
The house is alive with the hustle and bustle of the morning after. The sounds of bacon sizzling in the pan, the chitter chatter, rumbling stomachs and radio echo from the kitchen. Smells of delicious and delectable origin drifted through the house, exciting the taste buds.
This had a particular effect upon the forms of two friends, slumped against each other. Mike's nose twitched as the sweet smell reached him. Cracking open his right eye he was met with another blue eye staring back at him.
Yelping, he jumped away in fright. As his vision began to clear, the situation he found himself in became even more confusing. The figure of his friend sat propped up against the couch in a semi-conscious state.
He had almost no memory of the previous and was disgusted to feel a small wet patch on his shirt.
"Tre you drooled on my shirt!" he shouted loudly, disturbing his friend. Tre's eyes snapped open at the alarmingly ear splitting sound of his friends voice.
A sickening pain shot through their heads as their slight hangovers made themselves known in an excruciating way.
"Don't shout so loud! My head hurts." Blinking his eyes and holding back a yawn Tre shakily tried defending himself. "And besides I don't drool when I..." he halted in his speech, suddenly lifting his nose to the air he took a long drawn out sniff. A lazy smile appeared on his face, forgetting about the drool incident. "...Do I smell Adie's cooking?" he asked excitedly.
Remembering what had woke him up; Mike pulled himself up from the floor as quickly as possible.
Glancing back at Tre he stumbled towards the smell and sound of people.
"Shouldn't you change your shirt? Or do you want to walk round wearing essence of Tre?"
Mike stopped abruptly swearing to himself in silence. In a flash Tre had sped past Mike with his arms flailing wildly, racing towards the kitchen.
"Make sure you tell Adie to save me some, Tre!" He doubted Tre had heard him.
Cursing once more Mike turned in the direction of the stairs to change and have a shower as well.
As the scenery began to resemble the kitchen entrance, Tre started to stop. His socked feet slid across the linoleum, sending him crashing into the legs of Billie Joe's stool. Hopping up as if nothing happened he slid onto the stool next to Billie.
He took in the surprised faces of all the people sitting around. Ramona's eyes were wide with disconcertion. Jakob and Joey were shocked to say the least, Adie's mouth was hanging open slightly and Billie Joe just continued eating his eggs.
Noting this, Tre's mouth started watering as he began ogling Billie Joe's plate.
"Would you like some Tre?" Adrienne asked from her position by the stove. From the look he was still sending Billie Joe's plate, Adie guessed he hadn't heard her. She tried again, "Tre?"
There still wasn't any change in Tre's demeanor, even when Billie Joe waved his head in front of Tre's face. Becoming frustrated Adie turned to Ramona for help.
"Daddy!" she screamed fearfully.
Snapping his eyes away from the food at the sound of his daughters call, he jumped up ready for action.
"What? What is it? What's wrong baby?" he asked his daughter frantically.
"Aunt Adie said would you like some breakfast?" came her sweet voice, accompanied with a smile. Sighing in relief he sat back down. He took notice of the word breakfast in his daughter's sentence.
This perked him up considerably. Turning his pleading eyes to Adie, he smiled sickly sweet. "Please!" he begged, showing all his teeth in a wide smile. Pulling him out a plate, she indicated all the food.
"What do you want? Eggs? Pancakes? What?"
Tre bit his lip in thought, unable to decide, he cried out, "Everything!"
Adie shrugged, "Okay how much?"
"Just a little," he uttered after a thought.
Billie snorted orange juice out of his mouth, attempting to hide his amusement. Adie put the food on his plate and held it out to him. Tre eyed the small amount of food.
"A little more."
"There's the Tre we know and love" Billie Joe laughed as Adrienne put more food on and held it out once again.
"A little more." As a last resort, Adie pilled the rest of the food onto Tre's plate. This time he took it without question. Adie sat down to eat her cereal, as Tre tucked into his mountain of food.
"Wait. What about Mike? Is he hungry? Did he want some Tre?" Adie asked as she remembered that he hadn't come down yet.
"Erm..." Grinning to himself, he made a decision. "Nah. He said he wasn't hungry." Adie accepted this quickly and began eating her own breakfast.
Unable to suffocate his urges anymore Billie Joe turned to Tre with a smirk. "So...Tre did you and Mike have a nice night last night?" he cracked up.
"Hardy har har. Very funny Bill," sounded a voice from the doorway.
Mike walked into the kitchen wearing fresh clothes and a cheeky grin. His grin slipped away when he saw no extra plate or food for him. He turned to Tre in anger.
"Tre I can't believe you. You didn't tell Adie to save me some," he vented.
"Wait. In my defence Mike, Tre told me you said you weren't hungry," Adie informed him sheepishly.
"What?!" Mike froze where he stood. Billie Joe turned his head to the side, cowering away and shielding his eyes.
"Uh oh. Watch out kids. Here comes the look of death!" Joey, Jake and Ramona (Frankito went home with Claudia) all followed Billie's example and hid.
Mike slowly and purposely turned to face Tre. His eyes where horizontal slits, his forehead had scrunched up in anger and he was biting his bottom lip. Through the small gap of his eyelids, Tre could see venom building in Mike's pupils.
Both Adie and Tre were paralyzed by the sight. Mike took a threatening step forwards. In response Tre reared back holding his hands up.
"Wait!" Tre stuffed his last pancake into his mouth and chewed hurriedly. Downing his coffee in one go, he retracted his arms. "Okay. Go."
Continuing his advance Mike's voice became angrier. "I'm gonna kill you!"
"Er...um...I gotta go," and with that Tre sprinted round the table and out of the kitchen, without Mike even having to move.
With every step that took Tre further away, Mike's scowl dissolved into a smile.
"Is it safe to come out? Is the look gone?" Billie Joe voice drifted from under the table.
"Yeah it's gone and so is Tre."
Four pairs of scared eyes began to peak over the counter. Noting Mike's airy smile, they sighed and sat back on their stools.
"Would you like me to make you some breakfast?" Adie offered.
Mike waved off her offer lightly, "No that's okay. I'll make myself some thanks." He set about making some pancakes for himself. As be begun to mix the batter, Tre walked back into the kitchen, worriedly shifting his eyes.
In his hand he held a drumstick and a tissue like a white flag. "I surrender! Please don't hurt me Mike"
"It's okay Tre. I'm not angry but I am making myself some pancakes."
"Oohh. Can I have some please? You make the world's bestest pancakes." Mike raised one of his eyebrows and stared at Tre looking astonished. "Okay, I know I shouldn't have asked, I know, I know," Tre answered glaring at the ground to avoid Mike's gaze.
"So Billie Joe, you all packed yet?" Mike asked as he began cooking his pancakes.
"Erm," Billie mumbled, copying Tre's example by looking to the ground.
"Billie Joe!" Adie scolded.
"You have to leave to go to the airport at 1. Go finish packing before you run out of time and have to borrow Leo's things."
He brought his hand to the side of his head and gave a showy salute. Then he began marching out of the kitchen and up the stairs. Adie started rubbing her temples feeling a headache coming on.
"Kids - Go help him and make sure he packs everything I've laid out for him."
They stamped, thumped and shouted all the way up the stairs making Adrienne grab her head. A new silence filled the room only to be broken by Tre coughing loudly.
This hearty cough quickly turned into hysterical laughter. "It's like sentences Billie Joe to death - sending those kids up there to...help." He shuddered and small giggles escaped Adie and Mike as loud screams and laugher echoed from up the stairs.
"My pancakes are ready!" Tre shouted as Mike began to pile 3 plates full of the yummy treats.
"Oh Mike! You shouldn't have."
"Yes I should. You've never eat my pancakes before Adie."
She took a tentative bite as Tre dug into his plateful. "Mmm...MMM! Mike these are amazing."
"I told you so...but you didn't believe me," sounded a voice mumbled through a mouth full of pancakes.
"Okay Tre - Now I believe you."
3 minutes later, a fork landed down onto an empty plate...Tre's plate to be exact. Mike and Adie still sat savoring their pancakes in little bites. Tre then turned his hungry eyes on Mike's plate.
Mike raised both his eyebrows at Tre looking perplexed. "You're just a bottomless pit, aren't you?" Tre nodded excitedly.
"Yep I can just..." he started.
"It was a rhetorical question Tre," Mike answered rolling his eyes.
"So I'll answer it for him. Yes, Tre eats and eats and eats and still wants more. Enough chit chat, I can hear trouble - Let's go help that husband of mine."
"Do we have to?" Tre whined at her pouting like a little child.
"Yes we do," was the reply.
"Please, can't we just sit hear and listen? It's a lot more fun," Tre countered.
"And less dangerous," Mike muttered under his breath.
"Nope. Now no more arguing from you 2 - Let's go." Adie grab each of their arms and began pulling them through the hallways and up a flight of stairs until they reached their room.
As they approached the closed door they heard strange noises from inside. Grunts, rumbles, groans and growls sounded through the mahogany wood, worrying the approaching adults. They glanced at each other - perturbed.
Mike pressed his ear against the flat door panel, attempting to hear more. He shook his head as he withdrew.
"I can't hear anymore than you can," he muttered. "So what shall we do?" Tre whispered as if he was trying to break into the white house. Adie pretended to think seriously - all the while watching Mike and Tre pace up and down.
"Hmm...How about we just open the door," she suggested and pulled on the handle, swinging the door open widely. The site they were greeted with was the one they were not expecting.
Two suitcases were lying on the floor, full with an amazing amount of clothes and necessities. On top of the first black leather suitcase, stood Billie Joe. On the second they saw Jakob and Ramona.
"Okay!" shouted Billie Joe waving his arms "On the count of three, 1...2...3!" In that moment, All 3 bodies began jumping up and down violently, attempting to squash everything in.
"We got it!" chorused the young pair on the second suitcase. Joey dove over and clicked the latch shut before it could spring back open. Billie Joe crossed his arms indignantly and jumped up and down frantically with every word he spoke.
"Why...won't...you...shut...you...stupid...thing!?" He lifted his eyes finally noticing the 3 new occupants. They lit up eagerly "Tre come help me!" he squealed. Tre joined him without question. Together they were finally able to close the case containing Billie Joe's clothes.
"Yay. Thanks Tre," Billie Joe cried, pulling Tre against him in a hug. "Wait. Do I smell pancakes a la Mike on your breath?" Tre broke away from him looking solemn. "I did. I can't believe you. Kids!" he called, "Go downstairs, I might just start crying."
Mumbling about how unfair life was, all 3 of them trudged down the stairs dragging their feet. "How do you do that?" Mike asked when he couldn't hear the kids anymore.
"Do what?" Billie replied.
"Do that!" Mike shouted, pointing indignantly at the direction the kids had disappeared to.
"Oh. I don't know. Erm...good parenting?" he guessed.
"He has the Midas touch," Adie interjected quickly as a way of a proper explanation.
"Oh."
"I thought you were gonna cry," a voice said in annoyance.
"Alas my dear Tre, I said 'I might just start crying', there is of course a difference."
Tre scrunched up his nose in confusion. "Why are you speaking like that?"
"Like what?" Billie Joe asked.
"Like you're British."
"Huh?" Billie Joe, Adie and Mike chorused.
"He was speaking in a British accent!" Tre exploded, shouting loudly in a high pitched and exasperated voice.
"Calm down Tre. Just calm down," Adie whispered as she ushered him into a sitting position on the bed. Tre breathed in deep and lied down with his legs hanging off the bed. His head touched down softly on the mattress and he finally released the breath he was holding.
"I'm calm. I'm calm"
"That's good," Billie uttered, sarcastically rolling his eyes in the process. Tre's look of calmness slowly disintegrated into one of terror. His eyes snapped open wide and grew constantly larger with each passing second. His mouth and nose scrunched up, resembling an appearance of disgust.
With every second of realization, Mike, Billie Joe and Adie became increasingly worried for their mutual friend. Suddenly Tre sprung up from the bed and dove to the floor screeching.
"Ewww. I can't believe that. Get it off, get it off!" He began rolling around on the floor, wriggling like termites were crawling under his skin.
"Tre what's wrong?" was the question emanating from everyone's lips. Tre stopped moving frantically. He lifted his head, facing the other people in the room.
"I laid down where you two had S-E-X last night. Mary mother of god wash your sheets, that's disgusting." By the time these words had left Te's lips, Mike, Adie and Billie Joe had already crawled onto the bed to get closer to Tre.
As soon as he heard these words Mike looked down at what he was sitting on. He too jumped from the bed like lightening. Billie Joe and his wife stayed on the bed laughing like hyenas.
"That's not funny. It's disgusting and now I need a shower," Tre complained.
"Tre, you always need to take a shower" Adie spoke slowly as if talking to a child.
'You didn't seem to mind when you jumped onto Tasha's bed after our night together,' Mike grinned to himself as Tre headed out of the room. 'If you only knew.'
"Don't be long Tre. You guys have gotta take me to the airport soon!" Billie shouted from his position next to Mike. Excluding Tre they all headed down the stairs to get ready for their journey. Half way to the living room Mike's phone began beeping.
"Mike you're beeping," Billie Joe informed him.
"Thank you captain obvious," Mike reached into his pocket extracting his cell phone. Flipping it open he informed them, "It's a text message from Tasha."
"What does it say?" Billie Joe asked as he jumped up trying to see the phone's screen over the taller mans shoulder.
"It says 'thank you so much for the gift. It's beautiful - I'll wear it all the time. Call me! Love Tasha' Not much really," he said, quickly typing a reply and pocketing the small object.
"What gift?" Billie asked adamantly.
"Oh, I bought her a charm bracelet while I was over there."
"That's so cute," Adie said at the same time Tre appeared saying "You bought her something? We said we both wouldn't."
"Well you can buy her something when she gets over here."
"Okay," Tre uttered brightly.
Mike turned his head to talk to Billie Joe when he realized that BJ wasn't there. They hurried their paces until they came to the living room where they found Billie Joe sitting quietly.
"What's wrong Beej?" Mike asked as he sat in front of Billie Joe on the floor. When he couldn't get an answer, he glanced to Adie who was sitting on the arm of Billie's chair. "Do you know what's wrong with him?"
"Nope - He just got moody all of a sudden," she sighed and rubbed her thumb over Billie Joe's hand lightly.
"Seriously Bill, we need to know what's up"
"The sky," was the reply they received.
"Billie Joe," Tre spoke sternly.
"Why do you need to buy her stuff?" Billie mumbled to himself.
"What?" Mike asked having not heard what had been uttered clearly.
"Why do you buy her stuff when I'm trying to fix my relationship with her?"
Mike looked amazed. "This is about me buying her a charm bracelet?" he asked gesturing between the two of them.
"NO! This is about me. This is about me not knowing how to make things right with my daughter!" Billie Joe shouted in outrage.
"We both like to pretend, so I don't know if we're okay or not."
"I was gonna say 'cause if this was about gifts you just went half and half on Tasha's favorite car," Tre laughed as he attempted to lighten the mood.
"Yeah but Bill - Just trust that everything will work out and in the end it will." Billie Joe let out a long sigh and silently agreed with what had been said.
Adie stood up from the chair and dusted off her jeans. "Well if you girls are finished. It's about time we head off for the airport."
"Mike - Do me a favor and grab my bags from the upstairs will ya?" Billie Joe asked as Joey and Jake strolled into the room looking gloomy.
"Do you have to go Dad?" Jake asked while Joey was smothered in a hug by his dad.
"Yep but don't worry I'll be back soon. If you're lucky I might bring home presents." With one statement Billie Joe had turned their demeanors from sad to out of control excited.
"Yay Presents!"
"Just be good for Mike while your mum takes me to the airport and drops Tre and Ramona off at Tre's house. Okay?"
"Okay Daddy," the both cheered, grinning wildly plans forming in their identical eyes.
Mike appeared from around the corner, carrying both of Billie Joe's bags in his arms. "To the car my dear Michael," Billie Joe sung and pointed the way to the BMW. Mike followed orders and begrudgingly made his way towards the entrance hall. Tre picked Ramona up into his arms and followed the trail Mike took to the car.
"Dad, can we watch a payperview movie while it's only us and Mike?" Jake asked innocently jutting out his lower lip and fluttering his eyelids.
"You can as long as Mike approves the film." Billie Joe pulled both Jake and Joey into one armed hugs. He lowered himself to his knees and placed single kisses on their foreheads. "I love you guys," he whispered, gently pushing their hair away from their faces.
"Love you dad."
"Me too."
He ushered them onto the sofa and headed towards the door. He turned back at the last moment and gave them each a small wave. Adie and Billie Joe both hurried through the house. Billie had a small hop and a skip in his step. Just as they stepped over the threshold of their house, they watched Mike load the last of Billie's luggage into the trunk.
As Billie Joe approached his friend, Mike held out his hand expectantly, "You're not getting a tip before you even ask." All that Mike got was a pat on the back. Billie Joe climbed into the driver's seat of the car.
"What about me?" Mike asked through the glass of the car door. Tre and Ramona were sitting at the ends of the back row of seats. Mike could see he wouldn't fit. Billie Joe slowly rolled down his window, grinning like a manic.
"You can go look after my boys while we do this."
"Wait. No," Mike cried as the car sped down the road leaving him. From the rear-view mirror Billie Joe watched his friend walk into the house with a scowl on his face.
A fire of excitement and anticipation lit in the pit of his stomach. It grew warming his mind, body and soul. As the car drove closer to its destination, his enthusiasm grew. He was on his way to visit his daughter and that feeling didn't compare to anything.
