When the World Falls Down, chapter 5
"Look, I have to open, so I'll be right back with you guys," I said while walking to the door. All the early birds were huddled together and I opened the door.
"Ya'll crazy?!" I laughed. They looked at me and went inside.
"Ok, we're going to have a lock in tonight, who's coming? You don't need a permission slip or something so just tell me who's coming."
About fiften hands shot up, including Green Day.
"Cool, Green Day's coming?" someone asked.
"Apparently so, but you know what to do, don't act like a teenie, and no they will not make out with you, that's why they have girlfriends," I laughed.
About five girls groaned playfully and I winked at them.
"But can we get autographs?" one guy asked me.
"Don't ask me, ask them, I'm not a famous rock star."
"You could be!"
"What's that mean?" Billie Joe asked.
"I'm just talented with a guitar, I have a little bit of an obsession with James Taylor, but I do know lots of rock songs, taught a little bit to Joey there."
"You know James Taylor songs?" Billie Joe asked his son. Joey nodded and blushed.
"Aren't they country?" Mike asked. I squeezed in between Tré and Jason and shook my head.
"He's contemperary, he sounds country but he's not."
"Ok, whatever."
"Don't get an attitude with me!"
"Rawrr much?"
"Shut up!" I giggled.
"So, what do you have to drink around here?" Billie Joe asked.
"Soda, water, lemonade, anything non alcoholic."
"Why do you have to be so responsible!" Tré whined. I smacked him on the back of his head and went behind the counter to get the sodas.
"What does everyone want?" I asked.
There were about ten different answers and I just got out random sodas that I heard and whoever grabbed it first got it.
"Mmm, grape," Tré said.
"Oh jeez," Mike sighed.
"What?" I asked.
"Have you ever seen him when he's loaded with sugar?"
"Can't say I have."
"You'll be sorry."
About ten minutes later, Tré was going crazy with one other girl that was always hyper. They were bouncing off the couches and chairs and the small stage we have for bands.
"Hey! Calm down!" I yelled. They sat down but they were still jittery.
"Just take a picture or something," I shot at him. This seemed to calm him down as he took a picture of me in a weird angle.
"Ok, why are you taking this pictures again?" I asked.
"Because I need to lie to my dad about having a girlfriend," he replied seriously. I just stared at him weirdly, he broke out into a laugh.
"No I'm kidding, it's just that in my photography class we have to have a focal point, it can be a person, place, or thing."
"So any noun?"
"Pretty much, and I chose you."
"Why?"
"I need beauty in my pictures, you seem to be doing a good job."
"I'm touched."
"Tré stop flirting with my girl!" Jason teased. I smiled at him and he kissed my hand. Tré took another picture of us.
"Aww the happy couple!" he teased. I laughed and Jason just looked at me.
"Um, you wanna go somewhere with me, like lunch or something?" he asked.
"Sure, Joey, Mike, can you watch for me?" I asked.
"Why is is Joey and Mike!? What about me!?" Billie Joe complained.
"Shut up Billie," Mike said. I laughed as Jason and I walked around to a local diner.
***
"So, are you glad you found me?" Jason asked me cheekily.
"No, you found me, remember?" I giggled.
"Oh yeah, and I'm glad I did."
I blushed a deep red and felt myself getting hot.
"What would you like to drink?" the waiteress asked us.
"Sprite would be great," Jason said. The waiteress squirmed and smiled at Jason, he didn't seem very interested. I gave her a look that said back-off-he's-mine.
"And you?" she asked me with a phony smile.
"Give me a sprite too, thanks," I said with the same phony smile. Jason smirked at me and I was close to busting out laughing. Just the way he looked at me made me want to smile and laugh like I used too.
"So are you addicted to the movie The Outsiders or something?" he asked me after we got our food. We both had a cheeseburger with fries.
"A little bit, I had the business before I saw the movie but I didn't know what to call it, well someone told me to see the Outsiders and I did, so that's what I called it."
"That's cool," he said while stuffing about half a dozen fries in his mouth. I starting thinking of random questions to say.
"Have you ever wondered it would be like to own a business?" I asked.
"Yeah a little, but I'm in the band now, I can't own a business and go on tour at the same time."
"How about you and the rest of Green Day have half ownership over the Outsiders?"
"I would have to talk to the guys." Wow, that was fast.
"I just need to take a break every once in a while you know?"
"Look, I understand, let's just go back to the Outsiders."
I pulled out my wallet and Jason touched my wallet and put it down on the table.
"I invited you to come with me, let me take the tab."
"You sure?" I asked.
"Of course I am, it would be my absolute pleasure."
"Thanks Jason."
***
"Who's all played tonight?" Billie Joe yelled over the music at the lock in.
"Toxic Marker, Poison Darts, Deadbeat Holiday, and The Spawn is playing now, they're the last one," I yelled out.
"Ok cool, this band is really good."
"They're one of the best so far."
About one hundred kids were there, and there was still room somehow. The band finished and I hopped on the stage.
"As all of you know, Green Day is here!" I yelled. Everyone cheered and I winked at them.
"How would you like it if maybe, just maybe, they would do a little surprise performance?" The whole place seemed to shake with cheers and whistles.
"How about it guys?" I asked. They looked at each other and just shrugged and got on stage.
"You owe me!" Billie Joe yelled.
I kissed his cheek but he turned his head so it caught on my lips.
"I stole a kiss! Whoo!" he laughed. I winked at him and then at Jason, he knew it was just kidding around and laughed.
"All right you guys, first off, I have an announcement, you know our major success on American Idiot, so, in a week, we're going on tour!"
That was it, the whole place seemed to erupt. I laughed and put two fingers in my mouth and whistled.
"Ok then, we'll start off with someone old, how about Christie Road?" he asked. Everyone cheered and he started to play.
They played about three songs, Christie Road, Tight Wad Hill, then St. Jimmy. I saw Tré stealing glances at me. I blew a kiss at Jason and he smiled and continued playing.
"Thank you Outsiders!" Billie Joe yelled. Everyone cheered and everyone was crowding around them, asking for autographs and all of that.
***
"Iris, it's three in the morning, are you ever going to sleep?" Jason asked while smoothing my hair. I was laying on the couch, well on people actually. Tré, Mike and Jason were sitting on the couch and we got comfortable and stayed like that. My feet on were on Tré and my middle part was on Mike. While my chest and head were on Jason's lap. Billie Joe used to be laying on me but fell off, then he just slept on the ground next to the couch. Everyone was asleep but us and Joey.
"Probably not," I laughed. Joey just huffed and went to the stage were the guitar was and pick it up. He played a familiar song that made me perk up.
There is a young cowboy he lives on the range.
His horse and his cattle are his only companions.
He works in the saddle and he sleeps in the canyons,
Waiting for Summer, his pastures to change.
I smiled at him and he continued singing. I heard Billie Joe rustle and I looked at him, he was just looking at Joey, a little awestruck.
And as the moon rises he sits by his fire.
Thinking about women and glasses of beer.
And closing his eyes as the doggies retire,
He sings out a song which is soft but it's clear
As if maybe someone could hear.
People were starting to rustle as Joey was putting so much emotion into this song it shocked me. As he entered the chorus, he looked at me.
Goodnight you moonlight ladies.
Rockabye sweet baby James.
Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose.
Won't you let me go down in my dreams.
And rockabye sweet baby James.
Now the first of December was covered with snow.
And so was the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston.
Lord, the Berkshires seemed dream-like on account of that frosting.
With ten miles behind me and ten thousand more to go.
There's a song that they sing when they take to the highway.
A song that they sing when they take to the sea.
A song that they sing of their home in the sky.
Maybe you can believe it if it helps you to sleep,
But singing works just fine for me
Goodnight you moonlight ladies.
Rockabye sweet baby James.
Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose.
Won't you let me go down in my dreams.
And rockabye sweet baby James.
I didn't get to hurt the end of ths song, I fell asleep. That song always made me fall asleep, it was my lullaby.
"Good night, my moonlight lady," I heard someone whisper in my ear.
"Ya'll crazy?!" I laughed. They looked at me and went inside.
"Ok, we're going to have a lock in tonight, who's coming? You don't need a permission slip or something so just tell me who's coming."
About fiften hands shot up, including Green Day.
"Cool, Green Day's coming?" someone asked.
"Apparently so, but you know what to do, don't act like a teenie, and no they will not make out with you, that's why they have girlfriends," I laughed.
About five girls groaned playfully and I winked at them.
"But can we get autographs?" one guy asked me.
"Don't ask me, ask them, I'm not a famous rock star."
"You could be!"
"What's that mean?" Billie Joe asked.
"I'm just talented with a guitar, I have a little bit of an obsession with James Taylor, but I do know lots of rock songs, taught a little bit to Joey there."
"You know James Taylor songs?" Billie Joe asked his son. Joey nodded and blushed.
"Aren't they country?" Mike asked. I squeezed in between Tré and Jason and shook my head.
"He's contemperary, he sounds country but he's not."
"Ok, whatever."
"Don't get an attitude with me!"
"Rawrr much?"
"Shut up!" I giggled.
"So, what do you have to drink around here?" Billie Joe asked.
"Soda, water, lemonade, anything non alcoholic."
"Why do you have to be so responsible!" Tré whined. I smacked him on the back of his head and went behind the counter to get the sodas.
"What does everyone want?" I asked.
There were about ten different answers and I just got out random sodas that I heard and whoever grabbed it first got it.
"Mmm, grape," Tré said.
"Oh jeez," Mike sighed.
"What?" I asked.
"Have you ever seen him when he's loaded with sugar?"
"Can't say I have."
"You'll be sorry."
About ten minutes later, Tré was going crazy with one other girl that was always hyper. They were bouncing off the couches and chairs and the small stage we have for bands.
"Hey! Calm down!" I yelled. They sat down but they were still jittery.
"Just take a picture or something," I shot at him. This seemed to calm him down as he took a picture of me in a weird angle.
"Ok, why are you taking this pictures again?" I asked.
"Because I need to lie to my dad about having a girlfriend," he replied seriously. I just stared at him weirdly, he broke out into a laugh.
"No I'm kidding, it's just that in my photography class we have to have a focal point, it can be a person, place, or thing."
"So any noun?"
"Pretty much, and I chose you."
"Why?"
"I need beauty in my pictures, you seem to be doing a good job."
"I'm touched."
"Tré stop flirting with my girl!" Jason teased. I smiled at him and he kissed my hand. Tré took another picture of us.
"Aww the happy couple!" he teased. I laughed and Jason just looked at me.
"Um, you wanna go somewhere with me, like lunch or something?" he asked.
"Sure, Joey, Mike, can you watch for me?" I asked.
"Why is is Joey and Mike!? What about me!?" Billie Joe complained.
"Shut up Billie," Mike said. I laughed as Jason and I walked around to a local diner.
***
"So, are you glad you found me?" Jason asked me cheekily.
"No, you found me, remember?" I giggled.
"Oh yeah, and I'm glad I did."
I blushed a deep red and felt myself getting hot.
"What would you like to drink?" the waiteress asked us.
"Sprite would be great," Jason said. The waiteress squirmed and smiled at Jason, he didn't seem very interested. I gave her a look that said back-off-he's-mine.
"And you?" she asked me with a phony smile.
"Give me a sprite too, thanks," I said with the same phony smile. Jason smirked at me and I was close to busting out laughing. Just the way he looked at me made me want to smile and laugh like I used too.
"So are you addicted to the movie The Outsiders or something?" he asked me after we got our food. We both had a cheeseburger with fries.
"A little bit, I had the business before I saw the movie but I didn't know what to call it, well someone told me to see the Outsiders and I did, so that's what I called it."
"That's cool," he said while stuffing about half a dozen fries in his mouth. I starting thinking of random questions to say.
"Have you ever wondered it would be like to own a business?" I asked.
"Yeah a little, but I'm in the band now, I can't own a business and go on tour at the same time."
"How about you and the rest of Green Day have half ownership over the Outsiders?"
"I would have to talk to the guys." Wow, that was fast.
"I just need to take a break every once in a while you know?"
"Look, I understand, let's just go back to the Outsiders."
I pulled out my wallet and Jason touched my wallet and put it down on the table.
"I invited you to come with me, let me take the tab."
"You sure?" I asked.
"Of course I am, it would be my absolute pleasure."
"Thanks Jason."
***
"Who's all played tonight?" Billie Joe yelled over the music at the lock in.
"Toxic Marker, Poison Darts, Deadbeat Holiday, and The Spawn is playing now, they're the last one," I yelled out.
"Ok cool, this band is really good."
"They're one of the best so far."
About one hundred kids were there, and there was still room somehow. The band finished and I hopped on the stage.
"As all of you know, Green Day is here!" I yelled. Everyone cheered and I winked at them.
"How would you like it if maybe, just maybe, they would do a little surprise performance?" The whole place seemed to shake with cheers and whistles.
"How about it guys?" I asked. They looked at each other and just shrugged and got on stage.
"You owe me!" Billie Joe yelled.
I kissed his cheek but he turned his head so it caught on my lips.
"I stole a kiss! Whoo!" he laughed. I winked at him and then at Jason, he knew it was just kidding around and laughed.
"All right you guys, first off, I have an announcement, you know our major success on American Idiot, so, in a week, we're going on tour!"
That was it, the whole place seemed to erupt. I laughed and put two fingers in my mouth and whistled.
"Ok then, we'll start off with someone old, how about Christie Road?" he asked. Everyone cheered and he started to play.
They played about three songs, Christie Road, Tight Wad Hill, then St. Jimmy. I saw Tré stealing glances at me. I blew a kiss at Jason and he smiled and continued playing.
"Thank you Outsiders!" Billie Joe yelled. Everyone cheered and everyone was crowding around them, asking for autographs and all of that.
***
"Iris, it's three in the morning, are you ever going to sleep?" Jason asked while smoothing my hair. I was laying on the couch, well on people actually. Tré, Mike and Jason were sitting on the couch and we got comfortable and stayed like that. My feet on were on Tré and my middle part was on Mike. While my chest and head were on Jason's lap. Billie Joe used to be laying on me but fell off, then he just slept on the ground next to the couch. Everyone was asleep but us and Joey.
"Probably not," I laughed. Joey just huffed and went to the stage were the guitar was and pick it up. He played a familiar song that made me perk up.
There is a young cowboy he lives on the range.
His horse and his cattle are his only companions.
He works in the saddle and he sleeps in the canyons,
Waiting for Summer, his pastures to change.
I smiled at him and he continued singing. I heard Billie Joe rustle and I looked at him, he was just looking at Joey, a little awestruck.
And as the moon rises he sits by his fire.
Thinking about women and glasses of beer.
And closing his eyes as the doggies retire,
He sings out a song which is soft but it's clear
As if maybe someone could hear.
People were starting to rustle as Joey was putting so much emotion into this song it shocked me. As he entered the chorus, he looked at me.
Goodnight you moonlight ladies.
Rockabye sweet baby James.
Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose.
Won't you let me go down in my dreams.
And rockabye sweet baby James.
Now the first of December was covered with snow.
And so was the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston.
Lord, the Berkshires seemed dream-like on account of that frosting.
With ten miles behind me and ten thousand more to go.
There's a song that they sing when they take to the highway.
A song that they sing when they take to the sea.
A song that they sing of their home in the sky.
Maybe you can believe it if it helps you to sleep,
But singing works just fine for me
Goodnight you moonlight ladies.
Rockabye sweet baby James.
Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose.
Won't you let me go down in my dreams.
And rockabye sweet baby James.
I didn't get to hurt the end of ths song, I fell asleep. That song always made me fall asleep, it was my lullaby.
"Good night, my moonlight lady," I heard someone whisper in my ear.
