All By Myself, All On My Own, chapter 35
"For the past three months of Kilana being pregnant and me being home things never really went back to normal. I miss you dreadfully, Key has increased in weight and size and Jake begins his first year of school in 3 weeks. Without James or you guys even, it's been hard. Jake lost two more of his baby teeth and I have been visiting our hotel every few weeks. I'm glad to say that James's old room is STILL destroyed and our drawings are still all over the walls of the fifth floor. They are fading away though and I plan on going back to fix them. The business is a lot better now that we are gone. Lol. Key got a new job at some antique shop since she isn't aloud back to her old job until the baby is born. Well, I'm not really sure what else to say so... how are you and the guys doing? I haven't talked to you since that last phone call over two months ago. I heard Mike is up for bassist of the year. That and that you just got over a fever. That reminds me, I finally bought a laptop. Anyway update me on anything I've missed.
Lots of luck and lots more love,
-Kiki
P.S what do you think of my latest drawing?"
***
I folded the letter and placed it an envelope. I missed Tre more than anything, as well as Billie Joe and Mike. They were currently back home on their break after finishing their touring for the year. It is the beginning... well almost middle of August. I sealed the envelope and walked over to the door. I walked out into the yard and to the end of my driveway to put my letter in the mailbox. Jake and his friends were playing in the empty street as usual. Kicking a ball around on the pavement. I went back into the house and up the stairs to my bedroom. As of that night when I had thrown my art pad into the flames of my anger I had to resort to loose leaf paper and now huge piles of printing paper were stacked up on my desk. The stapler, pencils, cards and other random junk was buried and no longer visible. I got down on my knees then got to the floor to pull my laptop from under my bed. I sat on my bed the laptop opened next to me. I used the finger pad to slide the arrow to the bottom left corner and clicked on Internet Explorer. When my main window popped up I scrolled down my favorites list until I found a site labeled GSB. I logged onto my username and headed to the message board where I would be spending the next three hours talking to my friends.
***
Two weeks had passed since I had sent that letter. So far no reply. I sat on the living room couch as I scanned over a list of supplies. Jake and Key sat on the floor surrounded by school stuff. Jake was so excited to begin school only a week from now. Key had been spending a lot of time with me lately. Her stomach had grown in size and she was having a little trouble getting around. "Okay... scissors, crayons, paper... " I read off the list. Jake happily searched through his pile and lifted a small pair of safety scissors, a box of 24 crayons, and a packet of loose-leaf lined paper. He took a small crayon box and set some pencils, a large blue eraser, his crayons, colored pencils, scissors and a pen neatly into the case, then shut it tight. I got down and helped Key to her feet. Fuck Mike for doing this to her. I wasn't mad but helping her all the time was getting to be a pain. "Thanks Kiki we'll see you sometime tomorrow. Jake needs a bath and I need some sleep." Kilana smiled. Jake packed all his things into his plastic bag and held his mom's hand as the two walked out the front door and down the street. I fell over the couch onto my back letting out a deep sigh. I had my left leg thrown over the back and my right arm dangled over the front my fingers lightly brushing the carpet. I closed my eyes and thought to myself. God I miss you Tre, and Key would pretty much do anything to see Mike again, and of course Jake would just love to see his 'uncles' again. It's strange to me as to why Jake always seemed to think of everyone as a relative. Mainly Aunt or Uncle. The only person who I had never heard Jake refer to as a family member is Mark, who in reality was Jake's father but to him seemed to be nothing. Over the past months I had received only two letters from my lost friends. One from Mike asking how Key was and the other from Tre, which just simply said "I love you." Lately I had been spending a lot of time on the Internet keeping updated on any news. I was on yesterday though and there was no news of their current position in the world, just some stuff about the countdowns of Daily Download and TRL. In the middle of my thoughts I heard a loud knocking on the door. I stood up and walked over to the front door. Sleepily I pulled it open and then all traces of sadness and tiredness was drained from me as well as all memory of what I had been thinking only seconds before. "Oh... My... Fucking... God... " I said wide-eyed. I nearly jumped into the arms of the figure standing on my doorstep. "Tre! I've missed you so much!" I cried. I felt the familiar warmth in me from so long ago. ""You didn't think I would forget about you didja?" He smiled loosening his grip on me so I could pull away and see his smiling face. I wiped a tear from my eye. I hadn't really cried since that departure months ago. "Why is it that every time I see you you're crying?" He laughed holding me around the waist. I let out a small giggle. "At least this time it's because I'm happy." I said my heart pounding with excitement at this sudden surprise. "You wouldn't believe how much I've missed you all this ti... " My words were cut short when I felt him press against me, his lips locked with mine. I fell back against the side of the house as he pushed into me his hands snaking up my back. He pulled away from me slowly and gazed into my eyes. I bit my lip in slight embarrassment. I was totally speechless. "Just had to see if you still had it in you." He smirked letting go of me. I swayed off balance for a second since he was no longer supporting me up. "I love you." I said. I could feel a forceful smile break out again my cheeks turning red. I threw my arms around him pulling him close to me. When I pulled away I could see to the side where next-door Casey was standing out on her sidewalk laughing to herself as she watched us. "Oh fuck off Casey!" I smiled and took Tre by the hand leading him inside. As soon as I let go of him he seemed to wander off into the living room. I followed close behind. "So... it's been a while." I said unsteadily. "Yeah, I got your letter." He smiled stopping about three feet in front of me and turning his upper body to see me. "What... um... made you come here? I mean you're off of touring for a while. Shouldn't you be back in California with Billie Joe and Mike and Frankito?" I asked trying to start a conversation. "Frankito will do just fine with his mom for a while longer and Billie Joe stayed to see his wife and kids of course... As for Mike... he's here too... well not HERE but he came to see Kilana and Jake so I thought I'd come with him and see you." He smiled turning around completely and stepping closer to me. I felt him draw me in a close embrace my arms around his neck and his around my back. I closed my eyes and relaxed to the beating of his heart, which at the moment was much calmer than mine.
***
"So how long are you going to be here?" I asked handing him a cup of coffee. I took a seat next to him on the couch. "A few days." Tre said simply taking a large gulp of the liquid in his mug and then setting it down on the coffee table in front of him next to mine. "I kinda came here to ask you something though." He smiled weakly. "I understand if you say no and don't want to but um... " He leaned into me and whispered in my ear. "You wanna come live with me in California?" He said quietly and pulled away waiting for an answer. I felt my heart leap into my throat and then sink again to the pit of my stomach. "I... I... I don't know... I mean... I won't see Key anymore and Jake is starting school soon and... " I said but seemed to lose my voice. "Kiki, with any luck Key will be moving in too... with Mike." Tre said calmly. He put his arm around me. "Give me a day to think about it." I said calmly back. I desperately wanted to say yes but what if Kilana said no? I would never see her again and Jake and I would have to make new friends while the guys were on tour and didn't Tre's ex- wife Claudia still live with him? And Frankito? How would they take it? I felt Tre let go of me. "Alright." He smiled still pressing his lips gently to mine. I was still in shock from the question and unable to move. "So... um... where am I to stay for the night?" He said breaking the silence as if what he just asked had never happened. "I'll get my stuff."" He said standing up and heading out the door coming back in a minute later a suitcase in his hand. "Come on." I said cheerily trying to forget about the question that now occupied most of my thoughts. Was this the big secret Tre was hiding from me nearly four months ago? I lead him upstairs to my room. He set his suitcase down on the floor and took a seat on my bed. I took a seat next to him but before I new it I was on my back. Tre lay on top of me our lips locked together. I felt his hands on my sides as he grabbed the bottom rim of my shirt and slowly pulled it up over my head and discarded it on the floor. Was this really happening?!? I felt myself start to unbutton his shirt without thinking. What was I doing!?! I couldn't control myself. I threw his shirt to the floor never really losing the grip we had on each other. He worked his hands to my pants where he carefully unbuttoned me but at that moment I heard a loud ring threw out the house and next moment I heard a familiar voice from downstairs. "Shit, it's Mike." Tre sighed pulling himself off of me. "Why! Always during this, never when we are just talking only when I'm finally about to... "" He stopped at the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs. I grabbed my shirt off of the floor and pulled it on and so did Tre. I did up my pants and quickly took a seat on the bed. Tre got on the floor and opened up his suitcase and pretended to unpack as Mike and little Jake came into the room. "Uncle Tre!" The little boy shouted jumping onto a tired and shocked Tre. I laughed as Jake tried to hug the man sitting before him that was twice his size. "Hey Kiki!" Mike said coming over to me and giving me a hug. "We've missed you."" He smiled happily letting go of me and also taking a seat on the bed. He pulled me close to him and whispered to me. "I'm not interrupting anything am I?"" He said letting go again. "No." I lied. Crap, he knew. Of course he knew. I can't lie and well, me and Tre kinda looked shitty right now. Tre lifted his head and stared when he heard us talking. ""Yeah, Key's getting some rest so I thought I'd take Jake for a little while." Mike said watching Jake dig through my closet in search of something to do. He does this every time he comes in my room so by now I learned not to keep anything in my closet that I didn't want taken or seen. "Kiki!" I heard Jake cry to me. Well... not cry but whine. "What?" I sighed. "Your gum melted." He said holding up sticky hands. "Go wash your hands."" I said going over to my closet and sure enough picking up a pack of Orbit gum that had melted and made everything sticky. "Anyone want some gum?" I asked. "Ooh me!" Tre said holding out his hands. I threw it to him and instantly he dropped it. "Yuck!" He screeched running out the door to follow Jake to the bathroom. "Note to self never leave Orbit gum in a hot closet for three weeks." I said picking up the gum again with two fingers and throwing it into the trashcan. Mike laughed at all this. It was actually pretty funny. Absolutely gross... but funny.
***
Tre and Jake came back into the room. Tre had obviously wiped his hands on his pants for now there were big wet patches just above his knees. I laughed to myself as I sat down next to Mike again. Jake sat on the floor once again digging through my closet for something more exciting. "Well, really I was just dropping in to say hi. I think I'm going to take Jake home now." Mike said standing up and stretching. "Aww... " I heard lil' Jake groan as he turned around and went out the door. I gave Mike a kiss and he too then left. Jake ran back in though to give me and Tre a hug good bye and then they were both out the door. I went to my bedroom window to see Mike walking down the street Jake running ahead looking for a race. I laughed to myself as I watched the two chase each other down the street. I turned around to stare Tre directly into the eyes. I gasped quickly as I nearly fell back from the surprise. He laughed a little at how scared he had gotten me. That's so not funny! He grabbed hold of my hand and pulled me into him holding me tight in his arms. "Ew... Tre you're still sticky!" I laughed more pulling out of his grip. "What? It wouldn't come off." He smiled taking a seat back down on the bed. Okay if he was planning on starting that last scenario over he was wrong. It just didn't feel right to continue after being interrupted like that. I sat down next to him. "I've missed you for so long." I said leaning up against him. He looked at me sadly and put his arm around my back holding me to him. "I've missed you too." He said giving me a small smile and let go of me to fall back onto the bed. I fell with him no longer having anything under me to support me up and we just lay there with each other until we fell asleep for the night as the sky grew dark outside.
***
As I opened my eyes the next morning I found myself nicely tucked into my bed. Was last night real? My question was answered as Tre walked into my bedroom. "Morning." He said calmly. "I didn't think you'd ever wake up." He smiled sitting down at the foot of my bed. I smiled weakly and sat up stretching out making Tre dodge my arms. I yawned and passed it off to the man on the end of my bed making him yawn as well. I climbed out of my bed still wearing yesterday's clothes. Just like the good old times. "When'd you get up?" I asked snuggling into him to get cozy. My house was always chilly in the morning because I had gotten used to being wrapped in warm blankets. "I woke up around 4 and tucked you in. Then I woke up again around... I don't know... 7:00?" He said putting his arms around me when he noticed I was shivering slightly. I missed the feeling of being with someone I loved. "What's for breakfast?" He asked kissing the top of my head gently. "Didn't you have breakfast yet? You've been up for three hours." "No I meant what do you want?" He smiled. "You're offering to get me breakfast? You're a guy... what guy cooks? Or gets anything for someone else?" I said laughing to myself. "Hey! Not all guys are like that!" He said pretending to be offended but the same shine in him burst out. Not to sound rude but his happiness and jokes was just too annoying for me this early in the morning but I couldn't get angry or anything. It's not his fault. I pulled myself off of him and took a blanket off of my bed to wrap around me until I was used to the temperature of the house. I walked downstairs with Tre right behind me. "What did you have for breakfast?" I asked as I rounded the corner into the kitchen. "Cereal." He responded simply and took a seat on one of the stools. I took out a box of Coco Puffs. ""Trix rabbit crap?" Tre laughed spinning in the barstool. "That's what I had too."" He said. Tre had rabbit crap? That's a little... ew... . I poured out the contents into my hands and ate it dry. I wasn't really in the mood for a big breakfast today. ""What are we doing today?" Tre asked getting down off the stool he had been spinning in until he got too dizzy to speak. "I don't know. I wasn't really expecting you to be coming so... I'm not sure. I have work today though." I said sitting down on the couch and eating the rest of the cereal in my hand. "So what do you say?" He asked leaning into me as I tried to eat. "Say to what?" I said dropping the piece of cereal I was ready to put in my mouth back into my hand. "To you coming with me." He said shyly. "You said I had a day." I said dropping the last of the bits in my hand into my mouth. "It's been a day." He responded eager for an answer. "You asked me at 5 yesterday I still have... 7 hours left." I said curling up into a ball on the couch next to him still holding the blanket close around me. "Fine but at 7 o'clock tonight, no later, I want an answer." He smiled kissing my temple and standing up to go upstairs to the bathroom. I uncurled and left the blanket on the couch to run upstairs behind him only turning into my room to get dressed. I pulled on some clothes that I had randomly selected from my closet and ran back downstairs to find him sitting there waiting for me. Crap I was too slow. I wanted to change in a hurry and see how long it took for him to notice. I always did that with Key. While she would be waiting I would change my clothes and come back downstairs to see if she realized I was wearing something different than when she last saw me. It worked a lot of the time just not all of it but he was never gone long enough and would easily know I was getting clothes on. I gave up on that thought and came to sit back down next to Tre who now was staring endlessly at the TV. ""What are you looking at?" I asked looking from his blank stare to the screen. The news in Iraq. "Damn Bush."" I said quietly to myself. The buildings were crumbling as people scattered as armored cars drove through the empty dirt paths. He looked at me his eyes showing he was about to strangle someone. "Calm down, there's nothing we can really do, no one is going to listen to us." I told him trying to get him to calm down. His hands were clenched into fists as he shook holding back his rage. I rubbed his arm trying to get him to calm. He settled a moment later and now looked like he was about to cry. "Oh, no." I whined seeing the list of casualties that had recently been taken. "Tony." I mumbled reading off the list. "Who?" Tre asked looking at the TV and now to me. ""Tony, he was an old school friend of mine... he died in Iraq." I said feeling my voice crack. I haven't talked to him in years. Actually I haven't seen or heard from him since the day I moved with James to Florida. Why was I to be so upset? I hardly knew him any more. It was still depressing for me to know that some of my old friends were in this too. I closed my eyes and nuzzled into Tre to get comfortable and in a position in which I would be able to fully calm down at the fact that Tony Highslids was gone. As well as many other people that I probably knew somehow or met at some point. Okay time to push that thought out of my mind. I stood up and walked out the door. It took Tre about ten minutes to come walking outside behind me. I grabbed my roller blades from the garage and pulled them on. "Where are you going?" Tre asked confused. "It's almost noon. I have work today." I said standing up and walking out onto the smooth street so I no longer had to walk on my wheels and instead could drag my feet and roll down the street. "Why didn't you say before?" He said coming out to the road with me. "I almost forgot. You can come if you want but it's three hours with nothing to do." I said going down the road until I made it to Casey's mailbox then came back. "There is a skateboard in the garage. You have to go around to the front door though. The garage door won't open. He came out a minute later on my old crappy skateboard. "Now come on I'll be late! " I shouted back taking off down the road at a steady pace. He came up behind me already tired from having to keeping up. "What's wrong? Tired already? We haven't even made it to the end of the street yet." I laughed at how his face was already a shade of pink from pushing off the ground as hard as he could as he went uphill. We turned the corner onto another boulevard and went past a few more old stores and houses. I rounded into the parking lot of McDonalds and went out back. I had changed into my work shirt when I woke up but I don't think that Tre had realized that until just now. I pulled my pin out of my pocket and clipped it on collapsing into the grass under the normal tree and pulled off my skates putting them behind the tall oak. Tre set his skateboard with mine. "You'll need to go around front. You don't work here. You know you are welcome to head back to my house anytime you like. I won't keep you here." I said entering the back door while he walked around the building coming in the front. Like normal Sara was the first to greet me as I walked into the back room. And just like my daily schedule I went to the other end of the room to see my job for the day. Register. Well it was better than Table Cleaner. Though there hasn't been a costumer in so long! Maybe Tre would get something. I went out into the main room where Tre sat in one of the booths looking around. I took a seat across from him. "So, You're probably not going to wanna stay long... but if you get hungry I can get you some free food though we aren't allowed to do that, no one cares or ever seems to notice anyway." I laughed to myself as I said this. "Whoa Kiki come here!" Chuck said rushing over and pulling me into the kitchen away from Tre. "What?" I said annoyed. "Do you know who you were just talking to?!?" He cried excitedly and nervously. "Okay now we can't be rude to him... " "Chuck... " "He's probably gone to way better places than this but we really need a costumer... " "Chuck... " "You can't go over there like that and bug him!" "Chuck!" "What!?!" "Tre's my boyfriend!" I shouted at him not loud enough for Tre to hear anyway just loud enough to pretty much let all the employees around me hear. Chuck just made a blank stare at me. He couldn't believe it. "I told you, you wouldn't believe me." I said going back out with Tre all eyes on me. "What was that about?" Tre smirked scooting into his seat so I could sit down next to him. "Chuck... " I mumbled annoyed looking up at him. "He never leaves me alone." I said smiling a little then sinking down into my seat, bored. At least this time I had someone to be bored with.
***
All I can really tell you is that nothing really happened for the rest of the time I was at work... . Around my lunch breakish thing... which pretty much was like the rest of the day there but... my halfway through shift break I guess you could call it. Anyway, I sent Tre home. He was more bored there than I was if that was possible so I let him leave.
I came back an hour later dragging my feet on the pavement of my driveway as I plopped down into the grass and pulled off my roller blades to put back on my sneakers. I walked around to the path that led up the steps of my front porch. I opened the door and entered my cozy home. Tre sat on the couch with Mike and little Jake who I was guessing came over because Key was working today too. Who said Tre could have visitors over at my house?
Who cared, Mike was my friend and Jake knew he was welcome to walk right in anytime he wanted as long as there was someone here to watch him. "Hey guys." I said hopping over the back of the couch to fall in between them making them both bounce in their seats as the cushions bounced. "Nothing really, just playing with Jake." Mike said happily putting his arm around my back and pulling me into him them letting go as a sideways-type of hug. I looked over at the little boy on the opposite side of Mike who held a composition notebook in his hand. Probably one for school that was no longer needed. "I'm gonna make a book like you." He smiled turning around his open notebook to a picture he had drawn of Mike and Key and Me and Tre. He needed some printing paper. Lined paper didn't look as good and wasn't made for drawing, it was his book though and I wasn't going to tell him wrong for using the wrong type of paper for a doodle. "Nice." I said giggling a little. Jake held a dull pencil in his hand playing with it in his fingers, it reminded me of watching the guys playing in concerts with Tre sitting at his drum set twirling his sticks in his hands as he banged away on his cymbals. He really was more like Tre than Key or Mark. If I didn't know any better I'd say he was Tre's clone... it felt weird knowing that me and Key were the ones that made him like that. I watched as the little boy started on his next page using the back of the first so his pages would last a little longer. I noticed he was already a quarter way through the book. He had been drawing a lot since the few days before when we did the checklist of school supplies. No wonder the pencil he was using was so dull... it probably hadn't been sharpened since he started. "Jake you want me to sharpen that for you?" I said pointing over Mike. "Okay, I can do it though... " He said setting down his book and sliding off the couch. I led him into the kitchen where I had a pencil sharpener on the wall. I grabbed a stool from the corner and put it under by the wall so Jake could climb up and reach for it. "There." I said as he finished turning the crank and stepped down the ladder. He put his finger to the tip and quickly retracted it. "Ouch." He said a little shocked but fine. He stuck his finger in his mouth but then pulled it out to run back into the living room with Tre and Mike. He climbed back onto the couch opening the book up to his last page and once again started working on his piece. I took my seat back down. Mike quietly watched lil' Jake as he drew. I smiled at Tre who also seemed interested in watching the little boy. "He's just like you." He smiled turning his glance to me. "No, he's like you." I laughed a little looking back at the little boy drawing. "Yeah, but you're positive this is Key's kid? And Marks? He looks more like ours." He said a little calmer than his last statement. I felt my face turn red as he said these words. OURS? I swallowed hard and turned my gaze quickly back and forth from Jake to Tre. Oh my god, they were exactly like us... my artistic... ness... and his looks and well... pretty much everything else... . "Tre... " I said quietly looking now at Jake his caramel colored hair still spiked in the front but started to get matted down in the back. His gentle blue eyes focused on his paper. Jake bit the tip of his eraser with his small baby teeth. You could see the empty spaces, which hadn't yet had adult teeth grow in yet. I smiled calmly and looked away and closed my eyes resting against Tre. "Done!" Jake shouted happily holding up his drawing. It was much more detailed than his others had been. He was getting much better. "That's your best yet Jake." I said looking at it. It was really nice for someone his age. I could only help but wonder how Jake was so artistic. It was stressful to think that Mark was artistic and even Key had said that she couldn't draw worth shit. It must've just come on his own. I hadn't really ever seen someone as young as him be able to draw so well. Most kids just drew squiggles but his were actual pictures and they looked nice. Especially since Jake was drawing real people. It's normally a lot easier to make up people or draw animals instead. For a little boy like him to be able to draw actual people around him he knew was a bit of a miracle.
***
Mike had taken Jake home right after Kilana made a quick call on the phone looking for them. Dinner was done. I gave Jake a big hug before shoving him out the door. As I stood up and turned around I was greeted with warm arms as Tre held me close to him. "Tre!" I laughed kicking the door shut incase Jake or Mike decided to look back. Tre pushed his lips to my head and then let go of me quickly and walked away. "???" I followed him and came around front as I walked backwards into the kitchen watching him now following me. His eyes had a look of mischief and honesty a grin slowly creeping on as I felt my back hit the fridge unable to step backward anymore. Tre stopped now that I had stopped about two feet away from me. Okay... what was going on? I took a step forward leaving the cold refrigerator. As I came closer Tre stepped back. I took quick steps his way and he began at a jogging pace backwards until suddenly he found himself flat on his back in the doorway between the living room and the kitchen. I guess I forgot to tell him to watch his step. I broke out in laughter as he lay there staring up at the ceiling still unsure of what had just happened. I blocked my laughter with the palm of my hand until I calmed a little. I walked over to Tre who still lay motionless on the floor laughing to himself. I got down on my knees at his side looking at his face his eyes now shut tight as he laughed at himself. What was so funny? I leaned over him looking down until he opened his eyes. I can only guess he didn't know I was there because as soon as he calmed down he jumped up and backwards farther into the living room crashing into the couch and falling over the arm onto the cushions. I suppressed my laughter again as he rolled off the couch onto the floor flat on his face between the couch and the coffee table. "Oh yeah, once again watch your step." I said watching him get up on his hands and knees then climb up onto the couch to sit down. He rubbed his sides and knees carefully pulling up his pant leg to show red blotches where he got rug burn while falling. I fell onto the couch next to him and watched him. "Sorry." I said leaning against him resting my cheek against his shoulder. He turned his gaze from his sore knees to me. "Hey... " He said quietly. I looked up at him. He seemed calm again but still the devilish glint was in his eye. "Hmm?" I hummed pulling away a little more o it wasn't such a strain on my neck and back to look up. "It's almost 6... what do you say?" He said his voice shaky and nervous. I didn't want to let him down but I didn't want to leave Key back here on her own... she was most likely to say yes though... after all it was Mike's kid and she couldn't ruin the life of a second child making him or her grow up without a father-figure. "Umm..." I took my eyes off Tre and let them wander around the room as if searching for an answer and not finding one. I gave a disappointed look to him for a second then continued to let my gaze fall upon random objects. Glancing back I could tell Tre was worried by the look I gave him. I looked back turning once again around and gave him a smile. "Yes Tre, I'd love to live with you" I smiled as he jumped into me flinging his arms around me. ""Thank you!" I heard him whisper excitedly. Now I had no choice. I couldn't change my mind now. But there still remained the problem of how Tre's ex and son would take to me living in their house adding another to their family. How could I possibly take rejection after all that's happened between us? If I moved in and was pushed away again where would I go? I had no money to buy a new house let alone back here in Florida where all my friends are... I would be alone. I stood up in silence and walked out of the room, Tre watching my every step. "Where are you going?" He asked quietly and confused. "Upstairs... to my room." I said smiling a little still trying to get this thought out of my head now that everything was going to change in only about two more short days. ""Oh, god Key, you better have said yes." I mumbled to myself as I went up the stairs, gliding my hand across the smooth wooden railing along the wall. I lifted my fingers at the small screws in the side holding it to the wall so I didn't bang or scratch my fingers on them. I got to the top and walked down the narrow hallway and around the corner of the fourth room into my bedroom. I walked over to my bed and pulled out my laptop setting it on my legs as I sat on the end of my bed. I logged onto my name and got on the Internet. I got on GSB and went straight to the message board under the Green Day section to get on SPOTROT... I searched through the first ten pages on the list but found nothing... where was it? Instead I found something else... The Pantsing Mike Brigade. WTF?!? I thought clicking on the link and getting on the thread. One of the members posted a link to a website and so I clicked on the link to figure out what this was all about. "Oh, my, god!" I said quietly to myself laughing a little as I scanned down the list of members and then going to the battle plan and pictures. As I got on the photo page music blared through the room and I quickly reached over to turn down the volume before Tre had a chance to hear it downstairs and come up. These people can't be serious! I giggled to myself. "Well, Mike better watch out because if these people are really planning on going through with this it's going to happen soon... you know, I should just ask Key about that... " I said reading the heading on the page... "and I bet she would help out with the pantsing too... " I said one last thing before Tre walked into the room. Well that didn't last long. "What are you doing?" He asked coming in the doorway and walking over to the bed. I quickly exited the screen closing out of my programs before Tre had a chance to see what crazy thing I had been looking at. I wasn't positive he new about GSB and I knew that he didn't know about the PMB or SPOTROT, which according to the other members was deleted because it was a religion thing to Tre and religions were spamming and so in the process of that going I lost about 500 posts that I had gotten so I went from being an idiot back to a geek. "What was that?" "Nothing." I lied trying to keep him away and out of my business. "No really what was it?" "It was nothing... if it is true you'll probably know within the next month or two anyway." I said flicking the switch and shoving my lap top back under my bed. "Fine." He said stubbornly leaning into my side making me tip to one side but I quickly placed my elbow under me before I fell off the bed. "What is it with you and all these secrets?" He asked laughing at how I pathetically tried to keep myself up under his weight. "What secrets?" I said in a small grunt as I tried to push him off of me. "You know, that note in your pocket from those months ago." He said letting up a little making me lose my balance now that what I had been trying to push off was gone and I was sent to the floor rolling onto my stomach on the floor. I sat up and leaned back on my elbows so I could see his frame towering over me in the dimly lit room. He remembers? I slid my hand down to my jeans and felt the small lump in my front pocket where that drawing still stayed folded up. His eyes glanced from my face to where I was digging in my pocket to pull out the paper. "You still have that?" He smirked getting off the bed and crouching down beside me. He reached out his hand and I quickly went to put the paper back in my pocket. "Of course I still have it." I said speeding up on the last few words as he snatched the note from my hand before I had it safe in my pocket again. He went to unfold it and I pulled myself off the floor jumping onto his back making him fall face first into the floor before he had a chance to see. I folded it back up and got off of his back smoothing out my shirt and putting the note away safely. "What? I still can't see it?" "Nope." I responded simply getting back onto the bed and pulling off my shoes. It was getting late. I needed some sleep.
Lots of luck and lots more love,
-Kiki
P.S what do you think of my latest drawing?"
***
I folded the letter and placed it an envelope. I missed Tre more than anything, as well as Billie Joe and Mike. They were currently back home on their break after finishing their touring for the year. It is the beginning... well almost middle of August. I sealed the envelope and walked over to the door. I walked out into the yard and to the end of my driveway to put my letter in the mailbox. Jake and his friends were playing in the empty street as usual. Kicking a ball around on the pavement. I went back into the house and up the stairs to my bedroom. As of that night when I had thrown my art pad into the flames of my anger I had to resort to loose leaf paper and now huge piles of printing paper were stacked up on my desk. The stapler, pencils, cards and other random junk was buried and no longer visible. I got down on my knees then got to the floor to pull my laptop from under my bed. I sat on my bed the laptop opened next to me. I used the finger pad to slide the arrow to the bottom left corner and clicked on Internet Explorer. When my main window popped up I scrolled down my favorites list until I found a site labeled GSB. I logged onto my username and headed to the message board where I would be spending the next three hours talking to my friends.
***
Two weeks had passed since I had sent that letter. So far no reply. I sat on the living room couch as I scanned over a list of supplies. Jake and Key sat on the floor surrounded by school stuff. Jake was so excited to begin school only a week from now. Key had been spending a lot of time with me lately. Her stomach had grown in size and she was having a little trouble getting around. "Okay... scissors, crayons, paper... " I read off the list. Jake happily searched through his pile and lifted a small pair of safety scissors, a box of 24 crayons, and a packet of loose-leaf lined paper. He took a small crayon box and set some pencils, a large blue eraser, his crayons, colored pencils, scissors and a pen neatly into the case, then shut it tight. I got down and helped Key to her feet. Fuck Mike for doing this to her. I wasn't mad but helping her all the time was getting to be a pain. "Thanks Kiki we'll see you sometime tomorrow. Jake needs a bath and I need some sleep." Kilana smiled. Jake packed all his things into his plastic bag and held his mom's hand as the two walked out the front door and down the street. I fell over the couch onto my back letting out a deep sigh. I had my left leg thrown over the back and my right arm dangled over the front my fingers lightly brushing the carpet. I closed my eyes and thought to myself. God I miss you Tre, and Key would pretty much do anything to see Mike again, and of course Jake would just love to see his 'uncles' again. It's strange to me as to why Jake always seemed to think of everyone as a relative. Mainly Aunt or Uncle. The only person who I had never heard Jake refer to as a family member is Mark, who in reality was Jake's father but to him seemed to be nothing. Over the past months I had received only two letters from my lost friends. One from Mike asking how Key was and the other from Tre, which just simply said "I love you." Lately I had been spending a lot of time on the Internet keeping updated on any news. I was on yesterday though and there was no news of their current position in the world, just some stuff about the countdowns of Daily Download and TRL. In the middle of my thoughts I heard a loud knocking on the door. I stood up and walked over to the front door. Sleepily I pulled it open and then all traces of sadness and tiredness was drained from me as well as all memory of what I had been thinking only seconds before. "Oh... My... Fucking... God... " I said wide-eyed. I nearly jumped into the arms of the figure standing on my doorstep. "Tre! I've missed you so much!" I cried. I felt the familiar warmth in me from so long ago. ""You didn't think I would forget about you didja?" He smiled loosening his grip on me so I could pull away and see his smiling face. I wiped a tear from my eye. I hadn't really cried since that departure months ago. "Why is it that every time I see you you're crying?" He laughed holding me around the waist. I let out a small giggle. "At least this time it's because I'm happy." I said my heart pounding with excitement at this sudden surprise. "You wouldn't believe how much I've missed you all this ti... " My words were cut short when I felt him press against me, his lips locked with mine. I fell back against the side of the house as he pushed into me his hands snaking up my back. He pulled away from me slowly and gazed into my eyes. I bit my lip in slight embarrassment. I was totally speechless. "Just had to see if you still had it in you." He smirked letting go of me. I swayed off balance for a second since he was no longer supporting me up. "I love you." I said. I could feel a forceful smile break out again my cheeks turning red. I threw my arms around him pulling him close to me. When I pulled away I could see to the side where next-door Casey was standing out on her sidewalk laughing to herself as she watched us. "Oh fuck off Casey!" I smiled and took Tre by the hand leading him inside. As soon as I let go of him he seemed to wander off into the living room. I followed close behind. "So... it's been a while." I said unsteadily. "Yeah, I got your letter." He smiled stopping about three feet in front of me and turning his upper body to see me. "What... um... made you come here? I mean you're off of touring for a while. Shouldn't you be back in California with Billie Joe and Mike and Frankito?" I asked trying to start a conversation. "Frankito will do just fine with his mom for a while longer and Billie Joe stayed to see his wife and kids of course... As for Mike... he's here too... well not HERE but he came to see Kilana and Jake so I thought I'd come with him and see you." He smiled turning around completely and stepping closer to me. I felt him draw me in a close embrace my arms around his neck and his around my back. I closed my eyes and relaxed to the beating of his heart, which at the moment was much calmer than mine.
***
"So how long are you going to be here?" I asked handing him a cup of coffee. I took a seat next to him on the couch. "A few days." Tre said simply taking a large gulp of the liquid in his mug and then setting it down on the coffee table in front of him next to mine. "I kinda came here to ask you something though." He smiled weakly. "I understand if you say no and don't want to but um... " He leaned into me and whispered in my ear. "You wanna come live with me in California?" He said quietly and pulled away waiting for an answer. I felt my heart leap into my throat and then sink again to the pit of my stomach. "I... I... I don't know... I mean... I won't see Key anymore and Jake is starting school soon and... " I said but seemed to lose my voice. "Kiki, with any luck Key will be moving in too... with Mike." Tre said calmly. He put his arm around me. "Give me a day to think about it." I said calmly back. I desperately wanted to say yes but what if Kilana said no? I would never see her again and Jake and I would have to make new friends while the guys were on tour and didn't Tre's ex- wife Claudia still live with him? And Frankito? How would they take it? I felt Tre let go of me. "Alright." He smiled still pressing his lips gently to mine. I was still in shock from the question and unable to move. "So... um... where am I to stay for the night?" He said breaking the silence as if what he just asked had never happened. "I'll get my stuff."" He said standing up and heading out the door coming back in a minute later a suitcase in his hand. "Come on." I said cheerily trying to forget about the question that now occupied most of my thoughts. Was this the big secret Tre was hiding from me nearly four months ago? I lead him upstairs to my room. He set his suitcase down on the floor and took a seat on my bed. I took a seat next to him but before I new it I was on my back. Tre lay on top of me our lips locked together. I felt his hands on my sides as he grabbed the bottom rim of my shirt and slowly pulled it up over my head and discarded it on the floor. Was this really happening?!? I felt myself start to unbutton his shirt without thinking. What was I doing!?! I couldn't control myself. I threw his shirt to the floor never really losing the grip we had on each other. He worked his hands to my pants where he carefully unbuttoned me but at that moment I heard a loud ring threw out the house and next moment I heard a familiar voice from downstairs. "Shit, it's Mike." Tre sighed pulling himself off of me. "Why! Always during this, never when we are just talking only when I'm finally about to... "" He stopped at the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs. I grabbed my shirt off of the floor and pulled it on and so did Tre. I did up my pants and quickly took a seat on the bed. Tre got on the floor and opened up his suitcase and pretended to unpack as Mike and little Jake came into the room. "Uncle Tre!" The little boy shouted jumping onto a tired and shocked Tre. I laughed as Jake tried to hug the man sitting before him that was twice his size. "Hey Kiki!" Mike said coming over to me and giving me a hug. "We've missed you."" He smiled happily letting go of me and also taking a seat on the bed. He pulled me close to him and whispered to me. "I'm not interrupting anything am I?"" He said letting go again. "No." I lied. Crap, he knew. Of course he knew. I can't lie and well, me and Tre kinda looked shitty right now. Tre lifted his head and stared when he heard us talking. ""Yeah, Key's getting some rest so I thought I'd take Jake for a little while." Mike said watching Jake dig through my closet in search of something to do. He does this every time he comes in my room so by now I learned not to keep anything in my closet that I didn't want taken or seen. "Kiki!" I heard Jake cry to me. Well... not cry but whine. "What?" I sighed. "Your gum melted." He said holding up sticky hands. "Go wash your hands."" I said going over to my closet and sure enough picking up a pack of Orbit gum that had melted and made everything sticky. "Anyone want some gum?" I asked. "Ooh me!" Tre said holding out his hands. I threw it to him and instantly he dropped it. "Yuck!" He screeched running out the door to follow Jake to the bathroom. "Note to self never leave Orbit gum in a hot closet for three weeks." I said picking up the gum again with two fingers and throwing it into the trashcan. Mike laughed at all this. It was actually pretty funny. Absolutely gross... but funny.
***
Tre and Jake came back into the room. Tre had obviously wiped his hands on his pants for now there were big wet patches just above his knees. I laughed to myself as I sat down next to Mike again. Jake sat on the floor once again digging through my closet for something more exciting. "Well, really I was just dropping in to say hi. I think I'm going to take Jake home now." Mike said standing up and stretching. "Aww... " I heard lil' Jake groan as he turned around and went out the door. I gave Mike a kiss and he too then left. Jake ran back in though to give me and Tre a hug good bye and then they were both out the door. I went to my bedroom window to see Mike walking down the street Jake running ahead looking for a race. I laughed to myself as I watched the two chase each other down the street. I turned around to stare Tre directly into the eyes. I gasped quickly as I nearly fell back from the surprise. He laughed a little at how scared he had gotten me. That's so not funny! He grabbed hold of my hand and pulled me into him holding me tight in his arms. "Ew... Tre you're still sticky!" I laughed more pulling out of his grip. "What? It wouldn't come off." He smiled taking a seat back down on the bed. Okay if he was planning on starting that last scenario over he was wrong. It just didn't feel right to continue after being interrupted like that. I sat down next to him. "I've missed you for so long." I said leaning up against him. He looked at me sadly and put his arm around my back holding me to him. "I've missed you too." He said giving me a small smile and let go of me to fall back onto the bed. I fell with him no longer having anything under me to support me up and we just lay there with each other until we fell asleep for the night as the sky grew dark outside.
***
As I opened my eyes the next morning I found myself nicely tucked into my bed. Was last night real? My question was answered as Tre walked into my bedroom. "Morning." He said calmly. "I didn't think you'd ever wake up." He smiled sitting down at the foot of my bed. I smiled weakly and sat up stretching out making Tre dodge my arms. I yawned and passed it off to the man on the end of my bed making him yawn as well. I climbed out of my bed still wearing yesterday's clothes. Just like the good old times. "When'd you get up?" I asked snuggling into him to get cozy. My house was always chilly in the morning because I had gotten used to being wrapped in warm blankets. "I woke up around 4 and tucked you in. Then I woke up again around... I don't know... 7:00?" He said putting his arms around me when he noticed I was shivering slightly. I missed the feeling of being with someone I loved. "What's for breakfast?" He asked kissing the top of my head gently. "Didn't you have breakfast yet? You've been up for three hours." "No I meant what do you want?" He smiled. "You're offering to get me breakfast? You're a guy... what guy cooks? Or gets anything for someone else?" I said laughing to myself. "Hey! Not all guys are like that!" He said pretending to be offended but the same shine in him burst out. Not to sound rude but his happiness and jokes was just too annoying for me this early in the morning but I couldn't get angry or anything. It's not his fault. I pulled myself off of him and took a blanket off of my bed to wrap around me until I was used to the temperature of the house. I walked downstairs with Tre right behind me. "What did you have for breakfast?" I asked as I rounded the corner into the kitchen. "Cereal." He responded simply and took a seat on one of the stools. I took out a box of Coco Puffs. ""Trix rabbit crap?" Tre laughed spinning in the barstool. "That's what I had too."" He said. Tre had rabbit crap? That's a little... ew... . I poured out the contents into my hands and ate it dry. I wasn't really in the mood for a big breakfast today. ""What are we doing today?" Tre asked getting down off the stool he had been spinning in until he got too dizzy to speak. "I don't know. I wasn't really expecting you to be coming so... I'm not sure. I have work today though." I said sitting down on the couch and eating the rest of the cereal in my hand. "So what do you say?" He asked leaning into me as I tried to eat. "Say to what?" I said dropping the piece of cereal I was ready to put in my mouth back into my hand. "To you coming with me." He said shyly. "You said I had a day." I said dropping the last of the bits in my hand into my mouth. "It's been a day." He responded eager for an answer. "You asked me at 5 yesterday I still have... 7 hours left." I said curling up into a ball on the couch next to him still holding the blanket close around me. "Fine but at 7 o'clock tonight, no later, I want an answer." He smiled kissing my temple and standing up to go upstairs to the bathroom. I uncurled and left the blanket on the couch to run upstairs behind him only turning into my room to get dressed. I pulled on some clothes that I had randomly selected from my closet and ran back downstairs to find him sitting there waiting for me. Crap I was too slow. I wanted to change in a hurry and see how long it took for him to notice. I always did that with Key. While she would be waiting I would change my clothes and come back downstairs to see if she realized I was wearing something different than when she last saw me. It worked a lot of the time just not all of it but he was never gone long enough and would easily know I was getting clothes on. I gave up on that thought and came to sit back down next to Tre who now was staring endlessly at the TV. ""What are you looking at?" I asked looking from his blank stare to the screen. The news in Iraq. "Damn Bush."" I said quietly to myself. The buildings were crumbling as people scattered as armored cars drove through the empty dirt paths. He looked at me his eyes showing he was about to strangle someone. "Calm down, there's nothing we can really do, no one is going to listen to us." I told him trying to get him to calm down. His hands were clenched into fists as he shook holding back his rage. I rubbed his arm trying to get him to calm. He settled a moment later and now looked like he was about to cry. "Oh, no." I whined seeing the list of casualties that had recently been taken. "Tony." I mumbled reading off the list. "Who?" Tre asked looking at the TV and now to me. ""Tony, he was an old school friend of mine... he died in Iraq." I said feeling my voice crack. I haven't talked to him in years. Actually I haven't seen or heard from him since the day I moved with James to Florida. Why was I to be so upset? I hardly knew him any more. It was still depressing for me to know that some of my old friends were in this too. I closed my eyes and nuzzled into Tre to get comfortable and in a position in which I would be able to fully calm down at the fact that Tony Highslids was gone. As well as many other people that I probably knew somehow or met at some point. Okay time to push that thought out of my mind. I stood up and walked out the door. It took Tre about ten minutes to come walking outside behind me. I grabbed my roller blades from the garage and pulled them on. "Where are you going?" Tre asked confused. "It's almost noon. I have work today." I said standing up and walking out onto the smooth street so I no longer had to walk on my wheels and instead could drag my feet and roll down the street. "Why didn't you say before?" He said coming out to the road with me. "I almost forgot. You can come if you want but it's three hours with nothing to do." I said going down the road until I made it to Casey's mailbox then came back. "There is a skateboard in the garage. You have to go around to the front door though. The garage door won't open. He came out a minute later on my old crappy skateboard. "Now come on I'll be late! " I shouted back taking off down the road at a steady pace. He came up behind me already tired from having to keeping up. "What's wrong? Tired already? We haven't even made it to the end of the street yet." I laughed at how his face was already a shade of pink from pushing off the ground as hard as he could as he went uphill. We turned the corner onto another boulevard and went past a few more old stores and houses. I rounded into the parking lot of McDonalds and went out back. I had changed into my work shirt when I woke up but I don't think that Tre had realized that until just now. I pulled my pin out of my pocket and clipped it on collapsing into the grass under the normal tree and pulled off my skates putting them behind the tall oak. Tre set his skateboard with mine. "You'll need to go around front. You don't work here. You know you are welcome to head back to my house anytime you like. I won't keep you here." I said entering the back door while he walked around the building coming in the front. Like normal Sara was the first to greet me as I walked into the back room. And just like my daily schedule I went to the other end of the room to see my job for the day. Register. Well it was better than Table Cleaner. Though there hasn't been a costumer in so long! Maybe Tre would get something. I went out into the main room where Tre sat in one of the booths looking around. I took a seat across from him. "So, You're probably not going to wanna stay long... but if you get hungry I can get you some free food though we aren't allowed to do that, no one cares or ever seems to notice anyway." I laughed to myself as I said this. "Whoa Kiki come here!" Chuck said rushing over and pulling me into the kitchen away from Tre. "What?" I said annoyed. "Do you know who you were just talking to?!?" He cried excitedly and nervously. "Okay now we can't be rude to him... " "Chuck... " "He's probably gone to way better places than this but we really need a costumer... " "Chuck... " "You can't go over there like that and bug him!" "Chuck!" "What!?!" "Tre's my boyfriend!" I shouted at him not loud enough for Tre to hear anyway just loud enough to pretty much let all the employees around me hear. Chuck just made a blank stare at me. He couldn't believe it. "I told you, you wouldn't believe me." I said going back out with Tre all eyes on me. "What was that about?" Tre smirked scooting into his seat so I could sit down next to him. "Chuck... " I mumbled annoyed looking up at him. "He never leaves me alone." I said smiling a little then sinking down into my seat, bored. At least this time I had someone to be bored with.
***
All I can really tell you is that nothing really happened for the rest of the time I was at work... . Around my lunch breakish thing... which pretty much was like the rest of the day there but... my halfway through shift break I guess you could call it. Anyway, I sent Tre home. He was more bored there than I was if that was possible so I let him leave.
I came back an hour later dragging my feet on the pavement of my driveway as I plopped down into the grass and pulled off my roller blades to put back on my sneakers. I walked around to the path that led up the steps of my front porch. I opened the door and entered my cozy home. Tre sat on the couch with Mike and little Jake who I was guessing came over because Key was working today too. Who said Tre could have visitors over at my house?
Who cared, Mike was my friend and Jake knew he was welcome to walk right in anytime he wanted as long as there was someone here to watch him. "Hey guys." I said hopping over the back of the couch to fall in between them making them both bounce in their seats as the cushions bounced. "Nothing really, just playing with Jake." Mike said happily putting his arm around my back and pulling me into him them letting go as a sideways-type of hug. I looked over at the little boy on the opposite side of Mike who held a composition notebook in his hand. Probably one for school that was no longer needed. "I'm gonna make a book like you." He smiled turning around his open notebook to a picture he had drawn of Mike and Key and Me and Tre. He needed some printing paper. Lined paper didn't look as good and wasn't made for drawing, it was his book though and I wasn't going to tell him wrong for using the wrong type of paper for a doodle. "Nice." I said giggling a little. Jake held a dull pencil in his hand playing with it in his fingers, it reminded me of watching the guys playing in concerts with Tre sitting at his drum set twirling his sticks in his hands as he banged away on his cymbals. He really was more like Tre than Key or Mark. If I didn't know any better I'd say he was Tre's clone... it felt weird knowing that me and Key were the ones that made him like that. I watched as the little boy started on his next page using the back of the first so his pages would last a little longer. I noticed he was already a quarter way through the book. He had been drawing a lot since the few days before when we did the checklist of school supplies. No wonder the pencil he was using was so dull... it probably hadn't been sharpened since he started. "Jake you want me to sharpen that for you?" I said pointing over Mike. "Okay, I can do it though... " He said setting down his book and sliding off the couch. I led him into the kitchen where I had a pencil sharpener on the wall. I grabbed a stool from the corner and put it under by the wall so Jake could climb up and reach for it. "There." I said as he finished turning the crank and stepped down the ladder. He put his finger to the tip and quickly retracted it. "Ouch." He said a little shocked but fine. He stuck his finger in his mouth but then pulled it out to run back into the living room with Tre and Mike. He climbed back onto the couch opening the book up to his last page and once again started working on his piece. I took my seat back down. Mike quietly watched lil' Jake as he drew. I smiled at Tre who also seemed interested in watching the little boy. "He's just like you." He smiled turning his glance to me. "No, he's like you." I laughed a little looking back at the little boy drawing. "Yeah, but you're positive this is Key's kid? And Marks? He looks more like ours." He said a little calmer than his last statement. I felt my face turn red as he said these words. OURS? I swallowed hard and turned my gaze quickly back and forth from Jake to Tre. Oh my god, they were exactly like us... my artistic... ness... and his looks and well... pretty much everything else... . "Tre... " I said quietly looking now at Jake his caramel colored hair still spiked in the front but started to get matted down in the back. His gentle blue eyes focused on his paper. Jake bit the tip of his eraser with his small baby teeth. You could see the empty spaces, which hadn't yet had adult teeth grow in yet. I smiled calmly and looked away and closed my eyes resting against Tre. "Done!" Jake shouted happily holding up his drawing. It was much more detailed than his others had been. He was getting much better. "That's your best yet Jake." I said looking at it. It was really nice for someone his age. I could only help but wonder how Jake was so artistic. It was stressful to think that Mark was artistic and even Key had said that she couldn't draw worth shit. It must've just come on his own. I hadn't really ever seen someone as young as him be able to draw so well. Most kids just drew squiggles but his were actual pictures and they looked nice. Especially since Jake was drawing real people. It's normally a lot easier to make up people or draw animals instead. For a little boy like him to be able to draw actual people around him he knew was a bit of a miracle.
***
Mike had taken Jake home right after Kilana made a quick call on the phone looking for them. Dinner was done. I gave Jake a big hug before shoving him out the door. As I stood up and turned around I was greeted with warm arms as Tre held me close to him. "Tre!" I laughed kicking the door shut incase Jake or Mike decided to look back. Tre pushed his lips to my head and then let go of me quickly and walked away. "???" I followed him and came around front as I walked backwards into the kitchen watching him now following me. His eyes had a look of mischief and honesty a grin slowly creeping on as I felt my back hit the fridge unable to step backward anymore. Tre stopped now that I had stopped about two feet away from me. Okay... what was going on? I took a step forward leaving the cold refrigerator. As I came closer Tre stepped back. I took quick steps his way and he began at a jogging pace backwards until suddenly he found himself flat on his back in the doorway between the living room and the kitchen. I guess I forgot to tell him to watch his step. I broke out in laughter as he lay there staring up at the ceiling still unsure of what had just happened. I blocked my laughter with the palm of my hand until I calmed a little. I walked over to Tre who still lay motionless on the floor laughing to himself. I got down on my knees at his side looking at his face his eyes now shut tight as he laughed at himself. What was so funny? I leaned over him looking down until he opened his eyes. I can only guess he didn't know I was there because as soon as he calmed down he jumped up and backwards farther into the living room crashing into the couch and falling over the arm onto the cushions. I suppressed my laughter again as he rolled off the couch onto the floor flat on his face between the couch and the coffee table. "Oh yeah, once again watch your step." I said watching him get up on his hands and knees then climb up onto the couch to sit down. He rubbed his sides and knees carefully pulling up his pant leg to show red blotches where he got rug burn while falling. I fell onto the couch next to him and watched him. "Sorry." I said leaning against him resting my cheek against his shoulder. He turned his gaze from his sore knees to me. "Hey... " He said quietly. I looked up at him. He seemed calm again but still the devilish glint was in his eye. "Hmm?" I hummed pulling away a little more o it wasn't such a strain on my neck and back to look up. "It's almost 6... what do you say?" He said his voice shaky and nervous. I didn't want to let him down but I didn't want to leave Key back here on her own... she was most likely to say yes though... after all it was Mike's kid and she couldn't ruin the life of a second child making him or her grow up without a father-figure. "Umm..." I took my eyes off Tre and let them wander around the room as if searching for an answer and not finding one. I gave a disappointed look to him for a second then continued to let my gaze fall upon random objects. Glancing back I could tell Tre was worried by the look I gave him. I looked back turning once again around and gave him a smile. "Yes Tre, I'd love to live with you" I smiled as he jumped into me flinging his arms around me. ""Thank you!" I heard him whisper excitedly. Now I had no choice. I couldn't change my mind now. But there still remained the problem of how Tre's ex and son would take to me living in their house adding another to their family. How could I possibly take rejection after all that's happened between us? If I moved in and was pushed away again where would I go? I had no money to buy a new house let alone back here in Florida where all my friends are... I would be alone. I stood up in silence and walked out of the room, Tre watching my every step. "Where are you going?" He asked quietly and confused. "Upstairs... to my room." I said smiling a little still trying to get this thought out of my head now that everything was going to change in only about two more short days. ""Oh, god Key, you better have said yes." I mumbled to myself as I went up the stairs, gliding my hand across the smooth wooden railing along the wall. I lifted my fingers at the small screws in the side holding it to the wall so I didn't bang or scratch my fingers on them. I got to the top and walked down the narrow hallway and around the corner of the fourth room into my bedroom. I walked over to my bed and pulled out my laptop setting it on my legs as I sat on the end of my bed. I logged onto my name and got on the Internet. I got on GSB and went straight to the message board under the Green Day section to get on SPOTROT... I searched through the first ten pages on the list but found nothing... where was it? Instead I found something else... The Pantsing Mike Brigade. WTF?!? I thought clicking on the link and getting on the thread. One of the members posted a link to a website and so I clicked on the link to figure out what this was all about. "Oh, my, god!" I said quietly to myself laughing a little as I scanned down the list of members and then going to the battle plan and pictures. As I got on the photo page music blared through the room and I quickly reached over to turn down the volume before Tre had a chance to hear it downstairs and come up. These people can't be serious! I giggled to myself. "Well, Mike better watch out because if these people are really planning on going through with this it's going to happen soon... you know, I should just ask Key about that... " I said reading the heading on the page... "and I bet she would help out with the pantsing too... " I said one last thing before Tre walked into the room. Well that didn't last long. "What are you doing?" He asked coming in the doorway and walking over to the bed. I quickly exited the screen closing out of my programs before Tre had a chance to see what crazy thing I had been looking at. I wasn't positive he new about GSB and I knew that he didn't know about the PMB or SPOTROT, which according to the other members was deleted because it was a religion thing to Tre and religions were spamming and so in the process of that going I lost about 500 posts that I had gotten so I went from being an idiot back to a geek. "What was that?" "Nothing." I lied trying to keep him away and out of my business. "No really what was it?" "It was nothing... if it is true you'll probably know within the next month or two anyway." I said flicking the switch and shoving my lap top back under my bed. "Fine." He said stubbornly leaning into my side making me tip to one side but I quickly placed my elbow under me before I fell off the bed. "What is it with you and all these secrets?" He asked laughing at how I pathetically tried to keep myself up under his weight. "What secrets?" I said in a small grunt as I tried to push him off of me. "You know, that note in your pocket from those months ago." He said letting up a little making me lose my balance now that what I had been trying to push off was gone and I was sent to the floor rolling onto my stomach on the floor. I sat up and leaned back on my elbows so I could see his frame towering over me in the dimly lit room. He remembers? I slid my hand down to my jeans and felt the small lump in my front pocket where that drawing still stayed folded up. His eyes glanced from my face to where I was digging in my pocket to pull out the paper. "You still have that?" He smirked getting off the bed and crouching down beside me. He reached out his hand and I quickly went to put the paper back in my pocket. "Of course I still have it." I said speeding up on the last few words as he snatched the note from my hand before I had it safe in my pocket again. He went to unfold it and I pulled myself off the floor jumping onto his back making him fall face first into the floor before he had a chance to see. I folded it back up and got off of his back smoothing out my shirt and putting the note away safely. "What? I still can't see it?" "Nope." I responded simply getting back onto the bed and pulling off my shoes. It was getting late. I needed some sleep.
