Past Memories, chapter 2
A wave of shock washed over me like a tidal wave. What an idiot I was, to not realize who this God of Punk Rock was, sitting before my very eyes. His eyes twinkled with amusement, within the green orbs that were right before me. The corners of his mouth started to twitch like rabbits' nose as he burst out into laughter. My face must have been a sight, as he would not stop laughing.
"I am so sorry," he said between fits of laughter," I thought you had recognized me." By now he was gasping for breath, trying to stop laughing.
"It's not that funny, you know. I'm drunk and can't see straight, or think so shut up." He let out another round of laughter at my comments to his reaction. I was starting to get ticked off. Yes, it is true; at first I didn't realize it was him. Right off the bat I don't usually recognize people, and he is definitely not an exception.
I always wondered what it would be like to meet him. I would ask myself questions like 'Who'd you think you'll be with?' 'Where will you be?' 'What will you be doing?' 'When will it be?' And now as the moment has come, I'd never imagined it like this. I'd come up with scenarios in my mind on how I would meet him, for example like during food shopping or at concert, or randomly bump into him on the street.
"I, ah, bet this is never how you pictured meeting me," he said as if he could tell what I was thinking.
"Ah yeah, you're right." What girl doesn't think 'Oh I'll go this bar, get drunk, and wait and see if Billie Joe Armstrong walks in?'
"It's not like you said to yourself, 'Oh I'll go to this bar, get drunk, and see if the most fucking best guitarist in the history of punk rock music, Billie Joe Armstrong walks in.'" Whoa! Did he just read my mind? Of course he put some variations in there to flat himself.
"Do you read people's minds?" I questioned him, "Because that's exactly what I was thinking, but of course without the flattery." He grinned from ear to ear.
"No but I just had so much practice with my fans," he paused and eyes lit up remembering thoughts of previous tours, "my girl fans."
I snorted, "What if they like Tre or Mike more?" He looked confused and furrowed his brow.
"But of course the girls like me better, right?" He looked like he just lost his best friend, which was amusing. "Some of them like Tre or Mike better than you," I said as I patted his hand to comfort him.
"C'mon," he pleaded, "tell me it's not just the teenies who love me."
"Oh no Billie Joe, it's just the teenies," he looked like he was gonna cry, "no I'm kidding, teenies and real fans like you more." He looked finally at peace with himself.
"Oh good, that's a relief to know."
We just sat in our silence thinking over what the other had said. "Hey," he said softly as he nudged me with his elbow, "you wanna get more booze or a nice cup of coffee?" What do you say to that? Especially when the person asking is Billie Joe Armstrong? He must have sensed my discomfort with this question, because he said in a snooty voice, "I prefer the coffee over the booze any day."
I laughed. "You sound just like my rich grandmother." He put a hand to his chest and said, "Well I never."
I loved guys who could make me laugh. Any guy who could make me laugh I knew I had to get to know better, but once again end in heartbreak.
"Coffee it is," he said standing up and stretching. Through the dim light I could see his shirt ride up as he stretched. I watched as his arms started to shake as he rid himself of the unwelcome tension in his arms.
"Now," he said looking around, "Where to find good coffee at this hour." I shrugged my shoulders not knowing either.
"I haven't been here as many times as you," I said nonchalantly.
He raised an eyebrow in question at me. "How do you know how many times I've been here? What are you a stalker?"
"No I just figured because you guys do world tours and everything-"
"Why are you assuming?" He suddenly asked me.
"What?" I said not fully getting his question.
"Yeah why did you assume I have been to Paris before?"
"Because you guys do world tours and everything." He still had that 'you don't know everything about so shut up' kind of look on his face.
"Geez, it's called WORLD TOURS Billie Joe, for crying out loud." I made a point to really emphasize the words 'WORLD TOUR'. "Can we please get some coffee now?" I whined.
"Fine," he said looking rather annoyed at our previous conversation. I stood up and stretched.
"Where shall we start?" Billie Joe wondered out loud.
"Um," I said looking around. In the far distance I could see some light. "Let's go see over there. If it's not a coffee place let's see if they have coffee."
"Good," he said, "I feel as if I really need coffee right now."
We started walking towards the light. We didn't say anything to each other. He bumped into me a couple times; I don't know if it was on purpose or not but still did. We reached the store within minutes. I was really surprised it was open this late. Billie Joe reached in front of me and opened the door. I mumbled a polite thank you and headed on in. It indeed was a coffee place. There was an old man at the counter looking rather sleepy. Billie Joe approached the counter first.
"Hello," the man said kindly, "What can I get you tonight."
"Could I get two large coffees one all black and Anne," he said looking at me. I told I wanted milk in mine.
"And one with milk please," he said.
"Would you two like anything else, how about a nice croissant on the house?"
Billie looked at me. "Sure," I said. When you're in France why not right? Billie Joe paid the man.
"You two are such a nice young looking couple," the man said while waiting for our coffee to finish brewing. I was shocked. Billie Joe looked stricken with horror. It was quite amusing actually. The man looked at us and said, "You two are not married eh, you a engaged then?"
"Ah yes, yes we are." I could not believe what Billie Joe had just told the man. I was shocked. Billie Joe looked back at me and mouthed 'sorry'.
Had the man not realized it was Billie Joe Armstrong, lead singer of Green Day, who had two beautiful sons and a wife? I was clearly not Adrienne; we looked nothing alike at all. The man was clearly not a punk rock fan. Or for that matter a Green Day fan.
I sat down and waited for Billie Joe to bring us our coffees. He brought them over but didn't sit down. "What," I asked perplexed at why he wouldn't sit down.
"C'mon hun let's go back to our hotel," he said making slight head movements towards the door. I looked back at the man who was smiling at us and finally got the hint.
"Ok," I paused, "sweetie, hold on." I picked up my coat. Billie Joe set the two coffees on the table and helped me with my coat. Wow he is really getting into this engaged thing I thought.
He wrapped his arms around my waist and put his chin on my shoulder. He was moving our bodies slowly, as if we were dancing. By now I felt like I was going to faint. My head was screaming 'he has a wife you moron stop, don't enjoy a minute of it.' My heart was saying 'yes, Billie Joe is actually touching me'. Shivers ran up and down my insides. I started to shake with happiness and excitement.
"He whispered passionately in my ear, "You're shaking.' All I could do was gulp and nod my head. "Try to stop," he said, "Take a deep breath." I did as I was told, but that didn't help. He released me. I grabbed my coffee and walked outside. I left poor Billie standing there.
I stood outside the window and watched him say goodbye to the man with coffee in hand and walked out.
Before I could say anything he grabbed me by the shoulders and hugged me tightly. I could feel his warm breath rising hairs on my neck. He stared back at me. I could tell exactly what he was going to do next.
He looked me straight in the eyes and slowly leaned in to kiss me. I started to shake all over again. He wrapped his arms around me tightly and as I did him.
His tongue slowly opened my mouth to deepen the kiss. God this felt so right but so wrong. He was the first to break away. He smiled at me and said, "The man thinks we are not passionate about each other enough."
So he really didn't mean it? It crushed me yet I was happy because it was an act so it didn't mean anything, so he wouldn't end up hurting Adrienne.
He picked up his coffee and tried to open the cover. It didn't work out as planned and got me soaking wet with coffee.
"I am so sorry, c'mon and let's go to my hotel so I can get you cleaned up."
"No, you don't have to," I said hurt. How can anyone just kiss someone as an act? I didn't understand it.
"Please," he pleaded he gave me a sad look. God I couldn't resist him.
"Fine," I huffed not exactly happy with the situation at stake. We walked about ten minutes worth of walking in silence and got to his hotel. We entered in the dark lobby. I followed him into the elevator and up to his room.
He cursed silently because he couldn't find the card for the door. After searching his pocket he found it and opened the door.
He stepped in and I followed as he turned on some lights. His room was beautiful, much better than mine.
"Follow me," he said. I went into what I assumed was his room and saw an unmade bed. Typical rock star. There was a suitcase lying on the bed. He searched and handed me some sweats and Ramones shirt.
"Thanks," I said he went into what he pointed out as a bathroom. I took off me coffee- drenched clothes and threw them in the tub, and put on his clothes. God, they even smelled like him.
I went out and found him sitting on the couch. "I'm sorry for kissing you I just thought-"
"No," I understand, but you went too far.
"You look nice." he said out of the blue. Great now he was trying to flatter me. "Sit down."
I did as I was told and sat down. "Listen I am really sorry, I wasn't thinking."
"I know," I said. He moved my face towards his quietly.
"You do look beautiful. This is for real." He leaned in to kiss me, but this time as he said it for real.
"I am so sorry," he said between fits of laughter," I thought you had recognized me." By now he was gasping for breath, trying to stop laughing.
"It's not that funny, you know. I'm drunk and can't see straight, or think so shut up." He let out another round of laughter at my comments to his reaction. I was starting to get ticked off. Yes, it is true; at first I didn't realize it was him. Right off the bat I don't usually recognize people, and he is definitely not an exception.
I always wondered what it would be like to meet him. I would ask myself questions like 'Who'd you think you'll be with?' 'Where will you be?' 'What will you be doing?' 'When will it be?' And now as the moment has come, I'd never imagined it like this. I'd come up with scenarios in my mind on how I would meet him, for example like during food shopping or at concert, or randomly bump into him on the street.
"I, ah, bet this is never how you pictured meeting me," he said as if he could tell what I was thinking.
"Ah yeah, you're right." What girl doesn't think 'Oh I'll go this bar, get drunk, and wait and see if Billie Joe Armstrong walks in?'
"It's not like you said to yourself, 'Oh I'll go to this bar, get drunk, and see if the most fucking best guitarist in the history of punk rock music, Billie Joe Armstrong walks in.'" Whoa! Did he just read my mind? Of course he put some variations in there to flat himself.
"Do you read people's minds?" I questioned him, "Because that's exactly what I was thinking, but of course without the flattery." He grinned from ear to ear.
"No but I just had so much practice with my fans," he paused and eyes lit up remembering thoughts of previous tours, "my girl fans."
I snorted, "What if they like Tre or Mike more?" He looked confused and furrowed his brow.
"But of course the girls like me better, right?" He looked like he just lost his best friend, which was amusing. "Some of them like Tre or Mike better than you," I said as I patted his hand to comfort him.
"C'mon," he pleaded, "tell me it's not just the teenies who love me."
"Oh no Billie Joe, it's just the teenies," he looked like he was gonna cry, "no I'm kidding, teenies and real fans like you more." He looked finally at peace with himself.
"Oh good, that's a relief to know."
We just sat in our silence thinking over what the other had said. "Hey," he said softly as he nudged me with his elbow, "you wanna get more booze or a nice cup of coffee?" What do you say to that? Especially when the person asking is Billie Joe Armstrong? He must have sensed my discomfort with this question, because he said in a snooty voice, "I prefer the coffee over the booze any day."
I laughed. "You sound just like my rich grandmother." He put a hand to his chest and said, "Well I never."
I loved guys who could make me laugh. Any guy who could make me laugh I knew I had to get to know better, but once again end in heartbreak.
"Coffee it is," he said standing up and stretching. Through the dim light I could see his shirt ride up as he stretched. I watched as his arms started to shake as he rid himself of the unwelcome tension in his arms.
"Now," he said looking around, "Where to find good coffee at this hour." I shrugged my shoulders not knowing either.
"I haven't been here as many times as you," I said nonchalantly.
He raised an eyebrow in question at me. "How do you know how many times I've been here? What are you a stalker?"
"No I just figured because you guys do world tours and everything-"
"Why are you assuming?" He suddenly asked me.
"What?" I said not fully getting his question.
"Yeah why did you assume I have been to Paris before?"
"Because you guys do world tours and everything." He still had that 'you don't know everything about so shut up' kind of look on his face.
"Geez, it's called WORLD TOURS Billie Joe, for crying out loud." I made a point to really emphasize the words 'WORLD TOUR'. "Can we please get some coffee now?" I whined.
"Fine," he said looking rather annoyed at our previous conversation. I stood up and stretched.
"Where shall we start?" Billie Joe wondered out loud.
"Um," I said looking around. In the far distance I could see some light. "Let's go see over there. If it's not a coffee place let's see if they have coffee."
"Good," he said, "I feel as if I really need coffee right now."
We started walking towards the light. We didn't say anything to each other. He bumped into me a couple times; I don't know if it was on purpose or not but still did. We reached the store within minutes. I was really surprised it was open this late. Billie Joe reached in front of me and opened the door. I mumbled a polite thank you and headed on in. It indeed was a coffee place. There was an old man at the counter looking rather sleepy. Billie Joe approached the counter first.
"Hello," the man said kindly, "What can I get you tonight."
"Could I get two large coffees one all black and Anne," he said looking at me. I told I wanted milk in mine.
"And one with milk please," he said.
"Would you two like anything else, how about a nice croissant on the house?"
Billie looked at me. "Sure," I said. When you're in France why not right? Billie Joe paid the man.
"You two are such a nice young looking couple," the man said while waiting for our coffee to finish brewing. I was shocked. Billie Joe looked stricken with horror. It was quite amusing actually. The man looked at us and said, "You two are not married eh, you a engaged then?"
"Ah yes, yes we are." I could not believe what Billie Joe had just told the man. I was shocked. Billie Joe looked back at me and mouthed 'sorry'.
Had the man not realized it was Billie Joe Armstrong, lead singer of Green Day, who had two beautiful sons and a wife? I was clearly not Adrienne; we looked nothing alike at all. The man was clearly not a punk rock fan. Or for that matter a Green Day fan.
I sat down and waited for Billie Joe to bring us our coffees. He brought them over but didn't sit down. "What," I asked perplexed at why he wouldn't sit down.
"C'mon hun let's go back to our hotel," he said making slight head movements towards the door. I looked back at the man who was smiling at us and finally got the hint.
"Ok," I paused, "sweetie, hold on." I picked up my coat. Billie Joe set the two coffees on the table and helped me with my coat. Wow he is really getting into this engaged thing I thought.
He wrapped his arms around my waist and put his chin on my shoulder. He was moving our bodies slowly, as if we were dancing. By now I felt like I was going to faint. My head was screaming 'he has a wife you moron stop, don't enjoy a minute of it.' My heart was saying 'yes, Billie Joe is actually touching me'. Shivers ran up and down my insides. I started to shake with happiness and excitement.
"He whispered passionately in my ear, "You're shaking.' All I could do was gulp and nod my head. "Try to stop," he said, "Take a deep breath." I did as I was told, but that didn't help. He released me. I grabbed my coffee and walked outside. I left poor Billie standing there.
I stood outside the window and watched him say goodbye to the man with coffee in hand and walked out.
Before I could say anything he grabbed me by the shoulders and hugged me tightly. I could feel his warm breath rising hairs on my neck. He stared back at me. I could tell exactly what he was going to do next.
He looked me straight in the eyes and slowly leaned in to kiss me. I started to shake all over again. He wrapped his arms around me tightly and as I did him.
His tongue slowly opened my mouth to deepen the kiss. God this felt so right but so wrong. He was the first to break away. He smiled at me and said, "The man thinks we are not passionate about each other enough."
So he really didn't mean it? It crushed me yet I was happy because it was an act so it didn't mean anything, so he wouldn't end up hurting Adrienne.
He picked up his coffee and tried to open the cover. It didn't work out as planned and got me soaking wet with coffee.
"I am so sorry, c'mon and let's go to my hotel so I can get you cleaned up."
"No, you don't have to," I said hurt. How can anyone just kiss someone as an act? I didn't understand it.
"Please," he pleaded he gave me a sad look. God I couldn't resist him.
"Fine," I huffed not exactly happy with the situation at stake. We walked about ten minutes worth of walking in silence and got to his hotel. We entered in the dark lobby. I followed him into the elevator and up to his room.
He cursed silently because he couldn't find the card for the door. After searching his pocket he found it and opened the door.
He stepped in and I followed as he turned on some lights. His room was beautiful, much better than mine.
"Follow me," he said. I went into what I assumed was his room and saw an unmade bed. Typical rock star. There was a suitcase lying on the bed. He searched and handed me some sweats and Ramones shirt.
"Thanks," I said he went into what he pointed out as a bathroom. I took off me coffee- drenched clothes and threw them in the tub, and put on his clothes. God, they even smelled like him.
I went out and found him sitting on the couch. "I'm sorry for kissing you I just thought-"
"No," I understand, but you went too far.
"You look nice." he said out of the blue. Great now he was trying to flatter me. "Sit down."
I did as I was told and sat down. "Listen I am really sorry, I wasn't thinking."
"I know," I said. He moved my face towards his quietly.
"You do look beautiful. This is for real." He leaned in to kiss me, but this time as he said it for real.
