Fragments Of Yesterday, chapter 29
"Joey," Katie hissed through the door. She had been pecking on it lightly for the past fifteen minutes, but he must not have heard her over the radio. Finally, the door opened. "It's about damn time," she grumbled, walking in as he shut the door behind her. He turned with a smile on his face.
"Sorry," he said, grinning evilly. Katie mock glared, but it soon dissipated as Joey wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a kiss. "I've been waiting to do that all day," he commented.
Katie gawked at him for a moment before smiling wide. "That was about the cheesiest comment I've heard all day."
"Shut up," Joey muttered with laughter in his voice. He pulled away to change the CD he was listening to.
"All year, in fact," Katie added. Joey just rolled his eyes and stuck his tongue out at her.
"Go ahead and tease me all you want," Joey urged. "Doesn't bother me in the least bit." He paused as he stuck another CD in his player. "Because in the end of the day, you STILL like me."
"Shut up!" Katie giggled as she made herself comfortable on his bed. She admired how he looked when the sun shone like that through the windows, highlighting his dark brown hair and lighting up his eyes. She also couldn't help the pang of guilt that surged through her at moments like this, knowing that they were hiding this from Billie and Adie. She hated that aspect of it, and she tried not to think about it. But the more conscious effort she put into not thinking about it, the more she dwelled on it.
"What's wrong?" Joey asked, throwing himself down beside her and gazing at her inquisitively. Katie only smiled and shook her head, looking of into space.
"Nothing... "
"Come on, Kay, give me some credit," Joey teased lightly, placing a comforting hand on hers, "I know when you're bothered about something." Katie turned her head to him with a quirky grin.
"Oh, do you?"
"Quit trying to change the subject Katie," Joey urged, getting impatient. He hated it when she kept things from him, one of her defense mechanisms that he didn't particularly like. He also knew that she only used them out of habit of all the bad things that had happened to her in her life, which he couldn't blame her for.
Katie let out a heavy sigh. "I dunno, Joey... " she trailed off. She gripped the hand that was lying in her own. "I just can't help but feel a little guilty that we're hiding this."
"I understand," Joey said in a small voice. "It's really hard... " he also trailed off, leaving room for a but, which was inevitably coming. "But, I don't think that right now mom and dad could understand. I mean, we'll tell them eventually, right?"
"Of course," Katie agreed, still a little hesitantly. She wondered if she and Joey were ever going to tell them, and whether or not they would flip out on them.
Joey looked up at her and smiled, pulling her down so her lips could meet his own. He knew that he was young, but he was sure that this is what love was supposed to feel like. He and Katie had been through so much together, and it took a lot of work to get to this place. And in this place, he was perfectly happy. And so what, they were only almost 16? It really didn't matter at all, and he was almost positive that Katie felt the same way.
***
"Billie, man, you need to calm your bitchy self the fuck down," Tre commented at Billie, who was particularly moody that day. Billie only looked up and glared at the drummer, who was also getting on his nerves on that particular day.
"Fuck off, Tre," Billie snapped moodily. Mike and Tre exchanged glances, Mike chucking to himself lightly. He had missed being on tour, and this was the kind of therapy he needed after Brittney had broken things off with him.
"What are you laughing about, Douchwad?" Tre asked to Mike. Mike just shrugged and ignored Tre, who was actually being quite annoying. He was pretty sure that by the time the tour was over, Billie would be nigh and ready to wring Tre's neck the way he was acting. Taking Mike's shrug as a self-interpreted response, Tre turned to Billie. "See, Billie-Boy, even Douchwad agrees with me. M-O-O-O-D-Y."
"What the fuck? Are you a fucking cow?" Billie asked.
"Huh?"
"M-O-O-D-Y." Billie rolled his eyes. "I can tell that you never finished high school."
"Neither did you, numbnuts," Tre responded back. He picked up a beer and took a healthy drink.
"Leave some for the rest of the distillery, numbNUT," Billie retorted. Tre set his beer down and folded his hands across his lap.
"I think someone either needs Midol, to jack off or a phone call to home."
"Tre, you need to go find some kind of constructive activity before I stick this fucking drumstick up you--"
"Maybe it wouldn't hurt," Mike piped up, no longer wanting to hear this banter go on any longer. "The phone call to home, I mean. I know you miss them." Billie sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"Yeah, I do." He got up and grabbed his cell phone, walking out of the building and into the cool, New York air. He dialed home and listened to it ring.
"Hello?" It was Adrienne, and the sound of her voice made him smile.
"Hey babe," Billie answered. He could practically see her smiling on the other end. "I'm apparently getting bitchy already, so I figured a therapeutic call home would help that."
"Tre getting on your nerves already?" she asked knowingly.
"Yes," Billie grumbled. "So how is everything? The kids?"
"They're great," Adrienne said, sounding an awful lot like she could elaborate a little more on what exactly it was that she meant by that. "Jakob is hanging around his friends most of the time."
"And Katie and Joey?"
Adrienne paused, wondering what she should respond with. "Oh, they're good. They're been getting along pretty good, so they're hanging out a lot more."
"That's good," Billie said, nodding a little to himself. "And what about you?"
"I'm fine," Adrienne answered. "I was thinking about visiting Mom and Dad, you know. Give the kids some time to themselves and me some time to get away."
"You should do that," Billie agreed. "You spend entirely too much time at home." They talked for a few more moments before Billie had to go and do sound check and Adie had to start cooking supper.
***
He glared down at the picture, a burning hatred rising in his heart. He knew he was going to get her back for what she did, but he also knew that he shouldn't go rushing into things. Take your time, he thought. Do things right. He crinkled the picture and threw it in the trashcan beside him.
He got up and picked up his stroll through the park once more, trying to clear his head. He had a lot of shit to do since he got out, making some money on the top of his list. It was hard for him to shove that burning hatred out of his mind for now, but it would never get out of his heart. Not until he got her back.
That little bitch is gonna pay, he thought vengefully. She's gonna pay real good.
***
Joey's birthday came up, which could possibly the best day of his life. Not only was his brother not home, but after a small celebration, his mom was going to be leaving for his grandparents house. That would leave him and Katie all alone to themselves to actually enjoy some time together.
"Happy birthday," Katie said, walking up behind him. They were in the living room, and Joey stole a quick look around before bending down and kissing her lightly on the lips.
"Thanks," he said with a smile. "Where's my present?"
"Pssssh," Katie responded. "I see how you are."
"What?" Joey asked innocently. "It's my birthday."
"Adie's in the kitchen and she wants us both in there," Katie informed. "So move." She pushed him lightly in the small of the back as he laughed.
Just as he though, his mom had baked him a cake. There were a few presents sitting out on the counter in the kitchen. Adrienne was wearing a huge grin and a slightly nostalgic look. "Happy birthday," she said, giving her son a hug. Katie and Adrienne proceeded to sing him happy birthday, and Joey opened the presents from his mother and Katie. Right after he got done, the phone rang, and Adrienne smiled at Joey.
"It's for you," she informed. Joey walked over to the phone.
"Hello?"
"Happy birthday," Billie said from the other end. "I'm sorry I can't be there--"
"It's cool, Dad," Joey answered, making Billie grin.
"Listen, I can't stay on long, but I do have a present for you," Billie said.
"I already opened my presents," Joey responded.
"Not mine," Billie responded. "It's outside." Joey heard Billie pause and put a hand over the phone, muffled voices being the only thing he could make out. "Joey, I've gotta go. But have a great birthday, and don't burn down the house while your mom is gone."
"Geez, Dad, way to give me credit," Joey laughed.
"It's my fatherly duty," Billie joked. "Happy birthday. Bye."
"Bye." Joey hung up the phone and looked up at his mom curiously. "He has a present for me outside?"
"In the garage," Adrienne smiled. Together, all three walked out to the garage. Joey opened it up to find a brand new Trans Am sitting in the garage, black and shiny and complete with the bird painted on the hood.
***
"If you need anything, just call," Adrienne said for the millionth time. Joey just nodded and rolled his eyes.
"We'll be fine, Mom," he sighed.
"I can't help it," Adrienne said apologetically. "I'm paranoid, okay?" She gave Katie and Joey hugs and kissed them both. "I'll be back in a week."
"Have fun," Katie said cheerfully. Adrienne nodded and headed out the door, jumping a car and driving towards the airport. She let out a small beep of the horn as she pulled out of the driveway.
"Finally," Joey said, plopping down on the couch and pulling Katie down with him. "Home alone."
"For the day," Katie pointed out. "Jakob will be back tomorrow."
"Yeah yeah yeah," Joey waved her off, "way to ruin the moment."
"I wasn't aware that there was one," Katie giggled. Joey smiled and pulled her into a kiss, taking this complete opportunity to put all that he had into it. He smiled against her lips, pulling away.
"This is the best birthday ever," he said lightly.
"Cheesy," Katie answered back. She rested her head against his shoulder. "I love you." Joey stopped, slowly turning to look at her. The look in her eyes was serious, and she seemed to be anticipating his response. He knew he felt the same.
"I love you too," he responded, bending down and kissing her once again. They began making out on the couch heavily, completely wrapped up in one another and enjoying this scarce moment together. All of a sudden, Katie stood up.
"What?" Joey asked, wondering what was wrong and why Katie had stopped. She only smiled and grabbed his hand, making him follow her up the stairs.
"Sorry," he said, grinning evilly. Katie mock glared, but it soon dissipated as Joey wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a kiss. "I've been waiting to do that all day," he commented.
Katie gawked at him for a moment before smiling wide. "That was about the cheesiest comment I've heard all day."
"Shut up," Joey muttered with laughter in his voice. He pulled away to change the CD he was listening to.
"All year, in fact," Katie added. Joey just rolled his eyes and stuck his tongue out at her.
"Go ahead and tease me all you want," Joey urged. "Doesn't bother me in the least bit." He paused as he stuck another CD in his player. "Because in the end of the day, you STILL like me."
"Shut up!" Katie giggled as she made herself comfortable on his bed. She admired how he looked when the sun shone like that through the windows, highlighting his dark brown hair and lighting up his eyes. She also couldn't help the pang of guilt that surged through her at moments like this, knowing that they were hiding this from Billie and Adie. She hated that aspect of it, and she tried not to think about it. But the more conscious effort she put into not thinking about it, the more she dwelled on it.
"What's wrong?" Joey asked, throwing himself down beside her and gazing at her inquisitively. Katie only smiled and shook her head, looking of into space.
"Nothing... "
"Come on, Kay, give me some credit," Joey teased lightly, placing a comforting hand on hers, "I know when you're bothered about something." Katie turned her head to him with a quirky grin.
"Oh, do you?"
"Quit trying to change the subject Katie," Joey urged, getting impatient. He hated it when she kept things from him, one of her defense mechanisms that he didn't particularly like. He also knew that she only used them out of habit of all the bad things that had happened to her in her life, which he couldn't blame her for.
Katie let out a heavy sigh. "I dunno, Joey... " she trailed off. She gripped the hand that was lying in her own. "I just can't help but feel a little guilty that we're hiding this."
"I understand," Joey said in a small voice. "It's really hard... " he also trailed off, leaving room for a but, which was inevitably coming. "But, I don't think that right now mom and dad could understand. I mean, we'll tell them eventually, right?"
"Of course," Katie agreed, still a little hesitantly. She wondered if she and Joey were ever going to tell them, and whether or not they would flip out on them.
Joey looked up at her and smiled, pulling her down so her lips could meet his own. He knew that he was young, but he was sure that this is what love was supposed to feel like. He and Katie had been through so much together, and it took a lot of work to get to this place. And in this place, he was perfectly happy. And so what, they were only almost 16? It really didn't matter at all, and he was almost positive that Katie felt the same way.
***
"Billie, man, you need to calm your bitchy self the fuck down," Tre commented at Billie, who was particularly moody that day. Billie only looked up and glared at the drummer, who was also getting on his nerves on that particular day.
"Fuck off, Tre," Billie snapped moodily. Mike and Tre exchanged glances, Mike chucking to himself lightly. He had missed being on tour, and this was the kind of therapy he needed after Brittney had broken things off with him.
"What are you laughing about, Douchwad?" Tre asked to Mike. Mike just shrugged and ignored Tre, who was actually being quite annoying. He was pretty sure that by the time the tour was over, Billie would be nigh and ready to wring Tre's neck the way he was acting. Taking Mike's shrug as a self-interpreted response, Tre turned to Billie. "See, Billie-Boy, even Douchwad agrees with me. M-O-O-O-D-Y."
"What the fuck? Are you a fucking cow?" Billie asked.
"Huh?"
"M-O-O-D-Y." Billie rolled his eyes. "I can tell that you never finished high school."
"Neither did you, numbnuts," Tre responded back. He picked up a beer and took a healthy drink.
"Leave some for the rest of the distillery, numbNUT," Billie retorted. Tre set his beer down and folded his hands across his lap.
"I think someone either needs Midol, to jack off or a phone call to home."
"Tre, you need to go find some kind of constructive activity before I stick this fucking drumstick up you--"
"Maybe it wouldn't hurt," Mike piped up, no longer wanting to hear this banter go on any longer. "The phone call to home, I mean. I know you miss them." Billie sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"Yeah, I do." He got up and grabbed his cell phone, walking out of the building and into the cool, New York air. He dialed home and listened to it ring.
"Hello?" It was Adrienne, and the sound of her voice made him smile.
"Hey babe," Billie answered. He could practically see her smiling on the other end. "I'm apparently getting bitchy already, so I figured a therapeutic call home would help that."
"Tre getting on your nerves already?" she asked knowingly.
"Yes," Billie grumbled. "So how is everything? The kids?"
"They're great," Adrienne said, sounding an awful lot like she could elaborate a little more on what exactly it was that she meant by that. "Jakob is hanging around his friends most of the time."
"And Katie and Joey?"
Adrienne paused, wondering what she should respond with. "Oh, they're good. They're been getting along pretty good, so they're hanging out a lot more."
"That's good," Billie said, nodding a little to himself. "And what about you?"
"I'm fine," Adrienne answered. "I was thinking about visiting Mom and Dad, you know. Give the kids some time to themselves and me some time to get away."
"You should do that," Billie agreed. "You spend entirely too much time at home." They talked for a few more moments before Billie had to go and do sound check and Adie had to start cooking supper.
***
He glared down at the picture, a burning hatred rising in his heart. He knew he was going to get her back for what she did, but he also knew that he shouldn't go rushing into things. Take your time, he thought. Do things right. He crinkled the picture and threw it in the trashcan beside him.
He got up and picked up his stroll through the park once more, trying to clear his head. He had a lot of shit to do since he got out, making some money on the top of his list. It was hard for him to shove that burning hatred out of his mind for now, but it would never get out of his heart. Not until he got her back.
That little bitch is gonna pay, he thought vengefully. She's gonna pay real good.
***
Joey's birthday came up, which could possibly the best day of his life. Not only was his brother not home, but after a small celebration, his mom was going to be leaving for his grandparents house. That would leave him and Katie all alone to themselves to actually enjoy some time together.
"Happy birthday," Katie said, walking up behind him. They were in the living room, and Joey stole a quick look around before bending down and kissing her lightly on the lips.
"Thanks," he said with a smile. "Where's my present?"
"Pssssh," Katie responded. "I see how you are."
"What?" Joey asked innocently. "It's my birthday."
"Adie's in the kitchen and she wants us both in there," Katie informed. "So move." She pushed him lightly in the small of the back as he laughed.
Just as he though, his mom had baked him a cake. There were a few presents sitting out on the counter in the kitchen. Adrienne was wearing a huge grin and a slightly nostalgic look. "Happy birthday," she said, giving her son a hug. Katie and Adrienne proceeded to sing him happy birthday, and Joey opened the presents from his mother and Katie. Right after he got done, the phone rang, and Adrienne smiled at Joey.
"It's for you," she informed. Joey walked over to the phone.
"Hello?"
"Happy birthday," Billie said from the other end. "I'm sorry I can't be there--"
"It's cool, Dad," Joey answered, making Billie grin.
"Listen, I can't stay on long, but I do have a present for you," Billie said.
"I already opened my presents," Joey responded.
"Not mine," Billie responded. "It's outside." Joey heard Billie pause and put a hand over the phone, muffled voices being the only thing he could make out. "Joey, I've gotta go. But have a great birthday, and don't burn down the house while your mom is gone."
"Geez, Dad, way to give me credit," Joey laughed.
"It's my fatherly duty," Billie joked. "Happy birthday. Bye."
"Bye." Joey hung up the phone and looked up at his mom curiously. "He has a present for me outside?"
"In the garage," Adrienne smiled. Together, all three walked out to the garage. Joey opened it up to find a brand new Trans Am sitting in the garage, black and shiny and complete with the bird painted on the hood.
***
"If you need anything, just call," Adrienne said for the millionth time. Joey just nodded and rolled his eyes.
"We'll be fine, Mom," he sighed.
"I can't help it," Adrienne said apologetically. "I'm paranoid, okay?" She gave Katie and Joey hugs and kissed them both. "I'll be back in a week."
"Have fun," Katie said cheerfully. Adrienne nodded and headed out the door, jumping a car and driving towards the airport. She let out a small beep of the horn as she pulled out of the driveway.
"Finally," Joey said, plopping down on the couch and pulling Katie down with him. "Home alone."
"For the day," Katie pointed out. "Jakob will be back tomorrow."
"Yeah yeah yeah," Joey waved her off, "way to ruin the moment."
"I wasn't aware that there was one," Katie giggled. Joey smiled and pulled her into a kiss, taking this complete opportunity to put all that he had into it. He smiled against her lips, pulling away.
"This is the best birthday ever," he said lightly.
"Cheesy," Katie answered back. She rested her head against his shoulder. "I love you." Joey stopped, slowly turning to look at her. The look in her eyes was serious, and she seemed to be anticipating his response. He knew he felt the same.
"I love you too," he responded, bending down and kissing her once again. They began making out on the couch heavily, completely wrapped up in one another and enjoying this scarce moment together. All of a sudden, Katie stood up.
"What?" Joey asked, wondering what was wrong and why Katie had stopped. She only smiled and grabbed his hand, making him follow her up the stairs.
