Cocky Brat, chapter 5
Vanessa finds herself lying on her stomach, with her phone to her ear in the motel room she was sharing with her mother.
"I'm just going to take my shower, then we'll leave." Kathleen says, as she heads into the washroom.
"Hello." The person on the other line says.
"Hey Melissa." Vanessa says, slightly excited.
"Oh, hey Ness!" Melissa exclaims. The two had been college roommates since the start of freshman year. "How's Europe?"
"Europe is great. Job is pretty easy."
"Any cute roadies?" Vanessa just laughs.
"Nope, they're all so old."
"Oh, so no one to flirt with."
"Well there's this one guy, but he's just a cocky asshole."
"Is he hot?" Melissa questions.
"Yeah but-"
"Why don't you go with him then?"
"Did I mention he's a cocky ass hole?"
"Have you ever been with a cocky guy?" Melissa demands.
"Well, no."
"See? You're too stuck up when it comes to dating. Let your hair down. Go out with this guy. You'll get home, and never see him again. Just a fling, you know? Keep you from going insane."
"Yeah, whatever." Vanessa laughs.
"Lets go." Kathleen says, stepping out of the washroom.
"Alright Mel, I'll talk to you later."
"Ness."
"Yeah."
"Give that guy a chance." She says, as she hangs up the phone.
"Who were you talking to?" Kathleen asks, as they head out to the rental van.
"Melissa." Vanessa shakes her head laughing, "Could you believe she thinks I should go with Joseph."
"What because he's the rock st-"
"No, I didn't mention that piece of information. She just thinks I need a guy in my life."
"Well Ness, you haven't had a boyfriend in like four months."
"Not you too." Ness says, rolling her eyes.
"Just wait till after Europe, last thing you want is to get fired."
"No shit."
"So what's on the schedule today?"
"Just back stage shots for the montage."
"Oh, looks like you practically have the day off." Kathleen states. "You know what? I'll give you the day off. Just come by right before the show for the shooting."
"Really? Thanks." Vanessa says, getting out of the parked van.
"Yeah if you go shopping, buy cookies." Kathleen laughs.
Vanessa calls a taxi to take her into the heart of London. She was so glad she is finally getting a day for herself. Take in the sights, shop a bit, and get away from another damn venue.
*
"Let me guess, she told you off again." Jakob says, as he nears his brother, who's leaning against the tour bus, smoking a cigarette.
"Yeah." Joey says, taking a drag.
"Mom know you smoke yet?"
"Not yet, only you and Dad." He mutters, as he lets the cigarette dangle loosely from his lips. "And she's not going to find out from you."
"Yeah, whatever." Jakob mutters. "So what did you do this time?"
"Apparently, I was being a cocky bastard."
"That's ridiculous, mom and dad were married when you were born." Jake teases. "So is that who you're looking for?"
"Yeah, I wanna apologize, but I haven't seen her all day."
"What's the deal with this girl anyway? Does she have beer flavored nipples?" Joey just shoves his younger brother. "I'm just kidding around."
"I don't know, she seems-"
"Angry? Dominating? Bitchy?"
"Shut your face." Joey mutters, as he drops his cigarette, and stubs it out with his foot, "I don't know why I even talk to you."
*
"Well that's a wrap!" Kathleen yells, minutes before Green Day has to go on stage.
"Finally." Vanessa mumbles under her breath, as she runs her hand through her hair. She glances around to try to remember how to get out of this back stage death trap. She follows one of the roadies, till she see one of the fire exits, then bursts out into the evening air. She breaths deeply, for some reason back stage seemed all too stuffy.
She leans against the wall casually, then she sees him. He's coming toward her. Vanessa rolls her eyes, and starts to walk away.
"Vanessa, wait!" Joey calls, as he runs after her, "I'm sorry I was being such a jerk yesterday and-" the conversation she had with Melissa keeps repeating in her mind.
"You still want to go out for that drink?" Vanessa asks suddenly, not sure what came over her. Joey's face lights up instantly.
"Yeah, of course." He says holding out his arm for her. She takes a deep breath, and links arms with his, thinking Melissa better be right for once.
They head over to where the rental cars are parked.
"Joe! Hey Joe! I'm coming with you!" a pubescent voice yells out. Joey sighs, and turns around.
"Can't."
"Oh, ohhhh!" the thirteen year old says, catching glimpse of Vanessa, "You have company."
"Yeah." Joey says awkwardly, "Frankito this is Vanessa, and Vanessa this is Tre Cool's son, Frankito."
"Nice to meet you." the young teenager says, backing away from the two, "I'll just find Ramona."
"He's a bit spastic, isn't he." Vanessa says, as she gets in by the passenger's side.
"Only sometimes." Joey laughs. "Apparently it's genetic."
"You don't say?" Vanessa laughs, after spending two weeks filming the rockers, including Tre Cool, she's come to notice their mannerisms.
"So where were you all day?" Joey asks, trying to make conversation, "Usually you're organizing shit around the canteen."
"I got most of the day off, in exchange for cookies."
"Cookies?" Joey laughs, as he grabs a map out of the glove compartment.
"Yeah, see I work for my mom, and she said I could take the morning off if I brought her cookies before the shoot."
"Interesting, I should try that with my boss." Joey smiles, so does Ness. To her surprise this was turning out better than expected.
"So what would you like to drink?" Joey asks, as they appear at a lounge bar.
"Beer, I guess." Vanessa says, as she follows him to the bar.
"Two beers, uh Heinekan." Joey says to the bartender. He opens up two bottles, and places them on the counter. Joey pays up right away, and hands Vanessa one of the bottles. He leads her to one of the cushy booths.
"So why'd you come out tonight?" Joey asks, as he sips his beer.
"My friend called me, and told me to live a little, and to give you a chance." She says, slightly embarrassed.
"I like this friend of yours already." He smirks, "Aren't you worried about you job and shit?"
"Yeah, that's why I didn't tell anyone."
The evening continues, to Vanessa's surprise, more than pleasant. That is until Joey reaches into his pocket, and produces a small box. He pops open the box, and pulls out a cigarette and a green lighter. She stares at him, displeased, but he doesn't seem to notice as he puts the stick to his mouth and lights it.
"So you got to college in Washington?" he asks, after taking a puff. She slaps him across the cheek. "What the hell?"
"You don't respect your body. Why should I?" he looks at his cigarette. He takes one last drag, and stubs it out.
"Sorry."
"Fuck it." She says, standing up and heading towards the door. He runs after her out into the parking lot.
"Ness! I'm sorry!" he calls out, and she starts to walk a little slower coming to realize he'd catch up to her eventually. "I won't smoke around you anymore."
"But you'll still smoke." She snaps.
"Yeah but-"
"I don't kiss ash trays."
"Y-you wanted to kiss me?" he asks, wide eyed.
"I was thinking about it." She pauses, "But that's besides the point! Do you know where my father is right now?"
"Uhh." Joey utters, confused.
"Six feet under, lung cancer, age forty-one!" she exclaims, "You wanna know about my grandfather too?"
"No, it's okay." Joey says, quietly. "At least let me drive you back."
They walk in silence back to his rental car, and get in. Joey drives for about five minutes, when Vanessa decides to talk.
"Why'd you start smoking?"
"I, uh, well I was stressed out from school and stuff."
"Uhuh." She says, rolling her eyes.
"Well my father smokes, and he said he smoked because it calmed his nerves. At the time my nerves were anything but calm. I walked into the living room, and the box was just sitting there, took one, and I was hooked."
"You're an idiot, you know that?"
"It's become apparent this week, thanks to you of course." She sighs, as he pulls into the parking lot of the motel.
"Goodnight Joseph, thank you for the beer." She says, as she gets out of the car. Why'd she have to call him Joseph. He couldn't take it anymore.
"I'm just going to take my shower, then we'll leave." Kathleen says, as she heads into the washroom.
"Hello." The person on the other line says.
"Hey Melissa." Vanessa says, slightly excited.
"Oh, hey Ness!" Melissa exclaims. The two had been college roommates since the start of freshman year. "How's Europe?"
"Europe is great. Job is pretty easy."
"Any cute roadies?" Vanessa just laughs.
"Nope, they're all so old."
"Oh, so no one to flirt with."
"Well there's this one guy, but he's just a cocky asshole."
"Is he hot?" Melissa questions.
"Yeah but-"
"Why don't you go with him then?"
"Did I mention he's a cocky ass hole?"
"Have you ever been with a cocky guy?" Melissa demands.
"Well, no."
"See? You're too stuck up when it comes to dating. Let your hair down. Go out with this guy. You'll get home, and never see him again. Just a fling, you know? Keep you from going insane."
"Yeah, whatever." Vanessa laughs.
"Lets go." Kathleen says, stepping out of the washroom.
"Alright Mel, I'll talk to you later."
"Ness."
"Yeah."
"Give that guy a chance." She says, as she hangs up the phone.
"Who were you talking to?" Kathleen asks, as they head out to the rental van.
"Melissa." Vanessa shakes her head laughing, "Could you believe she thinks I should go with Joseph."
"What because he's the rock st-"
"No, I didn't mention that piece of information. She just thinks I need a guy in my life."
"Well Ness, you haven't had a boyfriend in like four months."
"Not you too." Ness says, rolling her eyes.
"Just wait till after Europe, last thing you want is to get fired."
"No shit."
"So what's on the schedule today?"
"Just back stage shots for the montage."
"Oh, looks like you practically have the day off." Kathleen states. "You know what? I'll give you the day off. Just come by right before the show for the shooting."
"Really? Thanks." Vanessa says, getting out of the parked van.
"Yeah if you go shopping, buy cookies." Kathleen laughs.
Vanessa calls a taxi to take her into the heart of London. She was so glad she is finally getting a day for herself. Take in the sights, shop a bit, and get away from another damn venue.
*
"Let me guess, she told you off again." Jakob says, as he nears his brother, who's leaning against the tour bus, smoking a cigarette.
"Yeah." Joey says, taking a drag.
"Mom know you smoke yet?"
"Not yet, only you and Dad." He mutters, as he lets the cigarette dangle loosely from his lips. "And she's not going to find out from you."
"Yeah, whatever." Jakob mutters. "So what did you do this time?"
"Apparently, I was being a cocky bastard."
"That's ridiculous, mom and dad were married when you were born." Jake teases. "So is that who you're looking for?"
"Yeah, I wanna apologize, but I haven't seen her all day."
"What's the deal with this girl anyway? Does she have beer flavored nipples?" Joey just shoves his younger brother. "I'm just kidding around."
"I don't know, she seems-"
"Angry? Dominating? Bitchy?"
"Shut your face." Joey mutters, as he drops his cigarette, and stubs it out with his foot, "I don't know why I even talk to you."
*
"Well that's a wrap!" Kathleen yells, minutes before Green Day has to go on stage.
"Finally." Vanessa mumbles under her breath, as she runs her hand through her hair. She glances around to try to remember how to get out of this back stage death trap. She follows one of the roadies, till she see one of the fire exits, then bursts out into the evening air. She breaths deeply, for some reason back stage seemed all too stuffy.
She leans against the wall casually, then she sees him. He's coming toward her. Vanessa rolls her eyes, and starts to walk away.
"Vanessa, wait!" Joey calls, as he runs after her, "I'm sorry I was being such a jerk yesterday and-" the conversation she had with Melissa keeps repeating in her mind.
"You still want to go out for that drink?" Vanessa asks suddenly, not sure what came over her. Joey's face lights up instantly.
"Yeah, of course." He says holding out his arm for her. She takes a deep breath, and links arms with his, thinking Melissa better be right for once.
They head over to where the rental cars are parked.
"Joe! Hey Joe! I'm coming with you!" a pubescent voice yells out. Joey sighs, and turns around.
"Can't."
"Oh, ohhhh!" the thirteen year old says, catching glimpse of Vanessa, "You have company."
"Yeah." Joey says awkwardly, "Frankito this is Vanessa, and Vanessa this is Tre Cool's son, Frankito."
"Nice to meet you." the young teenager says, backing away from the two, "I'll just find Ramona."
"He's a bit spastic, isn't he." Vanessa says, as she gets in by the passenger's side.
"Only sometimes." Joey laughs. "Apparently it's genetic."
"You don't say?" Vanessa laughs, after spending two weeks filming the rockers, including Tre Cool, she's come to notice their mannerisms.
"So where were you all day?" Joey asks, trying to make conversation, "Usually you're organizing shit around the canteen."
"I got most of the day off, in exchange for cookies."
"Cookies?" Joey laughs, as he grabs a map out of the glove compartment.
"Yeah, see I work for my mom, and she said I could take the morning off if I brought her cookies before the shoot."
"Interesting, I should try that with my boss." Joey smiles, so does Ness. To her surprise this was turning out better than expected.
"So what would you like to drink?" Joey asks, as they appear at a lounge bar.
"Beer, I guess." Vanessa says, as she follows him to the bar.
"Two beers, uh Heinekan." Joey says to the bartender. He opens up two bottles, and places them on the counter. Joey pays up right away, and hands Vanessa one of the bottles. He leads her to one of the cushy booths.
"So why'd you come out tonight?" Joey asks, as he sips his beer.
"My friend called me, and told me to live a little, and to give you a chance." She says, slightly embarrassed.
"I like this friend of yours already." He smirks, "Aren't you worried about you job and shit?"
"Yeah, that's why I didn't tell anyone."
The evening continues, to Vanessa's surprise, more than pleasant. That is until Joey reaches into his pocket, and produces a small box. He pops open the box, and pulls out a cigarette and a green lighter. She stares at him, displeased, but he doesn't seem to notice as he puts the stick to his mouth and lights it.
"So you got to college in Washington?" he asks, after taking a puff. She slaps him across the cheek. "What the hell?"
"You don't respect your body. Why should I?" he looks at his cigarette. He takes one last drag, and stubs it out.
"Sorry."
"Fuck it." She says, standing up and heading towards the door. He runs after her out into the parking lot.
"Ness! I'm sorry!" he calls out, and she starts to walk a little slower coming to realize he'd catch up to her eventually. "I won't smoke around you anymore."
"But you'll still smoke." She snaps.
"Yeah but-"
"I don't kiss ash trays."
"Y-you wanted to kiss me?" he asks, wide eyed.
"I was thinking about it." She pauses, "But that's besides the point! Do you know where my father is right now?"
"Uhh." Joey utters, confused.
"Six feet under, lung cancer, age forty-one!" she exclaims, "You wanna know about my grandfather too?"
"No, it's okay." Joey says, quietly. "At least let me drive you back."
They walk in silence back to his rental car, and get in. Joey drives for about five minutes, when Vanessa decides to talk.
"Why'd you start smoking?"
"I, uh, well I was stressed out from school and stuff."
"Uhuh." She says, rolling her eyes.
"Well my father smokes, and he said he smoked because it calmed his nerves. At the time my nerves were anything but calm. I walked into the living room, and the box was just sitting there, took one, and I was hooked."
"You're an idiot, you know that?"
"It's become apparent this week, thanks to you of course." She sighs, as he pulls into the parking lot of the motel.
"Goodnight Joseph, thank you for the beer." She says, as she gets out of the car. Why'd she have to call him Joseph. He couldn't take it anymore.
