When I Woke Up This Morning..., chapter 3

As soon as Mike pushed the door open, a wave of coffee-tinted air hit us. I didn't like it very much, but Mike seem to enjoy it and take in as much as he could, so I didn't complain. We walked in and a voice sounded from in the corner of the room.

"Yo, Mike, who's the chick?"

I spun my head around and sitting at the table was Billie Joe Armstrong and Tré Cool. My heart skipped a beat. 'No freaking way...' I thought ecstatically. I looked up at Mike, as he waved to them. He looked down at me and smiled knowingly. He had planned this. He knew how much meeting the whole band meant to me. I found myself hugging him. He hugged back tightly. When we pulled apart I looked up at him.

"Thank you," I whispered. He smiled again. His hand reached down and brushed something from my eyes. They were full of tears. Why was I crying? Was it from joy? It had to have been. I smiled back. I could hear Tre whistling and Billie laughing. Mike led me over to them. I felt shy and excited at the same time. Each step I took seemed to get harder and harder to take. Finally we were at the table. Mike grabbed me a chair and one for himself. We sat down.

"Hey, guys," Mike said to his bandmates warmly.

"Hey," said Billie and Tre repeated his question.

"Who's the chick?"

"This is Valerie Summer..." Mike went on to explain how we met at the party up to us leaving his house. He didn't start describing the sex, which was a comfort to me. Mike also summed up everything I told him in the car. When he was done, all eyes turned to me. I blushed and smiled.

"Wow," was all Billie said.

"You're a lucky guy, Mike. I envy you," Tré said eyeing me. Mike sent him a scolding look and Billie Joe chuckled. I didn't know what to say. My face just got even redder, if that was possible.

"I gonna go order," Mike said as he got up. Now there was an empty chair on my right and Billie sitting on my left with Tré sitting across from me. He had a strange look on his face. It made me feel nervous.

"Are you okay?" Billie asked suddenly. I looked up at him. "You haven't said anything."

"I'm just a little nervous," I said.

"More like shy," Tré added on.

"Oh come on, Tré," Billie took my hands. I almost gasped. Billie Joe Armstrong was holding my hands! "You're shaking."

I looked down and discovered that he was right. I was shaking. I blushed again. I didn't feel like I was shaking. So why was I?

"Probably the shock kicking in," Tré said.

"Yeah," Billie agreed. Now he was rubbing my hands as if to warm them up. 'They must be cold,' I thought. His hands were strong. 'Probably from all that guitar playing.'

"You play guitar?" Billie suddenly asked me. I was startled.

"Yeah, why?"

"I just noticed that you have some nice calluses forming on your left hand. That's good for a player," He smiled.

I smiled. I couldn't help it. His smiled made me smile. I gasped. I felt someone's foot on my own.

"What is it?" Billie asked. I looked over at Tré. He had his head propped up on his elbows and had a goofy smile on. He was staring at me. Quickly I pulled my foot away.

"What?" Billie asked again.

"Nothing," I said. 'Just Tré being weird,' I thought.

"Man, you're really shaking,' Billie said. He was right. Now my shoulders were shaking and I couldn't do a thing about it. Why was this happening to me?! Billie Joe put his arm around my shaking frame to try and calm me down.

I went rigid and stiff. Billie laughed.

"It's okay. I'm married. I won't do anything."

Mike came back carrying a coffee for himself and a hot cocoa for me.

"Thanks," I said as I accepted the drink.

"What'd I miss?" Mike asked and looked at Billie with his arm around me.

"Dude, she's shaking like crazy. Here, feel her hand," Billie explained.

Mike took my hand. "Wow. It's cold. Here, drink your cocoa. It should help," He let go of my hand.

I used the same hand to reach for my hot cocoa. I tried to pick it up, but my hand was just shaking too much to keep it steady.

"Here," Mike said as he placed his hand over mine and slowly brought the cup to my mouth. I drank and he steadied my hand as I set it down.

"Thanks," I said with gratitude. I felt weird getting all this attention from the members of the band that shaped my life. Hey, but I wasn't complaining. Tré was still staring at me.

"Hey, I have an idea!" Billie said suddenly, almost making me jump. "Why don't we go over to my place and she can sit in the hot tub and relax. It should help with the shaking," Mike thought it was a great idea. There was only one problem.

"Uh, but I don't have a swimming suit. I left it at home. I didn't think I would need it," I said timidly. Tré suddenly seemed to wake up from whatever daydream he was having about me.

"Yay! Swimsuit shopping time!" he yelled.

"Um," I said.

Mike and Tre looked at each other, obviously already thinking about what kind they would get me, where to shop, etc.

"Okay then," said Billie. "Let's go," We all got up and headed for the door. Billie let go of me and Mike seized the opportunity to wrap his arm around my shoulders in a gesture of support. They were still shaking badly.

"Valerie, you riding with Mike?" Tre asked.

"I guess so," I replied.

"Okay, Tré are you riding with me?" Billie asked.

"I guess so," Tre mimicked in a high pitched voice. Was he teasing me? I shrugged it off.

We all walked out the door after paying and parted to our separate cars. Not to my surprise, Billie Joe owned the black car that we had parked next to. I smiled at Mike's cleverness. I climbed into the front seat and Mike into the drivers. Billie and Tre were already screeching onto the road.

We were driving at a steady pace and somehow I found the courage to say something.

"Hey, Mike," I started.

"Yeah?" he answered still looking at his driving.

"I just wanted to say thank you again for letting me meet Billie and Tré. And thanks for the hot cocoa."

Mike smiled. "You're too nice, Valerie. You don't have to keep saying thank you. It's fine. Really."

I guess I was being really modest. But there was nothing wrong with that really. Was there?

"Oh, one more thing," Mike continued suddenly. "If Tré starts hitting on you, you can just ignore him if it bothers you."

"Thanks for the advice," I replied. 'Tré doesn't really bother me' I thought.

We went through the rest of the drive in silence. Mike turned on the radio after a while and blasted some rock. I liked it. Before long we followed Billie's car into the parking lot of a local swimsuit store. Like before, Mike parked next to Billie. We all got out and headed inside.

Tré burst inside eagerly. He began looking at the pictures of models advertising countless bikinis. I wasn't sure what kind to get.

"Okay now what?" I asked seeing that everyone was just standing around.

"Um, let's look for one that looks good on you," Mike said.

"Hey, I'll buy it if I get to pick," Tré piped up still gazing at a wall poster. Billie and Mike looked at me and motioned that it was a bad idea. I didn't know what to say.

"How about this," Billie Joe said as if seeing that I was lost for words. "You buy it and you get to nominate any suit you want and we'll vote on it." I liked that idea better than Tré's. At least I got some say in what I had to wear in front of my favorite band. I still wasn't quite comprehending that I was shopping with Green Day. It was mind-numbing.

Tré thought for a moment, then agreed. "Hmmm," he thought walking around the store. He tended to stay in the bikini section of the store. I gulped nervously. 'Please don't pick something too revealing... ' I pleaded in my head.

To satisfy my worst fears, he stepped up to the skimpiest bikini and said proudly, "This one!"

Mike looked happy. Billie didn't say anything. Tré handed it to me and pointed to a dressing room. "Go try it on," he urged.

"Uh," I tried.

"Come on," Tre said grabbing my shaking shoulders and turning me in the dressing room's direction.

"All right, all right! I'm going!" I said and walked into the dressing room. Quickly I changed and looked at myself in the mirror. I had to admit, the yellow looked good on my figure, but I felt nervous wearing something like this. At least my hair covered some of me. 'Oh well, I better go show them' I thought and took a deep breath. I let it out as I opened the door and shakingly walked over to where the band was standing.

"All right!" Tré said happily spotting me.

"You look hot," Billie said. I was shocked. Did Billie Joe Armstrong just call me hot?!

"That one looks great on you. It's got my vote," Mike said smiling. I blushed.

"All in favor of this swim suit say 'aye,'" Tré announced.

"Aye!" all three of them said. Oh well, I guess I was stuck with this one. I went back into the changing room and put my clothes back on. When I stepped out, Billie, Mike, and Tre were waiting at the counter to pay. I put the bikini on the counter. I noticed my hands were shaking badly still. I clenched them into a fist and put them at my side.

Tré was paying when Mike said to me, "Hey, you okay?"

"Yeah, just still shaking," I replied. He put his arm around me comfortingly. To my surprise, this time I didn't flinch or get nervous. Tré finished paying.

"Here you are," he said handing me a bag with the swim suit in it. I was feeling adventurous.

"Thanks for buying this Tré," I said and kissed him lightly on the cheek.

Billie laughed and Tre touched his cheek unbelievingly. Mike didn't say anything, he just kept his arm around my shoulders. He looked almost sad. I took a chance.

"And you, Mike, you're letting my stay with you and you bought me hot cocoa. For that you get a kiss on the lips," I gently leaned forward and my lips found his soft pink ones. It wasn't a long kiss, but it was deep and passionate. When we broke apart, I looked at my feet and blushed. I was already beginning to regret doing that. What had come over me? Tré gave a wolf whistle and Billie was having a laughing fit. Mike hugged my shoulders. They were still shaking. 'Why the fuck can't I get myself to stop shaking?!'

We slowly moved towards the cars and got in. Once again, Mike and I followed Billie and Tre, but this time we were heading to Billie Joe's house. I was excited and still trying to get over that kiss. I was going to go to Billie's house! This must be the best day in my life! I held the bag with my swimsuit in it tightly in my lap, trying not to burst with joy. Why to me, of all people, was this happening? I felt so lucky. This whole day seemed unreal. And better yet, it wasn't over.

Mike hadn't said anything to me since I kissed him. The drive was very quiet, until I finally broke the silence.

"Mike, did you not like what I did back at the store? You've been awfully quiet..."

"Oh, uh, no, I liked it. I've just been thinking, that's all."

"Ah, I get it."

"You know, I know I was drunk, but I'm not sure if taking you home was a good idea. I mean, you're so young..."

"Mike, don't feel bad. It's not like I'm hurt or anything. I have to admit. I wasn't planning on having sex until later on in my life, but I don't think it could have been any different now or later. Plus, I don't remember it, so as long as I'm not pregnant, there's no harm done," I felt like I was trying to convince not only Mike, but myself.

"But what if you are?"

"I really hope not, but if I am, what can I do?"

There was a long silence.

We were near Billie's house. I didn't want to spend the rest of the day in this mood.

"Hey, Mike, let's not think about it a lot, okay? Let's enjoy the rest of the day. Okay?" I tried hopefully.

"Yeah, okay," he said and smiled.