Balancing Acts (sequel to You're My Little Secret), chapter 2
"Do we spend too much time together?"
Tre looks up, momentarily startled away from the half eaten bagel he was currently consuming and the sports section he was hardly browsing. "Pardon?"
"You and me," Ava clarifies, her lips twisted up thoughtfully, "Do you think we spend too much time together?"
His eyebrows bunch suspiciously as he watches his girlfriend rest her chin on top of her hand, the two of them on opposite ends of the table just like they were every morning of the week before nine when they had a routine to keep. "Is this your polite way of telling me you want me to sleep at home more?"
Ava quickly waves her hand at his words. "Not at all, I love that you stay over... but in general, do you think we need to spend more time apart? Maybe get a hobby?"
The grin on Tre's face makes Ava want to roll her eyes already. "Well, I have a hobby. You see, I play drums in this band called—"
"Shut the fuck up," Ava grumbles, fighting to keep the smile off of her face. "It just so happens that your 'job' is also your hobby, it's something you love to do... some of us don't have that luxury."
Tre smirks but quickly frowns when he sees a hint of uncertainty pass behind his girlfriend's big brown eyes.
"Hey," He says softly, catching her attention, "You sure you're okay? You've been kind of weird ever since you got back from Adrienne's a few nights ago."
"We fought," She admits easily, confirming his suspicions.
"About?"
"Who has the best chicken sandwich, Burger King or McDonald's," Ava quips, her sarcasm an easy weapon in a time like this, her response only managing to further concern Tre that what was brewing between the sisters was something much larger than he had originally thought.
Folding up his newspaper the blue-eyed man fixes her with one of his incredulous stares. "Come on Ava... what happened?"
The stubborn frown on her face spurs him to push his chair back and stand, moving over to the chair closest on her left. She watches his movements, noticing the way his feet barely touch the floor as he slides closer. Ava inwardly grins when he grabs her hand, pulling her up and out of her chair just as he settles into his own. She ends up cuddled into his lap, his forehead pressed against her shoulder. "Tell me," He simply says as she wraps her hand around his own, her long fingernails tickling the webbing between his fingers.
Ava stares down at her boyfriend wondering exactly how much she should disclose, and in the same token, how far he should be dragged in to all of this. "She thinks I'm too wrapped up in you, in us," She starts carefully, "And because I'm supposedly so wrapped up in you, the other relationships in my life are failing. Namely, my relationship with her."
Tre listens carefully, immediately drawn to the realization that behind Ava's careful effort to sound irritated and tough, she was actually hurt. Hurt that her sister was doing it again, that she wanted her to choose between family and someone she loved. And that in itself pissed him off. "Well," He finally mumbles, "I'm not sure who WOULDN'T want to be wrapped up in the yummy goodness that I call my body, but—"
"Tre," Ava whines, "Be serious... in fact, bring out Glen. Isn't that the name we gave your serious personality?"
Grinning into Ava's arm, Tre straightens, leaning back against the chair. "Why does she think your relationships are suffering? Give me some concrete examples of a suffering relationship," He insists, unable to keep the comedic edge from his voice, the corners of his mouth from tipping upward.
The woman in his arms can't help but to smile as she watches him try to maintain a serious expression with some difficulty, and failing. "Damn you for being so distracting," Ava replies, leaning forward to kiss him. Tre's hand immediately goes to cup her neck, her soft lips moving against his as his eyes drift close. "If you'd like, I could take you back into the bedroom and further distract you from anything you don't want to deal with today," He murmurs low in his throat when her lips fall to his neck, focusing on a particularly sensitive patch of skin just below his jaw. Ava feels his hand grip her thigh when she works that spot, the one that always makes his breath quicken and his pulse race.
"Maybe I will get a hobby though," She says as she continues to torture the man sitting beneath her, feeling his fingers clench and unclench around the skin of her leg. "I could learn to be a gourmet cook, or maybe I could take up a pilates class... " She murmurs in between nibbling farther and farther down his neck.
"Or maybe you could take your sister's advice and wrap yourself around my—"
Ava's lips swooping upward cut off his thought. "Word to the wise," She whispers, lips pressed against his, "Don't ever mention my sister when I'm trying to seduce you."
And with that she moved off of him, picking up his half eaten bagel on her way out of the room. Tre was still sitting where he was seconds later, shifting uncomfortably as he stared down at the front of his boxers. "Uh, Ava? Are you coming back?"
Two days later and no closer to resolution with her sister, Ava decided to accost Mike outside the studio and ask him for his unbiased opinion on the matter. Well, to be honest, she was actually hoping he would just end up siding with her, as Adrienne was clearly in the wrong in this particular situation. However, she trusted Mike's advice either way and was always willing to listen as he played the devil's advocate.
Ava glanced at her watch, figuring that since it was close to seven in the evening the guys would be close to quitting for the day. She straightens a little when she sees a few execs walk from the building, hoping that the man she wanted to talk to wouldn't be too far behind. Although, she wouldn't hold her breath, she knew how much the men from Green Day liked to dawdle after a long day of play.
Not two minutes later she found herself in luck. Mike had just pushed through the front doors, head bent, sweatshirt tucked in his hand as his long legs brought him closer and closer to where the brunette was standing.
"Mikey!" She yelled for no apparent reason, startling the tall bassist out of his daze.
He stopped walking suddenly; glancing suspiciously at the youngest Nesser sister currently leaning against his expensive sports car. "Oh no... what happened this time?"
Ava slaps him in the arm as he walks a little closer, grinning happily at his own comment. "I need your help," She finally admits as the two stand around for a moment.
Mike nods knowingly, his kind eyes trained on his close friend. "I kind of figured. It sounds like you've gotten yourself in to a lot of trouble lately."
"Billie tell you?"
He nods once again, cringing a little. "It's been a popular topic around the studio... although, Tre doesn't seem particularly bothered by any of it. Must be you're coping better with the trial separation better than Adrienne."
Ava snorts, "No, I don't think it's that I'm coping with it better than my sister. I think it's because in general, Billie whines more than Tre."
"Billie Joe has a lot to deal with right now, what with the record execs breathing down our necks and everything. He's under a lot of pressure, and to be honest, he doesn't need this extra shit you and Adrienne have unanimously decided to kick up. Actually, no one does."
Ava doesn't even flinch as he provides the rawest form of truth he can muster up in such a short time frame. In fact, she expected nothing less from Mike.
"I know, and that's why I'm here. I need your advice Mikey," She practically begs, "Are you hungry? I'll buy you a big steak and a beer and you can fix all my problems."
Mike laughs at this, unlocking his car and throwing his sweatshirt inside. "I'm supposed to be meeting Lauren in like twenty minutes, so no, I don't have time to fix your problems tonight. I have a life too you know," He teases, watching as Ava practically stomps her foot.
"Ask her along, I'd love to see Lauren. Please... " She adds, jutting out her bottom lip slightly and knowing that this would ultimately do him in.
And as she predicted, Mike could feel himself caving as she stared imploringly at him. "Ahh alright," He grumbles in annoyance, realizing now why Tre could never say no to her. "I'll call and see if she wouldn't mind meeting up with both of us...you selfish baby."
Ava grins happily, planting a kiss on his cheek before he ducks inside his car and reaches for his cell phone. As he dials the number to his girlfriend's house, Ava notices a familiar head of blonde hair emerging from the building.
Tre had just walked outside, Billie right behind him when he noticed his girlfriend a few feet away talking to Mike. "Ava!" He calls out, nodding his head in her direction.
She offered a small smile, holding up her hand to signal that she would be with him in a moment. He jerks his head back at the gesture, halting his steps as he turns to Billie. "Umm, was I just brushed off? And for Mike?"
"Uh huh... " Billie mumbles, distracted as he thumbs through his missed calls. "But leave them alone. Maybe Mike can slap some sense into her, and then maybe Adie will stop nagging at me."
The drummer exhales loudly in agreement. "You still getting it at home too, man?"
Billie can only nod. "Ava is all Adrienne talks about lately... in fact, maybe I should be hating you right now too. Since you're the cause of it and all."
Tre grins widely. "That's me, I'm the sexiest home wrecker around."
"Well, your blinding sexiness aside, they need to work this fucking situation out because I'm about ready to move in with Mike," Billie mumbles in response, Tre's fairly carefree attitude about the whole thing irritating him slightly.
Both men look up as Ava hurries over suddenly. "Hey," She calls, planting a quick kiss on Tre's lips.
"Oh sure, now I get a kiss... after you blow me off," Tre harps, turning away from Ava and crossing his arms over his chest.
"Aww... but you usually like it when I blow you first and kiss you later," She murmurs back more playfully than suggestively, pulling on his arms to no avail. "But if you're going to be a big bitch about it then you can go home with Billie Joe instead of me," She insists, stepping closer and wrapping her arms around his neck, giggling when Tre still doesn't move from his previous stance.
Ava continues to wiggle against him until he finally complies with a playful huff, wrapping his arms around her waist as she leans heavily against him. Billie Joe rolls his eyes at the two as they stumble backwards, Tre ultimately steadying the pair as he grips his girlfriend tighter to his frame. "Hell no, Adrienne would kill him if he came home with me... then she'd kill me," Billie finally says after the two had realized he was still standing there.
Ava's smile instantly drops from her face. "Why would you say that? It isn't Tre's fault that she's gone crazy."
"Ava," Tre mumbles quietly, not able to muster up more of a warning voice. He was too shocked that she had just said that to Billie Joe.
"What?" She asks, looking up at him, "It's the truth. She can't keep blaming you for the shortcomings in our relationship, it's ridiculous. And besides, she is crazy."
"Yeah, well, you're the one that makes her crazy Ava," Billie shoots back as he turns to walk again, scowl on his face, "So you better fucking fix it before Tre and I put both of your asses on a slow boat to China. Maybe you'll work it out then."
When Billie is a safe distance away, en route to his car, Ava turns back to Tre. "Yeah? Is that true?" She challenges, loving the feel of being in his arms as the warm summer air envelopes them. "You going to put me on a slow boat to China?"
Tre nods earnestly. "You need to start playing nice with your sister again otherwise I'm going to have to."
"You'd miss me too much," Ava whispers back, eyes wandering down the front of his chest to the outline of a small box that was currently straining against the pocket of his t-shirt. She couldn't believe she had missed this particular detail before.
Her arms fall away from his neck as she steps back, enabling herself to see the front of him a little better. "Oh... and what are these exactly?"
As soon as her eyebrow lifts in curiosity Tre gulps, wondering just how mad this was going to make her. "Uhh... I... "
Ava's fingers seek out the pack of cigarettes, plucking them from the confines of his shirt and examining the red lettering. "Ohh, see, I thought we agreed that we weren't going to smoke anymore. You know, because according to you it's bad for our health and all. But clearly, I was mistaken," She mumbles, her words pointed and short as she tucks the cigarettes back away, patting them firmly against his chest.
"... They're Billie Joe's?" Tre offers, knowing full well that this excuse wasn't going to fly.
She smirks, unimpressed. "Uh huh, yeah. You're full of shit... and apparently, tar."
The brunette turns suddenly when she hears Mike calling her name from across the parking lot, his phone conversation apparently over. "Well Cancer Man, I must be going... my date for the evening is calling on me," Ava mumbles; giving her boyfriend a wink as she swivels around, ready to walk away.
"Hey! Where are you and Mike going?" Tre asks, grabbing at the back of her shirt and only managing to wrap half a finger in the extra material.
"I'm taking him out to dinner so that we can catch up," Ava explains as she turns back to him once again, "I'll come by your place later if it's not too late... okay?"
Tre nods at her words, a sheepish smile forming on his lips. "No good bye kiss?"
Ava shakes her head, moving fully away from his grasp and grinning. "I don't kiss boys who taste like ashtrays... "
"Not even close to being cool!" Tre calls after her, "I used to kiss you all the time after you smoked and I never complained!"
"That's because you'd do anything to get laid," She calls back over her shoulder, not even bothering to turn and fully face him.
"That's actually quite true... " Tre agrees out loud, talking to no one in particular as he watches Ava climb into Mike's car.
He nods as Mike lays on the horn, both of them waving as Tre ambles over to his SUV, excited suddenly at the prospect of spending an entire evening in with his son.
Having driven across town, Mike and Ava settle in to a back booth at their favorite steakhouse. Menus raised, they both peruse each side carefully, the conversation kept to a comfortable minimum.
"Lauren coming later?" Ava finally asks after the waitress had approached with their drinks.
Mike nods. "She ended up having to stay at the clinic later than she had expected to finish up some paperwork. She said she'd try to make it for dessert or something... " He trails off, waving his hand as if no further explanation was required.
Ava could feel herself frowning. "If she didn't want to come because of me, or if I cut into your plans—"
"Not at all," Mike mumbles into his beer, "Her staying late was unavoidable."
Seeing the look on Mike's face Ava decided to let it go for the time being. "So, Tre tells me the new stuff you guys are working on is pretty damn good. Are you excited?"
"You don't have to do that," Mike admonishes, grinning a little.
"Do what?"
He shrugs. "Talk about everything else except for what's actually on your mind. I don't mind just cutting to the chase."
Ava looks slightly offended at Mike's words. "So I guess that answers my question as to whether or not you think Tre and I are way too wrapped up in one another."
"How so?"
"Apparently, much like my sister's point of view, you think I'm no longer capable of carrying on a conversation that doesn't involve Tre."
Mike's hands go up in mock surrender. "You know I never take sides between you and Adrienne, just like I never side with Billie or Tre... it's just not wise. That being said, I do think Adrienne has a point," And when Ava's eyebrow raises in surprise, he adds, "But, I can also see your side too."
Their conversation takes a brief hiatus when the waitress stops to take their order and offer more refills.
"Okay, I can take it," Ava mumbles around the frosted rim of her mixed drink, "Lay it out on the table Mikey."
Mike smirks, shaking his head. "I really shouldn't make it this easy for you, but," He pauses to emphasis the word, "I'm curious about certain things too."
Ava nods. "Ahh yes, you're curious to hear the things about Adrienne that Billie isn't smart enough to identify AS an issue."
"Ava... " His tone is that of a warning, but she merely grins.
"It's nothing against Billie," She insists, "And you said it yourself, he's under a lot of pressure. I mean, you guys have a lot going on, of course he's preoccupied."
Mike's forehead creases in confusion. "I honestly can't tell whether you're defending him or insulting him... but I guess that's to be expected."
The young girl grins an almost sinister smile in return. "It is a fine line that Billie and I walk."
"I know... and it scares the shit out of me."
Ava is the one to wave her hand this time, dismissing the direction Mike was heading. "For once Billie isn't the issue though," She pauses a moment to clarify, "Well, he's more of a counter part, you see, because ironically this time he's more of her undoing rather than mine. But anyway, I'm more bothered by my sister and the way she's been acting in general lately, Billie Joe aside."
"Explain," Mike encourages, watching as Ava tucks her legs up under her body, a habit she's had since she was a teenager.
The frown on her face spurs his curiosity. "Ahh come on Mike, you're smarter than that. You know this tension has been building for months now... you're just more tactful than some people about pointing it out."
Mike grins subtly, nodding. "I have noticed you guys have been on edge lately, Adrienne especially, but I was just hoping it would go away."
Ava shrugs. "I'm just that good at pissing her off I guess. And at this point it doesn't matter what I do, or what I don't do, she's pissed."
The pair straightens politely as their food arrives, silent for a moment before they assure their waitress that their order looks correct. Mike raises his head to speak first, watching as Ava smears ketchup across her fries. "So what caused the outbreak this week?"
"I confronted her about her behavior, about the tension," Ava explains, "And you'd be proud of me because in the beginning I was calm and collected, even though she wasn't. But then she just plain pissed me off with her talk of how I spend too much time with Tre, and after that she claimed the other relationships in my life are failing. Then the conversation just pretty much nose-dived from there," Ava sarcastically jokes as she picked her napkin up from off her lap.
Mike's focus is momentarily on cutting through his lean steak, but he can feel his mind whirling with questions and thoughts of his own. "You and Tre being wrapped up in one another has never really been the problem Ava, because it's always been that way. Even before you two were dating you've always been inseparable. Whether you were picking on each another or chasing each other from one end of the damn tour bus to the other, your attention spans always seemed to be running in the same direction. So that's why I don't believe that you and Tre spending sickening amounts of time together is what's rubbing Adrienne the wrong way... even if that's how it comes off."
Ava is staring intently at Mike, food almost forgotten. "Then what it is?"
He winces a little. "See, this is where I need to learn how to keep my mouth shut and just play my bass—"
"To hell with that," Ava quickly replies, "I want your honest opinion, the truth. That's why I'm here. That's why I always come to you Mike. You're the unbiased third party after all."
"Jesus, did you lay the guilt on thick enough?" Mike jokes and Ava knows he's just buying himself some time.
A few moments later, as he's still chewing thoughtfully, Ava wonders suddenly if he's not going to be sharing his input tonight. "Well, do you want to know what I think about all of this?" She asks, shaking him slightly from his daze.
"By all means," He mumbles around the half masticated cow in his mouth. He knew this was going to be amusing.
"Well," Ava starts, "I think Adrienne is being the selfish one for once."
Mike can feel his eyebrow lifting in apprehension. "For once?"
Ava shrugs. "I'll be the first one to admit that sometimes I can be a little selfish, a bit overdramatic, and hell, sometimes downright whiny... but damn it, I really don't think I'm in the wrong here Mike. I honestly think that this entire situation has very little to do with me, and more to do with the shit that Adrienne can't control in her own life."
Opening his mouth to speak, Mike closes it just as quickly because Ava apparently needed no encouragement. "Adrienne and Billie have been trying to get pregnant again, you know that, they've been trying for almost seven months now."
Mike nods. "I keep telling Billie that after all that fake jerking off on stage his swimmers are confused, and they're not sure—"
"Mike, Mike," Ava cuts in, "Please man, no... "
The bassist sobers. "Sorry, I forget," He clears his throat apologetically, "Continue."
Ava shudders slightly, shaking herself away from such thoughts. "Anyway, on top of them trying to get pregnant, you guys are going back in to the studio full time in another couple of weeks... we all know how well she handled that when you were making American Idiot. She lost her mind, they almost got a divorce... "
Mike frowns, taking another sip of his beer. "You make their marriage sound like it falls apart whenever a struggle presents itself."
Shaking her head, Ava sits forward a little. "They have a great marriage... when he's home."
"That's a bit unfair Ava. You really need to give them more credit than that."
"And this is where I come in," Ava continues, ignoring Mike's comment, "When Billie becomes too busy I become the back-up, I'm the person who fills in the holes by making excuses for his neurotic and inconsistent behavior. That has always been my role."
"Ava I don't think—"
Mike tries to intervene but Ava is too far-gone to listen to his protests. "And I do care Mike, I do. I'm happy to listen and to be there for Adrienne. But here's the problem, here's my hang up with their situation. This pattern of back and forth with them has been building for so long, it's so carefully woven into their daily lives, that they don't even notice it. Except this time, instead of fighting about this unexplainable element that's tearing them apart, they've just become apathetic to it."
Ava finally takes a breather, watching as Mike's eyebrow rises in challenge. "I'm serious Mike," She insists, "Go over there sometime. They're so deadened to everything, they're both so far gone that they don't even realize what's going on. And this baby thing was one last stab at changing all of that, to bring them back together. And now, what, what do they have? Nothing. Adrienne has control over absolutely nothing in her life anymore. So, as it goes, Billie has the studio and Adrienne has the kids and the house... and me."
A snort from the other side of the table surprises Ava. "And you say you're not selfish... " He trails off, grinning a little, "You've just made this ENTIRE situation about you."
"I'm serious!" Ava claims, shoving her toes against his shin from under the table. "Adrienne is extremely unhappy, therefore, no one else around her can be happy."
"Alright, you've taken it too far kid," Mike mumbles, crossing his arms over his chest, "I really don't think your sister is out to steal everyone's happiness away."
Ava shrugs as the waitress approaches one last time. When she's gone the two stare at each other, Mike amused just as he predicted, and Ava fixated on what she's just explained. "I think, Ava," Mike begins, trying to wipe the smile from his tan face, "What Adrienne is trying to tell you is that yes, it's okay to be wrapped up in someone you're dating, that's one of the best parts, but that you also need to be aware in general of what's going on outside the bubble of your relationship...that is, what's happening with your friends and family, and so on." Mike looks slightly unsure of the next part, but he continues anyway, "And if I may take it a step further, she also wants you to be aware, like you were when you and Tre were just friends, of what exactly he may or may not be doing outside of his personal relationships. And I'm speaking of course, in terms of his fidelity. Adrienne wants you to recognize, like you used to, that he's struggled with his relationships in the past and that he's quite capable of disappointing you."
Mike watches Ava's jaw tense in stubbornness, her eyebrow rise. "Why would I need to focus on what he's doing outside his relationships when I'm now in a relationship with him? I trust him, Mike. I trust him one-hundred percent."
"And that's where you and Adrienne split on the issue of Tre," Mike finishes, bobbing his head a little for emphasis, "She doesn't trust him, you do."
The brunette quickly shakes her head, fidgeting with the napkin in her lap. "No Mike, I think it has more to do with the fact that I'm happy and she's not. This has fuck all to do with Tre's past cheating—"
"Ava." Mike's voice is calm and level, and it stops her dead in her tracks.
She frowns, seemingly accepting defeat. She knew Mike was right; she just didn't want to face it. "Okay, we'll prove her wrong then. Tre and I, we'll make her see that this is the real thing."
"It's not about who's right and who's wrong. She just wants you to be happy, kid," Mike mumbles, "And even though she's arguably going about this the wrong way, in the end, she's just trying to look out for your best interests. She's just trying to take care of you."
Ava frowns deeper, something indescribable clawing at the pit of her stomach. "I don't think it's fair that she's holding his past failures against him... I mean, look at Billie Joe. He's been a dipshit to my sister countless times and I've always managed to forgive—"
"Ava."
"—I've managed to try and forgive him tons of times!"
The bassist grins widely across the table, stretching his long legs as he shifts to get comfortable. "Tre acting like a certifiable moron and whoring his way through most of North America, and northern Europe, was only entertaining and acceptable to Adrienne before it became personal. Meaning, it was only funny until he began dating her little sister."
Ava nods, absorbing his words as everything seemed to fall together. "You know what's funny about all of this?"
"What's that?" Mike asks, taking a sip of his beer to alleviate some of the scratchy feeling in his throat.
She grins a little, checking her watch out of habit. "She loathes Tre the same way I loathe Billie, in that we both assume that our sister could do better than who she's with. And yet, we're also both aware that we love these two men more than anything and that we probably won't ever leave their side. It's quite ridiculous if you think about it, the similarities between us I mean."
"Oh yeah," Mike agrees, looking slightly alarmed, "And since you're so similar that means you're both stubborn as fuck and this probably won't ever be resolved."
Ava smirks at him, still feeling slightly relieved at having been given a new point of view in which to think from. "Thank you Mike, that last comment was most helpful."
He shrugs innocently, sensing that the shift in subjects was quickly approaching. "I do what I can."
When the waitress brings the bill Ava grabs it up, earning protest from her dinner date. "No, no, I want to buy you dinner to show my appreciation for you once again saving my ass."
Mike nods. "I only say what I think. And sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad... but thank you for dinner anyway, it was nice catching up."
Ava leans forward after the waitress had once again come and gone. "Now," She starts, an evil glint in her eye, "In a moment I want to talk excessively about anything and everything that's going on in your life... but first, I have one more question to ask you."
"Shoot."
A curious eyebrow lifts. "Just how often does Tre smoke?"
Tre looks up, momentarily startled away from the half eaten bagel he was currently consuming and the sports section he was hardly browsing. "Pardon?"
"You and me," Ava clarifies, her lips twisted up thoughtfully, "Do you think we spend too much time together?"
His eyebrows bunch suspiciously as he watches his girlfriend rest her chin on top of her hand, the two of them on opposite ends of the table just like they were every morning of the week before nine when they had a routine to keep. "Is this your polite way of telling me you want me to sleep at home more?"
Ava quickly waves her hand at his words. "Not at all, I love that you stay over... but in general, do you think we need to spend more time apart? Maybe get a hobby?"
The grin on Tre's face makes Ava want to roll her eyes already. "Well, I have a hobby. You see, I play drums in this band called—"
"Shut the fuck up," Ava grumbles, fighting to keep the smile off of her face. "It just so happens that your 'job' is also your hobby, it's something you love to do... some of us don't have that luxury."
Tre smirks but quickly frowns when he sees a hint of uncertainty pass behind his girlfriend's big brown eyes.
"Hey," He says softly, catching her attention, "You sure you're okay? You've been kind of weird ever since you got back from Adrienne's a few nights ago."
"We fought," She admits easily, confirming his suspicions.
"About?"
"Who has the best chicken sandwich, Burger King or McDonald's," Ava quips, her sarcasm an easy weapon in a time like this, her response only managing to further concern Tre that what was brewing between the sisters was something much larger than he had originally thought.
Folding up his newspaper the blue-eyed man fixes her with one of his incredulous stares. "Come on Ava... what happened?"
The stubborn frown on her face spurs him to push his chair back and stand, moving over to the chair closest on her left. She watches his movements, noticing the way his feet barely touch the floor as he slides closer. Ava inwardly grins when he grabs her hand, pulling her up and out of her chair just as he settles into his own. She ends up cuddled into his lap, his forehead pressed against her shoulder. "Tell me," He simply says as she wraps her hand around his own, her long fingernails tickling the webbing between his fingers.
Ava stares down at her boyfriend wondering exactly how much she should disclose, and in the same token, how far he should be dragged in to all of this. "She thinks I'm too wrapped up in you, in us," She starts carefully, "And because I'm supposedly so wrapped up in you, the other relationships in my life are failing. Namely, my relationship with her."
Tre listens carefully, immediately drawn to the realization that behind Ava's careful effort to sound irritated and tough, she was actually hurt. Hurt that her sister was doing it again, that she wanted her to choose between family and someone she loved. And that in itself pissed him off. "Well," He finally mumbles, "I'm not sure who WOULDN'T want to be wrapped up in the yummy goodness that I call my body, but—"
"Tre," Ava whines, "Be serious... in fact, bring out Glen. Isn't that the name we gave your serious personality?"
Grinning into Ava's arm, Tre straightens, leaning back against the chair. "Why does she think your relationships are suffering? Give me some concrete examples of a suffering relationship," He insists, unable to keep the comedic edge from his voice, the corners of his mouth from tipping upward.
The woman in his arms can't help but to smile as she watches him try to maintain a serious expression with some difficulty, and failing. "Damn you for being so distracting," Ava replies, leaning forward to kiss him. Tre's hand immediately goes to cup her neck, her soft lips moving against his as his eyes drift close. "If you'd like, I could take you back into the bedroom and further distract you from anything you don't want to deal with today," He murmurs low in his throat when her lips fall to his neck, focusing on a particularly sensitive patch of skin just below his jaw. Ava feels his hand grip her thigh when she works that spot, the one that always makes his breath quicken and his pulse race.
"Maybe I will get a hobby though," She says as she continues to torture the man sitting beneath her, feeling his fingers clench and unclench around the skin of her leg. "I could learn to be a gourmet cook, or maybe I could take up a pilates class... " She murmurs in between nibbling farther and farther down his neck.
"Or maybe you could take your sister's advice and wrap yourself around my—"
Ava's lips swooping upward cut off his thought. "Word to the wise," She whispers, lips pressed against his, "Don't ever mention my sister when I'm trying to seduce you."
And with that she moved off of him, picking up his half eaten bagel on her way out of the room. Tre was still sitting where he was seconds later, shifting uncomfortably as he stared down at the front of his boxers. "Uh, Ava? Are you coming back?"
Two days later and no closer to resolution with her sister, Ava decided to accost Mike outside the studio and ask him for his unbiased opinion on the matter. Well, to be honest, she was actually hoping he would just end up siding with her, as Adrienne was clearly in the wrong in this particular situation. However, she trusted Mike's advice either way and was always willing to listen as he played the devil's advocate.
Ava glanced at her watch, figuring that since it was close to seven in the evening the guys would be close to quitting for the day. She straightens a little when she sees a few execs walk from the building, hoping that the man she wanted to talk to wouldn't be too far behind. Although, she wouldn't hold her breath, she knew how much the men from Green Day liked to dawdle after a long day of play.
Not two minutes later she found herself in luck. Mike had just pushed through the front doors, head bent, sweatshirt tucked in his hand as his long legs brought him closer and closer to where the brunette was standing.
"Mikey!" She yelled for no apparent reason, startling the tall bassist out of his daze.
He stopped walking suddenly; glancing suspiciously at the youngest Nesser sister currently leaning against his expensive sports car. "Oh no... what happened this time?"
Ava slaps him in the arm as he walks a little closer, grinning happily at his own comment. "I need your help," She finally admits as the two stand around for a moment.
Mike nods knowingly, his kind eyes trained on his close friend. "I kind of figured. It sounds like you've gotten yourself in to a lot of trouble lately."
"Billie tell you?"
He nods once again, cringing a little. "It's been a popular topic around the studio... although, Tre doesn't seem particularly bothered by any of it. Must be you're coping better with the trial separation better than Adrienne."
Ava snorts, "No, I don't think it's that I'm coping with it better than my sister. I think it's because in general, Billie whines more than Tre."
"Billie Joe has a lot to deal with right now, what with the record execs breathing down our necks and everything. He's under a lot of pressure, and to be honest, he doesn't need this extra shit you and Adrienne have unanimously decided to kick up. Actually, no one does."
Ava doesn't even flinch as he provides the rawest form of truth he can muster up in such a short time frame. In fact, she expected nothing less from Mike.
"I know, and that's why I'm here. I need your advice Mikey," She practically begs, "Are you hungry? I'll buy you a big steak and a beer and you can fix all my problems."
Mike laughs at this, unlocking his car and throwing his sweatshirt inside. "I'm supposed to be meeting Lauren in like twenty minutes, so no, I don't have time to fix your problems tonight. I have a life too you know," He teases, watching as Ava practically stomps her foot.
"Ask her along, I'd love to see Lauren. Please... " She adds, jutting out her bottom lip slightly and knowing that this would ultimately do him in.
And as she predicted, Mike could feel himself caving as she stared imploringly at him. "Ahh alright," He grumbles in annoyance, realizing now why Tre could never say no to her. "I'll call and see if she wouldn't mind meeting up with both of us...you selfish baby."
Ava grins happily, planting a kiss on his cheek before he ducks inside his car and reaches for his cell phone. As he dials the number to his girlfriend's house, Ava notices a familiar head of blonde hair emerging from the building.
Tre had just walked outside, Billie right behind him when he noticed his girlfriend a few feet away talking to Mike. "Ava!" He calls out, nodding his head in her direction.
She offered a small smile, holding up her hand to signal that she would be with him in a moment. He jerks his head back at the gesture, halting his steps as he turns to Billie. "Umm, was I just brushed off? And for Mike?"
"Uh huh... " Billie mumbles, distracted as he thumbs through his missed calls. "But leave them alone. Maybe Mike can slap some sense into her, and then maybe Adie will stop nagging at me."
The drummer exhales loudly in agreement. "You still getting it at home too, man?"
Billie can only nod. "Ava is all Adrienne talks about lately... in fact, maybe I should be hating you right now too. Since you're the cause of it and all."
Tre grins widely. "That's me, I'm the sexiest home wrecker around."
"Well, your blinding sexiness aside, they need to work this fucking situation out because I'm about ready to move in with Mike," Billie mumbles in response, Tre's fairly carefree attitude about the whole thing irritating him slightly.
Both men look up as Ava hurries over suddenly. "Hey," She calls, planting a quick kiss on Tre's lips.
"Oh sure, now I get a kiss... after you blow me off," Tre harps, turning away from Ava and crossing his arms over his chest.
"Aww... but you usually like it when I blow you first and kiss you later," She murmurs back more playfully than suggestively, pulling on his arms to no avail. "But if you're going to be a big bitch about it then you can go home with Billie Joe instead of me," She insists, stepping closer and wrapping her arms around his neck, giggling when Tre still doesn't move from his previous stance.
Ava continues to wiggle against him until he finally complies with a playful huff, wrapping his arms around her waist as she leans heavily against him. Billie Joe rolls his eyes at the two as they stumble backwards, Tre ultimately steadying the pair as he grips his girlfriend tighter to his frame. "Hell no, Adrienne would kill him if he came home with me... then she'd kill me," Billie finally says after the two had realized he was still standing there.
Ava's smile instantly drops from her face. "Why would you say that? It isn't Tre's fault that she's gone crazy."
"Ava," Tre mumbles quietly, not able to muster up more of a warning voice. He was too shocked that she had just said that to Billie Joe.
"What?" She asks, looking up at him, "It's the truth. She can't keep blaming you for the shortcomings in our relationship, it's ridiculous. And besides, she is crazy."
"Yeah, well, you're the one that makes her crazy Ava," Billie shoots back as he turns to walk again, scowl on his face, "So you better fucking fix it before Tre and I put both of your asses on a slow boat to China. Maybe you'll work it out then."
When Billie is a safe distance away, en route to his car, Ava turns back to Tre. "Yeah? Is that true?" She challenges, loving the feel of being in his arms as the warm summer air envelopes them. "You going to put me on a slow boat to China?"
Tre nods earnestly. "You need to start playing nice with your sister again otherwise I'm going to have to."
"You'd miss me too much," Ava whispers back, eyes wandering down the front of his chest to the outline of a small box that was currently straining against the pocket of his t-shirt. She couldn't believe she had missed this particular detail before.
Her arms fall away from his neck as she steps back, enabling herself to see the front of him a little better. "Oh... and what are these exactly?"
As soon as her eyebrow lifts in curiosity Tre gulps, wondering just how mad this was going to make her. "Uhh... I... "
Ava's fingers seek out the pack of cigarettes, plucking them from the confines of his shirt and examining the red lettering. "Ohh, see, I thought we agreed that we weren't going to smoke anymore. You know, because according to you it's bad for our health and all. But clearly, I was mistaken," She mumbles, her words pointed and short as she tucks the cigarettes back away, patting them firmly against his chest.
"... They're Billie Joe's?" Tre offers, knowing full well that this excuse wasn't going to fly.
She smirks, unimpressed. "Uh huh, yeah. You're full of shit... and apparently, tar."
The brunette turns suddenly when she hears Mike calling her name from across the parking lot, his phone conversation apparently over. "Well Cancer Man, I must be going... my date for the evening is calling on me," Ava mumbles; giving her boyfriend a wink as she swivels around, ready to walk away.
"Hey! Where are you and Mike going?" Tre asks, grabbing at the back of her shirt and only managing to wrap half a finger in the extra material.
"I'm taking him out to dinner so that we can catch up," Ava explains as she turns back to him once again, "I'll come by your place later if it's not too late... okay?"
Tre nods at her words, a sheepish smile forming on his lips. "No good bye kiss?"
Ava shakes her head, moving fully away from his grasp and grinning. "I don't kiss boys who taste like ashtrays... "
"Not even close to being cool!" Tre calls after her, "I used to kiss you all the time after you smoked and I never complained!"
"That's because you'd do anything to get laid," She calls back over her shoulder, not even bothering to turn and fully face him.
"That's actually quite true... " Tre agrees out loud, talking to no one in particular as he watches Ava climb into Mike's car.
He nods as Mike lays on the horn, both of them waving as Tre ambles over to his SUV, excited suddenly at the prospect of spending an entire evening in with his son.
Having driven across town, Mike and Ava settle in to a back booth at their favorite steakhouse. Menus raised, they both peruse each side carefully, the conversation kept to a comfortable minimum.
"Lauren coming later?" Ava finally asks after the waitress had approached with their drinks.
Mike nods. "She ended up having to stay at the clinic later than she had expected to finish up some paperwork. She said she'd try to make it for dessert or something... " He trails off, waving his hand as if no further explanation was required.
Ava could feel herself frowning. "If she didn't want to come because of me, or if I cut into your plans—"
"Not at all," Mike mumbles into his beer, "Her staying late was unavoidable."
Seeing the look on Mike's face Ava decided to let it go for the time being. "So, Tre tells me the new stuff you guys are working on is pretty damn good. Are you excited?"
"You don't have to do that," Mike admonishes, grinning a little.
"Do what?"
He shrugs. "Talk about everything else except for what's actually on your mind. I don't mind just cutting to the chase."
Ava looks slightly offended at Mike's words. "So I guess that answers my question as to whether or not you think Tre and I are way too wrapped up in one another."
"How so?"
"Apparently, much like my sister's point of view, you think I'm no longer capable of carrying on a conversation that doesn't involve Tre."
Mike's hands go up in mock surrender. "You know I never take sides between you and Adrienne, just like I never side with Billie or Tre... it's just not wise. That being said, I do think Adrienne has a point," And when Ava's eyebrow raises in surprise, he adds, "But, I can also see your side too."
Their conversation takes a brief hiatus when the waitress stops to take their order and offer more refills.
"Okay, I can take it," Ava mumbles around the frosted rim of her mixed drink, "Lay it out on the table Mikey."
Mike smirks, shaking his head. "I really shouldn't make it this easy for you, but," He pauses to emphasis the word, "I'm curious about certain things too."
Ava nods. "Ahh yes, you're curious to hear the things about Adrienne that Billie isn't smart enough to identify AS an issue."
"Ava... " His tone is that of a warning, but she merely grins.
"It's nothing against Billie," She insists, "And you said it yourself, he's under a lot of pressure. I mean, you guys have a lot going on, of course he's preoccupied."
Mike's forehead creases in confusion. "I honestly can't tell whether you're defending him or insulting him... but I guess that's to be expected."
The young girl grins an almost sinister smile in return. "It is a fine line that Billie and I walk."
"I know... and it scares the shit out of me."
Ava is the one to wave her hand this time, dismissing the direction Mike was heading. "For once Billie isn't the issue though," She pauses a moment to clarify, "Well, he's more of a counter part, you see, because ironically this time he's more of her undoing rather than mine. But anyway, I'm more bothered by my sister and the way she's been acting in general lately, Billie Joe aside."
"Explain," Mike encourages, watching as Ava tucks her legs up under her body, a habit she's had since she was a teenager.
The frown on her face spurs his curiosity. "Ahh come on Mike, you're smarter than that. You know this tension has been building for months now... you're just more tactful than some people about pointing it out."
Mike grins subtly, nodding. "I have noticed you guys have been on edge lately, Adrienne especially, but I was just hoping it would go away."
Ava shrugs. "I'm just that good at pissing her off I guess. And at this point it doesn't matter what I do, or what I don't do, she's pissed."
The pair straightens politely as their food arrives, silent for a moment before they assure their waitress that their order looks correct. Mike raises his head to speak first, watching as Ava smears ketchup across her fries. "So what caused the outbreak this week?"
"I confronted her about her behavior, about the tension," Ava explains, "And you'd be proud of me because in the beginning I was calm and collected, even though she wasn't. But then she just plain pissed me off with her talk of how I spend too much time with Tre, and after that she claimed the other relationships in my life are failing. Then the conversation just pretty much nose-dived from there," Ava sarcastically jokes as she picked her napkin up from off her lap.
Mike's focus is momentarily on cutting through his lean steak, but he can feel his mind whirling with questions and thoughts of his own. "You and Tre being wrapped up in one another has never really been the problem Ava, because it's always been that way. Even before you two were dating you've always been inseparable. Whether you were picking on each another or chasing each other from one end of the damn tour bus to the other, your attention spans always seemed to be running in the same direction. So that's why I don't believe that you and Tre spending sickening amounts of time together is what's rubbing Adrienne the wrong way... even if that's how it comes off."
Ava is staring intently at Mike, food almost forgotten. "Then what it is?"
He winces a little. "See, this is where I need to learn how to keep my mouth shut and just play my bass—"
"To hell with that," Ava quickly replies, "I want your honest opinion, the truth. That's why I'm here. That's why I always come to you Mike. You're the unbiased third party after all."
"Jesus, did you lay the guilt on thick enough?" Mike jokes and Ava knows he's just buying himself some time.
A few moments later, as he's still chewing thoughtfully, Ava wonders suddenly if he's not going to be sharing his input tonight. "Well, do you want to know what I think about all of this?" She asks, shaking him slightly from his daze.
"By all means," He mumbles around the half masticated cow in his mouth. He knew this was going to be amusing.
"Well," Ava starts, "I think Adrienne is being the selfish one for once."
Mike can feel his eyebrow lifting in apprehension. "For once?"
Ava shrugs. "I'll be the first one to admit that sometimes I can be a little selfish, a bit overdramatic, and hell, sometimes downright whiny... but damn it, I really don't think I'm in the wrong here Mike. I honestly think that this entire situation has very little to do with me, and more to do with the shit that Adrienne can't control in her own life."
Opening his mouth to speak, Mike closes it just as quickly because Ava apparently needed no encouragement. "Adrienne and Billie have been trying to get pregnant again, you know that, they've been trying for almost seven months now."
Mike nods. "I keep telling Billie that after all that fake jerking off on stage his swimmers are confused, and they're not sure—"
"Mike, Mike," Ava cuts in, "Please man, no... "
The bassist sobers. "Sorry, I forget," He clears his throat apologetically, "Continue."
Ava shudders slightly, shaking herself away from such thoughts. "Anyway, on top of them trying to get pregnant, you guys are going back in to the studio full time in another couple of weeks... we all know how well she handled that when you were making American Idiot. She lost her mind, they almost got a divorce... "
Mike frowns, taking another sip of his beer. "You make their marriage sound like it falls apart whenever a struggle presents itself."
Shaking her head, Ava sits forward a little. "They have a great marriage... when he's home."
"That's a bit unfair Ava. You really need to give them more credit than that."
"And this is where I come in," Ava continues, ignoring Mike's comment, "When Billie becomes too busy I become the back-up, I'm the person who fills in the holes by making excuses for his neurotic and inconsistent behavior. That has always been my role."
"Ava I don't think—"
Mike tries to intervene but Ava is too far-gone to listen to his protests. "And I do care Mike, I do. I'm happy to listen and to be there for Adrienne. But here's the problem, here's my hang up with their situation. This pattern of back and forth with them has been building for so long, it's so carefully woven into their daily lives, that they don't even notice it. Except this time, instead of fighting about this unexplainable element that's tearing them apart, they've just become apathetic to it."
Ava finally takes a breather, watching as Mike's eyebrow rises in challenge. "I'm serious Mike," She insists, "Go over there sometime. They're so deadened to everything, they're both so far gone that they don't even realize what's going on. And this baby thing was one last stab at changing all of that, to bring them back together. And now, what, what do they have? Nothing. Adrienne has control over absolutely nothing in her life anymore. So, as it goes, Billie has the studio and Adrienne has the kids and the house... and me."
A snort from the other side of the table surprises Ava. "And you say you're not selfish... " He trails off, grinning a little, "You've just made this ENTIRE situation about you."
"I'm serious!" Ava claims, shoving her toes against his shin from under the table. "Adrienne is extremely unhappy, therefore, no one else around her can be happy."
"Alright, you've taken it too far kid," Mike mumbles, crossing his arms over his chest, "I really don't think your sister is out to steal everyone's happiness away."
Ava shrugs as the waitress approaches one last time. When she's gone the two stare at each other, Mike amused just as he predicted, and Ava fixated on what she's just explained. "I think, Ava," Mike begins, trying to wipe the smile from his tan face, "What Adrienne is trying to tell you is that yes, it's okay to be wrapped up in someone you're dating, that's one of the best parts, but that you also need to be aware in general of what's going on outside the bubble of your relationship...that is, what's happening with your friends and family, and so on." Mike looks slightly unsure of the next part, but he continues anyway, "And if I may take it a step further, she also wants you to be aware, like you were when you and Tre were just friends, of what exactly he may or may not be doing outside of his personal relationships. And I'm speaking of course, in terms of his fidelity. Adrienne wants you to recognize, like you used to, that he's struggled with his relationships in the past and that he's quite capable of disappointing you."
Mike watches Ava's jaw tense in stubbornness, her eyebrow rise. "Why would I need to focus on what he's doing outside his relationships when I'm now in a relationship with him? I trust him, Mike. I trust him one-hundred percent."
"And that's where you and Adrienne split on the issue of Tre," Mike finishes, bobbing his head a little for emphasis, "She doesn't trust him, you do."
The brunette quickly shakes her head, fidgeting with the napkin in her lap. "No Mike, I think it has more to do with the fact that I'm happy and she's not. This has fuck all to do with Tre's past cheating—"
"Ava." Mike's voice is calm and level, and it stops her dead in her tracks.
She frowns, seemingly accepting defeat. She knew Mike was right; she just didn't want to face it. "Okay, we'll prove her wrong then. Tre and I, we'll make her see that this is the real thing."
"It's not about who's right and who's wrong. She just wants you to be happy, kid," Mike mumbles, "And even though she's arguably going about this the wrong way, in the end, she's just trying to look out for your best interests. She's just trying to take care of you."
Ava frowns deeper, something indescribable clawing at the pit of her stomach. "I don't think it's fair that she's holding his past failures against him... I mean, look at Billie Joe. He's been a dipshit to my sister countless times and I've always managed to forgive—"
"Ava."
"—I've managed to try and forgive him tons of times!"
The bassist grins widely across the table, stretching his long legs as he shifts to get comfortable. "Tre acting like a certifiable moron and whoring his way through most of North America, and northern Europe, was only entertaining and acceptable to Adrienne before it became personal. Meaning, it was only funny until he began dating her little sister."
Ava nods, absorbing his words as everything seemed to fall together. "You know what's funny about all of this?"
"What's that?" Mike asks, taking a sip of his beer to alleviate some of the scratchy feeling in his throat.
She grins a little, checking her watch out of habit. "She loathes Tre the same way I loathe Billie, in that we both assume that our sister could do better than who she's with. And yet, we're also both aware that we love these two men more than anything and that we probably won't ever leave their side. It's quite ridiculous if you think about it, the similarities between us I mean."
"Oh yeah," Mike agrees, looking slightly alarmed, "And since you're so similar that means you're both stubborn as fuck and this probably won't ever be resolved."
Ava smirks at him, still feeling slightly relieved at having been given a new point of view in which to think from. "Thank you Mike, that last comment was most helpful."
He shrugs innocently, sensing that the shift in subjects was quickly approaching. "I do what I can."
When the waitress brings the bill Ava grabs it up, earning protest from her dinner date. "No, no, I want to buy you dinner to show my appreciation for you once again saving my ass."
Mike nods. "I only say what I think. And sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad... but thank you for dinner anyway, it was nice catching up."
Ava leans forward after the waitress had once again come and gone. "Now," She starts, an evil glint in her eye, "In a moment I want to talk excessively about anything and everything that's going on in your life... but first, I have one more question to ask you."
"Shoot."
A curious eyebrow lifts. "Just how often does Tre smoke?"
