Balancing Acts (sequel to You're My Little Secret), chapter 7
"Here's my proposal."
It was after breakfast the next morning, the guys having already left for New York. Adrienne and Ava were back out on the front porch waiting for their parents to bring the boys back from town so they could finish packing and head for the airport. Ava had started the conversation after a few moments of dead silence, neither sister really knowing even where to begin after the events of the last couple of days.
"Since we haven't been getting along lately, for one reason or another, I say we wipe out all of this bullshit we can't agree on and focus on what we can agree on."
Adrienne turns a little, glad that Ava had broken the looming silence. "Which is?"
"The fact that we like each other... lame, I know. But since I can't stand Billie and you don't trust Tre, and neither of us are willing to get rid of them, there really isn't a whole more to say about those topics."
Adrienne sighs. "I can't believe it's come to this." She looks conflicted for a moment before offering, "I mean, if you want to talk more about Billie—"
"No! No!" Ava insists twice in a row, each time equally firm. "It will do me no good to keep rehashing it." Her words sounded harsh so she added, "I say we just put it all behind us and concentrate on spending time together, you know, doing things that don't necessarily involve them. Hell, we're interesting people, I think we can come up with other things to discuss, right?"
The older sister smiles slowly, head dipped as her painted toes run across the green wood of the porch. "How come you're giving up?" She asks quietly. "I didn't think you would rest until you had my approval."
"I think that's what you were hoping," Ava jokes, her face falling a little. "I just... I realized last night that no matter what I say or no matter what Tre does or doesn't do to prove you wrong, you may never come around to my thinking. And that's fine, you're certainly entitled to your opinion, but... " She trails off, trying to choose the right words. "Aid, I don't agree with your thinking. I love him, and I don't want to miss out on him because I'm worrying that you're not happy with me or that you're not happy with us being together. We can't live like that; you and I both know that. I mean, just because I don't like Billie doesn't mean that you love him any less. It's just sort of unfortunate, ya know? And I guess that's all we can do, just be honest and face fact that maybe we didn't end up with who our sister approves of... but that we're happy anyway, that we're taken care of and loved."
Adrienne nods her head in agreement when all she really wanted to do was to tell Ava that she and Billie were on the outs again, and in their case the happiness and love that Tre and Ava felt had dissipated somewhere along the way. "I feel like I should stress again that it's not that I don't like Tre... " She says, trailing off because it sounds lame to even her own ears. "I just want you to be happy, bottom line."
Ava smiles in recognition. "I think both of us want that for one another, and that's why I say we call a truce. No more resentment, no more angry words and all of that. Let's just enjoy one another's company like we used to. I think that in itself will be a challenge," she jokes.
Standing up, Adrienne smoothes out her shorts. "So, what, we don't talk about the guys?"
Ava smiles again, shrugging. "I think it's unavoidable... but what I mean is let's try not to focus on the negative. If there's a need for discussion or if something is wrong then yes, I want us to be able to talk about it. But like you said before, let's not let them run our lives... or at least not this portion of it. Let's have a relationship that's just for us, like we used to. I miss that."
"I miss it too. And I think you're right, I think we should try it this way for a while." What other choice did they have? Adrienne knew this was all she could ask for really, she had expected Ava to behead Billie in his sleep after the loaded confession she'd made.
Ava nods, standing up next to her sister. "Well, I guess we better go finish packing, huh?" That was her way of saying she was done talking about this, and she knew Adrienne got the hint, their moment to talk and share about this particular subject quickly passing by.
"Yeah, before the boys get back and distract us," Adrienne agrees, turning to follow Ava into the house. She takes one step before stopping abruptly, something striking her, something she knew she couldn't hold in. "Oh, uh Ava?"
Ava turns back reluctantly, curious at why she sounded so hesitant. "Yeah?"
Adrienne smiles impishly, squinting into the early morning sun. "I know I made you promise a few years back not to date any musicians or whatever... " She trails off a little as Ava's eyebrows furrow. "And I know all of that is sort of moot now, but, I was wondering if I could ask something else of you, you know, in light of us not really planning on sharing every single detail about our personal lives anymore. I guess you could say this is more like a future note, a piece of sisterly advice that hopefully won't sound so witchy as telling you not to date who you want to."
"Okay," Ava agrees, sounding just as unsure as Adrienne had moments ago.
The older sister bites her lip as she meshes her hand in her dreads and keeps it there, making her appear thoughtful, elbow jotted out as she stares at Ava. "I know that you and Tre are having a lot of fun right now and I know you care a lot for one another—"
"Adrienne, we—"
Adrienne grimaces awkwardly. "Sorry... I know you love one another, but I wanted to advise you, because I know how consuming these feelings can be... I just wanted to tell you to maybe take it slow with Tre and not rush into anything, you know, just see how things go."
Ava smiles as her sister trips over her words. "I'm not planning on marrying him tomorrow Adrienne."
Her sister grins in return, albeit a little painfully. "I'm just saying that sometimes a person can make rash decisions while consumed by those feelings that you experience while you're in the early stages of a relationship... rash decisions you might regret later when things have gone wrong and... " She trails off because she knows she sounds controlling again, something that had gotten her in trouble last time. "Again, I just want you to be happy."
Taking a step closer, Ava wraps her arms around Adrienne's neck, which was hard because her sister's hand was still twisted in her messy hair. Adrienne immediately returns the hug, sighing a little as she closes her eyes. "I love you, you're the best, no more advice," Ava mumbles all in one breath, grinning when she feels Adrienne pinch her side.
"Love you too... let's go pack," Adrienne replies, noticing their parent's car easing up the drive way as they break apart.
Both sisters sigh, watching their Mom climb from the car, a predictable frown on her already pouting face. "Shotgun on not telling Mom goodbye first!" Ava yells suddenly, darting through the kitchen door, leaving Adrienne with her mouth hanging open.
"No fair!" She yells after her sister's retreating back, preparing to chase after her. "It's your turn to get cried on!"
"Wait, so, you actually slept in that house after Ava found out you cheated on Adrienne?" Mike clarified, wine glass in hand as he stared at Billie Joe, a very dejected looking Billie Joe that is.
Billie nods. "Well, you know, I sort of pushed the boy's air mattress in front of the door in case she decided to come annihilate my body in the middle of the night."
Mike looked thoroughly impressed. "I'm just surprised a voice didn't sound like it did in that Amityville Horror movie... you know, all like, 'GET OUT'!"
Billie couldn't help but to chuckle at Mike's throaty impression of a demonic voice. "The looks she was giving me was enough, trust me."
Wincing, Mike nods. "Yeah, I bet. Polar ice caps couldn't stand up against Ava on a bitchy day."
"Ahh, speaking in high regards of my girlfriend once again I see," Tre admonishes, slinging an arm around Billie's shoulder as he approaches his two bandmates. He looked appropriately buzzed given how late it was getting, and the fact that mostly everyone at the event was beyond stuffy.
Mike takes a sip of wine to wet his lips. "Billie here was just telling me that the secret is finally out. And how we're all quite fucked because I doubt we'll ever hear the end of this."
Tre snorts. "Yeah, she's fucking pissed."
"Thank you Tre," Billie Joe grumbles in annoyance, shrugging off Tre's arm. "Now why don't you make yourself useful and go fetch me another drink."
Tre stumbles backwards dramatically, hand to his chest. "Someone's panties are in a bit of a bunch."
"Yeah, Ava's," Mike off-handedly comments, noting Billie's annoyance at Tre's ever present flippancy. He wanted to intervene before the alcohol flowing through their veins caused a conflict.
"Picturing Ava's panties, huh Mike?" Tre jokes, knowing full well that he should just walk away, that the look Mike is giving him should be enough of an indication that Billie isn't in the mood for their usual light-hearted bantering. But sometimes he really couldn't help himself; sometimes he just liked to push buttons. At least that's what Ava always said.
Wanting to separate the two men, Mike shoves Billie towards the bar. "Let's get another drink," He murmurs, pointedly moving to stand between Billie and Tre.
As he hoped, Tre immediately relented, taking another small step backwards. "I'm going over to talk to Rob and Mr. Stevens," He grumbles into his whiskey, already beginning to move away.
Mike nods in agreement. "Why don't you meet us back at the bar in a few minutes?" He calls, Tre acknowledging his words. They just needed a little break. Billie needed time to pout, and Tre needed to get rid of some of that bundled up energy, the kind he usually expelled through joking and flitting around a room.
At the bar Mike ordered the pair a round of shots. Clinking their glasses together the two men throw back the tequila, both wincing at the burning in their throats before turning to survey the crowded ballroom.
"So how was the thing with Lauren?" Billie offers conversationally, quite aware that sometimes Mike got lost in the shuffle of his own problems.
"It was good. The charity managed to raise a lot of money for Laura's wing of the hospital."
Billie nods, the twisting in his chest coupled with the tequila still burning its way down his throat made him wince a little. "Well, you were missed in Minnesota. Lois kept asking where you where."
Mike chuckles at the comment. "Tre said you all went to a carnival last night. So sorry I missed that."
Billie Joe rolls his eyes. "Yeah, the boys loved it though."
Allowing a few moments to pass, Mike glances sideways at Billie. "So what's really going on Bill?"
"What do you mean?" The raven-haired man mutters in return, suddenly taking a keen interest in the bowl of lemons behind the bar.
Mike sighs inwardly. "Come on Bill, let's not do the usual song and dance for once. You know, where you say 'nothing is wrong' and then I have to plead for you to talk to me because you think everything sounds so ugly when you say it out loud."
"My mistakes just look better on paper," Billie informs, signaling for another beer.
Mike frowns. "I don't know why you do this to yourself."
"Do what?"
"Allow yourself to self destruct like this. Whatever is happening can't be—"
"Adrienne and I are thinking about separating again. And I think maybe... maybe it'll be for good this time."
It was so blunt, so honest, and it was probably about the last thing Mike had expected to come from Billie's mouth. It took the bassist a full moment to respond, and even when he did it wasn't very helpful. "What?"
"She's been talking about moving out for a while now." Billie's words were so quiet Mike had to lean closer to hear him. It didn't help that Billie's chin was tucked meekly into his chest. "The only thing that's stopping this from all falling apart is the boys... " His words are cut off by a miserable sigh heaving from his chest, a sigh that sounded like all the realization had just surfaced all at once.
"I knew you guys were having trouble, but I guess I didn't... " Mike trails off, unsure of what to say. He knew Billie was dangerously close to an invisible edge, an edge he had talked him back from before. He just didn't think it was going to be easy that easy this time.
"Neither of us have been really talking about," Billie admits. "And I didn't want to say anything before because I didn't want to put you and Tre in the position to lie or... "
"To hell with that," Mike murmurs, swiveling slightly to see where Tre was. Billie could use his support right now, and he knew Tre would want to know what was going on. It would explain so much of Billie's erratic behavior over the past months.
Billie saw Mike surveying the crowd and quickly pressed his palm to the taller man's forearm. "Do you think we should tell Tre?" He mumbles, sounding rather unsure. "I don't want to cause trouble between him and Ava, and I know Adrienne hasn't told her about what's going on. I'm not sure she wants her to know just yet."
Mike stares at his long-time friend for a moment, his heart pulling at the conflicting emotions running behind his emerald eyes. "It's up to you I guess, but I think Tre would want to know."
Darting eyes search the room before returning back to Mike. Billie felt inexplicably guilty suddenly as he spoke. "Let's just keep this between you and me for now, huh? At least until Adrienne and I can figure this shit out."
Mike knew that Billie had the noblest intentions, but he also knew this could cause more trouble than it was worth. "Okay Bill, you know you can trust me not to say anything."
"Thanks Mikey," Billie mumbles softly.
Mike nods, patting his back. "How about another drink? A strong one, even."
Just as the bassist spoke Tre strolled up to the bar looking less offensive, and already noting the soured expressions of the two men. "Hey, what'd I miss?"
As he settles on the other side of Mike, Billie shrugs. "We're just shooting the shit."
"I was telling him about the charity benefit Lauren and I attended this week," Mike put in, bringing his near empty beer bottle to his lips. It wasn't exactly a lie, but he knew Tre wasn't going to buy it anyway.
"Ahhh," Tre mumbles. He knew right away that they were both lying, something neither of them had ever really been good at it, even when they were kids. He knew from their nervous body language, their guilt-ridden expressions. Besides, you don't hang out with the same people every day for the past seventeen years and not pick up a thing or two about their nervous traits. But Tre also knew, from past experience, that if there was something they didn't want to tell him it was probably for his own good. That didn't mean it wasn't going to eat away at his mind though, and it didn't mean he wouldn't ask questions.
Back home in California, Ava was enjoying a night out with some co-workers. They were hanging out at one of her favorite dives, a bar well known for its spicy buffalo wings and for housing some of the best local bands. She had just maneuvered back to the small table that Camille, her boss, and Camille's new 'friend', Carrie, was occupying. She plopped the pitcher of Bud Light between the small glowing candles on the table and took her seat just as a band was finishing up a few feet away.
"They sucked, but you know, in a good way," Camille comments, reaching to refill her glass.
Ava grins, turning to look at her. "They were good," She argues. "Better than that screeching crap you insist on listening to at the office."
"Excuse you," Camille replies. "I'll have you know that I listen to quality music."
"Hmm, no you don't," Carrie suddenly pipes up, winking playfully at Camille. "I haven't even known you very long and I already feel I'm qualified, just from riding with you in a car, to make this assessment."
Ava watched the two for a moment, grinning at their interaction before turning away to fill up her glass. Camille had never been one to be shy about her bisexuality, but Ava had to admit that she was surprised to see her attaching herself to someone so quickly after the recent finalization of her divorce. Camille had been married for five years to someone that Ava knew well, their corporate manager to be exact, and that in itself had made the office atmosphere uncomfortable, but it had also drawn lines in the sand between her co-workers. Some sided with Mark, Camille and Ava's boss, just on the principle that he was their corporate manager, and yet others sided with Camille because she was the one who hadn't been diddling the new office secretary.
Upon hearing the opening chords of a song, Ava snapped from her thoughts, realizing that a new band was just taking the stage. "Who did they say they were?" Ava asked, trying to peer through the darkness. The house lights behind the stage were for shit.
"They haven't," Carrie responded. "Although people seem to be piling in to see them. They must be good or something."
Ava was about to respond when the front man finally stepped out of the shadows, guitar in hand, long hair hanging in his eyes. "Hey, uh, they call us Happy Hour and we'll be rocking your asses off for the next half hour." Ava's mouth dropped open in surprise. No wonder she recognized this band, these were some of Ian's best friends. She had been to a couple of their shows last summer when she and Ian were still dating, and even a few after that when they had sworn to stay friends. Well, that part of their agreement hadn't exactly been held up, they had lost communication somewhere around the end of last year, but she was curious anyway to see if he was lurking around somewhere.
She immediately swiveled in her seat, searching the darkened room for any sign of the man who probably pulled rank as one of Dashboard Confessional's biggest fans. After surveying the bar, the darkened booths in the back and all the tables in between, she was about to give up hope when she saw him.
Ian was standing against the far wall, head bowed, hands jammed in his pockets. Ava grinned to herself. He never missed a show, and damn if he didn't still look cute as hell in his faded jeans and band t-shirt.
"I'll be right back," Ava half hollers to the two people also occupying her table. "There's someone here I need to say hi to."
Camille and Carrie both bob their heads in acknowledgement, already engrossed in the band that was quickly earning cheers and encouragement from the packed establishment. Ava quickly stood up, maneuvering back towards the bar and through swaying people, politely trying to shove her way through.
Ian had accidentally spotted Ava almost immediately when he had walked in the bar about a half hour ago. He had been debating whether to say hi or not when she had finally spotted him and apparently had no problem coming up with the gull to seek him out. He had been feeling guilty about their loss of communication since he arrived, but he couldn't help the grin spreading across his face as Ava not so shyly wrapped him into a friendly hug.
"Ian!" Ava exclaims, smiling up at him. "How have you been?"
Smiling lamely, he mutters, "Busy. You?"
Ava nods, seemingly content with his answer. "The same."
The two stand awkwardly for a moment, Ian's cheeks burning as Ava curiously fixes him with her infamous Nesser eyes. "I thought you were graduating in the winter," She finally says, taking a step closer as someone tries to squeeze by her.
Ian was glad for the darkness because the tips of his ears were bright pink by now. Ava always seemed to have this effect on him. "I, uh, I decided to double major," He explains, wincing when the song cut out and he found himself yelling through a small window of silence, right before the cheers of the club took over.
Ava grins. "As if you didn't have enough going on as it is," She comments, nudging him a little before turning her attention to the new song starting up.
After listening to a few songs she turns back to comment. "They sound great!" She yells over the bass line, watching as Ian nods. "They've really got the crowd going."
"They've been touring around the state this summer, they're pretty well known around here now," Ian supplies, a hint of pride in his voice.
"Really? That's awesome."
Ian watched from the corner of his eye as Ava bounced along to the song, noting the way her eyes darted around the bar as she drank in the music. She had always had just a hint of nervous energy about her, and he always wondered what she was thinking about when her eyes glazed over like that. Most likely she was thinking about Tre, as he didn't seem to be glued to her hip tonight.
Ian jumped from his daze when she once again turned back, this time looking apologetic. "I came with a couple of friends so I should probably rejoin them," She explains. "But I would love to get a coffee after the show, catch up. You interested?"
He grins in return, nodding. "Yeah, actually. There's a coffee shop around the corner. Should we just meet there after the set?"
"It's a date," Ava confirms, grinning before taking a few steps and practically disappearing into the crowd. Ian watches her go, a small smile on his face.
Rejoining Carrie and Camille, Ava takes a sip of her beer and tries to ignore Camille's interested expression. "Who's that?"
Ava shrugs. "An old friend of mine. I haven't seen him in a while."
"And is Tre aware that you have an old friend that you haven't seen in a while?"
Ava rolls her eyes while leaning forward. "That's Ian... remember I told you about him?"
Camille's eyes glow with realization. "Oh! His Mom could rival Satan, right?"
Chuckling, Ava nods. "Yeah, that's him. He's a real sweet kid though, we've just sort of lost touch over the past few months."
"I'm sure Tre has nothing to do with that either," Camille comments, raising a sarcastic eyebrow.
Ava shrugs again. "To be honest, I don't think Ian really enters Tre's radar."
Camille takes a long sip of her beer before answering. "Hmm, no, I'm sure he wouldn't mind you hanging out with a hot little twenty-something in a smoky bar located in an empty alley—"
"Stop," Ava cuts in, giggling. "Tre trusts me. And Jesus, it's not like I'm going to leave him for Ian. We're just friends... you know what those are, right? You had some once, back before you became a heinous bitch."
The conversation of Ian was quickly dropped as Carrie joined in the friendly bantering and Camille attempted to defend herself, but Ava found herself playing Camille's words over in her mind. Given their past, would Tre mind Ava hanging out with Ian? She would hope he would be more mature than an archaic caveman, but they had never really discussed this before so she wasn't sure how he felt.
Still, there was nothing wrong with going to get a cup of coffee with an old friend, right? Ava just hoped Tre saw it that way too.
It was after breakfast the next morning, the guys having already left for New York. Adrienne and Ava were back out on the front porch waiting for their parents to bring the boys back from town so they could finish packing and head for the airport. Ava had started the conversation after a few moments of dead silence, neither sister really knowing even where to begin after the events of the last couple of days.
"Since we haven't been getting along lately, for one reason or another, I say we wipe out all of this bullshit we can't agree on and focus on what we can agree on."
Adrienne turns a little, glad that Ava had broken the looming silence. "Which is?"
"The fact that we like each other... lame, I know. But since I can't stand Billie and you don't trust Tre, and neither of us are willing to get rid of them, there really isn't a whole more to say about those topics."
Adrienne sighs. "I can't believe it's come to this." She looks conflicted for a moment before offering, "I mean, if you want to talk more about Billie—"
"No! No!" Ava insists twice in a row, each time equally firm. "It will do me no good to keep rehashing it." Her words sounded harsh so she added, "I say we just put it all behind us and concentrate on spending time together, you know, doing things that don't necessarily involve them. Hell, we're interesting people, I think we can come up with other things to discuss, right?"
The older sister smiles slowly, head dipped as her painted toes run across the green wood of the porch. "How come you're giving up?" She asks quietly. "I didn't think you would rest until you had my approval."
"I think that's what you were hoping," Ava jokes, her face falling a little. "I just... I realized last night that no matter what I say or no matter what Tre does or doesn't do to prove you wrong, you may never come around to my thinking. And that's fine, you're certainly entitled to your opinion, but... " She trails off, trying to choose the right words. "Aid, I don't agree with your thinking. I love him, and I don't want to miss out on him because I'm worrying that you're not happy with me or that you're not happy with us being together. We can't live like that; you and I both know that. I mean, just because I don't like Billie doesn't mean that you love him any less. It's just sort of unfortunate, ya know? And I guess that's all we can do, just be honest and face fact that maybe we didn't end up with who our sister approves of... but that we're happy anyway, that we're taken care of and loved."
Adrienne nods her head in agreement when all she really wanted to do was to tell Ava that she and Billie were on the outs again, and in their case the happiness and love that Tre and Ava felt had dissipated somewhere along the way. "I feel like I should stress again that it's not that I don't like Tre... " She says, trailing off because it sounds lame to even her own ears. "I just want you to be happy, bottom line."
Ava smiles in recognition. "I think both of us want that for one another, and that's why I say we call a truce. No more resentment, no more angry words and all of that. Let's just enjoy one another's company like we used to. I think that in itself will be a challenge," she jokes.
Standing up, Adrienne smoothes out her shorts. "So, what, we don't talk about the guys?"
Ava smiles again, shrugging. "I think it's unavoidable... but what I mean is let's try not to focus on the negative. If there's a need for discussion or if something is wrong then yes, I want us to be able to talk about it. But like you said before, let's not let them run our lives... or at least not this portion of it. Let's have a relationship that's just for us, like we used to. I miss that."
"I miss it too. And I think you're right, I think we should try it this way for a while." What other choice did they have? Adrienne knew this was all she could ask for really, she had expected Ava to behead Billie in his sleep after the loaded confession she'd made.
Ava nods, standing up next to her sister. "Well, I guess we better go finish packing, huh?" That was her way of saying she was done talking about this, and she knew Adrienne got the hint, their moment to talk and share about this particular subject quickly passing by.
"Yeah, before the boys get back and distract us," Adrienne agrees, turning to follow Ava into the house. She takes one step before stopping abruptly, something striking her, something she knew she couldn't hold in. "Oh, uh Ava?"
Ava turns back reluctantly, curious at why she sounded so hesitant. "Yeah?"
Adrienne smiles impishly, squinting into the early morning sun. "I know I made you promise a few years back not to date any musicians or whatever... " She trails off a little as Ava's eyebrows furrow. "And I know all of that is sort of moot now, but, I was wondering if I could ask something else of you, you know, in light of us not really planning on sharing every single detail about our personal lives anymore. I guess you could say this is more like a future note, a piece of sisterly advice that hopefully won't sound so witchy as telling you not to date who you want to."
"Okay," Ava agrees, sounding just as unsure as Adrienne had moments ago.
The older sister bites her lip as she meshes her hand in her dreads and keeps it there, making her appear thoughtful, elbow jotted out as she stares at Ava. "I know that you and Tre are having a lot of fun right now and I know you care a lot for one another—"
"Adrienne, we—"
Adrienne grimaces awkwardly. "Sorry... I know you love one another, but I wanted to advise you, because I know how consuming these feelings can be... I just wanted to tell you to maybe take it slow with Tre and not rush into anything, you know, just see how things go."
Ava smiles as her sister trips over her words. "I'm not planning on marrying him tomorrow Adrienne."
Her sister grins in return, albeit a little painfully. "I'm just saying that sometimes a person can make rash decisions while consumed by those feelings that you experience while you're in the early stages of a relationship... rash decisions you might regret later when things have gone wrong and... " She trails off because she knows she sounds controlling again, something that had gotten her in trouble last time. "Again, I just want you to be happy."
Taking a step closer, Ava wraps her arms around Adrienne's neck, which was hard because her sister's hand was still twisted in her messy hair. Adrienne immediately returns the hug, sighing a little as she closes her eyes. "I love you, you're the best, no more advice," Ava mumbles all in one breath, grinning when she feels Adrienne pinch her side.
"Love you too... let's go pack," Adrienne replies, noticing their parent's car easing up the drive way as they break apart.
Both sisters sigh, watching their Mom climb from the car, a predictable frown on her already pouting face. "Shotgun on not telling Mom goodbye first!" Ava yells suddenly, darting through the kitchen door, leaving Adrienne with her mouth hanging open.
"No fair!" She yells after her sister's retreating back, preparing to chase after her. "It's your turn to get cried on!"
"Wait, so, you actually slept in that house after Ava found out you cheated on Adrienne?" Mike clarified, wine glass in hand as he stared at Billie Joe, a very dejected looking Billie Joe that is.
Billie nods. "Well, you know, I sort of pushed the boy's air mattress in front of the door in case she decided to come annihilate my body in the middle of the night."
Mike looked thoroughly impressed. "I'm just surprised a voice didn't sound like it did in that Amityville Horror movie... you know, all like, 'GET OUT'!"
Billie couldn't help but to chuckle at Mike's throaty impression of a demonic voice. "The looks she was giving me was enough, trust me."
Wincing, Mike nods. "Yeah, I bet. Polar ice caps couldn't stand up against Ava on a bitchy day."
"Ahh, speaking in high regards of my girlfriend once again I see," Tre admonishes, slinging an arm around Billie's shoulder as he approaches his two bandmates. He looked appropriately buzzed given how late it was getting, and the fact that mostly everyone at the event was beyond stuffy.
Mike takes a sip of wine to wet his lips. "Billie here was just telling me that the secret is finally out. And how we're all quite fucked because I doubt we'll ever hear the end of this."
Tre snorts. "Yeah, she's fucking pissed."
"Thank you Tre," Billie Joe grumbles in annoyance, shrugging off Tre's arm. "Now why don't you make yourself useful and go fetch me another drink."
Tre stumbles backwards dramatically, hand to his chest. "Someone's panties are in a bit of a bunch."
"Yeah, Ava's," Mike off-handedly comments, noting Billie's annoyance at Tre's ever present flippancy. He wanted to intervene before the alcohol flowing through their veins caused a conflict.
"Picturing Ava's panties, huh Mike?" Tre jokes, knowing full well that he should just walk away, that the look Mike is giving him should be enough of an indication that Billie isn't in the mood for their usual light-hearted bantering. But sometimes he really couldn't help himself; sometimes he just liked to push buttons. At least that's what Ava always said.
Wanting to separate the two men, Mike shoves Billie towards the bar. "Let's get another drink," He murmurs, pointedly moving to stand between Billie and Tre.
As he hoped, Tre immediately relented, taking another small step backwards. "I'm going over to talk to Rob and Mr. Stevens," He grumbles into his whiskey, already beginning to move away.
Mike nods in agreement. "Why don't you meet us back at the bar in a few minutes?" He calls, Tre acknowledging his words. They just needed a little break. Billie needed time to pout, and Tre needed to get rid of some of that bundled up energy, the kind he usually expelled through joking and flitting around a room.
At the bar Mike ordered the pair a round of shots. Clinking their glasses together the two men throw back the tequila, both wincing at the burning in their throats before turning to survey the crowded ballroom.
"So how was the thing with Lauren?" Billie offers conversationally, quite aware that sometimes Mike got lost in the shuffle of his own problems.
"It was good. The charity managed to raise a lot of money for Laura's wing of the hospital."
Billie nods, the twisting in his chest coupled with the tequila still burning its way down his throat made him wince a little. "Well, you were missed in Minnesota. Lois kept asking where you where."
Mike chuckles at the comment. "Tre said you all went to a carnival last night. So sorry I missed that."
Billie Joe rolls his eyes. "Yeah, the boys loved it though."
Allowing a few moments to pass, Mike glances sideways at Billie. "So what's really going on Bill?"
"What do you mean?" The raven-haired man mutters in return, suddenly taking a keen interest in the bowl of lemons behind the bar.
Mike sighs inwardly. "Come on Bill, let's not do the usual song and dance for once. You know, where you say 'nothing is wrong' and then I have to plead for you to talk to me because you think everything sounds so ugly when you say it out loud."
"My mistakes just look better on paper," Billie informs, signaling for another beer.
Mike frowns. "I don't know why you do this to yourself."
"Do what?"
"Allow yourself to self destruct like this. Whatever is happening can't be—"
"Adrienne and I are thinking about separating again. And I think maybe... maybe it'll be for good this time."
It was so blunt, so honest, and it was probably about the last thing Mike had expected to come from Billie's mouth. It took the bassist a full moment to respond, and even when he did it wasn't very helpful. "What?"
"She's been talking about moving out for a while now." Billie's words were so quiet Mike had to lean closer to hear him. It didn't help that Billie's chin was tucked meekly into his chest. "The only thing that's stopping this from all falling apart is the boys... " His words are cut off by a miserable sigh heaving from his chest, a sigh that sounded like all the realization had just surfaced all at once.
"I knew you guys were having trouble, but I guess I didn't... " Mike trails off, unsure of what to say. He knew Billie was dangerously close to an invisible edge, an edge he had talked him back from before. He just didn't think it was going to be easy that easy this time.
"Neither of us have been really talking about," Billie admits. "And I didn't want to say anything before because I didn't want to put you and Tre in the position to lie or... "
"To hell with that," Mike murmurs, swiveling slightly to see where Tre was. Billie could use his support right now, and he knew Tre would want to know what was going on. It would explain so much of Billie's erratic behavior over the past months.
Billie saw Mike surveying the crowd and quickly pressed his palm to the taller man's forearm. "Do you think we should tell Tre?" He mumbles, sounding rather unsure. "I don't want to cause trouble between him and Ava, and I know Adrienne hasn't told her about what's going on. I'm not sure she wants her to know just yet."
Mike stares at his long-time friend for a moment, his heart pulling at the conflicting emotions running behind his emerald eyes. "It's up to you I guess, but I think Tre would want to know."
Darting eyes search the room before returning back to Mike. Billie felt inexplicably guilty suddenly as he spoke. "Let's just keep this between you and me for now, huh? At least until Adrienne and I can figure this shit out."
Mike knew that Billie had the noblest intentions, but he also knew this could cause more trouble than it was worth. "Okay Bill, you know you can trust me not to say anything."
"Thanks Mikey," Billie mumbles softly.
Mike nods, patting his back. "How about another drink? A strong one, even."
Just as the bassist spoke Tre strolled up to the bar looking less offensive, and already noting the soured expressions of the two men. "Hey, what'd I miss?"
As he settles on the other side of Mike, Billie shrugs. "We're just shooting the shit."
"I was telling him about the charity benefit Lauren and I attended this week," Mike put in, bringing his near empty beer bottle to his lips. It wasn't exactly a lie, but he knew Tre wasn't going to buy it anyway.
"Ahhh," Tre mumbles. He knew right away that they were both lying, something neither of them had ever really been good at it, even when they were kids. He knew from their nervous body language, their guilt-ridden expressions. Besides, you don't hang out with the same people every day for the past seventeen years and not pick up a thing or two about their nervous traits. But Tre also knew, from past experience, that if there was something they didn't want to tell him it was probably for his own good. That didn't mean it wasn't going to eat away at his mind though, and it didn't mean he wouldn't ask questions.
Back home in California, Ava was enjoying a night out with some co-workers. They were hanging out at one of her favorite dives, a bar well known for its spicy buffalo wings and for housing some of the best local bands. She had just maneuvered back to the small table that Camille, her boss, and Camille's new 'friend', Carrie, was occupying. She plopped the pitcher of Bud Light between the small glowing candles on the table and took her seat just as a band was finishing up a few feet away.
"They sucked, but you know, in a good way," Camille comments, reaching to refill her glass.
Ava grins, turning to look at her. "They were good," She argues. "Better than that screeching crap you insist on listening to at the office."
"Excuse you," Camille replies. "I'll have you know that I listen to quality music."
"Hmm, no you don't," Carrie suddenly pipes up, winking playfully at Camille. "I haven't even known you very long and I already feel I'm qualified, just from riding with you in a car, to make this assessment."
Ava watched the two for a moment, grinning at their interaction before turning away to fill up her glass. Camille had never been one to be shy about her bisexuality, but Ava had to admit that she was surprised to see her attaching herself to someone so quickly after the recent finalization of her divorce. Camille had been married for five years to someone that Ava knew well, their corporate manager to be exact, and that in itself had made the office atmosphere uncomfortable, but it had also drawn lines in the sand between her co-workers. Some sided with Mark, Camille and Ava's boss, just on the principle that he was their corporate manager, and yet others sided with Camille because she was the one who hadn't been diddling the new office secretary.
Upon hearing the opening chords of a song, Ava snapped from her thoughts, realizing that a new band was just taking the stage. "Who did they say they were?" Ava asked, trying to peer through the darkness. The house lights behind the stage were for shit.
"They haven't," Carrie responded. "Although people seem to be piling in to see them. They must be good or something."
Ava was about to respond when the front man finally stepped out of the shadows, guitar in hand, long hair hanging in his eyes. "Hey, uh, they call us Happy Hour and we'll be rocking your asses off for the next half hour." Ava's mouth dropped open in surprise. No wonder she recognized this band, these were some of Ian's best friends. She had been to a couple of their shows last summer when she and Ian were still dating, and even a few after that when they had sworn to stay friends. Well, that part of their agreement hadn't exactly been held up, they had lost communication somewhere around the end of last year, but she was curious anyway to see if he was lurking around somewhere.
She immediately swiveled in her seat, searching the darkened room for any sign of the man who probably pulled rank as one of Dashboard Confessional's biggest fans. After surveying the bar, the darkened booths in the back and all the tables in between, she was about to give up hope when she saw him.
Ian was standing against the far wall, head bowed, hands jammed in his pockets. Ava grinned to herself. He never missed a show, and damn if he didn't still look cute as hell in his faded jeans and band t-shirt.
"I'll be right back," Ava half hollers to the two people also occupying her table. "There's someone here I need to say hi to."
Camille and Carrie both bob their heads in acknowledgement, already engrossed in the band that was quickly earning cheers and encouragement from the packed establishment. Ava quickly stood up, maneuvering back towards the bar and through swaying people, politely trying to shove her way through.
Ian had accidentally spotted Ava almost immediately when he had walked in the bar about a half hour ago. He had been debating whether to say hi or not when she had finally spotted him and apparently had no problem coming up with the gull to seek him out. He had been feeling guilty about their loss of communication since he arrived, but he couldn't help the grin spreading across his face as Ava not so shyly wrapped him into a friendly hug.
"Ian!" Ava exclaims, smiling up at him. "How have you been?"
Smiling lamely, he mutters, "Busy. You?"
Ava nods, seemingly content with his answer. "The same."
The two stand awkwardly for a moment, Ian's cheeks burning as Ava curiously fixes him with her infamous Nesser eyes. "I thought you were graduating in the winter," She finally says, taking a step closer as someone tries to squeeze by her.
Ian was glad for the darkness because the tips of his ears were bright pink by now. Ava always seemed to have this effect on him. "I, uh, I decided to double major," He explains, wincing when the song cut out and he found himself yelling through a small window of silence, right before the cheers of the club took over.
Ava grins. "As if you didn't have enough going on as it is," She comments, nudging him a little before turning her attention to the new song starting up.
After listening to a few songs she turns back to comment. "They sound great!" She yells over the bass line, watching as Ian nods. "They've really got the crowd going."
"They've been touring around the state this summer, they're pretty well known around here now," Ian supplies, a hint of pride in his voice.
"Really? That's awesome."
Ian watched from the corner of his eye as Ava bounced along to the song, noting the way her eyes darted around the bar as she drank in the music. She had always had just a hint of nervous energy about her, and he always wondered what she was thinking about when her eyes glazed over like that. Most likely she was thinking about Tre, as he didn't seem to be glued to her hip tonight.
Ian jumped from his daze when she once again turned back, this time looking apologetic. "I came with a couple of friends so I should probably rejoin them," She explains. "But I would love to get a coffee after the show, catch up. You interested?"
He grins in return, nodding. "Yeah, actually. There's a coffee shop around the corner. Should we just meet there after the set?"
"It's a date," Ava confirms, grinning before taking a few steps and practically disappearing into the crowd. Ian watches her go, a small smile on his face.
Rejoining Carrie and Camille, Ava takes a sip of her beer and tries to ignore Camille's interested expression. "Who's that?"
Ava shrugs. "An old friend of mine. I haven't seen him in a while."
"And is Tre aware that you have an old friend that you haven't seen in a while?"
Ava rolls her eyes while leaning forward. "That's Ian... remember I told you about him?"
Camille's eyes glow with realization. "Oh! His Mom could rival Satan, right?"
Chuckling, Ava nods. "Yeah, that's him. He's a real sweet kid though, we've just sort of lost touch over the past few months."
"I'm sure Tre has nothing to do with that either," Camille comments, raising a sarcastic eyebrow.
Ava shrugs again. "To be honest, I don't think Ian really enters Tre's radar."
Camille takes a long sip of her beer before answering. "Hmm, no, I'm sure he wouldn't mind you hanging out with a hot little twenty-something in a smoky bar located in an empty alley—"
"Stop," Ava cuts in, giggling. "Tre trusts me. And Jesus, it's not like I'm going to leave him for Ian. We're just friends... you know what those are, right? You had some once, back before you became a heinous bitch."
The conversation of Ian was quickly dropped as Carrie joined in the friendly bantering and Camille attempted to defend herself, but Ava found herself playing Camille's words over in her mind. Given their past, would Tre mind Ava hanging out with Ian? She would hope he would be more mature than an archaic caveman, but they had never really discussed this before so she wasn't sure how he felt.
Still, there was nothing wrong with going to get a cup of coffee with an old friend, right? Ava just hoped Tre saw it that way too.
