Me Meet Green Day? You've Gotta Be Kidding!, chapter 2

So me and Bec followed Billie, Mike and Tre towards the dressing rooms. Despite only being used for one night, the doors had already been plastered with pictures of the hand grenade which appeared on the front of the album.

"You like?" Billie smiled, opening the door and revealing the interior. Eyeliner, various clothes and magazines littered the floor.

"We try to keep it clean, as you can see," Tre said with a smile.

Me and Bec entered, still trying to keep a cool composure. Billie Tre and Mike followed, closing the door behind them.

"Green Day merchandise, anyone?" Mike asked, opening a cupboard.

I looked toward the cupboard. Posters, maybe, but not merchandise. No way would green Day want to sell out.

"He's just kidding. He actually means 'would you like a signed poster'?" Billie pulled out a permanent marker.

I grinned, stepping forward to watch him sign a particularly good poster. Mike and Tre followed.

I figured that as I was meeting Green Day, I should probably make the most of it and ask some questions.

"Do you guys ever get sick of the touring and over obsessive fans?" I ask, desperately hoping my question didn't sound stupid.

Billie laughed. "Tre loves those obsessive fans-that's how he gets laid. Right Tre?"

Tre looked up from where he was signing Bec's poster. "Yes, Billie. I get laid by fans I've never met." He shakes his head. "He's just covering up for his own lies."

Billie laughed. "Well, that's not true either. But to answer your question-we love touring...it's just being away from home that's the hard part."

Mike nodded in agreement. "Enough of being serious. Let's go have some fun."

"Like what?" Bec asked, trying not to look too awestruck.

"You'll see." Mike and the guys led the way, exiting the back of the building.

They led us to their tour truck. They opened the compartments at the bottom, revealing their instruments neatly packed in.

"And this, Jen and Bec, is my guitar." Billie pulled out his famous 'Blue' guitar...his first instrument.

I looked at it in awe. "Blue!" I exclaimed, glad that I still knew this piece of trivia.

"You know the name of his guitar?" asked Bec. "I didn't know you were that obsessed!"

"That's pretty impressive," Tre commented with a grin. "But Green Day obsessed isn't a bad thing, you know."

"I take this guitar with me mainly for good luck," Billie says, running his fingers along the strings. "Either of you play the guitar?" He looked at me and Bec.

Bec shook her head, as did I.

"I really want to learn...Mum and dad say I can soon, though." I looked wistfully at the guitar. "I know a bit from music class at school..."

"Really? Show us what you've got." Billie handed me the guitar.

I swallowed. I couldn't believe I was showing Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool from Green Day what I could play on the guitar-and on Billie's first guitar as well!

I took the guitar, and slipped the strap over my neck. I positioned my fingers along the strings and played the first few chords of the riff for Holiday.

"Nice," Mike said, nodding his head. "And your music teacher taught you that?"

"No..." I replied. "I did it myself."

"That's really good!" Tre said, grinning. "Can you play the drums?"

"Um...probably not to save my life," I reply, starting to laugh.

Billie still looked at me. "Would you like a guitar, care of Green Day?"

I stared at him. "A guitar?!?! A Green Day guitar?" I quickly look at Bec, who looks slightly jealous. I gesture towards her. "What about...you know..."

"Ah." Billie is brought up short. "Do you play the drums, Bec?"

I realized Bec had actually been. But I also knew how well she could play the bass guitar.

"Um...I play the bass...sort of."

"Even better. Mike, d'you mind giving a bass?" Billie reached in and grabbed a shiny black bass guitar...the one Mike used in the American Idiot clip.

This just didn't seem real. Here we were meeting Green Day, and getting free guitars which would be worth thousands!

"Here, have some drumsticks too." Tre handed over four drumsticks-two each for both me and Bec.

"Jen, come with me," Billie said, grabbing my hand and leading me back to the building.

And now I was personally being taken away by Billie Joe Armstrong. Had the world turned upside down?

Billie returned to the dressing room. He picked up a guitar and handed it to me. It was red and black, with various Green Day logos stuck on it such as the heart grenade and that funny little man being struck by lightning.

"Voila," he says, bowing deeply with a flourish.

I giggled. I loved Billie Joe so much-and his music.

"Billie, have you any idea how many people are in love with you?" I ask with a grin, pretending to strum on my brand new guitar.

"Yes, and they're all wrong," Billie says, trying not to smile. "I am not a good looking guy."

"Are you kidding?" I exclaim without thinking. "Sorry."

"No worries. You're a pretty little lady yourself," he says, bending down and kissing my hand like a knight. He straightens up and grins. "I sure am romantic, too."

I sigh. "Lucky Adrienne. You guys are perfect together."

Billie's face darkens. "Uh...actually...don't tell anyone but me and Adie have separated for a little while."

"Why?" I ask in shock, sad that such a perfect couple separated.

"I've been so busy with Green Day, and not with the kids. She understands, but she needs some time on her own..." He drifts away, looking upset. He sits down, holding his head in his hands.

I sat down next to him. "It's okay, you guys just need time out for a little while."

Billie looked up. "Jen, how would you like me to give you guitar lessons?" The question was so off the subject, I was suprised. "I dunno...maybe travel around or something..."

It's too unreal. I begin to grin uncontrollably.

"Well, you'll have to come past my parents first."

"It's a deal." Billie smiles at me.