How We Stay Here (or Waiting)
folder
Singers/Bands/Musicians › Green Day
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
12
Views:
1,627
Reviews:
5
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Singers/Bands/Musicians › Green Day
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
12
Views:
1,627
Reviews:
5
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. I do not know the members of Green Day. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Part Eigh: Aftermath Isn't 2 + 2
How We Stay Here (or Waiting)
Part Eight: Aftermath Isn’t 2 + 2
Dawning . . . of a new era
Calling . . . don’t let it catch you falling
* Mike’s POV *
I stand there, watching Billie fight his tears. He couldn’t have said that. He wouldn’t. I stare at him. “What?” My voice is a croak. My entire lift hangs on whether or not he said it.
His voice shakes, but his face is hard, cold almost. “I want a divorce.”
I can feel my heartbeat in my ears. “No.” I’m not begging him. I’m telling him. Divorce? No. I love him too much. I can’t lose him. He’s my husband, my best friend. He’s fucking everything.
“I-I can’t.” His voice cracks. “I can’t do this anymore. It’s a lie. It’s a joke.”
“No.” Now I’m pleading. “Billie . . . I love you. I don’t want . . . I’ll come home. We can go see a counselor or something, get this worked out." I reach for his hand, but he pulls away and takes a few steps backward.
“It’s over.” He says. I see a tear run down his cheek. “Just . . . don’t, Mike.”
“It’s not over!” I yell, crossing the room and grabbing him by the shoulders. He tries to pull away, but I don’t let him. “We spent thirteen fucking years to get here. I’m not going to throw it away.”
He stares at me, voice soft. “You already did.”
* Billie’s POV *
I start to cry then and manage to pull away. It’s not such a feat now that Mike’s grip has loosened. “Just go.” I murmur.
“N-No.”
I nod and walk to the door, grabbing my car keys. Mike says nothing, makes no move to stop me. I look back at him before I shut the door. He’s staring at where I was before, face frozen.
I don’t notice my bare feet until I get in the car, but there’s no way I’m going back in the house. I debate going to Tre’s, but take the turn that will lead me to my old house instead. I need my kids.
Blake works one of those nine to five jobs. I don’t know where and I don’t know what he does. I don’t give a shit. I just know it means he won’t be at the house, considering it’s noon on a Wednesday.
Adie and I have an open door policy with the boys. We call each other, let each other know when we’re doing things that can’t be interrupted. We stop by each other’s whenever we want to see them. It’s one of the benefits of us having such a good relationship. A relationship Mike hates.
I fight my tears as I pull into the driveway. I don’t want Joey and Jakob to know what’s wrong. Not yet. My youngest answers the door when I knock, hesitating for a moment before he holds out his arms for a hug. I pick him up instantly, trying not to kill him with the strength of my hug, kissing his cheek. Adrienne appears behind him, a few feet away. Our eyes meet and she nods.
“Hey, Jake. Why don’t you go help Joey clean up the kitchen you wrecked and give me a minute with your dad?”
She looks at me and jerks her head toward the living room. I follow her and we sit down. She turns to look at me, resting her arm on the back of the back of the couch and her cheek on her hand. “How’d it go?”
My jaw clenches and I look at the clock above the fake fireplace.
“That bad?”
A tear falls from my lashes. “It’s over, Adrienne.” I give a bitter smile. “Joey was right. I don’t know what made me think I could do this again.”
She stares at me, wide-eyed. “Over? Billie, he was probably just angry. Wait a day or two and—“
“I’m the one who said it.” I look at her. “I told him I wanted a divorce.” My laugh is harsh. “Pseudo-divorce.”
“Billie . . .” She reaches out a hand and covers mine with it.
“Oh, come on, Adrienne.” I say in a voice of disbelief. “You know how hard it is to be married to me. You of all people.”
“That was different.” she says. “You were in love with him. Both of us at the same time, Billie. One of us was bound to lose you. It was me.” She brings her hand up to my cheek. “Mike and you were meant for each other, Billie. Don’t lose him because of one fight.”
“It’s more than just a fight, Adrienne.”
* Adie’s POV *
I don’t like his voice. It’s resigned. I don’t know what their fight was like, but I know it couldn’t have been enough of one for him to give up so easily. I know Billie, maybe not as much as I used to, but I still know him.
I hear footsteps approaching and stand up quickly to head off our sons before they walk in on their father like this. After I’ve sent them upstairs with cans of Coke and a DVD with sickening martial arts scenes I return to the living room, sitting down next to Billie again. He’s got a bit of a smile on his face. “You’re a good mom, Adie.”
I give a small smile and put my hand on the side of his face. “Billie, you need to call him.” I cover his mouth with my hand when he starts to protest. “Yes, you do.” I give a small sigh. “Well, maybe not now.”
He nods and we sit there in silence for a moment, his eyes resting on the clock and mine on him. It is hard being married to Billie Joe. He’s stubborn and sometimes Jakob is more mature than he is, but he’s good at being married. He’s a good husband, but he’s no picnic. But then again, after hearing what Ana’s told me, Mike isn’t a walk on the beach either.
But together . . . fights never last between them. This is definitely the worst. Billie spent a night at Tre’s last year over God knows what, but he and Mike were together the next day, holding hands and taking the boys to dinner.
“The puking stopped.” Billie says, breaking the silence. He looks at me. “Don’t know why.”
“I haven’t been sick lately.” I say. “Just eating ketchup on everything. Drives Blake nuts. He’s allergic to tomatoes, even though I think ketchup hardly counts as a vegetable.”
Billie nods, eyes slipping into the distance. “I want them. For a night or so.”
I hesitate.
“Adrienne, I need them.” He grabs my hand. “I need them. Please.”
I sigh, eyes sad. “Billie, you know how you get . . . overly emotional. I don’t think you should be alone with them.”
His hand tightens on mine. He’s not doing it to hurt me, it’s almost unintentional. “Please, Adie.”
It’s completely inappropriate, even for Billie and I, but I take the plunge anyway. “Blake’s at his sister’s until the end of the week. You could . . . stay over tonight.” My voice is hesitant.
We’re both quiet for a minute, then he nods. “Thank you.”
* Mike’s POV *
I’m drunk. She’s blonde, stupid, and flirting. I’m blonde, stupid, and flirting back. She’s cheap enough to not care about me taking her to a hotel rather than my house. But unfortunately she’s one of those girls that thinks she’s marrying you the second you kiss. I say I need a pack of smokes and I’ll be right back.
I lied.
I drive to Tre’s, not completely trashed but close enough. The tears in my eyes aren’t helping me see the rode any better. I’m hoping Billie’s there, but I know he’s not. I don’t know where he is, but I know where he’s not.
Tre’s outside getting his mail when I pull into his driveway at an almost 45 degree angle. He rolls his eyes when I all but fall out the door. Grabbing my arm, he leads me into the house, pushing me into a kitchen chair and fishing in the cupboard for a coffee can.
“Billie wants a divorce.”
Tre drops the coffee can. Coffee grounds now litter his floor. He turns to look at me. “He said that?”
“Yeah.” I close my eyes and face plant onto his table, exhausted. “And I just fucked some slut I don’t know. And my house is empty. I just lost my husband and two of my kids.” My voice is muffled. “The band.”
I feel Tre’s hands pull me back up and he pulls me tight to him. “It’ll be all right, Mike.”
“How?”
“I don’t know.” he says, a hand running up and down my back. “But it will. No one divorces their soul mate.”
Part Eight: Aftermath Isn’t 2 + 2
Dawning . . . of a new era
Calling . . . don’t let it catch you falling
* Mike’s POV *
I stand there, watching Billie fight his tears. He couldn’t have said that. He wouldn’t. I stare at him. “What?” My voice is a croak. My entire lift hangs on whether or not he said it.
His voice shakes, but his face is hard, cold almost. “I want a divorce.”
I can feel my heartbeat in my ears. “No.” I’m not begging him. I’m telling him. Divorce? No. I love him too much. I can’t lose him. He’s my husband, my best friend. He’s fucking everything.
“I-I can’t.” His voice cracks. “I can’t do this anymore. It’s a lie. It’s a joke.”
“No.” Now I’m pleading. “Billie . . . I love you. I don’t want . . . I’ll come home. We can go see a counselor or something, get this worked out." I reach for his hand, but he pulls away and takes a few steps backward.
“It’s over.” He says. I see a tear run down his cheek. “Just . . . don’t, Mike.”
“It’s not over!” I yell, crossing the room and grabbing him by the shoulders. He tries to pull away, but I don’t let him. “We spent thirteen fucking years to get here. I’m not going to throw it away.”
He stares at me, voice soft. “You already did.”
* Billie’s POV *
I start to cry then and manage to pull away. It’s not such a feat now that Mike’s grip has loosened. “Just go.” I murmur.
“N-No.”
I nod and walk to the door, grabbing my car keys. Mike says nothing, makes no move to stop me. I look back at him before I shut the door. He’s staring at where I was before, face frozen.
I don’t notice my bare feet until I get in the car, but there’s no way I’m going back in the house. I debate going to Tre’s, but take the turn that will lead me to my old house instead. I need my kids.
Blake works one of those nine to five jobs. I don’t know where and I don’t know what he does. I don’t give a shit. I just know it means he won’t be at the house, considering it’s noon on a Wednesday.
Adie and I have an open door policy with the boys. We call each other, let each other know when we’re doing things that can’t be interrupted. We stop by each other’s whenever we want to see them. It’s one of the benefits of us having such a good relationship. A relationship Mike hates.
I fight my tears as I pull into the driveway. I don’t want Joey and Jakob to know what’s wrong. Not yet. My youngest answers the door when I knock, hesitating for a moment before he holds out his arms for a hug. I pick him up instantly, trying not to kill him with the strength of my hug, kissing his cheek. Adrienne appears behind him, a few feet away. Our eyes meet and she nods.
“Hey, Jake. Why don’t you go help Joey clean up the kitchen you wrecked and give me a minute with your dad?”
She looks at me and jerks her head toward the living room. I follow her and we sit down. She turns to look at me, resting her arm on the back of the back of the couch and her cheek on her hand. “How’d it go?”
My jaw clenches and I look at the clock above the fake fireplace.
“That bad?”
A tear falls from my lashes. “It’s over, Adrienne.” I give a bitter smile. “Joey was right. I don’t know what made me think I could do this again.”
She stares at me, wide-eyed. “Over? Billie, he was probably just angry. Wait a day or two and—“
“I’m the one who said it.” I look at her. “I told him I wanted a divorce.” My laugh is harsh. “Pseudo-divorce.”
“Billie . . .” She reaches out a hand and covers mine with it.
“Oh, come on, Adrienne.” I say in a voice of disbelief. “You know how hard it is to be married to me. You of all people.”
“That was different.” she says. “You were in love with him. Both of us at the same time, Billie. One of us was bound to lose you. It was me.” She brings her hand up to my cheek. “Mike and you were meant for each other, Billie. Don’t lose him because of one fight.”
“It’s more than just a fight, Adrienne.”
* Adie’s POV *
I don’t like his voice. It’s resigned. I don’t know what their fight was like, but I know it couldn’t have been enough of one for him to give up so easily. I know Billie, maybe not as much as I used to, but I still know him.
I hear footsteps approaching and stand up quickly to head off our sons before they walk in on their father like this. After I’ve sent them upstairs with cans of Coke and a DVD with sickening martial arts scenes I return to the living room, sitting down next to Billie again. He’s got a bit of a smile on his face. “You’re a good mom, Adie.”
I give a small smile and put my hand on the side of his face. “Billie, you need to call him.” I cover his mouth with my hand when he starts to protest. “Yes, you do.” I give a small sigh. “Well, maybe not now.”
He nods and we sit there in silence for a moment, his eyes resting on the clock and mine on him. It is hard being married to Billie Joe. He’s stubborn and sometimes Jakob is more mature than he is, but he’s good at being married. He’s a good husband, but he’s no picnic. But then again, after hearing what Ana’s told me, Mike isn’t a walk on the beach either.
But together . . . fights never last between them. This is definitely the worst. Billie spent a night at Tre’s last year over God knows what, but he and Mike were together the next day, holding hands and taking the boys to dinner.
“The puking stopped.” Billie says, breaking the silence. He looks at me. “Don’t know why.”
“I haven’t been sick lately.” I say. “Just eating ketchup on everything. Drives Blake nuts. He’s allergic to tomatoes, even though I think ketchup hardly counts as a vegetable.”
Billie nods, eyes slipping into the distance. “I want them. For a night or so.”
I hesitate.
“Adrienne, I need them.” He grabs my hand. “I need them. Please.”
I sigh, eyes sad. “Billie, you know how you get . . . overly emotional. I don’t think you should be alone with them.”
His hand tightens on mine. He’s not doing it to hurt me, it’s almost unintentional. “Please, Adie.”
It’s completely inappropriate, even for Billie and I, but I take the plunge anyway. “Blake’s at his sister’s until the end of the week. You could . . . stay over tonight.” My voice is hesitant.
We’re both quiet for a minute, then he nods. “Thank you.”
* Mike’s POV *
I’m drunk. She’s blonde, stupid, and flirting. I’m blonde, stupid, and flirting back. She’s cheap enough to not care about me taking her to a hotel rather than my house. But unfortunately she’s one of those girls that thinks she’s marrying you the second you kiss. I say I need a pack of smokes and I’ll be right back.
I lied.
I drive to Tre’s, not completely trashed but close enough. The tears in my eyes aren’t helping me see the rode any better. I’m hoping Billie’s there, but I know he’s not. I don’t know where he is, but I know where he’s not.
Tre’s outside getting his mail when I pull into his driveway at an almost 45 degree angle. He rolls his eyes when I all but fall out the door. Grabbing my arm, he leads me into the house, pushing me into a kitchen chair and fishing in the cupboard for a coffee can.
“Billie wants a divorce.”
Tre drops the coffee can. Coffee grounds now litter his floor. He turns to look at me. “He said that?”
“Yeah.” I close my eyes and face plant onto his table, exhausted. “And I just fucked some slut I don’t know. And my house is empty. I just lost my husband and two of my kids.” My voice is muffled. “The band.”
I feel Tre’s hands pull me back up and he pulls me tight to him. “It’ll be all right, Mike.”
“How?”
“I don’t know.” he says, a hand running up and down my back. “But it will. No one divorces their soul mate.”