Tragedy(Billie Joe Armstrong) (#Wattys2018)

Chapter 49: Jersey Part 2

Bandit's POV
A Few Days Later

"You ready?" Gerard knocked on the bathroom door.

"One minute," I told him as I finished up my makeup. "Okay," I opened the door, "all ready."

"Good luck," he patted my shoulder.

"Wait, you're ditching me?" I gasped.

"Your dad, not mine," he shrugged.

"Gee!" I groaned.

"Bee," he mocked me.

"Alright, pick me up at three though," I told him.

"Got ya, now let's go," he grabbed my hand and pulled me out to his mom's car. He drove me to the small cafe downtown. I saw my dad sitting out front, he hasn't changed.

I got out of the car, "see ya," I told Gerard and he pulled away. I walked up to the table, "hi dad."

"Hey kid," he stood up and gave me a hug. "I miss you."

"I miss you too, dad," I exhaled.

"Wow, look at ya. I can't believe how much you've grown up," he shook his head.

"I'm sixteen," I laughed.

"And the last time I saw you, you were fifteen," he pointed out.

"I know," I said as we sat down.

"So how's California?" He asked.

"It's pretty good," I nodded.

"No boys right?" He asked.

"Maybe..." my voice trailed off.

"Good lord, what's his name?" He asked.

"His name is Billie Joe and he is very good person," I added the end.

"I'll be the judge of that if I ever meet the kid," he shook his head. "So, tell me about everything that's been happening, it's been almost two years!"

"Yeah, well I got dragged out there against my will but I met some nice kids. My grades are the same way they were freshmen year," I explained.

"That's good, you doing anything for your birthday?" He asked.

"No, I haven't even told my friends when it is," I sighed.

"You gotta do something, you're gonna be seventeen in two weeks," he told me.

"I know," I sighed.

"How's mom?" He asked.

"Uh, well she hasn't changed really," I shrugged.

"She working?" He asked.

"Surprisingly," I answered.

"How's the problem?" He meant the alcohol.

"She tries to quit sometimes, she's in one of those moods where she thinks she can just quit right now," I explained.

"She can hurt herself doing that," he shook his head. "John any help?"

"He makes it worse," I rolled my eyes.

"You really don't like him," he laughed at me.

"I hate him," I looked back up him.

"Hate's a strong word, which is why appreciate that use of it," he said.

"Oh you don't like him either?" I laughed.

"Well he kind of ruined my marriage," he said.

"I don't know what happened, I only remember family court," I shrugged.

"Your mom was cheating on me with him, it was around the time she started drinking again. She didn't work then so I had to pay for you and her so I was at work all the time and she was off doing her thing," he explained.

"Oh shit, I'm sorry," I told him.

"You're my daughter, you shouldn't be sorry. And don't be one of those kids that thinks it's their fault," he pointed at me causing me to laugh. "Anyway, tell me about this boy, I need to decide if he's good enough."

"He's a musician," I said.

"Oh no," he rolled his eyes.

"What? He's good and only in high school," I pointed out.

"What's he play guitar?" He asked.

"Yes..." I said.

"Oh no," he put his face in his palms. "My daughter has lost it."

I laughed at him, "he's very nice, and you would like him!"

"Uh huh, sure Bandit," he said sarcastically.

"He's not the basic asshole," I leaned back in the chair.

"He better not be, I expect more from you. But I'm not the one that raised you," he said.

"You taught me enough," I nodded. "I'll get him out here with his best friend's. You'll like them. There's one that could be a comedian."

"Oh so I'm hearing I get to tell a guy he's not good enough for you and get a show?" He asked.

"You get the show, not the first part," my eyes widened. The waitress came over and we ordered lunch. "So, since she won't tell me, any idea why mom won't let me see you?"

"Because she thinks you'll wanna live with me," he told me, "I won the custody battle, but you should've grown up with a mother."

"Good intentions," I shrugged. "Wait so mom didn't even win custody?"

"Yeah, I could afford the better lawyer," he laughed.

"This is a twisted conversation," I shook my head.

"You're the one that asked," he pointed out.

"Yeah, true," I nodded, "I would live with you now but I kinda have obligations out there now."

"So you're choosing the boyfriend over your father, okay I see how it is," he nodded.

"No! Well kinda, but that's not the point.  I got shipped out there, I got friends that I can't part with now," I said.

"Three friends?" He gave me a glare.

"I found my long lost brother dad! I can't just up and leave now!" I laughed.

"Long lost brother? What?! I didn't know about a second kid?" He asked.

"No, Mike is basically my brother," I said.

"You have another friend named Mike?" He asked.

"Yep," I nodded.

"Oh great," he rolled his eyes.

"You'll like them, trust me. You have similar taste in music and you all hate my stepdad," I pointed out.

"How would you know if we have the same taste in music?" He folded his arms.

"Because you gave me my taste in music and they like the same music as me, well I still have a wider variety," I smiled at the end.

"We'll see, we'll see," he nodded. I laughed at him and shook my head. Our food came and we ate fairly quickly. We're surprisingly very similar, it's surprising because I rarely see him but I'm still his daughter.

I've learned a lot from my dad. He got me into rock music which branched off into punk and older music. I definitely smoke like he does, he just doesn't need to know that. I get my attitude from him. And many more things.

My dad reminds me of a teenager sometimes. He doesn't care if I swear like a drunken sailor and he respects younger opinions. And he acts like a child a lot. If I could I would live with him. If I didn't have what I have back in California I would live here with him.