My Life With Billie Joe Armstrong (discontinued)

Ch 21:

That night, I decided it would be my first night joining the family for dinner. Billie helped me get a steady bass line and basic drum beat for my song, Jacob came home happy as all hell saying the bullies left him alone for the rest of the day, and everyone seemed overall happy.  I had changed into a light long sleeved shirt and some jeans, and my cast had also been removed. My hand was still tender, but the doctor said as long as I don't hit anything it should be fine to continue healing without a cast.

Making my way downstairs, I could hear havoc meowing about as she waited for food. Yeah, her stuff was up in my room. But billie and me decided that if I was going to live here, she'd have to get used to the other animals at least. I was still the only one to feed her, and that was my only rule.  I could also hear everyone talking about their days and Billie talking to Jacob specifically about his situation.

When I got downstairs, I saw Jacob with havoc curled up in his lap, Billie next to him on the couch; Adrienne was setting the table with joeys help. It seemed so happy here.

Too bad I had a terrible feeling it wouldn't last past the summer...knowing my mother...

It confused me. She told me she was having me go down for summer and wants me to go back, but at almost 19 she constantly tells me I should have my own place, on much harsher words though. So why is it if she wanted me gone so badly, she demanded I be brought back?

"Hey are you okay?" I snapped back from my thoughts when I heard joeys voice.

"Huh? Wha-oh yeah. I'm okay. Just lost in my own thoughts is all." I said with a soft smile. After I made Sure havoc had food and water we all sat down and I felt their eyes all on me.

"So, other than all of the emotional bursts and family feuds, how do you like it here?" Adrienne asked, hopeful and curious. I sipped my drink and thought a moment.

"It's...different. In a good way though. I'm not really used to things like this."

"A home cooked meal?" Jacob asked. I swallowed harshly.

"Yes, actually..." he stared at me then looked to billie.

"Was her mom really that awful?"

"Jacob I never even called her mom. Well I did until I was like 7. But once I started realized how much I had to do myself because she neglected to realize she HAD TO CARE FOR ME, it changed a lot. I didn't have too much respect for her as a person let alone as a mother figure." I shrugged it off like it was normal. "Just...I'm not used to anything that's happened here. The positivity, the help, the family bond....and yeah, even the home cooked meal. I ate so many TV dinners before I learned how to cook. And even then..." I sighed and my appetite grew thin at the thought of those dinners. Cold microwaved food.....

The best cuisine, obviously.

"Why didn't you ever call the cops?"

"I myself have been involved with the cops. A number of times. I didn't wanna call them and...have them think I was causing trouble or anything...I guess."

"What? You've been in that much trouble?"

"You don't even know..." it sucks to think the amount of things I've done to protect myself or make myself safe were viewed as felonies by the law.

"I don't want to get too into that though." I stated before it went farther.

"You...really have been though a lot..." Was all Jacob said. There was a silence for a while, but soon it was broken by Adrienne speaking up and asking about the days events. It was just small talk from there to the end, but it wasn't awful. After I'd eaten what I could and helped with my share of dishes, I went back up to my room and plopped down into my bed, looking up at my ceiling.