Normal Life
Chapter 9
By: Bella
"But while McFaron-Madden isn't afraid to gush about the joys of motherhood she is, however, not so enthusiastic when speaking about her marriage to Good Charlotte's Benji Madden. When the subject turns to marriage and separate tours, her head instinctively goes down. 'We'll work it out,' she says, careful not to make eye contact as she says this. I'm unconvinced. When pressed further, she becomes a bit angry and defensive, trying to abandon the subject. Does this mean she'll soon be trying to abandon her husband of just over a year as well? Only time will tell, but things definitely don't look too good for the couple at the moment," Benji read out loud to Joel, with anger in his voice. He had read it over and over, and each time became more furious. Joel's jaw dropped and he couldn't think of anything to say.
"Fuck this!" Benji said, throwing the magazine on the table next to him and sitting on the couch in the hotel room that he and his brother were sharing.
"C'mon man, you know how many bad articles have been done about us," Joel said, trying to comfort him. "You know how they blow things out of proportion. I'm sure that's what happened here."
"I don't know … I mean, things haven't been so great lately, but god damnit it's no one's fucking business!" he said. "Who the hell is this dude anyway? I want him fired."
Joel picked up the magazine and thumbed through it to find the article again. "David Greyson."
"Get ready for unemployment, asshole."
---
Joel decided that he had to get out of his hotel room because he couldn't stand to see his brother so distraught. He was going to find Jackie, who had said she was going to explore the hotel's gift shop. Putting his key into his pocket and grabbing a hat, he left and started down the hall. When he reached the elevator, he pressed the "down" button repeatedly, but kept waiting and waiting and never got the doors to open. Finally, he just kicked the button, holding it down with his foot, and jumped back as he heard a chime and the doors in front of him start to open. He was surprised and slightly disturbed to see Paul and Sandy making out in the elevator, with Paul being pinned in the corner by Sandy. They seemed to be unaware that the doors had opened and they had reached their floor until Joel cleared his throat. They broke apart out of breath, and Paul managed to say, "bye Joel, we're off to make a baby!" and then they both ran as fast as they could toward their room and Joel heard the door slam shut.
A little confused, it took him a minute to figure out what had just gone on. Then he grinned, realizing that yet another person close to his heart would soon be a father. He tried to erase the mental pictures as he got into the elevator and went down to the first floor. After looking around the gift shop and not being able to find her, he gave up and headed back toward the elevator so that he could go back to his room and be depressed with Benji. After having trouble with the elevator again, he decided to just take the stairs, figuring he could use the exercise since they didn't have a show that night anyway. After a couple of flights he decided that it had been a bad idea, because he was exhausted and his legs hurt like hell, but he wouldn't give up.
"Jackie?" he said, surprised to see his girlfriend sitting on the top step of the flight that his floor was on once he had reached it.
"Oh hey," she said, also surprised to see him there.
He sat down next to her, out of breath and his heart pounding in his chest. He tried to get his breathing to return to normal and laid his head on her shoulder.
"Tired?" she asked with a laugh.
"Good God, I think my legs are going to fall off," he said. "You didn't climb these too, did you?"
"Of course. I always take the stairs," she answered.
"Oh yeah," he said, feeling like a wimp. She laughed.
"I take it you're an elevator kind of guy?" she asked.
"Yes. And more so now than ever," he said. "What are you doing out here?"
"Just thinking," she said, looking down at the cell phone in her hand. She sighed. "I'm now unemployed."
"What?" he asked, not believing what he had just heard. "Why?"
"I just got a call from my boss saying that I had to be back at work the day after tomorrow," she said. "I get that call all of the time when I'm on vacation, and I'm sick of it. I said no and we argued and then I just quit. I liked the job, but I always hated him anyway. He's such an asshole."
"What are you going to do now?" he asked.
"I have no idea," she said, obviously worried. "No clue."
"Does that mean you get to stay with me longer?" he asked hopefully. She smiled.
"I wish I could. But I guess I better head back to L.A. pretty quick so that I can find another job. I'll get kicked out of my apartment, plus Jasper is still with my next door neighbor," she said, referring to her cat.
"So move in with me," he suggested nervously. She looked over at his face to see if he was being serious or not, and as far as she could tell he was being serious.
"What?" she asked in shock.
"Why don't you live with me?" he suggested once again.
"But how am I going to be able to contribute to the rent if I don't have a job? And what about Jasper?" she pointed out.
"You can be Good Charlotte's official personal trainer!" he suggested enthusiastically, proud of himself for having come up with the idea. "And Jasper would love my house. It's bigger, better, and I've got lots of furniture he can ruin with those monster claws of his. My mom can watch him when we're away, she watches Cash too."
"Are you serious?" she asked, surprised. "I mean, this is sort of sudden don't you think?"
"Yeah! C'mon, it'll be great. Everyone else gets to have their girl on tour but me. Well, and Benj sometimes. But Maggie's going to be coming with us now that she and Billy are close to tying the knot, and of course Sandy's always with Paul trying to make babies on tour, and now I'll have you and I won't be lonely," he said.
"Making babies?" she asked with a confused look
. "It's true. They're trying to make one as I speak," he said laughing, remembering what had happened in the hall earlier.
"Wow. That exciting … and a little gross to think about," she laughed with him. "So, what do you say?" he asked.
"I say I hope you don't get sick of me," she said, wrapping him in a hug. He quickly hugged her back.
"Never," he whispered into her ear as they sat on the stairs wrapped in each others' arms.
---
"Is Tristen there?" Benji asked into the phone. It was later that afternoon, and Benji had finally calmed down just enough to call her. He had tried her cell, but got no answer. Next he tried Pacifica's tour manager, Rob.
"No Benji, she's not here right now. She had to do an interview, she should have been back by now, but we haven't heard from her," Rob said, slightly worried. It wasn't like her to leave for long periods of time and not answer her phone. "I'm sure she'll be back any minute. Want me to have her give you a call when she gets back?"
"Yeah. Hey, who is the interview with?"
"Oh, I don't remember the name of the magazine. The guy looked familiar though, I think it's one she's done before. I think his name was Dave …"
"David Greyson?"
"Yeah! I think that was it."
"Son of a bitch," Benji said and hung up.
Rob hung up, confused as to what had upset Benji so much, and turned on the tv in the hotel room. They were in a suite that day, which was rare. There was a room for Tristen and Adah, another for Will and Matt, another for Trevor and Rob, and Casey on the couch, because he was the night owl of the group. He flipped through channels until he landed on MTV. Growing bored with yet another one of their "How to live like a rock star part XVII" specials, he began to fall asleep but quickly snapped back to reality when he heard that MTV News had come on and was talking about Tristen.
"… Tristen McFaron-Madden and her marriage to Good Charlotte's Benji Madden appears to be falling apart, as pictures of Tristen and a male companion, who most definitely is not her husband, have surfaced amidst rumors of a difficult time for the couple. The male companion, who appears to be a journalist for Music Tomorrow magazine by the name of David Greyson, apparently did a recent article on her which mentions the couple's marital difficulties. When contacted for comment, Greyson said quote, whatever may or may not be going on between Tristen and I is our business and our business only, end quote. So far, neither Tristen McFaron-Madden nor Benji Madden has been reached for comment. That's the news for now, I'm Suchin Pak, and stay tuned for more news at 10 to the hour every hour right here on MTV."
"What the fuck?" he said out loud to himself, astonished. He got up off of the couch and turned around to find his phone to call Tristen, but saw that she had already returned and apparently caught the news briefing. She stood in the doorway with her eyes wide, unable to speak or move.