You Laugh Cause I'm Different, I Laugh Cause You're All The Same
Chapter 4
By: Mollye
“She’s not staying!” Benji stated viciously. He was sitting in his tour bus, glaring occasionally at Randy standing outside with their tour manager. He turned back to Joel and his other band mates. “I’m firing her as soon as this is over.”
“No,” Joel began as he rolled his eyes, “You’re not.”
“And why not? No one likes her. She’s a freaking bitch.”
“And by ‘no one’ do you mean you?” Chris interjected. They were having this “meeting” over this? Chris thought Benji was being a little bit dramatic.
“Yeah, she’s really not that bad. She seems pretty cool to me.” Billy added in as he focused on his gameboy Advanced SP.
Paul laughed, “You just got your panties in a twist because she snuffed every single one of your insults.”
“No, I don’t like her because she told me to my face that she hated our music and thinks I suck as a musician.” Benji could tell that this was a losing battle.
“Yeah, and I was there,” Joel replied, “She was being honest and she was mature about it. She even said that we had some good songs. She doesn’t have to feel obligated to kiss out asses just because she meets us. In fact, she’s probably the most real person we’ve met in the last year.”
Benji scowled at them and stared at his feet.
“And besides,” Paul added, “it’s four against one. You lose, Randy stays.”
With that said, Paul got up and exited the bus. He was soon followed by Billy and Chris. They were hungry and wanted to go get some food. Joel sighed at his brooding brother.
He got up and said to Benji, “Come on, don’t be like this. Things will be okay. Just learn to find something good about her. We’re gonna go get some food. You should come with us.” With that, Joel left the bus, leaving Benji to pout in silence.
“Fine,” he muttered, “if I can’t fire her, I’ll just make her want to quit.” He got up and stalked after his brother.
***
Randy was too busy to get into it with Benji. She had to reroute the speaker system. She also had to unpack all her things on the bus she shared with the tour manager, Stan Lowell. The other bus for the tour technicians was full and Stan didn’t share with anyone. She first got all of her stuff into the entertainment section of the bus and let her cats out in the living area in the back. She placed their litter box out and got their food bowls ready. Strider and Ophelia were so happy to be out of their pet carriers that they purred all day.
Stan said that Randy could sleep wherever she wanted to, so when Randy found the “loft” shelf, she was hooked. She would sleep no other place but that.
The “loft” shelf was a lifted area at the top of the bus. It was encased in strong fiber glass that was tinted so that others could not see in and so that car lights would not bother it’s occupants. When Randy was in it, she could lay down perfectly. The loft floor was covered in plush downy encasings so that it was like a mattress to be up there. She could draw curtains on either side of her and watch the stars at night. It was very secluded for a tour bus. She put all her pillows up there and put her laptop up there as well.
She unloaded the rest of her stuff and climbed out of her “room” and began work at the San Diego venue. She had to help with the rigging and the connecting of all the stereos to one switchboard. Randy was applauded for her quick work. Stan was beginning to be very glad that he had mentioned her company to Joel. She was genius when it came to wiring systems together.
After the sound test (in which she refused to look at Benji) she bid all of them farewell and decided to go out to her bus for some relaxation time. There was still five hours until the concert. She had helped the tour out by keeping them way ahead of schedule. This meant that she had saved the roadies a bunch of time, this meant that she had saved all the bands a lot of time and this meant that Good Charlotte was extremely grateful (except for a scowling guitarist..) because now they had free time. They weren’t going to just let Randy not know that. They were going to show her a good time in San Diego.
No matter how hard Benji tried to convince them not to.
Little did they know, that Randy had locked the tour bus door. Who did that? Joel was befuddled by this. Who ever locked tour bus doors??? This phenomenon amazed all of them.
“Alright, you guys tried, now that this is over, let’s--” Benji began.
“Nah, we’ll just go get the keys from Stan.” Joel said as he ran back into the venue. Benji sighed and stomped off to his bus. Maybe he should just lock them out…
***
Randy sighed at the loved solitude of the loft. She stared up at the cloudless sky and thought to herself, ‘It’s a great day to be alive..” She had to restrain from singing those old country music lyrics that her father always sang. She pulled out her journal and decided to write them in there. As long as she didn’t sing them.
“It’s a great day to be alive, I know the sun’s still shining when I close my eyes. Hard times in the neighborhood, but it feels just this good..” She laughed to herself, she loved her corny dad. Even if he listened to country music, she still loved him. She was happy that she had remembered to bring two small photo albums with her. She had filled them both with pictures of friends and family.
Randy hopped down out of the loft and felt the bus shift as her weight hit the floor. She rolled her eyes at that and padded barefoot to where the stereo was at. She pulled out her Nickelback Cd and popped it into the machine. When she heard Chad Kroeger coming through the stereo, she smiled and sat down on one of the couches, she looked over and saw where Stan slept. He slept in a pull out bed right next to the doorway. She smiled, she really liked him… too bad he had a girlfriend. She shrugged her shoulders and started to read her favorite book again, Stephen Kings’ IT. She had read the book four times and still it scared the hell out of her.
She didn’t hear the knocking at the door, nor did she hear the jiggling of the doorknob. She was too busy reading and scratching Strider’s ears. Ophelia was snuggled up in her lap. So she wasn’t expecting the door to pop open and five men under the age of twenty-five to stroll in. She was a little annoyed. She wasn’t used to having people just barge in on her, the privileges of living alone.
“May I help you?” she asked incredulously.
Before anyone could reply, Benji (who had come along kicking and screaming) scrunched his face up and stated, “You like Nickelback??”
“Yeah.”
“Oh my god, we are going to have words. You like this band? These guys make me want to stick a fork in my eye.”
“I’ll have words with you anytime you think that you can play with the big boys. I’ll school you in anything verbal sparring and you know that. And what, don’t like to listen to music that can actually display emotion?” Randy didn’t appreciate Benji coming in here if all he was going to do was insult her.
Benji’s eyes darkened, “You are so--” Joel interrupted him.
“Coming with us out on the town.” He smiled cheekily at her and Randy couldn’t help but laugh.
“Are you sure about that? I mean, I might cause Benji to pull out all his hair..” Randy began.
“Trust me, I wouldn’t do anything over something you said. EVER.” Benji stated firmly.
“Then you don’t mind me coming?” Randy asked with a smart-ass smile.
“Not at all.” Benji replied through gritted teeth, then stormed out of the bus. The rest of the band laughed and Randy found herself wanting to attempt to be friendly. She stood up (to the protest of Ophelia) and replied, “What did you guys to with the real Benji?”
“The real one is tied up on his bunk. We found that one on the side of the road.” Chris replied without skipping a beat.
“Keep Benji there.” Randy laughed.
“Ahhh, Benj ain’t so bad once you get to know him.” Joel interjected, trying his best to stick up for his brother.
“Yeah, he’s not so…KITTIES!” Billy exclaimed as he noticed the two cats sitting on the couch looking at them without much interest. He hurried over to them and started to pet them. He was thrilled when both of them started to purr. He then realized that he was being watched. He smiled sheepishly, “I like all animals.”
“Yeah…you a little lonely Billy?” Randy asked him with a smile on her face.
“Just at night when I’m alone in my bunk.”
Paul rolled his eyes, “Well, if that’s the case, then you should just hop into Joel’s bunk. He’s always up for some snuggling.”
Joel nodded his head, “What can I say, I like to cuddle.”
Randy laughed whole heartedly. These guys weren’t so bad. If they could just ditch Mr. Personality outside, they wouldn’t have all that many problems. She motioned for the door. “So what are we gonna be doing?”
“We figured that we would Torrey Pines Golf Course. It would be a cool way to spend the day and we could drive around in those snazzy golf carts. You wanna come?”
“I don’t play golf. But I’ll come for the golf carts. Those things are kickass.” Randy said as she turned off Chad Kroeger and picked up her purse. “But don’t expect me to get along with--”
“Just shut up about it and get out of the damn bus!” Joel exclaimed as he placed his hands on her shoulders and guided her out of the bus.
Randy arched her back and gasped. She skittered away from Joel, not caring that she stopped next to a sulking Benji. She waved her hands in front of her and stated, “No touchy, touchy. Don’t do that again.”
Joel was taken aback. No girl had ever told him not to touch her. He wasn’t the only one, the rest of his bandmates looked at Randy questioningly… even Benji.
Randy smiled and stated, “What can I say? Not used to a whole lot of human contact. I have to get to know you better for that to happen. I mean, Robbie kissing my hand is a stretch. It’s nothing against you, I’m just not used to having someone touch me.”
Joel nodded his head, he could understand that. They were going to be with each other for the next 75 days. He would hopefully get past this barrier. He had great faith that the rest of them would too. Well, he just hoped that Benji and Randy would be on civil terms by the end of this. He smiled at Randy, “No worries. It’s all good here. Come on, lets go, the Golf Course won’t wait forever you know!” He led them away from the tour buses to a near by Escalade.
“God Joel, you’re so corny.” Paul laughed as he caught up with him. Chris and Billy soon followed, leaving Randy to take up the rear end. And Benji of course.
“You’ve never had a boyfriend?” Benji asked quietly. He didn’t want to draw any attention to himself.
“Excuse me?”
“Well,” Benji began as if he were speaking to a little girl, “If you would have had a boyfriend, you would be used to physical touch by now. So, have you never been touched by a man? My image of you wouldn’t be ruined, I promise you.” Even in his head, this sounded cruel, but she had been cruel first.
Randy rolled her green eyes at him and walked faster, “Why are you so intrigued by my sex life Benjamin?” They had made it to the car and once she hopped in, Benji quickly followed her.
“Or lack there of.” Benji whispered in her ear. If he was looking for a reaction, he wouldn’t get one. Randy started talking to Paul about the golf course, acting as if she had never heard him. Benji inwardly cursed and resigned to talking with Joel about there Christmas presents for their mother.
Little did Benji know that his words had actually cut a gaping hole in Randy’s armor. He had found her only real weakness; her sore spot.
Her love life.
***
“OH GOD!” Benji shrieked as Randy took a corner at 25 miles an hour. Not so bad really…if they weren’t in a golf cart. Benji had almost spilled out of the cart five times. Randy had laughed at each girly shriek he gave.
“Shut up Miss Daisy!” Randy quipped as she screeched to a halt. Benji got out of the cart, shaking with a mixture of nausea and fury. The other rider being Chris, hopped out laughing and grabbed his clubs. Watching those two was like watching a comedy show. Things were so funny and biting, Chris couldn’t help but laugh. He took off after Joel, Paul and Billy as Benji turned his blazing brown eyes on Randy’s cool smug green ones.
“You are the worst driver in the world. Do you realize that you almost tossed me out five times???” He breathed harshly.
Randy hopped out of the cart and pushed the keys down in her pockets that were situated on her beefy hips. She smiled at him and replied, “Well, almost doesn’t count Daisy. And considering that my goal was to dump you, then I can’t be so bad of a driver now can I? Come Miss Daisy.” She walked down to the green and Benji found himself wanting to put his five iron into her skull. But restrained.
After nine holes of golf, they decided to call it quits. Randy hummed to herself as she gave back the keys to the golf cart. She kicked at the loose dirt as she walked back, still humming her favorite song. She shoved her hands down in her pockets and started to sing out loud.
“Well, I guess I shoulda listened, when you said you had enough, little trick I picked up from my father, in one ear and out the other, why’s love gotta be so tough?” Her voice had barely been above a whisper, but the one person that she didn’t want hearing her, heard.
“You never answered me.” Benji said as he walked along side her.
“You’re right.”
“Well?”
“Guess you’ll never know.” Randy said as she got into the car. She suddenly felt tired. Benji had been chinking away at her armor, and finally found something that she didn’t have a real good defense against. She prayed he would drop the subject.
“Then I take it that you haven’t had one?” Benji said as he fastened his seatbelt.
Randy tried to jump into another conversation, but everyone was already immersed in one. She sighed and looked over at Benji. For a moment, she faltered. Something was in his eyes, something that resembled honest curiosity and compassion. It was gone with a blink. Randy steeled herself for him and replied, “If it will shut you up, yeah, I’ve had a boyfriend. There you go.”
With that, she folded her arms over her face and leaned back in her seat. She was annoyed by the warmth that Benji’s body let off. She hated being this close to him, it unsettled her. She knew that he was still staring at her with those brown eyes that seemed to now tear away at the shield that she had built up over the last year and a half. When would this car ride end?
Ten minutes later, Randy was out of the car, bidding farewell to the band mates. “Thanks for taking me with you, it was fun to watch how white you all are.”
“You’re just as white sweetheart!” Paul replied with a wink.
“See you later Randy!” Joel called as he trotted off to the venue. All of them soon followed…except for Benji. He stood there smiling at her smugly and Randy found herself on the verge of yelling at him. She had never yelled at someone her own age because she thought that it was only something one did with children (I.e. Manda).
“What Benji?”
Benji shook his head, “Nothing. Nothing at all…” He laughed at her and strolled off to the venue.
Randy was looking forward to unwinding with Strider and Ophelia. They always had a way of releasing all of her tension. But moments before she could enter her bus, Stan appeared.
“Oh, I’m so glad I found you! We’ve had a snafu with some of the wiring. We need you to hang around during the concert and make sure it doesn’t fizz out on us.”
‘God must hate me.’ Randy thought dryly. She smiled at Stan and replied, “Alright, but never say the words ‘snafu’ and ‘fizz’ around me again. If you do, I might have to kick you in the head.”
Stan laughed, “Dually noted. Now lets get a move on! The show starts soon.”
They both hurried into the venue and both worked hard at what they were doing. The show went off without a hitch. Randy had been quick to work out any problem that surfaced with the wiring and the fans weren’t aware of anything wrong at all. She took great pride in that. After the show, she decided to stick around and help the crew load up all the speakers and system gear. It helped to clear her head. She was happy for this diversion and she got to know the people that she worked with. Good plus for her.
But the biggest minus of the day came when she went out to her bus…or where it used to be. The bus was gone. She couldn’t believe it. Where had Stan gone? Where were her kitties and her books? She was bewildered to say the least.
She heard approaching footsteps and came face to face with Joel. She went to him and asked, trying to keep the fanaticism out of her voice, “Where’s Stan?”
“He had to get going to the next show. There were some problems with the owner of the next venue. He had to get there to work it out.”
Randy threw her hands to the sky, “What the hell am I supposed to do? Remember? I sleep on that bus too! God must really hate me…”
Joel threw up his hands, “Whoa, whoa! Stop freaking out! We have an extra bunk on our bus. You can sleep there or the couch. Things are all good. Don’t worry about it. Come, we’ll get you some blankets and pillows.”
“One problem Joel, I have no sleep clothes! I have zilch! All my things were on that bus!”
Joel smiled, “No problem, you can just borrow some of our things to sleep in.”
Randy blinked at him and looked down at his small frame and her…not so small frame. She laughed mockingly, “Ha, ha! Good one Joel, but you seem to forget that I’m a big girl…MUCH bigger than you little boy.”
Joel scrunched up his eyebrows and looked down at his body. “Hey, I’m not little! Well, if you can’t sleep in our stuff than you’ll just have to make due. Can you sleep in those clothes?”
“With a bottle of nightquil, yeah.” Randy noticed the other band mates coming up.
“Good then, it’s settled.” Joel turned to the other guys, “Tonight, Randy is sleeping on our bus!”
There were a lot of cheers from the other guys, but they all faded away from Randy’s ears. The only thing she noticed was the dark look on Benji’s face. There was a mixture of brooding and mischief there. Randy didn’t like it at all.
Soon, she realized that she and Benji were the only ones not on the bus. She turned to go inside, when Benji raced ahead of her. He turned to her and casually said, “Tonight will be interesting. Have a good night Randy.” He scowled at her and stomped into the bus.
Once again (little did she know but Benji was thinking something along the same lines) Randy said, “God must really, really, REALLY hate me.”
***
But God didn’t hate them. God had a plan. He saw below all the facades. He looked past the armor, the bullshit, the insults, and scowls, and the anger. He saw what lay stripped beneath all of the layers of camouflage.
He saw a connection. He saw two souls that knew deep down that they didn’t really hate each other. He saw the fright in the both of them. Randy and Benji were afraid of getting past the layers. They were afraid of what would happen if they got past all the things that they put up between another almost immediately after they met one another. Deep down, they knew that there was a ‘could be’ tale between them. And they were both frightened of each other. Frightened because they had never met someone who was so much like them, so much on the same level of thought. Frightened that if they ever got past the layers, there would be no turning back.
And God saw that. And he knew that they were right. Once they got down to the nitty gritty of things between them, there would be no turning back.
It could go either way. God knew which way the relationship would go, but he would let them play it out if they must.
And of course, they must.