A Thousand Times Before
Chapter 6
By: Nicole
(Joel's POV)
"Ker, where's my rubber ducky!?" I poked my head out from behind the shower curtain.
Kerri popped her head into the room from behind the bathroom door. "Rubber ducky? That was yours?" She giggled. "I didn't touch it!" She disappeared back behind the door.
I shut off the water, stepped out of the shower and into the steam, and wrapped a towel around my waist. I dashed from the bathroom to Kerri's room, chill bumps devouring my skin from the rush of cool air.
Kerri was stretched out on the bed on her back, staring at the ceiling. Her head turned in my direction as soon as I closed the door. "Did you find your ducky?"
I faked a sniffle while rumaging through my closet. "Nope, I bet Benj took him." I grabbed a pair of black dickies, a white wifebeater, and a black button up collared shirt, and put them on, buttoning only the top button on the collared shirt. I walked back into the main part of the room and put on a pair of socks and my chucks.
Kerri raised a brow. "Where're you goin'?"
I shot her a sneaky grin. "You'll see in..oh say two weeks." I grabbed my keys off the dresser and left the room. 'Hopefully she'll like it..' I grinned to myself as I exited the hotel room, humming to myself for the short ride down the elevator.
(Nic's POV)
Billy and I had been out shopping all day, treating ourselves to a good time after our little fuss. "Oh oh oh! Nic! Let's go there!" He dragged me to a store in the far back corner of one of the numerous wings like a little kid. He nearly pulled my arm off once he saw a huge life-size poster in the back of the store. "SILVERCHAIR!!!" He bounced onto the picture, attempting to hug it as best he could.
I poked my bottom lip out, wrapped my arms around his small waist from behind and pulling him away from the poster. "Billly! I told you to stop having an affair with Daniel!"
He turns around, wrapping his long slender arms around my sholders, and looking down at me. "Just one more time?" He grinned sheepishly.
I licked my lips, no witty come back crawling into my brain. A soft melody caught my attention, drawing my head in the direction of one of the speakers in the corner. I involentarily began humming along to the song until Billy's voice echoed softly in my head, drawing my attention back to him.
He leaned down, resting his forehead agiant mine, still singing with the song. "Blind the defeaned moon, stimulate the tombs of angels, I'll open my heart, won't fall apart, You're my favourite thing, And I feel like letting go..You're my favourite thing, the one that I love, You're the one so I'd die for your love.."
I smiled, geniunely happy. "I love you.."
"Ahem, can I help you?" A guy with green hair stood behind us, wearing a Silverchair shirt and black bondage pants.
Billy withdrew himself from my embrace, snaking one arm around my waist. "Yeah, uh we want that poster, and..whoa!" He stared at a guitar in a large glass case. It was plain black with white writing on it. " It's.. his guitar! And it's signed! Holy shit, I want that too!"
The guy look at us like we were crazy. "Um sir, that guitar is 900 dollars.."
Billy pulled out his wallet, shuffling through his money. He signed sarcastically. "Damn, whadda' ya know.." He pulled out 900 dollars, smirking sarcastically. "I just so happen to have that much money."
The guy got the guitar out of the glass case, setting it into a guitar case and grabbing one of the life size posters, ringing them up at his cash register. "Alright sir, that'll be 935 dollars."
Billy dug into his wallet, pulling out 35 more dollars and handing it to the guy. He grabbed the guitar case and the poster and we left the store.
(Back to Joel's POV)
I was practically floating through the mall, humming and grinning like a fool, not really paying attention to anything around me, this is, until I hit the ground with a soft thud. "Fuck! Sorry uh.." I pushed myself off the ground to come face to face with none other than..Nic and Billy! "What the hell are you guys doing here?!" I quickly stuffed the small bag I had been carrying into my hoodie.
Nic raised a brow suspiciously. " I'd like to ask you the same thing."
"Uh... um... birthday shopping?" I guess she wasn't satisfied with that because she crossed her arms and did her little 'I'm waiting for the truth' pose. I sighed. "I'm shopping for Ker okay! You caught me jeez!"
Billy laughed. "Oh I see..visited Spencer's did you?"
My cheeks tinted a dark pink color. "No!"
"Whatever man, we're about to leave, you wanna come back with us?" Billy motioned towards the front door of the mall.
I shrugged. "Sure why not.."
So naturally we called a cab and what else? We went back to the hotel to do our thing.
(Back at the hotel, Paul's POV)
'Ring ring! Ring ring!'
I dashed to the phone."Lo'?"
"Paul? This is Steve. Um I hate to do this to you guys, but the venue you guys were supposed to play at had a gas leak and poof! it burnt down..Sooo we're gonna move the last day's concert to Auburn. It's a collage town in Alabama, about two hours south of here, so you guys need to go ahead and hit the road."
I sighed. "Alright, I'll get the others and we'll be leaving in an hour or so."
"Alright, bye!"
I clicked the phone off and stood up just as Joel, Billy, and Nic barged through the front door. "Guys, Steve just called and there's been a small change of plans for tomorrow."
Joel threw his hoodie on the couch. "Lemmie get Benji and Ker first."
I nodded. "Hurry up."
Moments later he returned with the two in tow. Benji looked at me curiously. "So what's the news you guys woke me up for?"
I cleared my throat and took a big breath. "Um well Steve called and they had to move the concert to another venue cause the one we were supposed to play at kinda burnt down so now we've gotta go to Auburn, which is a big collage town in Alabama, and it's about a two hour drive." I spoke in one jumble breath.
Silence. Everybody was confused. I sighed, slightly annoyed.
Nic broke into a huge smile. "Yes!!! Yes yes yes yesss!" She did a funny little dance around the room.
Billy grasped her around the waist, bringing her to a stop. "What are you so happy about?"
"Wellllll, Auburn is right outside my hometown!" She lached herself to Billy in a very excited hug. "That means you guys can see where I grew up!"
(An hour later, on the bus, Billy's POV)
"Niiic!" I chased her through the cramped bus, whining all the while.
She giggled in a very girly matter, causing everyone in the back lounge to burst into laughter and Nic to come to a halt and crawl into my bunk. "Billy!"
I crawled into the small bunk, snaking my arms around her and burying my face into the crook of her neck. "Whaat?" My voice was slightly muffled by her soft skin.
She ran her hand through my hair, sighing happily. "You know Christmas is in two weeks.."
I chuckled, manuvering the two of us, so she was stradling my stomach. I placed my hands on both her cheeks, my thumbs rubbing small circles on her porcelin skin. "I know..And I didn't forget to get you something."
She grinned childishly, leaning down to whisper in my hear. "I love you Billy."
"You..love me?" I really didn't expect that, afterall we'd only spent a week together.
She nodded, that farmilar pink tinting soaking onto her pale cheeks. "I do.. Even if it's only been a week..I love you."
I smile, content within myself. "I love you too, Nic." I reached into my pocket. "Guess I'll have to buy another present for you huh?" I retrieved a small box and placed it in the palm of her hand. "You beat me to the whole 'I love you after a week' thing." I grinned sheepishly.
She smiled, leaning down and burshing her soft lips agianst mine. She opened the small square box, revealing the thin silver band. It wasn't fancy with diamonds or anything, but it was still beautiful with it's flawless celtic design. On the inside it had something engraved in cursive. "Billy..what's that?"
I knew what she was talking about, but I decided to be a smart ass."It's a promise ring silly!" She shot me an evil glare, plafully poking me in the stomach. I laughed. "It says.. Maybe I shouldn't tell you..you should figure it out on your own," I grinned mischeviously.
She poked out her bottom lip, puting in a very childish manner. "Billlly, tell me!"
I shook my head. "No..Figure it out and in a week if you don't get it then I'll tell you."
She sighed, deafeated. "Fine fine.."
She climbed out of the bunk, pulling me with her. "C'mon, I wanna show you something.."
I nodded and followed her to the small closet we each kept one bag in, all the others being in the lower compartments of the bus. She dug around in her bag until she emerged with a shoe box. She grasped my hand with her free hand and led me to the front lounge, everyone else being in the back, and we sat down on the couch. She opened the box and removed a small ring box from within it. She handed the box to me, careful not to disturb it contents. "Here..I've been holding on to this since I was 12.. I never gave it to Matt, but it's a little peice of my heart for you.."
I opened the box, licking my lips. Whatever it was, it meant alot to her. Inside the box there was a silver ring. I removed it from the box and reconized it as a claduagh ring. I simled to myself, knowing the meaning behind it and what wearing it certian ways meant. I slipped it on my left ring finger, wearing it so the heart faced me. "Thank you Nic..I won't take it off."
(AN: For anyone who doesn't know.. a claduagh ring is an Irish thing..it's something friends or lovers exchange to show how much they care. It has two hands holding a heart which is wearing a crown on it. The hands represent friendship, the heart represents love, and the crown represents loyalty.When someone wears it on ther right ring finger with the heart pointing away from them it means they're single. If they wear it on that same finger with the heart pointing towards the it means they're saving themself for someone. If they wear it on their left ring finger with the heart pointing towards them it means they're either married or dating someone, either way they're taken! ^^ Just a little Irish info for all you non-Irish people out there!)
She smiled and wrapped her arms around me in a loving hug. "I have one to match.." She smile taking her's off her right ring finger, heart pointing towards her, and put it on her left ring finger, heart still pointing towards her.
I placed a trail of kissed down her neck and over her collar bone, where her hicky had faded over time. I streched out as much as I could on the couch without knocking her off. "So you were saving yourself for me huh?"
She crawled into my lap, running a chilled hand under the front of my shirt playfully. "Yes, and is that a problem Sir Willian?" She put on her best Irish accent, tickling my stomach in all the right places.
I whimpered and laughed. "Niic, don't do that!"
She grinned evilly. "Stop me then!"
I gasped between laughs, all the while attempting to fight back. I managed to work my hands to her side. She withdrew her hands, curling into a ball and trying to cover her sides despite her endless laughter. It was a beautiful laughter, the kind that makes you want to do whatever you can to keep it going forever. I stopped tickling her, chuckling to myself. "I won."
She stuck her tongue out at me, her tounge ring catching my eye. I moved closer to her, placing one hand under her chin, tilting her head upwards. "Since when did you get a new tounge ring?And what is it?"
She stuck her tounge out agian. It was a black barbell with the 'GC' in old english on it. She grinned. "I got it yesterday, thought you'd like it. Plus my 'fuck you' one was getting kinda boring."
Benji dashed into the front lounge, tumbling ontop of me and Nic. "Biiilly! Joely's being a buttholey and hogging the remote controly!"
Nic burst into a fit of laughter. "Benji, goood good stop with the adding y's to wordys!"
I laughed, smacking Benji on the head. "Dimwit, what do you expect ME to do about it?! Joely could snap me inhalf with his weak pinky!"
Benji laughed at the thought and dragged Nic to the back lounge. "Well them Nic's gonna help me!"
Nic laughed, playfully prying at Benji's hands which were around her waist. "Billy help!"
I jumped off the couch and dashed after the two. "Hey you can't have her! You might kidnap her!"
He froze in his steps and turned to face me. I stopped, realizing what he'd translated from that. "Benj..you know I forgot about that and both of you got my point of veiw straight."
He let go of Nic, eyes cast to the floor. "I..I know..but it..I just..ugh..forget it.." He crawled into his bunk, drawing the curtain shut silently.
Nic wrapped her arms around my waist in an effort to comfort me. "Billy..it's okay, he just hasn't forgotten it yet.."
I sighed, wrapping my arms around her sholders lazily and propping my head atop hers. "I just feel bad now.."
She backed away, grabbing my hand and leading me to my bunk. She crawled in, me following her and the two of us curling up together. Two bodies pressed together, limbs entangled with eachother and her long hair fanned out messily on our pillows. "It'll be another hour before we get there..so I figure you need a nap to clear your mind.."
I tucked a lock of cherry red hair behind her ear, running my thumb over her jawline and placing a breif kiss on her forehead. "Don't ever leave me Nic.."
She smiled lovingly, one of genuine smiles full of care and bursting with love. "As long as you don't leave me I'm not going anywhere."
I drifted off to sleep within minutes, all the while watching her deep brown eyes. I'm guessing she went to sleep soon after because she was still sleeping when I woke up an hour later.
"Niiic, wake up.." I shook her sholder gently.
She started mumbling, pawing at my hands. "Nuu..mummy, I dun wanna go to ballet ta-day.."
I laughed, leaning down and covering her exposed stomach in kisses, mummbling between each kiss. Somehow during our nap she'd moved around so much her shirt was halfway up her stomach. "Nic..baby..wake..up..we're..here."
She wiggled under my touch, giggling like a little girl. "Biiiilly!" She pouted, her eyes fluttering open and arms winding around my neck, pulling my head level with hers.
I grinned. "Well atleast your awake now."
She sighed. "I'm hungry."
"Me too. Everybody else is outside..I think we stopped at a resturant or something, but I know we're near the venue." I crawled off the couch, pulling her up with me.
She ran her hands throgh her brown and red hair, trying to make it loook somewhat decent. "Well then..Let's go!"
I wrapped one arm around her waist, leading her out of the bus and into the large resturant.. Golden Corale? What the fuck is that? I sighed, slightly agitated at the fact I had no idea what this place served..
"God, not this place..Ugh all they have is salads and potatoes for us." She sighed, annoyance coating her emotions. She led me into the resturant, being more so farmiliar than I am with this town. She ignored the man asking what we wanted to drink and led me straight to the lady at the cash register.
The lady looked up from her peice of paper infront of her, one of those god forsaken fake smiles on her face. "Are you lost?"
Nic smirked,nodding to the door with 'Reservation Passes Needed', written in that annoying silver cursive writing, on it. "I need you to go in there and tell them Billy and Nic are here."
She looked at Nic suspiciously. "I'll need to see your reservation card miss."
Nic sighed in frustration, motioning for me to lean down. I did so and she started whispering in my ear. "Just break into a mad dash and bust through the door."
I went wide eyed. Was she crazy?! "Nic, thats crazy, they'll arrest us or something!" I tried to put a strain on 'something', but failed to do so due to the fact we were whispering.
She laughed quietly. "I know how this place works, we aren't getting in any other way!"
I nodded and laughed, catching an odd look from the lady at the register. Nic grabbed my hand, the two of us breaking into a mad dash, which I'm sure looked quite hilarious to the onlookers, and bursting through the door which must have been a good 300 feet from the register. We came to a sudden halt, laughing like mad.
Joel spat his cereal on Paul, catching the whole scene out of the window in the door. Paul started yelling at Joel, whom was doubled over and laughing hysterically from oth what he'd saw and the milk and cheerio covered Paul.
Benji raised a brow curiously as atleast four security guards came into the room. "Glad you could join us. And why the hell are there security guards following you two?"
Nic sat down beside Joel, whom had stopped his laughing fit and was quietly playing with the salt shakers, and I sat on her other side.
Nic grinned innocently. "Because the security here is a bitch! Would you believe they woudn't let me and Billy here in without a damn pass? And they wouldn't even come ask if we were with you guys!"
Ker laughed. "Leave it to the southerner's to have tight security in a run second rate resturant!"
Steve, their manager, had explained everything to the security guards and ushered them out at this point. He plopped down in his seat. "You guys ready for tonight?"
Benji cheered, almost too happy, throwing a fist in the air. "We're gonna put on the BEST concert ever!"
Silence.
Benji lowered his hand silently. Everyone burst into laughter, Joel raising his cup a little before taking a sip and sitting it back on the table. "Try not to be so happy next time Bro!"
Joel grabbed two untouched salads off the tray beside him. "This place doesn't have much soo I got you guys a salad." He set them infront of me and Nic.
"Thanks Joel, I was about to starve!" I grinned, digging into my salad.
Nic nodded, taking a more slower approach at her salad. "Yeah...Thanks."
Ten minutes later we were all back on the bus and three miles from the venue.
(Nic's POV)
I had crawled into Billy's bunk, planning on chillin' with some music until the guys had to do their soundcheck. I was about to put my headphone on when I head a varitey of toned beeps and a hushed voice. Being the curious girl I am, I pulled back the curtian on Billy's bunk to see Benji facing the back of his bunk and talking to the wall. Wait, no i see a cell phone. Hmm..this is intresting. I pulled the curtian closed, leaning close to it to hear Benji's side of the hushed conversation..
"..But...okay okay...next week?...but baby.." 'Whoa since when did Benji refer to anyone as baby?' "..I understand that but..please?...you promise?...whoa whoa, does he know?..okay well Joel's calling for me so I better go..love you too..bye.." I heard a beep, guessing he had turned the phone off, followed by a ruffle of cloth and silence. Well..that was intresting!
I shrugged, turned on my cd player, slipped on my headphones and settled into Billy's warm bed, instantly meeting the sweet smell of his colonge lingering on the cloth.