A Thousand Times Before
Chapter 8
By: Nicole
(Billy's POV)
Joel searched the hotel room for something to eat. "Jeez, I'm about to starve and all they brought up was crackers and wine?! What the hell.." He huffed, flopping down in a chair by the bar.
I shook my head. "Poor poor Joel, all hungry and nothing to eat. Well we have an in store signing today.. Matter of fact we have three hours to waste."
Nic bounced into the room, making herself comfortable in my lap. "Guess who's coming to see me at your signing today!"
I brushed back a lock of her cherry red streaked hair. "Who?"
She grinned, all too happy. "My band! I can't wait! But they don't know I'm dating the guitarist from Good Charlotte, they think we're meeting to get autographs." She giggled childishly.
Ker plopped down in Joel's lap. "I'm bored."
Joel patted her shoulder. "Well I'm hungry so we're even."
Nic glanced at Ker. "Where's Iris?"
Ker pointed to Benji's room. "In there with him, playing. Benj said he'd take care of her until we went to the in store signing later."
Nic leaned back into my chest. "And where'd Tammy and Tommy?"
Ker shrugged. "They left, said they'd be at the concert tomorrow night."
Paul walked into the kitchen, taking a seat next to Joel. "I'm hungry, anything to eat around here?"
Joel shook his head. "Nah, I already looked."
Benji's door swung open and he came running out, a yapping Iris at his heels. "Ahh! She's chasing me!" He jumped into the chair beside me, sweeping Iris into his arms. "She's a little ball of energy. I don't think she every gets tired!"
I grinned, patting him on the shoulder, and putting on my horrible Australian accent. "Well then mate.."
Benji's cell phone rang, cutting me off mid sentence. He glanced at the name that popped up on the green screen. "I'll be right back." He stood up and dashed to the bathroom with the phone.
I turned my attention to Nic, who was also looking very curious. "Well, that was odd."
She stood up. "Who's hungry?"
Everyone raised their hands.
She tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear, idly playing with her tongue ring. "Okay so.. How about me and Billy go get some veggie pasta? Oh and we'll get regular pasta for you, Paul."
Everyone agreed.
She headed to our room. "I'm gonna get my hoodie, you want your Billy?"
I shrugged. "Sure."
(Nic's POV)
I closed the door to mine and Billy's room behind me. There was a door connecting to a bathroom right across the room. It was cracked open and I could hear a voice from the other side. I slipped over to the door, peering through the crack.
Benji dialed something onto his phone and then placed it to his ear. "Hey baby... what'd you want?... oh really? since when?... what time?... oh.. okay.. well, I'll see you then... I know I know, but still... love you too... bye." He hung the phone up, gripping the edge of the sink and rubbing the back of his neck.
I stepped back from the door, but hit my knee on the dresser in the process. "Shit!"
Benji's head snapped in the direction of the door. "What the.. " He shoved the door open, gulping when he saw me standing there rubbing my knee. "Nic? Where.. where you listening to my conversation?"
I stood upright, wrinkling my nose from the throbbing in my knee. "Yeah, sorry.. I just overheard it by accident.." I grabbed two hoodies out of the closet, since Billy and I actually took the time to hang our clothes up. "Um, sorry, but me and Billy are gonna go get something to eat for everybody soo.. I need to go." I pulled one of the hoodies over my head.
He nodded. "Pick me up some of whatever you guys get."
I nodded, exiting the room and stopping beside Billy, who was waiting at the door. He took the remaining hoodie, pulling it over his head. He took my hand into his and we exited to hotel room. Once we were outside the huge hotel and walking down the streets Billy pulled me closer, wrapping one arm around my waist. "So what too you so long?"
I draped my arm around his thin waist, not much smaller than my own. "I got distracted.. um.. I kinda overheard Benji talking to someone on his cell and.. and it's not the first time I've heard him.."
He stopped abruptly, pulling me to a stop as well. "And why are Benji's phone calls bothering you?"
I cast my gaze to my shoes. Wow, I need to buy a new pair. "Because he's calling the person baby and being really paranoid. He freaked out when he caught me watching him.. I mean.. He's hiding something, or rather someone from us.."
We started walking again, only a short distance, until we reached some Italian restaurant a few blocks away from our hotel. Billy placed the orders, paid for the food, and we started the short walk back to the hotel, each carrying a bag, arms around each other's waists.
We were nearly a block away from the hotel when a girl in designer clothes and pants that looked three sizes too small ran up to us and started freaking out. "Oh my god oh my god! You're Billy from Good Charlotte! Where's Benji!?"
Billy looked horrified. "Uh..uh.."
I laughed and broke into a sprint, pulling Billy with me. We stopped once we were right inside the hotel lobby, both doubled over in a mixture of laughter and trying to catch our breath from the three block sprint. "Did you see her face? It was priceless!" My laughter died down and I straightened myself out.
He straightened himself out, his laughter dwindling to a content sigh. "Ahh, you've experienced you're first teenie bopper my dear child."
We headed to the elevators, managing to catch one after what must've been 10 minutes or more. Billy fished his key out of his pocket, unlocking the door and striking a pose as it swung open. "Food's here!"
Joel came running out of the bathroom, snatching the two bags that we'd been holding. "Fooooood!" He grabbed a random box out of one of the bags, claiming a stool at the bar, and devouring his food rather quickly.
Paul burst through his bedroom door, striking an amusing and very girly pose. "It's peanut butta' jelly time!" He immediately started trying to break dance. "Peanut butta' jelly! peanut butta' jelly! it's peanut butta' jelly time!" He gave up, settling for moon walking across the room to the bags of food, all the while still singing. "Peanut butta' jelly! peanut butta' jelly! peanut butta', peanut butta', peanut butta' jelly time! Awh fuck, it's not peanut butta' jelly, it's pasta!" He huffed, sitting down beside Joel.
Joel looked quite disturbed by Paul's little show and scooted away a little. "Dude? The peanut butter jelly song? What the hell are you smoking?!"
Paul snickered. "Your stash."
Joel went wide eyed. "What! You little fucker!"
Paul stared at Joel for a second. "It was talking to me.. It said 'Paaaul, smoke meeee!' so I smoked it."
I shook my head, a grin teasing at the corners of my mouth. "Billy, I'm gonna go check on Benji okay?"
He nodded, a confused look hidden in his eyes. "Is there something wrong?"
I shook my head. "No, I just wanna ask him about you know.. what I told you about. "
He thought about it for a second, before slapping himself in the forehead. "Ow! Oh well, you mean THAT thing! Okay, have fun." He exited to the kitchen to get his pasta.
I exited the kitchen and slipped into Benji's room quietly, finding him curling up on his bed and snoring softly. I climbed onto the large bed, easily situating myself behind his sleeping form with waking him. I rubbed his arm, nudging his shoulder lightly. "Benj? Wake up.. "
He turned away, burying himself in the once neatly make covers. "Go away Joel.. "
I giggled, crawling over him to his other side. "I'm not Joel! "
He sat up, rubbing his eyes sleepily. "Joel.. Joel, man I told you to.. " He blinked, squinting through the dark room, lit by two dimmed lights on each side of the bed. "No you certainly aren't Joel.. Hmm.. Nic? What are you doing in my room?! "
I glanced down, twisting one of my many rings around my finger. "Well um, I kinda wanted to talk to you about.. earlier. See, that wasn't the first time I'd heard you talking to whoever it was and I.. I know you probably don't trust me, but I was just wondering if there's something you're not telling everyone? Like about a relationship? A kid? Who was it? "
He sighed. "Okay, well I knew this was gonna happen sooner or later, but I figured Joel would figure it out first, guess he's just a little occupied with his own 'personal' life.. "
I leaned over and embraced him in a friendly hug. "I know we didn't start out on the right foot, but you can tell me anything, I'm great at keeping secrets and I'm a good listener.. That is, if you want to tell me. "
He nodded. "Gotta tell somebody sooner or later.. " He took a deep breath. "Well I've been in a relationship with someone for seven months. We're really happy together and I.. I think this person is the right person for me.. "
I smiled. "Well it's good to see you happy, but you need to show it more often Benj! You always mope around like your dog just died. "
He laughed, a smile crawling onto his lips. "Only because I hardly ever see them and when I do we can't really be affectionate."
I cocked my head to the side, completely confused. "Why? "
He put his hand on my shoulder. "Don't freak out okay? "
I nodded, unsure of what he meant.
His hands were shaking, his voice slightly wavering and worried. "I'm gay.. "
I grinned, wrapping my small hands around his hand and removing it from my shoulder. " Whatever makes you happy, it's your life after all. But, who's the mystery guy? "
He was grinning like a fool. " This really sweet guy.. In a band.. And we tour with them a lot. "
I slapped him playfully. "You've got me all curious now! Tell tell tell! "
He glanced around, still unable to subdue his grin. " He's in NFG, but they don't know he's gay either. "
I crossed my arms, pretending to pout. "Benjiiii! "
He laughed. "Okay okay, Steve! "
I squealed, jumping up and pouncing on him and giving him an enthusiastic hug. " Awwwwh! Benj! That's so sweet! "
He was practically glowing with happiness. " If everybody else takes it the way you did then I'm gonna be one happy man! "
I pulled away from him. "Benj, not everyone is accepting as I am.. I grew up around gay people, but I mean, there's people out there who'll accept you for you and then there's the one's who'll try to avoid you because of it. Just don't let that affect anything between you two. "
He nodded, his grin fading. "Hey Nic? Don't tell anybody okay? "
I nodded, pretending to zip my lips closed and throw away the key. "My lips are sealed, well for you secret, but they're very much open for some veggie pasta so let's go eat. "
He nodded and we made our way out of his bedroom and into the kitchen, me sitting down beside Billy and Benji sitting down between Joel and Paul.
Billy lifted my hair, running his hand over my neck and collar bones. I nearly choked on my pasta. "Billy what the hell are you doing?"
He grinned jokingly. "Just checking for cherry pies. "
Benji smirked. "Don't worry Lil' Billy, she's not my type. "
I smiled, nodding in agreement. "Nope nope, not his type. "
Everyone stared at us is confusion, Joel turning his attention to Benji. "You two are keeping something from us. "
I grinned innocently. " My lips are sealed. "