Paul walked nervously around his house, looking for his keys. "Where are my friggin' keys?!" he mumbled to himself. He came to the living room and checked under the cushions. No luck. He walked by and saw the keys sitting perfectly in the middle of the coffee table. He quickly picked them up and fumbled with them as he walked outside, shutting the door behind them. He got into his car and put the keys in the ignition. The car soon started up, and he pulled out of the driveway.
As he drove along, his mind drifted to other things rather than the road. He kept telling himself, "I have to be an adult about this. I have to. I'm doing the right thing." But soon enough, he came to his destination. He parked in an empty spot, put his keys in his pocket, and got out of the car. He stood looking up at the apartment building. He took in a deep breath and headed around to the side of the building.
He opened the door and went over to the buzzer. He pressed the numbers to Melissa's apartment, and soon he heard her voice over the speaker.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Melissa. It's Paul. Open up."
"Hey! Okay." A buzzing noise follwed, and Paul opened another door. He was in the lobby now which was surrounded by mirrors. He pressed the up button on the elevator and waited patiently for it to come. A ding indicated it was there, and he stepped inside, pressing the button for the fourth floor. He was alone in the elevator, rocking back and forth on his heels. Again, he thought, "I'm doing the right thing. I have to be adult about this." The elevator jerked to a stop at the fourth floor, and Paul made his way to apartment D6.
"Paul!" Melissa swung open the door after his knock and greeted him with a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Hi, honey. Can we, um, go inside?" Paul asked, uneasy. He bit his lip.
"Sure." Melissa held onto one of his hands and pulled him over to the couch. Both sat down. "What's up?"
"Well.." he began. No, he couldn't just do it so suddenly. "Can I have a cup of coffee? Please?" She giggled.
"Sure. I'll go get it." She bounded out of the living room into the kitchen. Paul repeated the same encouraging words to himself in his head. After a minute, he stood up and headed to the kitchen also. Melissa was still preparing the coffee. She hadn't noticed Paul, so he just leaned up against the doorway, watching her. He smiled, feeling like she was taking care of him in a sense. He liked the feeling. She turned around, done with the coffee, and noticed him there. She smiled and walked up to him, giving him the coffee. He took it in his hand.
"Thanks," he said, smiling still. She got on her tiptoes and kissed him. He was going to miss that kiss.
"Lissa, I have to tell you something." She nodded, her arms around his neck. He placed the coffee on the counter. He eyed the kitchen table, wondering if he should tell her she should sit down first, but he decided against it. He sighed and began. "You know how I'm going on tour right? With the band?"
"Mmhmm." She was still smiling. He bit his lip again.
"Well, we're gonna be gone for five months." She didn't say anything, so he continued. "That's a long time." She still stayed quiet. He eyed the table again. "Here, why don't we sit down?" They both took a seat at the table. The same reassuring words flowed through his head. 'I need to do this,' he thought. Paul started to say something, but stopped. It was too mean. The next thing was too corny. Melissa saw how he was trying to figure out his words.
"Paul. Just spit it out." She looked him right in the eye. He took in a deep breath.
"Okay. Well.." He looked at her. It would be the last time he'd see her smiling. "I think we should take a break." Her smile slowly faded away, and she just stared at him. "While I'm on tour, that is." She kept staring. Her eyes started to water up, and Paul quickly started to talk some more, hoping to save her eyes the tears. "But that's the only reason. Nothing more. I just think it wouldn't be right. I mean, you'd be tied down, I'd be tied down, you know. Understand?" Her eyes were about to overflow. "Oh, don't cry. Please don't cry. Please," he begged. "It's for the best." But she cried. And Paul wasn't good with comforting people.
He walked over to her side of the table, wrapping his arms around her. "I love you," he kept telling her, but it didn't stop her crying. It was the only thing he could say that he was sure of. He wasn't sure of what he was doing right now, and he wasn't sure of how things would end up, but he was sure he loved her, and this wasn't easy for him. But it would just be a break. They'd get back together when touring was over. It'd be all better again.
Just then, she pushed him off her with the only strength she had. He was a little shocked. He heard her say something in almost a whisper. He listened carefully. "How could you?" It was the only words to escape her mouth. He didn't try to hug her again. He stood up.
"I'm sorry." He put his hand in his pocket, fumbled with the keys, and looked at her face. It was all red and wet. "Bye," he said, and he left. He didn't know if he should've just walked out like that, but there was nothing else he could do. He'd call later. But he had to get home and pack right now. A weight had been lifted off his shoulders.. for now.
***
Billy sat at home on his couch, his feet on the coffee table, his guitar in hand. He went through different Good Charlotte songs, going over certain parts over and over. Everything had to be perfect. He was usually putting things off until the end, that lazy type of person. But he had to be on top of things this time. This was serious. And there were lots more fans now. He was playing "Riot Girl" when the phone rang. He cleared his throat and picked it up.
"'Ello?"
"Billayyy!" He smiled. It was Benji.
"Yo, Benj. What's up, dude?"
"Nothing much, nothing much. I was thinking.. we have to leave for the tour soon, and I kind of was wondering if you'd wanna-"
"But I already told you I was gonna-"
"Hold up. I know that you said you were gonna practice and stuff, buttttt.. c'mon. You've got a few more days for that. PLUS rehearsals. Why not just have ONE fun night?" Billy was silent. "You know you want a break."
"Well.. where would we go?"
"I was thinking maybe the strip club and then-"
"Benj!" Benji started cracking up. "Don't you get enough girls already?"
"I'm just kidding, man. But seriously. We should go clubbing or something." Billy considered it for a minute.
"I don't know. I'm not too big a fan of that."
"Eh, so what? Just once? For your buddy 'ole pal, Benji? Pleeeeeease?"
"Alright."
"Really? Get your clubbing clothes on cause we're gonna get DIRRTY!"
***
Billy and Benji stepped into the smalltown club, not dressed too much different as they normally would. Billy looked around, kind of uncomfortable in this kind of environment. Benji's eyes widened, and he immediately fled to the dance floor. Billy went over to the bar.
"I'll have a Coke." He couldn't get wasted tonight. He'd regret it tomorrow. While the bartender was getting his drink, he turned around and tried to spot Benji. The bartender handed him his Coke, and Billy paid for it. He took a sip and tried to spot Benj again. Then, he saw him. He was all over some blonde, skinny girl. Billy turned back around and leaned up against the bar, but didn't sit down. Towards the end of his drink, a girl walked up next to him and ordered a drink.
"I'll have a Michelob Light," she said, looking at the bartender.
"Sorry, we're all out." The girl ordering a drink turned towards Billy. She lightly nudged him with her elbow and nodded. "
Hey, what you got there?" She looked at his drink.
"Oh, ah, a Coke," he answered and blushed a little, embarassed. The girl smiled.
"Sounds good. Coke, please." The bartender then went to get her drink. "So, what's up with you? Why you over here, not getting your freak on?" He laughed to himself.
"I'm not the dancing type. My friend dragged me here. I should be working."
"A workaholic, huh? Ahh, I see how it is."
"Nah, not really."
"Sure." The bartender handed her the Coke. "Thanks," she said as she handed the money over. The DJ then went to the next song, and the girl almost spit out her drink. "Oh my God! I love this song! C'mon!" Before Billy knew it, the girl was pulling him onto the dance floor. She stopped in the middle and wrapped her arms around him.
"No, I can't dance. I can't! No, I'm gonna go back." He made all attempts to go back to the bar area, but somehow just couldn't leave. She was obviously a little bit drunk, high, or had taken some kind of drug. She tried to dirty dance with Billy. He didn't want to push her off, but didn't want to dance either. He looked around for Benji. He spotted him and pleaded with his eyes to have Benji help him, but Benj didn't get the message. He just gave him a thumbs up. As soon as Billy turned around, the girl tried to kiss him.
"What are you doing?!"
"Oh, c'mon, you know you wanna." Her eyes were all droopy.
"No. Sorry." And with that, he walked over to Benji. "I'm leaving," he yelled in his ear.
"Why?!" Billy nodded towards the girl and left.
"I told you I didn't like clubbing!"
"Whatever!" Benji went back to dancing with that same blond girl. Billy shook his head and left. He didn't like the clubbing scene or anything to do with it. Drugs, casual sex, getting wasted. What was the point of it? He liked to get to know people before making out with them like that. He only went to support Benji, but.. oh well. But then again, he told himself everytime that he wouldn't go clubbing with Benji again, but he always went. He made a mental note to stick to his word.
***
He got home and went straight to bed. He was beat. He'd have to get up at a reasonable time tomorrow, so he could pack. And he still had to do more practicing. He made another mental note as he drifted off to sleep that he would only concentrate on his work. Nothing more