Chapter 1: The meeting

The smoke in the bar stung his bloodshot eyes. *What am I doing here?* he wondered to himself. A soft country song played in the distance. The background music to his pain. His half blond hair was nappy and un-brushed. His clothes were wrinkled and old. A few days ago he had looked like any normal man. Hell, he probably had looked better than any normal man. Now he had reduced himself to looking like a bum on the street, begging for money to but more booze. He stared across the bar as he swallowed the last of his drink and saw his reflection in the mirror.

          *I seem like a reject from a Bruce Springsteen look-alike contest.* He chuckled at the thought.

          Another gin and tonic please.

          * The only escape I find from my agony is getting completely shitfaced.*

          He stared at the counter, eyes welling with tears as he recalled the memories of his beautiful former wife. But now she was gone. Gone to live in Missouri and taking their two boys with her. His thoughts ran rapidly through his mind as he tried to make sense of his whole situation.

          *It isnt fair. All of a sudden she can decide to not love me anymore and walk away. After all these years, why couldnt she have done this before we were this close? She could have saved the eight years of her life that she supposedly wasted. What about Joey and Jakob? Are they going to be fatherless? I dont think I can forgive her for this. I dont think I ever will.*

          The sound of the door opening tore him from his thoughts. He looked over to see a women walking towards him. Her flaming red hair framed her pale face like fire burning on wood. Her big t-shirt and baggy pants showed little of her figure. Her face was perfect with the exception of her eyes. The green color might have been bright with a gleam of mischief at one time, but now they were dull, lifeless, the traces of her pain and sorrow lingering. She sat on the stool next to him and ordered a double shot of Tequila.

          They sat in silent anguish, drowning their sorrows. She snuck small glances at him, hoping she wasnt caught. He felt her eyes on him and he turned to look at her. Knowing she had been seen, she quickly looked away as her face turned the shade of her hair. She looked back at him and smiled softly. Finally she spoke.

          You look familiar. Do I know you?

          He stuck his hand out while saying, Im Billie. Billie Joe.

          She returned his gesture and replied, Im Skye. Skye Madison.

Chapter 2: Meanwhile..

          Tre shivered and zippered his coat as he walked down the block on the same, cold Berkely night. His mind drifted to the small bottle of kerosene and lighter he kept in his pocket.

          *No.* he thought to himself. * I promised Billie and Mike I wouldnt get into anymore trouble before the tour starts. Besides, I can just go home and set my drums on fire again. Its no big deal.*

          But it was a big deal (or so he thought). He had gone through so many drum sets that if he destroyed this one; the record company wouldnt spring for a new one. He h ad the money to buy his own, but his wife threatened to throw him out of the house if he set anything else on fire. Just then, he noticed a cop car on the side of the road. Mischievous thoughts ran through his mind as he grabbed the kerosene and lighter.

          "Im sorry Billie," were the last words he spoke before putting his devious plan in action.

                      Chapter 3: Getting to Know You

          Billie hung up quickly, grabbed his coat, slammed down a $10 and ran out the door to rescue Tre from the mess he had gotten himself into.