FicWad

"All I can see is a fish-eye view of some skin and a faux-hawk!!"

Rolling my eyes, I pushed Kerri aside to open the door. Joel Madden, my cousin and (nearly) renowned lead vocalist of Good Charlotte, stood at the door holding a duffle bag.
"Hey." He smiled and pulled me into a hug. After breaking, I returned the smile and moved aside, allowing him entry. Closing the door behind him, Kerri muttered, "Just a bit too much rock star eyeliner, huh?"
"Yeah, I guess," I said, not agreeing or disagreeing, thinking idly: Grandma's church would have had our heads if he and Benji would have walked between the pews sporting their eyeliner and tattoos.
"How's life been treating you?" Joel asked, after being introduced to Kerri and Will. He sat down at the dining room table and crossed his legs.
"Like shit," I replied, propping up against the fridge. "I quit at the cafe, 'cause of how I was being treated, and the whole Grandma thing happened..."
He inquired a bit about Mojo Jojo's for a few minutes, then made sure I didnt have any trouble moving into Will and Kerri's apartment.
"Where are the boys?" I asked after a few minutes' silence.
"They stopped for something to drink," he said, "then they'lll be directly over."
"Is Paul with-" I began, but I got cut short.
"Yes, Paul is with us, don't worry," he said, smirking slightly.
I felt my face burn bright red. Back in Waldorf, we were inseperable... then I got whisked away to New York City.
"We've heard a lot about this 'Paul' person," Will murmured, to no one in particular. He never took his eyes off the evening newspaper.
Joel raised an eyebrow. "Figured you'd forget what he looks like after five years of being hundreds of miled away."

'What about Aaron?'
I was choking on my tears, facing Paul, Joel, and Benji.
'An, nothing will change until you tell us what's going on,' Paul whispered, holding my hand.
'He's a...' I began. 'He sleeps around and curses me... he's even hit me... and--'

"An?"
I came back to my senses and snapped my eyes to Joel.
"I'm going outside to wait on the guys. Wanna come with me?"
I shrugged and followed him outside and down the elevator. Once outside, he aked,
"What were you thinking about just then?"
"Nothing."
He gave me a speculating look, then turned back to waitch the road. We were silent until a blue Corvette pulled up.
"Hey kid!" a voice said from behind, pulling me into a bear hug.
"Let me go-- lemme go-- can't breathe-"
Benji and Billy looked on. Billy waved at me, smiling sheepishly; his cheeks were a faint pink. I returned the smile, although I was gasping for air.
Paul dropped me, then walked around to face me. "How are you?"
"Nearly asthmatic," I gasped, catching my breath. He smiled, put an arm around my shoulders, and walked in with me.

"For such a klutz, your friend cooks well."
It was dark outside. Paul and I were out on the balcony, drinking Coke and talking quietly.
"How're things in Waldorf?"
Paul shrugged. "Quiet. Lifeless. We've missed you."
I began to blush. Thank God he couldnt see it...
"Hmm. My room still there?"
"Yeah."
I didn't reply; my thoughts sped back to high school days spent at Joel's house. We spent so much time in that room, playing video games, talking, hanging out, doing anything. Some of our greatest-- and darkest-- memories were in the Madden's guest bedroom.
"So... had any boyfriends? Any asses I need to kick?"
I shook my head. "Not since I moved here."
He nodded silently, knowing I was referring to Aaron.
"Well," he yawned, "I think I'm gonna go to sleep."
"Where?"
He laughed. "Your bed, duhh."
"And where will I sleep?"
"I'm a little rough, but no one will hear us." He laughed more, and smiled, then said, "I'm joking, I'll make a bed in the floor."
"Next to mine, I assume."
He shrugged cutely. "Sure."
As he walked in, I couldn't help but smile. He hadn't changed one bit.