Chapter 7: Not So Much Surprises

**STACEY'S POV**

Dani was already in the house and being attacked by Tre. I laughed at them and immediately stopped when my eyes landed on Mike. He was sitting there sipping on a beer.

I almost started hyperventilating. ~Oh there he is. What do I say? WHAT?~

All I could do was stare at him. Derek who was following me ran into my back.

He laughed at me quietly.

"You know Stace, you can move and then you'll be closer to him." he whispered to me. About that time Mike noticed that I was there. I watched him as Dani walked over and sat down talking to Tre.

I looked around the house was as huge as it looked, but what caught my eye was the piano against the wall opposite the fire place. I turned to find Billie still behind me.

"Billie, would it be okay if I played your piano? It helps calm me and I'm nervous as hell." I asked blushing a little at my confession. He laughed softly.

"Yeah sure," quietly he added, "we wouldn't want you tripping again." This only made me blush more. Proceeding to make him laugh out loud. I silently made my way over to the piano and ran my fingers over the keys. (a/n: I actually have no idea how to play piano, lol.) I put all my things down and sat on the bench. I fingered a few keys before I began to playing . I played 'good riddance'. It had taken me awhile but I taught myself on piano and my guitar. (a/n: I don't know for sure if you can do that. Just guessing.) I didn't even notice that everyone had stopped talking and were listening to me play. I was completely lost in my own world.

As I hit the last note I heard clapping. I turned around surprised and blushed with embarrassment but I felt better. I was no longer nervous. Dani came up to me then and whispered.

"Come with me. I have to use the bathroom and we have got to talk." She grabbed my sleeve and practically dragged me after her.

"Why did I have to come with you? What is so important?" I asked as she continued dragging me. "You can stop pulling me now, I'm following."

"You were great. Mike….." DanI turned into a room. "Oh, God!" I heard her say. I looked past her and saw a mini Billie Joe. He was so cute.

"Who are you?" I think it was Joey asked shyly. ~Oh, he's gonna get the girls.~

"Well, I'm Stacey and the quiet one here is Danielle, we didn't mean to barge in. We were looking for the bathroom and go a little bit lost." I felt foolish. I even use hand movement showing how lost we were.

"Oh, well the bathroom is the next door over." He actually sounded a little disappointed that we weren't there to see him. Just like his dad.

We went into the bathroom which in itself was huge.

"Anyway DanI, what were you saying about Mike." I asked extremely curious.

"Oh, I was just saying that you were great and Mike couldn't take his eyes off of you while you played. I don't think he even blinked. It was so cute. He is so taken with you." Dani washed her hands and we left the bathroom.

"Really? He didn't take his eyes off of me?" I didn't really believe her until we got back downstairs and Mike's eyes followed me everywhere.

**MIKE'S POV**

I couldn't take my eyes off of her. She was just so gorgeous. I could tell when she first walked in that she was nervous. Don't ask me how. I curious when she went the piano, but when she began to play I couldn't pay attention to anything else.

I could feel eyes on me but I didn't move. I had never heard anyone play 'Good Riddance' on the piano, it was always on the guitar. I have to admit that it was beautiful.

She looked surprised when we all clapped. Then she blushed.

DanI ran over to her almost immediately preventing me from talking to her. She dragged her off somewhere.

I wonder who was watching me?

Everyone else decided to go downstairs to the basement and play around. I wanted to stay up with Adie for a few minutes but she shooed me away quickly when she heard the girls coming.

**STACEY'S POV**

"Really he couldn't take his eyes off of you. When have I ever lied to you." I looked at her with one eyebrow raised. "Now that was a rhetorical question Stace." I rolled my eyes at her and almost ran into a pretty woman with dreads.

"Jesus, I'm so sorry." I apologized not really thinking about who this lady was . She just laughed at me.

"You must be Adrienne?" DanI asked

"You can call me Adie." She smiled at us and stuck out her hand. I accepted and shook it.

"Where is everybody?" I asked.

"They all went down to the basement to practice. I had to chase Mike down there. He was gonna wait up here for you." She replied looking directly at me. This just made me smile.

"Yeah I think we startled Joey. We went in his room first accidentally." DanI said laughing. Adie soon joined.

"I'm pretty sure you made his day. Two pretty girls walking into his room. He'll love it."

"Mike and Tre have done nothing but rave about you two. So you better hurry up and get downstairs. Its just right through there." She said pointing to the door next to the couch.

I went through the door first and pretty soon I could hear the sounds of everyone talking, laughing and a few playing instrument. I entered the room and was almost tackled by Tre on his way to DanI. I frowned.

~What am I invisible to that guy or what?~ I shook my head an looked at the room in all its glory.

"Finally, I've been waiting forever." I heard Tre exclaim. We all looked at him. "I mean we've been waiting forever." He even blushed which is a little weird. He's done worse stuff than that on television and he blushes now. Huh?

Billie spoke before I could contemplate on this anymore.

"Okay here's what you're gonna do. Since you guys have obviously known each other for a long time. We want you to play us a song so we can see where everyone is at."

I just looked at him before picking up my electric guitar and putting everything together. I was the only one of us beside the guys of Green Day that were moving.

"Now." Billie commanded. I had to stifle a laugh as everyone ran to their respective instruments. Megan coughed.

"Ummmm….what song do you want us to play?" I asked quietly. I think that this was the first time I had talked to the guys collectively. Mike smiled.

"Well it can be any song……of ours that you want to play." Mike declared looking at me. I was really glad at that moment that I didn't have to sing. I mean I already showed them that I could play the piano just fine. So showing them I could play my electric was no problem.

We all decided that Megan would sing 'Minority'. I knew that this was going to be good. It was Megs favorite song and I knew how to play it since she made me play it so much.

After the music ended the guys began clapping. They actually thought it was amazing.

~YAY! I'm amazing. I mean we're amazing. Wait no one can hear me. I'm such an idiot.~ I thought.

Billie came over to me and compliment me on my playing. For once I didn't blush at the comment. I forgot that Derek would be the one getting advice from Mike and not me. I was disappointed but it didn't last too long. I mean its still Billie Joe Armstrong who wouldn't want advice from that man.

After awhile my stomach growled loudly. I looked up at Billie.

"I think my stomach is trying to tell me something." I laughed a the look on Billie's face.

Billie laughed realizing what I had said. We both got up and packed away my stuff.

"Thanks for the tips I will definitely be using those. I never thought we would be doing this." I stopped to think of what I was going to say next. I was talking more than ever. Billie made me comfortable. I was worried before that I would feel ignorant around him but he was more than willing to give advice.

"Doing what?" Billie asked genuinely curious. It was cute the look on his face. It was thoughtful.

"Oh, being here. Meeting our idols. Ya know. Never thought." I smiled and looked over to Derek and Mike still talking quietly. Mike was showing Derek a few cords. Billie watched me. I could feel his eyes on me.

"He really likes you. You should you know actually talk to him. I think he would really enjoy it." I blushed knowing that I had been caught.

"Is it that obvious that I like him?" I asked Billie seriously. He smiled mischievously making me a little suspicious.

"No, but I just got you to admit it." Billie danced away from me as I tried to hit him. This caught the attention of Mike.

"You're an ass you know that. That wasn't cool at all." I laughed as he stuck his tongue out at me. I just shrugged.

"Well, its out now. What are you going to do about it?" He asked me. That's the time that Mike decided to come over.

"What are we gonna do about what?" Billie looked at me expectantly. I rolled my eyes.

"Nothing, Billie's an idiot and he'll probably end up telling you later anyway. But right now I'm hungry." As if to emphasize this my stomach growled. Causing the two guys to laugh. "See told you. Hey does anyone have some gum?"

Derek looked up. "What you're dumb?"

"No you dumb, dumb me want gum, gum." Megan heard this exchange and burst out laughing causing Derek to blush. Billie and Mike both laughed at the two of us. All I could do was smile and bow.

"Thank you, Thank you. I'll be here all week." I walked over to Derek getting a piece of gum from him.

**MIKE'S POV**

I watched Stace walk over to Derek still laughing. Once she got comfortable her personality began to shine through. Billie caught my attention.

"She like you too man." He smiled at me nodding toward Stacey.

"What? How do you know?" I thought maybe he was picking on me.

"She told me. Well, actually I kind of tricked her but she told me. She's just shy. Once she gets over that you can't get her to shut up." I laughed at his statement realizing that she must be comfortable enough around him to talk freely. No matter who was around. I wonder how long it would be until she would talk to me like that.

Billie headed towards the door. Derek and Megan had already gone upstairs. I followed Stacey only to stop having to yell at Dani and Tre.

"Hey lovebirds, let's go. We're going out to eat." I continued upstairs where everyone was waiting and stood next to Stacey. As I stopped next to her she leaned over to me.

"Who's that girl?" She pointed to a girl about 16 years old. I shrugged.

"Must be a new babysitter." She nodded at my answer. I felt great. She talked to me.

"Oh okay. Just wonderin'." She looked up at me and smiled. A few minutes later DanI and Tre joined us.

We all decided on a restaurant and headed out. Dani, Tre and Stacey decided that they were going to ride with me while the others went with Billie and Adrienne.

When we got to the restaurant we lucked out they had one table that would fit 8 people. We all ordered our food and drinks and we just sat and talked while we waited. I sat down next to Stacey hoping to talk to her. My luck stayed with me.

She looked over and smiled. She looked away quickly as DanI hit her getting her attention whispering something in her ear and making her blush. She stuck out her tongue at her making her laugh. I noticed then that she had a tongue ring. She then turned her attention back to me.

"You know I never got to say hi to you. I was so disappointed." She smiled again. I hoped she would keep smiling.

"Yea, DanI kinda stole you away. I was going to talk to you when finished playing the piano, which was beautiful by the way, but I didn't get too." I quit before I rambled.

"Thanks, that was actually the first time I've played the whole thing. Usually I just play it in parts." she took a sip of her drink. "Ummmm…. I……you have a daughter right?"

I was a little surprised. None of the girls we usually met asked about our children. None ever cared.

"I mean if you don't want to talk about her its cool……I realize…." I had to stop her there.

"It's okay, not a lot of people ask so I was just surprised. But yes, I do have a daughter." I replied. I sat up a little and leaned over getting my wallet out of my back pocket. "Here's a picture of her." I handed her the picture so she could look at it better.

"Oh, Mike she's so beautiful. How old is she?" Stacey handed me back the picture.

"She's 11 years old. Just turned actually in April." I replied as Stacey just looked at me.

"Her names Estelle right? Dani is always online and looked it up and told me everything but I want to hear it from you. She's your little girl." Stacey explained.

"Well you guys are fans its expected but yes it is Estelle." By now our food had arrived and we all began eating. We soon finished eating and the restaurant was beginning to close.

The bill came around and Billie paid for Derek, Megan and DanI while I made sure I paid for Stacey. We all went outside and talked a little more.

"Thanks for paying for me Mike. I noticed. Thanks." Stacey blushed. I wonder if she wanted this to be a first date but I didn't ask. I didn't want to freak her out. I just got her to talk to me.

We all went to pile back in the cars. I unlocked the door but not before hearing DanI talking to Stacey.

"Why don't you sit up front Stace. Mike don't bite." She had a smile on her face but it vanished with Tre's next comment.

"Yeah, much." DanI just smacked him.

"Thanks, Tre now she'll never sit up there willingly. She's very gullible." I noticed that Stacey rolled her eyes at the two of them and jumped in the front seat. DanI smiled at Tre.

Dani and Tre were in their own little world in the back seat so I took the opportunity to talk to Stacey again.

"How old are you? I know that you should never ask a girl that question. It's rude, but I'm curious." I took a chance and looked at her. She didn't look offended.

"I'm 28. Quite an age difference from DanI and them. Five years I believe. But I believe that age ain't nothin' but a number." She smiled at me. I laughed quietly.

"Too true." I replied. Suddenly I felt fingers on my arm. I flinched a little.

"Sorry I was just looking at your tattoos. I didn't mean to startle you." She blushed lightly.

"Do you have any tattoos?" I asked keeping her on the topic.

"Yeah actually." She put her foot up on the dashboard and pulled up her pant leg showing me a tattoo on her ankle. "Its the astrological sign Scorpio. I also have a tattoo on my right shoulder of angel wings, and I have a heart on my hip. That's it."

"Are you going to get more?"

"Yeah I'm wanting to get one on my hand right here." She lifted her left hand and pointed to a spot. "I want it to be a small red heart with an arrow through it. I also want to get one here and here." She pointed to both of her wrists. I noticed a scar on one of them when I glanced down.

About this time we pulled up at Billie's house. I didn't want to end the night but it had to end sometime.

"Well….." Stacey began as she got out. She walked over to my side of the car and met me as I got out. "I had fun and it was really great getting to know you, Mike." With that she gave me a hug, but what surprised me next was that she gave me a kiss on the cheek. It sent shocks through my system. I hadn't felt those kind of shocks in a long time. From the look on her face when she pulled away she felt them too.

"Night Mike." She said as she began to pull away.

"Wait, here." I gave her a napkin with my number on it. "Call me." I watched her walk over to Billie and Adrienne giving them both hug but no kisses. She went to Tre and gave him a hug. He decided it would be funny to grab her ass. She smacked him and laughed calling him an idiot. She turned and walked back to Derek's car and got in the backseat.

Soon they pulled out and were gone.

A few minutes later my phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Night Mike."

I then recognized it to be Stacey. I couldn't help but smile. "Night Stacey."

I couldn't wait to talk to her again.