Chapter 1: Tour buses usually have four wheels, not three
"So you're saying, I need to fix that?" Billy looks on blankly.
"That's exactly what I'm telling you, B. Besides, I know how you drive, there could be a hundred things wrong with it that we don't know about yet." The male voice laughs.
The tour bus had last been used on a personal "excursion" that BJC had decided on last minute, much to the chagrin of his manager who hadn't been able to find him and make him keep his schedule obligations. The only thing she was grateful for was the break away from the manic nineteen year old and his eccentric outbursts. Meanwhile, BJC and his lead bassist took to the road, leaving everything and everyone behind for the next two weeks. Less said the better, but a blown out wheel on the bus wasn't the only thing that Billy had destroyed over this trip.
Not saying that the bassist in question, a one Axl Dirnt by name, didn't find any of this amusing, but he was the only semi-sane one between the two of them. Meaning that he was solely responsible for almost everything that Billy managed to break, or that he forgot, or ... god knows what else. Hence the conversation about the blown out tire.
"And I do mean you personally, Baruch. You don't need anyone to know about your little "abandonment of the Cobraheads" do you?" He could see the drama filled headlines now, stuff along the lines of speculation of Billy leaving for good all the way to discovering just what went down in Manhattan Beach over the weekend. Of course the latter was probably worse, and you never knew what crazed fan might murder you just for being within five feet of Billy, much less what they might do about a controversy of that caliber.
"What?! But, you know me! I've never done anything like that in my life, I have people for that. Besides, why trust me when we can just take the old thing out to a real repair shop, that's just asking for trouble." He may be egocentric and gullible, but when Billy's right he's right. He's never touched a tool in his life and probably wouldn't be much help.
Axl turns to the rolling tool cabinet, back to Billy. He wonders who bought that, it wasn't him.
"Yeah yeah, mister 'I don't need anybody but myself'. Don't think I don't know what you write about in those songs of yours. If you can brag so much to other people about how great you are at everything you can certainly handle replacing the tire that you managed to blow out on the way home."
Carjack and lug wrench now in hand he turns back to Billy, and noticing the disappointed look on his face he sighs.
"Look, I'm sorry I brought it up. I know you already apologized for that, and maybe I shouldn't keep harping on it. I do think you really meant it, and you've made up for it after this weekend. But if you want to be able to keep doing things like this you should at least know how to put on a spare." He lifts the wrench and smiles. "What do you say, I'll teach you myself. Fair? You'll learn everything I know."
"Ah- oh okay, fine. But only this one time." Billy tries to put on an annoyed face, but he breaks halfway through taking the wrench from his bassist. A grin forms, and he tugs the wrench, pulling Axl forward with a surprised yelp.
"Come on, Dirnt. Don't act like this trip wasn't at least half your idea." He smirks a little. "We both know Manhattan Beach was your idea."
Axl pushes Billy away by the chest, although smiling. "Uh-huh, you're not getting out of this, Cobra. Since you want to go to last name territory, maybe I should take back what I said." He teases, almost laughing. Billy tugs him back by the arm. "You know you love me."
Axl pokes his side, making him release the bassist immediately. Now a real annoyed expression on Billy's face.
"Hardly, you're such a reckless egomaniac. Keep it in your pants." Axl retorts.
With a huff Billy turns to the tour bus sitting on the opposite side of the garage.
"That's not what you told me last Saturday."
"Don't test me Baruch!"
Axl never did trust Billy's tour bus driver, especially not after he taught him some less than safe driving tactics. (He secretly suspected he was trying to get him killed, he couldn't blame the guy, Billy was a handful) But it made more sense to take the driving upon himself after that.
"I will never understand what you saw in that guy. Sure, he was good security, but I thought after he let those groupies on the bus you surely would've let him go."
Axl sighed as he was propped under the oversized vehicle retrieving the spare tire from the spare well beneath it. Billy was stood above him, making sure the jack wouldn't suddenly decide to let loose and crush his partner in crime.
"Broceus, you can't seriously tell me that you didn't think he was somewhat cool. Don't you remember those tattoo sleeves! I've never wanted anything more after I saw those!"
The bassist laughs. "Sure, but you never did get any. And even then don't you think I have the better tattoos, I can't imagine that being the only reason you kept him around."
"I'm gonna tell you the truth, I mostly kept him around cause I thought it drove you nuts."
The man on the floor stops turning the wrench. He looks up at Billy with a particular look on his face.
..."You tool. You kept him on only because you wanted to make me jealous."
"HAH! I never said that, I said that you were driven crazy about it, not that you were jealous. I guess you really did hate sharing my attention with that guy." Billy breaks into laughter, and the bassist sits flustered and angry.
"Yeah, whatever. You're so easily amused, dickhead." He scoffs and crawls out from under the bus, tire in tow.
As he fastens the tire on Billy walks over, putting his hands on his bassists shoulders.
"Don't be mad, it's cute. Shows that under this tough guy exterior you care. That and you're a massive dork."
"Pfft. Sure."
He finishes, and walks to be back, dropping the carjack.
"Well, that's done. And if you paid any attention you know how to do it, wasn't that hard, right?"
"As much as it hurts, I was wrong. It wasn't that bad." Billy admits. "Anyway, let's get going inside. There's a new room I want to get to show you. Personally."
Axl laughs at this. "Wouldn't want anyone else to show me around. Would we?"
He smirks before following the bratty singer inside. This would be fun for sure.
The room was built to last a lifetime.
