Chapter 3: Driving me crazy!

"Good news! I got a hold of Noel and she agreed to meet up with you guys whenever your schedule permits!" Jost's voice was more cheerful than it had been over the past few days.

"That is good news." Bill replied into the receiver of his hands-free headset that he wore while driving. Safety first!

"There is bad news though."

"Aw, why didn't you tell me the bad news first? I hate hearing the good news before the bad, because the bad news ruins the goodness of the good!"

"Bill, please be quiet before I hang up."

"Ok, what is the bad news?"

"The bad news is you guys can't start working on any projects right away. She just had her wisdom teeth pulled yesterday, and it will be about a week before she can even start to get back into the swing of things."

"Aw, that poor thing, I bet it hurt really badly. Well call her agent and set up-''

"Bill, she doesn't have an agent."

"Fine, then call her publicist-''

"Not that either."

"Then call her representative or manager or dentist or whoever you spoke to the first time!" Bill was shouting in his car and gripping the steering wheel from annoyance.

"Bill, first, I am her kin, I have her personal number. Second, she doesn't have any of that, she handles her own affairs. You might do well to take a page out of her book and do the same. YOU call her and set up your own appointment." said Sir Smug-Pants.

Bill was stunned, "Jost, don't be ridiculous. I don't even know this girl. And you are my manager. You manage things like this."

"Exactly, I am your manager, and I am managing things, way too many things to be making a hundred phone calls all over the world. You just don't want to talk to her because she is a girl, and you simply need to quit being so shy. You will thank me for this."

"Jost, I swear, if this is getting me back for snapping at you yesterday, I'll-'' Bill didn't finish because the line went dead. "That evil bastard!" he cursed and banged his fist on the steering wheel. His phone lit up with a text message. It was from Jost and it contained Noel's phone number… with a winky-face. I could kill that sorry S.O.B. I bet he is laughing it up right now..

When he came to a stop light, Bill typed the digits into his phone and hesitated before he hit dial. Come on, it's only a girl, not a scary closet monster. The light turned green, so he pushed the dial button and the phone began ringing. It was an American area code, so she was probably in the states somewhere. Bill wondered about the time difference and hoped that maybe it was her bed time where she was at.

"Hello?" A muffled voice spoke into the phone

No such luck, "Hi, i-is this Noel?"

"No, this is Kelly's massage parlor, this is Kelly speaking, and how can I help you?"

"OH! Thank goodness, I have the wrong number."

"HA! No, you don't, I was kidding. This is Noel, who is this?"

Somehow Bill missed the memo that it was National Prank Day. "This is Bill. Bill Kaulitz from Tokio Hotel, my manager told me he spoke with you."

"Oh, you know David? That's right, he works with the music industry. I thought it was weird when he told me his client would contact me, and I was like, 'Woah Nelly! I don't do that kinda thing!' but it all makes sense. So what brings the nature of this phone call, my friend?"

Bill didn't know where to begin, he was still trying to wrap his head around the words he had just heard. Who talks this way? "So he never mentioned anything to you about our interest to do any collaboration?"

"What kind of collaboration, you mean musically? No, he didn't say anything like that. Is that what you want? I guess I can do that. You said your name was Bill Kaulitz? Like that guy from the band Tokio Hotel?" She sounded like she was heavily medicated as well.

"Yes, I just said that my name is Bill Kaulitz from Tokio Hotel. I was hoping you could maybe sing a couple songs with my band. But only after you are feeling better, of course." Bill thought this was going well, considering he was sweating bullets because he had no spine when it came to talking to girls. But this one sounded easy going.

"Yeah, I had my wisdom teeth pulled yesterday and my mouth is really swollen. You don't want to see me like this, ha! I think I would love to sing some songs with you, Bill Kaulitz from Tokio Hotel. We should definitely get together sometime when I am able to remember the whole conversation and talk about it more. Especially when you aren't driving."

"I am wearing a headset."

"Still, you are distracted. I would hate for something to happen to you because of me."

"That's really sweet. How can you tell I am driving?"

"I can hear it. I notice background noise like that, that's why I am really good at mixing my own music. What is your secret power, Bill Kaulitz from Tokio Hotel?"

"Well," Bill couldn't help but laugh a little. She was very comical. "My twin and I share the same spirit, so we both share the same rhythm. We have always been able to make music really effortlessly because of how well we communicate."

"That's awesome. I know a little bit how you feel. I have a twin too."

"Oh, yeah? Identical?"

"No, fraternal. We don't look alike. And she doesn't have any musical talent, her gifts are for designing. She knows what looks good, and I know what sounds good. We don't share the same spirit, either. We are way too free willed and independent. I like to think of us as one person that was split evenly down the middle. She got one thing, I got the other, that sort of thing."

"Give me an example."

"Well, she got all the fashion sense, and I got all the common sense, ha!"

Bill exploded with laughter. It reminded him of the deep bond he shared with his brother. He couldn't believe that he was talking to someone who understood the same thing.

"Wow, were we talking about something important, because I completely lost track." Noel laughed into the phone, her words slurred. "I'm very sorry. I am super scatterbrained by nature, but right now, I can't remember my middle name. See, my meds aren't even that high of dosage, but the way I get when I am on them, you would think I swallowed ten!"

"I understand that. I hate taking pills! They make me so groggy and I feel like I haven't done anything productive with my day. I will never be an addict just for that reason by itself!" Bill almost missed his turn, surprised that he made it home so quickly.

"That's a good way to live, there, Bill Kaulitz from Tokio Hotel."

"Please call me Bill."

"Yessir."

Bill smiled. He had NEVER had this good of a conversation with anyone that he did not know. And the best part is, the way she made him laugh really made his stomach hurt in a good way. The way his stomach would hurt after a great workout or when he was having fun with his friends. Either way, he knew he wanted more.

"So when are we going to get this collaboration on a roll?" Noel asked.

"Let's start with where. Where do you live?"

"I currently live in Los Angeles."

"Is that where you are now?"

"Yessir"

"You aren't from there, I can tell."

"No sir. I am from Houston Texas."

"Oh, why aren't you there now recovering?"

"My sensei doesn't let me take a break. I still train every day."

"Train?"

"Yessir, I am a fifth degree black belt and I help my sensei run an MMA school out of L.A. There are good opportunities for young fighters out here, so I live in a big house with all my students."

"That sounds awful cramped."

"It's not really. I helped design the schematics when we built the place, and it is more than capable of housing a ton of people at one time. I keep to myself mostly when I am not training though. I have been dealing with a few things lately and it's better if the kids don't see me, but people still like to assume, ha. So I apologize in advance if you hear weird or messed up things about me while we work together."

"Oh, I don't judge people based on rumors, so you don't have to worry about that. You seem like a great person to me, and I won't let what some jealous person says change that." Bill said matter-of-factly.

"Thanks, Bill that means a lot for you to say." He could almost hear her smiling through the phone. "But you shouldn't make me smile; it still hurts, ha."

"Aw, that will be really hard. I don't want you to hurt, but I bet your smile is really pretty." Reel it in, Bill, you are getting too comfortable!

"Ha! Right now I look like Frownie McGee, I promise you, it is not so great. But thanks for trying. So… did we really get this sidetracked again? What were we talking about?"

"About when we should meet so we can get to know each other better."

"And so I can meet the rest of the band, right?"

Bill almost forgot about them. "Yes! And so you can meet them. They are cool, you guys will like each other, I am sure. So you are in L.A. right?"

"Yes. Where are you?"

"I am actually in Germany, but tonight is my last night. I actually just got back from the store to grab a few last minute things because you know airports don't ever have what you need."

"Oh, believe me, I know they don't. I have spent many layovers without toothpaste and the airport never carries it. Toothpaste! Of all things to not have in an airport! But I always carry a toothbrush in my purse. I have been doing that since I was fifteen."

"That is awesome, it is always great to be prepared-''

"HEY BILL!" Tom beat his fist against the driver side window, making Bill yell in surprise. "What the hell! Can't you see I am on the phone, you daft idiot?" Bill rolled down the window, shaking his fist angrily.

"Bill? Are you okay? What happened?" Noel's panicked voice sounded from his lap where he had dropped his phone.

"Noel, it's okay, it's just my twin brother, Tom. He just scared the shit out of me." Bill reassured her while glaring at Tom.

Tom glared back, "Bill, it's six thirty, our plane back to LAX leaves at nine. You still have to pack, say your good byes, we need an hour to drive to the airport, and an hour after we check in to make sure we don't miss our flight! You have been gone for three hours, the last hour you have been sitting out here in your car! Get off the phone with your girlfriend and get your ass moving!" With that, Tom stomped away from the car towards the house.

Bill looked at the clock in his car. Holy shiest, Tom was right. He had completely lost track of time and now he had to boogie or they would be late. His blood started pumping and he spoke hurriedly into the phone, "I am so sorry, Noel, but I have to get off the phone."

"It's okay, I heard everything." She said calmly.

"I know we didn't make plans to meet up, but I will be on my way back to L.A. tonight, and I promise I will text you as soon as I get in."

"I will probably be asleep at that point. It will be about ten P.M. and I wake up early.

"I will text you anyway, just read it when you wake up. But I have to go. I will see you soon! Bye!"

"Bye, Bill!"

He jumped out of his car and hurried into the house, half cursing Jost for making him make that call and causing him to run behind, and half thanking him for making him talk to the most delightful person whom he couldn't wait to meet.