Life on Banana Street

Moving in With Matt

-A Few Weeks Later-

"Adeline! Get your ass up!"

I opened my eyes and my brother was in my room.

"Matt, what are you doing?"

"I'm here to take you to my house. Mom's been arrested. Along with dad. You have to live with me now. Until dad gets released."

"Wow. Who called?"

"Anonymous."

"How long do I have to live with you?"

"About 3 months. Get your stuff."
I looked around my room and thought about what to bring. On my slanted ceiling were posters of my rock heroes. The Ramones, AC/DC, Van Halen, The Beatles, and much more. On my regular walls were girly and punkish decorations. Light green paint with white stripes. My mom never did let me paint it dark green with black stripes. Whore. It didn't matter now, all I had my mind on was moving in with my family hero.
After I was done, we walked outside, Matt carrying the heavy stuff. I saw Tre. I forgot about him.

"Addie? Where are you going?"

"I'm moving in with my brother for about 3 months."

"Will you be going to the same school?"

"No, he lives in a different state. I'll be back though."

He looked sad. "So you weren't going to say bye?"

"I was." I set down my bags and ran over to Tre and hugged him.

"I'll miss you Addie."

"I won't be gone long. I swear. I'll come visit."

He kissed me for a long time.

"Get a room."

"Sorry Matt."

Canada came out of her house.

"Addie? What's wrong?"

"I'm moving for 3 months."

"Oh damn. That sucks."

"Yeah. So bye. I'll be back in 3 months."

"You're leaving the school?"

"Yeah."

"Fuck. That really sucks. Bye."

We hugged. "Bye Canada."

I blew Tre a kiss and departed for Washington. My brother had a nice apartment from the pictures he sent me. My brother and my sister were the family members I enjoyed being around. My sister got me into the fashion I'm into now, and my brother is my musical hero.
I was playing with the buttons on the radio.

"These channels suck ass, Matt."

"Yeah I know."

I popped in my Ramones CD Tre got me for my birthday.

"When did you get that?"

"Tre got it for me."

"Aww, isn't that sweet?"

"Grow up."

He playfully looked stunned and scoffed. "Well I never! Talking to an OLD lady like that!" he said in a British lady's voice. He was good at impersonations.

"Yeah, I am talking to an OLD lady like that."

"Oh, my poor, poor heart!" He grasped the area where his heart was and pretended to have a heart attack.

"Matt watch the damn road!"

"Oh yeah."

-A Few Hours Later-

"McDonalds?"

"And get AIDS? I don't think so."

He laughed and pulled into Subway.

-Matt's House-

"Make yourself at home. You can have the spare bedroom down the hall, first door to the left. It's got a walk-in closet and it's own bathroom."

"Wow!"

I ran in the room and dropped my bags. The place was spectacular. A bay window, queen size bed, light wood desk with black phone, TV. I loved it here.
I went to the chair by the desk and dialed Tre's number.

"Matt! Does this phone have long distance?"

"Fuck yeah. Along with speakerphone."

"Hello?"

"Tre?"

"Yeah, who's this?"

"Addie!"

"Addie! Oh my God! Hey baby! What are you doing?"

"Unpacking, what are you doing?" I asked twirling my finger on the desk.

"Getting ready to teach John some lessons."

"Oh sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt."

"You? Interrupt? Never. No matter what you do, you'll never interrupt me."

"Aw that's so sweet."

"Yeah." He yawned.

"Oh, so I'm boring you now?"

"No, I'm just tired. I woke up at like 4 this morning."

"Oh. You can come here and go to sleep."

"Oh, you know I'd like to, but-"

"But what? I'm not talking about sex."

"I know. Just don't give me any ideas. I just might do it."

"That's the point."

"So," he said changing the subject. "Are you going to school there?"

"Yeah, Matt's enrolling me tomorrow. I have no idea how. I think he has my records."

"Matt's a smart guy. He'll figure it out."

"You've never talked to him."

"He seems smart."

"And I don't?"

"I didn't say that."

"You were thinking it."

"What the fuck?"

"Yeah use cussing to get you out of this."

"I'm not using cussing to get me out of this. What's your problem?"

"My problem?"

"Yeah! Your problem. You started it."

"You're such a child Tre."

"Are you on your period or something? You're acting really bitchy."

"Now I'm a bitch?"

"I didn't say that! Quit putting words in my mouth!"

"Why would I want to put words in your mouth?"

"What the crap is your deal? Mood swings-" He stopped. "Are you pregnant?"

"How the hell can I get pregnant? We haven't even done anything."

"Then why are you acting like this?"

"It's my mom, ok?"

"I thought you hated her. There's nothing to worry about. She's in jail."

"How did you know?"

"Just a guess."

"You busted her, didn't you?"

"Addie, I saw what you were going through. I called because I love and care about you. No kid should have to go through that. I did something Billie would never do. I helped you. And if you want to act that way after someone helps you, maybe I shouldn't help you anymore."

"Tre." He hung up.

I got up from the chair and unpacked very violently; almost throwing pictures of my friends against the wall. I saw the picture of Tre I had packed. Were we over?
I dialed Tre's number again.

"Hello?"

"Tre, I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have blew up at you like that."

"No, you don't need to apologize, I'm the bitch. I'm really sorry."

"It's ok babe. I still love you." I smiled.

"I wish I could kiss you right now."

"Damn. Me too."

We talked a little while longer, then he had to teach his lesson.

"Addie! Come in here!"

I walked down the hall into the living room where Matt was. He was watching the news.

"What?"

"Look."

I sat down beside him and watched TV with him.

"Local resident to California was kidnapped today. We have an interview with the boy's mom." A picture of Billie's mom came on the screen. "Billie, if you're out there, know that I love you. Don't leave us like your father did. We love you Billie." My heart stopped beating. My friend. My first love. Gone. "I've gotta go look for him."

"Addie, there's nothing you can do. I'm sure he'll turn up."

"Matt, you don't get it. Remember the times that he and I always shared? That'll all be gone if I don't do something."

"And you think you can do it? You have as much of a chance as anyone else does."

All of a sudden, the doorbell rang. I knew it. It was Billie. I ran to the door and opened it.

"Billie!"

"No, Ethan!"

"Oh. Who the hell are you?"

"Aren't you a little young to be cussing?"

"Fuck you. No. Who the hell are you?"

"I'm Matt's friend. Who the hell are you?"

"I'm Matt's sister. Get used to it or go fuck a doorknob."

"Matt! Your sister's abusing me! She's sexually assaulting me."

Matt came in the entry way. "Who'd want to do that?"

"Michael Jackson."

"He probably already has been."

"Ohhhhhh."

The phone rang.

"I'll get it, Addie."

He walked to the phone which left me and Ethan alone.

"Addie?"

"Yeah. That is my name."

"I guessed that. Well, you're hot."

"What the? No!"

"Yes you are and you know it."

"I can't go out with a college guy."

"Why not?"

"I'm in 9th grade!"

"You're way to hot to be a freshman. You gotta be shitting me."

"No."

"You're still hot."

"Stop it!"

"Why? Seeing someone?" He asked like he was being all awing.

"Actually, I am."

"No, you're just making that up."

"Do you want to call him and ask him?!" I asked getting pissed.

"No, but you know what I wanna do?"

"Go out with me."

"Why I'd love to! But that wasn't it."

He walked over to me and kissed me.

"WHAT THE FUCKING HELL?!"

I heard Matt drop the phone and run in the room.

"What the hell happened and why are you in the corner like that?"

I ran over and hugged my brother. "He-he kissed me."

"What the fucking hell!? She's my fucking sister God damnit! She's a fucking freshman!"

"Sorry, it's just that she's so hot."

"What the? No! Get out of my apartment!"

"Come on man, don't be like that."

"No, you don't be like that. Hitting on my sister! She's seeing someone damnit!"

"Rawr." He left and walked out of my life.