wonderland

Stenners, you got on woody for adding Alanis & Jewel because their solo artists, but yet you praise Bjork? She's a solo artist too. Her band was the Sugarcubes. If I remember correctly, Cornelius is also a solo act. That's why I didn't add people such as Fiona Apple. That being said I earlier forgot to add Hootie & the Blowfis & Blues Traveler.

Even then I wasn't a Green Day fan. I think they are one of the bands that killed real punk... Them and a few other California pop-punk & hardcore bands. Which is kind of sad, because I like a lot of Lookout! Records artists. But the fact that they couldn't be bothered to write one original thing about the Pistols (around the time of the Pistols "induction" to the Hall of Shame they wrote an article that was just old press clippings put together). And they said they were more punk than the Sex Pistols. I don't think they earned the right to call themselves punk. And they even went the Tim Armstrong route & made 3 different bands (though don't tour or do press) that sound alike because they cower behind a major label. I honestly can't see how anyone could stand these people... And it's the people who call people like me & others "posers" that do. Now that's irony. That's another thing that pisses me off about the band, but not just that band. Maybe I'm getting older & contempt of todays youth (though I think I always was) but I can't stand kids today, especially the ones with their noses in the air like that. To me, all the kids albeit prep, goth, mall punks & goths, whatever there is I don't know anymore... it's all the same, a horse of a different color, but still a horse. If that makes any sense.

So you know, FireHawk, Pantera did gain success in the 80s but songs like Cemetary Gates & Walk came out in the 90sl. I'm not even going to touch the Green Day thing for personal loathing.

Pixies called it quits REALLY early in the 90s but that's when I listened & it just reminds me so much of 1993 it's ridiculous. More of an add for my own nostolgia if you will. Beastie Boys fame was mostly from Licensed. That came out in 86. Maybe it's me, but I listened to QOTSA when they first came out on the scene. I only have the s/t & Rated R. CDs Both are from the late 90s.

This is all the bands I still have on my computer that take me back to the 90s... excluding the plethora of riot grrrl & solo artists. By the by Stenners, at least in my opinion, Beastie Boys were better in the 80s. That's when Licensed to Ill came out & Paul's Boutique. Ben Folds Five Mighty Mighty Bosstones Virve Pipe Collective Soul The Heights Tripping Daisy The Pixies The Proclaimers R.E.M. Black Flag Wallflowers The Sugarcubes Soul Asylum Cranberries Days of The New Presidents of the United States of America Everclear The Breeders Semisonic Spin Doctors Black Crowes Counting Crows Better Than Ezra Live Whiskeytown Nine Inch Nails Third Eye Blind Vertical Horizon Bush Brian Setzer Orchestra Catch 22 Tonic Fastball Hole Candlebox Incubus Marcy Playground Luscious Jackson Deep Blue Something Cake Faith No More Material Issue Sister Hazel Gin Blossoms Jane's Addiction Queens of the Stone Age White Zombie Seven Mary Three Silverchair Stone Temple Pilots

Don't forget REM also influenced Nirvana. (And they started the community with Black Flag that Sonic Youth turned into a genre.) But Michael Stipe was such an influence on Kurt that he became godfather of Francis Bean & they were in talks of doing a collaboration just days before he died (Stipe brought it up because he knew Kurt really wanted to & he wanted to save Kurt's life). And of course, the Beatles were his influence. Damn near everybody's influence. But if you said Lennon would have played something one way, Kurt got excited & did it thusly. But I am definitely with you, I'd much rather listen to Sonic Youth or the Pixies. Even back then I didn't see why people liked Nirvana so much. Kurt wasn't a prolific songwriter, not to me at least, and they really didn't do anything new.... just helped usher us out of hair metal. Of course, a lot of the people that stick up for Nirvana, I've found, idolize Sid Vicious or listen to GG Allin. And I have a mouthful to say about those wastes of sperm.

Very cool. As I'm loosing internet later today I'll catch up with the story the days I can get to the library. I'll talk to ya on AIM when I can via my phone. Peace kiddo.

I love it. Very awesome

Chapter 23 "Oh wasabi time." Lane said crawling over them both & out. Not quite landing right she had to crawl a bit on the ground before getting up. "I’ve done worse things in dirtier places." she said dusting herself off. "I can eat at least five pounds of wasabi." Phoenix said with a hint of pride. Criss raised an eyebrow. "There are some things even I won't do." "I’ve had sex in a dumpster behind a sushi restaurant." Lane said smiling. "Wow that's über-gross." Phi said with a face. Criss made a face as well. "Yeah I agree with her, it’s gross. But very you." "It was ‘94, I was 17 & we were safe. Gimme a break. Not the worst thing I ever did." "I don't want to know the worst." Phi said as Criss asked for a table for three. "All I’m saying is if you were dumpster diving with someone you found irresistible at the time, things can happen." "I have never felt that way about any guy....well maybe one or two..." Phoenix said as she blushed. "I don't have to read your mind to figure it out." Criss said. "Hmm... I can count 3 off the top of my head. One of which has dumpster dived." "Let’s hear ‘em Lane." Phi challenged. Criss just sat back and watched. "Mr. Mister, Mikey, and Michael." "Well you hit two of em. Mikey is sexy but wouldn’t do that" Phi said while Criss rolled his eyes. "Mr. Mister here wouldn't dumpster dive either, but that's not what I’m talking about. I’m saying under those circumstances you'd do the same thing that I did." "Mikey is still too emo.... can’t believe I said that." Phoenix said as Criss laughed at her. Lane laughed at her as well, "So then why go out with the guy?" "It’s a complicated thing." "Usually means jealousy or get back at someone. Makes sense. That’s why I first started dying my hair & giving myself mohawks & liberty spikes. I was trying to irritate Rob since he yelled at me for loosing my virginity at 15." "Its not that I'm trying to make someone else jealous, I really like Mikey and I have since their first CD." Phi tried to explain while Criss just laughed at her some more. "Fine. Okay. We’ll have girl talk later so Criss doesn't break a rib." "Thanks." Phi said as she glared slightly at him. "You're bad." She said as the hostess led them to their seats. "Bad can be...good. I like bad sometimes." Lane smiled brightly. "Humph." Phi said as she crossed her arms in a pout. "Aw, isn't she cute when she pouts? Just like a 5 year old." Lane said smiling & scrunching her nose. "Yeah she is. All emo’s are cute when they're young." Criss added. "Damn old people." She grunted. "Watch it young lady." Lane said sounding somewhat stern. "Yeah don't make me ground you." Criss said as he laughed. "Oh pulease!" Phi said. "I can ya know. Maybe this will be the last time you get to visit with Criss & I can sick Spider on your little friends." Lane said crossing her arms. "Aww that's just cruel and unusual punishment! They have rules against that." Phi said with a look of horror on her face. "I've only seen a face like that on JD" Criss laughed. Lane laughed for a few seconds before sighing. "I wanna be a mommy." she whined. "Aww Lane, you'll have kids one day I know it." Phi said. Criss nodded as well. "I can see it in your future." He said grinning. "Who are you? Miss Cleo?" Lane joked. "Yes child and I can see what’s in your stars..." Criss said in a weird and very poor Jamaican voice. Phi laughed hard. "Holy shit. God that was a bad fake accent. Almost sounded like the lead singer of the Bad Brains & 1 notch from Tim Armstrong’s fake Down Syndrome fake British accent." Lane laughed. "I saw Rancid once in concert." Phoenix said randomly after catching her breath. Criss couldn’t help but laugh as well. "I’ve seen Tim play in a few bands. Can only see him once every 5 years. Otherwise it's the same show. This way, he's just drunker." "Well maybe we all can see a concert together sometime." Criss suggested as he ordered some sushi. "Sure, she can't pick it though. Spider’s taking us to one Saturday night but not sure which. I trust his musical taste though." "Yeah I don't know if I should be afraid or what." Phi said as she shuddered. "I don't want to get clobbered." "Depends on what he picks. Like we both like Ted Leo, but that you wouldn't get clobbered at." "I'm a risk taker but you knew that, I don't like going to some rock shows. I'm afraid I'm going to be killed." Criss said. "We’ll find something all of us will like I’m sure." "Phi, do me a favor and think of your fear. Your biggest fear..." Criss said as he locked eyes with Phi. "Oh here we go." Lane said rolling her eyes. Phi started to think about her fear. Boy would Criss really get weirded out by this one. Criss closed his eyes and started to doodle on a napkin. He folded it up and then handed it to Lane. "What am I doing now?" Lane asked as she was preoccupied with her tea. "Hold this." Criss said. He then returned his glance to Phi. "Good god, I really don’t know to say this out loud or not." Criss said as he stifled back a laugh. "What, what's going on?" Lane said feeling out of the loop. "Phi, your biggest fear is that you're afraid that you're gonna wake up and none of this has happened." Criss said. "No way! It’s a mind fuck man." Phi said her eyes wide. "A mental mind fuck can be nice." Lane sang from the movie Rocky Horror Picture Show. "Hey Lane open up that napkin and see what I drew." Criss said. He smiled at the thought of the stick figures. Lane opened it up. "Hey! It’s you, me, Lane, Spider, Rob, Sheri, wow. Your drawings are horrible." Phoenix said with a laugh. "Very bad but cute. Now why'd you draw this?" "Because her biggest fear is that all of this is going to vanish like this..." Criss waved his hands over the drawing three times and the other stick figures vanished, leaving what was supposed to be Phi all alone. "You ever make my biggest fear come true, I’ll fucking kill you." Lane said. Phi looked at the piece of paper with tears in her eyes. Seeing it really seemed to hit something in her. "Aww don't cry Phi." Criss said. "Criss make the crappy stick figures reappear." Lane commanded. Criss waved his hands over the napkin and the stick figures came back, this time something was different about the picture. "Something’s different." Phi said as she wiped her eyes. "What is it dear?" Lane said picking up her chopsticks. "For starters there’s more, like as in little kids in the picture." Phi said as she looked at the drawing. "Dang huge family." "What do you mean?" Lane said eating a crab roll. "Look." Phi said as Criss gave a bit of a grin. "It’s a bit of a prediction" Criss said as Phi handed Lane the napkin. Lane took a look at the napkin. "See there are all those ‘lil mingers." Phi said as she pointed to the smaller stick figures. "Aww Criss, such a softie." Lane said before giving him a kiss on the cheek. Phi turned pink. "Criss I have to ask you though, what was the deal with that one really weird picture." She asked about his cross-eyed picture. "Well I was just being a dork. No other reason." He said shrugging. "He’s pretty good at that." Lane said smiling. "Gee thanks. Everyone has their dork moments. Even JD and Costa." Criss said with a shrug. "It’s a constant at our house. You have to be a dork or the house eats you alive & then Merrick takes you for a ride." "Merrick scares me a little." Phi said shuddering. Criss shook his head. "You're a pretty strange kid Phi." he said. "Aren’t we all?" Lane asked. "What do you mean strange?" Phi asked as she swallowed another sushi roll. "Anyone want to challenge me to a wasabi eating contest?" "I like wasabi but only a touch & with soy sauce so that would be a no for me." Lane said holding her hands up. "I'll bet ya this... If you can eat more wasabi then me without drinking water, I'll give you anything you want from the store." Criss said as he raised his eyebrows in a challenge. Phi grinned "You're on old man." "Oh Christ Chex. If either one of you get sick I’m not taking care of you." Lane forewarned. Phi & Criss shook hands and asked for some more wasabi. "I’m gonna sit here drinking my tea pretending I don't know either of ya's." Lane said looking off into the distance. Phi took the first bit of wasabi and ate it as if it was nothing she then waited for Criss to take his bite. This kept going on for a few moments before the two of them were nearly finished. Lane watched on shaking her head & drinking her tea. Both went through five cups of wasabi before Criss finally gave up. Phi finished her sixth one and put the cup down with triumph. "By the way I'm a half Jap." Phi said triumphantly. "A Greek vs. an Asian, who saw that one coming? PS, I knew she was & as an Irish girl I bowed out gracefully of that one." Lane smiled. "Why didn't you tell me?!" Criss said as he sucked down the nearest glass of water. "I like to play with you, you know that. And it was so cute seeing your face get all red." Lane giggled. Phoenix rubbed her nose and watched Criss down another glass of water, acting like it was nothing. "Now I can drink you both under the table but seeing as it's illegal for her to drink, we're not gonna try tonight. Granted Gutter's half Irish & can drink me under but he's got more years of experience." "Yeah not a good idea, I don’t want to miss my stunt for being in jail for aiding in delinquency" Criss grumbled, not happy about loosing. "Yeah we know how you get about missing a stunt. And I don't wanna miss my flight for a petty reason like that. Aw, poor Criss lost." Lane said giving him a kiss on the cheek. "By the way, you still cold?" "Yeah no… no I'm not." He said as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I guess that means that we'll have to find our own hotel room for our stay then." Lane said handing him her water. "You girls are welcome to stay in my suite. You know that." Criss said as he started fanning himself. "I just wanted to hear you say it. Aw, Phi would you look at how hot he is?" Lane said playing around. "So hot he's steaming." Phi said with a grin. "Laney hand me an ice cube please." Criss asked with a nice smile on his face. Lane handed one to him, then winked at Phi nodding to Criss's back. Knowing she would know what to do. Phi grinned and complied, slipping a cube down his back, making him jump up out of his seat trying to get the ice cube out. "So cute when you dance Criss." Lane said trying to hide her laughter. "I loved his break dancing." Phi said as she grinned. Criss rolled his eyes as he threw the ice at Phi. "Now I'm going to make this sushi disappear." He grumbled. "I wonder how he's going to pull that one off?" Lane thought out loud, tapping her index finger to her chin. "Beyond me." Phoenix said with a shrug as she swallowed another piece of sushi with some wasabi on it. "If I ever see another bit of wasabi it will be too soon." Criss said as he picked up a piece with his chop sticks. "Oh you mean this green stuff here?" Lane said with a smile, picking up some with her chopsticks & putting it on his plate. Criss made a face and looked away. "Well if you don’t want it then I'll eat it." Phi said with a smirk. "We shouldn't let all the food go to waste. And Criss, you need your strength for your stunt tonight." Lane said in a half motherly half sarcastic tone. "I don't think wasabi counts as food." Criss said. "Hey!" Phoenix said as she pretended to sound hurt. "I got your four basic food groups right here..." She said holding up her fingers "Rice, soy sauce, wasabi and seaweed." "The Irish gal says Guinness needs to be in there somewhere. Along with her potatoes. Oh, and the Carnival favorite, Fried Oreo’s." Lane said pointing her chopstick. "Well I'm a Jap but as a lover of food a balanced diet is equal amounts of white and dark chocolate." Phi said with a grin. "You forgot lamb." Criss added in there. "Greeks aren't real people. And surprising coming from a woman, I don't like chocolate." Lane said. Criss and Phi looked at her crazily. "Are you for real?" "Maybe once in a blue moon during my cycle, that's it. Just never been a fan of chocolate. For a while I felt bad for any guy I dated that wasn't creative on Valentine's, but since that was only my ex-husband I got over that pretty darn quick." "Wow I love junk food." Criss said. Phi nodded in agreement as she stole Criss's wasabi and the piece of sushi when he wasn’t looking. "I like junk foods, just not chocolate. Don't know why, just don't. Not a fan of roses either." Lane shrugged as she went back to eating. "I like roses too." Phi said as smiling at her own joke as Criss looked down at the plate. "Great we ordered a Houdini here." Criss said as he looked around for his sushi. "What did you say Criss? I wasn't paying attention to words coming out of your mouth." Lane said. "My sushi disappeared." Criss said as he shrugged and took another piece. "That’s what happens when you eat it babe. It disappears from your plate & ends up here." Lane said patting his abs. "But I didn't eat it I think..." Criss said in a confused voice while Phi giggled at him. "And you said we're bad." Lane said to Phi with a twinkle in her eye. "I held it in longer." Phi pointed out. "Hey did someone steal my sushi?" Criss asked. "No Criss, it was the wind. It's so adorable when he doesn't know what the fuck is happening." Lane stifled a laugh. "I give up..." Criss said throwing his hands up and shaking his head. "Maybe your water stunts are getting to your head?" Phoenix suggested. "Don’t be mean to Criss. You know he usually flubs those up. We still love you for it Criss." Lane said before kissing his cheek. "I hate water stunts. My heart dies every time you do them!" Phi said. "I didn't mean to be mean." Criss pursed his lips together. "Mean, but right. I do seem to screw those up." "You're human. It happens." Lane said making a sad face at him. "You know as well as I do, I don't love anything other then perfection." Criss said. "That makes two of us. I have to be perfect in my drawings. I notice even when I'm the slightest bit off." "I make shitty independent movies for a living." Lane laughed into her tea. "It’s just how I work." Phoenix said with a shrug. "Besides, I think your movies are great." Criss said. "As long as they're enjoyed. That's the good thing about cult exploitation movies; they aren't supposed to be perfect. Sometimes it’s those quirks that make them more enjoyable. And I’m glad you do." "You’re welcome. Would you guys like to come to Sunset Park with me? I'm going to be doing some tricks and stuff." Criss asked. He paid the bill as Phoenix said ‘sure.’ "I'm flexible." Lane said getting up. "That’s good. I'm thinking about doing the impaling thing for Phi." Criss said with a wink. "Great, my body thanks you in advance." Lane said sarcastically. "I love that one!" Phi said excitedly. "I know." Criss said with a smile. "Well she did mention it back in your penthouse." Lane said rolling her eyes. "Exactly." Criss said as Phi shook her head. "I can do some stunts that I could show you Criss." Phi said as she saw some skateboarders pass by. "Not showing any of my tricks to anyone." Lane mumbled. "I don't really do skateboards." Criss said shaking his head. "It’s easy enough to do." Phi said with a shrug. "Not for everyone. Not for those of us who have problems just walking down the street without falling down." Lane remarked. "Well you're special Laney." Phoenix said with a smile as they pulled up to the park. Criss helped the girls out of the car. "All in a days work as a Zombie I guess." Lane shrugged as she got out. "Oh here’s a good fence." Criss said as he started to gather people around him. Phi made sure to get a good up close look. "Oh he's not really gonna do that one is he?!" Lane grumbled. Criss got three guys to lay him along the fence and then he fell through it. The entire crowd gasped and were screaming to see if he was alright. Phi was screaming in excitement. Lane clenched up in pain. While she's amazed at what he can do, it pained her to watch some of his demonstrations. The crowd dispersed and Phi walked up to him poking his arm. "How are we supposed to get you off of there?" She asked. "Let him do it himself." Lane said from behind her hands, a few steps back. Criss sat up and smiled. "I’m glad you liked it Phi. Why so white Laney?" "First you get my biological clock ticking; now I have knots in my back. What's the encore? Pouring sugar in my gas tanks while you anally rape my mother? I swear he loves seeing me writhe in pain!" Lane said tossing her hands in the air. "No I don’t, you know I love you Laney." Criss said as he hugged her and winked at Phi. "I don't know if I believe you anymore Criss." "My word is my bond." Criss said as he pulled a daisy from behind her ear. "Aw, thank you for remembering." Lane smiled. "PS, you're helping me get rid of these knots later." "You got a deal." Criss said as he hinted with his eyebrows. "Uggh gross." Phoenix said gagging. "What? What are you driving at Phi? Ya know, everyone loves to see me miserable. My mother asks me why I’m not married again yet and when am I gonna give her grandbabies, it's Spider's life in general, my boyfriends and husband have all become ex’s leaving me to wonder if I'll ever get married again or have kids. Why can't I get the simple little pleasures like a fucking backrub?" "Fine marry the man." Phoenix said as she gave Criss a push in Lane's direction. "Sure your mingers will be really cute." "Oh yeah push a married man on me. Thank you. I want to, oh I don't know, date a guy before I get married and have a couple little ones." Lane said. "Yeah you two are perfect for each other." Phoenix said as she pulled her phone out and started to text someone. Lane gave up & put her head in her hand. "Ooh Mikey's in Boston playing a show." Phoenix said excitedly. "Yeah by the way, you're phone's going to ring at like 11 tonight." Criss said. "Boston, that's my kind of town." Lane said reminiscing of her old stomping ground. "Then Philly, then Jersey and then Baltimore and then back up to New York." Phoenix said as she tapped on the key pad of her cell phone. "Fun. Oh, Baltimore. That reminds me, do I have the musical version of Hairspray on all formats?" Lane asked herself. "Umm, ‘Hairspray?’" Criss asked. "I prefer ‘RENT.’" Phoenix said. "Yes ‘Hairspray.’ I’m a John Waters fan. And ‘RENT’ the play is way better than the movie." "I cry every time I hear the song 'Will I?'" Phoenix said with a sniff. "Great I'm surrounded by raging hormones." Criss said. "Hey these hormones of mine are a reminder I can still have little kids." Lane said crossing her arms, partly from stubbornness & partly from the desert cold. "Here Laney." Criss said as he handed her his vest, leaving him completely shirtless. Phi had to catch herself and keep herself from drooling. "Thank you, babe. Aren’t you afraid you're gonna get sick though?" Lane said smiling up at him. "We'll head back now. I did promise Phi I'd let her have something from the store on me." Criss said. Phi bounced excitedly. "Well I think you made her day. Knowing you even if you did win the bet you'd still give her anything she wanted from the store." "Yeah just to make a Loyal happy." Criss said winking. "Run outta business thinking like that. Come on you two." Lane said walking back to the car. "Yeah I know but if it wasn’t for them then I wouldn’t have a job." Criss said with a grin. "Oh Criss I really loved reading your book." Phoenix said as she just remembered. Lane waited for them by the car, singing: If I could You know I would And I probably should Since the first day that I met you Wanted to speak my mind, at least, you know I meant to. Good intentions, getting me nowhere Somehow got to find my way to tell you now... You don't know how much you mean to me And my life can't be the same But my hesitancy stands ten stories tall I've got to find a way, to tell you now... Someday... Right Now... Someday... No use fighting, what I'm thinking Sometimes saying nothing's, worse then lying Gotta swallow, my reservations Now's the time to spit out every word I say... Someday... Right Now...

Chapter 22 ::6am, Wednesday:: Lane came in & belly flopped on Phi. Phoenix grunted and got up. "Crazy lady." "Yep. But shh. Don’t wake Michael up. Time to get ready. Plane leaves in 2." Lane smiled. "Right." Phoenix quietly got up and got dressed. She quietly crept downstairs to not wake Spider up. "I left the boys a note so we don't get a call during the show from them wondering where the fuck we are and so they’ll feed Houdini. Are you ready?" "Yup." Phoenix said. "Probably not a good idea to bring the skateboard to the airport." "Probably not. But chances are security will stop us anyway. Be happy we're not going to England with Gutter." "Right. That might be really bad." Phoenix said. "It would take forever, if he is allowed to enter. Come on. We’ll take Jimmy." "Sweet. This is going to be fun." "Of course. Is this you're first trip to Vegas?" "Well first trip with someone who's cool and not family." "Thank you. So then I should feel only slightly corruptive. That’s cool. And we are family now. Just not blood." Lane said speeding down to the airport. "Well my crazy aunt took me when I was 11, don’t remember much." "Wait until Spider takes you out for your twenty first." "Umm should I be afraid?" "Maybe. If you're afraid of waking up in a place you don't know with people you don't know a huge hangover and possibly naked &/or bruised to shit. But look at it this way, I lived. And I had him trekking me around for the last 30 years." "That’s not so bad." "That’s all I remember from my 21st. But as I said, if I could live with him for 30 years, you can last through your 21st." "Well I lived with Tim so I'm no stranger to waking up with people I don’t know around me." "This is true. Tim is.... well Tim. But he isn't a Spider for sure." "Yeah." "Ok I sped, so we're here. Enough time for security to be bitches. Let’s go see that angel in the Sin City." "Ooh never thought about it like that. He is a beautiful angel. Yeah might take a while for me to get through. Last time I went through the airport I got stopped five times." "Why you think I got here early?" "Good point, the same reason why I brought my iPod." "And why I nap on planes." "I love my iPod." "Don’t say that to Spider." Lane laughed as they went in. "Well I do. It’s so much easier then carrying around a bunch of CDs." "I will give you that. But don't tell that to him. He treasures his vinyl’s so... Yeah a lot heavier than CDs." "That’s one of those rotflol moments." "Don’t know what the hell you just said but okay." "It’s an emo thing. One of those doesn’t tell Spider things." "Ah. No wonder I have no idea. I don’t speak teen." "I have the drawings I want to show Criss here." Phoenix said as she pat her side pocket of her shorts. "Very cool. I’m sure he'll be excited to see. I... haven't told him we're coming." "Ahh surprising him? Does Criss Angel get surprised?" "I guess we'll find out. If not, he better act it." "Doesn’t seem like the type." "I’m just saying I’d prefer it if he lied to me & acted surprised even if he's not." "Ahh." Phoenix said as she patted the pocket again to make sure the drawings were still there. After going through hell at the airport, 2 hours on a plane, they finally got to Vegas. Phoenix bounced up and down on the balls of her feet excitedly. "We still have to get to the Luxor Hotel ya know." Lane laughed trying to get a cab. "I’m just happy to be here!" "I can tell. You wanna get into the taxi? The quicker you do that, the quicker we get to the man’s penthouse." "Woohoo." Phoenix said as she got into the taxi. The taxi took them to the Luxor. "You wanna go up to his room & meet him again first?" Lane asked moving a hair the breeze carried across her face. "Sure." Lane ran up to the penthouse & banged on Criss's door before leaning her back on the doorframe. Criss opened the door. He looked surprised to see them standing there. "And here I was thinking it was some crazy rabid Loyals. Hey, how are ya Laney?" He said giving her a kiss on the cheek. "I’m good, well as can be expected. And you were half right, you remember Phi right?" "Hi..." Phoenix said going all quiet. "Hey Phi. I remember you. I turned your bracelet into a rose right?" Criss said trying to keep from laughing at the quiet Phi. Normally people were screaming like crazy at him. "Criss don't embarrass the girl. She gets enough of that from Spider. Are you going to invite us in or are we just gonna sit out here like a couple of doofuses?" "Come on in, I think Hammy's on the couch and my brothers are lounging around somewhere but my room's your room. How long are you ladies in town for?" Criss asked as he stepped aside. "Leave Saturday morning. She hasn't seen your live show yet. I’m stealing something to drink." Lane said in one breath. "Go ahead." Criss said. He turned to Phi. "So you've never seen my show live yet?" He asked in an amazed voice. "Is she for real?" She nodded her head as she kept her eyes on him. "Could be a hologram. Poke her & found out. Oh, Elijah Blue & I broke up again, after a week this time." Lane said digging through the fridge. Criss poked Phi, making her squirm. "Really? That's a big shame. So does Phi ever talk?" He asked poking her again. "Yeah. She’s just shy around new people & trying not to be all fan girly. Hi JD! Hi Costa!" Lane yelled out. "Hi Lane!" JD and Costa shouted out from another room. Criss continued to poke Phi. "Eek!" She finally said, jumping as he hit her weird spot. Lane laughed, "Don’t have too much fun with her now Criss. We don't want her to pee her pants." "Uhh… Hi Criss." Phoenix finally said turning a bright shade of pink. "Wow, so she finally speaks. Can you believe it Laney she speaks!" "Amazing. I’m shocked. She’s not like this at home. So, how's you, how's the little chickadee?" "Working and working, that's me. Always thinking always going. You know me." Criss said. "Yeah, I’m the same way. But you didn't answer the last part of the question. Are you keeping something from moi?" "I don't know, am I?" He asked with a grin. He then winked at Phi who turned pink again. "I see how it is. No one loves little old Laney anymore." she said faking being hurt & looking to the ceiling, sniffing a little. Criss pulled her into a hug. "Yeah divorce with JoAnn. But we all love ya." "Yeah Lane, I love you too." Phoenix said finally. "Aww. Yay. Well that I’m loved, not the divorce. I know first hand how that sucks. You knew that. Sorry to hear though." "I'll survive." Criss said with a sad grin. "How's Houdini?" Phoenix grinned as she started playing with Hammy. "Great. He’s been the only male to sleep in my bed all month. Can you believe that?" "Aww Hammy's so adorable…" Phoenix said as she scratched him behind the ear. "Yeah isn't he? I really can't believe that Laney." "Neither can I. But I wasn't going to cheat on Elijah Blue, and then he turns around & breaks up with me. Aren’t those two so cute?" Lane said smiling before starting to look sad. "Aww don't worry I'm here." Criss said hugging her again. "They are cute together. Hey Phi, if you want to date Hammy, I'll allow it." "Oh she has a date on Saturday, that's why we're not staying the weekend." "Aww and here I was hoping my little boy would settle down with a nice girl." Criss said sounding all paternal. Phi blushed and stood up with Hammy in her arms. "Thanks but yeah like Lane said I have a date." "Yeah well you're 18. There are loads of chances for dates for you. Not so much for us old people. You & Houdini might be the closest I’ll ever get to having a family of my own." "Hardly a day over twenty." Phoenix said with a laugh as she made a big move and took a few steps closer to Criss. He couldn’t help but laugh at her. "My stray child ladies & germs." Lane laughed. "It’s not funny, he's just slightly....." Phoenix tried to find the right word to try and describe Criss. "Handsome? Smart? Mysterious?" Criss said with a smile. Phoenix looked away for a moment with a shy grin on her face. "Well now I wouldn't say all that." Lane said trying to keep a straight face. "Intimidating." Phoenix said. Criss's face fell into a pout. "But don't get me wrong you are really cool and smart and handsome and crap...." Phoenix hid her face against Hammy's fur. "Oh you hear that Criss? She called you crap." Lane said, mimicking a shocked face. "Hey now!" He said with mock hurt. "I didn't mean that!" Phoenix said in a flustered voice. "I was going off on a tangent again..." "Oh we're just playing with you, Phi. Criss knows you didn't mean that." Lane said patting Criss’s behind then going back to the fridge, slightly dancing while looking around. "Meh..." Phoenix squeaked as she went back to playing with Hammy. "What no requests for levitation?" Criss asked in an astonished voice. "I can levitate something on my own thank you." Lane said coming back with a rum & Coke. "Normally if there’s a fan, there's a request for levitation." Criss said. Phoenix shook her head. "Levitation is cool but my favorite trick is the one with the cigarette and when you impaled yourself on the fence." "Yeah don't do the last one, my back still hurts from seeing that one. Just do me & your mom a favor & don't get buried again ‘til after your dead." "No promises. How about BODY SUSPENSION!" Criss said rather loudly. "Hell no!" His brothers shouted back. Phi's eyes lit up. "That was really cool, both ones. I absolutely loved it! Wouldn’t mind trying it myself." Phi said excitedly. "Not until you're properly trained & have safety guys." Lane said pointing Phi. "Well duh. Wouldn’t do it any other way. How bad did it hurt Criss?" Phi asked as Hammy meowed in her arms. "Like hell." He confessed. "Give me a bed of nails any day." Lane sighed. "With or without the Hummer?" Criss asked. Phoenix couldn’t help but grin. "I thought the screw drivers were worse." "We only got to do cement blocks broken on us. We’re only Carnies after all. Oh, Moms & Pops say hello & miss ya." "Ahh well tell them I miss them too." Criss said with a grin. "So was this a spur of the moment trip or did you just miss me that much?" "Little Column A, little Column B & little secret Column C which is shock of her not seeing your show live." "Ahh. Phi you dropped something." Criss pointed out as Phi realized that her drawings had fallen out of her pockets while she was playing with Hammy. "Oh yes Phi show him. I wanna see too." "Ummm.... I dunno maybe it’s a bad idea..." Phoenix said as she quickly picked them up. She was getting cold feet. "Phi... come on now. It is a good idea. And your career. No one likes a tease now." "Grr don't remind me of the rut. Criss, I design skateboards and wanted to know if maybe you would consent to letting me do one of you." Phoenix said as she ironed out her five sketches that she had brought along with her. "I think they're really good. Christopher?" Lane asked. "Of course if you want to make any changes I'd be honored." Phi said. Criss inspected them more closely. "You're a really good artist. Much better then what I could do. I'd love to see one of these on a board. Which do you think is the best Lane?" "I like the 3rd one. Kinda ‘Crow,’ very Angel." "I like that one, but what's this one here?" Phi blushed and her eyes went wide. She snatched up the drawing that Criss pointed to. "That was nothing. Just a tattoo I was working on." "Oh was that the memoriam for your mom?" Lane asked. "Yeah." Phoenix said as she looked at it again and then showed it to Criss and Lane. "It’s really good Phi & very sweet. When we see Rob & Sheri on Thanksgiving talk to them about this & we'll plan a trip for you to go to our guy." "Believe, that's my word. You know we've been looking for people tattoos like this to be on the show." Criss said with a grin. "I really like it." "I’m gonna make me another drink, you two work that out... or talk about me, ya know, whatever." Lane said smiling. Criss looked over at Phi and then at Hammy. He got an idea. "Hey Laney, Costa, JD, you guys want to see something really cool? Hammy's going to perform." He said with a grin and Phi relinquished Hammy back to Criss. "No Criss I want to see something totally lame & boring." Lane said sarcastically while making her White Russian. "Someone hand me a bag or a box or something." Criss asked. Phi handed him an empty box from beside her. She watched in amazement as Criss put Hammy in the box and made him disappear. "Wow so cool!" She said with a huge grin. "Hey can you do that to Michael?" Lane said walking over to them & putting her arm around Criss. "Hmm maybe it depends on how much you're paying." Criss said with a mischievous grin. Phi heard the sound of meowing close by but for the life of her couldn’t figure out where it was until Criss opened up her cargo pocket and Hammy poked his head out. "See now I don't want to see Spider popping out of anyone’s clothes." Lane said with a raised eyebrow. "Wow that was cool Criss. My pockets aren’t even big enough for Hammy to fit in though, how'd ya do that?" Phi asked with her eyes wide. "Can’t tell." Criss said. "You know magicians shouldn't reveal their secrets." Lane said. "That's still really cool." Phoenix said as she stared at Criss in awe. Criss looked at his watch. "Well I have a production meeting in a few minutes would you ladies like to join me? We’re discussing my new stunt." "We’re ladies? Since when? And you notice I try to get a rise out of him, nothing. Err, fine. Phi let's go; I know you wanna." "Yup." Phi said happily as she gently placed Hammy on the floor and stood up. "I'm Criss Angel, Laney, nice try though." He said winking at her. "No you're Christopher Nicholas Sarantakos & you're also giving me a ride to the production room." she said before jumping on his back. "Yes ma'am." Criss said as he held the door open for Phi to walk out first and then he stepped out with his brothers following behind him. "Did you call me ma'am?! Am I that old? Oh great, there goes my biological clock starting to tick. Thanks." Lane said faking being a tad hurt. "You're welcome." Criss said with a grin. "You're not that old Laney, Criss is older then you isn’t he?" Phoenix said trying her hardest to remember. "Yeah, he's a bit older than Spider actually." "Dang that is old!" Phoenix said with a laugh. "Real funny kid." Criss said as he gave Phi a playful shove while waiting for the elevator. "So Criss what's the stunt this time?" Phi asked, trying to keep from going all fan girly. "I’m gonna tell Michael that you let him call you kid." Lane laughed. "Well he's different. I don't want to be turned into a mouse or something." Phi said raising her hands in defense. "I wouldn’t do that. Maybe a bird but not a mouse." Criss said. "Too many things would try to eat you as a mouse. Come to think of it, Gutter would probably eat you either way. And you haven't been sleeping in the same bed as Criss all month." Lane pointed out. "I don't know. If I was a mouse, Criss might eat me too." Phi said as she gave a weary look at Criss. He gave a devilish grin as the elevator opened and they all stepped in. "Wouldn’t be the first time. And you'll have to forgive me for being a bit sore about you having a date with Mikey Way, sleeping in the same bed as Michael Cummings while I was dumped by Elijah Blue & sleep next to my cat." Lane said putting her chin on Criss’s head. "I just got a tad bit freaked while you were away and Spider was nice to me. He makes me feel calm. As for the Mikey thing, it was completely unforeseeable." Phoenix said. "I can turn Elijah into a roach if you want." "Thanks but no. We’re still friends. He said that while he does love me he doesn't want to be married & have kids. Can’t be mad at the guy for not wanting the same thing I do. Wait.... my brother was nice to you?" "Yeah he was nice to me and let me sleep in the same bed as him. Plus he gave me the doggo back after he stole it last night. Oops, wasn’t supposed to tell you that." Phoenix said as she covered her mouth. Criss chuckled. "I told you he would steal it. What are you laughing at Criss? Don’t diss my doggos now." "No just the fact that she let it slip that he was nice." Criss said as he cracked up. "It’s a shocker huh? Rob, sweetheart. Michael, not so much." Lane chuckled. "Don’t drop me now. I don't need more bruises caused by men dropping my ass." "I won't I promise." Criss said. "Promise you won't say anything to him about it?" Phoenix begged. "I promise. I got enough ammo against him to last a lifetime." Lane said as she held onto Criss tighter. "You smell good. You do, Criss. You smell really good." "Ooh Laney do you like Criss?" Phi said with a huge grin as her cell phone went off. "Of course I like Criss. He’s a good friend of mine. And he does smell good, but since I live with Spider & Gutter most other men do." "Ooh it’s Mikey." Phoenix said happily. Criss raised an eyebrow as he turned to look at Lane with a questioningly look. "The date on Saturday." Lane reminded him. "Oh." Phoenix grinned at Criss as she answered the phone. "Hi Mikey!" Criss shouted. Lane laughed, hiding her face in Criss’s neck. Phi turned pink as she continued to talk to him and then relayed the information that Gutter had told her to make sure to remind Mikey of. "And be prepared to be in stitches. We’re embarrassing Spider when they're over." Lane called out for Mikey to hear. "You guys are mean." Phoenix said with a slight pout as she said goodbye to Mikey. "Mikey said to tell you hello Lane." "So what's this Mikey guy like, Laney, would I approve?" Criss raised an eye brow. "I approve & Spider doesn't, what's that tell you?" "Good point. Well he doesn’t really much like anyone, does he?" Criss asked. "He liked Elijah Blue. He loves you. You gotta win him over & Mikey being in an emo band does not give him points with Spider." Lane said crossing her legs tighter around Criss’s torso. "I guess I hit rock bottom." Phoenix said with a pouty face. "I want Spider to like me though." "Don't worry kid, eventually he will if he already doesn’t." "If Spider was acting the way you said, he's warming up. Trust me; he likes you a lot more than he did when you were with Tim. Spider just takes after Pops & is a hard ass on the surface but once you get under that hard shell there's a gooey center. Plus I think he's still hurting a little after he broke it off with Gina for good. I still can't believe you're getting divorced Criss. Welcome to the club." "Thanks for the welcome Laney." Criss said. "From one divorced to another. Sucks like a bitch." "Tell me about it. It’s like loosing your soul." Criss said with a slight s****** as he hitched Lane higher up. "Yeah. And I was with the goon from 18-23 & then how do I get over it? I let Michael move in with me. So yeah, not only did I loose my soul, I lost my mind." Phoenix laughed. "Well pretty much I lost my soul by dating Tim." "Yeah I was friends with him since I was 16. I don't think I had a soul in my 20s at all." Lane laughed "but you look like you're getting your color back now little missy." "Missy?!" Phoenix exclaimed. "Come on soul sucking is for marriage." Criss said. "Not all marriages. I wouldn't mind getting married again, having kids, doing the domestic thing for a while. I think I’d be good at it." "You would be," Phoenix and Criss said at the same time. "I’m taking that as a compliment, whether or not it was meant to be one." "I meant it as one; don’t know if Houdini here meant it." Phoenix said as the elevator opened up. "I don't know either but he trusted me enough to give me a cat so I’m taking it as a compliment." "I like Hammy and Houdini." Phoenix said as she followed Criss to the production studio. "Cats are awesome." Criss said. "Why do you think the Egyptians find them sacred? Of course they are." Lane pointed out. "So what would you ladies like to see before I get pummeled by fans? Any illusion requests?" Criss asked the two. "How about we make that shirt disappear?" Lane said with a raised eyebrow. "He’s so sure of himself isn't he Phi?" "Oh that’s the truth." Phoenix said. "If you get down Laney then I'll make the shirt disappear." Criss said. Lane hopped down off him quickly & snapped at him to make it speedy. "If it was me doing the trick that shirt would have already been off ya know." "Okay, okay." Criss walked behind a pillar and came out wearing nothing but a vest over his chiseled torso. Phoenix almost had to wipe the drool from her chin. "Much better. No more shirts for you the rest of our stay." Lane said smiling. "I'm going to get sick. I can't be sick." Criss said as he motioned to Phi that she had something on her chin. "I’ll keep you warm." Lane joked. "That's embarrassing." Phoenix said as she used her tee shirt to wipe the rest of the drool away. "Damn it kills me all the time..." "Think how Criss feels... all you kiddies drooling over his man goodies." Lane smiled. "Well he is hot." Phoenix said. "Well at least you think so. I'm freezing my tail off." Criss grumbled. Lane looked at his ass. "Apparently. There isn't one there." "So will you two ladies come and warm me up?" He asked and gave a pout. "Aw, I don't know. You’re still in the divorce process." Lane said before putting her arm around him. "Now I heard something about my favorite industry word: production." "Come on over here and give me a hug Phi. I don't bite." Criss said with a grin. "Better be only because she's technically taken. One of us here likes a little nibble here & there." Lane smirked. "Alright" Phoenix said as she stepped closer to Criss. He put an arm around her as well as Lane. "Now that I have the two most beautiful ladies in the hotel..." "I’ll allow that this one time Angel." Lane said raising her eyebrow. "Come on, you know you love my prestidigitatious qualities." Criss said with a grin as they walked into the production office. "Not the only admirable qualities." Lane whispered to Phi as they sat down. "Here here." Phoenix whispered. She sat down beside Lane as the others decided to start talking about the next stunt coming up. "So how you liking your first trip as a Zombie?" Lane whispered. "It's really cool. I'm having loads of fun." Phoenix said as Criss started to describe the stunt. "I don't wanna know until I see it." Lane said looking away from Criss. "Me either. But my heart goes into JD mode every time he does something." Phi said. "Oh so do I. I tell ya if he kills himself during a stunt I may not be able to forgive him. I take that back, I’ll forgive him but I’ll always be upset about it. The first time I saw him do something really dangerous live was when Rob was on the show. I couldn't watch I was freaking out." "I cried during that episode." Phi said. "So what do you girls think about the stunt?" Criss asked. "Great Criss. Can’t wait to see it." Lane said winging it. "Me either." Phoenix agreed as Criss beamed. Lane looked at Phi & slightly shrugged. "So would you ladies like to accompany me for lunch?" Criss asked. "Don’t have to ask me twice, I need the food. And since you're paying, all the better." Lane said getting up. "Ooh food. Food is good." Phoenix said. Criss extended his hand to help Phi up. "What do you guys want to eat?" Lane thought for a second & laughed before turning serious in a second. "What ever you choose I’m sure will be fine." "I eat anything that doesn’t walk." Phoenix said. Criss took out his keys. "How about sushi?" "Sushi sounds good to me. Phi?" "It’s good." Phoenix said as she heard her stomach rumble. "We’ll take the hotel limo. My Viper can’t fit us all, plus I have no idea where it is. I made it disappear and haven’t seen it since." "Good one Criss. Oh, speaking of cars. Can you please take me out on one of your motorcycles while we're here? Love those things... and ok need some power between my legs." "I thought that was why you were with Jussi?" Phoenix asked with a s******. Criss looked at Lane curiously. "What? That was before Elijah Blue & I got back together. It’s been a week & I don't wanna wait to see if the weathers okay on Christmas for Uncle Butch to take me. And come on, arms wrapped around Uncle Butch or Criss? Hmm, tough one." "I'll take Criss any day." Phi said as she thought about her own uncle. Criss draped his arm around Phi and waited for Lane to join them while waiting for the limo. Lane jumped in, landing across Phi & Criss. "Well as long as you’re comfy." Phi said while Criss laughed. "Yeah I’d take Criss too, though I used to date Uncle Butch’s son & one of Spider’s best friends: Ziggy. And yes I am comfy." "Criss, thanks for letting me do a skateboard. It would be really cool if you could come out next August for the X-Games where I showcase my new line of boards." Phi said. "Yeah Criss. Come to New York too. You know you want to stay at my place & you can do you're little magic tricks there & see Moms & Pops." "Yeah I'll definitely make time for both" Criss said. The car came to a stop at the sushi restaurant.

Chapter 21 When Phoenix woke up the next morning, she just laid there next to Spider for a while, supporting her head on her arms. She had been doing loads of thinking lately. It probably wasn’t the best idea. Spider then scratched his ass. Phoenix didn't notice, she had zoned out again. This time she had gone into the far reaches of the black abyss she called a brain. About an hour later, Spider tried to get up but fell back down on the pillow. Phoenix was brought back from the depths of the black hole. She smiled as she watched Spider try and get up. She stretched and crawled out of the bed and searched for something to wear. "Is it day?" Spider mumbled. "Yes Spider, its day." "Oh, ok. Guess I should get up then." "Probably a good idea." Phoenix pulled on a plain red and black striped hooded shirt with a pair of black jeans. Spider looked at her & shook his head going to the bathroom. "Hey! What was that shirt you were looking for the other day?" he called from the bathroom. "The navy blue Taking Back Sunday shirt with the sheep!" Phoenix called back. "It’s in the hamper hot shit." “Oh I didn’t remember wearing that one." Phoenix said as she stretched her arms out. 10 minutes later Spider came back freshly shaved & put jeans on. "Fuck I need coffee." "Coffee would be nice." Phoenix said. "Then lets go see if Lane made any." he said turning the stereo off. Phoenix headed down to see if there was any coffee. Finding some, she poured herself a cup and sat down at the kitchen table. Lane was already sitting there, still in yesterday’s clothes having a cup. "Did you change the beans?" Spider asked her, looking into his cup. "Yeah, it’s hazelnut. You don’t like?" "Honestly, it tastes like camel piss. Let’s stick with the classics in the future.” Spider answered. Phoenix slumped over her coffee briefly before taking a long sip. "Sleep well?" Lane asked her. "Yeah I've been thinking again." "That must hurt." Spider snickered. “Like you’d know.” Lane said sarcastically. "It does actually. I keep pulling blanks on most things." "Anything particular or just million things at once kinda thing?" Lane asked. "Boards, guys, boards, skating, boards, missing home... just that stuff." "You miss home? You’re not going to leave me like that are you?" Spider feigned hurt. "Wouldn’t dream of it Spider. I just miss the farm that’s all." "You can always visit. It’s not like we're holding you captive or anything." Lane commented. "It’s not like I can go back. Not until the beast and the harlot kick the bucket." "Hmm. Well then the best I can give you is the suburbs directly between Boston & Cambridge. When we see Mom & Pops we can take you to the Cape & Salem too." Lane suggested. "That'll work. You guys mind if I go skating in the city today?" "Nope. Just be careful of the police & keep your cell on you. We got work anyway." Lane said sounding somewhat motherly. "Will do." Phoenix said as she turned her cell phone on and ran to grab her board. "Be careful & take a jacket!" Lane called out as she went to her office. Phoenix grabbed a hoodie and her board. She ran outside and skated down the street and off to the city hoping that it would clear her mind. Lane & Spider went about their day as normal, while Gutter slept through the afternoon. Just as Phi was arriving home, Spider got a call from Mom. “Hi mom.” Spider answered. “How's the band? You know you're lucky Gina is doing as well as she's doing, because if it wasn't for her I don't think either one of us would ever sleep.” “She left. She's gone.” “What? What do you mean? Where did she go?” “I don't know where. She's gone. Girlfriend leave. Not say where gone. Gina moved out of town I guess.” “Well, call her mother.” “She just called. She doesn't even know. Probably the last time I'll ever hear her voice.” Mom started to cry. “I'm alright if that's what is upsetting you.” “That's not what's upsetting me.” “Well it fucking should be, shouldn't it?” “I knew this would happen. What are you going to do Michael?” “I’m going to drink a bottle of wine, watch TV, & go to bed then I'm going to go to work.” “Then what?” “I'm going to meet a nice girl & have children. I promise the next time I'll have it all figured out. Okay?” “I knew... I knew it was going to happen again.” “Then what are you so upset about?” “You know why she left?” “This has got nothing to do with marriage.” “Oh, so you say.” “Mom, I'm telling you for the last time, Gina didn't even want to get married. She's not that kind of girl. That's not what happens now.” “Oh well I know don't what happens now. Apart from you meet someone, you move in, she goes. You meet someone, move in, she goes.” “Shut up mom.” Spider said before hanging up. “Goddamn that's some cold shit.” he said to himself. ::Meanwhile:: “Hey I'm back!" Phoenix called when she finally returned from her skating excursion. Lane came in from her room of movie titles. "Have fun?" "Yeah it was pretty gnarly. Got kicked out of a few places, skated the banks and ran into Tim." Phoenix said with a nod. "How’d that go?" “He got arrested for 'ensuing a riot and destruction of public property and indecent exposure.’” "That sounds about right. Gimme details." "Well for starters he was drunk, hanging out with Zarred, Nick and Tosh so that's never good. I came down the sidewalk and he just started to just go off like some crazy asshole. He got mad cuz I ignored him and he broke a couple of windows and then finished getting plastered he started stripping while in the cuffs." “That does sound like Tim. Good for you for ignoring his ass though." "To be honest I didn’t hear him until he started screaming at me. I was listening a little too hard to my music." "Either way, you're better off. But maybe I’m just in a slightly bitter since I’m newly in the ‘single men are all pigs’ temperament." "It’s alright. Mikey called me while I was skating. He returned my call from earlier this morning." Phoenix said with a huge grin. "Oh really?" Lane said leaning in. "We talked for three hours after lunch. Just chatting about everything." "Ooohhh. Looks like someone’s back in the saddle." "It was just talking." Phoenix said as she blushed. "Besides I think Mikey was just relieved that Spider wasn't my boyfriend. He’s a tad bit intimidated by him." "A lot of guys are when they first meet him. Other than talking about music he just blows a lot of hot air." "But he was really cool. We’re into the same movies, music and books too. He wanted me to meet his brother and band mates, when's your next day off?" "I’m working from home the rest of the week & take breaks as I see fit." "How about Saturday?" Phoenix asked. "Saturday works for me." "Alright. I'll call Mikey tomorrow and let him know. He's playing a show in Trenton tonight." "Okay, make another date for here at the house." Lane said heading into the kitchen. "How about next Friday I bring them over, if things go alright?" "Honey do whatever you want." "You sure? I wouldn't want to inconvenience you." "Nope. Working from home all week so I’m sure I’ll need the break." "Alright if you’re sure. After I got done talking with Mikey, I finally ended up landing the triple 360 kick flip." "Oh a little inspiration huh?" Lane laughed. "Yeah Tim was mad enough to spit ink." "I’ve seen people do that. Very bad after taste." "I'd rather throw him off the bridge." "I hate bailing people out. Try not to." "Maybe having him slip would be better." "That could work. Ugh, work... I don't wanna." "Ehh well he can suck balls." Phoenix said as she flopped down tiredly after finding a can of SoBe. "Look who you’re talking too about sucking balls." Spider said coming in drenched in sweat. Phoenix gave him the finger. "Well at least I got the trick and on camera too." “That’s good. I’m gonna get you for that Michael. I’m telling Pops." Lane semi-pouted. "I didn't say anything." Spider said grabbing a cookie & walking out. "Oh I had an idea for my new line of boards." Phoenix said with a grin. "Shoot." "You know how the Doors, Metallica and some bands have their logos on skateboards? I've decided to do a rock star line of boards with different designs specially done for the bands. I have a few that I want to personally ask." "Sounds cool. And if you ever need ideas for the 'darker & more twisted' bands, just look at some of what Rob’s drawings. Remember, he did the hallucination scene in ‘Beavis & Butthead Do America.’" "I was going to ask Rob if he would mind allowing me to do one of my boards on him." "He probably wouldn't care so long as Sheri’s on there. She’s always his female model of course. And he used to skate actually." "I also want to see if Mikey would go with one. Other then that I actually made a list of bands to try and ask. The 69 Eyes is on there. Do you think they would mind?" "I don't see why they would. In America, they need all the publicity they can get right?" "Yeah, it would be awesome. I already have a great idea for the sketches. But AFI, Aiden, Escape The Fate, and a few bands like that. What do you think?" "It sounds like a good idea to me." "Maybe I could see if Criss would mind letting me do one. I know he already has one but I’ve been working on one for him for like ever." "Give the kiddies a variety of choices right?" "Yeah I have so many different sketches. But I would like to be able to meet with them to see which they like the best. Would you mind if I worked outside while doing the boards?" "Take a crack at it. Just uh, don't burn the house down or anything. And outside, means backyard. We’re already the white trash of the neighborhood." "Oh there’s no fire involved, just bulk boards, paint, sealant, and saw horses," Phoenix said, "Oh and some sand paper too." "I meant in general, don't start fires near the house or cars." "I'll do it a block or so down the way." "Okay then. Now why did I come downstairs in the first place? Oh forget it, I’m getting a muffin." "What kind of muffins?" "Thinking banana nut but not sure what we have." "Banana nut? Sounds alright to me." "The question is, do we have it?" "No idea." "Neither do I because I actually do not remember ever buying muffins." "I can’t remember how many boards come in bulk." “Both very good things to find out." "I'm thinking about doing a Lost Boys series of boards too. Think that might work?" "That’d be cool." Lane said as Spider came back in. "We’re going to a show this weekend." He said. "There’s a show?" Phoenix asked as she started playing with the tab on her can. "It’s New York City, there's a show playing somewhere every night." "Good point. The best show I saw was CKY when they went to Fayetteville. I had to sneak in since it was 21 and over." "Why don't you just get a fake ID?" Spider asked. "It was one of those small places where everyone knew everyone so sneaking in was the only option." "Ah yeah I remember those places, I had to do that but of course they fucking ushered Laney right in." "I managed to get a good seat backstage because my friend David was working sound. I saw you play a concert there once. It was hard as hell to get in." "Of course there was, look at me." "No they had the cops on stand by because some idiot threatened to protest your band. But I ended up getting my ass kicked by some dude in the front row while trying to crowd surf." "That’s what you get for crowd surfing. Stupid shit. I would have kidney punched ya & stolen your wallet on general principle." Spider remarked. "Hey Spider, isn't about time for you to go to the dentist?" Lane asked. Spider growled at her then left quickly. "What was that about?" "He hasn't gone to the dentist in years. Last time, he screamed like a little girl." "Wow his teeth were that bad?" "Yes. Very bad at brushing his teeth & has a fear of dentists. And he needs to go again." "Try chloroform or something like that. Can't be any worse then when I had braces. It was like hell's torture chamber." "He is afraid of the dentist IN SPADES. And the technology is a lot better now then when he was 16." "Jesus. Must be real bad. Hey I noticed something weird about my Lost Boys shirt the other day." "The eyes follow you?" "No, Paul’s not there." "On the posters & cover of Reservoir Dogs, Tarantino who played Mr. Brown wasn't there." "Just found it weird, it’s not all the Lost Boys. Makes me sad." "Anywho, it's gonna be a bitch getting him to the dentist. Kicking & screaming I can see it now." "I can try and help if you need it." "Just keep bringing up the dentist. Sooner or later he'll get so annoyed he'll go on his own accord. That or mom will call & she'll get him to go." "Man, wonder how I ever lived life with out you Zombies." Phoenix said with a smile. "I don't know, I wasn't there." "Hell for sure." "Ya know, people always think because of the way we look or because of what we do, we had a bad childhood. It was great. Yeah our parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, the whole family, were involved in carnival business and, like, circus business, so we were exposed to things normal kids aren't. But we wouldn’t trade it for the world, even though the 3 of us are the only ones not in the business since coming to America." "Funnily enough I wouldn’t trade having my life for anything either. Well maybe for a couple of tickets to a stage show of Criss's but that's beside the point." "Please, you can get those anytime you want. Since I met him years ago there's been an open invite to see him." "Well I've never had an opportunity to meet him before now. I'd give anything. I still have that rose he changed my bracelet into." "Well then one of these days we'll go to Vegas." "w00tness." "Whenever you want to go. We’re always taking spur of the moment trips so pick day." "How about....Wednesday?" Phoenix said some random day that came to her mind. "Are you sure you're not going to have another date with Mikey?" "I'm sure." "Ok then, Wednesday it is. You wanna bring the boys or just us girls?" "Just us girls." "Alright, I’ll go book some tickets. I should be getting back to work anyway. We’ll leave tomorrow & come back the morning of your little date." “Cool! Maybe I can show Criss my sketches!" "Why the hell not? Maybe one of these days I’ll even take one of your sketches & get a tattoo. I’m almost rid of my Misfits one, in an hour I have an appointment for the final time under the laser." "Aww but I liked that one." "I got it when I was 16 & I’m so sick of people getting on me for having a tattoo of Jerry Only not Danzig. I have other tattoos though." "It’s still my favorite one." Phoenix said with a slight pout. "I'm thinking about getting one, just don’t know what yet." "Yeah please decide for sure before you do. Do not regret what you choose. It’s a world of pain to get rid of them, trust me. More pain then getting it." "I was thinking about the one I designed for my mom when I was doing some reminiscing. I'll have to show it to ya to see what ya think." "Aww, a memorial tattoo. Those are the best." "It’s more then a memorial to her, it’s kinda a tribute to Criss as well." "Oh now that is adorable." “It’s the word ‘Believe’ with an Ace of Hearts in the middle of it with my mom’s name, DOB and DOD in the heart outline." "That sounds really cute." "Worked on it for almost seven years." "Wow it has to be good then. Long time to draw a card out." "It wasn’t that it was finding the right lettering style and then getting it all symmetrical and balanced. Had to find the right colors too." “Ah I see. Well the coloring for a tattoo you wouldn't have to do, & not so much the symmetry." "I just wanted it to be perfect on paper at least even if it wasn’t perfect on skin." "Tell you what. Next time we go see Rob, we'll take you to our guy." "Alright sounds like a killer plan. I can’t wait." "Not sure when it'll be so don't start holding you’re breath now." "Oh breathing? I gave it up cold last year." Phoenix said with a laugh. "Figure of speech. We have no muffins." "I know that. Aww no muffins? Dang it." "I could have sworn... Gutter probably ate them last night." "Maybe. Anything else to eat around here?" "I can make you a doggo." Lane laughed. "Do I want to know?" "It’s a hot dog wrapped in a tortilla. Us sophisticated people put melted cheese on in." "Sure. What’s the danger except for indigestion?" "Heart burn I guess." Lane said getting the hot dogs from the fridge. "So what’s this thing called again?" "We call it a doggo. Not sure if it's the real name but we like doggo." "Sounds like something someone served at a party once. Might have been dog barf though." "Well I’m eating a doggo too & I’m not eating vomit." "Alrighty then. Can you put ketchup or hot sauce or something on it?" "On the cheese?" "Yeah." "I’ll put the cheese on; you can put whatever topping you want on. Plus I gotta buy some plane tickets tonight since we leave in the morning." "Woohoo. Hot sauce for everyone." "No, hot sauce for Phi. Criss Angel for every girl." "Ooh I like that even better." "Me too. Course Criss & hot should be closer together than that." "Agreed." "I still wonder why I haven't dated him. Hmm. Oh well. Here’s your doggo. Don’t let Spider smell it, he'll steal. I’m going to make those arrangements & get some work done before my appointment. Be prepared to leave early." Lane called from the stairs. "Thanks Lane." Phoenix said as she started to eat her doggo. "This is good." "Of course it is. It’s a doggo." Spider said coming in & stealing it. “Aww Spider! I haven’t eaten all day!" "What’s the magic word?" "Please?" "No." "You butt munching son of a schnigget! I'm hungry damn it!" Phi said pouncing on him trying to get her food back. "You didn't say the magic words!" "Okay, okay, Oh great wonderful Spider, might I please have some food?" "Close enough." "Thank you." "Yeah, yeah. Don’t say I never gave you nothing." "Ok." Phoenix started to eat again and gave a sideways look at Spider. Spider yawned & patted his stomach with a puffed out chest. Phoenix finished eating. "How was your day Spider?" “Tiring." "Aww too bad. Well I'm beat, I smell like you and I need a shower, I have to get up early. I'm heading to bed." "I thought I smelt better than Christmas dinner!" "Well you do. But it’s not a good smell on me." "Touché. It’s a man thing." "Alright I'm going to steal a towel from you. Byes." Phoenix said before bouncing upstairs. Lane caught Phi before hoping in the shower. "I got 8am tickets so we can grab lunch there. Please tell me your bladder’s about to burst all over Spider’s bathroom." "I was going to shower. I'm starting to smell like him." "You do know he pees in the shower right?" "Urgg. Maybe I'd do a sink shower." "Use mine if you want. I wouldn’t put it past him to have puked & pissed in the sink." "Alright." Phoenix said as she grabbed her clothes and headed to Lane's room to take a shower. Spider could be heard going to his room singing "Henry the 8th I Am" before turning on Ted Leo & the Pharmacists. Phoenix hopped out of the shower and toweled off, putting her pajamas on and heading back into Spiders room. He was already asleep. Phoenix crawled into bed and went to sleep the moment her head hit the pillow.

Chapter 20 Phoenix jumped out of the truck. "Just hope that Mikey doesn’t get freaked out by him." "Like you were?" Spider said smirking. "Shut up you cotton picker." Phoenix grumbled as she made to kick Spider’s ass but missed. "What the hell kinda crack was that?" he said as they entered the house. "It’s a Southern thing but forgot you Yankees don’t understand farm humor." She said with a laugh. "No, were from just north of Boston. There aren't any farms anymore." "I grew up on one. Farms are great when you want to get away from things." Phoenix said. "Maybe I could show you some day." "How about not & say we didn't?" "Your loss. It’s nice.” Phoenix said with a shrug. "I like the city." "City slicker." Phoenix drawled as she flopped on the couch. "Funny movies." Spider said plopping alongside her. Phoenix gave a futile attempt to push him over with her elbow. “What was that for?" "No idea." "Okay then." Spider said leaning back on the couch & putting his arms on the back. "I can’t wait to get TMNT on DVD." Phi said randomly. "I think we have it. I know for sure we got a lot of the original series & a shit load of bootleg movies." “Oh by the way.... here." Phoenix handed Spider about sixty bucks. "What’s that for?" "Because I downloaded your CDs back my junior year. That’s almost all of what I wanted to pay you for em." Phoenix explained. Spider sighed & put her in headlock before tossing her to the floor. "Hey! I'm not gonna steal from you! Let me go!" Phoenix said. Spider got off her. "Hey I get bootlegs of a lot of bands I like. I just like doing that." "Yeah but you're different. I steal music from Mikey’s band but like I said... you're my friend and I don’t steal from them." "You’re an odd little duckling. I steal from my friends all the time. Fuck I steal from Lane all the time." "Well she's your sister that's different. I do what I have to do to make it but then repay all the people in the end. It’s just how I work. I can't help it." "Whatever." Spider said stepping over her & sitting back down on the couch. Phi scrambled back up on the couch, flopping down and draping her legs across his lap. “You need a shave. I think you just drew blood." Spider joked. "Yeah thanks Mr. Idol." she laughed. "Will you stop calling me that?!?" "Just stating the obvious." She said shrugging. Spider grunted & slammed his feet on the coffee table. "What would you think if I put some blue or purple in my hair?" She asked. "I think it'd wash out in less than a month." "I meant if it was done professionally." "Ok 2 months. I really wouldn't care. Didn’t care when Laney started doing that at 15." "What color do you think would work?" Phoenix asked Spider. "Not sure. Something bright though." “How about bubble gum pink? Or maybe snot green." "Manic Panic cotton candy, purple haze, or electric banana." "I might go with purple haze." Phoenix said with a laugh. "It’s pretty dark actually. Maybe plum passion." "Maybe blue." She said as she stared up at the ceiling. "Atomic turquoise or shocking blue. But shocking blue is more Smurf." "I like the Smurfs even if they are communist." "Racist bastards is what they are." "I mean seriously what's the deal with there only being one chick Smurf and having the head guy wear red?" "Don’t forget they shunned people from outside their community." “That too.” "All the 80s cartoons had a secret agenda." "Well did Transformers have a hidden agenda too?" "Glorified violence and perpetuated the gender roles. It was also the classic story of teaching kids good prevails over evil." Phoenix laughed. "I found a few Transformers toys in the Lunchables. They looked more like lawn chairs in disguise then robots." "Lunchables, Jesus fucking Christ I hate those things." "It was fast and in Tim’s fridge." "Figures he'd eat that shit." “That stuff always tasted so bad." "That’s because it wasn't real food. And now that got all this other crap. Goddamn." "Eww." "Have you seen them lately? I’d rather eat road kill." "That sounds like a remake of Tenho Tenji with a mix of Bleach." "Uhhh....sure." “Some really bad anime’s that look like they were puked out of someone’s nose." "Oh well yeah. Lunchables sound like that. Especially now with that topping shit they have now." "I have this sudden urge to attack someone with ketchup bombs." “Have fun with the cars down the block." "I don’t have any ketchup packets plus I'm too lazy to get up I'm comfy using you as a leg rest." "Well then you're screwed." “Maybe later under the dark cover of night." “That works too." "Wanna help?" "Later, sure." "w00t." "One of these days I might even tell you the horrific story of Hawaii." “Go for it. Are there any spare trash cans around?" "Maybe another time, if you're lucky. I end up looking really bad in that one." "Spider looking bad? That’s a big surprise." "Well you don't know the story. Lane still has, like, a fucking hour long giggle-fest when someone even mentions Hawaii.” "Okay. I won’t mention it then. I guess it’s the same way when I got drunk the first time ever." "Most embarrassing night of my life & Lane & I were the only ones in the place." “Wow it must have been really bad." “You have no idea. But apparently I’m told I tell the story quite well." “Ahh okay. Hey Spider, do you think that you could stomach being around a bunch of skaters and come with me next August to the X-Games? I have to be there to promote my boards." "Ask me again in the summer." "Alright." "If you ever want to be disgusted with me, then I’ll tell you the highlight of Hawaii. I bet Lane will want me to wait until she & all you're little friends are over though." "I can just meet up with them somewhere else; I know you don't like them." "Nah it's alright. I’ve had more painful experiences. Plus they want to meet Gut too." "Are you sure?" "Trust me, I’ve been through worse. Gonna be thinking about Hawaii all night now. Damn. I’m embarrassed & you don't even know why." "Okay I trust you that I don't want to know. There’s a couple of things about me that would make your hair go green if you knew em." "Apparently you've never been to sex shops in Japan." "No my cousin lived in the red light district in Tokyo." "I always laugh my ass off. They have the strangest shit. I love it." "I love the arcades and Manga stores. And the ramen shops. Ramen is good." "I like those little gumball machines with the sex stuff inside." "I saw the ramen museum; they had ramen flavor packets in their gumball machines." "They all taste the same to me.” "Not to me. Miso is the best. Right next to wasabi and roasted pork." "Miso soup is fine but eh. I go to Japan you bet your ass if I’m not on stage I’m laughing my ass off at a porno shop. That’s what I’m saying." Gutter came in & sat in the recliner. "You kids have fun?" "I guess so. Spider’s being weird though." "I feel dirty." Spider said hanging his head. "Umm ok." "Oh the Hawaii story came up. My cheeks never hurt so bad after I heard that one." Gutter said. "He mentioned it." Phoenix said. Gutter started laughing so hard he was tearing up. "That funny is it Spider?" Phoenix asked as she looked at Gutter. "Yes. A disturbing, obscene, painful & funny experience I hope never to have to go through again." "Sounds like graduation for me." "I’m sure it wasn't as embarrassing as having to relive my story." "Maybe not but it was still embarrassing to me." "Oh you'll hear the story. But to make you feel better Phi, he's going to tell you in front of My Chemical Romance, if they ever come by." Lane said coming in. "He said you'd wait until that moment in time." Phoenix said as she turned her head to look at Lane. "He knows me well. And no matter how embarrassing it is, he still laughs at telling it." "Hey Lane would you help me put some purple in my hair at some point in time?" Phoenix asked. "Sure. Why not? Just let me know when & I’ll get the supplies. Sheri threw out all my 'exotic' colors." "Ok, I was trying to get Spider’s opinion but he’s no help." "He never is in that type of situation." "I noticed. What cha been up to?" "Just making a couple calls for work." "Wonder what it would be like to have a real job instead of the crap I do?" "You want to talk about crap jobs in front of me?" Gutter said furrowing his brow. Spider hid his face into Phi’s back. "Anything has to be better then putting up with the diva's that I have to. Had to change my cell number to keep them from calling me all day. What the hell are you doing Spider? "He’s embarrassed & in hiding. But remember lovey, I really did work a crap job & have the scars to prove it." Gutter said pointing to himself. "I know. My boss really isn't going to be happy with me though. Not looking forward to that little chat." "Know that feeling." Lane rolled her eyes. "Well since I basically disappeared off the face of the planet.... yeah no one’s gotten in touch with me about the sketches. Damn pros." "Well you got those sketches for Bam. Maybe that'll kick start it again." Lane suggested. "Hopefully. I'm not looking forward to Mike yelling at me for no new ideas. I just hit a bad dry spell." "I get those days. The days you feel you can't sell ice water in the Sahara." Lane sighed. "Damn straight. Someone just shoot me now and get it over with." "You do know we do actually own weaponry right?" Spider said in a muffled voice since is face was in between Phi's back & the couch. "Spider!" Phoenix exclaimed as she tried to pry him from her back and the couch. Spider sat back up, his cheeks still a light shade of pink. "Wow, Spider, you actually blush? This is a first for me." "Shut up. That’s it; I’m growing a beard like Uncle Butch." Spider proclaimed. Lane rolled her eyes. "Oh that'll be attractive." "Dare I ask?" "He’s our godfather. He’s an old biker dude with kind of a Billy Gibson of ZZ Top like beard." Lane told her. "My uncle looks like that too. He took me to my first concert and decided when I was four I was going to be like him and look like Bruce from Iron Maiden." "Iron Maiden is overrated. Not a bad band, but overrated none the less." Spider said scratching his chin. "I have all their albums. My uncle is the only one who didn’t disown me." "Aww, we love you." Lane said sweetly. "Love you guys too. The rest of that damn family can rot in hell, especially the harlot." "Well you're an honorary Cummings now. You have a new mom & pops." Lane smiled. "I feel special. Thanks." "You should. We’re all special here." Lane laughed. Phoenix laughed. "Trying to be normal is special enough." "Being in this house for a minute you become short bus special." Spider said curtly. "I rode the short bus loads of times due to skateboarding." "Spider...." Lane said in a warning tone. "Fine, but I’m thinking it." he said slightly pouting. “I’ll have Spider tell the story whenever you have the MCR guys over for sure.” "Alright." "Skaters on the short bus.... you know where he was going to go with that." Lane said shaking her head. "Yeah I just give up arguing with him about things like that." Spider gave Phi a huge grin. "Normally I don't give up but things like that just go nowhere." "Yeah, with Spider in general, you're on a road to nowhere." Lane said flattening out a wrinkle in her shirt. "Makes me want to run in circles, but I'm too comfy. Spider makes a nice leg rest." "What I can I say, I give good lap." Spider joked. Phoenix rolled her eyes at him. "Not the only thing I’m good at either." Spider smiled. Lane hit him upside the head. "Don't want to hear that!” Phi exclaimed. "Yes you do. & if that creeps you out, maybe I shouldn't talk about Hawaii." Spider said looking out the window behind them. "Yes you are. You’re not getting out of it that easy." Lane said trying not to laugh. "It doesn’t creep me out... just didn’t need to hear it from YOU." Phoenix said poking Spider in the chest. "Why not? I already got you in my bed." Spider said smirking. Phoenix sighed. "I just sleep there, alright? For once it’s you with the dirty mind and not me." "His minds as filthy as the gutter they found me in." Gutter smirked. "Spider you never cease to amaze me." Phoenix shook her head. "Yeah well..." Spider said smiling & stretching his arms before putting them on the back of the couch again. "If you were trying to hint at something you would have been better off just spitting it out." Phoenix said as she stared up at the ceiling. "I’m an amazing guy." "Weirdo." "Amazing? When did we start talking about Criss?" Lane asked. Spider flipped her off. "Yeah Criss is amazing, he’s hot too." "That he is. I tell you if we were both single at the same time..." Lane sighed & shook her head. Phoenix laughed. "Yeah...." "Little old for you ain't he?" Spider said looking at Phi. "Yeah well you would be too wouldn’t ya? Still doesn’t matter how old a guy is. Criss is just hotter then hell." "Lot hotter than you Michael.” Lane mentioned. Spider growled at her. "Spider's still pretty hot, since it’s not like I'd ever have a chance with Criss." "Well not that we know of, Criss is married but one out of two..." Lane said thinking out loud. "Do you mean that chimp from 2nd season?" "No, but they do make a cute couple don't they?" Lane said as Blitzkrieg Bop started playing on her phone. "Be right back. Don’t miss me too much." "She's right; Criss and the chimp are pretty cute together. What about you guys? Would you ever date out of species?" "Nope." Gutter answered quickly. "I’ve boned a few women who might be considered dogs." Spider said raising an eyebrow. "Well I dated Tim, I guess that counts. He was more of a...well don’t exactly know what to call him." "Jackasses are an animal." Spider assured her. "That works too. He might be more of a mule after he's done skating. He’ll definitely be sterile." Spider started cracking up just as Lane yelled out "Son of a bitch!" "What was that about?" Phoenix asked as she looked up in the direction of the outburst. Lane came in & took a deep breath. "I think I’m destined to never get married again & never have kids of my own." "What's wrong Lane?" Phi asked. "I just broke up with Elijah Blue, again. Fucking asswipe." "Aww I'm sorry!" Phoenix quickly jumped up to give her a hug, accidentally hitting Spider on the way. "Better be sorry." Spider said sounding ticked. "Sorry Spider! I didn't mean to hit you." "Actually that made me feel slightly better." Lane said. "Umm glad to help?" "I’ll be fine. I just needed to get that out." Lane sighed. "Want me to brain him for ya?" "Me? Do & you're dead.” Spider gritted. "Just offering." "Offering is enough for me. I’ll be in my office if anybody needs me." Lane said solemnly. Phoenix flopped back on the couch. Spider put his arm around Phi & sighed. "Men are complicated." Phi said. "No we're not. Just most of us are assholes." Gutter said looking at Lane’s coffee table book. "That too." “Okay now Laney told me that some of your friends are visiting sometime in the future possibly & will most likely want to meet me for some odd reason. What do I need to know getting into this nonsense?" Gutter said throwing the book back on the table. "Well Mikey's band's guitarist Frankie is a fan of yours. Just one of those 'meet an idol' types of things I guess. From what I hear a really big fan." "There are 2 things he'll need to know. I don't like talking about Sid & definitely not why I left the band." "I will definitely make sure to mention it to him." "Alright then. Oh & if I don't like a question I just wont bloody well answer it." Gutter said lighting a cigarette. "I can't imagine he'll be like a rabid fan girl. Probably wants to learn from the best." "Well on bass that's alive I am I guess. Fucking 90% of the bands today ripped us off." Phoenix kinda zoned out after a bit, just staring into space at nothing in particular. Spider started tapping on her temple. "Get off me. I gotta piss & go to bed." Phoenix moved and continued to just stare at the ceiling. She was thinking about a lot of stuff. Gutter put his feet up in the recliner & fell asleep after putting out his last cigarette for the night. Eventually Phoenix got up and headed up to Spider’s room and changed into her tank top and searched for her pajama bottoms. Spider was already asleep, this time Slayer was blasting from the speakers. Once Phoenix found her bottoms, she crawled into the bed, trying to be careful to not disturb him. She laid on her back for a while before drifting off to sleep. Spider snorted in his sleep & then was quiet the rest of the night.

Chapter 19 Their first stop was the goodwill store. "What are we doin' here?" Phi asked. "Shopping. Where do you think people like us go? The mall?" Lane said questioningly. "Good point, you two don't look like mall people. I don’t like to go to skate shops in the mall. Too many preppy wannabes." "We don't like any of those kiddies. Once in a great while we'll go but we like thrifts shops & what not better." Lane said. "Ah, the smell of cheap polyester in the morning.” Spider said taking a deep breath. Phoenix giggled at Spider. "Besides I don't see why people pay fifty plus for a pair of jeans." "I got these for 5. And at thrift stores you can get name brand & shit you can get at the mall for a fuck lot cheaper.… And less kids. Got my Chucks for $1.07 after tax." Lane remarked. "I stole most of my stuff from either Tim, CJ, or Ed." Phoenix said. "That’s another way of doing it." Lane laughed. “Most of my band stuff is from CJ though. Stuff too small for him. I give him my jeans and he complains they're too big and not a size 0. He’s such an emo boy." Phoenix said fondly. "Excuse me." Spider said before turning the other way & making gagging noises. "CJ's a sweet guy. Plays an awesome drum set too. You'd like my friend Ed. He's hilarious." "I have enough friends." Spider said before walking over to the men's section. Phoenix shook her head at him as she pulled her visor beanie off and walked with Lane. "Yeah... that's my brother. Gotta love the bastard." Phi started humming the song 'All My Friends Are Dead.' Phoenix laughed at what Lane said. "Can’t remember who said it but someone said, 'he's not a man if he isn't a bastard.'" "I don’t know. But if being a bastard means you're a man, then Spider’s definitely a manly man." Phoenix started laughing as she watched Spider for a moment. "He's amusing to say the least." "Oh yes. I get a kick out of him. Until I have to post bail, like when he found out about my ex-husband cheating on me, he put an M-80 in his car." "Damn. Positively primeval. Would hate to be on the receiving end of anything that pisses him off." Phoenix said. "Well you couldn't piss him off as much as my ex, even if you are a skater kid." "Yeah just a kid. As always." Phoenix said with a sigh. "Well what do you expect? You’re like 21 years younger than him & 12 years younger than I am. He still calls me a kid." "It’s just a little peeve. I hate being thought of as a kid. Just something that always bugged me." "Everyone does. But think of it this way, he does it to get a rise out of you, you are young enough to be his kid, and you are still a teenager." "Yeah I know. He seems to like pushing people’s buttons." "Always has. When he was your age, he was more of an anarchy type. I think his smashing the state carried over." "I can definitely see that. He reminds me of someone but can’t put my finger on it." "You mean other than Billy Idol?" "Yeah other then Billy Idol." Phoenix said with a laugh. "Don’t know then. I just know the ass as my loving older brother." Phoenix started laughing. "He’s Spider that’s for sure. Wouldn’t have him any other way." "Nope. If he wasn't he just wouldn't be my brother." "Good point. Anyone'd be like that after living with you." Phoenix grinned. "Hey now. It’s all linked to Rob. He started it. I’m the baby of the family here." "Haha, so blame everything on him why don't ya? Or was that the general idea?" "I’m just saying that everything I learned I learned from them." "At least you're not the oldest. I hate being a role model. It sucks sometimes." Phoenix said. "Rob loves it. He’s a big cuddle bug though. Doesn’t look like it but he is. And the mature one out of the 3 of us." "Surprise, surprise. But you're right he looks scary but really isn’t that bad." "I never thought he looked scary but ya know I grew up with that. Pops can be scary though. And when my brothers sound or get a look like he does. Holy shit." "Never met your dad but the idea of Spider sounding like a dad is a scary thought." "It’s not so much that he sounds like a dad but a big brother. And of course since Pops is his pops too, he takes on certain characteristics." "Oh that’s a cool shirt." Phoenix said as she pointed to an old AC/DC shirt that looked as if it had been through a war. "Gotta love ya some AC/DC." Lane smiled. "My dad had their albums, didn’t have anything to play it on though." "At our house we got CD players, tape players, 8 track players, & record players." "Looking at the old records was really cool. Especially the Led Zeppelin, Lynard Skynard, and Pink Floyd albums." "Those we got. And many more. Many, many more." Lane laughed. "My dad had these huge crates about the size of that thing Criss was chained into once." "Ah yeah I remember that one. Criss is crazy but gotta love him. You should see our record collection. What we have in our rooms is just what we listen to on heavy rotation.” "And that’s a lot. I don't have more then fifty CDs that I really, really listen to." "I think we have about that in our cars alone." Lane laughed. "Dang I got a song stuck in my head now..." Phoenix grumbled. "I get that. Singing ‘Come On Eileen’ takes care of that." "Yeah who sings that song, it’s on my iPod." "Dexy's Midnight Runners. Don’t let Spider know you have an iPod if you want to keep it." "Another thing I swiped from CJ. Well he gave it to me. But will do. Spider’s not into the mp3 players and such?" "Not so much. He hates that teens today are so into those things. Especially something that's that expensive. He’s punched a kid before because he was making a fuss that his iPod wasn't working." "Sounds so emo." Phoenix said as her stomach growled. "Anyways, I have his and Rob’s music on there too." "Oh Spider will love that." Lane said laughing. "I bet he will. I don't want it swiped. My TBS shirt seemed to disappear last night." "He wouldn't take it. Maybe hide it for a while then put it someplace totally visible but that's it." "I'm going with that one.” "I wouldn't doubt it. Take it as his way of saying, welcome to the House of Zombie." "I'll remember that." Phoenix said with a smile as she looked at him. After about a minute Spider came over to them, "I’m so hungry I could eat my own head." "Me too." Phoenix said agreeing with Spider. "Well let's go to Mo's old place. It’s around the corner." Lane suggested. "Cool New York food." Phoenix said grinning. They walked down the street to TeaNY and got a table out on the patio. "Ooh this is a nice place." Phoenix said as she watched people. "Yeah 40 people & it's packed. It's also loved by the fucking hippie crowd." Spider sneered. "Still a pretty cool place." Phi said nodding with the music. "Yeah on weekends they play awesome music. Moby, who used to own the place, is a friend of ours. Friends with his ex who still runs the place so we get free eats." Lane added. "Reeks of youth." Spider shivered. Phoenix smiled as she looked around, seeing a guy standing there. "He looks kinda cute." Phoenix said. “If you say so hon." Lane said rolling her eyes. "Oh shut up Lane, you have fucking weird taste too." Spider said snidely. "Oh is that Alison from Discount over there?" Lane said wide-eyed. "Where?" Spider said jumping up & looking around. Lane just laughed at him. "I recognize him from somewhere." Phoenix said as she watched him come closer to their table. "Do you guys mind if I sit here? Every where else is full." The man asked. "Last time I checked it was a free country." Lane smiled. "Thanks." he said as he sat in the vacant chair. Phoenix turned pink when she finally remembered where she knew him from. "I'm Mikey,” he said. "I'm Lane, this is Phoenix & that arrogant as fuck motherfucker is my brother, Spider." Mikey cracked a smile as he heard Lane talk about her brother. "It’s cool to meet you Lane, Phoenix, Spider.” Mikey adjusted his glasses for a moment before looking at Phoenix. "Nice shirt by the way." "Oh for fucks sake. I’m in an idiot sandwich." Spider said slumping in his chair. “That’s the first time I've heard that one Spider." Phoenix said with a slight laugh. Mikey looked at Phoenix with a sideways glance. "At least he knows good music,” she said with a grin, trying to get a rise outta Spider. Spider choked on his tea. Phoenix’s grin widened as he choked on his tea. "Are you okay Spider?" she asked but was secretly going 'ooh score!' "No I’m not okay. Good music, my fucking ass. Rather fucking listen to someone bang their dick on a standup bass for an hour than that noise you kids listen too." "Yeah love you too Spider. So Mikey what kind of music do you listen to?" Phoenix asked. Mikey shrugged. "The usual: Joy Division, the Used, Flyleaf, lostprophets, stuff like that." "I’ll give him Joy Division but that's it." Spider said taking a pack of cigarettes out of his jacket pocket. "You’ll have to excuse my brother. He’s an ass stuck in the punk so-called movement of which he was born into." Lane said furrowing her brow at Spider. "What about you Phoenix? Sounds like your boyfriend isn't really into the type of music you like." Phoenix turned bright red as she took a sip of tea and choked on it at the idea of Mikey thinking Spider was her boyfriend. Spider looked to Mikey as if he was nuts then busted out into laughter. "What? I just assumed you were with the way you two acted around each other." Mikey said raising his hands in defense. Phoenix finally cleared her throat. "Spider's not my boyfriend. I'm single." She said with a smile. "I don't like children who have bad taste in music." Spider remarked. "Oh go screw yourself Spider." Phoenix grumbled. "Don't listen to him Mikey. I have my own taste in music. I listen to some of the same stuff you do." “Id-iot fuck-ing sand-wich." Spider said, emphasizing each syllable. "Do you guys live around here or are you visiting?" Mikey asked curiously. "We live on the Upper West Side. Shocking I know, since it’s mainly the yuppie crowd living there, but yes." Lane told him. "I live in Jersey, my brother and friends are somewhere in the city doing something for our band." Mikey said. "Fucking dumping ground." Spider mumbled. Lane reached over the table & swatted him upside the head. "What's wrong with Jersey? I lived there for a long time!" Phoenix said giving Spider a punch in the arm. "Promoting the new album Mikey?" Mikey frowned slightly. "Yeah not too much excitement. Too many people hate us as is." Mikey said with a shrug. Spider snorted & smirked. "Spider here is in a band too. Although not a big of a band as our other brother's was... who now has gone solo and outsold his former band." Lane stated. "Spider's great. But a bit of an ass at times. I like your band Mikey. Astro Zombie is one of my favorite songs." Phoenix said as she grinned at Mikey. "Astro... Astro Zombies! What the fuck are you talking about? You wanna hear the real band that plays Astro Zombies you listen to the band Laney’s got tatted on her forearm. Fucking dickweeds." Spider blurted out. "Uhh... yeah. What band are you in Mikey?" Lane said trying to change subjects. Phoenix shook her head at Spider. "Anyways, I also loved the song 'Ghost of You'. The video makes me cry every time I watch you die." Mikey heard Lane's question. "My Chemical Romance. I play bass,” he said. "Bass. Nice. Can’t say I ever heard you play, heard of you though. Doesn’t sound like the kind of music we usually play at the house.” Lane said. "It’s probably not. I started out playing the piano, then went on to bass. I can play a little guitar too." Mikey said, feeling a little bit saved by Lane. "I play a little guitar myself. But only stuff by my older brother’s bands, & a little Sex Pistols on bass. The Sex Pistols on bass only because Glen Matlock taught me." "That’s cool. My friend Frankie would kill to know Glen Matlock. He’s a huge fan." Mikey said with a nod. "So you're a fan, Phoenix?" "Yeah, but call me Phi." Phoenix said as she blushed at Mikey’s attention. “Why don't you guys come over some time? Glen lives with us so you guys can meet him." Lane said as Spider violently shook his head no. "I'd like that. As long as Phi will be there.” He said with a wink in her direction. Phoenix felt her face bypass pink and go straight to crimson from blushing. It was so embarrassing. "I'll definitely be there." She said with a whisper. "She lives with us too so yes. Let me give you my card & call if you need directions. But it's kinda hard to miss once you're in the neighborhood. It’s the house that looks like the address should be 1313 Mockingbird Lane.” Lane joked. "Cool" Mikey said as he pulled a sharpie out of one of his pockets. He scrawled a number on a napkin and gave it to Phi. "Here Phi, call me sometime. I'd like to talk again." He said smiling. "Definitely." she said with a huge smile. "Our house is always open so come whenever. I’m sure we'd love to have you." Lane said looking to Phi. Phoenix nodded in agreement excitedly. "I'd love for you to come." she said shyly. Mikey grinned as he took the card from Lane. "I could just use Google maps, they have easy directions." "If you like, I always found them to be the long way. But then again I’ve been a New Yorker for 12 years." "Well I gotta get going, Gerard will have me on his 'Mikey radar' if I'm late. It’s been cool. Nice to meet you Spider, Lane, Phi." he said with a smile as he got up to leave. “Don’t be a stranger!" Lane called out as he left. "I definitely won’t." He said waving back before disappearing in the crowds of people. Phoenix stared at the napkin in her hands. "I can't believe this." "Someone’s a Quick Draw McGraw.” Lane said chuckling. “Okay, okay I admit, I might have a slight crush on Mikey Way but its nothing." She said as she stared at the tea intently, not wanting to look at Spider. "It was noted. I heard you telling me in your head to do what I did. If I didn't, do you think I really would have done that?" "I so love you for that Lane! You’re awesome!" Phoenix said as she gave Lane a hug. "I know." Lane sighed. "I'm just so happy!" she said bouncing up and down in her seat, it was for once caused by something other sugar or caffeine. "Great now we're going to have to clean the house once they leave." Spider grumbled. "Aww, just give em a chance Spider please?" Phoenix pouted. "What do I get out of that?" "Maybe the satisfaction of proving me wrong?" Phoenix said with a shrug. "I dunno. But if they're real divas then you can kill em alright?" "They piss me off at all I’m knocking them son of bitches out." "Just not Mikey alright? Or maybe Frankie, but the others are alright. Gerard always seemed a bit prissy to me." Phoenix said. "Oh like I’m gonna be able to tell them apart." "Mikey is the only one who wears glasses. Gerard looks like an undead raccoon. Ray has the hair with its own zip code. Frankie has tattoos. It’s easy.” Phoenix said. "He’s not gonna remember that.” Lane said. "I know why do I bother?" Phoenix said as she rolled her eyes. Since there was a gate, Spider went inside to leave. At the door there was a man in a wheelchair. "Hey let me get the door for you." Spider to a man in wheelchair. "What, you think cuz I’m in a wheelchair I can’t open a fucking door? I can do anything you can." The man responded, offended. "Can you do this?" Spider did a little jig before opening the door & walking out ahead of the man. Phoenix shook her head. "Lane I don't really want to know where he got that from." She said with a slight laugh. Lane laughed as they got back to the truck. There was a piece of paper under the windshield wiper. "Please learn how to park so someone else can park next to you. Thank you." Spider read. He was parked perfectly in the spot, with no less than a foot of room on either side. "… What?" "People are just picky that’s all." Phoenix said as she poked him in the side. ::On the way home:: "Do you ever worry about getting too old? Becoming irrelevant? Being the types of people who are contemptuous of youth?" Spider asked his sister. "We already are contemptuous of youth." "I don’t think that’s tr- Oh shit, skaters! Roll down the window, quick! GET A CAR!" Spider yelled to them. "Spider! Shut up you big lug!" Phoenix said punching his shoulder. "You know most skaters can’t afford cars so they have to have some other way of getting around. Trust me I know." "I got my first car for about the same price as one of those fucking boards." "Mine was recycled. I found it in a trash can, still useable. Skated it ever since. Besides I buy my boards in bulk so I can either do my graphics or skate a bare deck. Oh I have some sketches to send Bam. I think I got some good stuff he'll like." Phoenix said as she mouthed sorry at the skaters. “Phi hun, you're not gonna win. Be happy he's letting your new little friend & his friends step on the property." "Yeah I'm grateful. But did Bam give you his address? Maybe I could mail the sketches to him." Phoenix wondered out loud. "No address. Sorry babe. Maybe he'll call soon. If not, he might be over at the holidays." "Yeah the sketches are really cool. I can't wait to see what he thinks." Phoenix said excitedly. "Don’t tell me you like him too." Spider said rolling his eyes. "No I just like to have feedback on the work that I do. Every artist does. Don’t you like to hear what fans have to say?" Phoenix asked. "Just showing up & paying is enough for me." Spider said coolly. “Fucking liar." Lane said looking at him. Phoenix laughed. "Well I like feedback. I mean even your opinion is important Spider. If I did a board with you on it, then I'd show you the stuff and see if you liked it." "Never is my face going on a board, got it?" "Alright, alright jeez. I was just saying. I did do a comic book character based slightly off of you." Phoenix said with a slight grin. "I've been working on that comic since my freshmen year." "That I’ll allow.” Spider said matter-of-factly. Lane shook her head & starting singing along to the Dead Milkmen's 'Bitchin Camaro.' "For that you get the first one free." Phoenix said with a smile. "Well it’s more like a cross between you and Dwayne from The Lost Boys. It is a vampire comic after all." "Good fucking movie." "I know its one of my favorites." Phi said as she thought about Dwayne. "Dwayne and David. Very sexy." "Or Michael David, whatever." Spider said shrugging. Lane hid her smile behind her hand. "Yes Spider, you're sexy too." Phoenix said rolling her eyes. "Yes, yes I am." Spider gloated. "If you like the Billy Idol type." Lane said in a low tone. Spider smacked her arm. Phoenix giggled at the two of them. "Yeah Mr. Billy Idol." She said. "Shut the fuck up, the both of ya’s." "Don’t you just love this family?" Lane asked Phi. "Yeah it’s so much better then the other family. But seriously y'all are crazy." Phoenix said with a huge grin. "Would you like us if we were boring?" Spider questioned. "Remember, we're the kids of former Carnies." Lane said. "Naw. Y’all are just fine the way ya are." Phi answered. "Damn right I am." Spider scoffed. Phoenix shook her head slightly. "Spider you remind me of that one auto commercial with the dude in it with the pole and the fans." "Never saw it." "You should its funny." she said. "I can't plan on that but okay." Lane started to smirk "I can’t wait to see Gutter’s face when those kids come over." "Hope he doesn’t flip on em." Phoenix said. "He won't flip; he'll just want to cry & maybe tell them to bugger off." Lane said. "We’re home. Move it or loose it." Spider exclaimed.

Chapter 18 The moment they got home, Phoenix went to get another can of SoBe. "These things are addictive." She said out of the blue examining the can in her hands. "Caffeine does have that effect." Elijah said sitting down at the table. "I love caffeine... love it more then skateboarding." She said popping the top of it and taking a long sip. "Great... one more addiction I gotta feed." Lane laughed. "It's not an addiction...." Phoenix said with a grin. "It keeps me from being normal." "You can be normal?" Lane questioned. “When I’m not on a caffeine kick. Hi, I'm Phoenix and I'm addicted to caffeine." Phoenix said raising her can to the others in the kitchen. "Hello Phoenix." Lane said in a monotone voice, as normally heard in AA. Phoenix started to run in circles around the kitchen to work off the excess energy. "Spider came home about half hour ago." Gutter mentioned. "Woohoo circles!" Phoenix giggled as she spun on the spot and bounced off the fridge. "I think we need a stronger fridge." Lane chuckled. "I'm okay..." Phoenix said as she wobbled a bit before collapsing down in a chair. "Michael! Food!" Lane yelled out but there was no response. "I feel like I'm drunk like that one time..." Phoenix said as she held her head to try and make everything stop spinning. "Know the feeling." Lane said playing with a hole in her jeans. "I think one of my friends caught it on tape, it was funny watching it. Will the real Lane please raise her hand, there's like five of you." Phoenix said shaking her head back and forth. "Eat some protein you'll feel better." Lane suggested. "What’s for dinner again? I forgot." Phoenix mumbled. "We got fast food." "Yay cheese burgers!" "Yes now eat. My mom sees how skinny you are, she'll be feeding you too." Phoenix jumped up and down in her chair as she grabbed one and started to chow down. "Don’t choke now." Lane commanded. "I wont." Phoenix said in a muffled voice. She swallowed hard. "At least Tim isn’t here to try and scare the day lights outta me while I'm trying to eat." "Spider is though.... Somewhere." "He's lurking, not here scaring me. That’s an improvement." Phoenix said as she took a sip of SoBe. "He went straight upstairs. Locked himself in the bathroom. Not a peep since." Gutter said. "Oookay." Phoenix said as she looked around the kitchen. "I really don't want to know what he's doing." Lane squirmed. "Me either." Phoenix agreed. "No, not that. We’d hear music blasting if he was rubbing one out." Lane responded. "He's probably making a mess of some sort. My parents always thought I was up to something if they didn’t see me once an hour." Phoenix said with a shrug as she finished her burger. "Well, we aren't your parents. Nothing like them." "That’s a good thing. I was more likely to be up to something if they saw me." Phoenix said with a slight chuckle. "Now that I don't doubt. We were always up to no good. Mom & Pops knew it, if they didn't we'd blame each other." “Does anyone have firecrackers?" Phoenix asked as she played with her favorite lighter. "Not inside my house you don't. Nor near the cars." Lane said sternly. "No I saw some snobby looking neighbor as we were coming in, wanted to have a go at the mailbox." Phoenix said. "Babe, they're all the yuppie types over here. Took me years to get their trust. If you wait until tonight Spider will let you have a go at his stash of fireworks." "Ooh yay! I love fireworks. I ran out of firecrackers at Bam's place." "Well Spider's got all sorts. Even though they are illegal in this state." "It’s only illegal if you get caught." Phoenix said with an evil grin. "Now you're thinking like a Zombie. God, there are more of you." Elijah said getting up & going over to the bookshelf. "It’s the same way with skateboarding." Phoenix said after throwing away her trash. She cocked her head to the side before going into a handstand and walking out of the kitchen like that. "Don't knock anything over!" Lane yelled out after her as Spider descended the stairs. "I smell food, why am I not tasting it?" "Because you're a lazy motherfucker" Lane answered. "Ah, that's right." "I won’t!" Phoenix shouted back. There was a loud thump as Phoenix lost her balance and fell face first onto the floor. "Now that's talent." Spider said, cracking open a beer. "I'm okay. It’s all good." Phoenix said, rubbing her chin where it had skinned on the floor. "Oh we don't care about that. You get what you deserved." Spider told her. "You're mean." Phoenix said punching his arm. "You just now noticed?" Lane asked, with a lifted eyebrow. Phoenix made a face after taking another sip from the can. "Tomorrow's free for me. So we can head out then." Spider said to Lane, who gave him the thumbs up before going to join Elijah on the couch. "I'm bored!" Phoenix whined. "What do you want me to do about that? I already took my monthly bath." Spider exclaimed. "Wow that's a shocker, you shower?" Phoenix joked. "Yes I shower. Just not often. Thank you, you little cunt." Spider retorted. "Are you freebasing, Spider? Inquiring minds want to know." Phoenix shot back. "Actually I haven't done drugs since I was you're age if you must know." "How was your show or practice?" Phoenix asked, quickly switching the subject. "Practice & good. Now I need my beer to get rid of my sore throat." "Aww, poor Spider." Phoenix said. "Yeah, thanks. I’m watching my show, fuckers don't like it, go away." Spider said turning on the TV. Lane rolled her eyes; "I’ll be on my office." Phoenix just watched Spider from the kitchen quietly. At least watching him was better then watching a fall out boy commercial. Half way through the show, Spider noticed his fly was undone so he zipped himself up before getting another beer. Phoenix's eyes glazed over as she started thinking about her own little world. She didn't even notice Spider getting up. As he passed her he slammed her head into the table. "Ow, man, what the flying fuck was that for?!?" Phoenix screeched as she rubbed her forehead. Not even worrying that her lip busted. "Fucking dick head." "What? I didn't do a damned thing." Spider said flopping back down on the couch. "Yeah and I'm Kiefer-freaking-Sutherland. That really hurt." Phoenix said as she rummaged in the freezer for an ice pack. "Kay." Spider said going back to his show. Phoenix gave a frustrated growl and threw the ice pack that she found at him and headed up stairs. "Somebody's cranky." Spider said to Gutter. Phoenix examined her busted lip in the mirror, it wasn't bad, and she had worse before. But the angry red spot on her forehead bothered her. It just throbbed dully and annoyed her. From upstairs she could hear Black Flag playing. "For some reason I feel like its best not to know." Phoenix said to herself. Elijah knocked on the bathroom door, "You okay?" He said peering in. "Yeah I'm fine, I've had worse." Phoenix said shrugging it off like it was nothing. "Head hurts like I got hit with my own board again." she whispered. Elijah chuckled, "There's some aspirin in the medicine cabinet. I’m heading back to LA soon so uh, it was nice meeting you & I’ll see you soon." "It was cool meeting you too, Elijah. You seem really awesome." Phoenix said with a slight smile, only to have her lip start bleeding again. Elijah grabbed a hand towel from the rack & tossed it too her. "Be careful,” he said before leaving. "Me and careful don't seem to run in the same sentence." Phoenix caught the towel out of the air and pressed it to her lip. It stung a little and it made her swear. She sat down on the toilet seat and waited for the bleeding to stop. An hour later Spider came in, "Heading to bed, you still crashing with me or are you still all catty?" "Yeah I'm still crashing with you. Ow!" Phoenix said as her head gave a malicious throb. "Were you just staring at my ass?" Spider said crossing the hall to his room. "Yeah. It's kinda nice, actually." Phoenix said with a slight smile. "Kinda nice? You obviously haven't seen that many asses in your short years." "Including yours, maybe two that I've liked." Phoenix said as she stretched, following Spider to his room. "Then I was right." "Ok, ok I admit you were right." "Of course I am." Spider said taking his shirt off. "Yeah I forgot Spider is always right,” she said slipping into an Element tank top. "Yes I am,” he said taking off his blue jeans. Phoenix smirked at him as she pulled on her pirate pajama pants. "Are you even not full of it?" "Huh?" Spider said trying not to fall over taking his shoes off. "Graceful." Phoenix remarked as she watched him. "What am I? Fucking swan? Who gives a shit?" "We all have our moments." "Sure." Spider said going over to his CD collection. "What are you thinking about listening to?" "Not sure that's why I’m looking." "Must have some idea." "Yeah, nothing of yours." Phoenix crossed her arms with a pout. "Nothing's wrong with my stuff." "Maybe if you don't have taste or are deaf." "Nyaah!" she stuck her tongue out at him. “Love ya too babe." Spider said as he kept looking through his extensive collection. "What about that one?" She pointed to a random CD. "No I want to listen to some rock. Uh, okay, Thin Lizzy tonight." "What’s that?" "You’ve never heard of Thin Lizzy?" "Nope." "And you're Southern right?" "Yeah. But what's that got to do with anything?" "Well they're from Ireland but a lot of Southern rockers love em. Especially songs like ‘The Boys Are Back In Town’ & ‘Whiskey In The Jar.’" "Oh I like those songs, never knew who sang em." Spider shook his head as he put the CD in the player, throwing off to the side the CD that was in there from before. "Nice way to treat your CDs." "Eh, it's fine. Plus it's not like I can't steal Lane's copy." Phoenix yawned and stretched before flopping down on Spider's bed. "Don’t steal the whole pillow now. I gotta piss like a race horse." "Sure thing." Phoenix rolled over to give Spider some pillow room. After Spider came back to the bedroom he belly flopped onto his side of the bed. Phoenix grunted slightly, prodding him in the side before trying to fall asleep. "What are you doing?" Spider said into the pillow. "Nuthin'." Phoenix mumbled. "Then why is the bed moving? Nothing doesn't involve moving." "Meeh." "Go to sleep." "Mummph" "Go to sleep! Why don't you just go to sleep! GO TO SLEEP! IT'S TIME TO GO TO SLEEP! Oh! …Come on! …Go to sleep! Go to sleep! It's time to go to sleep!!!…OH MY GODDD!!!!" "I can’t sleep with you howling, Spider." Spider grumbled to himself turning his head away from Phi. Phoenix couldn’t help but giggle at him before finally falling asleep. He was still sleeping, with the sheet tangled around his feet, when she woke up. Phoenix quietly tried to get out of the bed to not wake him up, but ended up falling flat on her face on the floor. Spider was so heavy into sleep he didn't stir. Phoenix smiled at him before going to check her forehead and lip out. Phoenix saw that a bruise had formed on her forehead, maybe she could get Lane to work the make up so it wasn’t so noticeable. Spider had just woken up so he was singing along to Thin Lizzy's "Cowboy Song." "Nice Spider." Phoenix smiled as she walked back into the room to rummage for her clothes "I know." "Did you steal my TBS shirt?" Phoenix asked as she looked around for it but couldn't find it. "Nope. I was asleep ‘til a minute ago." "Swear you didn't set it on fire or something?" Phoenix said tossing her hands in the air and coming up with her favorite AFI shirt she had swiped from a friend a while ago. "You’d be smelling the toxic fumes it'd give off, if I did. Plus I’m not allowed to light anything more than a cigarette in the house." "Wow." Phoenix remarked as she pulled on her jeans. "Yeah, fucking Lane." "Oh do you think she's up yet? I'm not good with make up maybe she can do something about the nice bruise you gave me." Phoenix said with a smirk in Spider’s direction. "I didn't do shit. But chances are she never slept. If she's not in her room knock on her office door." "Office is where?" "5th floor ya doof, you should know that." "Oh right, forgot." Phoenix said with a giggle as she ran to go see if Lane was in her room. "Lane?" she asked as she knocked on the door of her room. When Phoenix didn't hear anything in Lane's room she headed up to the floor where Spider said her office was. "Lane? I need your help." Lane came to the door, hair a mess, wearing ripped to shit jeans & an old Ramones tee. "What’s up? Ohh, nice goose egg there." "Yeah can you do something about that? It's kinda.... Yeah..." Phoenix said turning pink. "Yeah, sure. Let’s go to my bathroom. I got something that'll cover up tats so it'll work on that." "W00tness. I love you so much for this Lane." Phoenix said happily. "Yeah, yeah." Lane said taking Phi to the bathroom. "Wash your face first so it stays better." She said looking through a drawer of makeup. Phoenix did as she was told. Wincing slightly when she bumped the bruise. "Ok done." Phoenix said as she dabbed her face dry. "Ok sit on the toilet." After she did, Lane applied her tattoo cover up to Phi’s forehead. "All done. Now get ready because once I’m done you, me, & Spider are going out." "Umm okay... just let me go find my hoodie and beanie." Phoenix said as she padded back to Spider's room to find what she was looking for. Once she did, Lane & Spider were sitting in the kitchen talking over coffee. "Okay ready." Phoenix said as she jumped over the last two stairs. "We're taking the truck." Spider said as he grabbed his denim jacket from the back of his chair & flung it over his shoulder. "Cool, I like your truck." Phoenix said with a smile, only pausing to make sure her lip didn’t start bleeding again. "You were bitching about how bad it was the other day." Spider remarked. "It can’t be worse then some other pieces of crap that I've driven. Or skated." "It’s not bad at all. It’s rugged and manly." "So you've said." Phoenix smiled as she followed after Spider and Lane. "It's true." Spider commented. "It's best not to argue & try not to laugh at clanking noises the truck makes." Lane told Phi. "Will do." Phoenix gave a weird kind of salute to Lane. Lane shook it off as Spider turned the key to start the engine. Dead Milkmen was still playing 'Punk Rock Girl'. Lane smiled and clapped. "Lane likes to believe they're talking about her." Spider scoffed. "I feel the same way when I hear the song 'Divine Intervention' from Taking Back Sunday." Phi added. Spider snorted as he quickly peeled out of the drive.

Chapter 17 Phi hit the breaks the moment she pulled into the driveway of the House of Zombie. Phoenix shook Spider and Lane awake, saying that they were back. "Up! We're up!" Spider said yawning. "Yay!" Phoenix said, bouncing around the truck. She tripped and fell. She stood up and dusted herself off. "Ready to go back into a bad episode of ‘Tales From The Crypt?’" Spider asked Phi. "Sure why not? Only you scare me though." Phoenix said happily as she headed to the porch. "Is that why you ran into my room, asked to sleep in my bed & haven't left?" "I said not much scares me, I just got weirded out, there’s a difference." Phoenix said poking him in the side. "Sure, that's what you said." Spider said snidely. Gutter came out & went over to the truck, stealing a pack of cigarettes from the glove box. "Morning all." Phoenix shuddered as she stepped behind Spider. "Hey, Gut. You remember Phi." Lane said stretching. "Not really but I don't remember waking up." he said lighting up one of Spider’s cigarettes. Phoenix peered around Spider and shuddered again. He weirded her out. "What is wrong with you? It can't be because I smell good, I haven't showered in like a month." Spider said craning to see Phi. "You still smell good either way." Phoenix said shaking her head. "Wait until you smell me after I pass out in my puke." Spider laughed. "Oh Laney, your boyfriend is here." Gutter said taking a drag. “Boyfriend? You mean Elijah?" Phoenix asked as she peered up at Lane. "No Elijah Blue is my boyfriend, but he meant Jussi. Of course, Elijah Blue, silly." "Jussi? Where?" Phoenix squealed trying to push Spider out of the way. "She was making a joke, love." Gutter laughed. "Sorry Spider. I knew that." Phi said, blushing a bit. "I don't believe you but whatever. It's fall, it's cold, I'm going inside." Spider said. "Wait for me!" Phoenix said bouncing after him. "Then hurry up!" Spider said pretty much strutting to the door. Phoenix ran after him quickly before he shut the door. Elijah was laying on the couch reading. "Spider, hey!" he said getting up & giving Spider a hug. "And you are...?" "Phoenix. You're Elijah right? Laney told me loads about you." Phoenix said as she peered around Spider. "Yeah. Hi. What's your story? Lane failed to mention you." "Well dunno actually, she knew my ex, became friends that way and he got dumped. So, I'm staying with Spider and Lane..." Phoenix said trailing off, noticing she was rambling. "Yeah Laney's always loved taking in strays." Spider said. "Hey!" Phoenix said as she punched Spider in the arm. "Hey what? I was one, too." "Then I guess we mutts should stick together." Phoenix said with a laugh. "You are an odd child who smells of TV." Spider remarked, glaring at her. "Wow. I have no idea what to say to that Spider." Phoenix said shaking her head. "Then I have succeeded. Blue! Kitchen! We'll catch up." Spider called out walking away to the kitchen. Phoenix headed upstairs to change clothes. She really had no idea what to change into. Maybe she could get Lane to help her or something. After a few minutes Lane & Gutter came into the house. Lane put Houdini down & screamed at the top of her lungs. Phoenix poked her head over the railing to see what Lane wanted. "Oh hi. Don't mind me. Just a release. Happy to be home?" Lane asked. "Yeah I'm just trying to figure out which shirt Spider won’t murder me over." Phoenix said to Lane. "None of those kiddie bands you listen to. If you want, steal from me or Sheri." "What about this one?" Phoenix said holding up a black tee shirt with skeletons saying: “Blackbeard's Brigade wanted a few bad men.” "Should be fine. I'm gonna say hi to Elijah Blue." "Yeah you have fun." Phoenix said winking at her. "Know I will!" Lane yelled out as she went to the kitchen. Phoenix pulled her shirt on and went down stairs into the kitchen to see if there was anything to drink other then beer and coffee. There wasn't. Lane, Spider & and Elijah were talking about the old days, when Lane & Elijah first dated. Phoenix then gave a sigh as she grabbed a glass, some ice and got some water from the sink as she silently watched the others interact. She felt a bit out of place. Spider belched right into Phi's face. Phoenix wrinkled her nose and pushed Spider's face out of hers. "Do you know what a tooth brush is?" "Yes but I barely ever used one. That’s why going to the dentist is a bitch & rare." "Once again you never cease to amaze me." Phoenix said as she waved her hand in front of her nose, taking another sip of water. "I know. I'm just that good." Spider said stretching. "You haven't changed at all." Elijah laughed as he put his arm around Lane. Phoenix fell silent again as she continued to watch the people again. After a few minutes, Lane looked to Phi. "You’re too quiet. It’s scaring me." "I'm just watching and observing, trying to figure you guys out." Phoenix said with a shrug. "I'm in a different musical world remember?" Phoenix said reminding Lane. "What does music have to do with anything? I don't really listen to punk; I grew up on what these two call ‘cock rock.’ My parents are Greg Allman & Cher for fucks sake." Elijah commented. "Yeah well Spider still makes fun of me because of the stuff I like." Phoenix said with a sideways glance at Spider. "Spider make fun of everyone." Lane retorted. "Its also just kinda how I am. When I'm around people I don't know I prefer to observe." Phoenix said. "Makes sense. Leave the kid alone. She’s not like you guys." Elijah remarked. Phoenix was just content to watch, but eventually ended up slipping an ice cube down Spider's back when he wasn't looking. Spider jumped up knocking his kneecap under the table. "Motherfucker son of an asshole!" he said after removing the ice cube. Phoenix giggled slightly. "Are you okay Spider? Didn't mean for that to happen." "I’ll be fine. Didn’t mean for that to happen, my ass. What do you expect when you do that?" "Oh I don't know, I was expecting you to fall backwards into the trash can." Phoenix said in all honesty. "Thanks. Appreciate that. I gotta piss." Spider said walking out. "I like messing with Spider." Phoenix said decidedly. She just continued to watch the others. Gutter came in & took Spider's chair. Spider came back in zipping up his pants. "That’s a bad habit. You need to learn to finish in the bathroom." Lane said to Spider. Phoenix contorted her face trying to not laugh. "Well we know he doesn't wash his hands after shaking it off." Gutter remarked. Phoenix thought her ribs were gonna crack under trying to keep from laughing. "It's just a penis." Spider said jumping on the counter. "Its not that, I'm just glad someone’s ripping on you for a change." Phoenix said with laugh as she massaged her side. "I was talking about why I don't wash but uh, thanks." "You’re welcome." Phoenix said as she took another sip of water. Spider leaned over & took the spray from the sink & started to blast Phi with it. Phoenix stood there soaking wet with her mouth open, not believing Spider had just did that. Phoenix did the first thing that came to her mind. She pulled her shirt off and spun it tightly and started to give Spider rat tails with her sopping shirt. Spider grabbed the shirt & pushed Phi into the fridge. "Time to go to practice. Got a show later." "Hey come back here!" Phoenix shouted as she chased after him, taking a flying leap to his back. "I have practice. I already missed 2 this week." Phoenix gave a spinning back kick and lightly landed it on Spiders backside. "Get lost you barmy ol coute." “'Barmy ol coute?' Wow, okay." Spider said laughing. He shook it off as he left. Phoenix headed back into the kitchen where her sopping wet shirt was. She wiped the last bit of water from her face and headed upstairs to change. When she got back, Gutter raised a pierced eyebrow, "Nice bra, love." "Thanks, glad you approve." Phoenix said. "I don't think I own more than 1 myself." Lane thought to out loud. Phoenix quickly changed now that Spider wasn't there she changed into her favorite TBS shirt with the sheep on it. "Phoenix, we're planning on going to a movie in a bit. Would like to join us?" Elijah asked. "Sure. What movie are you planning on seeing?" Phoenix asked as she pulled her wet hair back into a ponytail. "It’s the office screening of a new Troma film. It's called Pot Zombies. Might be showcasing it at TromaDance." Lane answered. "Sweet I'd love to see it." Phoenix said as she used the shirt to wipe water off of her hands. "That makes one of us. I love ya Laney, but those films you put out are shit. I'm going to go to bed." Gutter said. "Wow you're funny Gutter." Phoenix said as she raised an eyebrow at Gutter. "Who was trying to be? Troma hasn't put out a good movie since Toxic Avenger. You Americans are all bloody odd." Phoenix slid over towards Lane to hide from Gutter. “He doesn't bite. Not unless you deserve it. Then I’d suggest a rabies shot." Lane smiled. "Can I get a rabies shot to go?" Phoenix asked Lane. "Just incase?" “The only needles that have ever come into this house, I’d suggest not putting them into your flesh." “Fair enough. Is there any possibility to have some liquid in the house that isn’t caffeine intoxicated or liquor?” "There’s a store about a 5 minute walk from here. Have fun. Oh, I think we still have milk from the fried Oreo’s somewhere in the fridge." "Milk? I don’t drink milk but I’ll head to the store. Anyone else want anything?" Phoenix asked. "I think we're good. Thanks though. Come on Elijah Blue, while waiting for her we can go up to my room and have a little fun." Lane beamed. Phoenix ran to the store to look around for a couple of cans of SoBe Adrenaline Rush and some other types of bottled SoBe. Phoenix came back in from the store, running in the hallway and tripped, sliding into the kitchen on her butt. Gutter was still there, reading the paper. "Was that as fun as it looked?" "Very much so. It’s even funnier when it happens while I'm on a skateboard." Phoenix said as she stood up and dusted her 'emo jeans' off. "Sure it is. Never got into them things myself but I was in my 20s when skateboarding first really appeared & then it wasn't a British thing." "I figured. It was started in Hawaii before going to California, it didn’t really catch on over there until the 90's" Phoenix said as she popped the top of a SoBe can. "Yeah, plus the now-called punks didn't like them kids back in my day. The 70s were a fucked up time. Especially in lower class London." "Wow, you're really interesting to talk to." Phoenix said as she took a long swallow from her can. "I could have used you my junior year when we studied the punk movement." "Never did think it really was a movement. But, I was the bassist for the Sex Pistols before that wanker Sid was. I’m even the one on our only album." "Holy crap you're amazing. Really though, a teacher of mine used to play all of the Sex Pistols albums in the class before starting." She said as she reminisced about her old teacher. "Then again I swore he was drunk half the time." "So were we. And we only had one album. But thank you." Phoenix laughed slightly. "What was it like playing shows and touring? It must have been amazing." "I really didn't play much with the Pistols actually. After the album was made there were a lot of problems between us & Malcolm so I quit. Then Sid came in. But I played a few shows with them & then Johnny & I did Public Image Limited together live for a short while." "Wish that my friend LaWrenso could meet you. He's obsessed with the Pistols and the Ramones and bands like that." Phoenix said. "You know there is nothing similar between us & the Ramones. Great guys but musically there isn't a similarity. And contrary to what people will tell you, the Sex Pistols were touring before the Ramones started." "Sounds like you know all about them." Phoenix picked the strands of thread from her Taking Back Sunday shirt. "Well I was friends with them ya know. I even played the Joey Ramone birthday bash in May of this year. God rest his soul." "Wow you knew the Ramones? I lived listening to them my freshmen year. Even did my music theory paper on them." "You’re making me feel old here. But yeah I knew em. The outsiders community... don't forget we never said we were punk, the tabloid called us that... were pretty close knit back then." "Sorry, I don’t mean to make you feel old. Where did everyone else go?" Phoenix looked around. "Lane’s doing what she does best." "Ahh right." Phoenix said knowing exactly what he was talking about. "Any guy she's with is better than that asshole Spider knocked out for me." "Oh that guy I saw you with at that consumerist trapping? Yeah, sure. I like Elijah I guess. But I wouldn't say any guy she's been with. I think even she's lost count. Though I do have to say I ain't that bad a bloke. We had a good sleazy one week stand just after her divorce." "I don't think your that bad. My parents hated Tim, they hate me, come to think of it they hate everything." Phoenix said thoughtfully as she took another sip. "Parents can be like that. I haven't seen mine since I was 14 or 15. Now I’m a grandparent. But now you got Lane's parents. They treat everyone that walks through their door as their own. And Lane herself acts incredibly motherly. Think that's because she wants her own so bad." "I hope she'll have kids. She deserves happiness. I wouldn't mind a couple of lil mingers of my own but any kids of mine will be crazy with a death wish." "You’re still young yet. You’ll calm down more as you get older maybe. Once I learned I had a child I did, even though I never saw her." "That must be tough. It was hard for me when my mom died of cancer, I just promised myself that I wouldn't ever be like my dad." Phoenix said darkly, shaking her head. "Sorry to hear. Hope all you want. I did, became a drunkard. Still drink but not as much as back then. Ya see, my family was very poor. My mother had to work two jobs because my father would drink away his check before he came home. And England was a lot different in the 60s than it is now. I even had to start working at 10. Worked in sewers, cleaning them out. Did that for years before I worked for Vivienne Westwood at her sex clothing shop.” "That must have been really hard, having to work all the time and not really being able to have a childhood." Phoenix said as she felt sympathy for Gutter. "I don't mind none. I eventually left home, bought a guitar from a pawnshop, became a Pistol because of my job at Vivienne’s & the rest is history. I enjoy myself. Wouldn’t have traded it in for a thing. And I did really well in school. I don't know why these bloody kids quit. It’s horrible." “I don't understand why people quit school either. Its important to learn and even more important to make yourself the best. I was alright in school, I was just lazy." She said with a laugh. "Most of us are. Kids these days, pssh. Just like them Green Day arseholes." "I hate Green Day’s new stuff. I'll take Dookie over American Idiot. I mean seriously, its all the stuff they're protesting that’s making them cash." "They don't know a damn thing of what they're talking about. Let me tell you something about them, right? Green Day were asked by, there is some truth in this but not much, and here is the thing: Green Day were asked by the Hall of Fame, would they award us this thing. Now they were asked this before we were asked if we would even accept it. Right. So we weren’t even involved in who was going to award us. But it allowed Green Day the chance to go, “Oh no we turn our noses up at that. Oh no, won’t have nothing to do with that. The Sex Pistols aren’t punk. We’re real punk.” So those fat little kids that turn up three years in a row with the same American Idiot album on the Grammy’s have the nerve to be pompous about us. That’s incredible, well that’s the truth of it. And that’s why I’m annoyed with them alright? Fat silly little rich kids, you know, in make-up and punk gear. Well they haven’t earned the wings to wear that kind of clobber. Right. I’ve fought a hard life here and I’ve got the scars to prove it. And you know, consistently, continuously volatility attacked for the things I believe in and yet I don’t do anything to hurt anyone. Right, but they come along and they think they can con it all up right, and a record company behind it with very expensive videos behind that mob, very expensive productions and have the nerve to call themselves punk? No. Plunk. Plunk is what they are. Bunch of fat plunkers. Especially that lead one right there. I just read an appraisal of the Sex Pistols by him this morning. It’s a press blurb that they put out. It’s on the Internet. It’s hilarious. It’s not even his own words. These people piece together all our press over the years and amalgamated it into an appraisal of us. He’s dead right though, we are original, we don’t come from nothing, we haven’t copied anything and if that makes us leaders of men, yeah, we are. We are, we definitely hit on a few high notes. What you don’t understand about punk and how it’s perceived in America or as it’s perceived in England is that punk there, I took on institutions, governments, I looked at long term jail sentences for some serious, serious activity here. Alright. I have been definitely monitored and I am still under surveillance by Scotland Yard, MI5, MI6 and the whole lot and I don’t mind. I go for a visa, I have to go through this certain amount of interrogation that most normal people, except for terrorists, wouldn’t have to put up with. I’m under the same like watchful eye. That’s alright, that’s okay. I’ve been openly debated in the houses of Parliament under the terrorist act; this is 25, 30 years ago. That’s how I know it. When I hear my name in the British House of Commons, with MPs talking it, I don’t think you could get a more clearer example of yes, you’re being surveyed.” "Wow and I thought the meatless balls was weird. That takes the cake." Phoenix said in amazement. "It’s weird a guy like me is on the terrorist list?" "Yeah, but at least the meatless balls taste the same when you close your eyes. But you a terrorist? That’s like calling me a cheerleader." "Well with all that's happened I don't doubt the government malarkey thinks of me that way. I’m not the only Pistol on the watch either." "Well it makes sense if you’re on the list then the others would be." Phoenix said nodding. "It’s from before we got together too. Johnny is as adamant as I am." "I bet." Phoenix said as she started humming the song 'La Vie Bohem.' Lane & Elijah Blue walked into the kitchen. "I see everyone's still alive." "For the most part. I could be an illusion to make you think I was alive." Phoenix said as she continued humming 'La Vie Bohem.' "Sounds like Criss. But if you were, means no Pot Zombies & we leave you here with no dinner." "Aww no fair. God I've been watching Mindfreak too much" Phoenix smacks her head. "What am I talking about?! There’s no such thing as too much Mindfreak!" "Not in this house. But then again Criss comes whenever he's in New York. Which reminds me I have to feed Houdini before we go." "Houdini's a sweet kitten." Phoenix remarked. "Of course he is. How can you not like kitty cats? Plus Criss gave him to me & you watch Mindfreak so you know Criss & his cats." "Yeah Hammy is talented." Phoenix said as she thought about how the kitten could levitate and disappear. "That is one hell of a cat. Of course, only one of Criss's could be magical. I’ll be right back. Phi, it's cold. You’re not going out without a jacket." Lane said getting Houdini’s food ready. "Umm okay..." Phoenix said in a confused manner. Then she remembered what Gutter had said. "Go upstairs & find a jacket. I don't want to be late. I have contacts to talk too." Phoenix ran upstairs and grabbed her flannel jacket before coming back down. "Great I look like Mike V, I probably smell like him too." "Was that in Spider's room at any point?" Lane said putting her jacket on. "I don’t know it might have been, I brought it from home." Phoenix said. "Well if it was in Michael’s room it smells like a dirty drunk man. We’re taking Dean since I can't take Merrick to the office & Jimmy is a two seater." "Ok which one is Dean?" Phoenix asked. "The black '67 Chevy Impala. Just like Dean's car in the show 'Supernatural.'" "Never saw the show. Makes sense I guess." Phoenix said with a shrug. "Just lead the way el capitano.” Lane took Phi & Elijah to the car. Elijah got in the passenger seat & rummaged through the armrest. “Can we listen to something that ISN’T Jawbreaker for once?” “Sure. Here ya go.” Lane said handing over another tape. “What’s this?” “Jets To Brazil.” “What? Are these your only two tapes? There are bands out there without Blake Swarzenbach in them, you know.” “Yeah, but most of those bands suck.” "I heard of those bands, they were in my book on emo." Phoenix said randomly as she stared out the window. "They aren't emo. They're punk & indie, thank you." Lane said backing out onto the street. "Well they were in the book along with Taking Back Sunday, New Found Glory and Jimmy Eat World. Though I will never understand how Dashboard is emo." Phoenix said with a shrug. "Indie, ha. You know, all of Wilco's CDs were on a major." Elijah said looking out the window. "Well I can tell you one thing, none of those bands you just mentioned have ever been played at our house." Lane said turning a corner. "Alright. As long as you don't brain scan my iPod it’s all good." Phoenix said. "Headphones. Use them when you listen to those bands. I’m sure Michael will get you to listen to a lot of his collection. Plus, now Gutter is living with us, old school punk will be a plenty. By the by, not sure if he wants you to call him Gutter. Only Rob, Sheri, Michael & I ever call him that. So just in case, his real name is Glen Matlock if you didn't already know." "Okay didn’t know that. Will definitely remember that because I don’t want to get hurt." Phoenix said with a slight shudder, remembering the fight earlier on in the week. “I’m sure you wouldn't get hurt by him. Nowadays he only fights if he feels he's being attacked. I mean the guy is about 50." "But still. I don't really like making people mad or irritating them believe it or not." Phoenix mumbled. “Have fun with Michael on that front then." Elijah chuckled. "Well Spider’s special. I could irritate him all day long and not be bothered by it." Phoenix laughed. "I don't know what it is but everyone loves taking the piss outta him. Even Pops. Well, Pops is a tough guy by nature but Michael is still his son & last chance on carrying on the Cummings name." Phoenix laughed. "So Spider is your only hope of carrying on the family name eh? Not much hope is there?" "Unless I have a kid before I’m married, he is. Sheri & Rob don't want any and their last name is legally Zombie." "Good point. Still sounds a bit bad." "Wouldn’t be surprised if he had one or two little ones he doesn't know about." Elijah said tapping his fingers on the armrest. "Me either." Phoenix said quietly thinking about Spider. "Not sure if I can see my brother settling down. Mom for sure wants him to. But it'll have to be someone special to make him want to." Lane said as she pulled into her designated parking space. "Well what ever girl he ends up with, she'll be lucky to have him." Phoenix said with a sigh. "Yeah free room and board at my place, a husband who thinks he's god, has a pension for comics so much so he went to college for a year for it, and isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer." Lane said as they walked into the building & made their way to the elevator. “At least he knows what he likes." Phoenix said as she walked to keep up with them. "This is true. He does know what he likes, and turns his nose down at anyone who disagrees. Now don't get me wrong I love my brother & he's one of my best friends. But as his younger sister I don't see things in him other girls do & know first hand how much of a pain in the ass he can be...especially to me." Phoenix laughed slightly. "Well at least he isn't like Bam, look at the stuff he does. Would you rather have a jackass for a brother?" "He is... just a different type. He used to play practical jokes on me all the time as a kid. For years I was afraid of woodsy areas & my closet at night." "This I have to hear." Phoenix said with a grin. "When I was 5 he used to dress up as various scary things & jump out of my closet, sometimes from under the bed. When I was 8 he took me into woods around Salem, left me there. After he told me about the wolves devouring kids, and spirits of the Salem witches walking about. And I didn't know my way back. Pops yelled at him when I didn't show back up when we were about to leave. They came & found me & even though he was 18 he got grounded from going to see shows." Lane said as they got off the elevators & entered Troma's office. "Wow. And I thought it was bad when I hid under the bed and grabbed my sister’s leg. I thought I would have to peel her off the ceiling. Could've sworn she knew I was there though." "Yeah, he wasn't the sweetest older brother but he was cool for the most part. Rob used to beat up Michael for doing that to me. Both of them were actually awesome brothers to have, even though I’m 10 years younger." "I think I would have paid to see Rob beat up Spider. So what's this newest movie of yours about?" Phoenix asked. "Radioactive weed turns people into zombies with the munchies for human flesh." A gray-haired man said coming up to them. "Sounds better then a Resident Evil game." Phoenix said with a nod. "Of course I could never rescue the right person in time. Maybe that’s why all my endings were horrible. Oh well." She said shrugging her shoulders. "Let’s just hope 'Poultrygeist!' doesn't kill us. We’ll all be out of a job," The man said. "Oh, hello Lane. Where are ya? Phi you haven't met Lloyd. He’s my boss & the founder and President of Troma." Lane introduced. “Nice to meet ya." Phoenix said as she waved in the direction of Lane's boss. She was still waiting for the sugar rush to kick in. "Nice to meet you too. Well come on kids, my wife & I saved you some seats in our theater." Lloyd said waving them in. "Cool." Phi bounced along after Elijah and Lane. After the movie, Lane turned to Elijah & Phi, "Okay so what to do about dinner?" "I'm good with anything. I'll eat it if its not walking off my plate." Phoenix said in a hyper voice, her sugar rush kicking in. "Let’s get fast food. I’m sure Gutter's hungry & Spider's probably just getting home & wants chow before hitting the sack." Lane suggested. "Sounds good to me." "Next time we have a day off together, Spider & I will show you around our New York. Shouldn't be long from now, he takes a day off whenever he feels like it, show or not." Lane said as they made their way back to her car. Phoenix laughed, "Wonder how his band mates feel about that." "They get used to it. Spider can be like Trent from the cartoon 'Daria' at times & they know it. He’s usually really into going to practice & shows but there are times he just calls off or sleeps through it.” "I believe that. I still think he looks like Billy Idol." Phoenix said chuckling. “We all do & he hates it." Elijah said smiling. "I couldn’t imagine him looking any other way though." "Yes you could. You saw his banana yellow hair & there are pictures of his natural hair color in the house." Lane reminded her. "Yeah but to me he wouldn't be Spider without the Billy Idol ‘do. The banana yellow was scary though. Never thought there was a color like that." "That's because he fucked up bleaching his own hair & then kept it because he liked it. He said it made him look more anime & sci-fi. Though, Manic Panic does make a similar color." "He reminds me of Jussi in a way." Phoenix said with a smile. "How’s that? Oh ew, I grossed myself out. I used to kinda date Jussi." Lane said giving herself a good squirm. "Who haven't you 'kinda dated?'" Elijah asked looking at her with a raised eyebrow. "I didn't sleep with the cum dumpster, Paris Hilton." Lane shot back. "Touché." Elijah said nodding. "Well, they're both hot, they both have hair like cartoons, both in rock bands.... That’s all I got." Phoenix said as she counted off on her fingers all three similarities. "I forgot some other ones but I'm sure there are more. Crap did I just say what I think I said? Damn it!" Lane & Elijah laughed. "Don’t worry, we can keep a secret. Plus, I already knew you liked my brother. You told me at Bam's, remember?"