A story in honor of the 30th anniversary release of the Green Day album, Dookie
Hey, I’m glad I found you! You are not going to believe what happened last night. It was so crazy, I didn’t think we’d get home! And I totally found out something about our friend. Wanna sit next to me? My mom’s gonna pick me up for the science fair in about 20 minutes. Yeah, she’s working late again but whatevs.
Ok first you know how I’m the only high school intern at the radio station? Well, last night I got to see Green Day in SF for free! With Kai! I even got backstage passes! Of course, listen you are totally my BFF always and forever and I would have asked you to go, but I knew you were stressed about Bio. Yeah, it’s a hard balance to study or hang out, especially since we are graduating next year. But I’m sorry. Next time I get tix, I promise I’ll ask you first ok?
Ok I asked Kai - you know from AP Latin, with the long purple hair and nose ring? Yeah she’s kinda goth. After school yesterday, she drove us to SF and it only took two hours, no biggie. Kai and I talked a lot and she’s different, in a good way. The three of us should hang out.
We got to the venue and argued about where to park. Kai wanted to park a few blocks away and pay less, but I was like uh no, we need to be safe! Let’s part next to the venue and pay a little bit more. Kai finally agreed and we parked in a garage structure thingy a block away. This is important and I’ll tell you why in a bit.
Got our tickets and backstage passes and Kai and I went inside to the main section. The place was packed. There were even more people than at Homecoming! I know! The show was loud and crazy and we had a blast dancing around. I even saw someone with a Class of 1998 shirt, but I was way too intimidated to tell them we were the same year. Also, Green Day might be my new favorite band now. Haha yes, they might replace New Kids on the Block.
So after the show, Kai and I went backstage and kinda just stood around. Everyone looked so cool and much older, like maybe 20s and 30s? Some random white guy came up to us and asked do you want to take a picture with me? I was like uh no thanks and gave him a weird look. Like what a rando right? He paused, gave us a look too—like for real dude—and left.
I saw that random guy a few more times from across the room and suddenly, I realized he’s the Green Day drummer! Like from the way he was talking to everyone and he was always standing next to Billie Armstrong—yeah, the lead singer. Kai and I looked at each other and I said duh we are totally idiots! Kai wanted to take a picture with the drummer but I was waaaaay too mortified to ask. She’s super brave and I like that about her. Eventually, Kai asked for a pic and the drummer laughed and said yes. He was totally nice about it—whew!
That was crazy right? An amazing concert, going backstage, not recognizing the drummer, and stuff. Like that was all the excitement I could handle. But wait, there’s more.
By then, it was probably maybe 1:30 or so, when we left the concert. I was cold, we had a two-hour drive home still, and it looked like it was going to rain soon. I was so happy we decided to park only a block away from the concert. But you are not going to believe what happened next.
When we got to the parking structure, Kai saw that the gates were down. I wasn’t worried. I mean I thought the gates would open once we put our ticket in. Uh no, I was so so so wrong. The gates were definitely locked because when I looked at the bottom of the gate, there were padlocks. Like a padlock from our P.E. locker, but bigger. And only then, did I notice the giant white sign that said the garage closed at midnight and reopened at 5:30am. I know! Can you believe our luck? We were stunned and scared. After that insane concert, we were totally stuck in SF in the middle of the night?!
At that point, we had maybe four hours to kill and even though I was worried, Kai was like we can do this. After I freaked out a bit, she was so calm and I believed her. I mean our only option was to wait for the garage to open right? Or maybe call our parents to get us? I don’t know, I didn't want my mom to know, and it was so late already. I wasn’t really thinking. What would you do? Kai didn’t want to leave, especially because it was her car that was stuck in the garage. Then I was thinking maybe, we could just find somewhere to hang out. I had some cash and Kai’s dad gave her a credit card, just in case. Could we really hang out in SF in the middle of the night for a few hours, with nowhere to go?
And what about our parents, right? We found a pay phone and I called my mom to say I was spending the night at Kai’s house. My mom didn’t ask any questions—as usual—and Kai told her dad she was at my house. After Kai hung up the phone, we just looked at each other and laughed so hard. What the heck were we going to do now?
I don’t know who saw it first but I legit squealed when I saw it, just down the street. A 24-hour diner! Kinda like Denny’s you know? It had a bunch of pretty Christmas decorations and looked really cheerful. And the best part—a giant orange blinking O-P-E-N sign. We were so relieved! We went in and the place was chill, maybe a couple of other people there. We told the waiter what happened and he said we could stay as long as we wanted. Thank goodness. Kai and I got comfy in a booth next to the window and could not believe the night we just had! I ordered my fav—extra crispy fries with mustard and hot sauce of course—and Kai got some chicken tenders. Yes I remembered, haha.
I could see the sky slowly getting brighter through the window and it was beautiful. And it didn’t rain! Kai and I talked about what we were doing next year after graduating and stuff. Kai wasn’t sure yet. Maybe go to a JC and then transfer? Anyway, she seemed kinda down when I said I was going to be pre-med at Stanford. I told her she’ll be ok you know? I mean she’s smart and she’s taking all these hard classes. Kai got really quiet and I was like did I say something wrong? She said she had to tell me something and looked really scared.
I know! Could the night get any crazier?! I was like what, you can tell me anything. Is it about school or something? Then Kai went to the counter to ask for a pen and paper, and I was distracted by the diner lights bouncing off her long purple hair. She came back and wrote down something fast, like she was going to lose her nerve. And, she looked really white. Even her freckles looked pale. She folded the paper three times, and slid it across the table to me, like we were in some freaking negotiation movie. Uh what’s happening?!
Oh! I asked Kai if it was ok to tell you this part and she said yes, and she wants to hang out soon.
Ok so back to the diner—I gave Kai a confused look, unfolded the note, and guess what it said?!
i think i might be gay
WHOA! Right? I had absolutely no idea. I was like, frozen. My heart started thumping so loud I thought Kai could hear it. Then I got really hot, like I was standing on hot coals or something? Kai was just staring at me and looking like she might cry. And umm, I took the pen and on the paper underneath her line, I wrote something. And then I folded the note three times and slid it across the table back to her, haha.
Kai actually did cry when she read what I wrote. I know, I was so nervous to tell her. She said she was happy to know. Kai was only the second friend I told, besides you obvi. After everything that happened and Kai’s note, it was perfect to share with her. We’re also going on our first da—oh wait there’s my mom! That’s it, that was my crazy night! Ok see you tomorrow morning for bio club! Byeeeeee!