Joseph

Thursday, December 10, 2002

Evening

There was a shake on my shoulder. "Joseph, wake up. " My eyes squinted open to a blonde-haired guy with a white shirt and yellow sweater tied around his neck.

"Who are you? And why are you in my room?" I yawned out, closing my eyes again.

"It's Lance..." That name made me jolt up, and my eyes felt like they were deceiving. He looked so... different from when we were kids. Like a whole different person.

"Lance! You look so..."

"Good?" He replied with that bright smile I always remembered.

"Yes, that!" I squealed, hugging him.

He held on tight, rocking back and forth. "I missed you too..." his bright smile got even brighter as he let go observing me. "You look WAY different from when we were kids."

"Good?" I joked

"Great, actually..." he stared at me for a few seconds before snapping out of it. "I picked an outfit out for you."

"Uh- sure!"

He kissed my cheek before leaving the room. My mind swirled on how long it's been and how cute he was but not cute in the way Sebastian or Alex is... He's like a hot golf club member cute but the clothes on my bed were odd, to say the least. There was a pair of khakis with a blue shirt and a white sweater. He definitely picked this out... Not my style, but I guess it's more interesting than a suit.

...

Looking into the mirror was like a blast from the past. I looked like I belonged in a golf course. But with my hair styled, it was actually kind of cute seeing myself like this, brought up memories of when we would cause chaos at the country club. Those were fun times...

As I came out of the bathroom, the anticipation was killing me. It was even worse as they watched in awe as I walked down the steps. "You look so good!" my mother squealed, hugging me before going back to my father.

"Thanks, Mom..."

Lance's eyes just stayed on my body, and his face was pure red. "He sure does..." he mumbled, shooting me a wink.

"Thanks, everyone... Where's Michael?" My eyes scanned the room before landing on him, leaning on the wall, looking more annoyed than yesterday.

"What? waiting on a compliment?" He snickered.

"No, I just wanted to know where my brother was..." He rolled his eyes, going into the kitchen. "Did I do something to him?"

"No, he's just moody honey," my mother reassured, as Lance rubbed my shoulder.

My brother came back around the corner looking angry as ever. "I'm moody cause I didn't compliment your perfect fucking son?"

"No, you're moody, cause you haven't said a single positive thing since I've been here!" I snapped.

"I'm sorry I'm not bending to your every will after you left all of us for your shit boyfriend!" He retorted, causing the anger from Sebastian to boil up.

"I went to college Michael! and became an ADULT, something you have yet to do! Stop blaming me for you being a FUCK up and get off your ass for once!"

His face turned that tomato red from earlier and my mother tried comforting him, but he pushed her off, storming away.

"Lance, take your hot-headed boyfriend outside," My father joked, patting my shoulder.

He wrapped his arm around my neck with a smile that could calm anyone. "Come on, boyfriend."

...

We went outside to the maze. We played hide and seek here when we were younger, the memories of laughing and running after each other just put a smile on my face. The hedges were becoming brown, leaves piled up on the ground, and a cold breeze blew through us. The whole place reminded me of a fallen kingdom.

"Pretty heated argument back there," He joked, moving his blonde hair out of his face.

"Yeah, he's always been like that. Blames me for everything wrong with HIS life."

He just smiled, looking to the right and left. "What way should we go?"

I pondered on it, looking down both paths. "Left" we went left and as I took in my surroundings, a leaf fell in his hair. "Wait-" I giggled as I took the leaf from his silky blonde locks.

He was such a contrast from Alex or Sebastian, but as I studied his features, I noticed his bright cheeks, which were the same hue he had when he passed past his high school crush. "Thanks..."

"No problem," I chirped, trying not to smile too hard. "So how's everything been since the last time we talked?"

Touching the hedges with his free hand, he looked to me. "I own my father's business... and the country club we always went to."

He always dreamed of taking over his father's business, but his dad always trusted his older brother with it. Guess things changed. "That's great! See, you ended up getting what you wanted like I always told you!"

"Yeah... Being a famous therapist seems much cooler though," He grinned.

"It's fun but seriously, Lance, I'm happy for you."

He stopped, moving his hand from my neck. "Why did you stop talking to me? And be honest, I can take it."

"It was nothing personal. College was a lot... then I met Sebastian and things just happened."

"You still with him?"

"Not really. He's trying to fix things, but I'm done with our relationship at this point."

The leaves curled up in mid-air like a small tornado as the cold breeze blasted across us. It was a sight to behold, but not quite as fascinating as the way he was looking at me. "I wanted to wait, but now seems like the perfect time." He took his sweater off his neck going into the pocket. He pulled out a small white silk box. "It's the first half of your surprise," He clarified, opening it.

It was a silver ring with little diamonds on the sides and a lovely emerald in the center. "Lance, you remembered?" My eyes started watering. He remembered my favorite gem. Never thought he'd remember that small conversation we had when we were younger...

"Those are happy tears, right?" He joked, slipping it onto my index finger.

The emotions poured out as I squeezed him tight, trying my best to keep it together. This was better than any watch Sebastian got me... Better than any present I'd gotten, but a voice in the distance took me out of the moment. "WHERE THE FUCK IS HE?!" We walked out of the maze and Sebastian's clearly pissed demeanor took away any bit of happiness I might have built up in the moment. "TELL ME WHERE HE IS!" He shouted at my clearly unbothered brother.

"Sebastian, what are you doing here?"

He turned around, eyeing Lance and my outfit. "So you come here and fuck with another guy? That's it!"

"Watch the way you talk to him..." Lance threatened, stepping up to him.

"Lance, I'll handle it..." I reassured, pulling him back to me.

My father stepped out of the house, arm wrapped around my mom. "What's all this noise?"

"They're fighting over him," Michael chuckled with too much excitement.

My father looked at me for answers. "Your son is a fucking cheater and has been messing around with criminals!" Sebastian shouted.

"He's not a criminal, dad; all he has are tattoos and we aren't together."

"Yes, we are!"

He looked at Sebastian, then at me. "Do you wanna be with him, son?"

"No, he made it clear he doesn't want a marriage with me and that's what I want."

"I proposed to him! And let's not forget your son's cheating habit," he snarled, looking at me with pure hatred.

"Proposed to keep me with you! Not cause that's what you wanted!"

He pulled my phone out of his pocket, unlocking it. "The guy is a patient too!" Lance looked at me a certain way and so did my mother and father.

"Wow, your son isn't as perfect as you thought," my brother scoffed.

Sarah will back me up... Please back me up... "He's not. You can ask the front desk, Sarah!"

"Lying? you pick that up from him too?"

Despite my dad's narrowing gaze, I didn't break contact. "Call her since you're throwing these allegations at my son."

He smiled, dialing Sarah, putting it on speaker. It rung for a few seconds before her sweet voice came through. "Joseph! Where are you? Alex has been stressing over you!"

Sebastian's eyes lit up in rage at his name. "It's Sebastian... I just wanted to know something..."

The silence lasted for a moment before her voice was heard again. "What do you wanna know?"

"Where did Joseph meet his little fling?"

"Fling?"

"The asshole with the tattoos!" he screamed.

Sarah, please... Please have my back. "They met when we went out to the club." I love her...

"What- but I saw him at the office!" He stuttered, looking at me.

"It's HIS office, Sebastian. he can have anyone he wants in it, whether it's a patient or a fling." I tried my best not to smile at the sheer anger on his face. There was a noise in the background of what I think was a shredder... Hopefully, it was his file... "Is Joseph there I need to talk to him?"

I snatched the phone out of his hand. "Yeah, I'm here."

"Alex wants to talk to you." The phone moved and his deep voice filled my ears. "Where are you? I miss you..."

I saw Lance's face go to a frown and my parents' stares were as sharp as bullets. "My parent's house, but I can't talk right now, okay?"

"Hold on, can everyone hear me?"

"Yes, Alex... everyone's here..." I glanced at my brother, who looked highly upset

"To pops and the mom, you guys made the sexiest child alive." I covered my face, trying not to smile. "And to that dickhead that called... I'll fucking kill you next time you get between us." And with that, he hung up.

"He has three attractive guys after him? You've got to be kidding me," My brother groaned, walking into the house.

"So that's it? You're leaving me for him?"

It felt like the shackles were being taken off of me as the words poured out of my mouth. "I'm sorry Sebastian, I'm ready to move on..."

"I'll pack my shit then," He snarled as he climbed into his car. He peered at me through the window. A tear streamed down his cheek before he wiped it away, driving off. I couldn't cry, but I wanted to. Never seen him so pissed at me...

Lance pulled me into his arms, laying his head on top of mine. "You okay?" I nuzzled my head into his neck, trying my best to not cry. He felt so much better than everyone else. I never had bad memories of him.

"I'm fine... I feel free finally..."

He let go of me, moving a piece of hair out of his face. "Are you sure he's good for you so soon?"

I played with the ring on my finger, thinking back to Alex. Everything I've done today would definitely piss him off..."He's sweet, just troubled. That's all."

His face molded into that familiar frown. "He said he'd kill him, Joseph."

His worrying is so cute... "Lance, he's a bit extreme yes but I can control him."

"You shouldn't have to control anyone Joseph," He grabbed my hand rubbing it. "Does he even want what you want?"

"I don't know... hopefully. " I never even thought to ask that...

━ ★ ━

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Hope you enjoyed the Chapter!

Sincerely, R.J