Joseph

Sunday, December 13, 2002

Night

The drive to my parent's house was enjoyable. He kept kissing my neck and making jokes. He was distracting, but it didn't bother me much. What really bothered me was the cool breeze that swept through the rips in my jeans as I stepped out of my car.

"It's cold..." I shivered.

He chuckled, wrapping his arm around my waist. "I can make you warm if you want..." he winked, bouncing his eyebrows up and down.

"You're such a perv!" I giggled.

The driveway was jam-packed with luxury cars and trucks. Familiar faces were standing around the front door and a doorman stood at the door, giving glasses of champagne. This was probably my favorite part of my life, my parents throwing these huge parties, seeing all my family members in one spot.

My uncle stared me down as we got closer to the door. "Joseph, you're still with him?"

"You still want your teeth?" Alex snapped.

I hit his shoulder, forcing a smile. "I'm sorry about him. We'll talk more in the house."

That one interaction made his grip on my hip even tighter. "Alex, look at me," He was upset. I could see it in his pretty eyes, but I wanted him to at least half enjoy himself. "I'm not leaving your side..."

"I know," he whispered, giving my lips a small kiss.

Music played in the background as we walked in. Everyone was chatting with champagne and some eating cake. Most I recognized as family while others seemed like new people.

His eyes went to the plates of cake. "Come on, let's go get a piece," I joked, guiding him to the kitchen.

My mother's eyes gleamed up as she noticed me. "Honey!" she screamed, speed walking as fast as she could in her heels, Hugging me. "I'm so happy you're here!"

Trying not to crush her small body, I chuckled. "I love you to mom."

I let her go and her eyes went straight to my outfit and neck. "I see you guys are still together."

Alex cleared his throat, letting me go. "Can we start over? The way I went about things was fucked last time." he looked at me with a grin. "I wanna make him happy. Straining his relationship with you guys isn't the way."

Pure shock was the expression on my mother's face, and mine too. I didn't think he would actually try. But he did, and it meant everything to me. "Only if you promise not to hurt my son."

"Promise, now where's the cake?" he joked.

My mother smiled. "Just over there. You two meet me in the living room after."

She walked away and my eyes focused on Alex, carefully cutting a piece of cake. "Do you know how happy you just made me?"

He set the piece of cake on a small plate. Taking a bite. "How happy, Sexy?" he grumbled. His eyes shot to the back of his head as he chewed. "This is amazing..."

The frosting on his mouth mixed with the suit was the cutest thing ever. Seeing him not upset felt like an achievement. "Happy Happy!" I giggled, wiping the frosting from his lips. I licked it from my finger and wow, was he right.

"Here Sexy..." He cut a piece from his plate, feeding it to me. I'd forgotten how good cake was. The vanilla was sweet and the bread in the middle was like gold to your mouth.

"I gotta piss, be right back!" He handed me the plate, disappearing into the crowd.

Looking around, I couldn't help but smile. Seeing all my family members smiling and having a good time. It was nice and so was being with Alex. he'd unintentionally made me happier than I'd ever been. Seeing him breathe for a moment and actually enjoy himself was special to me. Everything about him was special to me...

"Joseph!" a woman shrieked. My head turned in every direction before landing on Lance's mother. She looked a lot older than the last time I saw her and the sleepovers that me and Lance had popped in my head. "Hey, Mrs. Carter!" I beamed, giving her a small hug.

Her eyes went to my neck. "Did my son do that to you?" She giggled. "He's always had a crush on you! It's about time you guys got together!"

I cracked a nervous smile. "He does?"

"Well, of course, sweetie," she pinched my cheek. "He's here for you!"

A deep voice spoke up from behind me. "I am here for you." I turned around to Lance. He was wearing a beige suit with a navy blue shirt and his blonde hair was tied in a bun, with a single strand falling down his forehead.

"You look nice!" I exclaimed.

His face turned to a frown as he stared at my neck and clothes. "Can I talk to you alone?"

Alex is gonna get upset, but he's my friend... "Ya sure! Everything alright?"

He grabbed my hand, pulling me through the crowd. Cold air hit my face as he opened the front door. Stepping outside, he instantly took a deep breath, squeezing my hand.

I'd forgotten about the anxiety he had. I usually was there for him in these moments. It was a big reason why we were friends other than our parents. I was always there for him and he was always there for me.

"Lance, it's okay..." I guided him to the fountain, sitting on the edge. "What's up?"

"I wanna talk to you about something that's been on my mind," His tone told me it was something important. "I wanna apologize for not being there for you." Rubbing my thumb, he avoided my gaze, looking at the water coming out the fountain. "I heard what happened with your patient..."

"I don't wanna talk about it, Lance." I jolted up, but he grabbed my hand, keeping me from moving.

"He was there for you? Wasn't he?"

"He was the only person there for me. Other than my two friends..." My eyes heated up. "My own family, my best friend, didn't say anything to me, not a call or a text..."

Standing up, he pulled me into his arms. "I'm sorry Joseph, I was busy with the company and..."

Everything he just said brought memories back up. My parents never had time for me growing up and when I needed him the most. He didn't have time for me either.

"Don't bother explaining, Lance," I got out his arms, wiping my eyes. "You reminded me why I left this part of my life behind in the first place."

"Joseph wait—" he stressed, as I stormed off towards the door. "I'm sorry!"

His sorry didn't matter to me at the moment, I just wanted Alex. I pushed through the crowd and into the living room where my family sat laughing and drinking champagne. "Have you seen Alex?"

"He followed your brother upstairs," My father laughed, taking a sip of champagne.

My mother put her glass down, motioning for me. "Honey, why don't you come talk? Everyone's been worried about you."

"In a second, I'll be right back!"

I jogged up the stairs, going straight to my brother's room. My feet got closer to the door and I could hear mumbling from inside. I pressed my ear against it, hearing laughing.

"Alex?" I called out, opening the door. They had bottles of alcohol, and they were giggling nonstop.

"Hey, Sexy..." he slurred. He got up from his bed, wrapping his arms around me. He smelled of straight booze and he wouldn't stop kissing my neck.

"Alex, come on, we're going..."

He shrugged me off, laying on my brother's bed. "I'm having fun..." he slurred. "We should have a threesome..."

My face was pure disgust, but my brother just smirked. "Alex, you're drunk and saying things you don't mean."

He sat up, rolling his eyes. "What? You think all that bullshit I've been saying the past two days is real?" He burst out laughing. "I don't wanna get married and don't want a fucking child, so stop trying..."

His words hurt, but I knew it was the alcohol speaking. Just the alcohol... "Alex, can you just come with me?"

Wobbling a bit, he got off the bed. Wrapping my arm around his waist, I guided him out of the room. "Joseph..." he slurred as I slowly walked down the stairs with him. "Take me to the club. I wanna get high."

The crowd was gone, and the house was quiet. All I could hear was the dishes being done in the kitchen and my parent's disappointed faces as we made it to the bottom of the stairs, "No, I'm taking you home."

"I said take me to the FUCKING club!" he shouted, pushing me off.

"Honey, is everything alright?" My mother asked, as my father watched in anger, holding Lance back.

"Yeah, he's just drunk," I forced a smile, trying to hide every single bad thought in my head. "I'm alright promise."

A drunken laugh left his mouth, only bringing back memories of Sebastian. Memories I desperately wanted to go away. "You should be more like your brother!" "He's chill."

My feelings were hurt, and I couldn't even muster up the courage to respond to him. He's drunk, and that's the reason for all this. A familiar swelling in my eyes started and my mother rubbed my shoulder, staring at Alex in pure disgust. "Honey, You don't need this again..."

He wrapped his arms around me, kissing my neck. "He's not leaving me and he knows that."

I pried his hands off me, rubbing my temple. "Just give me a second..." the kitchen was the safest place for me at the moment. Lisa was throwing trash away and wiping down counters.

"You should talk to Lance," she smiled, stacking dirty plates. "You don't deserve that."

"He's no better than my parents, Lisa."

She put the plates in the sink, glancing at me. "He asked so many questions about you the first time you came back. That's better than whatever that boy with tattoos will give you."

"Like what?"

"That whole party he threw for you was all based on your parents and me." she stopped turning to me. "Every drink or food that was there was something you liked. That ring on your finger is at least $500,000."

My eyes shot open with that number. He really spent that much on me... "I didn't know any of that..."

"He cares for you, Sweetheart, and so do your parents." she wiped her hands of soap and water. "Your parents just struggle to show it, so I want you to get out of this kitchen and go talk to them."

Before I could go, she stopped me. "And get rid of that horrible boy. He's no good."

I hugged her, squeezing her tight. "Thank you..."

She patted my back with a small, breathless voice. "You're stronger than you think, Sweetheart..."

I quickly let go with a nervous laugh. "Sorry! I'm gonna go deal with all this..."

She nodded, going back to the dishes. My eyes went to the ring on my hand. He really spent that much on me? My thoughts were taken away when Alex stormed towards me with a bottle of Vodka. Probably from my brother. "Sexy come on..." he slurred. "Your brother wants to go out to the club."

"You're drunk Alex, just give me the bottle." I retorted, trying to take it, but he quickly flinched away.

"I've done the nice guy shit, now come on!" he stressed, pulling my hand to no avail. "Joseph, fucking move..." he seethed in my ear.

"He said he's not going," Lance said from behind him.

Alex grew a drunk smile, turning around. "Mind your business, blondie, before I fuck you up like I did his ex."

Lance stared him down, taking off his blazer. "Swing at me."

Alex clenched the bottle with that same face of anger he had with Sebastian, and I knew I had to step in.

"Nobody's swinging at anything!" I interrupted, stepping between them. "Lance, I appreciate it, but he's drunk. Just let me handle it."

"Alex, come on," I demanded, dragging him out the front door with all the strength in me. The cold air hit me and so did the anger in me. "I hope you know you've said some fucked up things tonight!"

"Oh, so you're mad at me? WELL FUCK YOU!" he shouted, taking a long swig of the vodka. "I can see why he cheated on you."

My chest tightened hearing that. "How do you know about that?"

"Your brother told me..." he groaned, taking another sip. He wiped his mouth, staring at my eyes. "What? You can't handle the truth? You're a dumbass if you thought I'd wanna be with you."

My eyes were just tears at this point. "Alex—" I stuttered. "You're gonna wake up tomorrow and regret all of this..."

He laughed, pulling his phone out. "Whatever you say, Sexy."

I couldn't be around him anymore. He felt like a whole different person than the guy I came here with. "Be safe..." I murmured, going back into the house.

My parents sat there waiting on me and I just burst out in tears, hugging them both. "I'm sorry..."

"Honey, it's okay..." my Mother comforted, rubbing my back. "We're sorry for not being there Son, we should have called..." my Father lamented.

Moments like these are what I wanted from my parents growing up. But right now, it was needed more than ever. I didn't have to be strong for my father. I could just cry. Letting go, I got myself together, wiping my face.

"Where's Lance?" I sniffled.

"Your room," My Mother responded, handing me his blazer.

I jogged up the stairs. I saw my brother's room and the urge to punch him in his mouth sparked in my head, but Lance was more important. So I went to my door, twisting the knob. The smell of his cologne filled my nose as I opened my door. He jolted up from my desk with a nervous smile.

"Sorry! Just reading your notes..." It was cute to see him interested in the stuff I like, even though he was always like this with me.

"It's okay..." I sniffled, moving beside him. He was looking at my research on behavior and emotions. "I hated this subject back in college."

"Seems difficult. Barely knew any of the big words in there!" he joked.

"Lance, I wanna apologize to you, I know that-" He cut me off, connecting his lips with mine. It was passionate and gentle, completely different from the way Alex kissed me. I jolted away as Alex swirled through my head, "Uh- Wow..." I grinned.

The smile on his face was reminiscent of the time in the maze. It could make anyone feel better. "Good wow?"

"Yes, good wow." I blushed, trying to hide my smile. "But Lance, I'm still with him."

"After all those things he said to you? You're staying with him?"

"Can I apologize first before we start that conversation?"

He chuckled, plopping onto my bed. "Continue!"

I took a small breath. "I'm sorry. I never thanked you for the party." I looked at the ring. "Or the EXTREMELY expensive ring you got me. Alex just distracted me from everything and I'm sorry, okay? You're amazing and—"

"Joseph, stop," he interrupted, standing up. The size difference between us was a bit more noticeable. He towered over me. "I've spent my whole childhood crushing on you and seeing you settle for these guys who just hurt you, It pisses me off, I should have run after you that day, been there for you!" He cupped my face, feeling my facial hair with his thumb. "But I won't do it again. I love you, Joseph."

"Lance... I love you too but i—" my mind just wandered onto Alex and everything that went down tonight. "I want him to work. I can't just leave him."

He got closer to my face, our lips only inches away. "Tell me you don't love me and I'll stop."

The butterflies in my stomach were stronger than ever. "Lance..." I stammered.

"Say it, Joseph, and I'll stop."

For a while, I sat there trying to decide, but for once I thought about myself and what would make me happy, so I kissed him. The love I had for him all these years just surged through me as we explored each other's mouths. I'd always wanted this, and I finally got it.

━ ★ ━

What'd you eat today? Lemme know in the comments!

Hope you enjoyed the Chapter!

Sincerely, R.J