Everybody was still quite amazed that Tabitha actually slapped J.C. After everybody got over the shock they started looking at each other, uncomfortable with the silence.
Justin finally broke the stillness, “That went well. Don’t you think, J.C.?”
“Shut up, Justin.”
“Ok.”
J.C. rubbed his cheek just now the pain kicking in.
“J.C. you’re going to have a red cheek with a handprint on it,” Chris told him.
“No shit.” Joey got off of his seat from the coach and started walking towards the door.
“Where are you going?” J.C. asked Joey, who was already at the door.
“I’m going to find Tabitha, see if she is alright.”
“You didn’t even ask if I was alright,” J.C. reminded him.
Joey shrugged, “You’re a big boy you can take care of yourself. And well you didn’t eat shit yet, so I guess you’re still alive.”
Lance jumped in, “ Come on you guys knock it off.”
J.C. looked at him surprised.
“Don’t want to fight,” Joey added.
“I don’ t want this handprint on my cheek. Do you think I had a choice?”
“No, but you deserved it.”
“Lets not start this again,” Lance tried again.
“Fine, go, see if your precious girlfriend is alright, the bitch.”
Joey looked at him angrily, “Leave her out of this. She isn’t here to defend for herself.”
“No, she wants you to do it for her. Isn’t that what boyfriends are for?”
Lance threw up his hands, “I give up. Chris your turn.”
“I’m not her boyfriend,” Joey assured J.C.
Chris stands in front of J.C., “Come J.C. knock it off. You’re finished.”
J.C. ignores Chris, “Not yet. She is a little whore to you isn’t she?” Joey opens the door and steps out into the cool hallway.
“Isn’t she?” J.C. yelled before Joey shut the door completely. Joey’s face was red with rage about what J.C. was yelling about his love of his life. It was all he had to not go after his best friend and shut the door. He couldn’t let Tabitha see him this angry. Pacing back and forth in front of Lance’s door, the lights flickered on.
“Now they come on.”
A warm breeze blew passed giving me a taste of the salty air. I sat on a wooden bench savoring the moist July air on my balcony. Getting up form my seat another breeze pushed at me. I walked to; the other side of the stone balcony. My bare feet scraping on the rough gray stone. Hair flew back off my shoulders whipping around me. I placed my small hands on the stone railing, looking past the stonewall that I had grown to hate. The sun was still low in the sky but climbed higher every hour.
I had long ago quit crying but J.C. had hurt me emotionally. How dare he blame the unsolved on me? I, the one that is also scared of the unlogical, was being blamed for something that can’t be controlled. Living with the ghosts isn’t all fun in games, if only he would understand that. The ghosts have feelings like everything else in the world does. I just can’t make them go, believer me I tied and had to face the consequences also. After all the years of living in this house, I am still afraid of going to sleep.
I looked down at my hands, still on the railing. A silver ring gleaming against the morning sunlight. Smiling I remembered Joey telling me to put it on, to fool the lady. The way he smiled when I put it on my middle finger instead. The way Joey’s brown eye sparkles when he laughs. I decided to give it back next time I saw him.
A figure brushed my arm and I tensed afraid to look at him. I eased up as I heard a voice.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you,” Joey apologized looking at me.
“That’s ok, I’ve been jumpy lately,” I assured him.
He placed his elbows on the railing leaning on his hands, looking out across the evergreen forest. “Yeah, no kidding.”
I looked at him smiling, “No, I’m not kidding.”
He looked at me laughing, “Smartass, are we?”
“I know I’m smart. I don’t know if you are, though.”
“Look who is being conceited,” Joey pointed out.
“Oh, so, now, you’re bragging about your lack of smartness?” I questioned. He stood up straight in front of me smiling. Joey, being this close to me was starting to make me feel hot.
“You’re making me look bad, you know that?” Joey asked.
I looked at him flirtatiously my head cocked to the right. “I can’t imagine you looking bad,” I told him truthfully.
He smiled, “You won’t slap me if I try to kiss you will you?”
I looked at my feet smiling than back up to his face. “Only if you suck at kissing.”
Joey grabbed my hips and pulled me closer to him. He cocked his head slightly looking at my eyes. A burning desire overcame me wanting to kiss him so bad. The flame grew hotter as he came closer to my lips. My eyelids were closed, the same with Joey’s.
“Well, then I’ll just have to be careful, won’t I?” Joey asked silently. His hot breathe on my lips.
“Yeah,” I said not even a whisper. I felt his breath coming closer until I heard J.C.’s voice yelling my name. We moved away eyes opened becoming focused.
I cursed out loud. “Damn, this better be good. They better not make this into a habit.”
“Or somebody is going to be hurting,” Joey finished my sentence.
“Exactly.”
J.C. again called my name. I moved passed Joey to go inside. I stopped just inside to let my eyes get adjusted to the room’s dimness. Joey came up behind me and whispered in my ear, “We’re finish later.” I nodded as he brushed past me.
J.C. came up to me slowly, “Lance, Chris, and Justin thought I’d better apologize,” nodding toward the guys who stood quietly beside Joey. “So… uh… I’m sorry I upset you earlier for blaming you for the … weird stuff happening lately.”
“Apology accepted. I’m sorry for slapping and yelling at you,” I apologized.
J.C. turned to Joey, “I’m sorry for saying all that stuff I said earlier.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“Group hug!” yelled Chris. Everybody came rushing to me; smiling.
“Not to break this moment or anything, guys,” I was in the middle of the guys, “but I’m hungry and with your crushing me you guys aren’t helping me any.” They all broke apart just now remembering breakfast. Thanks for the little argument they forgot all about their stomachs. Everybody rushed out eager to fill their growling stomachs.
“Do you want me to wait for you?” Joey asked after his bandmates were out the door.
“No, I think I can manage this one time.”
“Ok.”
I started walking toward my closet when I remembered something. “Oh, Joey, wait,” I told him turning around and walking toward him. Joey just reached the door when I told him to him to wait. Turning around; I handed out his ring.
“Here I think this is yours.”
He took one look at the ring and shook his head, “No, keep it.”
“But its your ring,” I urged him.
“And I just gave it to you.”
“Joey…”
“Tabitha, lets say it’s a early birthday present.”
“But my birthday isn’t until 2 weeks,” I reminded him.
“That’s why it’s called an early birthday present.” I gave up and kept the ring.
copyright © 2001 AngelH