Joey's thoughts bounced from one thing to another, all about the same subject. He cut his eyes over to the passenger seat and his stomach gave a lurch. The warm body that usually filled it wasn't there. He'd gotten up and sat there on the edge of the bed in his shorts for an hour, watching Melissa sleep. He couldn't imagine her not being there in his bed, in his house. Even more than that, he was dreading pulling into the driveway at his parents house, picturing the look on their faces.
His phone vibrated, making the cup beside it in the cup holder rattle. He'd just pulled into the driveway and opened his phone. 'Look what I made' the text said, with a picture of toast with butter and jelly. Joey yelped in laughter, leaning his head back on the headrest as the tears came following. He held his eyes shut with his fingers, trying to get himself together. He told himself to man up, but his heart was still breaking. The news of being a father was still fresh and it hadn't been able to fully sink in yet. It was there in the back of his mind, quietly knocking but weighing heavily on his mind was Melissa and just what was going to change with their relationship.
He shoved his phone in his pocket and got out of the car, running a hand through his hair. “Hey, Pop,” Joey said to his dad who had opened the door before he could get there and knock.
“I didn't think you'd even be coherent at this hour,” the elder Joe said, looking at his watch. “Everything alright? Where's Melissa?” he asked, noting the look on his youngest son's face as he let him into the house. Phyllis was fixing coffee and they hadn't planned on getting out until that afternoon to shop a little.
Joey didn't answer until he was in the house and standing in the kitchen after greeting his Mom. “I have some news,” he said quietly, not quite believing he was saying the words, “I'm gonna be a dad.” The thought alone made him want to crawl under a rock. It wasn't that he wasn't excited about some aspect of it, but the magnitude of the situation had sucked him dry of any joy about the event.
“Oh Joey,” Phyllis smiled with unshed tears in her eyes and hugged him. “You'll be a wonderful father. How's Melissa feeling? Has she been sick? When did you find out?” She fired questions but stopped when Joey bit his lip and shook his head a little. Her eyes flicked to her husband's, and then let Joey go enough to look at him. “What's wrong, honey?”
Joey was grateful that his mom quit asking questions and just stood there while he tried to pull himself together. “Sorry Mom,” he said after a few minutes, wiping his face with the back of his hands and blew out a breath. “Kristen showed up last night at the party. She told me she was having my baby and then produced the paperwork from the doctor's office. Records and such through her lawyer.”
“Kristen? She'd have to be at least four months along...” his mother said, leading them all to sit on the couch, trying to rationalize this. She was excited for a grandchild, but now was not the time to be celebrating the news. “Do you think it's yours?”
Joey ran a hand over his face. He never imagined in a million years he'd be sharing a part of his sex life with his parents. “The last time I saw Kristen before we broke up was around the right date for conception. I only remember that because the next day I had a migraine from Hell from no sleep and sh..stuff.”
“Why didn't she tell you when you broke up with her?” Phyllis asked, trying to think this out.
“I don't know. Maybe she didn't know...I didn't really give her a chance to talk a lot, Mom. We just broke up,” Joey felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and looked at the text message. “Mel's going over to Justin's so I get to come home to nothing. Sounds about damn right,” he growled, shaking his head. “I don't care that she's going..it just...nevermind.”
“Maybe she needs some space to deal with this..that's not surrounded by your stuff and hers. I'm sure it's all been very hard on both of you.”
Joey nodded, his thoughts lost for a bit. He could care less that Melissa went to Justin's it was just the fact that if he went home no one else would be there. He'd lived by himself most of his life save for room mates, but this was different. His house had felt like home when Melissa was there, making it the place he wanted to be at.
“How do you feel about all this, son?” Joe Senior asked after a bit, putting an arm around Joey and the other around his wife, looking at the emotions play across the faces of those he loved.
“Like someone just put my heart in a blender and hit frappe,” he replied, not smiling at his own joke. “I don't know what to think about the whole baby thing yet. I'm more concerned with the woman who stayed up all night with me and cried herself to sleep around six this morning. She...” he looked at both of them, swallowing hard, “Mel told me she wanted me to do the right thing. Even if it was to not marry her.”
“Where is Kristen staying?” Phyllis asked Joey, watching him get lost in thought again.
“At the Marriott for this weekend. I told her we'd talk about all this next week,” Joey said, blowing out a breath. “I don't know what to do here. I mean, I know what I should do...but..I'd rather someone just shoot me. Might be easier that way.”
“You've got more than just you to think about now, Joe. Even if you don't have feelings for Kristen...” Joe Senior's voice said, trying to keep an even tone of voice and not pull his emotions into it.
“I know, Pop. It doesn't matter what I want, does it? I mean, really,” Joey's voice turned angry and he shook his head. “I know..I know I'm being selfish and stubborn, but I just want this to go away! How am I supposed to tell Melissa that I have to marry Kristen instead of her?” he asked them, pushing off the couch to pace, letting his emotions out, things he couldn't say in front of Melissa. “That I'd rather eat broken glass than marry my child's mother? And at the same time, I'm excited about the prospect of being a father. How fucked up is that? I should be coming here grinning from ear to ear with both of you happy. Now you get to deal with all this fucked up shit...” he waved his hand towards the general direction of his house. “I can't ask Mel to be with me and be a step mom. Kristen...” he sighed, his voice quieting as he turned towards the window. “Kristen would use that every chance she got against me, or against her.”
“So you're sure about this?” Phyllis got up to put her arms around Joey. “We love you, no matter what. We'll love our grandchild, whether you marry Kristen or not.”
“I'm not one of those guys, Mom. I can't not be a part of my child's life. Other things will have to change.”
“Just be sure you and Melissa talk about things. Even if you are breaking off an engagement, that's no reason she's not still your friend. Tell her she can still come over here anytime she'd like. She's family,” Joe Senior pointed out as his son nodded. “And we will welcome Kristen to our family, if that's what you decide to do.”
Joey wanted to ask what other choice he had, but instead just nodded. He felt his phone vibrate and he pulled it out, giving a small smile. “Bambina,” Joey answered, trying to make his voice sound normal, shutting his eyes for a moment before sitting back down. This was part of normal that he was holding on to. He was going to keep it as long as he could.
“Did you know Justin bought me cooking lessons?” she asked him, looking at the papers in her hand. “I'm not sure whether to be insulted or happy. Probably happy I won't food poison anyone...”
“We need our baritone, chica,” Justin called out where Joey could hear.
“Tell Justin to shut his pie hole,” Joey said, listening to the two of them bicker. “How are you?” he asked a few minutes later, his voice quieter. “Have you decided you hate me?”
*^*^*^*^*^*
Melissa stilled at his question, her mouth moving a little but nothing came out. “Why would I hate you, Joey? I love you,” she cradled the phone, her voice getting raspy. “I am mad and angry and hurt by a few different things, but none of them make me hate you.”
“I'd hate me..If I was you. This is going to be hard,” Joey paused, looking over at his mother and then at the coffee table, “I made a decision.”
“What's that?” Melissa asked, figuring she knew what it was, shaking her head a little. “I mean, I probably already know...” her voice trailed off, fiddling with her ring.
“Let's not do this over the phone. We'll discuss it later..I'll be home in a couple hours.” Joey hated to start a conversation and then not finish, but there was no way he was doing that over the phone. He heard silence on her end and raised an eyebrow. “Melissa? You there?”
“Yeah,” she bit her bottom lip, nodding even though he couldn't see her. “I'll have Justin drive me back to the house in a little while. I'm gonna school his ass in H-O-R-S-E,” she tried to smile and not sniffle to let him know she was crying. Melissa felt like that's all she would do for the rest of her life.
“Kick his ass, Bambina. I love you.”
“I love you, Joey.” Melissa told him bye and then shut her phone. She leaned into Justin when he enveloped her into a hug. “I...I think all I do is cry...” she stammered out, shaking her head, feeling Justin's hand rub her back.
“It's okay, chica. Let it out,” Justin told her, feeling his heart break some when she let out a sob. “That bitch ain't got shit on you, Mel. So what she's having his kid...doesn't mean he's gonna love her. That's the straight up fuckin' truth,” Justin tipped Melissa's chin up so he could look at her face. “We love you, no matter if you're with Joey or not. You're our girl...”
“I thought Briney was your girl,” Melissa told him through her tears and saw Justin shake his head and frown, looking away from her for a little bit. “What happened?” she asked softly, noticing his posture change.
“We broke up a little while ago. I've just been trying to figure out what the hell I did. If I even did anything...” he growled, running a hand through his hair. “She lied to me, went out with this other guy. Looked me in the face and fucking told me she was going out with friends. The dude told me about it,” Justin snorted. “At first I was shocked, wondering if it was my fault you know. I mean, cause we all know I'm perfect,” he smirked at Melissa's laugh, glad that she'd at least smiled, even if it was about him. “So....we're done. She begged and cried and shit. I told her to go fly a goddamn kite.”
“Oh Justin, I'm sorry,” Melissa reached up and smoothed the lines in his forehead. He got them when he was thinking hard about something. “I've been meaning to ask and just didn't get a chance to...not that it was my business though.”
Justin shrugged, accepting her hug. “The media got wind of it last week. It doesn't matter I guess, what's done is done.” He got quiet for a moment before looking at Melissa. “You know what I don't get is you're with someone for a long time and all it once, you're kicked to the curb with no explanation. I mean, I know I fucking have an ego. I know millions of women want to have a piece of me...but I was so damn in love with Brit. Like I thought we had what you have with Joey.” Justin wasn't going to cry in front of his friend, but he did tear up a little, shaking his head at himself. “She's just a girl, there's more out there.”
“It still doesn't mean you don't care, Justin. It's...it's personal to you. It's dealing with you as Justin Randall Timberlake, the man. Not superstar Justin, or anything else. You have to deal with it and let your emotions out.”
“Oh I did,” his eyes got a gleam in them, “I've been dealing the hell out of it.” He smiled triumphantly at Melissa, cradling her face with his hands. Justin was more worried about her than him. “Now what the hell are we doing with you, Bass? You're all weepy and shit..I would be too, but just remember you and Joey are tight. He's your homeboy. No one can take that away from you.”
"It's not the same if he marries her, Justin," Melissa finally voiced, sitting back down in one of the chairs."He's a part of me and I don't wanna give that up. But I'll have to. She's having his baby," her eyes met Justin's blue ones. He blurred in front of her as tears filled her eyes again. "How can I take that away from him? I can't take that away from him. How can we go back to being just friends? I know we can say it six ways to Sunday but can we actually do it? Can I step back away from him, not call or text at odd hours when something's on my mind. Train myself that I'm not allowed to kiss him anymore; not allowed to touch him?" She glanced down at her hands, twirling the engagement ring on her finger. "Once this comes off, I will have no claim over him. I've loved him for so long Justin. I don't know how not too. I always thought I'd never have to find out who I would be without Joey, what I would do without him. It's always Joey and Melissa, Melissa and Joey, even when we were 'just friends'. It's like turning off a part of me. I'm afraid I won't work right. And if I ever get to working right, I won't be the same.”
Justin pursed his lips and sighed, having no answer. He hated having no answer, looking at her silently for a few moments. “Come on, chica. I'll drive you back over to the house-”
“It's Joeys,” Melissa told him, letting out a shaky breath. “It's Joey's house...” She sat over in the passenger side, watching the familiar scenery pass from Justin's house to Joey's. How many times had she ridden with Justin. Both of them not talking was odd, and for once she could hear the radio playing. Her eyes met Justin's when he pulled in the driveway and then over to the empty space where Joey's Acura was usually parked. “Thanks, Timberlake. You da man.” She fist bumped him and hugged him tight before going in the house. The door shut and Melissa found herself going to the last place she and Joey were. The bed was still unmade and she buried her face into Joey's pillow, breathing in his scent as tears came to her eyes once more.
*^*^*^*^*
“I'm sorry, Bambina,” Joey whispered, wondering if really was possible to die of a broken heart. He wasn't sure whose heart was breaking more, his or Melissa's. He'd come home to find her curled up with his pillow and had joined her in bed. His fingers had traced over her face and he'd memorized every part of her. It wasn't something new, but Joey didn't want to forget. He wanted to remember her right there beside him. When she'd stirred, he pulled her to him and held her. When the only response he could give her to his decision was to cover his face and look away when she'd asked, his shoulders shaking, she responded with a gut wrenching wail that ran his blood cold. That was when Joey held on to her, whispering over and over he was sorry, that he loved her until she was silent. Now he kept telling her, even though her face was still buried in the crook of his neck, something wet hitting his skin once in a while. “Talk to me, Mel.”
Melissa pulled away enough to look at Joey, not caring her hair was plastered to her face, if her face was blotchy. “What do you want me to say? I can't...” she sucked in a breath and lovingly stroked Joey's cheek, “I can't lie and tell you I'm not hurting, but I'm not keeping you from your kid. I can't ask you to choose...” her voice trailed off and her green eyes met his brown ones. “You're gonna be a father,” her mind stuttered over the next words, “and a good husband.” It made her sick to her stomach to think of Kristen being Mrs. Joey Fatone, that she was in his life and now pregnant with his child. The only part of Kristen that Melissa cared about was the baby that was half Joey's. “Here,” she slipped off the engagement ring and held it up between her thumb and index finger.
Joey looked at the ring and shook his head. “I'm not taking it from you. It's yours. Nona told me to give it to the girl who holds my heart,” he took the ring from her and got up momentarily to get one of his silver chains from his box. “You're the woman who has my heart,” he told her, putting the ring on the chain and handed it back to her, leaning in and kissing her softly. “It's always gonna be you.”
Melissa looked at the ring dangling there on the chain and then at him, nodding. She knew what she'd be taking from Joey's house. Pieces of herself, pieces of him. “Who do I call when I have something funny to share or a stupid joke?” she asked softly, moving to where they both sat on the edge of the bed, her arm ran through his, their fingers entwined. “Or when I remember I can't run up and kiss you...that you'll be taken by someone else.”
Joey didn't answer. He didn't know the answers, wanting them himself. Even before their relationship, they kept in constant contact with one another, save for the few times they got mad and didn't talk. Joey had taken over Melissa's cell phone bill so long ago, he didn't even know when it had gotten changed over to his account. That morning he'd told himself he could be strong and do this, but it was then he realized how much of himself he was losing. He was losing that part of him for a bigger reason, but he wondered how much his life would change. “I start rehearsals again next week...and we're finishing up recording,” he told her, looking down at her bare left hand. His finger rubbed the spot where the skin was indented from the ring. “Will you be here another week or do you know?” he left the question hanging.
“I have work and class,” she told him, sighing. “I have things to take care of...” It hurt to think about calling all the places she and Rachel had called to book things for the wedding and paid deposits on, and the dress that was hanging in the closet at her parents house. “You know I have to move out, Joey.” The sadness in her voice crept in, feeling worse when Joey frowned and blinked a few times, nodding after a bit.
“I'll help you pack,” Joey said suddenly, hopping off the bed and pulling open one of his drawers, the one with all his t-shirts in it. He pulled some of them out, tossing them backwards towards the bed, onto Melissa and the bed, some falling short landing haphazardly in the floor. He got to the next drawer and threw his shorts out, then proceeded to empty out the dresser of both their clothes. The chest of drawers blurred as angry tears came with Joey forcefully pulling the drawers out and dumped the clothes in a pile. “Don't tell me stop!” he shouted at Melissa, not turning his head as he moved towards the closet. “You need to move out, I'm just speeding up the process...”his voice trailed off as the closet door came open with a bang against the adjoining wall.
Melissa buried her face in her hands, listening to hangars rip off the rod and things being thrown. The telltale sign Joey was upset was when she heard Italian coming from his lips, yelling at first and then getting softer after a few minutes. She got up and crept over to the large walk in closet, peeking in. Joey was crouched down in the middle of the closet, his body shaking slightly. “Oh Joey,” she whispered, not sure how much more either of them could take. One of her favorite shirts was in his hands, holding it close to his chest. The closet itself looked like hell with clothes thrown everywhere.
Joey felt Melissa's arms wrap around him and he leaned back against her after moving to where he could sit. He didn't have any words, didn't know what to say. He didn't want her to leave. If she left, this would all become real. “Tell me this is all a bad dream, Bambina. That I'll wake up and none of this will be happening,” he got out before turning his head to look at her. Joey wished he could fix this, but if he did, it had to be without the woman who was being braver than he was at the moment. “I'll pick this up...everything...” He kissed her lips, not caring if he should or not. Right then all Joey wanted was to have her there.
Melissa kissed him back, fingers stroking his hair next to his temple. “I'm not leaving you upset like this, Joey. I'm not moving out today unless you want..” her words were muffled, cut off by Joey's mouth again, his answer in his kiss. She whimpered when his tongue found her mouth, opening up as his tongue slid in her mouth. “What are you doing?” she asked him when they broke off the kiss, breathing hard. He wasn't hers anymore, even though he hadn't said the words and she still wanted him just as much.
Joey got up, the shirt he'd been holding landing on the floor with the other clothes and pulled Melissa to him, giving her a hint of a smile. “Our last night together...one final hurrah,” Joey told her, chuckling when she raised an eyebrow, messing with Melissa's hair. “We can fall asleep on the couch. Remember when all I had was a couch to sleep on?” It had been almost five years ago, but when he moved into this house, his furniture and furnishings were lacking. Not because of money, but just because Joey hadn't been home long enough to go buy furniture. The first time Melissa had spent the night over at his place, they'd fell asleep on the couch. He woke up the next morning with a crick in his neck from falling asleep sitting up while Melissa was curled up beside him. It was funny that he remembered that, but he did.
“I remember that. And that time Justin woke us up by crowing like a rooster on the bus when we'd just went to bed a couple hours before,” Melissa told him as they walked downstairs. Her heart still hurt, but there was something no one could take away. All the memories her and Joey shared. It was silent the walk down the stairs and then when she watched Joey settle onto the couch, she bit her lip and sat down in front of him and turned her body sideways to lay down next to him. She turned her head to look at Joey. “Will you miss me?” she whispered, hating to ask, but had to know.
“What do you think, Bambina?” Joey asked, his hands holding her face gently. “I hate the thought of you not being with me. Of not waking up to you and falling asleep with you. This breaking up shit is hard to do,” he said, looking out at the sunset through the cracks in the widow shades. It was still early and here they were, going to bed. “Don't cry anymore, I don't think I can stand it...” he begged when tears ran down Melissa's face.
*^*^*^*^*
“Yeah I need a grande mocha cappuccino with extra foam and an espresso shot, a grande vanilla cappuccino with no foam and an espresso shot, and a grande black with two sugars,” Lance ordered as they sat in the drive thru line at Starbucks.
“Joey not a coffee drinker?” Rachel asked, curious why he only ordered three drinks.
“He won't want any coffee. If he's been upset, it messes with his voice,” Lance told her as he paid and got the drinks. He gave a wave to the girl who was at the drive thru who was grinning at him like she'd won the lottery. He took a sip of his drink and frowned. “I'm gonna stay with Joey after we get done today. Might make it a little easier on him.”
Rachel nodded as she sipped her cappuccino. “I have plans for Mel and I to blow this popsicle stand tomorrow. Just gotta get stuff taken care of.” She sighed, reaching over to hold Lance's hand. “Is it okay if I say I hate Kristen for this? Like I'd like to punch her in her face...but I'll refrain since she's allegedly pregnant with Joey's kid.”
“You say that like you don't believe her,” Lance retorted, giving her a smile. “Right now, I'm just taking this day by day. And today's gonna suck the worst. Actually back that up, yesterday was bad too, since I was the one that had to tell my parents. They called me since Mel had called crying and they couldn't get anything out of her. That was when you were on the phone with your grandfather...” he told her when she gave him a curious look.
Stopping at the gate, Rachel was glad for the extra minute this took to get a few emotions stuffed down into a place they hopefully wouldn't come out. She loved Melissa and Joey, even if her best friend drove her crazy sometimes, she prayed that this wouldn't be as bad as she figured it would be. When Lance pulled into the driveway, she looked over at him and quickly wiped away a tear. “I told myself I wouldn't cry about this shit,” she admonished herself, chuckling when Lance shook his head.
“Wanna hear something?” Lance asked her before she could get out. “Timberlake's cried over this. So if he can cry, the rest of us can boo fucking hoo all we want.”
“How the mighty have fallen,” Rachel muttered to herself, getting out of the car and sighing heavily. She didn't want to do this, but put on her best neutral expression, giving her boyfriend a slight smile, meeting his green eyes;glad that her heart was safe from this sort of thing with Lance. The momentary slip happened when she thought of JC, knowing she'd be in the same boat as Melissa or worse. That thought was quickly tossed in the back of her mind where it was beaten down into submission. She had other things to worry about as she watched Lance go to the door.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
“You look good,” Melissa told Joey, watching him get ready. She didn't think she could cry anymore, feeling numb. He slipped on his watch and then reached for one of his Superman necklaces and she sniffled. “Sorry,” she muttered, wiping tears, hearing the doorbell ring. It was probably Rachel and Lance. Rachel had told her she'd be over to help her gather up stuff and Lance was giving Joey a ride to the studio. “I didn't know we needed babysitters,” she told Joey, smiling at him shaking his head.
She opened the door to reveal her brother and best friend, attempting to give them both a smile. It barely made it past her mouth and certainly not to her eyes.
“We brought Starbucks,” Rachel said, thrusting the cup of coffee into Melissa's hands as they came in the door. “Where's Joey?”
“Getting ready,” she said, accepting hugs and putting the coffee on the table in the living room. “He's just finishing up.”
Lance looked up when he heard Joey coming down the stairs. He thought about making a wise crack at how good Joey looked for a recording day. A black fedora, a black shirt with white diamonds on it and some jeans with black Nike's, his Superman necklace and his watch, diamond stud in his ear. He choked back his smart ass remark when he saw Joey's eyes land on his sisters, smirking at her giving him a once over. His best friend was doing this for Melissa. “We got a few minutes before we need to go,” he told them both, his eyes meeting Rachel's. The two of them quietly excused themselves to give the other couple a few minutes to themselves.
“So this is it, huh?” Melissa asked Joey, her eyes not meeting his. She wanted to scream and beg and ask him why it had to happen, but instead she just drew in a shaky breath, avoiding looking at Joey's face. His shirt blurred and she cursed herself for crying again. She was proud though when she felt Joey's arms around her that she didn't break down. “I can't tell you goodbye,” she choked out, pulling back to finally look at him, reaching up to cup his cheek and wipe away a tear forming in the corner of his eye.
“Then it's not goodbye, Bambina. It's an 'I'll see ya later.” Joey wasn't sure what part of him was talking, if he was even making sense. “Don't worry about picking up my shit in the closet. I'll do it later tonight. If you need me to call anywhere....” he started, then shook his head when she laid her head on his shoulder. They stayed silent, hugging tightly for a few minutes. “I gotta go, Melly. I love you.”
Melissa bit her lip hard and closed her eyes momentarily. It would be the last time she'd hear him say that. “I love you too. I'll see you around.” She didn't let Joey go, surprised when he didn't pull away from her. “Be good, Fatoney.”
“Always, Bambina,” Joey told her, leaning in and nuzzling her nose with his, his lips barely grazing her cheek before he stepped back. He gave a nod to Lance for them to come back in, knowing they had to get to the studio before they were late.
Lance leaned over to kiss Rachel. “Have a good day,” he told her, mouthing good luck. A part of him felt out of place when he looked over at Joey and Melissa. He'd always heard the expression that someone looked like they'd 'lost their best friend'. Now he was seeing it in person. His sister was holding it together enough to get Joey out the door and Joey was doing the same for her.
“Come on, Lance. We'll be late. I don't want to hear Josh bitch,” Joey told his friend, turning to Rachel and giving her half a wave bye as the other girl pulled Melissa in for a hug. 'Take care of her' he mouthed, glad when she nodded. He went and got in the passenger side to Lance's car, silent. The radio played, twisting Joey's heart with the words. “Fucking Backstreet Boys,” he muttered, listening to the song as it sang everything he was feeling.
“Empty spaces, fill me up with holes. Distant faces, with no place left to go, without you within me, I can't find no rest. Where I'm going is anybody's guess. I tried to go on like I never knew you, I'm awake, but my world is half asleep, I pray for this heart to be unbroken but without you all I'm going to be is incomplete...”
*^*^**^*
“I think we got it all,” Rachel told Melissa, tossing the final bag in the back of the Mustang. She'd done most of the talking while Melissa packed and even picked up the mess Joey had made. Rachel had talked about everything she could think of besides what was happening right then. “Anything else you need to do?” she asked, turning back to Melissa who was standing there, looking at the house.
Melissa shook her head no. She'd gotten all of her things, leaving her keys to Joey's house and cars in an envelope. His American Express card and insurance/prescription card, various items from her car: A pair of his sunglasses and a couple hats, even a bottle of his cologne that had been in the glove box. The envelope was sitting on the bar, next to the phone and she hit the button to hear the message that came up when someone called. 'This is Joey and Melissa, we can't come to the phone right now,” she heard her voice say, “Joey stop it,” a laugh from Joey. “Leave a message and we'll get back to you. Say goodbye Joey.” “Goodbye Joey!” she hit delete, letting it go back to the automated message. Her eyes met Rachel's knowing she'd zoned out. “I'm okay. I need to stop a few places,” she told her friend as she handed her the keys. “I want to just get this all over with, Rach. I want to get back to normal.”
“I hate to tell you, Bass. You won't ever be normal,” she teased, glad to see her friend smile and flip her off. “But I know what you mean. Want me to go talk to anyone?” she asked, knowing the flowers and catering were close to one another in the same block.
“Yeah, talk to the florist,” Melissa told her, sighing. “And I'm hungry. We forgot to eat last night. Went to bed at 8...”
“Wait, back up. Joey skipped a meal?” Rachel looked at Melissa, reaching over to pat her hand. “What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, Mel.”
Melissa just rolled her eyes at Rachel, looking out the window at the traffic going by. “By the time this is over, I should be freaking Supergirl, Wonder Woman..a Jedi,” she muttered to herself, leaning against the window and closing her eyes. It had to get better. She didn't think it would and all she wanted was to back up five years and start over.
Story Tags: joey
