Joy

Part 6

The weekend is getting closer- it's Wednesday already. The only thing I can think of is that party- I really want to go. But my parents will be at home too and I haven't seen them for three weeks now. They really know to pick the right week...

Martha: You're quiet today. 
Joyce: What?
Martha: What's going on? You look worried. 
Joyce: I- It...

I'm so bad at lying.

Martha: Spit it out.
Joyce: My parents are coming home this weekend. 
Martha: Oh... Well, okay then. We won't go. It's what you wanted in the first place. 
Joyce: Yeah. Looks like I'm lucky. 

She smiles. Well, looks like my problem is solved. I'll stay at home with my parents. 

Friday.

My parents come home late afternoon. We eat dinner together and talk. They start making plans for tomorrow, but I can't stop thinking about the party. Why do I want to go so much? 

It's Saturday, 5 p.m. The party starts at 9 p.m. Suddenly, I find myself calling Martha, 

Martha: Hello?
Joyce: I changed my mind...

Dylan's P.O.V.

Austin's 18th party. This is gonna be big. I know Joyce won't be there, but at least I won't have to stay sober. I'm not gonna call Zach today either- he probably has better things to do than keep an eye on me. Tonight is all about drinking and smoking- entering Paradise. 

I pull over to Austin's house at half-past 10 p.m. A lot of people are there already, but I don't think I'll know any of them- since most of them are from his school. Maybe Joyce is not here, but Theresa's not either. Thank God she doesn't know Austin. I walk into the house- making my way to Austin. I give him the bottle of Jack Daniels. 

Dylan: Happy birthday dude.
Austin: Thanks, man. 
Zach: Happy birthday my man!
Austin: Thanks. 

I'm pretty shocked when I see Zach handling Austin a bottle of wine. Zach turns toward me and Austin gets back to the conversation with his friends. 

Dylan: What are you doing here?
Zach: You didn't think I would miss Austin's party. You forgot the three of us are friends from childhood. 
Dylan: I'm just a little bit shocked. 
Zach: Let's get you something to drink, you'll feel better. 

When we start walking toward drinks, I see someone walking toward us through the crowd. 

Dylan: Zach. 

He turns and we see Martha and Joyce passing us and going toward Austin. 

Zach: No drinking for you today either. 

I look at him angrily. 

Dylan: Yeah, yeah... I know. 

He laughs and goes toward drinks. I'm still looking at Joyce and Martha. Martha hugs Austin and gives him a nice wrapped- something. Joyce shakes hands with him. She doesn't look too happy for being here. If I'm lucky, I'll change that. 

Zach and I are on the couches with Austin and his friends. Martha is talking with Austin all the time. I think I would remember if she spent time with us while we were kids. Maybe he met her when he moved. Zach's voice snaps me from thinking,

Zach: Maybe tonight you can win. Joyce is drinking a lot. 

I look at her. She drinks something from her glass, then again and again. 

Dylan: You're right. 
Zach: And Theresa's not here which means you don't need me. 
Dylan: Finally, you can have some fun. 
Zach: Thank God.

We laugh. Maybe this is my night. I'm looking at her tight black dress and black heels. Her blond hair is loosened. I have a feeling she's avoiding me tonight. 

After about an hour, there are no more drinks at the table- Joyce drank most of them. She starts walking toward the kitchen where's the table with more drinks. I walk right behind her. She starts pouring Scotch into the glass. I do the same thing. 

Dylan: Hi. 

She looks at me- probably trying to see who I am since she drank so much. 

Joyce: Hi! You look familiar.
Dylan: We met at Theresa's party last week. 
Joyce: Oh, right. D-D... Dylan?
Dylan: Yeah...
Joyce: Wow. What are you doing here!?
Dylan: Austin and I are old friends. And you?
Joyce: Martha has a crush on him. 

She says that while pouring in another drink. Then she smiles, 

Joyce: Oops, I wasn't supposed to say that. Shhh, don't tell her!
Dylan: I think you drank too much. 
Joyce: Who are you? My mom?

I smile. She's so wasted- this will be easy. 

Joyce: You know what? We should hook up! I mean, I know I tried to avoid you... but what the hell!?

She's pouring another drink. This will be easier than I thought. 

Dylan: And why's that?
Joyce: Well...

She drank another glass.

Joyce: Since I'm breaking the rules tonight...

Another glass. 

Joyce: I should break them all!

Then she drinks that one too. 

Joyce: What do you say!?

I'm a little bit in shock. I don't know why, I guess I wasn't expecting this. 

Joyce: I don't need your approval.

Then she kisses me. I can taste Scotch on her. She's whispering, 

Joyce: We should continue this somewhere else. 

I just grin and start walking to my car. Joyce is talking all the way to my house. I don't even know what is she talking about- all I'm thinking is how grateful I am that I won't have to sleep with Theresa. I don't know what it is about her- maybe that snake tattoo, but I hate her. Suddenly, Joyce's voice snaps me into reality, 

Joyce: Hey!
Dylan: What?
Joyce: I asked why do you have that tattoos?
Dylan: I don't know, I thought they're cool. 

That's a lie- I got them because my friends challenged me and I was drunk. 

Joyce: You know, I read that you can have a really bad infection because of that. And the ink isn't really safe. 

I don't think I ever met such a nerd...

Dylan: You're really smart. 
Joyce: I read a lot. Did you know that reading increases your vocabulary?
Dylan: No...
Joyce: They say it helps you talk to people... That's a fucking lie. 

Silence. What do I say about that? Then she starts laughing,

Joyce: I said fucking... Wow. This is so fun. I should drink every day!

I smile. God knows what have I been talking about when I was drunk for the first time. 

Joyce: You know, Theresa warned me about you... But she can't tell me what to do...
Dylan: What did she say?
Joyce: I don't know... You're dangerous and something, or something. 

Interesting. That's why Theresa invited her to her party. She tried to talk shit about me... looks like her plan won't work. 

Joyce: I don't know I should have said that either... You know what? This night should be a secret. 
Dylan: If you say so. 

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, we come to my house.