Chapter 1: " They tell me ' keep it simple'"

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Henry's POV
Driving to the old shop was easy, I knew it like the back of my hand, since I practically lived there for many years. 34 years old and I still remembered how to get to this place. The sun was setting, like one of those old films, cheesy with the girl running after the man. I rolled my eyes, knowing Joey would say the same thing, and give that same look over his shoulder, his asthma laugh scaring away poor people that just so happen to be walking by. I'd be a blushing embarrassed mess, hiding my face from them. The summer was nice, we had high temps these pass couple of days, the cool breeze a nice change. Joey wrote to me, to meet him at the same place we worked and lives together. What would he want, would he try anything? I just hoped it wasn't anything stupid.
I got out of my old car, the thing was barley hanging on, but she got me everywhere. I should have re done my slacks, cat hair clinging on to them, oober and doober still stuck onto my clothes like glue. The orange and black hair never escaped my clothes no matter all the lint brushes I used. The place could have a couple of washes and still be dirty, it's clear it was abandoned at one point. Joey stood over by the door, his same blonde hair, neatly done into a side swoop, and his facial hair full and thick, always made me jealous, especially those beautiful blue eyes, not light blue no. They were like the Alanti side of Florida, a place I would always venture to when I had time to. The girls there had quite the looks, but not the personality- too stale. Joey was the picture perfect American man, I, on the other hand, was rather on the wicked side. I had hazel eyes, that people would say seem to glow , and dark brown hair that curled, making it nearly impossible to style. My stature was small, even I'll admit it. I was barley 5"5', my body rather skinny, Joey , you could tell, worked out. He was that way all the time, me and Sammy would wonder how in hells name he had time to work out. He smiled as soon as he saw me, his tan skin sticking out has his shirt was barley buttoned up, his skin glistening in the heat. These heat waves Fakin' me out. So much had changed, while at the same time, nothing had. I walked over to Joey, he signed happily pointing at a field of apple trees. " You remember this Henry? Those trees that took so damn long to plant? The same ones that we climbed, and you ended up falling on your ass from. We had to go take you to the damn hospital, since your fragile little bones couldn't take a little fall." He smiled more, looking over at me, those ocean blue eyes stuck in the past, making him look a little younger. He looked tired, like he hadn't been really living for a while. " I remember alright, still get phantom pains in my arm too... it's been a while Joey." I smiled a bit, his eyes looked sad, looking down at me. " A while it has been, Henry, a while it has been." His eyes searched for something, what for, beats me.  " Come in, I have so much to show you."

The lobby was redone, the paint fresh, and the furniture new. Though if I looked hard enough, I could see something like ink underneath some of the paint. Joey pulled me over to a new room, where a table with food on it sat, and two chairs accompanied. The food smelled great, the candle a nice touch, though it seemed too romantic. A bit too cheesy for Joey, he lacked a lot in sweet things. " I made some food, it's not the best, but I hope you like. I remembered you like a nice steak and bacon soup. I didn't know if you still drank beer so I just got some soda." He seemed sheepish as he lead me to the table. Wow, what the hell happens to Joey? This was not like him, this seemed like a fever dream to be honest. He seemed to notice and only got more nervous. " I know it's a bit much, but I just wanted to see you again," he pulled a chair out for me", so try to see past it please."

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