Just Friends (Tempest × Norum)

7

The next morning, John woke up and found the spot on the bed next to him empty. His heart twinged with pain because Joey wasn't near him.

Not this right now, John thought. It was too early to be acting this way.

He got out of bed and walked downstairs, where he found the television on. At least the power came back on, John thought.

John looked all around, but Joey wasn't downstairs. John almost turned around and went back upstairs to look, but he heard laughing from the back yard. He heard Joey's laugh, followed by a female's, and then another male.

John walked to the glass doors that led to Joey's back yard and pulled the curtain back a little. There, sitting in two chairs outside, were John, Tony, and Anita. Anita was in Joey's lap, her arms wrapped around his neck.

A sad feeling washed over John as he looked at Joey and Anita. She was all over him, and he didn't care. Tony just sat there, not caring about the sight in front of him.

Not now, not now, not now, John said in his head. He couldn't feel this way right now. He couldn't let this get in the way of things right now. He took a deep breath before heading outside.

"John! Hey, dude", Tony said, waving at him.
"Hey, John", Anita said, giving a small smile.
"Hey. Sorry for not waking you up earlier, I didn't wanna disturb you", Joey said.
"Oh, uh, it's fine. Hey guys", John said as he took a seat between the other three, "What have you guys been talking about?"

"The future of the band. I told Tony about your friend John."
"He sounds cool. When can we meet him", Tony asked.
"Oh, uh, I have no idea. Maybe he'd be willing to come by today, I don't know. I'll go call him now, if you'd like."
"That would be cool, John", Joey said. John took that response and went inside, straight to the landline. He dialed Levén's number, which he knew by heart, and waited for the other man to answer.

"Hello?"
"Hey, John. It's me."
"Oh. Hey dude, what's up?"
"Joey and Tony wanted to know if you'd be willing to come over to Joey's place and meet them today. If you don't want to -"
"Of course I'm willing to meet them! It's all I've been able to think about since you came over! Where does Joey live?"

John told Levén the address, and Levén said he'd be over as soon as he could. The two men ended the phone call, and John went back outside.

"He said he'll be over soon", John said with a smile. Joey and Tony erupted into cheers.
"That's great! I can't wait to meet this guy", Joey said.
"Me, too! We're gonna be a complete band again", Tony cheered.
"Well, I'll leave you boys to the band business. I'll be upstairs in your room, Joey", Anita said as she got off of Joey's lap. Joey just smiled at her. That smile...

"Well, I'm gonna head back home. Call me later and tell me how the meeting went", John said.
"Don't you wanna stick around and see your friend again", Tony asked.
"Nah, it's okay. Tell John I said hey."
"Will do. See you later, John", Joey said.
"See ya", Tony said. John just waved at the two men before he walked back inside to get the keys to his motorcycle. John looked all around downstairs, but he couldn't find his keys anywhere.

That's when he remembered he had left his keys upstairs on Joey's nightstand.

John didn't want to have to go upstairs and face Anita, but John had to get his keys. He began to climb up the stairs, heading to Joey's room, finding it odd that he didn't hear anything coming from Joey's room. No television sounds, no movement, nothing.

As John got to joey's room, he knocked on the door.

"Hello? Anyone in there?" There was no answer, so John opened Joey's bedroom door.

Anita was laying in Joey's bed, right where John had been the night before, wrapped up in Joey's blanket. John couldn't decide if he felt angry or upset at the moment, but he hurried up and grabbed his motorcycle keys and got out of there.

---

Once in his own home, John went upstairs and crawled into his bed. He wasn't tired physically, but his emotions had tired out his brain.

I shouldn't be jealous of Anita, John thought, but I can't help it. Joey is amazing and so caring, and yet Anita, of all people in the world, Anita is with my best friend. You would think she could have found a different person, considering her ex is also an ex-member of the band. But no, not Anita. She had to go for Joey, and the poor guy couldn't tell her no.

John pulled himself out of his thoughts and found that he was crying. This is what he got for having... a crush on his best friend. A crush that he knew wasn't mutual, a crush he knew he had to get over, a crush he knew wouldn't get him anywhere - a crush he knew was pointless to have and would get him bullied, or worse if he ever opened up about it.

Joey had been John's best friend since they were both young children. Maybe, John thought, maybe that's where my "crush" started...

As kids, Joey and John had been attached at the hip. They did everything together. Was it really any surprise that John had a crush on his best friend? After all, Joey had led him through dark moments. Joey had been the one who guided John when he needed help. And now John feared he'd ruin their friendship by having a crush.

John wiped his tears and closed his eyes. He tried to force the thoughts about Joey out of his mind before he went to sleep, but it was impossible.

I wish I could get over him, John thought before going to sleep.