pink roses - joe burrow

five

Once I went downstairs, I immediately found Joe standing off to the side. He had his hands inside his pockets, leaning against the wall, his eyes wondering outside. He heard my footsteps, as he looked towards my direction. Once his eyes locked with mine, his relaxed face turned into a small smile. He picked his body off the wall, and started to inch his way into my direction. "Welcome back to Louisiana. I was getting worried that you weren't coming back from Ohio" He chuckled as I walked a long him to his car.

I let out a small laugh, "Oh trust me, I was definitely coming back, I couldn't get out of Ohio fast enough." We approached his car, as he followed me to the passenger side and opened the door for me to get in. I sat down in the seat, as he softly the closed the door and made his way to the drivers side. He got in, and continued my thought.

"You don't like Ohio anymore?" He asked, giving me a puzzling look while he buckled his seat belt. I thought we talked about this all the time growing up. Joe, Pres, and I even had a pact to help each other move out of Ohio once we we're older so we wouldn't be trapped there.

"Joe" I laughed, "You don't remember all the times we use to make fun of ourselves for living in Ohio?" I even recall the times Joe said he'd rather move back to Iowa than stay in Ohio.

"Oh no, I remember it all. You have to admit though, it's not as bad as we made it out to be. You wouldn't move back to Ohio? Even if it was Cleveland or Cincy?" He asked as he kept his eyes on the road, driving down the road to Torchy's.

"I don't know? I guess I have no idea where I'm going after graduation. Anywhere I can get a teaching job I'll go too, but I'll try to stray from Ohio" I giggled, resting my head back on the seat, looking over him. The sky started to turn into a deep blue as the sun was vanishing over the horizon, the street lights hitting his face just right. Robin and Jim make good looking children. Wait. Stop. Don't let the intrusive thoughts win, Birdie.

I saw Joe's mouth pick up into a smile, as he stole a glance my way. "Teacher? I didn't take you for the teaching type. If I remember right you hated school."

"All those sacks must have messed your memory up, because this academic scholarship didn't come from hating school." I joked, laughing to myself as he pouted from my comment.

"That's right. I guess I'm just remembering the times we would try to ditch middle school. You we're a little rebel back then." He chuckled

"I think I just had more fun hanging out with you than going to class." I retorted, my head looking out the window.

"Oh is that right? Little Bea loved Joe back then, huh? What happened?" He laughed quietly, as I felt my cheeks get hot, as I still kept my head turned towards the window.

"No! You we're just more entertaining than the classes we use to take" I fought back, no matter how hard I tried to fight it, I still felt my smile forming on my face.

"Whatever you say, Bea." He laughed, as he pulled up in front of Torchy's. I decided to end that conversation there before we end up deeper in that. We both exited the vehicle, and he held the door open for me as we walked in. I help Joe pick out some good things, and then found a quiet place to sit while we waited for our food.

He drummed his fingers on the table, he was anxious. He's had that same habit when he was nervous about something since I've known him. "What's on your mind, Joseph?" I broke the silence.

"Huh?" He snapped out of it, his head turning to me. "Oh, uh, nothing. Just football. I hope I can make it here." I believe it. He's got this year to give it his all, that would be nerve wracking for anyone.

"Hey, I know there isn't much I can say to help you feel better, but I know you're a fantastic football player. You're going to kill it here. I'll wear your number loud and proud." I tried to comfort him. He's never easy to comfort, a lot of the times growing up, if he was in his feelings, he just wanted to be alone to be in his thoughts. After a day, he's out of his funk and be the same Joe.