Growing up *Trohley* (DISCONTINUED)

11

My school caught on fire so I get a few days off which means I can update for a bit now nice ~Andrew

"Oh come on, Dal! Why can't I just call him?" Joe whined loudly at Dallon, who was holding his phone hostage for the time being.

   It was marriage tradition that the partners must not be together the night before the wedding for good luck. Joe and Andy thought it was cool but they were suffering. They hated every second of it. The two hadn't properly been separated in 20 years so this was an unfamiliar feeling for the both of them.

It physically took Brendon and Dallon a solid hour to separate them.

   But it wasn't completely awful though. Dallon took the ultimate liberty to take Joe out to a bar. He wasn't going to let him get absolutely slammed but a few drinks won't hurt.

"Because, Joe, it's tradition. I'm fairly certain you can survive a night without Andy." Dallon chuckled as Joe sighed dramatically.

"But who will I cuddle when I sleep? I have no one to kiss goodnight, this is the worst. Who came up with this tradition?" Joe complained.

"I don't know, but just think: this will only make tomorrow so much better. Especially tomorrow night afterwards when you guys are all alone." Dallon winked, making Joe blush at the thought.

That was a valid fucking point.

   "You know what, fine. I'll commit to this but only this one time. Now come on, I'd like to go get drunk and embarrass myself on a karaoke machine." Joe chuckled, standing up and sliding on his shoes along with a light hoodie.

   "Alright, but dude don't go overboard on the drinks. You've got a big day tomorrow and it's my job to be your personal mother hen." Dallon consulted, sliding his keys into his pocket as they left Dallon's house and slipped into Dallon's car.

   The car fell into a comfortable silence, other than the light sounds of the radio murmuring in the background. A sudden wave of anxiety overcame Joe. He was getting married tomorrow to the absolute love of his life. Why did this terrify him so much? He's wanted to marry Andy ever since they stated dating and now that it's finally here, it's not comprehendible. It's such a crazy thought that I less than a few hours he and the love of his life would be devoted to each other for the rest of their lives.

"You alright over there, kid?" Dallon prodded at Joe's side playfully.

Joe looked up from his perch against the window and smiled reassuringly at Dallon.

"Yeah I'm fine. I just have the wedding spooks is all." Joe exhaled, staring back out of the dark window as his eyes gleamed at the cites of all of the large glowing buildings.

Joe loved city life. He loved small towns and seclusion of course, he loved the silence and feeling that it was just him and Andy sometimes, but a city at night could never be beat. Not in a long shot.

   "Well it happens. God, the night before me and Brendon's wedding was a train wreck. I was actually sobbing the night before right into Ray's arms for hours. Poor dude had to put up with me." Dallon chuckled.

   "-but it was worth it. I mean I'm married to my favorite person in the world and I'd never look back from it." Dallon finished, looking over at Joe for a few moments.

   "Yeah you're right, I'm sorry I'm just being dumb. It's just a weird thought and it's all coming down in me suddenly." Joe grinned sadly.

   Joe didn't mean any harm. He didn't know where these thoughts were coming from. He knew damn well that he was going to marry Andy and nothing was going to stop him. He just felt so inferior. Andy was physically perfect and wonderful. Joe couldn't fine a singe bad thing about him. He wasn't annoying, he wasn't even slightly rude. It was generally unfair.

   Joe felt like he didn't fit Andy's standards.

No matter how much Andy reassured him, Joe always had a mild amount of self-consciousness that always trailed him. He couldn't help it though.

"Joe?" Dallon asked lightly, as he pulled over and parked in front of a pub.

"Hmm?" Joe asked, making no movement to leave the car or even turn his head towards Dallon.

"What's wrong, kid?" He asked, placing a hand on Joe's shoulder.

"It's just that- god I don't know. Just look at Andy, okay? He fucking perfect in every way. Why can't I be like that? Why is he even with me?" Joe spilled, tears started to lightly form.

He was overreacting, sure. He was well aware of that. But, in all honesty, he didn't really care anymore. He let out ever emotion he had ever pent up right at the moment and collapsed into Dallon's arms. Dallon sighed and hugged joe tightly, rubbing his back lightly.

   "Kid..." Dallon chuckled sympathetically.

   "I'm sorry." Joe choked.

   "No no, sweetheart it's fine. You're just emotional that's all. A lot has happened in the past year for you. It's natural to be a little on edge sometimes. Especially since you haven't been expressing these feelings. When you're like this you need to talk to someone, preferable Andy. Let's just go get some drinks and talk, yeah?" Dallon consulted gently, kissing Joe's head lightly before pulling away.

   Joe wiped his eyes and nodded, chuckling lightly. They both got out of the car and walked up into the small bar and took a seat at one of the booths. Joe's eyes had cleared a little bit and the redness of his cheeks began fading which was a good sign.

   A waitress came around and took their orders and headed off to take care of that while she left Dallon and Joe to chat, mostly about tomorrow.

   "Maybe it's because Andy's not here." Dallon said randomly.

   "What?"

   "Well think about it. You've been pretty emotional tonight. When's the last time you and Andy spent a night apart?"

Joe pondered for a moment as the waitress brought out their drinks and food.

"Uhm, probably during college when Andy left to go study abroad in Italy." Joe thought, tapping his finger around the rim of his drink.

"Damn, that's like what, 5 years?" Dallon asked, taking a fry and eating it.

"Probably. I don't know it's just been awhile I suppose." Joe blushed bashfully.

He and Andy really were inseparable.

"You're right. I'm probably just emotional since I'm not used to this." Joe agreed, taking a bite out of his food.

Joe and Dallon fell silent for a few moments as they ate and drank and listened to the sounds of other drunk buggers trying to sing and dance to the music playing up towards the front. It was truly entertaining.

"I wonder what Brendon and Andy are doing." Dallon pondered and Joe nodded in question.