Janiel Oneshots (Discontinued...Again)

11. The Necklace (Fluff)

(Daniel's POV)

Ever since I was little, I've always had trouble expressing my emotions. I had a "poker-face" you could say. My family had tried many things to get a reaction out of me. They told me sad stories, horror stories, they told me they were getting me a puppy, ice cream, a phone, even a laptop. Nothing worked. Even now, I can't express a single emotion. Which sucks now more than ever because I have a crush, on my best friend Joey. I never told him about my inability to emote because I knew he'd constantly ask how I'm feeling, like everyone else. We've been friends since high school, we're in our senior year of college now, we're even planning on moving in together. Something I still find quite odd is Joey has never dated anyone in the eight years I've known him. He's had plenty of admirers -as have I- but he never pursued any of them.

Tomorrow is graduation, I'm laying in my dorm room, trying to express the two emotions I've been feeling...love and admiration. However, when I tried, I just saw a straight face in my reflection. A knock at my door snapped me out of my daze "it's open!" The door creaks open "Danny!" I quickly sit up, nearly hitting my head on the bed post "hey Joey, what's up?" My crush/best friend skips over to me, sitting on my desk chair "are you excited to graduate?" I nod, though I was more excited to move in with him. "Are you sure you're excited?"

I was confused. "Of course I'm excited! We're officially done with this hell" Joey stares at me, trying to analyze my facial expressions "whatever you say, Danny Boy" I sigh in relief, happy that Joey didn't question the absence of expression. Joey and I talked for another hour before he had to leave, to get some sleep before tomorrow. I had the best sleep that night, dreaming about my future with my beautiful best friend. The next morning, I met Joey in the cafe, both of us in our cap and gown already "you look fabulous Mister Preda" he says with a beaming smile "as do you, Sir Graceffa." I tell him, trying my hardest to show some type of emotion "oh! I got you a graduation present!" "I have one for you as well!" Joey's smile grows "you can go first, Daniel."

Butterflies swarm in my stomach as I hand Joey his present, he eagerly takes off the sapphire blue wrapping paper and opened the box "oh wow, Daniel. This is so pretty!" He pulls out the handcrafted silver bracelet I had designed especially for him "Daniel this is amazing! Where did you get this?" I shrug "I know someone from this amazing jewelry store down the street, I got it made just for you" he smiles and extends his hand, asking sheepishly for me to put it on for him. I watched as Joey went to get something from his backpack, then he hesitated. "You know what, I'm just going to save his for after the ceremony" we stand up, grabbing a coffee before heading off to meet our other friends in the auditorium.

Since we had to sit alphabetically, Joey and I were separated. I waited impatiently for Joey's name to be called so I could cheer for him, finally, his name was called and I stood up and cheered louder than anyone in the whole place. See this is one of the plus sides to having zero facial expressions, I can't blush in embarrassment. My friend Hope soon was called up and I cheered again, but not as loud. The professor finally got to the last names that started with 'P' and my leg was shaking in anticipation. "Daniel Preda" I stood up, slowly walking to the podium, my heart pounding in my chest as I looked out into the audience. Joey's eyes locked with mine and I finally smiled and blushed for the first time in twenty years. The things this boy makes me feel is unnatural. I took a photo with the professor before I was handed my diploma.

After the ceremony, I left the auditorium before the crowd blocked the doors. Waiting for Joey, I talked to Shane, Hope, and Brittany. They all had plans to go on vacations before settling down with a job, though I had no idea what Joey and I were going to do after today. Sure we're moving in together, but what happens after that? Is Joey going to get into a relationship? Is he going to leave after he gets serious with the person? I really don't know if Joey is gay or not, we never had that conversation. My eyes were covered by a hand and Joey's laugh was soon heard from behind me, I turn around and see my flamboyant best friend smiling widely "hey Mr. Graduate" "hey Joey!" Joey grabs my hand, pulling me to the side.

"I promised that I'd give you your present after the ceremony, but I'd rather go to the apartment. It's moving day Danny!" All our stuff was in a storage unit, packed in boxes. I dropped Joey off at the complex before going to the U-Haul building, I got workers to help me move the boxes to the apartment. Joey was waiting for me where I had left him, though he had changed out of his fancy clothes and in sweats and an old sweatshirt that had rips on the sleeves. I never thought it was possible for someone to look so adorable in this type of outfit until I saw him. His eyes sparkled as I pulled up to the curb "you brought assistance" I shrug "a little extra help is always good" Joey takes my hand and I could feel my heart pound in my chest, damn I'm so in love with this boy. "Where should we start? Your room or mine?" My heart dropped as he said that, I wish we could share a bed. I asked Joey about it a few months ago, he told me we weren't that close as friends. To say it hurt is an understatement. Him saying that, was confirmation that we could never date. He didn't see me the same way I saw him.

We unpacked within a few hours so I was completely exhausted by the time we had finished, Joey was in his room sleeping while I sat on the couch, realizing that Joey had never given me his present. I sighed, he probably doesn't have one for me. There's no graduation gift, just like there was no room for me in his heart.

The next morning, Joey woke me up asking why I ended up falling asleep on the couch. I just shrugged, not knowing myself. I guess I just didn't want to go past his room and fight back the feeling of wanting to jump in bed beside him and cuddle. "I woke up in the middle of the night because I forgot to give you your present!" I looked at him "oh, you could've woken me up" Joey shook his head "you looked so peaceful, who was I to ruin that?" Did he watch me sleep? "So, where's the present?" He smiles and hands me a box before asking me to sit up, I obliged before opening the small box, inside was a crystal necklace, besides it was a tag with a bunch of colors on it, it was a crystal mood necklace. "Why did you get me this?" Joey smiles "I know you have trouble expression emotions, so I decided to make it a little easier for you" my jaw dropped "how do you know about my problem?" Joey sits beside me "a person who doesn't blush when they're complemented, someone who doesn't smile when nervous, someone who doesn't furrow their eyebrows when stressed definitely has a problem expressing emotions."

My heart starts to beat slowly, Joey must think I'm such a freak. "I want to know how you're feeling, here, I'll put the necklace on." I was shaking as Joey slipped the necklace over my neck, I was still waiting for him to call me a freak. But it never happens. I grab the color chart, there's almost fifty colors, mostly greens, and grays. I notice a very nerve-wracking emotion and color on the chart. Red = love. Oh god, I hope I can control myself now that I have the necklace on. Joey latches the necklace and sits beside me, taking the chart from my hand. "Let's see what's going on in Daniel's mind" he looks at the color at the same time I do, it's light gray. "You're nervous? Why?" I look at him, big mistake. I watched as the light on my necklace flickers from gray to red, brightening up as I keep my eyes locked on Joey. "What does red signify?" I snatch the chart away from him before he could look "hey! Let me see!" The color fades to a dark yellow, anxious. "Daniel, what's going on with you?"

"You don't think I'm a freak do you?" Joey looks at me in confusion "a freak? Why would I think that?" I shrugged, playing with the crystal on my necklace "no normal person has trouble expressing emotion, who can't change their facial expression to what they're feeling?" Joey takes my hand and I watched as once again as the light slowly went from yellow to red, I covered it with my hand. "Daniel, I don't think you're a freak. I think it's cool, sometimes I wish that I can be like you. Sometimes I wish that I could hide my emotions the way you can, especially now." If I could raise my eyebrows, I would. I've tried, but they feel paralyzed when I do. "Daniel, what does the color red signify?" Joey's eyes are locked on the bright red color of the crystal "uh...I don't know" Joey scoffs "yes you do, you have the chart in your hand" I look at the little chart just as it changes from red to yellow. "Red means..." god I wish I could just make a facial expression right now. "It means...love" I didn't look up at Joey, the light on my necklace goes to dark blue, sadness. "L-Love? You're in love?"

I look up at Joey and nod "w-with who?" I'm done playing games "let's find out shall we?" I lock eyes with him and just as I expected, the necklace turned bright red. Joey gasps "you love me?" I nod "I have for years, eight to be exact" Joey laughs happily "can I see the necklace?" I nod, unlatching the necklace to give to him. He grabs the crystal and it turns bright red, I couldn't believe it. Joey grabs my head, pulling me against him before he kisses me.

"Does this mean we can share a room?" Joey laughs "wouldn't have it any other way."