Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
1989
Dinner with the McIntyre's was always eventful, and not always in a good way. Mrs.McIntyre was a very kind lady, but she had no filter. She spoke what was on her mind, almost all the time. Mr.McIntyre was very proud of Joey, and always talked about him. Although Helena didn't mind it all that much, Hannah has told Helena that she thought it was boring and awful repetitive.
Helena stuffed a spoonful of vegetables into her mouth instead of listening to the conversation going on at the table. She didn't have a choice, it was so boring. At the starting of the dinner, when Helena was actually listening, the conversation was literally about jarred pickles! Helena had no idea why, but this particular dinner was anything but eventful, which was so not McIntyre/Westbrook style.
"This is so boring," Joe whispered into Helena's ear. She nodded in agreement.
"After Tamara cheated on him, he ran off with some eighteen year old! She's less than half his age!" Helena's mom exclaimed.
"There it is," Helena whispered to Joey. It just took a while for the ball to start rolling.
Somehow, they had gotten on the topic of Helena's love life.
"Helena's never had a boyfriend, has she?" Mrs.McIntyre asked Helena's mother.
"Not that I know of," Mrs.Westbrook said.
"Is she a lesbian?" Mrs.McIntyre questioned. Helena looked at Joey, and he bit his lip to stop himself from laughing. Joe thought Helena was anything but lesbian.
"No, she's definitely not lesbian," Helena's mom winked at Joe and Helena.
"Oh, God," Helena muttered.
"Is your mom going to tell-" Helena cut Joey off, "Yes, I'm pretty sure she-"
Helena was cut off by her mother, "Today, I accidentally walked in on a moment shared between Joe and Helena. They were kissing, on my porch! How adorable," Mrs.Westbrook said proudly.
All eyes were on Joe and Helena. Joe awkwardly laughed to soothe the tension, but it hardly worked.
Mr.McIntyre cheered, "Way to get 'em, Son!" Mr.McIntyre's loud voice boomed through the dining room.
"So, are you two dating?" Mrs.McIntyre asked.
Helena felt a hand on her inner thigh, and she sucked in a breath, "Uh, uh, no ma'am," Helena said, and she glared at Joe. She knocked Joe's hand off her thigh, but his hand was back on her thigh a few seconds later. Helena picked up his hand, and intertwined their fingers.
"Helena how are your grades in math?" Mrs.McIntyre asked, suddenly interested in Helena. Joey's hand wriggled out, and landed higher on Helena's thigh.
"They're-They're good, I have an A," Helena stuttered.
Mrs.McIntyre smiled, "Maybe you can tutor Joe when he comes back from tour?"
"Maybe." Helena said.
Joe's hand stayed on Helena's thigh the rest of the night.
•••
After dinner, Joe and Helena helped clean up, but then they went upstairs to Helena's room.
"Joey, what the fuck was that?" Helena practically yelled.
"What was what?" Joe asked.
Helena scoffed, "Like you don't know! Your hand was on my thigh the whole dinner!" Helena said.
Joe smirked, "Don't say you didn't like it," Joe said.
Helena rolled her eyes, "If my family found out, they'd be pissed,"
Joe moved closer to Helena, and rubbed her arm, "So? They didn't find out," Joe whispered, and Helena smiled.
"God, I'm going to miss you," Helena said.
"I'll be back before you know it, baby," Joe said, and he kissed Helena's forehead.
Helena smiled sadly, "No, you won't," She whispered.
*** THERE WAS A FRICKING CENTIPEDE THAT WAS UNDER ME WHEN I WAS WRITING THIS OH MY GOD
I just wanted to thank everyone who has ever voted, commented, or read my story. I'm so grateful for all the support Just Friends has gotten. I honestly thought it was going to flop, but I'm super glad it didn't. I love all of you so much awh:)
