Silence [DISCONTINUED]

Chapter Twelve

"What are we?" Daniel's eyes widen, he wasn't expecting Joey to ask that. Before he could answer, Joey's animatronic voice speaks again "I'm only asking because we've kissed twice. I just met your parents, and your old friends confessed your feelings for me. I just need a bit of clarification" Daniel steps back. "W-We're friends." Joey's eyes widen "just friends?" Nodding, Daniel's heart drops into his stomach as Joey walks to the door. Looking back, Joey 'says' "well then, I'll see you around friend."

Just friends. What was Daniel thinking? He doesn't want to be friends with Joey! Well...he does...but for him to say he just wants to stay friends, it's not what he really wants. Running downstairs, he hears his mother talking to someone. It's Joey! Grabbing Joey's arm, Daniel pulls him into the other room. Narrowing his eyes at Daniel, Joey crosses his arms over his chest. "I know you're mad from what I said upstairs, but I was wrong. I don't want to be just friends with you. If I did, I wouldn't have brought you here! I wouldn't have introduced you to my parents, dropped all my other friends in fear that you'll walk away one day. I wouldn't have done a lot of things if I just wanted to stay friends. But at the same time, I don't want to call you my boyfriend just yet. I want to get to know you, I want to wait awhile with you before giving us a label." Joey was in awe, he didn't expect Daniel to be so polite about it.

"I would love to get to know you as well" Daniel smiles at the response, stepping forward. "Can I kiss you?" Joey nods with a bright smile, leaning toward Daniel. Their lips met in a sweet kiss, but they jumped back as someone cleared their throat in the doorway. Daniel's father. Joey blushed but looked down in embarrassment, he didn't want Daniel's father to see him kiss his son. "I'm sorry to interrupt but Daniel, you have a visitor." Confused, the two boys follow Daniel's father to the front door. 

A beautiful girl stood in the doorway, wearing a skimpy dress that barely covered anything. "Who are you?" Daniel asks, disgust lingering in his voice "my name is Ashlee. I'm new to town and your parents told me you'd show me around." Joey gripped on Daniel's hand tightly, his eyes narrowing. He didn't know who this girl was but it didn't stop the protectiveness that boiled up inside him. Ashlee stepped into the house, her eyes locked on Daniel's face. "I would love to have you show me around."

Daniel's mother was watching from the couch, her blood boiling. Standing up, she kicked Ashlee out of the house, slamming the door shut. "What were you trying to do?" Daniel and Joey were amazed, looking at the two adults with slacked jaws. "What? I was just offering some assistance for a girl who's new to town" "no! You were trying to drag Daniel into cheating on Joey! Why would you even tell the girl to dress that slutty?" "I don't know what you're talking about!" Joey tugs at Daniel's hand, leading them out of the room. Sitting on Daniel's bed, the two boys stared at the wall. Looking over at Joey, Daniel frowned as he saw Joey's eyes fill with tears. "What's wrong little boy?" Joey shook his head, looking down at the floor, blinking away the tears. "Come on Joey, tell me. Here, I'll get you some paper--" Joey cuts him off, typing fast onto his phone.

"Your father was trying to get you to cheat on me. I saw the smirk on his face when Ashlee stepped toward you, he wanted her to kiss you. He wanted you to kiss her. I can't be with someone who's father will only try to tear us apart. I already have a shitty father in my life, I don't want another. I think I should go." Joey stood up but Daniel pulled him back, sitting him on his lap. "Joey, I don't know why my father did what he had, and I will probably never forgive him for that. But no matter what he does, I'm never going to leave you. Especially not for a girl. As for having a shitty father in your life, I'm telling you right now that you will always have family here. My mother absolutely adores you! And Joey, you will always have me. I will always be here, you can come to me at any time."

Asking Joey to stay the night, Daniel sets up his trundle bed, fluffing the pillows and opening the blankets for him. Joey watched with a soft smile, realizing that maybe Daniel is the sweetest boy he's ever met. Laying beside Daniel on his bed, Joey rested his head on top of Daniel's. "I have an idea, let's play twenty questions!"