FAKE

25

joey's pov

after dropping avery off, i raced home. i needed to think about what was going on. i needed time by myself. i pulled into the garage and got out of my car, quickly running to the door and opening it.

"mom?" i shouted as i shut the door behind me. no response. i walked further into my house and saw charles sitting on my couch.  
"dude what the hell?!"

he turned around and nodded at me. "hey man!"

"what are you doing here?" i questioned.  

"not sure," he shrugged. he started to lick the doritos cheese off his hands and i looked away, disgusted.  

"dude come on," i scrunched my face. i heard char chuckle. "why the hell are you eating my doritos?"

"because i was hungry you shit-head," he put the chips back away in my cabinet and washed his hands. "so where have you been?"

"the movies," i replied.  

"why didn't you invite me?" he asked.  

"because it was for tori and i."

"ah, get some action in the back?" he shot me a smirk over his shoulder. 

"no dude," i rolled my eyes. "avery and zach ended up there, i was being an annoying piece of shit and had to butt into their time and zach ran off, tori ran after him, and i was there with avery."

"what'd you say to him?" he asked and dried off his hands.  

"he wasn't paying for avery's ticket, i told him he should pay for it," i said and shrugged. he snickered and i rolled my eyes.  

"look who's starting to treat girls right," he said. "it's about fucking time," he added and leaned on my island.  

"then, i told avery about some stuff and­ —"  

"wait, some stuff? what stuff?" char cut me off. i sighed. do i need to tell the entire fucking world?  

"you wouldn't understand," i shook my head.  

"try me," couldn't he just back off? jesus.  

"i told her that i can't get her out of my head," i admitted and his eyes widened. 

"shit dude really?" he asked, he had a shocked look on his face.  

"yeah and it wasn't easy. audreys been begging me to tell her what i'm feeling," i said.  

"and you told her... that?" char raised and eyebrow at me.  

"what the fuck was i supposed to say man?" i said. he chuckled.  

"i don't know, maybe that you like her?" he spoke with a duh tone.  

"i don't."

"don't lie to me joey," he said.  

"i don't," i repeated.  

"come on man, i can see it. anyone can see it," i licked my lips and shrugged. "if you can't get her out of your head, it obviously means something joey," i guess he's right, but, i don't know. i don't want to talk about this now.  

"can we talk about something else?" i asked.  

"no," char said. i sighed.  

"dude come on, can't we just go play fortnite?"

"no, not until you admit your feelings for avery."

"char," i groaned. 

"joey," he mocked. "how do you feel when you're with her?"

i sighed. "i guess, happy."

"how happy," he asked and walked over to the couch.  

"like when you win a really important game, i guess, or, when you score," i shrugged. "i don't know, i've never felt this way about anyone before."

"well tell me what you like about her," he said. i ran a hand through my hair and sat down on one of the stools near the island.  

"her hazel greeny eyes, and the way her nose crinkles up when she smiles, her laugh, and when i hug her she grabs a fist full of my shirt and just holds onto it until one of us lets go of the other," i smiled.  

"what else?" char asked and and stretched his arms.  

"how she bites her lip when she's confused, or she's in a really deep thought. and when we're hanging out, she's not afraid to be herself, you know?" char nodded.  

"and how do you feel about tori?" he asked.   "outside of bed."  

"sometimes she gets annoying, like when she gets too clingy, or she's rude to people," i paused. "we always get in fights, and it's about stupid stuff too."

"do you in avery ever get in fights?" he asked.  

"we've only ever had that one, where she wouldn't talk to me, but i don't think that really counts as a fight," i said. "we argue sometimes but it's never like screaming or shouting at each other," he nodded.  

"and how did you feel when you saw her with zach?" he asked.  

"pissed dude. he was standing close to her and shit, and hugging her, and making her laugh. i don't like it, not one fucking bit. he can't be around her, and smile at her, and do all this stuff that'll attract her because they can't be together," i grumbled.  

"and why not?" char asked.  

"because, he'll treat her like garbage. she's so much better than he is, and she definitely deserves a lot better than him," i said.  

"if you dated her, let's, just think, how would you treat her?" he asked. i shrugged. 

"i would pay for her when we go out, and always be with her, and cheer her up when she's down, and make her laugh, and i don't know," i sighed.  

"right," charles said getting up from the couch. "i'm gonna go head over to avery's, maybe i'll even get a kiss or two, i'll see you later man," he said. what! i ran over to char and grabbed him by his collar.  

"don't you dare," i hissed. he just continued smirking. "lay a finger on her, and i'll kill you."

"let go of me dude she's my best friend too," he grabbed my fists. "take an easy breath, and let go of me," i did, and slowly i let go of his shirt. "joey —"  

"why would you even fucking say that?" i huffed.  

"joey, listen to me," char said. i kept my mouth shut and waited for him to speak. "why shouldn't i go over there joey?"

"because!" is he fucking sped? "you're my best friend, you can't do that!" i growled.  

"besides that, why can't i kiss her?" he asked.  

"because i fucking like her! you don't make out with your best friends crush man!" my jaw dropped. holy shit. did i really just say that? those words actually came out of my mouth?  

"look who finally got the balls to admit he likes a girl," charles smiled, folding his arms over his chest. holy crap. i like avery. a lot.