CHAPTER 1: Joey
"As we go on
We remember
All the times we
Had together
And as our lives change
Come whatever
We will still be
Friends Forever"
"Oh God, could you please turn that retarded song off the radio? I feel like I'm in a Barney after school special," David says laughingly.
"Sure, dude," Joey, replies with a smile. In all honesty, Joey was very glad to turn off that song. Even before graduation, it had always made him tear up a bit. Joey hated change, and that stupid song only accentuated the change that surrounded him like a thick fog. After the summer he would be separated from David, and that thought made his eyes water and chest tighten.
The traffic is eerily light on the Interstate 5 freeway, and Joey counts less the 12 cars ahead of them. David had suggested they leave their small northern California hometown at 10pm, because the southbound traffic to San Diego would be light. David was always very good with things like traffic and directions so Joey completely trusted him. Joey flips through a few stations and finally turns on the CD player. The sounds of Green Day fill the car. Billie Joe Armstrong sings on about another turning point and fork stuck in the road. Joey reaches out to turn to the next song but is stopped by David.
"Leave it here." David says, "I love this song." As David sang along to the tune, sort of off key, Joey sits staring out the window of David's Ford Explorer. The moon reflects it's pale light off the nocturnal waves, but Joey barely notices the beautiful sight, he is lost in his own sea of memories. He sees himself at five, a shy, chubby little brown haired kid sitting all alone. He remembers the words that started his 14-year friendship with David. David had run up to where he was sitting, his reddish blonde hair glowing in the sunlight.
"Hey," David had said, "you're sorta fat, but I bet if you run more you'll look like a normal kid soon. Want to run with me?"
"Sure," Joey had replied and the rest, as they say, is history. David was always the star athlete, the guy every girl had a crush on. David is movie star handsome, light olive skin with bright reddish blonde hair and green eyes. His mom is half Cuban half Italian and his dad is Irish with bright red hair. David's vibrant personality and good looks command attention, and made him the most popular guy in school. He never abuses his popularity, and most times he seemed oblivious to it. If it had not been for David, Joey surely would have numbered himself among the geeks and dorks of Long View High. But, because he ran with David, he was a celebrity by association.
The soft guitar strings of the Green Day tune serve as the background music of Joey's walk down memory lane. He remembers sleepovers where he would laugh so much he would get asthma attacks. He sees David sitting up with him while he cried the night his grandfather died. He sees himself reading to David in his hospital room when he had his tonsils out. He sees a lifetime full of memories shared with a wonderful friend. All these flashbacks, complete with the dramatic soundtrack, finally bring Joey to tears. He had been expecting a good cry, but had hoped he could prolong it till he was alone.
Through blurry eyes, he sees a rest stop is coming up and David switching lanes so he can exit the highway. Joey discreetly wipes his tears as David pulls into the rest area. Joey is just taking his seat belt off when David's strong arms pull him into a hug, resting Joey's head on his well-developed pecs.
"Dude, what the hell?" Joey asks, his voice still a bit teary.
"Man, I saw you start to cry back there," David says "And I know if you don't talk about it and get it all out, you'll be total asshole this whole damn trip. So come on, out with it."
"Fuck you" Joey says, and tries to pull free from David. David just tightens his grip and pulls Joey closer.
"Come on, man" David says this time in a voice full of compassion. Joey stops trying to pull free and melts into David's embrace.
"It was just the song," Joey says fresh tears starting to run down his face. If he had been talking to someone else, he probably would have needed to elaborate on what it was about that song that made him cry. David just nods in understanding, not for lack of words, but because they are unnecessary.
"I'm going to miss your chubby ass too," David says jokingly. Joey playfully punches David in his side, and the tender embrace quickly turns into a wrestling match. This was a common joke of David's because of the size and shape of Joey's butt. Joey is by no means fat. He stands about 5'10 to David's 6'1. Joey's favorite sport to play is baseball, and due to a lifetime of training for and playing, his legs and thighs are very fit and toned. His chest is very, but not overly, defined. But, no matter how hard Joey tried, and truth be told, he tried very hard, he could do nothing about his butt. It's perfectly round shape stands out in spite of the oversized pants Joey insisted on buying to hide his perfect cheeks. His locker room nickname was badonkadonk, and the baseball jocks at Long View high would swear slapping Joey's wet naked butt would bring victory to any game.
"I give up dude, I give up" David says giggling. Joey had David's head rested in his forearm and armpit. Joey let him go, they were both still panting out of breath.
"So, you better?" David pants, still grinning hard at Joey.
"Fuck you." Joey panted back. He also was smiling from ear to ear.
"I'll take that as a yes." David says still trying to regain his breath.
"Well, on that note I gotta go piss. Hey, want to cross swords?" Joey raises his eyebrow at David's question
"Dude, what are we 12?" Joey asks.
"Come on, man, David pleads. "One last time for old time's sake."
"Okay" Joey agrees. He could never say no to David, and he suspected David knew that. Joey jumps out of the car, and quickly reaches in and grabs his jacket to put on. The late June evening is made chilly because of the stiff sea breeze. This particular rest stop is located on a cliff overlooking the ocean. There is a small area with picnic benches and a grassy patch with an assortment of tropical looking flowers surrounding it. The waves crash against the rocks below with unyielding force, a sound Joey finds both calming and a little frightening. Past the benches some steps descended down to the beach level. When David sees the stairs descending to the beach he grabs Joeys arm and gasps in excitement.
"Dude let's go down to the beach!" David says, already pulling Joey in that direction.
"I thought you had to piss so bad" Joey replies. He is still being pulled towards the stairs like a rag doll, but he does not protest.
"I can piss down there," David says and points towards the ocean. "And, you know, mark my territory."
Joey and David carefully descend the old wooden steps. David uses his iPhone as a flashlight, lighting the path enough so they can see the steps clearly. The air on the beach is fragrant, the smell of timeless rocks and eternal sea. Joey shivers as the cool misty breeze runs across the naked flesh of his legs. He looks over at David and sees he is pulling out his large uncircumcised meat out of black sweatpants. Looking away, embarrassed, a blush starts to rise to Joeys face. He had been naked with David a thousand times before and had even slept naked with David one night camping, but that's a tale for another time. But, lately, Joey had been having these dreams. Dreams so real they almost seem like visions. Joey tries desperately to put these thoughts from his mind, He succeeds for now, but knows they still lurk in his mind, ready to jump out and attack him without warning.
