Written from Joey’s point of view.
"Seriously man," Justin added.
"I thought it was sweet," Debbie commented.
"You wanna go?" JC asked slyly.
"Maybe later," she smirked and then laughed at a smiling JC.
Lauren and Lance's antics had woken me from my daydream. It was insane, she was consuming me, and I hated it. Through dinner with my family all I thought of was her. Maybe it was just because of the holiday. I pulled out my cell phone. It was dead.
"Hey C, can I use your phone to check my machine?" I asked, getting off the couch.
"Yeah, you expecting any messages?" he asked.
"My mom, telling what time I have to meet her for church tonight, don't laugh Chris." I explained.
I could still hear Chris chuckling when I picked up the kitchen phone. "You have two new messages," the machine spoke. "Hi, it's Bron," she began, as if I couldn't tell, "Um I...I'm at my ap... ap... apartment," I could hear her shaking through the phone, "If you get a a chance, could you come o... over, I'd like to to talk to you." I knew this was more than an I missed my flight type thing. I didn't even listen to the next message. I couldn't stop myself. Half of me just wanted to be with her, and my other half was too proud to give into anything. But tonight...I knew she needed someone, me.
"Hey guys," I said picking up my leather jacket, "I'm gonna get outta here."
"Joe the service is at 12, it's only 11." Justin commented.
"I gotta take care of something first," I said shutting the door behind me.
I drove over to her apartment. She was still living in the same one when I met her. I got to her door and knocked, but there was no answer. I tried the knob and it was open. There were no lights on, except for the remainder of the fire. "Bron," I called out, "It's me, Joey, I'm here."
I heard sniffles and looked to the corner of the living room and she was crunched up in the corner. "I... I can hear her singing to me," she sobbed.
"Who?" I asked coming closer.
"My mom," she said, taking deep breaths.
I felt so awful for her, and wanted to make whatever was going on with her disappear. I crouched down in front of her, "Your mom died when you were little," I whispered, now able to see her red eyes and wet cheeks.
"Christmas is always the worst," she choked out. "She left the day after."
"Sweetie, what do you mean she left?"
"I...I lied to you," she looked straight at me, "When I was 13 she left us." Tears began pouring down her cheeks again. "She didn't leave an explanation or anything, only a letter twice a year."
She looked so frail I just wanted to protect her from everything. But instead I just sat down in front of her. "Is this what you wanted to tell me?"
"More," she wiped away some tears on her sleeve. "That night, that awful night," she began crying again, "I got a call from my aunt right before you picked me up." she looked down and then right back up at me. "She had aids Joe, my aunt said my mom died of aids."
I just looked at her. I couldn't move, couldn't even understand the pain she had gone through.
"Do you see why I had to tell you?" she asked. "My mom just left cuz she didn't want me to see her like that, but I hate her for leaving." She began to cry again and I couldn't take it anymore. I moved around and pulled her close to me. Stroking her hair and feeling her body shake against mine. When she finally started to calm down I picked her up. I took her to the bathroom and put the toilet lid down and sat her down. I washed her face with a cold washcloth and took her to the bedroom. I placed her gently under her quilt kissed her forehead gently. She was asleep within minutes.
I couldn't leave her alone, even if I was supposed to go to church. It was too late anyway and I was tired from shopping all day. I got a blanket out of the hallway closet, a pillow from the bed, and made myself a makeshift bed on the floor, next to her.
"Oh Lance, you're so corny!" Lauren squealed after he had dragged her underneath the mistletoe and kissed her.