Are We Growing Up, Or Just Growing Down?

Joey got a call from Denny. "If we invite you out tonight, are you gonna kick and scream like usual, or will you trust us?"

 

"Uh, I'll be fine. Why?"

 

"Because we like bringing you with us. You're more fun than Harvick," Denny said.

 

"Oh. Really?" Joey asked.

 

"Not really. But you're more available. Kevin likes doing married stuff," Denny replied honestly.

 

"Thanks. Yeah, sure. What's up? Where are we going?"

 

"Not important. I'm trusting you with my car tonight. Can you drive carefully?"

 

"Yes." Joey sounded determined. He knew how much Denny loved his car and felt honored to be trusted with it.

 

"Okay. Be ready around 10:30-11. Dress....however. I don't care." Denny hung up.

 

Joey didn't change clothes, but he put on a jacket and filled the deep pockets with anything he might need. He felt like a boy scout, trying to make sure he was prepared for whatever Denny had planned.

 

When Denny pulled up, he honked obnoxiously. Joey ran out to the car. He stopped at the driver seat window, which was open.

 

"I thought I was driving?" he asked.

 

Denny's hair was spiked with gel. He wore dark jeans and a tight black shirt with some silver design on it. Kyle was dressed somewhat similiarly.

 

"Not yet you're not. Get in the back." Denny ordered.

 

Joey reluctantly slid into the back seat. "Do I get to know where we're going?" He crossed his arms, suddenly in a bad mood.

 

"Of course you do. To the club!" Kyle was ecstatic. He started fist-pumping along with the radio.

 

"I can't go to clubs. I'm 20," Joey said bitterly.

 

"Not according to your ID. You're 22. And from Boston. See?" Denny pulled a card out of his pocket and passed it back to Joey.

 

"Is this why I'm driving tonight?"

 

"Yep! You're smart. You know not to get drunk, which is something Kyle doesn't know and I only half know. You'll have fun," Denny explained.

 

"Oh. Alright." Joey felt like he was being used. He wished he had stayed home.

He kept to himself for the ride. They got to the club, and Denny handed Joey his keys. "Be cool, okay?"

"Yeah. Sure." Truth was Joey was nervous. He was worried the bouncer would spot the fake ID. But he kind of didn't care.

They got into the club without any trouble. Denny eyed two girls who were dancing with each other. He cut in, said something to one of them, and started grinding on her. Kyle went straight to the bar, bought a drink, and watched a scantly clad girl attempt to hang upside down on a pole. Joey shoved his hands in his pockets, unsure of what to do.

He wandered around for awhile, finally deciding to go to the bar and just chill.

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Jeanie was woken up sometime in the middle of the night by her phone. "Hello?" she answered groggily.

 

"I went to a club!" she jumped up, startled by the volume on the other end.

 

"Did you lose your hearing there?"

 

Joey continued to talk loudly and animatedly. "I had nothing to do. And my teammates wanted me to come with them. Which I guess was okay, because the girl is thousands of miles away.  And I thought 'why don't I try to find someone? Maybe I'll totally get over Jeanie and if not maybe I can make Jeanie jealous.' And that was literally the worst idea ever -- Yeah, I mean literally -- because every single girl I was comparing to you."

 

Jeanie would have laughed, but she was too tired to muster the energy. That's sweet. I think."

 

"Sorry." Joey started talking less frantically. "I just wanted you to know that I'm serious about you."

 

"This probably isn't much consolation, but I'm more serious about you than I am about anyone else right now."

 

"You know what? That kind of is."