Author's Note: Here's the next chapter! I know that the prologue was short. Well, so is this chapter as well. But trust me, it'll pick up the next chapter-since Seto's gonna be in it (shocker! :p).
Anyways, thanks for the reviews-for those who did-and let's begin this chapter! :D
Chapter 1
5 years later
Joey kept looking down at his new badge. He was grinning like a Cheshire cat. With his other friends that also graduated from the Domino City Police Academy, he finally felt like he had belong somewhere, other than within his own group of high school friends.
"Joey! Congrats, brother!" Serenity called out as she reached him, giving him a hug.
"Thanks, sis! Now, whenever ya go on a date, I can be tha protective brother and dad." Joey squinted his face as Serenity just sighed.
"I figured you would say that. Anyways, aren't you going to go out with your buddies?"
Joey turned as some of his new officer friends waved at him.
"Nah. I wanna hang out with my family, to celebrate!" Joey assured as he waved away his friends. "I'll go out with ya guys later this week!" He called as a few moaned.
"You'll be missing out!"
"I actually wanted to see ya drunk!"
"Rick, don't say that! Even though he can drink."
Joey smiled as he turned back to his family. "So, where do ya wanna eat?"
Joey's mom grabbed her purse and pat his hand. "Where ever you want to, Joseph."
"I say La Rosa's!" Serenity pipped out as Joey gave her a hug and walked outside with his mother right behind them.
Becoming a police officer might have been the hardest thing for Joey to accomplish. First, he had to a written exam, then an oral written board test. Then, citizens would come in and review him, asking him a handful of questions. There was also a fitness test, which Joey aced with no problem. And, he had to go to college-Domino University-and majored in Criminal Justice, which made Police Departments all around Domino City give Joey a second look.
"So, do you have a job somewhere yet?" His mother asked as Joey sighed.
"My application was put into several areas-police departments, security guards, ya name it-and hopefully I'll get a call soon. My major in college will be noticed, and ya know, I'll be able to do what I've wanted to do for years." Joey explained as his mom just smiled.
"I'm just glad. Serenity's going to be graduating from high school next year, and Joey just graduated from college AND the Domino City Police Academy!"
Joey's mom might be able to brag to all her friends now, but Joey's dad is another story. As soon as Joey graduated high school, he moved into a dormitory, where he went to college, and was far from his father. He doesn't know if he is still alive or not, and after all the abuse Joey received in the years he was with his father, the scars on the outside have healed, but not the inside.
Joey shook his head and jumped into the car, with his mom and sister safe inside.
After dropping off his mother and sister at their home, Joey drove back to his own apartment, that he shared with one of his friends from the force-Matt. Collapsing on the couch, Joey turned on a lamp and saw that the place was really clean. Very unusual for them both.
"Hey, Matt? Why is tha place cleaned up?" Joey called out to the rest of the apartment as it was silent. Is he napping? Well, he did have a rough day today I heard.
Matt has been in the police force for two years, and since his family lives far away (a good hour away) he decided to get an apartment. When he needed a roommate to help pay for the rent, Joey was the first one to call and they became instant friends.
Did he find someone and forgot to tell me that she had a twin sis?
Joey laughed internally as he scouted the apartment. Looking everywhere-to the bathroom, to the bedroom-Joey decided to give up.
"So, he's not home yet." Joey murmured as he looked up at a clock. 10:02. Maybe he's out eatin' or somethin'. Joey shook his head and decided to turn on the TV, grabbing a soda in the process. He turned to a news-station as he sighed. "I had news tell him..."
"And in other news, Congratulations to the new police officers of Domino City. Twenty graduated and are on the road to new beginnings." The station showed video from tonight, as Joey sat up. He just saw him self, serious, and with his uniform on.
"Geez... I didn't know that I could look serious..."
"Most had graduated from local colleges-such as Domino University, Domino College, and even the prestige University of Domino-and are on the move to become officers and guards. It's nice to know that the city is going to be even more safe with these people around."
Joey heard the door open as Matt came walking in, his shoulders straight.
"Well, there ya are! I was wonderin' where the heck ya were." Joey said as Matt sat on the couch, slowly taking off his shoes.
"Yeah, my parents had a huge party for me. Everyone was shaking my hand and congratulating me, it was overwhelming." Matt explained as Joey nodded.
"My mom and sis was like that all night. I don't even know if my old friends know about this yet, unless they just watch what was on the news just seconds ago."
Matt looked up at him. "Why?"
"Well... They showed video of us at the academy, and my face was shown on the screen."
"No, I mean why haven't you told your friends what you've been doing for five years?" Matt asked as Joey turned his head, crossing his arms.
"I don't know, really... I have wanted to tell them, but they might've been surprised or shocked. Especially one of my friends." Joey told him as Matt shrugged his shoulders.
"How about you call them up and talk to them? Just like the old times?" Matt suggested as Joey looked to him.
"Good idea! I'll have ta figure up a time, but until then, there's somethin' I have ta say ta ya." Joey got up and looked down at his friend. "I have some news."
"What's the news?"
"...My sister and mom don't know this, but I'm going to be movin' closer to them. I'd be only about ten minutes away from them, unlike where I'm thirty minutes away. Now that I'm an officer, I want to be close to them, just in case somethin' happens."
Matt nodded. "That's totally understandable. If my family lived that close, I would be willing to live closer to them."
"But, I'll still be in contact with ya, just in case."
"That's fine. So, have you gotten any calls yet?"
Joey glared at him. "I'm probably not goin' ta get a job for a little bit. I mean, I know that I graduated from college with a major in Criminal Justice, but I can wait. I hope."
"But, aren't you still with the DCPD until you find a job?" Matt wondered as Joey blinked his eyes.
"I-I really didn't know that..." He laughed as Matt rubbed his head. "So, I'll be gettin' a call?" Joey grinned at the thought, but then sat down. "I need to relax, right?"
"Yes. Now, if I was you, we better get to bed. You or I might get a call and we would need our sleep to function." Matt took off his hat, placing it on the loveseat as Joey nodded.
"Yeah, I guess ya right." Joey went into his own bedroom to change into comfortable clothing to sleep in. I wonder if tha others saw me. I wonder if they even know it's me, knowin' how I have changed the last I saw them.
Joey had changed-from being a little skinny, but tall guy-to a muscular, smart, and brave guy within the last five years. Joey could just imagine the looks on their faces. He smiled as he slowly slithered into bed, falling into an easy sleep.
Unfortunately, Joey won't be sleeping easy within some chapters. lol
Anyways, the next chapter will be up on Monday! Also, I might be getting back into My Brother's Keeper, so watch out for that chapter by the beginning of next week. :)
Don't forget to review!
