I can't believe I actually got a date with Joey. Rachel and Monica can't believe it even more. We planned to meet at a restaurant, a really nice and expensive one I have never been to.
I head over and get there a little early. I doubt he's here yet, but I walk in and walk up to host. I assume it's under his name since he made the reservation; well actually Andrew probably made it now that I'm thinking about it. But I'm sure it's under Joey's name.
"One?" the host asks me.
"No, uh…Joey?" I say hoping I won't have to say his last name. I find it a little embarrassing to say his name, since I guess he's pretty known.
The host looks down at his list and suddenly looks up with a large smile running across his face.
"Right this way," he says and leads me to the dining area.
I see Joey already at the table; I have no time to be surprised he's already here or that he's early at that because the sight of him takes my breath away. He's in a navy blue suit with a black dress shirt and tie. His hair is styled perfectly and he looks so good I'm in a bit of a trance as I'm walking towards him, realizing I'm on a date with this guy. Holy shit, I'm about to be on a date with a hot, famous actor at this insanely fancy restaurant where half the people in here probably know exactly who he is and they are about to see me with him. Me, some gawky, weird, goofy guy wearing a boring, grey suit that probably doesn't even fit properly.
I lose all my confidence in this moment and go back to the nervous, panicked guy I've always been. I sloppily continue to follow the host to the table as Joey looks up and sees us approaching. The host pulls the chair out for me. I thank him and take my seat. I instantly look down at the decorative china laid in front of me so I don't have to look at him. I start scratching my jaw nervously.
"Hey," he finally breaks the silence.
"Hey," I nod, look up for a second and then thank every god in existence when the waiter comes over with menus. I grab mine from him as he starts introducing himself and welcoming us to the restaurant. He then lists off all the specials as I bury my face in my menu.
"Thank you," Joey says when the waiter has completed his long list.
"I'll give you two some time to look over the menu," the waiter says and then walks off.
I stay staring at my menu.
"Uh, you okay?" Joey asks me.
"Yeah, me, great. You? How are you?" I respond horribly.
"I'm…good. Are you sure you're okay?" he asks.
"Yes, I'm fine. So, what do you get here?" I ask.
"The steak."
"Mm, that sounds good," I state.
He waits a few seconds, probably just staring at me, wondering what's wrong with me.
"Chandler?"
"Yeah?" I say still pretending this menu is interesting.
He doesn't say anything else. He sits in silence waiting for me.
I finally look up.
"What?" I press.
"I was just wondering if you were ever going to look at me," he raises his eyebrows at my behavior.
I guess I'm being horrendously obvious. How am I supposed to act? I start looking around to see if anyone is staring. I don't really notice anyone looking and feel slight relief from this.
I look back at Joey who's giving me a strange look, wondering what I'm doing.
"Well, it's not all about you okay. I don't have to stare at you the whole night," I say sharply. Joey looks thrown off by my attitude, I didn't mean for it to come out that way. Luckily, the waiter returns in this moment.
"Can I get your orders or you two still need a minute?"
Joey looks at me.
"No, we're ready I'll have a steak, cooked well-done," I say and hand my menu to the waiter.
"I'll have the same," Joey says.
"Great, they'll be right out," the waiter says and walks off.
Joey rubs the back of his neck, looking down. God, I'm making things so awkward.
I want to say something to make it better, but I don't even know what to ask him about. I figure maybe I should at least say something nice to him.
"You look nice," I state, realizing how much I just downplayed that compliment. If he only knew how great I think he looks tonight.
"Thanks," he says. "So do you."
I make a face instantly when he says it.
"What, I mean it," he defends.
"Thanks," I say super sarcastically.
He shakes his head, clearly annoyed with how I'm acting… I would be too.
At this moment, two girls walk up to our table.
"Hi, um we love you on Days, could we get a picture?" she asks Joey.
I feel my stomach turn. These girls were probably staring at me thinking what in world Joey would be doing with a guy like me.
"Sure!" Joey responds and they turn to me and ask if I would take the picture, just the icing on the cake. I just nod and take their camera. Joey gets up and poses in the middle of them. I take the photo and hand it back to them without a word. They ask for hugs and thank Joey over and over for the picture. He smiles and thanks them for being fans. They head back to their table.
"Um, could we go?" I ask.
Joey looks confused by this.
"Okay," he responds with no questions, which surprises me the most. We get up and I think Joey stops by the host to tell him we're leaving.
We leave the restaurant and start walking in silence down the street.
I finally stop and turn to him, I know he deserves some explanation.
"I'm sorry," I finally say.
He looks at me and frowns a bit.
"It's because of how I treated your friends right?"
I'm surprised at first by this response, but then I realize it makes perfect sense why he would think that, in fact that's a perfect reason to feel like he had to go on this date with me.
"You know what, we should just forget this," I decide.
"What do you mean?"
"This date, I don't know what I was ever thinking. This is so stupid, I'm so stupid, I'm just wasting your time," I tell him.
"No you're not, you know I didn't have to come right?" he says.
"Come on, you don't want to be here, with me. You're getting recognized."
"So?"
"So, it'll look bad," I tell him and stare down at the ground.
He doesn't say anything. I don't really want to hear a pity compliment, which is what I'm expecting.
But instead he walks right up to me, I see his shoes line up across from mine. I look back up, seeing his face so close to mine. I feel my breaths shorten for the second time tonight.
He reaches his hand out and places it along my jaw.
"Then, this is gonna look real bad," he grins and pulls me to his lips, making me fall apart from his kisses again.
