I go out to dinner with Ronald the next night. It truly isn't an issue, my mind is occupied with Joey the entire night. It's probably the first time in my life I'm not nervous on a date. I'm obviously still nice to the guy and I even stop myself from making an McDonald's joke even though it's super tempting when he orders a hamburger.
I get home around 7:30 and walk in to find Joey dressed in a suit.
"Hey?" I greet him confused.
"Hey, how was your date?" his face scrunches with distaste when he says it, which makes me happy.
"Fine... do you have a date?" I inquire.
"Yes, I do," he states and I'm not sure how to feel.
"With... who?" I question worrying already.
He sighs. Dammit why does he look so nice in a suit.
"You!" he stresses like it was supposed to be obvious.
"Me?"
"Yes, I can't take this. I should be the one taking you out on a date, not the guy who owns McDonalds!" Joey demands.
"Joe, he doesn't actually own -"
"I don't want to hide this anymore!" he cuts me off.
"Really?" I smile too wide.
"Yes, we're going to dinner right now!" he insists.
He pushes past me to the door.
"Right now?"
He stops and turns back to me looking less confident suddenly.
"Don't you want to?" he asks me, more timid now.
I smile and step closer to him again.
"That's all I want," I tell him.
He smiles.
"But I just ate dinner, Joe," I remind him gently.
He frowns and I can't take how cute he is.
"What about a raincheck?" I encourage.
"Tomorrow?" he suggests.
"I'm completely free!" I revel and his face lights up.
"Great, I have a great restaurant in mind," he shares happily.
I bite my lip, too happy for words.
I run my hand over his tie. He watches me.
"I can't believe you got all dressed up," I sneer.
"I had to make a good impression," he claims and I could laugh out loud at the thought that he thinks he even needs to try.
"You certainly did, I love this suit on you," I hum.
"Thanks," he replies, not seeming to notice the change in my tone.
"Can I take it off you?"
His eyes widen and I hope I'm not pushing him too far.
"It is tricky to get off," he claims and I breathe easy again.
"I'd better help then," I grin.
"I think that'd be best," he plays.
I grab a hold of his tie, but use it to pull him to my lips first. I need to kiss him before I get all his clothes off.
The next day, we walk across the hall to see our friends.
"Hey, how did your date go?" Rachel asks immediately when she sees me.
"Fine, but I don't think I'll be seeing him again," I break it to her.
"What - why?" she whines.
"I'm interested in someone else," I tell her.
"Who?!" she's instantly intrigued as is everyone.
"Joey."
Everyone looks confused except Phoebe who immediately gasps with delight.
Joey smiles guilty.
"Is this a joke?" Monica warns.
"No," I answer.
"You guys are serious?" she exclaims excited now.
Joey takes my hand in his and I couldn't be happier when he does. I can't believe he's so proud to be with me. I squeeze his hand and smile too wide.
"We're serious," I confirm.
Like expected, our friends surround us in a big hug.
We happily hug them back.
We spend the next few hours talking with our friends who have one hundred and one questions for us.
Finally, Joey and I need to get to our dinner.
"Well, guys we actually have to go," I announce.
"Why?" Rachel frowns.
"We have dinner reservations," Joey explains.
"Oh my god, you guys are too cute! You know, now we are half paired off," she says while taking Ross's hand in hers.
"Mon, Pheebs, you two want to get together?" Rachel asks the remaining single two in our group.
"Monica is not good for my vibe," Phoebe responds, shaking her head.
"Your vibe? What does that mean?" Monica spits back offended.
"You are too... uptight, honey," Phoebe breaks it to her.
"Uptight? I am not uptight!" Monica demands.
"Yes, you are," we all tell her in unison.
She looks at us in shock, but then seems to accept the truth and sulks back down into the couch.
"I don't mean to be," she frowns and Ross rubs her shoulder.
"It's okay, you've always been this way," he says.
She rolls her eyes, not happy.
"See you guys," I call as Joey and I finally head for the door.
"Have fun!" Phoebe calls after us.
Joey and I get to the restaurant. I sit down across from him and we look at our menus. I start watching him and for once I realize, I don't need to look away. I don't need to hide my feelings anymore.
He looks up at me, catching my staring.
"What?" he asks.
"Nothing, I just like looking at you," I tell him.
He smiles.
"You know what?" he says.
"What?"
"I like you Bing," he smirks.
"I like you too, Tribbiani."
The End.