Dedicated to LaPaige for being the very definition of awesome. I want to dedicate an entire story to her, but since I don't have the time or ideas for now, I shall dedicate this to her, even though it's not thanks enough for all the wonderful things she says. I'm sorry Paige. But as soon as I can, I will write you something wonderful.
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The Manly Man Journal of Joe Lucas - Part Eight.
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August 21st, Friday.
Dear MMJ,
The following is a recapitulation of the events that took place on this Friday evening. I really cant be bothered to write in dialogue mode so here you have it, in first person mode. If only I could pass this off as my English assignment. Hah. Maybe I could if I changed the names. Joe could be Moe, Stella could be Bella, Macy could be Stacy and Nick could be---Stick? We'll see. Anyhow here goes.
As narrated by Joe Lucas.
So Macy somehow convinced Nick and Stella to go. But at the last moment, we realized a flaw in our plan. How would we know if Nick and Stella enjoyed the date if we weren't there to see proof of it? I mean, it's not like they were going to tell us right? Because far as we knew, they hadn't even told each other that they liked each other. Then Macy had an Idea, she suggested we both should go too, except we should get seats which are far away from them. She also said she'd be able to explain away our situation quite competently if they need ever arose so there'd be no problem. Then she asked what I wanted to do.
I of course said, hell yes. Well not that exactly but I said something more polite. You see, this was an opportunity for me too. I mean, I would be there in a tux and Macy would there be in an evening dress—because those were standard dress regulations for really fancy places and then I would have due cause to act like a smooth suave gentleman and show Macy that I was the ONLY dude for her.
It's was a brilliant plan wasn't it?
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By the evening came, I was alternately freaking out and being ecstatically happy. Thankfully, it was sometimes good to be known as the crazy one. Nobody looked askance at the crazy dude in the family going crazy then, hopping from one leg to another and generally behaving like a madcap monkey.
With Kevin's help, I put together a decent outfit. I know what you are thinking MMJ—Kevin helping me pick out a dress? Is Joe crazy because he just might end up going out in a monkey suit? Actually I don't blame you because I harbored some suspicions along the same lines. But as it turned out, Kevin had become pretty darn good with clothes ever since he became a cheerleader. He believed that they had awakened his inner fashion guru—and I can't even begin to imagine the amount of gay weight age that pronouncement carried. But I don't think it bothered him because it was not like Kevin cared. Kevin always did whatever he's wanted to do regardless of the way people perceived him. And I think it served him well because in that way, Kevin was able to withstand the ills of a rock star life while me and Nick, we had a few issues dealing with it.
Anyway, back to Kevin's fashion awesomeness. As he was helping me get accessorized (I didn't even know that was a word!), he told me that he helps Stella with a lot of stuff like our wardrobe and stitching and stuff. And now I know why he's the only one she doesn't get angry at. It must be because she believes that unlike me and Nick, Kevin is actually capable of dressing himself very well because he has a Future In Fashion.
So yeah, Kevin hooked me up with some pretty stuff. And I will admit, I looked pretty—and I do always look good, but this time I was handsome. Like a movie star. Wait, I'm a rock star, so I looked handsome and cool.
Meanwhile Nick was flapping around the house like a headless chicken. And it was so hilarious to watch because Nick is the calm composed one and seeing him hyperventilate is really fun. And while Nick was running around, guess what me and Kevin were doing? Yeah, we were laughing our asses off Nick continued to hyperventilate and shower some curses on us.
In the end Frankie took pity on him and helped him out and calmed him down. As he passed me by, he gave a wink that implied he knew everything. And I think he does know everything. Sometimes, it's like my littlest brother is an evil mastermind. God help anyone who ticks him off. And some day, I fear I'll find out that while Frankie was growing up, he worked for the Pentagon's super stealth division. You just never knew with him.
Nick was the one who first left. When Kevin gave him a bouquet to give Stella, Nick blushed. I inwardly smirked. My grand plan was just about beginning. Because you see, I gave Kevin the bouquet to give to Nick to give to Stella. And yes, I brought a bouquet for Macy too. And awesome one with gazillion of pretty flowers that I can't remember the name of.
As soon as Nick left, I dressed as hurriedly as I could and I spent a good few minutes brushing my teeth.
In another few minutes I was fully dressed and good to go. Before I went though, I sent up a silent prayer. Just for this night, I wanted everything to go perfectly. For Nick and Stella and for me and Macy. And just as I was leaving, Kevin and Frankie appeared at the door to sdee me off. And as I was getting into my car, they called out something cryptic. Something which struck me only later.
"Be yourself. She already likes you."
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As I was sitting in front of Macy's house, waiting for her—I offered to come to the door but Macy said that she would advise against that because then I would be subjected to the third degree by her father, so I prudently decided to stay away. Yeah, so as I was sitting in the car, I was mulling about the cryptic words of my eldest and youngest sibling respectively. And then it struck me.
They said, "Be yourself, she already likes you."
That meant, Macy already liked me!It sent a billion sparks of warmth shooting through my body and filled me up completely with happiness. If I would have been an exploding firework then, I would have made one pretty explosion. I was just so happy and full of happiness.
And at that very moment—this tingling sense at the back of my neck told me to look up, so I did, and that's when I saw Macy walking down her pathway. She was wearing a cocktail dress that was buttercup yellow and just looking at her in it reminded me of sunshine and daisies. But more than the dress on her, it was the smile on her face and the twinkle in her eyes that made my heart race harder. It all reminded me of one thing.
I was eighteen and immature and so in love.
It was an exhilarating and scary thought and it sent adrenaline rushing through my veins. Macy reached the car and I hopped out so that I could open the door for her. I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
"You look beautiful." And sometimes, even the simplest of statements carried the whole weight of the world on their shoulders. Macy beamed at me and she gave me a kiss on my cheek. That alone should have had me weak at the knees—and it did but I somehow managed to keep standing. I did have an idiotic crazy smile on my face though.
"You look very handsome yourself Joe," Macy said with a shy smile and I think that made me grin all the more. I helped her in—and god help me, I've never been more entranced by a pair of smooth silky brown legs such as her but I tucked away my drooling self. Tonight, I was going to try to be a man.
I walked back to my side of the door and climbed back in. Before I started the ignition, Macy intertwined her fingers with mine and gave them an appreciative squeeze and a smile that I would call equal parts happy and hopeful. It filled me with hope too, unfurling inside my self like a flower blooming under the sun.
That was when I knew it. I knew it in my bones. Tonight was going to be something.
I didn't know if tonight was going to be magical or wonderful or disastrous or horrible but tonight was going to be something big.
Tonight, it was going to be epic, whatever it was.
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To Be Continued.
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I am a right royal idiot for not updating for so long and I'm very sorry indeed. But as I have quite sadly found out, that like many a times before, real life and studying demand that they come first. And in all fairness, they are right. Sigh.
And please dont hurl pitchforks at me for ending here. The whole thing would have been too much to type out and frankly speaking, I don't have that much energy --it's Deepavali here, festival time and since I've been up since 5 in the morning, I'm pooped-- but I swear, I'll try to update faster this time.
Cross my heart and hope to die.
Also, Happy Deepavali to everyone! :)