Chapter Twenty-Three

I walked over the train doors and just stood there watching Joey flirt with the girls. The blonde girl walked closer to Dee Dee and started playing with his hair. Dee Dee smiled and put his hands on her. "Dee Dee, didn't you tell me you're married?"

The blonde girl, Rosy, glared at me. "This is none of your business, bitch. You're not his mother, let him do what he wants." Her eyes reeked of hatred. Why was I so hated by every girl I encountered? Oh. Right. I was with the Ramones. I forgot about that. I guess to me they were just regular guys now. They were still my favorite band, but I've spent so much time around them that they were like the brothers I never had. Well...with the exception of Johnny, of course.

Dee Dee slipped his hands on the girl's waist. "Rosy, ya wanna come with us to where we're goin'? You can stay the night with us if ya want. And bring your friend too."

I put my face in my hands and sighed. Why didn't anyone ever listen to me? Dee Dee was lucky I didn't call up his wife and tell her that he was cheating on her. Well, whatever. It was his life I guess.

Josephine was twirling her fingers in Joey's hair and blushing like crazy. I seriously didn't understand what attracted girls to Joey. I mean, I guess he's always been like a best friend, kind of like Mayra was, so maybe that's why I didn't see him that way. And besides, Johnny hated me and Joey talking to each other. He was probably still suspicious that I liked him. Which obviously wasn't true at all. And I'm sure to Joey, the feeling was mutual. So I don't know what the heck his problem was. I was gonna have a talk with him later about that when we got to Arturo's place.

We came out of the tunnel and arrived at another stop. The name of it read "28th Street-Park Avenue South".

"Hey." Johnny was trying to get everyone's attention. But Marky was talking to some random guy, and Joey and Dee Dee were too focused on the new groupies. "HEY!"

Everyone in the train car stopped what they were doing. I sighed and hid in the corner. I was almost tempted to say that I had no relation to Johnny because he was embarrassing the FUCK out of me right now!

"It's our stop. Quit fuckin' around, lets go." Johnny straightened himself up and turned around, about to exit the train. When the doors opened, we wordlessly followed him out and up the stairs to the outside streets. It was cold and I was shivering. Johnny was in the front, and I walked next to him.

"Hi, baby." I smiled, and he smiled back, then put his arm around my waist.

"Hey," he said, then kissed my cheek. He sighed. "God, today's been fuckin' crazy."

I nodded. "Yeah. It's good we can finally wind down and just relax. So anyways, you're gonna go see your mom on Thursday, right?"

"Yeah, I have to. That's the day of the funeral. Please come with me."

"John, I told you, I cant. That's between you and your mom. Do you know how awkward it would be if I showed up at your dad's funeral trying to introduce myself to your mom? Poor thing is probably going to be crying the whole time, and she'll need you to be there for her. When she's ready, she'll meet me. But right now is just not the time."

Johnny sighed and nodded. "Alright, alright. Well, I'll still tell 'er you said hi." He squinted his eyes and looked ahead. "Oh, we're here."

We walked up to a stylish loft and stood there. Joey walked up to the front and knocked, then rang the bell.

There was a young man who looked like he was Spanish who opened the door. His eyes widened when he saw us. "Joey? Guys, what-...whatcha doing here?"

"Hey, Arturo. Well, it's a long story, we can explain if you let us in."

So this was Arturo. He was kind of cute, actually.

"Alright, is it just you and the guys?"

"Nah, we got about three girls with us, too."

Arturo sighed, rubbed the bridge of his nose, then finally said, "Alright, come on. Come on in."

Joey motioned the rest of us to come inside and we all walked in. Arturo's place looked really nice. He kept everything clean and tidy.

"So, those of you who've been here before...that means you guys, Joey, Marky, Dee Dee and Johnny, you all know the rules. No throwing things, don't make too much noise, don't eat all my food, you know, all that stuff. Now, for the girls...well, you lovely ladies can do whatever you want since you're new here." He smiled.

All of the guys groaned and sucked their teeth playfully. I just smiled and continued to look around the loft.

"Aw come on, how come they get to do whatever the fuck they want and we don't?" Dee Dee asked laughing. "That's fucked up, Arturo."

"Oh, a special rule for you in particular, Douglas. No dope around here. Got it?" I took it that Douglas was Dee Dee's real name, and I stifled a snicker.

"WHAT?" Dee Dee's eyes widened and his mouth flew open. "Come on, man. I just wanna do a little." He took out his marijuana stash from his back pocket. "I'll let you bum a cigarette with me if you let me do some of this."

"What brand? Is it Newport?" Arturo held out his hand.

"Nah, Marlboro."

Arturo sucked his teeth. "Damn, I hate Marlboro. Alright fine, just gimme one. And DON'T do so much dope, I don't want this place smelling like it."

"Alright, alright. Whatever." Dee Dee waved him off and lit up a cigarette for Arturo and himself.

Johnny took off his jacket, his famous navy blue "Chatterbox" shirt showing underneath. He then grabbed my hand and led me over to the sofa. He sat down first, then I placed my legs across his lap.

"Oh man, it feels good to sit down again," I said. "My legs hurt from running so much today."

"Yup, sure does feel good." He pulled my arm towards him. "Come here and cuddle with me. I'm cold."

I laughed. "Me too." I took my legs off his lap and moved over closer to him. Johnny put his arm around me, then pushed my head back. He moved all of my hair from my face and ran his fingers through it, then he leaned forward and kissed my neck. His warm breathing tickled me and I got goosebumps. "Ah, John. That tickles." I put my hand on his face, it felt all scratchy. "You need to shave, mister." We both chuckled.

"Yeah I know. I'll do it when we get home tomorrow." With my fingertips, I felt his mouth. His lips were smooth and soft, as usual. Why couldn't I have a mouth like Johnny's?

"Did I ever tell you how much I love your lips?"

Johnny laughed. "Uh, no. Not really."

I leaned forward and kissed him, then lightly bit his lower lip. He moaned pleasurably, which made me burst into giggles. "You like that?"

"Mm, god yes," he mumbled against my mouth. "Do it again, babe."

My face changed color. "You're embarrassing me, John."

"Aw, you're so cute." He smiled and pushed his hair back so that he could look into my eyes.

"And you know something else?" I asked.

"Hm?" Johnny cocked his head slightly to one side and listened.

"I really love your eyes too. They're so beautiful."

"Well thank you, but you're even more beautiful." He chuckled and kissed my lips again. When our mouths parted I said, "No, you're beautiful."

"No, YOU'RE beautiful." He tickled me, and I squealed and tickled him back. This went on for probably five minutes. I knew that only I could get Johnny to act this mushy. I had the key to his heart.

"Do I have your heart, John?" I asked him.

"Forever." He put his face close to mine, our noses touching. "And I have yours, right?"

"Of course! Nobody else. Which is why I don't understand why you get so mad when me and Joey talk."

He sighed. "I was just jealous, alright? I mean, you know Joey, he gets all the girls. And I mean...I know I took Linda from 'im but I was just scared that he was getting revenge on me by trying to talk to you."

"Well I do love Joey, but definitely not in the way that you think. So don't worry about it. He's like an older brother, you know?"

"I'm sorry I acted like that." He looked down like a child who did something bad.

"It's okay." I smiled and kissed his nose. "But I still think you and Joey need to have a heart-to-heart conversation. It would do you both some good, seriously."

Johnny sucked his teeth and rolled his eyes. "Whatever..."

"I'm serious, John! It's stupid the way you guys act towards each other, and it has to end sometime, you know?"

He sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Look, I'm gettin' tired. Let's talk about this another day."

Johnny was avoiding the subject again. I hated it when he did that. "Alright fine, another day. But just remember what I said-"

"Yeah, yeah I hear ya, now can we go to sleep?" He looked up at me. "Please?"

I chuckled and cuddled closer to him. "Okay, sleepyhead. We can."

Johnny circled his arms around me, and as we were trying to fall asleep, we heard female moaning coming from one of the rooms across the hall. And I suddenly heard, "OH DEE DEE, YEAH! HARDER! OH GOD YES!" Oh my Jesus...it was that new groupie Rosy. The one who couldn't take her hands off of Dee Dee. And now he was fucking her. How wonderful.

Johnny got up from the sofa, seriously annoyed, and stomped his way to the room that they were in. He pounded on the door. "KEEP THAT FUCKING SHIT DOWN, I'M TRYIN' TO FUCKIN' SLEEP, MOTHERFUCKERS!"

At that moment, I couldn't stop laughing. This was hilarious! I saw Joey in the kitchen pouring himself a glass of beer, and he was laughing too. Boy was this going to be an interesting night...