First Time

Joey's the man with the plan

Chapter 5: Joey's the man with the plan

It had been two weeks since Alain and Toni's breakup. Two weeks since Toni had gotten back together with Isaiah. Two weeks of Joey Wilson watching his friend Alain walk the halls of Jump City High School in an air of depression.

Joey studied Alain from afar as he thought back on his friends behavior this past two weeks. Not once did Alain seek out pity or publicly express how devastated he was for attention. Not once did he say a bad word against Toni or Isaiah or treat them badly upon seeing them. He kept to himself these past few days and smiled in public to assure those with concerns not to worry, but Joey knew he was hurting. He knew because he had witnessed it himself.

It happened on Thursday during lunch on the first week of their separating. Toni opted out of sitting at their regular table so she could join Isaiah instead. Perhaps it was her absence that made him go, or maybe Alain's excuse of having to use the restroom was true, either way he left the table. After ten minutes had passed Joey followed him. At first he expected that maybe Alain was having stomach problems and that's what was taking him so long, but as he opened the door to the boys room Joey was shocked at what he saw.

Huddled over the sink was Alain with tears pouring out of his eyes.

He hadn't noticed Joey standing at the door, and before he could Joey left. As he walked back to the lunch room with his eyes on the floor and his hands tucked in his pockets, Joey realized that it was all an act. The smiles, the laughs, the assurances that he was fine were all a facade.

Ever since that incident Joey had hoped Alain would reach out to somebody, anybody, to help himself deal with this pain he was feeling, but when it never happened Joey decided it was time to make it happen. He was going to cheer him up, no matter what.

So he came up with a plan which caused him to meet with Vic and Gar Friday morning. The two boys leaned against the lockers as Joey tried to recruit them.

"We need to show that poor son of a bitch a good time!" Joey declared, pumping his fist in the air. "Are you with me?"

Vic and Gar looked at each other, then back at Joey.

"Dude, we're with you but...," Vic rubbed the back of his neck, uncertain. "I don't think we should force him into cheering up if he ain't ready."

"Sometimes people need a push," Joey reasoned. "What kind of friends would we be if we didn't give him a shove in the right direction?"

Gar raised his hand. "Yeah, 'bout that... How come we're not inviting Roy or Wally? They've been best friends with Alain for years."

Vic nodded in agreement. "Yeah."

"Because they're not single folk like us, and if we take them with us I doubt their girlfriends would appreciate it. Besides, we can't all fit in Vic's car."

The two boys looked at each other before turning back to Joey. "Yeah, I see your point," Gar admitted.

Joey clapped his hands together. "Great. So are you guys in? You know I can't do this without the both of you."

Joey's plan required the use of Vic's car and Gar's basement. He literally couldn't conduct his plan if they were not on board with it. He looked at both boys pleadingly, giving them his best doe eyed look.

It worked.

"Alright, alright, count me in," Vic said after releasing a groan. Damn doe eyed looks, they could not be resisted.

"Sweet!" Joey looked to Gar. "How about it, buddy? You in?"

Gar nodded after a pause. "But under no circumstances is this to be broadcast to anyone!"