Episode 7: Confession

It has been a week and a half since I played Floyd Mayweather and knocked out Ron. Luckily, Stacy was able to talk him out of pressing charges. That is the only time that I have heard from her in the week and a half and even then, we only talked for a minute at the most. I tried to apologize, but she wasn’t having any of it.

I heard through Lauren that she did not get back together with Ron. So here she is, single at last and I cannot make a move because she pretty much hates me right now. I tried to call her a few times, but gave it up about five days ago. The way I see it is, she will call me when she is ready to talk.

All I can do is wait.

To add to all of the bad things happening right now, we just found out that Jack has to leave us for a while. His job is sending him to Michigan for a few months. He does not really want to go, but the pay is good and it is a very good opportunity for him. Anyway, we are having somewhat of a going away party for him at his place the Friday before he left. Even Stacy showed up.

Joel, John, and Tiffany exited Joel’s apartment at eight thirty that night to make their way to the elevator and head down to Jack’s apartment. The trio did not have far to go as Jack lived in the same building as Joel.

“So, Stacy is going to be here,” said John, glancing at Joel out of the corner of his eye.

“And?” asked Joel, obviously not excited about seeing Stacy.

“She obviously is not that mad at you anymore if she agreed to be in the same room with you,” responded Tiffany, trying to lift Joel’s spirits.

“I guess,” said Joel.

“I still think it is awesome that you hit Ron,” said John, smiling.

Joel cut his eyes at John as Tiffany swatted his shoulder. “Are you trying to make him feel better or worse?”

“What? I’m just saying,” said John. “It was sweet.”

“Well I am glad that someone thinks so,” replied Joel. “Because Stacy doesn’t.”

“She will get over it,” said Tiffany. “Try to talk to her alone tonight.”

“I doubt it,” said Joel.

“You aren’t even going to try?” asked John. “That does not sound like the Joel that I know.”

“You are right,” said Joel. John smiled at the prospect of restoring Joel’s since of pride, but it was quickly ripped away by Joel’s next comment. “I don’t really feel like being myself right now.”

“How long are you going to beat yourself up over this?” asked John.

“As long as it takes,” answered Joel.

“Have you ever thought that it does not work out for a reason?” asked Tiffany. “Should it really be this hard?”

Joel’s face was solemn as he turned to face his friends. He took in a short, quick breath and let it escape his lips as he said, “Nothing in this world worth having comes easy.”

At that point, the three of them had reached Jack’s apartment. As Joel reached out to turn the doorknob, John leaned in and said, “Just talk to her.”

“Not another word,” said Joel sternly.

“Fine,” replied John. “Just trying to help.”

“Yeah I know,” said Joel somberly. “I messed up big this time though. I guess I will eventually get over it.” Joel then shrugged his shoulders and opened Jack’s door, which he traversed.

Upon entering, Joel hung back while John and Tiffany walked past. They were greeted by Brian and Dustin, then Jack, Lauren, and Stacy, who upon seeing Joel, turned and walked into the kitchen. She was followed by Lauren.

Joel’s dejected look said it all as sighed and shook his head. Jack greeted him with a sympathetic smile and a pat on the shoulder. “You’re good man,” he said. “She will get over it.”

“I hope so,” replied Joel, “but tonight it is about you, not me, so let’s have a good time.”

“Fair enough,” said Jack.

As the night continued, Stacy kept her distance, making it obvious that she wanted nothing to do with me. I wanted to talk to her, but I did not want to press the issue. Jack was right, she will get over it...hopefully.

After spending a couple of hours at Jack’s place, we headed downtown to one of our favorite clubs, a place called Shenanigans; great name I know. It was at Shenanigans that I decided that I became fed up with the wait and see approach regarding Stacy. I knew I needed to do something, but what? It was then that I decided that I would confess my love to Stacy. I know that I have tried this before, but this time it would be different.

It was a little past eleven when the eight friends arrived at Shenanigans in downtown Charlotte. They stood in the long line for about fifteen minutes before finally reaching the door. There, the bouncer checked their ID’s to make sure that they were of age and then let them enter.

Loud music greeted the group as they walked through the entrance. The club itself was practically alive as the walls were vibrating from the boom of the bass. The floor was not visible as people stood and danced shoulder to shoulder.

Shenanigans was a two story club, situated so that when you walked in through the front doors you were at the back of the dance floor. The D.J. stood in his booth, which was located on the back wall. There were two long bars, lining the sides of the interior of the building.

Upon advancing past the bar on the right, a door led to the restrooms. Also in this doorway, stairs could be taken to the second floor of club. The dance floor upstairs covered a little less than half of the first floor, leaving it open to look down at the dance floor below. Exiting the door at the top of the stairs, a walkway, which hugged the wall, led to the upstairs portion of the club, which was above the front doors. After passing a bar, the walkway opened up into the rest of the upstairs area.

Electing to stay on the first floor, Jack and Joel led the group through the sea of people that covered the dance floor and to the bar, where each of them ordered and received drinks. It was not long before Lauren and Tiffany dragged John and Brian onto the dance floor. Stacy was not far behind them as Joel, Jack and Dustin remained at the bar for the time being.

“This place is packed!” shouted Jack, trying to talk over the loud music.

“Even more so than usual,” said Joel loudly.

Jack and Dustin eventually waded out into the middle of the fray that was the dance floor and began to dance. Unable to bring himself to do so, Joel hung out by the bar. He was often visited by one or two of his friends at a time, who had come over to get another drink from the bar.

Then, out of nowhere and much to Joel’s surprise, Stacy came over to him. She smiled warmly as she stopped in front of him. “Do you not feel like dancing?” she asked.

Joel smiled. “You know me,” he said, “always a wallflower.” There was a bit of an awkward pause for a moment, before they both started to speak. Both of them stopped to let the other one talk, but Stacy insisted that Joel be the first.

“I really am sorry, Stacy,” said Joel.

“I know,” responded Stacy. “I know you were just looking out for me, but you could have gone about it a different way.”

“Are we going to be ok?” asked Joel, his concern was obvious.

“Yes,” replied Stacy, nodding her head.

“Good,” said Joel.

“Come on,” said Stacy, grabbing Joel’s hand and pulling him away from the bar. “Let’s dance.”

And just like that, everything was back to normal. You don’t know how good it felt to see her walk up and smile at me, and not to mention grab my hand and pull me out onto the dance floor. What a relief. I really thought she was going to be mad forever.

The rest of the night was perfect. Stacy and I danced like we were the only two people in Shenanigans. Then we had some drinks and danced some more. I honestly do not remember the last time we had that much fun together. Then, out of the blue, it happened...

As Joel and Stacy exited the dance floor to return to the bar for another drink, Stacy tripped. Joel quickly wrapped his arms around her waist, catching her and hoisted her back to her feet. Stacy smiled and thanked him as their eyes met.

It is amazing how one look, one glance, one smile, one moment, can make you feel. I felt invincible standing there with my arms around Stacy and she was reciprocating. The moment was perfect. I knew what I had to do.

“Stacy,” said Joel, “I have a confession to make.”

“And what is that?” asked Stacy.

“I love you,” said Joel.

“Aww,” said Stacy, smiling brightly. “I love you too...” Stacy hesitated, but Joel did not notice as pure jubilation surged through his every fiber. She loves me too! I cannot believe that this is happening! She just made me the happiest person- “...as a friend.”

Joel immediately choked up. He felt as if someone had punched him in the stomach and knocked the air right out of him. He felt the tears coming and fought intensely to keep them in, but it was just too much. “I- I need to go,” he said through short quick breaths.

“Are you ok?” asked Stacy, a confused look took hold of her face.

“Y-yeah,” he said. “I am fine.” But I wasn’t. I had just confessed my love for the girl that I have loved since the first moment I saw her when we were kids and she returns it only to add as a friend to the end? It couldn’t be right. I saw the way she looked at me throughout the night, the way she smiled at me, touched me. I wasn’t mistaken; I couldn’t have been, no way, no how... or maybe I was. I don’t know. I just don’t know.

Joel turned and left Stacy standing there as he headed for the door. He exited the club and got in the first cab that stopped for him, fighting back the tears all the while. When his cab dropped him off in front of his apartment building, he paid the driver and got out. He stood there for a moment and watched the cab drive away. Then, he turned and walked up the stairs leading to the front door of his building. A single tear ran down his right cheek.