All The Young Punks Pt. 11

"Guess what? I was and I still am, a little. That's why I needed therapy. That's all changed."

"It has. What you did for Betty was amazing, but it's your band; that's the change. Everyone was telling me you're a different person on stage. I'm happy I finally got to meet that guy." She touched his hand.

"I am too. That's the real me, and the future me."

They sat quietly for a short time, working on their dinners. Sandy fidgeted uncomfortably. "I have a hard question to ask?"

"Okay," Joe looked up.

"Are you okay?"

"That's your hard question?"

"I was talking with your friends the other night and someone said you've been drinking too much and they're worried about you."

"One of my friends said that?"

"Not one of the guys."

"Not the band?"

Sandy shook her head, "No."

"Well, that person probably doesn't know what they're talking about."

"Did you have some drunken incidents?"

"Is getting drunk an incident?"

"They said you don't drink too much, not like that."

"Jesus. A guy can't get drunk once in a while?" Joe steeled his eyes. "There were no incidents. I got drunk after a couple of gigs. So what?"

"I'm sorry. I said it was hard to ask."

Joe decided to ask something that had lurked in his mind for years. "Since we're asking hard questions, why is it that you always run to me when things go bad with boyfriends? You call me every time. We hang out and talk, and then you vanish when it passes."

She didn't immediately reply.

"That's why I feel like I'm your rebound boy," Joe said flatly. "Did you ever wonder how that makes me feel?"

"Not until you said you feel our friendship is a one-way street. That made me feel awful. I didn't realize I did that to you." She touched his hand again. "I'm sorry, Joe."

"I know. Don't worry about it. I take what I can get, and I'm fine with that."

"What about now?"

"You mean us?" Joe asked. "I told you it wouldn't work. I don't have a gilded carriage to escort Milady with. And I don't have time for a girlfriend."

Sandy smirked at his dig but didn't respond. She always dated guys with cars.

"I heard you're not going to the prom," Joe said. "I guess Fiori is taking Kerry Contos."

"No," she said under her breath. "But if Betty McDonald had her way, you and I would be king and queen."

"Is she working both sides? What did you tell her?"

"That Joe Theroux wouldn't be caught dead at the prom."

"That's pretty much what I said, and that we're friends... but not like that."

"Oh, please, Joe. If you asked me to the prom, do you think I would say no?"

'Oh shit,' Joe thought. 'Was Sandy part of Betty's prom plot?' He stared at her for a long moment. "I honestly didn't think that far."

"Maybe you should have."

Joe looked down at his near-empty plate, feeling bad and thinking that maybe he should have asked. He didn't have a driver's license, never mind a car for the prom.

"I'm sorry, Joe. It's too late now. It's in four days and I'm sure you have a job Friday night."

"Yeah, UConn on Friday and Worcester on Saturday." Joe squeezed her hand. "You still haven't answered my question."

Sandy sat quietly for a moment. "Because you are my best friend for being there when I call, and listening. I didn't know it hurt you. You never said so." She sighed, "And you always say nice things that make me feel better."

"Like you deserve better than the idiots you date?"

"They're not idiots."

"Not at the beginning. Will you let me beat up Sam Fiore for you?" Joe smiled. "You don't have to watch." He punched his palm and bit his lower lip. "Just two good shots."

Sandy laughed, "No. Leave Sam alone."

"If he goes down, I get one kick. Deal?"

"No," she slapped his hand. "You say you don't have time for a girlfriend, but you're with Claire."

"She's not my girlfriend. It's complicated."

"Really?" Sandy made a 'huh' face. "Does she know that?"

"That's her deal. I guess it's not so complicated."

"You must meet girls on the road." She leaned closer. "I saw it at the club the other night. They like you."

"You have no idea." Joe sighed. "It's fucking ridiculous."

Sandy put her fingers in her ears. "Lalalalalalalala," she smiled. "I'm not listening."

Joe laughed, getting her call-back joke. "Are you jealous?"

"No... well, maybe. I just don't need to hear about your groupies."

"Don't call them that, it's demeaning."

"I would have a very hard time being your girl knowing what goes on at your shows. I saw it. They're all around you."

"It's a problem... sometimes."

Over dessert, the topic switched to Sandy attending Middlebury College in the fall. She was excited. Joe was happy to listen to her discuss her future and not their past. He knew that even if they did hook up and try to be a couple, she was off to Vermont in the fall. It didn't matter. He had no chance.