The Eternity that Follows

by Diane Marie

  “I think it’s romantic.” Josephine said, looking down at her own ring finger. “I’d get one with Joey any day.”

  “Hey, I told you at the club, he’s mine.”

  “Oh yes you did.”

  “Oh Jesus. The club, lets not rehash that night.” Sara said, trying to break up the tension brewing among the girls.

  “Have you spoken to Tie since?” Jemma asked laughing. “I don’t have his number. If I had his number, I wouldn’t have had to take the train home all by myself.” Sara said, realizing that none of her friends had answered her phone call that morning. “And none of you were around for me.”

  “Hey if you have a chance with Vinny, you take it.” Josephine said, waiting for her friends to agree.

  “Ewe. Vinny’s a cheater.” Jemma remarked.

  “Speak for yourself.” Josephine remarked back.

  “Well, has he called you since? Or is he back with his girlfriend?” Jemma questioned.

  “Yes, he did call actually. We got together last night.” Josephine said, happily with a grin on her face.

  “Really?” Gabriella asked, with surprise.

  “Yup. I’m not sure if his girlfriend and him are still together. We didn’t do much talking.”

  “Oh so you’re his booty call, got ya.” Sara said, still a little upset that none of her friends were around for her after the club.

  Josephine didn’t respond, taking mild offense to Sara’s comment. Sara noticed, Josephine seemed offend, and so brought the attention back to what the rest of the girls were doing the morning she took the train home by herself. “Well I guess I can excuse Gabriella for being off in la, la land with her dream man. I also guess Jemma had a good excuse being in jail and all.” Sara said, causing herself to laugh.

  “Hey don’t laugh about that. I could be put away for years.” Jemma said, worrying over her court date.

  “How much did you guys get caught with?” Gabriella asked. “Nothing!” Jemma replied. “They just have us on tape doing it.” “Oh that can’t hold up in court.” Gabriella said. “Don’t they have to run tests on the drugs before they can fully charge you?” “Wait! They have cameras’ in the bathroom?” Sara asked confused.

  “We weren’t in the bathroom. Bruce knew some guy that led us into VIP. Since no one was around, and we didn’t see a bouncer, we just did it on the table.” Jemma said, as though doing a drug that’s classified a felon out in the middle of a club were no big deal.

  “You’re crazy.” Josephine said, turning toward Jemma. “Me? Your sleeping with the biggest dirt bag that ever walked into a Mandala bar!” Jemma said, biting her tongue from saying, ‘next to Joey,’ for Gabriella’s sake.

  “You’re just jealous that Vinny didn’t want to sleep with you again.” Josephine said, standing up for Vinny and her decisions for sleeping with him

  “Oh please, I’m getting a headache.” Sara noted.

  “Well it’s true. Vinny said you were too loose for him.” Josephine said, telling the truth.

  “Me? He’s so small. Whatever if he said that insinuating I’ve slept with a lot of guys then he should rethink himself. I can’t believe you’d sleep with such a dirt bag.”

  “You did.” Josephine reminded her.

  “Oh My God, I’m going to dance you girls are really getting on my nerves.” Sara said, getting up out of her bar stool and then heading toward the dance floor.

  Annoyed with the conversation herself, Gabriella followed Sara over to the dance floor.

  Jemma and Josephine continued to bicker over Vinny. The truth was, unlike Gabriella, Jemma had tired sleeping with Vinny again. Jemma had walked up to him last summer at the bar a few times, flirting. Jemma tried to get Vinny to bring her home again, he however had lost interest in Jemma after he realized that Gabriella had different values toward sex. It was Jemma’s idea for Vinny to take her home the night Gabriella turned him down. Jemma claimed, Gabriella would get jealous and be sure to leave with him the next time Vinny saw her out. Since Vinny realized he lost his chance with Gabriella for doing so, he harbored a secret hatred for Jemma.

  “Are they still fighting?” Gabriella asked, turning Sara’s attention from the dance floor over to Jemma and Josephine, whose conversation seemed to be getting loud.

  “Oh boy, maybe we should go over there.” Sara suggested. “You know how Jemma can get, and she seems moments away from swinging.” Sara said, making her way over to the girls while Gabriella followed her.

  “Will you girls stop it? You’re both being ridiculous. He’s not worth it.” Sara said, pushing her body in the tight spot between their bar stools, leaning her back against the bar. Gabriella stood opposite of Sara, behind the middle of Jemma and Josephine’s seats.

  “Listen its Vinny, we all know how he is about hooking up with girls.” Gabriella said, reluctant to get involved with anything that had to do with Vinny. “Just forgot about him for the night so we can all have some fun.”

  “Hey I forgot about him last summer.” Jemma said, lying. “I just don’t think that Josephine should have slept with a guy that I had before her.” Jemma said, then wanting to put her foot in her mouth.

  All three of the girls looked at her with their chins down, and their eyes centered on hers, with a ‘really’ kind of look. “You’re kidding.” Sara said, as a statement. “Right your kidding?”

  “What?” Jemma said, acting dumb.

  “You slept with him the night after Gabriella did.” Sara said, forcefully.

  “That’s the conversation we were just having.” Josephine said, relived her girl friends were there to hear her side of the argument. “Gabriella wasn’t interested in going after him.” Jemma noted, pointing out the difference.

  “Ok, so what? What does that have to do with Josephine sleeping with him a year after you did?” Sara questioned.

  “It doesn’t. I just didn’t turn him down okay. He turned me down and I think Josephine could have respected that he’s a dirt bag and none of us should have anything to do with him.” Jemma said.

  Gabriella thought to mention how Joey shot Jemma down as well, while pointing out how Jemma disapproved of them being together, even before they were together, but decided it wasn't the time. Feeling like she had been too quiet throughout the bickering, Gabriella decided to speak up.

  “I think he’s fair game.” Gabriella said, believing in her words. “I mean, we know how he is and if Josephine doesn’t mind being a booty call then we should all butt out, and let her live her own life.”

  “Fine.” Jemma said, growing tired of fighting. She didn’t care Josephine was hooking up with Vinny as mush as she did care Gabriella was marrying Joey. Jemma knew best to keep quiet on that one, she had enough of the arguing with her friends for one night.

  “Can you girls just let it go?” Sara asked, taking Jemma’s ‘fine,’ meaning she were through with the conversation.

  “I can.” Josephine said, just wanting to have a good time. “Me too.” Jemma said.

  Josephine then started to laugh, causing Jemma to laugh. Sara looked at them both like they were crazy, whisking Gabriella and herself back to the dance floor, while Josephine and Jemma followed. The girls were dancing for a while, and Gabriella excused herself to go outside when she noticed her phone lighting up from inside her bag.

  “My phone’s ringing, I’ll be right back.” Gabriella said into Sara’s ear so she could hear her over the music.

  Gabriella looked back, noticing the other girls questioning Sara as to where she was going. Gabriella laughed at their curiosity, and how into her business they both cared to be.

  Gabriella answered her phone, while walking out the bar so she wouldn’t miss Joey’s call. Moments later, she was outside. “What? I can’t hear you go outside.” Joey said.

  Gabriella heard him the moment she got outside and was away from the music.

  “I am outside silly.”

  “Oh. Where are you?”

  “What? Is that why you called?
”

  “Yes.” Joey said, laughing as he realized he was being over protective.

  “I’m at Starfall.”

  “Oh. And are you having fun?”

  “Actually, yes.” Gabriella didn’t want to lie. “I was just dancing for a while.”

  “Not with any guys I hope.” Joey said, showing Gabriella his concern of her being away from him for the night.

  “Nope, just with the girls.”

  “Oh.”

  “Josephine and Jemma got into a fight over Vinny. It was kind of funny.” Gabriella said, thinking to share some of her night with Joey.

  “No kidding. That’s stupid.”

  “Yes, me and Sara thought so ourselves. Jemma kind of pissed me off a little.” Gabriella said, looking into the bar through the window, making sure the girls were still dancing so she wouldn’t get caught talking about Jemma. “Jemma said that Vinny should be off limits because she slept with him.”

  “Is she kidding? She slept with him after you.” Joey said, trying to keep his voice low. He was at Gavin’s house and didn’t want to be asked later what his comment was over.

  “I know, but she said it was different because I didn’t go after him, and she did and he shot her down.”

  “Oh so Vinny shot her down after?”

  “Appears so.” Gabriella said, in light of the conversation from earlier. Gabriella hadn’t realized, Vinny had shot Jemma down, it was new news to her.

  “Oh, who cares? Just have a good time and let me know when your heading home.” Joey said, trying to rush Gabriella off the phone, because Josh had just walked into Gavin’s.

  “And you? What are you doing?” Gabriella asked, not letting Joey off the hook from telling her what his plans for the night were. “Currently? Watching the NASCAR race. Josh just got to Gavin’s, we’ll probably discuss it now.”

  “All right well, just text me, if you boys go out.” Gabriella said, to show her concern of Joey’s whereabouts.

  “Oh you do care.”

  “Of course, what do you think, I’d let you run wild.”

  “Well, no.”

  “Ok, I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Ok, later.” Joey confirmed. “Oh and Gabriella, I love you” Joey added in, as he purposely didn’t say so before he left the house. “Aww.” Gabriella said, reluctant to say it back.

  “Don’t you have something to say?”

  “Love you too.” Gabriella replied, happily, hanging up the phone.

  When Josh got to Gavin’s house, Gavin decided to stay in the night with Sadie. Joey and Josh drove to Timber Tavern in Candlewood in Josh’s corvette. When they arrived in the parking lot, they noticed the bar was packed.

  “What’s going on here tonight?” Joey questioned.

  “I’m not sure. Let’s go in and find out.”

  “I’m up for it.”

  “Let’s do it.” Josh said, hopping out of his jeep.

  When Joey and Josh got inside the bar, they realized that it was Timber Taverns annual beach party. The bar laid plastic down on the dance floor, covering it with sand. The bar goers attended dressed in their beach attire. Many of the men were in beach shorts and the women in their bathing suits. Joey took a look around and felt uncomfortable.

  “I don’t know if I want to be here man. It’s worse then a strip club in here.” Joey said, wondering if Gabriella would mind him being around the women in their skimpy bikinis.

  “Oh man I don’t know either, Anna would kill me. Ah what the hell, just one drink.” Josh said, checking out the girls. “All right man, if you say so.”

  Joey and Josh went up to the crowded bar, which wasn't as crowded as the dance floor. Joey and Josh were able to squeeze in to order their drinks in an opening. They both ordered themselves a beer and turned around for a place to go.

  “Man this place is packed.” Joey said, after a girl in a string bikini walked by him, shaking her ass for him as she passed, then looking back to see if Joey was watching, which he made sure he wasn’t. “Oh wow, did you see that?” Josh asked, commenting on the girl that had just flirted with Joey. “Damn, the girls are all over you.” Josh said, after another girl smiled and winked at Joey. “I’m taken.” Joey said, glancing down at his ring tattoo. “Oh man, over there.” Josh said, pointing to a few guys from Joey’s high school football team. Joey spotted the group of guy friends Josh pointed out.

  “All right, let’s go over.” Joey said, and he and Josh went over to the group of guys that were all excited to congratulate Joey. “Oh man, I can’t wait for your bachelor party and the strippers.” Joey's friend, Todd said, when someone asked when it would be. “I don’t know about that.” Joey said, unsure if he wanted strippers at his bachelor party.

  “Oh you got to have strippers.” Kyle, another friend of Joey's said. “We’ll see.” Joey replied, then starting to wonder about Gabriella.

  When Joey looked over to the dance floor, that was just a few feet away, he noticed how the girls were dancing, and how the guys were milling around watching. Joey then wondered if Gabriella was still dancing and if the guys were watching. Joey thought to text her, but when Joey looked at his phone, he already had a text from Gabriella, it simply read,

  ‘Going from Starfall to Mackenzie’s for a few. You still at Gavin’s?’

  Joey quickly realized he was, supposed to text Gabriella before he left Gavin’s. He texted her back, ‘me and Josh left a little while ago, where at Timber Tavern in Candlewood. It’s actually beach night.’

  Joey prepared for the worse after he sent the the message. He knew Gabriella was somewhat of a jealous girl from the night they went to the club, when Gabriella didn’t want to hear any more ex girlfriend stories for one night.

  “Yo Joey, what are you doing man?” Josh asked.

  “I was just texting Gabriella back.” .

  “Gabriella? Man, look around.” Kyle said. Joey looked around. “And?” He asked, as he knew Kyle saw him take a good look around the bar.

  “And damn, man you can have your pick of these girls.” “Man. I’m faithful.”

  “Good.” Todd said. “Gabriella’s hot, why would he want any of these girls anyway?”

  “Thanks man.”

  Joey’s phone went off with another message from Gabriella. Joey read the message,

  ‘oh’.

  Joey knew right away his being at a beach party would upset Gabriella. Then again, Gabriella was heading to Mackenzie’s which she hadn’t mentioned earlier in her plans. Joey thought to call her out on it but let is slide, because he didn’t want to cause an argument between them. So he wrote back, ‘I didn’t know it was beach night before we came.’

  When Gabriella read Joey’s text message, she was relived, it hadn’t disturbed her, Joey was at Timber Tavern’s beach party. What bothered her, is that she initially thought he had planned to go there ahead of time. Gabriella was sick of the Mandala bars, which she knew Joey was aware of. She would have wanted to change her plans to go with him. Gabriella grew apprehensive over Joey checking out girls, but decided to brush it off. After all, she was the one that wanted a night out with her friends.

  Gabriella drove by herself over to Mackenzie’s as a precaution. She didn’t want to get stuck and not be able to get back to her car, when she was ready to get home to Joey. Gabriella responded to Joey’s text as she was parking the car.

  ‘I didn’t say anything.’

  Gabriella got out of her car, and walked over to her friends who parked a few spots down from her.

  “I heard Vinny’s here.” Jemma said, getting out of the car first to catch Gabriella up on what she missed from their car ride over. “Really?” Gabriella asked, she could tell Jemma was still upset over the situation, Gabriella felt bad for a minute, realizing Jemma wasn’t jealous, just hurt. Gabriella couldn’t recall Jemma showing her feelings like this before, so she tried to cheer her up. “Don’t you have a boyfriend anyway?”

  “Well. Yeah. It’s the principle.” .
/>   “Just forget about him.” Sara said, getting out of the car and assuming they were talking about Vinny. Josephine too got out of the car, to fill Gabriella in on how excited she was.

  “He said he came out to see me.” She told Gabriella, showing her eagerness, and then she began walking toward the bar door, as Jemma just sighed. Sara followed Josephine to the bar door while Gabriella held back to speak to Jemma. Jemma and Gabriella never discussed their situation with Vinny before.

  “You know, I kind of know how you feel. You did the same thing to me last summer.” Gabriella said, showing a side of her Jemma had never seen before. Gabriella had the tendency of letting things slide when they bothered her, rarely speaking her feelings to her friends.

  “But you didn’t want him that night.” Jemma replied, trying not to sound defensive. She wanted to argue, she did nothing wrong.

  Gabriella knew she had to clear up Jemma’s

  misunderstanding.

  “Actually I did. I just didn’t want to go home with again because I felt all he wanted was sex.” Gabriella said, and then continued her confession. “I was hoping he’d be a gentleman and offer to take me out to dinner or something.”

  “Well he’s just not that type of guy.” Jemma said, not wanting to come clean on how she convinced Vinny to take her home to get Gabriella jealous. “I mean you know how many women he’s been with.”

  “Well yes, I know that now. I didn’t know that at the time though. You know, I actually wanted him all last summer but after he slept with you. I would never touch him again.”

  “Oh so I’m damaged goods?” Jemma said, joking. “I respect that Gabriella, at least your not like Josephine.”

  “It has been over a year Jem, and you said so yourself tonight, Vinny had turned you down.”

  “Yeah but there is a girl code.”

  “And you played by it?”

  “You turned him down. You may not have known how he was, but I did. He wanted a girl for the night.”

  “All right. It’s the same situation here. Just let it go and let Josephine get her heartbroken.”

  “Fine I’ll let it go. So you wanted him all last summer? He was out for you, why didn’t you go for it? Was it really cause of me?” “That and he is way too old for me.” Gabriella admitted, Jemma laughed.