The Eternity that Follows (7 page)

Gabrielle spent the week with her cousin, Becky, down in
the Jersey Shore at her Aunt Vanessa‘s beach house in Point
Pleasant. She wanted something to occupy her time waiting for
Friday night to come along. She felt peaceful the whole week, and
had a fun time knowing there was something so wonderful ahead
of her in her future. She couldn’t help herself from the smile that
was permanently washed across her face the whole week.

Danielle couldn’t make it to the party with Gabriella, so she
invited her cousin, Becky, and her boyfriend, Charlie with her
instead. Becky was only nineteen, with long blonde curly hair, and
green eyes. Her boyfriend was twenty-one, short, with dirty
blonde hair, and dark green eyes. Gabriella thought bringing a
couple along, would fathom Joey she saw the night as a date.
Beisdes, she a couldn’t ask any of her other friends to come, and
she even concealed from them, Joey even invited her to the party.

When Joey got off from work on Friday, he went home and
took a long, hot shower to relax his nerves. When he got out, he
proeceed to styling his hair. His hairstyle was cut short in the
back, and longer up on top. He gelled the longer pieces forward,
tipping up the ends. He smiled at himself in the mirror, in a way
he hadn’t smiled before, he felt the same joy in his heart he felt,
when he saw Gabriella for the first time.

He then put on the outfit he had laid out on his bed. He
decided to wear a pair of dark demin jeans, and a plain black
button down shirt. He chose to wear his pair of black timberland
low top boots right along with it. He wanted to look exceptional
for Gabriella, to match the way she made him feel. He put one his
signature scent of cologne, and then headed for Gavin’s house.

Gabriella had Becky come over at eight to get ready for the
party. She figured they’d leave around eleven, and arrive to the
party around eleven fifteen. She figured it started sometime
around ten, but didn’t want to walk in too early looking eager.
Besides, she thought when she chose the time to arrive, ‘I want
him to sweat it out a bit.’

While getting ready, Becky curled Gabriella’s hair with a
large curling iron, and the result, like Gabriella had worn it several
times before, thick, large, shiny, beautiful, ringlet curls. Gabrielle
loved how her hair came out. She put in just the right amount of
hair spray to hold the curls without stiffening her hair. She did her
make-up, simply putting black eye liner on the tops of her lids,
extending the line past her eye lids, and then up in a curl. She then
penciled eyeliner on the inside of her bottom eye lid as well. She
strategically brushed purple eye shadow on her eyelids because she
read somewhere, purple was the best eye shadow color to bring out
brown eyes. She then applied her mascara, using the outside of her
index finger to curl her lashes, and took a good look at herself.
She was smitten by herself, and as usual, was thankful for her good
looks.

She then put on her outfit she shopped for down at the
Jersey shore; black jean short shorts, with a white glossy shirt, that
had slits to show off her cleavage, but not reveal too much. She
put on her new pair of black flip flops with a heart charm, that had
a slight heal. When she looked in the long mirror in her room, she
thought she was wearing the perfect outfit for a house party in the
summertime. She was also a knockout and she knew it. Gabriella
was pleased with how she came out. Becky had admitted to her,
she looked even better than usual, and she knew it herself, Becky
was telling the truth.

Joey arrived to Gavin’s house early to pass the time. He
wasn’t sure what else to do with himself.
Joey and Gavin road to
the liquor store to pick up a few bottles of liquor. They then went
to the convince store to get beer, and stuff to mix with the liquor
they had just bought. Joey wasn’t sure what Gabriella liked to
drink, and he wanted to make sure he had a good selection for her
to choose from. His intentions were definitely not to get her drunk,
but drinking at a party is just something you did.

Gabriella was nervous by the time Charlie had gotten to her
house. The girls were all ready by ten, and Charlie had arrived by
ten fifteen. It was way too early for them to leave. Gabriella
offered them drinks while she made one for herself to settle down.
As she took her first sip, her stomach was all twisted in knots. .
“What’s wrong?” Becky asked her.
“I’m so nervous. I don’t know what to do, do I knock on the door,
just walk in? I can’t just walk in that would be weird of me. Do
you think the parties at his house or his friends house?”
“Calm down. Charlie and I will be right along with you. Don’t
worry yourself about it! Of course we’re going to knock on the
door.” Becky said.
“But who’s going to answer?”
“Relax” Charlie said. “Probably just some random kids at the
party. Everything is going to be fine, haven’t you ever been to a
party before? Most of the parties I’m invited to are through mutual
friends, and I don’t know the person hosting it. I never worry
about who’s going to answer the door.”
“You’re right same here.” Gabriella said, glancing at the time and
realizing it wasn’t almost eleven. “All right I’m going to bathroom,
and then we can leave.” She said, walking toward the bathroom.

When Gabriella walked into the bathroom, she took a look
in the mirror, and saw that her makeup still looked flawless.
Back over at Gavin’s house, Joey was nervous as well. He
wasn’t the type to be nervous over a girl, but he was worrying
himself with how he was going to introduce himself. He kept calm
by mingling with his and Gavin’s party guests, and well Sadie’s
too, considering it was her home. There were a few more than
twenty people already at the party. Josh and Anna, who had gotten
back together, had come along with a few of Anna’s girl friends.
Joey’s crew of teammates from high school were there too. A few
of them had their girlfriends with them to occupany them. Then
there was Joey, waiting for his dream girl. He looked at his watch
and it was eleven o’clock. He wasn’t yet worried she wouldn’t
show, figuring she’d be there by eleven thirty.
The car ride over to Gavin's couldn’t go any slower for
Gabriella. She was starting to feel anxious rather then nervous.
She complained mentally in her head over how slow a driver
Charlie was, even though he was going five miles over the sped
limit. They arrived at Gavin’s house at exactly eleven fifteen.
Gabriella got out of the car quickly as her anxiousness left
her, and she wasn’t feeling nervous at all. It was just a party after
all, and she had already felt a connection with Joey. Also, it wasn’t
as if she was meeting Joey alone for the first time all by herself.
That she didn’t know if she would be able to manage. She was
feeling lucky her cousin and her boyfriend agreed to accomapny
her, rather then her friends.
Becky rang the door bell, standing alongside Gabriella,
with Charlie standing behind them. Gavin opened the door to his
guests, and smiled at Becky whom he saw first then his eyes turned
on Gabriella.
“Ah you must be Gabriella.” Gavin said, opening the door and
trying to make Gabriella feel comfortable. He and Joey had talked
earlier on their ride to the liquor store in reagards to how Gabriella
might feel awkwardily showing up to a party where she knew no
one, especially considering Joey had not introduced himself prior.
Joey was confident though in the way he decided to approach his
dream girl, and assured Gavin she’d do just fine.
“Why yes I am.” Gabriella replied, putting her hand out palm
facing down to acquaint herself with Gavin. She recognized him
from Sunday night at Cascades. Gavin thought her giving her hand
was very ladylike of her, took it for a brief second, held it up
slightly, and then let go.
“Well nice to meet you. Come on in Joey’s right inside.” Gavin
said, and then he aquatinted himself with Becky and Charlie all on
his own, he didn’t find it fair for Gabriella to have to introduce
them, being they had just met themselves.
Joey was standing just a few feet away from the entrance in
the living room. He noticed Gabriella wasn’t only with her cousin,
knowing her face from Gabriella’s pictures on facebook, but also
with a boy. He guessed the boy to be her cousin’s boyfriend. Joey
was relaxed when he walked over to Gabriella, facing directly
toward her, and stopping to stand two feet away. When their eyes
met, he placed his hand on Gabriella’s hip, and felt comfortable
with her already. Gabriella moved a foot closer.
“Joey, right?” Gabriella asked, cutely as Joey nodded his head.
“Gabriella?” Joey asked, questionably raising one eyebrow,
making it seem he was unsure. And at the time he was unsure, he
was meeting his dream girl for the first time.
“That’s me.”
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”
Becky and Charlie were standing right behind Gabriella.
Gabriella turned to face them as Joey’s hand didn’t leave
Gabriella’s body. His hand moved above her tail bone, along the
curve of the small of her back as she turned sideways, he followed
with her. Becky and Charlie counteracted their position, and stood
opposite of them.
“This is my cousin Becky, and her boyfriend Charlie.”
Joey took Becky’s hand as any gentleman would, and then
gave Charlie a handshake.
“Hey guys, I’m Joey.” He said with a smile.
“Well Hello” Becky said.
“Hey man it’s nice to meet you.” Charlie said.
Gabriella hadn’t been happier in her entire life while
feeling Joey’s hand on her back. She was pleased with how they
had introduced themselves. Joey himself couldn’t believe how
naturally he had acted, and how naturally she had responded back.
If he had to be the one to speak first, he wouldn’t have known what
to say. He would have fumbled his words trying to get out, ‘I’m
Joey.’ as he couldn’t believe how pretty she was. But he was
comfortable with her, and found that so far around her, he was able
to be himself.
“Come on I’ll get you all a drink.” Joey said, grabbing Gabriella’s
hand, and starting to walk her through the living room he then
shrugged, ‘come on’ for her guests to follow.
Joey started walking them right through the living room,
and as soon as they began to walk, Gabriella turned around to
Becky who was right behind her, and mouthed, ‘oh my god,’ as she
was so happy to be holding hands with Joey. They didn’t have a
hard time making their way through the crowd. There was a fair
amount of guests in the kitchen, Gabriella noticed as she first
walked in, and only a few in the living room. Joey led them to the
recreation room whose entrance was in the far right corner of the
living room. Gabriella kept to Joey’s hand as he led them over to
the wet bar inside the recreation room.
Joey didn’t want to let go of Gabriella’s hand, just yet when
they reached their destination. Josh and Anna were behind the
counter of the wet bar. Joey introduced Gabriella to Josh and
Anna, but he wasn’t going to be introducing her to everyone all
night. It was a party and people mingled and introduced
themselves all on their own. Which he hoped Gabriella wouldn’t
be doing, but he at least wanted her to get acquainted with his
closest friends.
“Josh, Anna, this is Gabriella.” Joey said, causing Gabriella to
smile politely to both Josh and Anna.
Joey let go of Gabriella’s hand, and she felt a bit of
disappointment. Joey then used his hand to finish the introduction,
he pointed with his palm to the side
“And this is her cousin Becky
and her boyfriend?” Joey looked at Gabriella questionably, to
make sure he got it right. “Charlie” Joey said, after Gabriella
nodded that’s correct.
Josh wasn’t much for introductions. Being a lot like Joey,
he wasn’t much for small talk either. He didn’t want to bother with
the acquaintanceship of nice to meet you, and so on, so he simply
said,
“what can we get you?”
“I’ll just take a beer. What do you want Becky?” Charlie said.
“I don’t know what kind of alcohol do you have?” Becky asked.
“Oh I make a wicked red devil. Do you ladies want to try them?”
Anna asked.
“I’ll take one, I love red devils.” Gabriella said.
“Okay me too” Becky said, never before trying one.
“I’ll take a beer too.” Joey said, putting down his empty bottle of
beer. He couldn’t believe Gabriella was here, next time him by his
side.
As Anna was making Gabriella’s drink, Joey looked at her
and said,
“I’m glad you came.”
“I bet you are” Gabriella said, and then she winked at him.
Joey smiled at her, and when he did so, Gabriella couldn’t
avoid smiling back. Joey's eyes lit up, and then Gabriella's eyes lit
up too. It was just like the moment they had shared the night at
Mackenzie’s, but Joey wasn’t going to let her turn away. He took
her hand, held it in his open palm, and gave her a sweet kiss.
Gabriella blushed, and naturally graced her fingers through his
hair, not wanting to mess it up. They looked at each other one
more time before Joey grabbed the beer handed to him, and walked
just a few feet away.
Gabriella and Becky recieved their drinks as Charlie
already had his, and then Gabriella walked over to where Joey was
standing. She wanted to grab his hand, but she hardly could
discover the courage to. Instead she, playful bumped his side with
her hip. Joey laughed at Gabriella’s gesture, while his friends he
went over to talk to walked away. Gabriella noticed, Charlie and
Becky hadn’t followed, but rather went to enjoy the party. She was
standing all alone with Joey, and had not a clue what to do.
“Soo?” She said.
“Soo?” Joey replied.
“I don’t know. I just met you. I know nothing about you.”
“There’s not much to know.”
“We’ll then I guess there’s no point in getting to know you.”
“Hey that’s not fair.” Joey said, causing Gabriella to laugh. Joey
realized he was being difficult, and decided to offer her more.
“Well, I’m just an average guy, liking a not so average girl, and
I’m standing her wondering what to do.”
“You got the girl at the party didn’t you?” Gabriella said, knowing
she had put him on the spot. She could tell he was shy, and not one
for small talk. She too wasn't interested in small talk, but she
didn’t want to know everything about him right away either. She
wanted to take the time getting to know him, but the truth was, she
simply wanted to kiss him.
“I guess I did” Joey laughed to himself, but he soon realized he
wasn’t laughing alone. “You have cute giggle.”
“Thank you. Why haven’t I seen you around Mandala before?”
“I haven’t been out to Mandala in awhile. That Josh over there had
just broken up with that Anna and needed a wing man. I felt bad
and couldn’t say no.”
Joey said, while Gabriella adored the way
he spoke his words.
“They don’t look too broken up to me.”
“Yeah they got into some stupid fight. I told him to just apologize
but he was being difficult.”
“Oh I see.”
“Yeah. So what about you? Are you out in Mandala a lot?”
“Yeah I am.”
“How come?”
“I don’t know. I just can’t seem to get my friends to go to any
other town.”
“Maybe you need new friends.”
“You know what? My sister said the same thing just the other
day.” Gabriella said, while Joey let out a light laugh.
“Ah I’m sure there all right”
“I don’t know. I’m not with them now.”
“No, you’re not”
Joey caught onto Gabriella’s subtleness and pulled her body
toward his as he went to kiss her softly on the lips. Gabrielle
responded to his kiss, pressing her lips gently on his for a brief
second then parting her mouth slightly, turning her head toward the
right. Joey leaned his head toward the right as well, and his mouth
naturally opened. Gabriella gently slid her tongue into his mouth
as his did the same. They kissed for a few moments, and then Joey
ended the kiss with a sweet, soft smack on the lips just as Gabriella
lips were closing, pressing back gently for the end of the smack.
When the kiss was finished, they looked into each others eyes, and
felt a close, intimate connection. The kiss they shared was like no
other for either of them. The feelings behind them were already
too deep.
Joey grabbed Gabriella’s hand. He wanted to walk her to
Gavin’s spare bedroom, but thought about it for a moment. He
thought about her vow of celibacy, his past vows of celibacy, and
decided against it. If he was to make love to her tonight, it would
be in his own bed or even in hers. He hadn’t allowed her to feel
his erection when they kissed, though he wanted to pull her closer,
and show her what he had to offer, what he was feeling. He had
enjoyed the kiss so much, he wanted to explore more of her before
he made love to her. He felt in his heart to make sure things went
perfect between them, not only for her own dreams, but for his as
well. He slowly led her out of the recreation room, through the
living room, and out the front door.
Gabriella wasn’t sure where they were going, and she
didn’t care. She was happy to be with Joey. The kiss they had just
shared had been so magical between them, she wasn’t sure what
was becoming of her.
Joey led her outside to his mustang.
“God I can’t believe how hot you are.” Joey said, in a loud
frustrated tone, letting go of her hand and, gently slamming her
into his car.
“Umm. I’m sorry” Gabriella said, remembering what she was
wearing and how her hair was done.
“Well it’s not your fault. I blame your parents. They made you.
When do I get to meet them?” Joey asked, seriously.
Gabriella
knew he was being serious but played it as a joke.
“When you’re ready to ask to marry me.” She said, bold and
honest about what she wanted in a man.
Joey was puzzled. He’d drive over to her house right now,
and ask her daddy to marry him, if she had been serious. He
wasn’t into playing games. “Oh come on now” Gabriella continued
with a more serious tone. “Is this your car?”
“Yeah it’s mine.”
“Can I drive it?”
Joey was stumped. This girl was everything he ever
wanted, and now she was asking to drive his car, he couldn’t say
no.
“Sure if you want.” He said, holding onto the want as if there was a
trade involved.
“Oh yeah? And what do I got to do for it?”
“Marry me.”
Gabriella just laughed.
“Well can you at least take me for a ride in it?”
Joey lowered his head down. He was being serious in his
proposal, and felt shot down. Gabriella, still leaning against his car
Joey had thrown her against, grabbed his chin and lifted it up. Joey
set up for a kiss, pressing his hands against the car, in line at the
sides of her neck. He leaned his lower body forward toward her,
not yet touching his bottom half against her. Gabriella stayed
leaning on the car as he moved his upper body close to hers,
kissing her lips softly with his. Joey went in for the kill, moving
his tongue against hers like the ocean coming and going with
passion and desire. Gabriella responded returning the same
passion, with the same wave.
They stayed there kissing in the same motion for five
minutes, pressing their lips sweetly against each other in the
moments in-between, while their tongues were kissing with
passion. Joey finally released his hands from their firm press on
the car. He then wrapped them around the lower part of
Gabriella’s back, pushing himself into her so she could feel his full
erection. Gabriella responded by pushing away from the car
slightly, away from him gently, and then jumping into his arms,
wrapping her legs around his hips. He held her for a few minutes,
slowing down the kiss as their tongues slid against one another.
He lowered her to the ground, she propped herself up with her
hands, and got into a steady position before she lowered her
bottom half down for Joey to come between her. She then
wrapped her hands around his neck as Joey positioned himself
between her legs. They stayed there, making love with their
clothes on, and neither of them cared to take them off.