***
56

"So, you and Daniel eh?" Nicole smirked as we ate dinner. I rolled my eyes. "No. We're not even friends. And definitely not going to hang out with him again for obvious reasons" I said as I took another bite out of my wonton soup.

"Joey, just live. Do something crazy like skydive or elope with Daniel" I chuckled and took a sip of my water.

"Definitely not eloping, and definitely not jumping out of a plane. I hate heights." She scoffed but didn't reply.

"So, how about you and Ben elope?" I joked. She sighed and chuckled a bit.

"I wish he'd propose already. We've been dating for 6 year like how much longer do I have to wait?" She asked rhetorically.

"Propose to him then" she shook her head. "No. I want him to propose to me" I chuckled again and let my mind wonder.

Nobody is every going to propose to me... Or even ask me to be their boyfriend to that matter... How sad.

"You alright, Joe?" She asked me, snapping me from my thoughts.

"Just...thinking" I murmured. She sighed and gave me a pat on the head as she stood up.
"Don't think too much, Joey." She said seriously, then walked to the kitchen and put her plate and fork in the sink.

***

I was on my front porch, Daniel was sitting on the chair; we were talking for maybe two hours. Our conversation never seemed to die down. It's like we always had something to talk about and it never got boring or awkward.

I couldn't believe I kept hanging out with him. Soon, I'm going to die and I'm making new friends to grieve me?

Not smart, but I didn't really talk to a lot of people that weren't in my family, as sad as it sounds, I just wasn't particularly a people person. But around Daniel, I felt super outgoing and confident.

"What's the biggest secret you've ever kept from your sister?" He asked, we were asking eachother really random question.

"Probably that... Hmm. Oh I know! Her roommate was on crack" he laughed and shook his head. "How did she not know she was on crack but you did?" He asked, as he laughed.

"I walked in their house while she was using crack, but I was like 19 so I kept my mouth shut for 180 dollars. She basically gave me her crack money." I laughed.

"When did you tell her?" He asked, laughing. I laughed again. "Like last year. So I never told her for 5 years because I didn't really care." I said.

"Why don't you fix your phone screen?" He asked, changing the subject. I dropped my phone a few days prior, but I didn't feel like wasting money to fix it and waste all the money if I were to die anyways... Never thought I would ever think that.

"Eh, there's no point since I won't be using it soon" I didn't think before I spoke, a common bad habit for me. He furrowed his eyes brows and slightly tilted his head.

"Huh?" I didn't really wanna lie, I hate lying, I mean, if he asked me 'do you have cancer?' Or something I would say yes, but technically I wasn't lying if he never asked...right?

"I mean like- I just, I won't be using it in maybe two months." I said again. Mentally slapping myself for digging myself in a deeper hole.

"Why though?" He asked curiously. I bit the inside of my cheek. Don't tell him. Then he'll pity you. And you don't want that.

"I just... I just won't. Anyways,-" I attempted to change the subject, but he seemed like a nosy person, like he had to know everything about everything.

"No, seriously. I'm like, extremely curious as to why you won't use your own phone in two months?" Okay, who would even care about something at stupid as this this much?

"J-just for reasons" I answered again as I fidgeted with my phone in my hands.
Trying hard to avoid this conversation.

Key word- trying.

"What reasons?"
I wanted to slap him in the face for not dropping the subject, and I'm horrible at making up lies or excuses. I hate lying. Once I lied about my toe not hurting after I stubbed it, and then I cried for 10 minutes.

Hopefully he wouldn't believe the actual truth.

"Cause I'll be dead?" He rolled his eyes and sighed. "Fine don't tell me. But I shall find out" I took a sigh of relief.

Least I didn't have to lie.

Just have to die.

Haha, that rhymed.

***