Joey was in over his head. What had started with a kiss had developed into several mentis worth of kisses, with a whole heap of heavy petting thrown into the mit. Basically, what you and he had going on was casual sex - minus the sex and multiply the feelings.

Yeah, Joey fucked around and caught feelings.

He was a real genius. He never wanted to be in a relationship.

Hearing everyone at school whisper about how you wouldn't last longer than a week, or how his head would rum, only made him more determined to stick with the girl- to stand over his decision to be with you. Their lack of faith in him only strengthened his determination not fuck this up, whatever the hell this was.

Joey had been with girls before you, but he was no hardcore fuck boy like he knew the girls at school made me out to be.

Like he knew you thought he was. It wasn't like Joey fucked his way through the entire female population at your school.

Only a handful.

And besides, that wasn't what was happening between you. When you were together, it wasn't because Joey was out of my mind and trying to float away in the moment.

Being with you made him want to keep a clear head, because he wanted to remember you.

Joey wanted to be in the moment with you, and not just float through it. Because you were his.

"Are you going to do something about that?" Podge asked, dragging Joey back to the present, as he waved a spoon, gesturing to where you looked to be in a heated discussion with Ricey.

"I'm not her keeper, lad," Joey replied, leaning back in the chair, as he studied the jam-packed canteen.

You were standing in line for the tuck shop, with Ricey breathing down her neck.

"She can handle herself."

"You're a better man than him," Podge said. "Because if the shoe was on the other foot, and you were trying your arm with her like that, he would flip."

"That was his mistake." Joey said, eyes glued to your fucking peachy ass, barely concealed by your scrap of a skirt. "He thought that he could put her in a cage, and slap a label on top saying look, don't touch."

Joey shook his head. “That girl is her own person, lad. Believe me. Nobody’s going to cage her.”

"Except for you," He chuckled.

"No, lad," Joey corrected, feeling his heart roar to life when you smiled across the room at him. "Especially not me."