When we arrive at his car he kindly opened the door for me. I giggle slightly thanking him kindly before getting in. I instructed him to my house which wasn’t too far.
“Hey can I ask you something?” Joey asked not long after he pulled onto the high way.
“Sure,” I stated glancing at him nervously. He looked at me briefly before looking back to the road.
“I hope I’m not out of line to ask but I’ve just been really curious. Feel free to not answer but I was just wondering how someone has 10’000$ to just give away like you did,” he explained.
“Oh,” I paused dropping my head. I felt Joey glance at me.
“Shit, I’m sorry I knew it was out of line. Forget it,” he quickly covered. I took a deep breath.
“No-no it’s okay, um, it’s just a long story,” I said slowly feeling my heart race, a story no one except family back at home knew.
“I can take the longer rout if you want to share,” he offered. I shrugged.
“You honestly want to know?” I asked looking over at him. He glanced at me, keeping his eyes on me as long as he could before he had to look back at the road.
“You don’t have to tell me, the last thing I want to do is make you feel uncomfortable, but yea I’m curious. I can’t escape the feeling there’s something different with you, you seem, guarded,” he explained. I let out a small chuckle.
“You have a good hunch about people,” I stated. He shrugged.
“Just sensitive to people’s feelings I guess,” he said glancing at me again. I nodded slowly. “Look I’m all ears and I am interested so if you wanna talk I know a good place we can go, if not I can just take you home it’s up to you,” he explained. I looked at him again locking eyes for a brief moment before nodding my head.
“Okay, I guess if you really want to hear my story I can tell you,” I said softly. He gave me a small smile with a nod. He looked back at the road and drove for about 20 minutes zigzagging through different streets until we were in a more forest like area, we drive up hill for awhile and soon came to a clearing. We were on top of the city looking down at all the tall buildings.
“Where are we?” I asked looking around.
“Hollywood Hills, I go hiking up hear sometimes and other times it’s great to just sit and stare out in the city,” he explained. I nodded my head.
“I’ve never been here,” I commented quietly staring out at the city.
“I’ve got some sweaters in my trunks, we can go sit over there on the grass,” he said pointing. I nodded my head exiting the car with him. He grabbed two sweaters handing me one to throw over the one I already had on then put on one as well.
We walked over to the grass and sat down together facing the edge of the mountain. It was funny how this was almost romantic, but what I was about to explain was the complete opposite. It was nerve wracking opening up to someone new, but then again, we didn’t know each other that well, so it’s not like I have to worry about his judgement.
“So what’s your story?” he asked in a calmer tone. The whole night he was fairly upbeat, acting the way I knew him to in his vlogs. Seeing this side of him was a little different. I took in a deep breath.
“It’s weird, you’re the first person who will ever know this side of me,” I explained and his eyes furrowed a bit in confusion. “I mean members in my family know but friends don’t, kinda don’t have many friends anymore. Earlier at dinner when I said I haven’t been myself, well it’s cause I haven’t. Sometimes I don’t even know who I am anymore,” I explained and his eyes pierced their way into me. I had his attention but it scared me.
