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Joe was going through all kinds of emotions this week but the one feeling that kept on returning was the feeling that he wanted to murder someone.
It all started Monday morning during the school assembly. Instead of sitting next to Joe as usual, Nicky sat down next to the Greek exchange student Yiannis Constantine and started to talk with him. Until that moment, Nicky had been Joe's best friend but when Yiannis Constantine entered the picture and made Nicky laugh, Joe for the first time got hit by emotions he didn't know he had for his oldest friend. The friend he grew up with, went to school with, played with, and many other things. By Friday, Yiannis Constantine and Nicky somehow had grown closer and had started to whisper together during class. It was the first time Joe wanted to murder someone but decided against it because he didn't want to go to jail, so he started to think of ways to take out the competition for Nicky's attention.
"Wow," Andy said when she dropped down beside Joe during lunch. "You're really in a foul mood."
Joe didn't even look at Andy. He was busy staring daggers at Yiannis Constantine.
"Joe," Andy said. "The fork hasn't done you anything to my knowledge."
Joe looked at the fork that was bent. He threw it on the tray before returning to staring daggers.
"Ok, that's it," Andy said as she stood up and grabbed Joe's collar before dragging him with her. "We need to have a talk before you do something you'll regret later."
Joe protested heavily as he was dragged through the cantina. Nicky looked confused at the sight unfolding in front of him and the other students. Andy didn't let go of Joe before they stood in a changing room.
"Out," Andy ordered to a couple of boys who quickly ran away. They didn't want to argue with their team captain. She didn't care that it was the boys changing room. She forced Joe down on the bench. "Spill the beans, Al-Kaysani."
"You do know you aren't allowed to be in here," Joe said. "You could get into trouble."
"Remember. I count as one of the boys," Andy replied. It was the truth. "What the hell is the matter with you? And don't you dare say nothing."
Andy was the only one besides Nicky and his mother, Joe would never lie to.
"I don't know and it's the truth," Joe said as he rubbed his arm. "And I don't know why Nicky is so busy with that Greek exchange student. Is almost like he has forgotten us."
Andy started to laugh over her friend in front of her.
"Is not funny," Joe grumbled as he crossed his arms. "And I'm leaving. Got things to do."
"You aren't going anywhere," Andy said as she forced Joe down again. "We need to talk about you first so you don't end up doing something stupid."
"I thought you didn't talk about emotions," Joe said. "One of your rules."
"Well, according to our coach, I need to be better to talk about emotions," Andy replied. "And if I can help you, well I can handle all the other thick-headed on our football team."
Andy sat down next to Joe and gave him a gentle push.
"You trust me, right?" Andy asked and Joe nodded. "I promise you there's nothing between Nicky and Yiannis. If you instead of staring at Nicky had listened to him last week, you would know that Nicky volunteered to help Yiannis settle in, just as you did with Nicky back in kindergarten. Be a good friend so to speak."
"What? You're lying," Joe said which made Andy hit Joe so hard on the shoulder, that he was sure there would be a bruise tomorrow. "Sorry, I forgot you never lied. If there isn't anything between them, why are they whispering?"
"Maybe it has to do with what Nicky did back then when he still wasn't sure that people would understand him," Andy replied. "Remember Nicky spent his first year whispering."
Joe hadn't forgotten. Nicky whispered something and Joe said it out loud for him. It was first when Andy came along, that Nicky started to speak out loud when Andy shouted something from across the room and Nicky answered out of courtesy.
"Instead of doing whatever you're doing," Andy said. "Be Nicky's friend and help him help Yiannis. I know Yiannis loves football as we do, and if there's one thing, Nicky can't talk about it's football."
"Andy," Coach Hanson said. "How many times have I told you that you can't be in the boys changing room?"
"The first 200 times," Andy suggested. "And wasn't you who said that I count as one of the boys?"
"Not helping your case," Joe whispered. "Say something nice before you end up on the bench again."
"I was doing what you suggested, coach," Andy said. "Talk with my teammate and his emotions. And I think I helped?"
Andy looked at Joe to get an answer to her question.
"Andy is right, she prevented me from doing something stupid," Joe said. "Something else. Do we have room on the team for another football player?"
"We are a football player down, so yes. If you know someone then bring him or her to practice," Coach Hanson replied. "Now out, Andy. And you too, Joe. The swimming team need this room."
Joe knew Nicky's last class ended an hour after his, so he waited outside the classroom thinking of what Andy had said. When most of the other students had left the classroom, Joe went inside and found Nicky talking with Yiannis.
"Oh look who it's. A man who is still alive," Nicky said sarcastically. "I thought Andy was going to eat you alive when she dragged you out of the cantina."
"If you were so worried," Joe replied. "Why didn't you save me?"
"Because I remembered Andy is a vegetarian," Nicky replied. "And you're not a part of her diet."
"He thinks he is funny," Joe said with a smile as he looked at Yiannis and reached out his hand as a greeting. "I'm Joe."
"Yiannis," Yiannis replied as he took Joe's hand. "Nice finally meeting you. Nicky has told me you're the next Johan Cruyff. Personally, I prefer another Feyenoord football player Bolo Zenden."
"Before we continue the conversation about which Feyenoord football player is the best, Yiannis," Joe said as he looked at Nicky. "I need to know something. Since when have you taken an interest in football, Nicky? As long as I have known you, you have found football boring."
"It was one of the names you said the last time we three ate dinner together," Nicky replied. "And that's also the reason why I'm not eating dinner with you two more. Not after you and Andy almost got into a food fight over who is the best football player in the world."
Joe did remember that evening and that it had taken them too long to realize that Nicky was gone when they finally stopped yelling at each other. They found Nicky outside playing with Andy's dog. Nicky had simply said he needed some air but now Joe could see, that they had hurt Nicky's feelings. Not only that evening but for years, because most conversations had been about football and not what interested Nicky.
"I'm truly sorry, Nicky," Joe said. "Could I ask you to come over for dinner tomorrow? We're having tangerine."
"I'll give it a thought," Nicky replied. "I have to work this afternoon, so maybe you could spend the afternoon talking football with Yiannis."
Nicky took his school bag and smiled at them before he left. Joe took Yiannis with him to football practice resulting in Yiannis getting a group of new friends. After football practice, Joe cornered Andy quickly before they headed for the shower, where he told her the reason why Nicky had said no to every dinner invitation for the last three months.
"We need to do better, Andy," Joe said. "Nicky is a good friend to us both which we haven't been to him with our behaviour."
"You're right for once," Andy replied. "If Nicky shows up tomorrow, I think we should watch "Indiana Jones". The one with the templar knights. It's one of his favourites."
"Great idea and let's eat a lot of ice cream too," Joe suggested. "I think that my father has the movie somewhere. Let me check once I'm home."
Joe was really nervous that Nicky wouldn't show up at all. To show Nicky that Joe was interested in what Nicky liked, Joe didn't sleep much last night. After parting with Andy yesterday, Joe went to the bookstore and bought the biggest and heaviest book about the Crusades he could find before he went home and read it. Never in his life, Joe had thought he would read a book voluntarily but he did it for Nicky and it felt good.
"Hi, idiot. Can't stay long. My dad decided we're going away tomorrow. Something about well, I didn't listen," Andy said as she dumped down in her usual chair. "Nicky? Any sight of him?"
Joe shook his head before he took out the tangerine from the oven.
"We really got ourselves to blame for it," Joe said. "And I understand why Nicky won't eat with us."
"Have a little faith, Joe," Andy said. "Nicky will show up."
Joe wished he could believe in what Andy just said but the moment he placed the tangerine on the table it knocked on the door. Andy went out to open the door.
"Ok, listen, Nicky," Andy said as she placed a hand on Nicky's shoulder. "We owe you a couple of big apologies for being football players instead of your friend whenever we're together. For not taking any interest in what interest you. So, tonight Joe will watch a movie you like with you and show all the interest it deserves. Next weekend, I'm going fishing with you and showing all the interest it deserves."
Andy took a chicken leg before she took her jacket.
"Have fun, kids," Andy said. "And don't do anything I wouldn't do."
"Aren't you staying?" Joe wanted to know.
"Didn't you hear what I said before?" Andy asked. "My dad got plans tomorrow which means an early start."
Andy left in a hurry as always. She had never been a fan of long goodbyes. Joe looked a bit nervous at Nicky.
"Glad you came," Joe said. "I owe you so many apologies. For not being a good friend to you."
"You're a good friend, Joe, never forget that," Nicky said. "And is not that I don't like to talk about football with you. It's just that I also would love to talk about something that interests me once in a while."
"That's why I got this," Joe replied as he placed the Crusade book in front of Nicky. It made Nicky raise an eyebrow. "I'm not a fast reader as you're, which explains why I only have read 12 pages so far, but give me time to get through it."
"You bought a book about the Crusades?" Nicky asked. "Why?"
"To show you that I want to do better and for that, I need some knowledge about the Crusades," Joe replied. "If I had known that Crusades was that interesting I would have started earlier. Did you know that there were eight Crusades? Yes, I might have skipped a couple of pages. I hope you will tell me more."
"I would love to," Nicky replied with a smile. "Let's eat the tangerine while looking in your book."
They lay down on the floor in the living room and for hours they looked through the book that was filled with pictures and maps. Nicky tried his best to answer all of Joe's questions and whenever he couldn't, they tried to find the answer in the book.
"I need to get home," Nicky said when he got a text from his mom just after midnight. "My cousin is getting baptised tomorrow."
"Congratulation with her," Joe said. "Nicky, before you go. I need to tell you one thing."
Joe told Nicky about all the thoughts he had when he saw Nicky with Yiannis and how wrong he had gotten it all.
"Glad you're being honest, but Joe, we're only 17, which means we got time to talk through all the kinds of emotions you're having of seeing Yiannis and me together," Nicky said when he placed a hand on Joe's hand. "I also need to be honest with you. I also got hit with all kinds of emotions when I saw you with Ethan a couple of weeks ago."
"Wait what?" Joe asked confused. "Are you saying that you also got feelings for me?"
Nicky leaned a bit forward and placed a kiss on Joe's cheek before getting up. It made Joe smile and might have looked a bit love-struck at Nicky for being kissed.
"We'll talk about it when I'm back tomorrow," Nicky promised. "I better get home or else I'll be in trouble."
"We can't have that," Joe replied. "But before you go, can I kiss you back?"
"Yes, you can," Nicky replied. "I would love that."
Joe placed a kiss on Nicky's cheek. It made Nicky smile and might have looked a bit love-struck at Joe for being kissed.
"Night, Joe," Nicky said. "I'll text you when I'm home and thanks for a wonderful evening."
"Night, Nicky," Joe replied. "I also thank you for a wonderful evening."
They exchanged a smile before Nicky left. Tomorrow they will talk about all the kinds of emotions they had towards each other and maybe spend more time talking about what other interests they had.