No Reservations

Joey had spent his entire afternoon lecture thinking about what had happened in the library, and still didn't understand any of it. What had Nicky been talking about? Why did she believe she was a guy? At first Joey thought he might have accidentally messed with her mind, given her some command he had forgotten about. She seemed adamant that he hadn't, but would she remember? Once he had given her the belief that she was comfortable in her body she calmed down, but still believed she had been a dude. Since his 'explanations' couldn't be overwritten it was consistent with that theory. And yet...

Driving in Eliza's, now his, car the problem still tickled the back of his head. Because he knew he had never given Nicky any belief that she was dud. Why would he? He never even called her 'one of the guys' the way Jake or Raj did. He'd known Nicky too long for that, he understood that just because she liked video games didn't make her less of a woman. When they were little, maybe. But after the boob fairy visited her when they were kids, and Joey had to get over his attraction to her, even though he had always known she was a lesbian, after everything they went through together with bullies and heartaches he knew her.

The problem was that she wasn't acting like Nicky. She wasn't talking like Nicky. Almost. But not quite.

Joey was facing another possibility he hadn't considered, that there were other powers than his. He had never thought to ask the question, but why not? He still had no idea where this ability had come from. Whatever had given him this power could have given someone another power.

A shiver ran up his spine thinking about what Nicky had said, that he looked different. For all Joey knew there was someone out there with the ability to change people's bodies with them remaining just as oblivious as all Madison or Aynsley or the other girls. If that was the case though, why did Nicky notice, but he didn't? How would he even get the answers to questions like that?

He shook his head. The truth was that he had a lot he still had to learn. About his powers. About owning a new car and house. About being a boyfriend. About juggling five, maybe even six, women who were obsessed with him. So much that the weight of it all felt impossible to handle.

Joey took a deep breath in, held it, and exhaled, just like his therapist had taught him. Ever since that morning he bumped into Madison on the quad his life had been pure chaos. He had to start taking control of what he could, and stop stressing himself about what he couldn't control. And ever since he got his powers there was a lot more he could control. It would be okay. He needed to embrace his powers, learn not to use them accidentally or out of emotional distress, and learn to be much much more specific with what he said. More mindful.

Plus he needed to absolutely wow Madison and Aynsley with tonight's date. Just because he could make them believe eating takeout in a parking lot was the height of romance, he would know the truth. Hell, Isla and Taylor had already known his lame first idea.

Then Joey's thought turned to their newfound excitement over dating his friends. They had been such assholes to him and his friends, it had been a true pleasure to use his powers on them. It wasn't like he was hurting them, right? He just opened their eyes to new possibilities. He didn't even **** them to fall in love with Nicky or Raj, just to be excited to go out with them.

Though did that mean on a single date, or like in a relationship? His lips pursed remembering how it had affected his friends too. Then he shook his head, his shaggy curls bouncing with the motion.

The problem was that Joey said things, but what he meant wasn't often how people interpreted his words. Whether it was their own **** biases, or some other **** that influenced them, he didn't know. Not yet. That was another reason this next 'errand' was so important. He was going to use his powers again, but this time was different. Every other time he had used them had been in the heat of the moment. He had either been reacting to something, often in a panic, and even when he didn't, like with Bianca, it had been purely improvised. This time was different though. Joey had planned exactly what he was going to say, every word, so that there was no way things could go wrong.

At least he hoped that was the case, he thought as his car rolled into the parking lot of La Langue, the fancy restaurant that Mrs. Fowler had taken him to. That had seemed like a lifetime ago. Two lifetimes ago even. Had it only been a few days? He had trouble imagining it was that recent considering everything else that had changed in his life.

Joey turned off the engine and unbuckled the seatbelt before fishing his phone out of his jeans pocket.

Joey 3:14 PM: I'm in the parking lot. Is everyone there? Is the manager in yet?

Bianca 3:14 PM: Yay!!!!! Yup, everyone is here including Jacque! I've kept an eye on him since he got in. Can I come out and greet you? Maybe you could give me a good fondling, you know, for luck ;-)

Joey 3:15 PM: Thnx, but can't right now. I need u to pretend u don't me, k? Follow the plan.

Bianca 3:15 PM: You got it stranger! Of course if you want to sneak a quick ass groping you know you always can <3 <3 <3

Joey had only lost his virginity to her a few hours ago, had spent a whole night in a sexual marathon with her, and was still recovering from all that exertion, but the thought was still tempting. Maybe after he was done he'd indulge a little. After all, Bianca would be really disappointed if he didn't. He just had to remind himself to save his energy for tonight. He had barely used Donna last night in his fuck session, he knew Bianca wanted some quality time, and respected that. But even with her limited involvement, he was starting to understand how challenging juggling two women at once could be. He was also understanding the importance of hydrating and a high protein diet.

The restaurant didn't open until 5:00 pm, but Bianca had told him the door would be unlocked.

Joey got one or two confused looks from the staff as he strode into the opulent restaurant. His sneakers barely made a sound on the intricate Greek tiles, though his t-shirt and jeans felt like a stark contrast to the brass fixtures, vintage art nouveau posters, leather upholstery, and the luxuriously dark red painted walls of the establishment. But they didn't stop him. Joey was here for a reason. He had walked in with purpose. They weren't paid enough to deal with that.

The manager. on the other hand...

Jacque, at least that's what the manager of La Langue liked to call himself. Bianca had worked here long enough to know the man's given name was Irwin, he just wanted to sound fancy. He looked as pretentious as he sounded. A thin man with a receding hairline, that was only highlighted by the fact that 'Jacque' liked to slick it back, in some caricature no doubt inspired by his Francophilia, and the fact that his concept of French culture was clearly derived exclusively from films of the 1980s. When he saw Joey the man's already narrow face puckered up, before quickly changing to a patronizing imitation of a smile.

"Excuse me sir, can I help you? We won't be open for another two hours, and don't take in person reservations but if you-" the manager said walking up to Joey.

"Uhm actually, it's okay to be here now, in fact you want to gather up all your staff so they can hear what I have to say." Joey said.

By now he was used to the effect his powers had. He waited patiently for the initial confusion of his strange words, then the dumbfounded silence as the man's brain began to internalize this new truth, followed, at last, by the wholehearted acceptance.

"Attention everyone, all hands meeting now. This young gentleman has something important he needs to say." Jacque said shouting over the din of waiters, cooks, and busboys. It took a little bit for the word to spread, but a minute or two later and the staff of nearly two dozen employees was gathered around Joey, with looks of confusion and mild annoyance.

Everyone except Bianca of course. Joey had made a note of when she slipped out. She had even winked at him. He tried not to smile, at the memory of her naked body. He needed to focus. This was the tricky part.

"So, what're we here for?" A large Dominican man in chef's whites said his arms crossed over his barrel chest.

"This boy, excuse me," Jacque said, giving Joey a pandering smile, "this man has something important we all need to hear."

"What could be more important than prep?! I have a crate full of duck breast that needs to be trimmed, and seasoned, for our customers tonight." The chef said, and Joey appreciated the lack of respect he had for Jacque, but he couldn't wait for the manager to respond. This man had given him the perfect opening, and he had to take it.

"Uhm actually, you are going to reserve this restaurant for me and my girlfriends, Aynsley and Madison, starting at 7:30 tonight." Joey said, proud that he gave them nearly three hours of normal operations before his date. "For tonight and only tonight everyone who works here will be catering to just the three of us. Your highest priority for this evening, and this evening alone, will be to make sure that me and my dates are happy, and that we have everything we want. That means you will gladly give us any drinks and food we ask for, making any accommodations necessary, completely gratis. Jacque, or Irwin, here will make sure you all paid for the evening, and make sure that payment is adjusted to include whatever tips you would make on a night where this place is full and everyone tips at least 20%. You will make any excuses you need to make to the owner, and will tell no one about this evening. In fact after me and my dates leave you won't even think about what happened here. Tomorrow you will return to your lives as if none of this happened." Joey said, trying to enunciate on every word, making sure his rehearsed speech wouldn't be rushed, and most of all proud at how specific he had been.

The room was silent for a long time, as nearly two dozen pairs of pupils dilated. Then they smiled. So did Joey. He texted Madison and Aynsley to let them know the change of venue. It was the first surprise of many he had in store for them tonight.