Fool me once, you get a payback.

"Beep!" The loud noise of the other car woke Jackson from his sleep. He looked on his right and saw Steven gazing at the sky.

"What are you thinking about, buddy?" He asked as he rubbed his eyes to clear it.

"Oh, you are awake?" Steven replied.

Jackson sat up, removed his seatbelt, and viewed his surroundings. "Why are we parking on the roadway and not at my home?" Jackson asked when he saw the busy streets and people.

"I was not thinking straight in the bar, but once I sat behind the wheel, and the alcohol left my system, I realized that we both look terrible. Your t-shirt looks like a rag, and your lip seems swollen from the cut you got this morning. Plus, every part of you smells like booze and blood." Steven replied as he rested his head against the car wheel and gazed at his friend.

"And whose fault is it that I look like a fiery mess?" Jackson asked. He then turns his focus to the lady walking her dog on the sidewalk. The dog had her stop by a tree to allow him to pee, but it urinated on her shoe that seemed expensive, and Jackson giggled.

"It is my fault. That's why I could not take you home because mom and Jennie won't let me off easily if they see you in your current state. I had to wait for you to sleep out the alcohol in your system before I can fix you up?" Steven replied and repeatedly tapped his fingertips against the wheel.

"You don't look great yourself. That punch left a nasty scar against your face." Jackson replied while he remained with his gaze fixed on the woman and her dog. The lady was now shouting at her pet. "Disobedient dog!" She kept screaming, and the dog started growling at her. Jackson giggled again, this time a little louder.

"And who fault was it?" Steven stated as he gazed at Jackson giggling happily and smiled, seeing his friend laughing meant a lot to him.

"It was mine," Jackson answered. He noticed that the dog was now jumping up and down as it barked at its owner. The lady tried to get the dog under control, but she failed to and dropped the leash.

"Hahahahah!" Jackson burst out into laughter as he watched the dog chase after the lady while she ran away.

"She must be one terrible pet owner to have her dog turn against her," Steven said when he noticed what his friend was laughing at the entire time in their discussion.

"Or the dog may be an untrained pet," Jackson replied and finally removed his sight from the dog and focused it on his buddy.

"What do you mean?" Steven asked. He could tell that the owner could not stand the dog because of how she kept screaming, "Get this thing away from me!"

"What I am trying to say is that there are two sides to every story. You got to look past what you want to see and try to understand both sides before concluding." Jackson replied.

Steven did a ridiculous abrupt laugh at his friend's words. "You sound like a grandpa!" He said, then started his car.

"Where are we going?" Jackson asked, wearing his seatbelt.

"To get you a new t-shirt," Steven replied as he drove away.

Jackson gives a last glance at the dog. It had calmed down, and its owner continued to walk it. "No matter how mad you get, you can't hate the ones you love. Am I right, puppy?" He mumbles.

Steven turned toward him and asked, "Are you talking to me?"

Jackson shook his head. "No, I am not!" He answered.

It took them a twenty-minute drive to get to "OK men's wear." Steven packed the vehicle into the parking log. Afterward, they headed into the building.

"A pleasant day, gentlemen. What can I do for you, guys?" The assistant asked.

Steven put his hands on Jackson's shoulder and gently pushed him forward. "Is your name Greg?" Steven asked as he stared at the guy's name tag. The man bowed his head. "Okay, Greg. Um, this guy right here needs a new t-shirt," Steven said as he pointed his finger at Jackson. He then took his black card from his pocket and gave it to the cashier.

"Right this way, sirs?" Greg replied. He led them into their VIP room.

Jackson and Steven took a seat as Greg when to find some shirts for them to select the ones they desired to buy.

"Why did you have to do this? We could have walked in, picked up a simple t-shirt, and walk out." Jackson said.

Steven took the glass and pulled some champagne into it. "Uh? Oh! Do you mean why I brought out my black card? What can I say? I love to shop in style." He replied to his friend and tasted his drink.

Greg returned with various colors and designs of t-shirts. He displayed them one at a time, and Steven persistently rejected each one of them. "That's not his style." "The color is not right." "That won't look good on him."

Greg felt exhausted. Every piece of clothing he had presented got denied by Steven. "Sir, allow me to pick another set for your lover," Greg replied.

Steven spits the drink out of his mouth, and Jackson stares at Greg fiercely. "What! No! We are not together. He's not gay, and I am not. He is my best friend and brother." Steven replied.

Greg looks embarrassed. "I am sorry to you both I will get another set for your friend." He replied.

Greg was about to leave, but Jackson suddenly stood up and put one of his hands in his trouser pocket. "Don't bother yourself. I will take one of these." He said and grabbed a white t-shirt. Jackson then walked toward the door. When he reached it, he turned around and said, "Thank you for your service, Greg. Steven! Give the man a huge tip for his hard work!" Then Jackson walks out the door.

Steven gulped his wine, gave five hundred dollars to Greg, and ran after Jackson.

Greg confusedly watched as Steven shut the door. "What just happen?" He asked himself.

Steven collected his card and left the building. He met Jackson leaning on his car when he caught up with him. "Are you mad?" Steven asked.

Jackson looked at him and laughed loudly. "Hell no! I knew someday something like this would happen to us. I walk out because you look relaxed in there. The man seemed uncomfortable, and I wanted to get out of that place. All I wished was to buy a t-shirt, but you would have turned me into a model and forced me to try on those clothes. I understand you too well, Steven. So when the chance opened for me to escape, I took it and ran." He said with a sly smile.

"Once! You only had one chance in your entire lifetime to fool me, and you just used it up. Our next stop is the salon. We will have to get our makeup on to cover up these bruises." Steven said and walked toward his door.

"No, oooo!" Jackson screamed. He knows when Steven says makeup, it always turns into something more than covering up their scars.

"Yesss!!!" Steven yelled and opened his door.

They were both seated in the car. Jackson gazed at Steven, but his friend had on his face some evil smile, and Jackson knew that Steven would get his payback.