As it Was / A Joseph Quinn story.

3.

"So, let me get this straight, he saved you, then invited you to his concert, and now he has your number?" Lucy was basically shouting in my ear. We were on the phone during my fifteen minute break. She apologized to me for being so selfish but apparently Jamie was flirting the whole time and already asked her out. Lucy always said to "seize the day" and all that carpe diem shit.

"Yes, but you know me..."

"Yeah bla bla bla you don't do boyfriends! That's so stupid! He looks like he's really into you"

"He doesn't know me"

"Well, he totally would like to!"

"Listen, Lucy, we had this conversation multiple times. I'm not like you, ok? I'm happy for you, you like Jamie and apparently he likes you back, I'm really glad. But I can't just throw myself in someone else's arms, and then wait for them to leave me"

That came out wrong.

Lucy didn't answer but I heard her breathing on the other side of the phone.

"Luce, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that..."

"It's ok Andy, if you think your best friend is a slut..."

"No, you know it's not what I meant. But when you know someone you like, you don't think twice, you just go for it and it's not who I am"

"You know what, Andy? You're going to regret it someday. Not today, not tomorrow. But someday you'll come up to me and say I was right. That you made a huge mistake letting Joseph go, but it will be too late and you will end up alone because you are just too afraid to admit you like this guy and that maybe -maybe- this could be your chance to be happy"

I looked at my watch and it was time to go back to work. I cut the conversation off and told Lucy I was sorry. I just didn't want to go through my issues again.
I came back right behind the counter and started to clean it when I heard someone ask for an espresso and a piece of carrot cake.

"Eating here or to go?" I asked. I looked up to see Joseph right in front of me.

"I'll stay, thanks"

Fuck.

"What are you doing here, stalker?" He laughed

"Truth or lie?"

"Truth, of course"

"I called every freaking cat cafè in London. There are tons of them! I called and asked if Andy-short-for-Andrea worked there. Finally, your nice friend Hunter told me you were just right here, so I told myself, what can I do in this lazy day off?"

"Yeah, right, what could you do?"

"Hey, I'm here to see cats, of course"

Legit. I would spend my day off looking out for cats as well.

"Well, the red one there is Eddie, the little one is Ava, then the big guy there is Harry and I'm sure Tom and Jerry are sleeping somewhere" I showed him around before getting him what he ordered.

I looked at him petting Ava, that came on the stool next to him: he had a sign of beard growing on his face, that made him look... well, yes, made him look hot.
I watched him drinking his espresso and eat the cake in total silence. He made me speechless. Did he really call all the cat cafès in central London? Or did he made all up just to see my reaction?

"What time are you off today?" He asked. I looked at the clock on the wall.

"8pm. It's just 4, so..."

"...so, what do you say if I come back at 8pm and we head together somewhere cool?"

When did he become so bold and determined? At that point, even if I was flattered by all those attentions, I needed to clear the air out. I was clearly wasting his time.

"Listen, I need to be honest with you" he looked straight into my eyes "you're wasting your time here. I'm not interested in dating and stuff"

He didn't look so surprised. That made me think that maybe Lucy told him something. If so, I would have killed her.

"What if you regret it?"

And here we go.

"You don't need to try to change my mind. Let's be honest Joe, we don't even know each other"

"Well, to do so, people usually go out together"

Touché.

"And what if we went out, then we fall in love and then someday we break up because you find someone more suitable for you, or more attractive and you leave me and I get hurt and..."

He interrupted me "You can't just...suppose! You said that, you don't know me!"

"But I know men, and that's what you do" He opened his eyes out wide, like I just said the biggest bullshit he ever heard.

"Jesus Christ, Andy. Give me the chance to prove you wrong, I swear we're not all the same!"

"I will break your heart, eventually"

He lowered his voice and got closer "Yes, please!"

I really didn't get him. Why someone would like to have his heart broken? Fall in love, waste time with someone and then cry for months while the other is already with someone else?

"You sound just like Lucy"

"Just because we want to live? To feel something? Thank God we're not robots!"

"I just...don't get it"

"Let me help you with it" he looked like he was thinking deeply about something "I had an idea. Go out with me for five dates. Let's say, for one month straight. At the end of it, if you still think I'm a giant prick like every man you met in your life, I will be out of your sight forever. If not... if not, we'll see"

I sighed. That wasn't such a bad idea, after all. One month was a short but reasonable amount of time. I handed my hand out at him, to seal the deal.

"Deal" I said. I was intrigued. I loved being challenged.

"Good" he took my hand and gave a little shake. We held hand for a couple of seconds more, before smiling at each other. I probably even blushed a little. He got up the stool, handed out 10 pounds and walked out the cafè.

"Joe, your change!" I yelled

"Tip! See you later, pip squeak!"

And that's how it all started. How I started to fall in love with Joseph Quinn.

~

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Danielle