A Pure Love- Gjon's Tears Fanfic

Chapter 1

I opened my eyes from my night asleep on the train to the magical city of Rotterdam. The place I had been dreaming of visiting ever since it was announced that Eurovision would occur there in 2020... well, now in 2021 because lockdown ruined everything. But anyways, my college friend Rosalee and I made this trip to watch Eurovision live (my dream ever since I was a little girl), and especially for me to see Gjon perform. It was his dream since he was a little boy to perform in such a world-renowned music contest, and now he's living it and I couldn't be any prouder of him than I am now.

Today is going to be my first time seeing him in person in three years. We hadn't seen each other since 2018 simply because he was so busy with his career, even though both of us still tried and made the effort (and because of my ex Luco... more on him later). That's what made our friendship thrive so well after our high school graduation in 2016, when we were both soon going on eighteen. We had performed in several choral concerts together in middle and high school, I had gone to all of his performances on The Voice sitting next to his family, and he had come to watch all of my dance shows, sitting next to my family. I had never had a friend as supportive as him before, so I figured I should always give the support back to him.

When the train arrived at our stop, Rosalee was still asleep. I poked her on the shoulder to wake her up. She jerked her head up dramatically and opened her eyes quickly with an "ahh!" She calmed down and said with a smile, "oh good morning Marlee." I love when my dramatic girl best friend is dramatic. We both gathered our belongings and headed off the train. Our hotel for the next few evenings was just down the street, so we walked there to check in, settle in, and get ready for the day. I got dressed into my best sparkling makeup and royal blue dress top, black jeans, Doc Martens, a sequined blue mask, and half of my hair braided down the middle with the rest of it down and wavy. Just how I like it, and how Gjon would recognize me best. 

The rest of the day dragged on with brunch at a coffee shop and some sightseeing until it was time to head to the venue. When we finally got there, the sun was still out and the queues were already long with people full of excitement. We got to talking with the people behind and in front of us; it was a great time still.

Finally, the show began and Gjon was sixteenth to perform. It was fun watching the rest of the acts, but my eyes really brightened when Gjon hit the stage. I knew he was nervous as hell, but his stage presence didn't show it. Rosalee and I waved our mini Swiss flags for him while admiring everything about him: the set, his outfit, his voice, the musical genius, and his heart and soul. I could have sworn that I began crying tears of joy. How could he not qualify?

I was shaking during the announcements of the results. But that finally stopped when I heard, "Switzerland!" My best friend just qualified to the Grand Final, and the tears of joy came back through my cheers. Not only did he qualify, but he won first place in his semifinal. My best friend making huge success just made me so happy.

Soon enough, it was time to look for him. I figured the green room would be the best place to look first, so I led Rosalee there. The security workers questioned us all the way down there, but I simply told them we were meeting a friend down there on the way out. Oh well. My heart was beating so fast as we went down to approach Gjon's green room. His team sitting around him was questioning us like the security, but then there he was, still celebrating his big win. I tapped him on the shoulder with a huge smile on my face, and he looked back with an even bigger smile and a happy gasp.

"Marlee!!!" he exclaimed after we both screamed excitement for one another. He wrapped his arms around me in a big hug. I hugged him back right away. "Aw I'm so happy you came, it's been so long!"
"I know, you did so great and I'm so proud!" I said back, still in the hug. He is still the best hugger in the world.
"Thank you!!! You just made my whole night!" We then let go and I introduced him and Rosalee to one another. She then took some pictures of me and Gjon, her and Gjon, me and her, then all three of us together. It was nothing short of magical. What made it even better was that my pictures with Gjon recreated those from our high school graduation: classic hug and arms-around-the-shoulders pictures combined with various funny poses and faces.

Since it was late in the evening, there was no time for us to head out to dinner yet. But Gjon did invite us for coffee in the morning before rehearsal of the final, so we took the offer. Rosalee and I then headed for the hotel room to retreat for the night.
The next morning went just as planned, meeting at the cutest coffee shop in Rotterdam that Gjon had picked out. The walls were decorated with fairy lights, coffee-themed posters, and flower pots on every table. There were beautiful desserts in the display case and beautiful foam art on every mug. Gjon was sitting at one table with two coffees, and he greeted us warmly. "Marlee, I got you your favorite!" My favorite was a hot vanilla latte, which is just what he got for me. It's been my staple coffee order forever. The foam art was a little kitten face, my forever- favorite animal.
"Aww, thank you!" I exclaimed as I gave him a hug after sitting down, not caring about how the others around us would react.
He didn't care, either, and hugged me back. "I still know you," he said with a chuckle. He then turned to Rosalee, "I'm sorry, I don't know what kind of coffee you like yet."
The three of us went together up to the counter, and Rosalee told him she likes a hot caramel macchiato, so that's what he got for her. Even when not knowing her well, he's so welcoming and generous. As soon as we all got our coffees and sat down, we began to talk. We talked about everything: general catching up, knowing one another, laughing, talking about Eurovision, and other crazy stories of recently. He's still just as interesting, sweet, and smiley as before, maybe even more so now than then. He even invited us to watch Grand Final rehearsal later, which we took up the offer for.

Gjon let us in to the venue, and Rosalee and I sat in his green room to watch up close the entire rehearsal, from beginning to end, with a lunch in between. Nothing short of magical, and I couldn't wait a bit for the grand final to see how he would shine there.