Pedro Pascal Characters one shots & short stories

Don't Sound Like You (Joel Miller)

Warning: lots of feelings and some swearing

Summary: Pt6 of Should Probably Leave. You find yourself turning to the person that had always been your source of comfort. Inspired by - Lee Brice's - That Don't Sound Like You.

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Joel was doing his best to distract himself from the heartache of losing you by throwing himself deep into work and with being a good parent to Sarah, and to the outside world it seemed to be working but truth was he was failing miserably. You were never far from his mind, especially when he was around your family. He had tried his best to distance himself from them, but your father wasn't having any of it. If Joel didn't know any better, it seemed as though he was aware of the situation and was attempting to push Joel into going after you. Always bringing you up in a discussion and making sure to clearly state his dislike for your fiancé. Joel always did his best to keep his feeling intact during it, but when your father had recently mentioned that your calls home had become less and less these past four months; round about the time you had moved in with Tom, now that, that didn't seem right with him. That just wasn't like you at all.

*****

You knew this was a bad idea, but it was nothing compared to having agreed to marry Tom.

He was always the person you could go to whenever in need, and you desperately needed someone to talk with.

"Hello?" a voice answers the phone on the overside.

"Joel..."

"Y/N...?" he responds a bit confused at your tone of voice.

You remain silent for a moment, finally speaking, "yes, it's me..."

"Didn't recognized ya voice for a sec there..." Joel remarks in response, "and ya callin' from a landline?"

"Oh... I'm calling from work..." you stammer out, silently praying that he doesn't pick up on anything.

"K... what can I do for ya?" Joel enquires, sensing something must be amiss for you to be calling him of all people.

"Just thought I would call to hear how everyone was doing" you stammer in response, "h-how's Sarah?"

"Um, she's good..." Joel cautiously answers, something didn't seem right with how well your words were compose. Deciding then to just straight out address it, "graduating soon. Then again, ya woulda known by speaking with ya folks."

"Yeah- mom spoke about it during conversation last week..."

Girl, I'm glad you called, first heard you talk
Took me a second 'cause I couldn't hear your drawl
And that don't sound like you
No, that don't sound like you

I know it's been a while, I don't mean to pry
But when I asked you if you're happy I didn't hear a smile
And that don't sound like you
No, that ain't the girl I knew, you always sounded like

Truck tires on a gravel road
Laughing at the world, blasting my radio
Cannonballs splashing in the water
Doing whatever whenever you wanted
What did he do?
'Cause you don't sound like you any more

*

Joel lets out a disappointed breath, "Sweetheart... be honest."

"I-I don't know what you mean..."

"Y/N, I know ya ain't spoken to ya folks in a while. What's goin' on?"

"Joel..." you finally sigh in defeat, "I don't know what to do."

"'Bout what? Ya know ya can always talk to me 'bout what's buggin' ya."

"That was before..." you stammer, "you're with Tess now, Joel and I'm with Tom. We shouldn't even be talking. I shouldn't have-"

"Tess and I ain't together no more" Joel hastily confesses.

"What...?" your drops as you nearly drop the phone in shock.

"We broke up not long after Sarah's party" Joel explains.

"W-Why?"

"'Cause we came to the realization that I was still deeply in love you."

"Joel..."

"No, let me finish" Joel cuts you off, "if I don't say this now, I'll regret it for the rest of my life."

"Ok" you breathe out heavily.

"I love you, Y/N, always have... you've always been the love of my life."

Tears began forming in your eyes at his words, "then why did you make me go away from home?"

"Thought I was doin' what was best for ya..." Joel sighs in response, "you were still so young, had ya whole life ahead of ya. I didn't want to hold ya back from enjoying life."

"You fuckin' idiot..." you whimper out through the tears, "you and Sarah were my life. I only left 'cause I thought you didn't want and then got involved with Tom, 'cause you were with Tess."

"I was a damn fool, I know" Joel agrees, "was gonna tell ya at ya parent's anniversary party, then I chickened out. Finally, was gonna come clean at Thanksgiving, then I walked in on ya celebrating ya engagement."

"Joel, if only you had told me..."

"Don't do it! Don't marry him!" Joel pleads with you then.

"Joel..."

"Just answer truthfully, do you love him?" Joel puts forth.

"I..." you find yourself unable to answer.

"Are you even happy, Sweetheart?" Joel continues to press and again, you find yourself at lost for words.

"K, then just answer this last one, do you love me?"

"Yes" the word easily passes through your lips.

"That's all that matters then" Joel states matter-of-factly.

"I-I need some time to process all of this..." you sigh, conflicted by everything that has come to light.

"That's fair enough" Joel agrees, "take ya time, Sweetheart. Just remember, I'll be here waitin' for ya and if ya need me in anyway; I'll come for ya..."

That town, that job, that guy
You can leave them behind, girl, you know you're better than that
If you want to come back, you can come back
Baby, come back to

Truck tires on a gravel road
Laughing at the world, blasting my radio
Cannonballs splashing in the water
Doing whatever whenever you wanted
What did he do?
'Cause you don't sound like you
Give me the girl I knew
'Cause you don't sound like you any more
Mm, any more