We Were Bound By Music - boatboys/smalletho

Chapter 5

Joel's POV:

"What is it?" Gem looked over my shoulder to see what was written on my mug. Looking at me, she saw that my expression had gone from curious, not knowing what I had written on the paper cup, to flushed and wide-eyed. When I saw she was trying to take a sneak peak, I covered the text with my hand and turned to look at her.

,,N-nothing- I mean,, I never were good at lying and even if I was, Gem knew me so long that she would see every lie I would told. I slapped myself in the face realizing that my explanation was terrible and even Pearl, who barely knows me, could definitely see that I was lying.

I turned myself towards Pearl looking for help. I knew that I just made Gem even more curious by lying to her. But Pearl didnt help me, she knew what Gem will do and she just smirked at me when Gem used this moment when I turned my back to her to grab my cup out of my hands.

,,Gem! Give it back!,, I wanted to grab the cup, but she held it higher above my head so I couldn't reach it.

,,Nuh-uh!,, she started reading the message left by the masked barista. ,, Isn't that the lyrics of your favorite song?,, She raised an eyebrow looking at me finally. I gave up and finally told her everything that have happened. Pearl also listened carefully not interrupting me, not like Gem who interrupted me while I was telling the story and asked a million questions after every word I said. Somehow I managed to finish the story. Gem was surprisingly quiet after I finished, maybe she didn't have any questions because she asked them during the story. Pearl also was silent processing what I said. Gem just looked at me with narrowed eyes and was thinking hard about something. I just stood there playing with my fingers and waiting for their reaction and opinion.

,,Go to him,, Gem finally decided to tell me what she was probably thinking about all this time.

,,What?! Gem! I-it-,,

,,Joel, listen. It's like a love story!,,

,,You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess. It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes",, Pearl quoted a song which sang one of Gem's favorite artists.

,,Exacly! Just like Taylor said It's a love story, just say yes! And go to him!,,

,,Gem, what do you imagine? That i go to him when he's working and say: Hello there, Mr. Barista Man, what do you say? Be my Prince?...No!,, I lowered my voice when acting what I think Gem had in her mind.

,,I can tell you don't read romance,, She looked at me disappointed. ,,Just go and ask for his number or whatever! I can tell you from my own experience it's worth to shoot your shot...It remindes me how I met my girlfriend...,, She looked at her girl and smiled. They looked like two loving parents who give love advice to their child...Yes. I'm the child.

,,Okay, okay! I guess I have nothing to lose?,, my voice didnt sound sure.

,,YEAH! Also...we could like spy on you if you need help, I know-,, Gem started her spying on me plan but I cut her.

,,I'll be fine. I hope so,, The last three words I whispered to myself trying to make my confidence boost.

Gem grabbed my arms and pushed me toward the road to the cafe. ,, Don't you overthink it! Just go!,, her hands let go of my shoulders and when I turned around they were already running away so I coudnt back out.

,,Ugh, take me homeee,, I complained, but I continued walking towards the cafe, and as I got closer, it started to dawn on me what I was doing. I'm a stranger going to a person I saw singing and that wrote a lyrics of my favorite song on my cup not even knowing me. ,,It seems wrong...but i cant back out now, Gem will definitely laugh at me if I come back to them,, When I got closer to the right building I saw Him closing the door and locking it with a silver key. It was 100% him, same platinum blonde hair and a black mask, which he didnt took of even here, outside. I stopped for a second rethinking everything. It's a bad idea right? Yeah. I closed my eyes. Get yourself together Joel! I fought with my thoughts. I just ran towards him trying to banish my thoughts.

,,Hey! Barista guy!,, I only now just relized I didnt even knew his name. I started breathing louder as I reached him. He turned around interested who called him ,,barista guy,, oh, that was do emmbarasing. I panter Holding on to my knees and covering my face which was now turning red.

,,H-hello?,, His voice was just like i remembered, This confirmed my belief that he was the person I was looking for. Maybe I misread his tone, but he seemed to be worried? He didnt say anything after that which I I noticed only after some time and it made me blush again, this time my face was visible because I was no longer holding my legs but standing in front of him. He looked down at me (because yes, he was taller) and waited and assumed I would say something because it was obvious that he didn't know what to do.

,,H-hi...,, I stuttered starring at his mask. I didn't want to look him in the eye because then the only courage I had left would disappear. I did regret going here. It was stupid and weird and-ugh just everything is wrong! Its not a love story like Gem said...its an awkward reality. I wanted for it to just be a dream it was so uncomfortably strange and quiet. I think he was list in thoughts too cause he stared at my hands without blinking. Then his eyes looked at me and caught me starring at him. I didnt want to break this starring content or whatever first but I just looked to my side and shook my head to focus on why I came here.

,,Sorry! Umm...It was an impulsive thought going here,, I apologized to him, 'cause i knew how not fun this is for both of US right know. ,,I'm sorry if I interuped you. I just-I just came to say...uh,, I stuttered do much trying to think of a reason why i actually came here.

,,Calm down, make up your own words. You didn't disturb me, I was just closing the cafe, so I'm actually free now,, He looked at me with probobly hope that I leave him alone, he basicly told me he has free time and wants to spend it somewere else.

I took a deep breath to relax and to unstress me I also closed both of my eyes. He didnt rush me, and was calm as I knew he wanted to leave me. 

,,Okay...I-it was stupid coming here,, I started ,,W-we dont even know each other and I come here and you-I'm just sorry, it's not okay for me to ruin your free time and come here. I'll just go...,,

What do you think Etho will do? Did he actually didnt want Joel here or was it just Joel overthinking and not reading him right?

Today I've wrote the longest chapter yet! I liked that you could see both of Joel's and Etho's perspective on the whole situation!

So...How many words do you think I've wrote?

Probobly more then you thought 'cause it was 1322 words including all my notes! Wow, for me it's a lot in one chapter! I'm proud of myself :)

Have a great day,

~Author