Ready for it? (Joost Klein)

7

Joost and I arrive at the hotel. "Do you want to be alone or ...?"

I don't know what I want. He came all the way here for me, it wouldn't feel right to leave him alone now.

Suddenly I have an idea. "I know the perfect place we can go!"

I grab my cell phone to look up the location.

"Are you sure? Isn't this a time you want to read a book quietly to unwind?" I ignore his words. "It's a 9-minute walk from here. Follow me."

Those 9 minutes have already become 21 minutes because I can't find the way to get there. The Google Maps map keeps spinning and I don't know why, but we seem to be stepping exactly farther and farther from our destination.

"I believe we should go back to the street we were on before." I look at my phone in hopes of gaining clarity. 

Joost pulls the phone out of my hands with a sigh. "Livia please. Your sense of orientation is like shit."

He looks at the map for 30 seconds and then hands my phone back. "I know where it is, c'mon."Reluctantly, I follow him. "Just because you know where to go doesn't mean I'm impressed with you." J

oost laughs. "Believe me, I know that. And I also know that your ego is hurt because you didn't find your way."

I roll my eyes. "Like you already know me that well."

"Has anyone mentioned that you roll your eyes a lot?"

Yes, people have indeed said that to me. "Has anyone said that sometimes you should shut up?"

"Well, if you're that person I'm not listening to that." He skips down a street. How can he know his way around a city he doesn't know by looking at a map for 30 seconds?

3 minutes later we are there. "A karaoke bar?" Joost looks at me with surprise.

"Oh shut up!" I pull him in with me.

"Hi!" The receptionist greets us.

"Hello, is there a karaoke room free right now?"

The woman in front of us nods. "Room number 14. Here is the key. There is a stocked minibar and 2 microphones. Have fun!"

I thank her and we walk to room number 14.

"What's your plan?", Joost asks unenthusiastically.

"Well, since you couldn't rehearse at the pre-party, you can rehearse here!"

In the room there is a large television on which we can project the song lyrics. Next to it is indeed a minibar. Joost immediately takes out a beer. There is also a large sofa and the room is lit with LED lights. 

"I only sing if you sing along." He hands one of the microphones to me. "Well, duh."

Not much later we are singing Europapa to the fullest. The lights change color all the time and I can't help but dance along.

Joost also does his dance steps that he would normally do on stage. During the whole song there is a smile on my face. Seeing Joost dancing somehow makes me happy.

After Europapa, we put on my song. After Ready For It, we put on Karma by Jojo Siwa.

After what seems like an eternity of singing and dancing, we both drop into the seat. "I'm so tired," I say.

Joost sips his beer. "I didn't think it was going to be this much fun," he says. "I mean, it's an idea of mine so ... you could expect that." I look at him with a smile.

Joost stands up and pulls me straight. "What do you think? One more song?"

And that one song becomes eight more, before we return to the hotel at 2 a.m.

"I think I'll stop by Elio and explain everything to him," I say to Joost at the hotel. "Okay. I'll see you tomorrow right?"

I nod. "Thank you again for earlier today. And for going with me to the karaoke bar." 

Joost smiles. "I didn't exactly had a choice, right?" 

"Right. Well, goodnight."

"Goodnight, Livia." And he walks to the elevator.