Langour ・❥・Joost Klein・❥・

12.

With an iced latte in hand, Fenne's fist ruptured against the front door. She waited on the porch for a few seconds while adjusting her camera bag on her shoulder.

The bulky accessory was awkward to carry and Fenne didn't know why Joost had asked her to bring it along. She had to bring it to work that morning just so she could head to his house after her shift. The train ride was also troublesome, since The Netherlands' summer had brought its usual tourism and made public transport rammed with people.

'Hey, Fenne!' the door opened to reveal a chirpy Joost. With his earphones in his ears, the man stood in a green hoodie with the hood over his messy hair. The front that he appeared to be letting grow long curled from underneath and with a display of his teeth, Joost stepped aside to let Fenne enter.

'I brought you this,' she said. Once she was in the hallway, Fenne turned and held out the iced drink as Joost closed the door. His face lit up at the sight and he took it gratefully.

'Thanks! Does it have caramel? Did you get yourself something?' he asked while wrapping one arm around Fenne's waist in a hug. Fenne stood on her toes to lock her wrists behind Joost's neck and rested her chin on his shoulder.

'Yeah, I made it myself, and I've had enough of our drinks for a lifetime.'

Lowering to the flats of her feet, Fenne took in Joost as he brought the straw to his lips. She felt his freehand remain on her side and tried to seem like it wasn't sending her insides into a frenzy. He was oblivious to the effect his touch had as the coffee emptied from the straw. She took the time to adjust the camera bag on her shoulder, making Joost look down and remember why he had invited Fenne over in the first place.

'You brought your stuff?'

'I did. Are you going to tell me what its for?'

'Perhaps.'

Joost headed past Fenne to walk the hallway's length. She followed while taking in the minimal decorations.

The console table was littered with a pair of keys, a lighter and a baseball cap. She watched to see if Joost was going to turn into the living room, but was surprised to see him start climbing the stairs. He had to be heading towards his bedroom and Fenne mustered all her courage to follow his lead.

Fenne hadn't been in Joost's house since Shelter's afterparty. Her and Hanna had stayed the night and woke up to the mess left behind. Cans and bottles covered the living room floor, where Stuntje had been kind enough to set up some bedding for them. Fenne half-expected Hanna to leave with Apson or sleep in the spare room that he had passed out in, but her friend joined her on the blow-up mattress.

They had left the next morning before Joost emerged from his bedroom. Fenne knew that he would have a sore head after the night of drinking and, instead, texted him when she and Hanna got home. Just like she thought, he texted saying he felt like he couldn't move without being sick, so Fenne was glad they had gone home when they did.

Since that night, Fenne and Joost had continued to see each other. He often came into her workplace and they would go out after her shift. They texted every day and took every opportunity to see each other throughout the week.

On weekends, Joost would perform at a venue and Fenne would watch from backstage. Hanna sometimes came alone, but it was mostly to see Apson. The two were getting to know each other and Fenne noticed how close they would stand while she watched Joost on stage. Apson would lower his ear when Hanna spoke and she would fight a giddy smile as she recollected something from their highschool days.

Fenne hesitated by the doorway like she had done at the afterparty. With the room lit from the open window, she was able to see the state of Joost's bedroom for the first time. It looked like it had been hastily cleaned before her arrival, but it was still done in a Joost Klein fashion.