Langour ・❥・Joost Klein・❥・

33.

While in the Uber, Fenne fiddled with her bag strap. Her fingers worked tirelessly at tracing the metal before doing the same with the material weaved through the leather. It's buckle and stitching were the most intriguing things to focus on in the drive from Aggu's apartment to the party.

Travelling was fun and Fenne didn't want to seem ungrateful for the opportunities she's had. Germany wasn't that much different from The Netherlands besides the language and even then, most German words were similar to Dutch, anyway. The currency was the same and the people were polite. Fenne liked Germany and she liked Berlin.

But her demise was her own anxiety. After all the festivals and parties, Fenne still struggled to be socially outgoing with people she didn't know. She found herself slipping into the background where she was safe and no one would address her, forcing her to talk about herself or attempt to be interesting. It was the one thing about herself that Fenne wished was different.

She saw the way Joost easily talked and danced among strangers. He had joked that social anxiety was scared of him, not the other way around. He didn't care if people saw his underwear or if they looked his way with confused expressions. Joost was nonchalant and with his bright smile, it added so much to his charisma and presence that everyone loved to be around.

Fenne wanted to be like him and his friends. Apson, Stuntje, Daan, Nathan, they were all so lively and charming. Even Teun, who was the quieter one of the team, wasn't afraid to scream out car windows and throw things into crowds.

It's why Fenne kissed Joost and Aggu on the Friesenjung music video set. She wanted to be bold and it had done her wonders. But as the Uber pulled to a stop, Fenne had shrunk back into her usual reserved self for the entire ride.

'Oh my god, this is insane,' Hanna stated, taking in the sight of the house party.

'We're in Berlin, liebe. This is normal,' Aggu mentioned as he passed her. A bottle of beer was already in his hand despite only just setting foot out of the Uber.

Joost waited by the door until Fenne stepped out. He pushed the door closed and put an arm around her bare shoulders. In her new skirt and strapless top, Fenne was grateful for Joost's closeness. He wore a white button-up shirt with a tie and black, baggy jeans. The black glasses on his nose tied in the whole look, finishing with his blonde mullet that Fenne never thought she would find so attractive.

'Shit, this really is insane,' Fenne noted, seeing the large house pumping with music. 'Whose party is this, again?'

'Someone Aggu knows. Hey, Aggu!' Joost called to the man who was clinking his beer with Apson to cheers. 'Whose house is this?'

The man shrugged and Fenne wanted to laugh. The ski mask over his eyes hid any sign of emotion and it made the sight all the more ludicrous.

She looked up at the house and saw people through the windows. Lights flashed and the music thudded, echoing throughout the street. How the neighbours hadn't already called the police was beyond her.

Maybe they did things different in Berlin, she thought.

Making their way inside, Hanna looked over her shoulder as Apson held her hand in the lead. She exchanged a look with Fenne at the amount of people that lined every wall and occupied every room. There was barely any space to move, forcing the arrivals to form a single-file line.

Fenne was uncomfortable and not just from her usual anxiety. She brought up the rear as the last one out of the car. Her hand was firmly in Joost's who walked ahead with his tall frame and broud shoulders. But as Fenne caught stares from men lining the hallway, she wished that Joost had gone behind her.