Langour ・❥・Joost Klein・❥・

40.

Things were tense at Splash! 2023.

Held in Germany, the festival's line-up was unlike any before. The crowds were huge and it was the last of the summer festivals on Joost's schedule.

It was difficult to keep his selection for Eurovision quiet, especially when fans were wondering when new music was coming out. Freisenjung had brought new attention and people wanted to hear what else was in store for the Dutch artist. Splash! was the perfect opportunity to finish off the era, because Ski Aggu was set to perform the hit with Joost on stage.

But despite the excitement and anticipation for the joint set, there was an air of uncertainty. Fenne's employment was in limbo and it hadn't been made clear if Splash! was going to be her last show.

She had already been set to film before the argument. Her irrational claim to quitting altogether had been settled, but not forgotten.

After staying with her parents, Fenne came back to the house a few days later. There was a thick awkwardness between her and Joost, who had spent their days apart in a nervous wreck.

He tried texting, calling, even sending an Instagram message, all containing different apologies and pleas to talk. But when Fenne mentioned needing space, Joost resulted to smoking however many cigarettes it took to calm him down.

By the time Fenne came back, he had smoked three packs in three days.

'I'm sorry that I lied to you,' she had said.

'I'm sorry that I went behind your back,' he had replied. 'You're not fired. I would never fire you.'

Joost thought that would prompt Fenne to say that she wasn't quitting. But instead, Fenne bit her lip and said she still hadn't formally accepted the Glastonbury offer. It was in Joost's nature to argue and push Fenne to reconsider, but in the state of the situation, he did his best to resist.

'So... are you still coming to Splash!?' Joost had said, fidgeting with his last cigarette. He hated how formal they were acting.

'Yeah. I'll come.'

'And then?'

'We'll see how it goes...'

Joost was too afraid to ask what that meant. It didn't help that Fenne had been distant towards him ever since. When he tried to talk to her, Fenne would find a way to direct the conversation elsewhere. She was clever and Joost was weak against her, especially since he had let his anger get the better of him that night.

'So if you do this, it keeps the shot steady and doesn't blur everything,' Fenne said, changing the setting on her camera. Over her shoulder, Aggu leaned in with great interest and noticed the difference in the screen.

'Cool. Is that what you did in Friesenjung?'

Fenne nodded her head and turned to the side, pausing at the sudden closeness. Aggu stood with his arms crossed over his chest and his usual mask over his eyes. Angled to face Fenne and her camera, Aggu loomed over her, close enough for Fenne's shoulder to skim his chest.

'I still can't thank you enough for your work on that. I owe you big time,' Aggu smiled and Fenne's eyebrows pinched together in confusion.

'Big time?'

'I owe you a lot. I'm very thankful.'

'Oh!' Fenne's German was getting better, but she often needed help. And with her and Joost's distancing, he wasn't around to fill in the blanks.

'I'm sure whatever Joost does next will be another hit with you at the camera.'

Fenne scoffed a laugh, but it never fully formed. The tightness in her face made it difficult to put on a good front. The weariness of their situation had a steel grip on Fenne and when she glanced around to see if he was near, it was hard for Aggu to not notice.