𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 | 𝘑𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘒𝘭𝘦𝘪𝘯

Chapter 45 - The Call

Days went by. Countless minutes of anticipation for the call. We were opting for it to happen soon, it was already mid December after all. The lack of knowledge about where Joost's Eurovision journey would lead, left the whole team on edge.

My personal devising had the same effect, adding to the eagerness. I wanted to know what lied ahead of me too. My song would be released before I knew whether or not I'd be participating in the contest. It was the other way around for Joost. He had scheduled 'Europapa' for late February.

Our entire friendgroup had gathered for a hangout, currently in Ellie and I's apartment. Winter in Berlin was more grey than white. It rained a lot and if it was snowing, it would melt as soon as it hit the ground. So we savoured the warmth and smugness of our home with a movie playing in the background as we talked.

I was leaning back at Joost with my back pressed against his front. The others were sprawled out everywhere around the living room.

Joost's phone buzzed in my lap. I turned the screen towards me, an unknown Dutch number. With a pat on his thigh I gained his attention. He frowned at the call. My gut told me he should pick up. The tingling sensation in my stomach made me feel unsettled.

"Do you know who this is?", I asked, handing Joost his phone. He shook his head and thought for a moment before picking up. The room went silent.

"Hallo?"

The words on the other end were inaudible to everyone except Joost. He noticed the stares and put the person on speaker for us to listen.

"Hallo, this is Gijs from AVROTROS! I'm calling to inform you of the decision for the Eurovision 2024 representative
of the Netherlands", the Dutch man spoke. Thank goodness I understood the language now.

Joost received many wide-eyed and open-mouthed responses from his friends. I lifted off of my boyfriend's chest to face him.

"Ah, yes", he instructed for Gijs to continue.

"Congratulations Joost, you are going to represent the Netherlands at Eurovision in Malmö!"

Apson, Stuntje and Aggu shot up from their seats, screaming like absolute psychopaths. My jaw hit the floor while I held onto Joost's leg and looked at Alanis who had the same expression as me. Ellie and Teun danced in a circle.

Joost beamed, throwing his head back in disbelief. He was fighting the urge to join his yelling team. But he remained professional and ended the call by saying 'thank you' a million times and showing his appreciation.

As soon as he put his phone down, the three menaces tackled him into the couch. Joost getting slapped, shouted at and choked in hugs by them. He managed to escape and immediately fell into my arms.

"Len, did you hear that? I'm going to Eurovision!", he cooed into the side of my neck. I buried my hand in his hair and squeezed him tightly to my body. "I know and you'll absolutely win that thing. I'm so endlessly proud of you, Joost."

When I broke away I watched a tear slip from his eye. I wiped away with my thumb, soothing the skin beneath my finger. This meant so much to him, all the work had paid off. Joost was so close to being where he aimed to be since he started this.

Ellie gasped after my boyfriend hugged the rest of our friend group: "This sounds like a party! Let's celebrate!"
Of course, she would suggest that.
And of course, we would collectively agree.

——

We had moved the party to Aggu's apartment since he had more space and didn't care about hosting a party. He voluntarily took it upon himself, actually. A couple of Joost's other friends joined us, the ones who were in the city anyway.

I chatted with Dylan for a while. He was occupied with his own music and would be playing his first show in 2 days, I hadn't seen him in a hot second.

The guitarist blustered: "Yeah it's extremely nerve-wracking but I've played so many shows with Joost, I hope it'll come naturally."
"I'm sure it will!", I reassured him,"I still get nervous before every show, no matter how many times I've done it. As soon as you're up there it goes away." He nodded understandingly.

Our conversation carried on until I excused myself for a smoke. The balcony door was already open, allowing me to slip through.

Joost talked to Bram and Indy with a cigarette in between his index and middle fingers. His face was covered by a black balaclava. There was no purpose for it other than looking cool but it did something to me.

His eyes inspected my appearance as I tumbled over to them. He didn't stop the talk he was having, listening intently to what Bram was saying. Joost dipped his cigarette into the nearest ash tray and left it there to burn out. I stretched out to his wife beater and got closer. His hands clung to my hips. There was no eye contact on his side. I whipped out a cigarette from my packet and lit it while looking the other way.

Indy read the situation carefully and requested Bram to prepare him some sort of drink he gushed over all the time. Their steps were drowned out by the loud music coming from inside the building. We were alone.

I could feel Joost's eyes on my side profile. I knew if I glanced up, I'd fold in a second. So I decided on having some fun with it. I pretended to have my focus on something else, hooking my fingers under the hem of his top, not much but enough to make him question life. Joost evidently tensed and dug his fingers into my skin. I took another drag. My gaze averted to the floor. On purpose, I adjusted against his hips while running my free hand through my hair.

"Liefje."

I hummed, still not giving in.

His hand on my chin forced me to peer up and my eyes automatically stared back into his. The balaclava hid most of his facial expression, leaving his eyes as my last resort to read him.

The ocean I always discerned in them was rough and dark. The desire was not hard to grasp, even without seeing the rest of his face.

I tugged at the fabric of his mask: "I like this."
"You do?"
I nodded, smiling at his low, perky voice.
"Makes you look hot", I winked and stepped away to head back inside.

Although I didn't get very far. Joost reached for my waist and pulled me back to his chest. His eyes had gone darker than before.

My eyebrows raised in question. He leaned in, rushing to crush his lips onto mine. My arms crossed behind his neck and deepened the kiss. His tongue swiped against my lower lip, asking for entry which I gave him gladly. Joost got increasingly hasty until I broke away.

"Baby, please don't do this", he begged me to carry on with our make out session.
I smirked facetiously: "You'll have to be patient, love. The night just began." Joost groaned as I entered Aggu's apartment again.

——
A/N
minoooor cliffhanger because it's fun to do it xx