𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐇𝐄𝐑 | 𝘑𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘒𝘭𝘦𝘪𝘯

✰ 20 ✰

The moonlight flooded through the curtains which Evie had failed to close fully the evening before. She woke up panting, drenched in sweat. A nightmare had haunted her in her sleep.

Tossing and turning in her sheets for what felt like hours, she lifted her eyelids to an empty bed. The girl stared at the absence of her boyfriend, puzzled.

Maeve flung her legs out of the bed, flinching a little as her toes hit the cold wooden floor. With slow, trembly steps the tired girl made her way to Joost's kitchen.

Flicking on the light under the extractor and filling up a glass of water to ease her mind, she leaned against the counter. The cleanliness of the space displayed how little the pair cooked.

Maeve loved cooking, yet couldn't find the time to prepare a meal. The more she appreciated when she could. Other than the Dutch man who relied on takeout and her provisions.

Her mystification was composed by the slid-open door to the balcony, revealing a distant silhouette of Joost. He was facing the city and hadn't noticed her. Evie downed the drink in her hand and silently tapped towards the window.

Instantly, she started regretting not throwing something over her barely hidden body. The oversized shirt only covered her upper half, while her legs remained exposed.

"Hey", Maeve announced her presence softly, not wanting to scare Joost.

She knew something was not right. The overflowing ashtray of newly planted cigarettes spoke for itself. His chain-smoking mannerisms surfaced when he was drowning in anxiety and doubts.

He spun around with raised eyebrows, surprised to see his girlfriend wide awake in the middle of the night. Another cigarette was captivated between his fingers. The lingering smoke made Maeve's nose scrunch up slightly.

"Why are you up, liefje?", he tilted his head.

She shrugged it off: "Bad dream."

Joost hummed as he inhaled the fumes. He stepped into the faded light of the kitchen and embraced Evie, who still shuddered at the temperature difference. His body heat warmed her and immediately began to relax her.

"Are you okay?", she asked certainly, staring up at him,"Have you slept at all?"

When the blonde made eye contact with her, she found the bloodshot vessels surrounding his irises which hinted that Joost did not receive an ounce of sleep. He pursed his lips and shook his head while letting his gaze fall to the floor.

Maeve sighed sadly: "What's wrong?"

Joost stayed silent, not knowing what to say.

"Hey, baby. It's okay, you can tell me", she assured him as she lifted her lover's chin.

He broke away from Evie and went to lean on the railing. She was quick to join him.

If the situation wasn't worrisome, the girl would've admired his breathtaking side profile. She never missed the way his nose and lips were shaped perfectly. Maeve almost grew jealous of his facial features.

"I've just been thinking too much", Joost explained carefully,"About Eurovision and... life."

Once more, the Dutch man glanced at his partner. There was a look of restlessness and unease on his face. She returned a meaningful, encouraging expression.

"What if I'm not good enough? What if they hate my art and me? Am I too weird?"

"Joost, no. No to all of it. You are more than enough, they will love you. Don't get me started on how you are not even close to weird. You are authentic. Everyone who doesn't like it because you are you is simply ignorant", Maeve beat the insecurities out of his mind, almost cutting his thought process off.