He Prefers Her (thatcherjoe)

09

[enjoy the wet shirtless Joe gif ;)]

It Isn't Over – Chapter 9

Amanda Scott

Joe held the coffee mug in his hand, twisting it right and left on the oak table of the cosy booth we were seated at. Since Joe had asked me to come out and meet him here, we hadn't said a word to each other. I sighed and twirled the straw of the hot chocolate I ordered, that was topped with an immense amount of whipped cream.

From the way Joe was speaking to me on the phone previously – melancholy, timidly, hushed – I could tell that I'd need the extra carbs.

"Mands," Joe's voice rung in my ears, replacing the silence, as his gaze finally settled on me.

"What's up Joe?" I said, leaning my chin on my hand, which was propped by my elbow on the tabletop.

"I have something to tell you, and it's not because I don't like you, because I do – my god do I – but this needs to be done," Joe sighed and took a sip of his steaming coffee, before placing it down on the table.

"We can't see each other anymore," he blandly stated, and I nodded, my shoulders slouching.

"What happened?" I asked, quietly, I didn't want him to think I was too upset over it.

"At the club, those few nights ago, I slept with Rowena. We were in my apartment, and I woke – beside her – and I was so confused and angry with myself. I didn't know what to do, but she was so torn and – fuck, I couldn't take her virginity and just leave her," Joe explained, and my mouth hung open slightly in shock.

After I saw them making out in that booth, I should've known it was going to be taken further.

"So, uh, I'm taking her out on a date tomorrow night, just to the movies because she really wants to see that new rom-com and I- I'm just really sorry," Joe finished, his whole speech going in one ear and coming out the next.

I nodded solemnly and got up to leave, grabbing my cardigan and slipping it on. Joe got up quickly and took my hand, pulling me into him. His lips attached themselves to mine hastily, kissing me before pulling away and breathing out in aspiration.

"Amanda Scott, whatever we had, it isn't over,"

+

Joe's words stuck in my mind the whole way home on the bus, not even the music playing in my ears taking away the distraction. In fact, Already Gone by Kelly Clarkson wasn't helping my case at all.

When I'd made it to Rowena's apartment building, I felt sick to my stomach, like I couldn't face her. But being the bigger person, I pushed open the front doors and ventured through the lobby to the elevator. I took a quick ride to the tenth floor, the doors opening quicker than I thought, forcing me to step foot on the carpeted corridor. I ventured down the corridor, until I saw Rowena's apartment door, and slid the house key she lent me out of my pocket.

I unlocked the door and stepped inside, taking a deep breath and shutting the door behind me. I heard TV ads blaring from the living room, and I sighed, walking towards the noise. Rowena was seated on the couch scrolling through her phone, a bowl of spaghetti in her left hand. I watched her silently as I hung my coat on the hook, and coughed loudly to get her attention.

She looked up at me suddenly and I smiled softly, approaching her and sitting down next to her. She looked at me awkwardly, because I knew she could tell that I knew her and Joe were together now.

"Rowena I just-"

"I know what you're going to say, and I don't want to hear it," she spoke harshly, her attention turning away from me and facing the TV.

I sucked in a deep breath, because Rowena being moody and snappy is not making my day any better.

"Rowena, I just wanted to ask if you had any left over spaghetti, I'm starving."

She glanced at me and nodded slowly, jutting her head in the direction of the kitchen. I thanked her and got up, walking into the kitchen and seeing the steaming pot of spaghetti still on the cooktop, without the fire.

I grabbed the serving spoon and a silicon bowl, before putting some spaghetti into it. I went over to the drawer on the other side of the kitchen to retrieve a fork when I saw a white paper bag, like the ones they were giving out at the café yesterday. The crumbs of a brownie were upon it, along with back scribbly writing.

I stabbed my spaghetti with the fork and picked up the paper bag, reading the message on it.

'I know how much you like these, so I decided to buy you one, just for you, my favourite girl.'

I put down the bag and let out a big sigh, a lump forming in my throat. I guess Joe and I weren't meant to be.

edited.

words: 852