...And Beyond... | To Infinity... Book Two [ON HOLD]

Chapter 16: Making Up Part I

Sunday August 23, 2021 - Sydney, Australia

Joe POV

8:00 PM

Do you know what it's like to fly out from Mississippi all the way to Sydney with your ex-girlfriend that you're still in love with ignoring you the whole time and you both flew on the same plane? Spoiler alert: it's awful. I don't know what's miffed her off this time, but she's legit not talking to me. I'm tired of this roller coaster ride; I want off of it and I'm dragging her angry ass off with me even if it kills me.

Walking with a purpose, I scan her hotel floor for any sight of her after she didn't answer the door. She might've just ignored me, but I had a feeling that she wasn't even in there. Having now found myself on two floors above hers, I see her and Elias chatting and giggling, ke-ke-ke-ha-ha, whatever. I approach them and Desi rolls her eyes extra hard as I stand with them.

"Roll them any harder and they might fall out." I say crossing my arms.
"Fuck off, Joe." She growls.
"Nah, you're little crutch needs to fuck off, we need to talk."
"Um, El isn't goin' anywhere and there's nothing to talk about."
"Yes there is. I need to know why you've been so damn cold to me recently. Like, what the fuck did I do this time?"
"Oh, don't play stupid, man, you know what you—" Elias starts.
"Did I ask for your input, peanut gallery? Didn't think so, now beat it." I say never taking my eyes away from Desi's.

"I ain't goin' no where old—"
"El, please, just go. I'll catch up with you later." Desi says quietly and Elias finally leaves us alone.
"What do you want, Joseph?"
"An explanation."
"For?"
"Why you're not talking to me."
"You're full of shit, I don't have anymore time to waste on this."
"Uh-uh, you're gonna give me some answers. We were doing fine up until the trip to Italy, making good progress, and now you're just tryna drop me for good? The Hell is wrong with you?"
"Me? The Hell's wrong with me? Fine, here's what's wrong with me: you and your constant lying. Right when I think we're about to have a breakthrough, you do some shit that fucks it up! All I've ever done was love you!"
"And I haven't loved you, Desi? Really?!"

"Please, you never loved me, just the idea of me, otherwise you wouldn't keep lying to me and fuckin' around!"
"Fuckin' around? Who the fuck is fuckin' around?!"
"YOU! YOU ARE! I CAUGHT YOU! YOU SAID I WAS THE ONLY ONE FOR YOU, THAT YOU'D WAIT FOR THINGS TO COOL DOWN, FOR US TO REBUILD, AND YOU JUST KEEP GOING BACK ON YOUR PROMISES! I'M DONE WITH IT AND I'M DONE WITH YOU!"

She pushes past me to walk back to the elevators, but I grab her.

"Whoa, wait! You think I'm fuckin' around? Why would I do that?"
"I dunno, probably because you're a selfish prick that only cares about himself? That and the fact that you can't keep a fucking secret."
"What secret??!"
"YOU'RE FUCKING SUMMER! THAT SECRET!"
"WHERE THE FUCK DID YOU GET THAT FROM??!"
"Doesn't matter now does it? All that matters is that I know, asshole; have a nice life with your downgrade Starbucks vanilla latte. Was nice knowin' ya."

She flips me off and walks off, leaving me dazed and confused.

What. The. Actual. Fuck?

*~*~*~*
Thursday September 23, 2021 - Interstate 75

Desi POV

4:15 PM

Lenni and I are about two and a half hours outside of Jacksonville, having decided to leave Atlanta before most of the roster did. Save for a few sing alongs, we've been quiet and she's taken notice...and now she's questioning me about my mood...great.