deep love | 1

meeting leia

J's pov

I look at Joe, who's staring at me like I'm some kind of unknown species of dinosaur. His brown eyes focus on mine. Kevin and Danielle are standing silently behind me, waiting for me to do something. 

"So, um, you're probably wondering why I'm in your house right now, but I just wanted to tell you that I thought about it and, um I actually..." I pause and look down at my feet. I have no idea how to continue. Are we still dating? I mean technically, we never broke up. How do I even phrase this? Kev, who's standing right behind me, nudges me to continue talking. Joe hasn't said a word yet, but I feel his eyes staring right at me even though I'm looking at the ground. 

Joe's pov 

J's gonna dump me. The one girl I love with all my heart is gonna break up with me. I was right, I don't deserve her. And now she's here to tell me it's official. 

My palms feel sweaty and when she stops talking for a while, I actually feel numb. She's trying to phrase it nicely. Kev nudges her and then I finally get it- Kev and Danielle were in on it the whole time. So they didn't actually want to see my room, it was just a setup.

Finally, she sighs and looks up. "Joe..." 

I can't take it anymore. I can feel tears stinging my eyes. "I know you're here to break up with me, I was right when I said we should just be friends, huh? And I'll say it for the thousandth time, I'm sorry for what happened on the cliff and I can understand why you don't trust me anymore. If this is what you want... then I'm happy to let you go. As long as you're happy... I'm happy." 

I feel the tears welling up in my eyes but I refuse to let them fall. I'm not gonna cry again, not over this. She just stands there, staring at me with her mouth wide open. Kev and Dani mirror her expression. Before they can try to say anything else, I push past them and race out the door. 

"Joe! Joseph!" I hear them call as I run down the stairs.

 I suddenly hear Nick's voice, and I stop and turn around. All four of them are there, Nick is flushed and still holding a video camera. Wow. They planned for the breakup and asked Nick to record it. I turn back around and rush for the door. I throw it open and then I'm running as fast as I can. 

I don't know where I'm running to, and I don't care. It's autumn, and the chilly wind stings my cheeks. Finally, I let the tears run down my cheeks and I wipe away the tears as I run. I can't believe I'm running from my own girlfriend and family. Well, now my ex-girlfriend. 

Ten minutes later I find myself at the community park. I'm basically sobbing as I go over to one of the benches in the empty park and sit down. It's cold outside, and there isn't a single person in sight. I shiver as I bury my face in my hands. There's no way I'm going back to my house. Tears are still running down my cheeks as I stare at the greenery. The leaves are pretty, red and orange and yellow. I briefly wonder if I'm going to spend the night here. I start to think of all the possible places I could spend the night- mom and dad's house... too far. I'd have to go back and get my car. 

My thoughts are interrupted when I catch a whiff of familiar perfume. It's the perfume J always wears. Is she here?  I slouch further down on the bench, but then I almost laugh. It's not like she wouldn't see me anyway. I crane my neck to see who it actually is and I'm taken by surprise. It's not J. It's her sister, Leia. Shoot. I quickly brush the tears off my face and stare at the ground, hoping she walks past me and doesn't see me. 

But of course that doesn't happen. 

I see her eyes widen a little when she realises who it is from a far. "Hey Joe!" Leia says, smiling as her dimples deepen. "Aren't you with J?" It's like her name alone can trigger a waterfall of tears. I start crying. Again. But this time I don't even try to stop the tears, I just shrug sadly and look at Leia. "No... I mean... we kinda broke up." Leia's mouth falls open, but I don't blame her. It's a lot to take in.