Note:First of all, I just want to say that this is not a slam toward Joe's wife. I simply just couldn't come up with a good name and I didn't want to say "Joe's/his girlfriend" throughout the entirety of the story. Thank you all for continuing to read my garbage writing. I am still working on a prompt and AU list, so there's that (if anyone cares). And I hope that you all are staying safe and clean and healthy. Slightly edited. Sorry for any mistakes.
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As the sun begins to lower behind the mountains in the distance, Joe and Aaliyah try to outrun the rain. They bend their heads down and Aaliyah places the hood of her jacket over her head, yet the downpour doesn't ease. Puddles were already forming in the dense spots of Joe's yard and the rocky pathway to his porch was slippery, but the two made it safely into the house.
"I'm gonna go get us a change of clothes," Joe said while placing his keys into the bowl that sat in the middle of the table beside the front door. "Galina should have something for you to change into. I'll be right back."
And with that, Joe stepped through the rooms of his house with ease while leaving a thin trail of water behind him. Aaliyah walked through the living room and into the kitchen where she opened the refrigerator door. She grabbed one of the cold water bottles from the shelf and closed the fridge before stepping near the counter. Before she could even swallow what was in her mouth, Joe's voice boomed through the house so loud that it made Aaliyah jump, knocking some of the liquid from the bottle out onto the countertop.
"I can't fucking believe this!" Joe yelled. Aaliyah knew it was Joe's business and not hers yet she couldn't stop herself from investigating. Coming to the main bedroom where Joe and Galina slept, the door was wide open and a man that Aaliyah didn't know rushed past her.
"Joe- listen to me- stop, please!" Galina yelled. Aaliyah peeked her head through the door to find Galina chasing Joe around the room as he quickly packed a couple of bags. "Joe-"
"No, Galina. I've heard your excuses for too long and they're all bullshit. Again. You do this to me again. After time and time again you promised you'd change. ...Why am I not enough for you?" Joe asked, his eyes burning with pathetic tears.
"This has nothing to do with your worth. I just-"
"What, Galina? You just what?"
Galina didn't say anything. Instead, she lifted her head to find Aaliyah eavesdropping in on her and Joe's problems.
"Of course you're here," Galina scoffed. "Don't you have your own life to live? Or is inviting yourself into other peoples' problems a hobby of yours? This is none of your business, so leave."
