Cup of Joe | A Joe Jonas Fanfiction

c h a p t e r t w e n t y o n e.

"Is that everything?"

Winter turned over her shoulder at the sound of Joe's voice and allowed her suitcases to rest against the frame of the door. Her sapphire gaze scanned the length the penthouse, her mind actively glazing over the details to help ease the parting blow. The modern styled penthouse suite had lost its frigid welcome and settled into a comfortable, inviting place in her heart. A home. It was within these windows and walls that she had discovered more about herself, her aspirations, and her own strength than she ever had in her previous 26 years. She first stepped through the door battered and belittled and she now she was leaving the same threshold as grateful and confident and in a fast paced relationship with her childhood celebrity crush.

"That's everything." Her response was made in a nostalgic tone. "Hey, Joe?"

Hands in his pockets, Joe snapped his head up, his hair tossing around at the sudden movement. "Yeah?"

"I just wanted to say thanks for, you know, everything. These past two weeks have felt like a dream that I never want to wake up from. But there's one thing I need to know. You welcomed me into this place like an old friend when I was a complete stranger. You're a celebrity."

"And?" Joe raised one eyebrow.

"I guess I just figured that there would be more protocols? More security? More suspicion about me or my motives? You seemed to just...trust me." Winter admitted as her hands lightly tapped against her legs.

There was the sound of laughter under his breath. "You never cease to amaze me, Winter. Of course there are times for security and safety measures, but I never had a reason to think that you had any malicious intentions. I told you before, you were different. Authentic and real and open. That day in the coffee shop, you treated me like a normal person and I had fully expected to be asked for selfies or whatnot."

Winter rolled her eyes and scoffed. "You wish."

Joe's expression faltered. For a split second, a look of sadness flashed in his eyes while his lips turned downwards into a half frown. "You saw past Joe Jonas and saw...me. I'm going to miss the hell out of you."

His emotional response warranted a hug that nearly knocked them both off of their feet. Winter closed her eyes. Warmness crept through her body as she inhaled the familiar sweet scent of his cologne and as she marveled at the sense of belonging she felt while she was in his arms. It was love. In her mind, Winter no longer fought the notion that they were moving too fast. All that mattered was that the emotion shared between them was strong and real.

"Time to catch a plane." She sighed.

Beside her, Joe gave a slow nod and grabbed her suitcases. Winter got one last glance at the penthouse before the door closed. It was still decorated for Christmas - they hadn't taken anything down. She blinked with fondness. The memories were pure and comforting. As the door clicked shut, so did that chapter of her life.

The car ride to the airport was painful. The silence in the vehicle felt forced, which made little sense considering that this was the last time all three of them would be together. Roscoe gripped the steering wheel with excess force to the point where his knuckles turned white with the pressure. Joe had his head propped in his hand and leaned against the car window, a distant look on his face. Alone with her thoughts, she played with her hands in her lap to distract herself from the unbearable heaviness in the air.

The airport was swarming with thousands and thousands of  people with their own agendas and plans. At the curbside, Roscoe opened the door for her and Joe remained seated. Winter stared at him questioningly.

"I'm not coming in." Joe spoke in a voice that was barely more than a whisper.

Winter was taken aback. "Why not?"