I kick my shoes along the grey cement pavement, as I lean against my building. Waiting impatiently for Joe to show up.
I got ready as quickly as I could, far too excited to see someone I'd seen less than 24 hours ago.
I pull at my blue summer dress. Even with a jacket, it was colder than I had expected it to be and I was beginning to regret my choice. Being around Joe though, made me warm. I smiled thinking about it.
Why am I being so fidgety and unsure? I can't be nervous can I? I know how he feels about me now. Things are finally going in a good direction.
Maybe I'm just scared of new things. Maybe this is why it took someone pulling me out of my comfort zone to actually spend time with and get to know people.
Just as I begin considering going back upstairs to change, I hear Joes car pull up in front of the building.
I look up at the red car with a smile, to see Joe smiling back.
I could get used to seeing him look at me like that.
I walked over to the passenger side of his car, leaning with my hands on the roof, I ducked my head down to talk to him through the window.
"Fancy seeing you here," I tell him in a cheeky tone.
"Get in," Joe laughed, shaking his head.
I pull the door handle, thankful that it opens first time and slide into the car.
"So, Cafe 98?" I ask him with a smile, remembering the times before, when we used to hang out there. Before we knew how each other felt.
Joe nodded, a knowing smile growing on his face.
"Let's do it," He said as he started driving away.
*****
As we walk into the cafe, I scan the room for a good table. I found the perfect one in a corner, where people wouldn't see us right away.
It didn't happen often here, but sometimes people would recognise Joe and it made the atmosphere awkward.
Joe was always super polite to fans, but he felt like he couldn't relax when they came up to him. Like he was at work.
I was thankful I could still appreciate my anonymity for a while longer, before the trailers for our season get released at least.
As I sit down in my chair, Joe slides into the one opposite me and gives me a smirk.
"Want me to order for you?" He asked me, tongue in his cheek.
I shook my head.
"Actually I'm ordering something different this time," I answer him smugly.
"I'll order for you though," I tell him.
I get up to order. Joining the queue at the counter, waiting to order.
The blonde barista at the counter keeps stealing glances at Joe, and I know she recognises him.
When it is my turn to order, I walk up to the counter and smile sweetly at the barista. Her name badge has Sophie written on it with a smiley face. Cute.
"Hi! How can I help you today?" Sophie asks me cheerily.
I give her my order, then begin to turn away after paying, when she clears her throat.
"Excuse me?" She asks me.
I turn back to her, and see redness glowing in her cheeks.
"You came in with him?" She asks, pointing over to Joe.
"Who Aiden?" I ask innocently, turning to wave at Joe who is watching us.
"Yeah, he's my boyfriend! Why?" I ask her.
The colour drains from her face as she goes into shock. I almost feel bad for lying, but I don't want anyone bothering us.
"Oh, he just looks like someone else," She mumbled, turning away to make the chai lattes I had just ordered.
What? Not everything has to be new and different.
I walk back over to Joe, and sit down.
"So what did you get?" He asks me.
"You'll just have to wait and see," I tell him with a wink.
Joe chuckles, then looks at me with a wide grin.
"I'm glad we're doing this, Charlee," He tells me.
My heart skips a beat hearing him use my name.
"Me too," I say to him sweetly.
"Do you remember that day of the audition? When I grabbed you by the hand to pull you into the room?" He asks me suddenly, reaching his hand across the table.
As I reach out and hold his hand, I think back to that day. The surprising feeling of hot electricity when the skin of his hands touched mine. The way my stomach did flips, and my skin felt cold when he pulled his hand away.
My cheeks start to burn red at the memory, as I nod shyly.
"The way your hand felt in mine... It was incredible. I craved that feeling again after that day. I never quite let myself dream that we'd be doing this now," He told me.
I smile at him. I felt the same way after he touched my hand.
"I think that's when my crush on you started, after feeling your hand in mine," I admit.
Joe laughs and squeezes my hand.
"Mine started a lot earlier," He teases, as if he's winning something by liking me first.
"Oh I heard! Maya told me all about your pining" I tease him.
Joes jaw tenses and tightens. He swallows.
"Her death will be slow and painful," He says dramatically.
I laugh, and Joe laughs with me.
Sophie walks over with our lattes, before going back to get our food. She keeps look over at Joe with a curious expression on her eyes.
"Thought you were ordering something different?" Joe asks me, oblivious of the girl staring at him.
I let go of Joes hand, and wrap my fingers around the warm mug, letting out a contented sigh.
"Different food, can't fight the goodness of a chai latte," I inform him, inhaling the spices in the latte before taking a sip.
Joe nods and takes a drink of his too.
"You're right. It's good," He concedes.
We clear space for our food as we spot Sophie coming over with our plates. She stares right at Joe as she does this, and this time he notices.
"Are you okay?" Joe asks her.
"It's uncanny," She whispers.
Joe chokes on his latte a little, then looks to me confused.
"What?" He asks.
"Oh, she thinks you look like someone, Aiden," I tell him.
Joe raises an eyebrow at the use of a different name, but nods and plays along.
"Has anyone ever told you, you look like that Steve Harrington guy from Stranger Things?" Sophie asks him.
Joe shakes his head.
"Sorry, who?" He asks, a confused look on his face.
"Oh, never mind," She tells him.
Sophie blushes again, and walks away. I can hear her mumbling "So weird" under her breath.
When she's left back to the counter, Joe and I both start laughing.
"I feel bad lying to the girl, but I wanted a break from fans today," I tell him.
"Wanted me all to yourself, did you?" He asks with a smirk.
I look down and smile shyly as I blush.
"It's possible," I mumble.
I look at the food I ordered. Pancakes and bacon. I reach for the maple syrup and pour it all over both. Joe laughs at me.
"Do you ever eat anything NOT drenched in sugar?" He asks me.
"Not if I can help it," I smile at him, as I take a bite of my bacon.
"So, what are your plans after filming is done?" Joe asks me casually.
I bite my lip. I hadn't really thought too much about it. Other people had given me their thoughts on what I should do, but I wasn't ready to imagine my experience on the show being over.
"Robert thinks I should hire a proper agent, so I can audition for movies while I wait to hear if I'm in season 5," I tell Joe.
Joe nods as he eats.
"Well, you'll have to be in season 5. They can't take my love interest! But, yeah I agree with him, especially before the trailer is released. Once they see you in that you'll be getting calls from all over,"
I cock my eyebrow at him.
"You know something I don't, Keery?" I ask him.
He instinctively looks around to see if anyone heard me use his last name, thankfully Sophie and the rest of the cafe aren't paying too much attention to us now.
"I just know that every scene you've done so far is a showcase of your incredible talent, and every director will be begging you to audition for them," He says, complimenting me.
I blush as a smile rises on my face.
"Thank you," I say to him in a small voice. Not used to such a constant stream of compliments.
"You're always welcome," He says softly.
"Before you audition for anything though. We should take some time and go somewhere together. Maybe a road trip!" He says, getting excited at his own plans.
I laugh at his eagerness.
"You want to spend more time with me?" I ask him.
"I never want to stop," He informs me.
Once again, I am blushing. I look down at my plate, embarrassed of my reaction.
Joe reaches his hand back across the table, to grab mine. I look into his brown eyes as he looks into mine. It looks like he's searching for something.
"Are you finished here?" He asks me softly.
As soon as I nod to him yes, he pulls me up from the chair and drags me out of the cafe. Stopping once we're outside, away from the entrance way.
"Joe! What are you doing?" Worried about the urgency in which he dragged me from there.
Joe turns to me, looking into my eyes with a dark look. He looks down at my lips, then back at my eyes. My breath quickens, as he pushes me against the brick wall of the building.
"This," He whispers, before leaning in and kissing me.
———
(Authors note: Hi! I'm nearly finished 28, so I thought I would give you 27 tonight. I hope you like these cute little moments with just Joe and Charlee together.
Whenever I read a romance book, I always feel like they don't have enough of the cute coupley moments. But maybe that's just the fact I can't get enough of them!
Thank you to all the readers, comments and votes. This story has now surpassed my other one in tears, votes and comments!
This one is much longer though, but I like to think I'm improving with my story telling too. Thank you also, to everyone who adds this book to their library and lists, I am not sure how ranking works, but I suspect that's why I'm ranking number 1 in the Joe Keery and will they won't they tags. I also find some of the titles of your lists amusing, so like seeing when it's added.
I hope everyone is having a good week, and I will see you again on Sunday, or whatever day it is where ever you are! If you want to, tell me which country you're reading from?)