#mooney's

I can picture those two oh so easily making this posh consideration, especially Joe - I must tell the truth, first book inspired me-

Moving the first step towards @flufftober :

Joe x reader ofcc :: second part to "imagine meeting a cute guy at Anavrin "

Before

Joe's pov

Y/n, this is why you're not for me.

[BELLS TINKLING in Mooney's]

Once upon a time, I believed in love.

Sure, I'd been hurt before, but I'd learned from that, and I wanted to fight for a fresh start.

The real thing this time.

So, boy meets girl, boy knows this is something special, and he thinks, "Let me do everything I can to make this right".

So, I did.

I was brave.

I was vulnerable.

I won her the old-fashioned way.

I tried to do everything right for her.

I knew you have to do anything for love.

So I did. I did whatever I had to, whatever it took.

"I love you, Joe." Beck said.

"I love you too." ....

"I heard about you and Candace."

But Beck she did not trust me.

So she started asking questions about the past.

"Candace? I think they dated."

But I can't say I was shocked when it didn't work out. "Who's Elijah? I ask Candace.

"Give me my phone, Joe."

"He's not your brother, I know that."

"I don't love you. I never have."

She started digging for stuff that should have stayed buried.

I picked wrong. I made mistakes.

[GLASS BREAKS.]

- Love had made me blind.

And now - love turned to poison.

BECK:"Tell me I'm crazy. Tell me you didn't kill Peach." She sobs. "Tell me you didn't kill Peach."

And when love dies, it really hurts.

- The bottom line is

she couldn't love me back.

[BECK SCREAMS.]

And our love died.

I thought that was the end.

A sad story.

A broken heart I'd have to heal from to love again.

But no, there was more hurt in store.

Candace.

"I think we have some unfinished business to talk about."she says.

"Yeah."

And so I realize this is what I get for trying so hard.

I can't love again.

I can't risk it.

It's too dangerous. The only fresh start is a start without love.

This is what it's come to.

I'm a troubled man changed by the things I do. True, but it's funny how Love has taken me to dark places. But Los Angeles has gotta be as dark as it gets. When you're running from someone who thinks they know you, the best place to hide is a city they think you hate because, well, I do.

I'm closing my heart, like an out-of-business bookstore, and I'm here for the moment where everyone is too into themselves to ever connect with another person. It's the worst city in the world and the last place I wanna be, and that's perfect.

It's temporary.

Regroup, get some cash together, figure out next moves, go. Never look back.

It's a chance to get back to who I really am: - a quiet guy, who just wants to lead a quiet life. I've done time in uglier cages.

Do not fixate on any one person.

Later ~~

Hello you.

No, fuck, no, I'm not doing that.

I'm not gonna try to figure out who you are, why you look so concerned about the state of that heirloom tomato.

Now

I see you working at the kitchen. You look so hot I could just "uhh" you moan "that feels good joe say my name." I fantasize us having sex.

What's wrong with me? I don't do this.

Not anymore.

I don't fantasize to some impossible version of a woman I barely know.

It's not good. No.

It's hard to have a fresh start, y/n when the past is on your mind.

~~~

"Hi, I need a driver's license."

" ID and proof of residence? "

"Yep, it's all there." She types for what seems forever.

"Is everything okay?" I ask.

" Slow system."

Some woman in the back yells "that is completely unacceptable."

MAN: "Ma'am, come up to the window, please."

"Just wait, I'll fix this."

I know that voice.

"Sir? This woman has an appointment.

Just like I just had an appointment.

You just helped me five seconds ago."

What are the chances?

"she has to come back with somebody that can speak whatever she speaks."

"Arabic? I mean, it's pretty common."

"Excuse me, does anybody speak Arabic? - Anyone?"

" I can."

"Thank you, sir, please."

"Nobody's gonna skip you, right? Thank you, everyone. See? Someone who can help. Wasn't that hard to ask."

"Some people, huh? Okay, this is all in order. You'll step over there to take the written test." The lady says handing me my papers.

"Okay, thank you." I say to her & smile.

"Will." You say as you walk towards me.

"Kismet, right? I mean, what are the chances? I don't always cause a scene. "I promise." you laugh and it's cute.

"That was pretty impressive."

"Good, because I actually frequently do cause a scene."

"Well, I have to take this test."

"Well, you got this. Here. For luck." you kissed my cheek. What was that???. I'm in heaven. You walked away out of my sight.

EMPLOYEE: "Next in line, please step forward."

Are you really who you seem to be? Could anyone be that light and fearless? You know, I didn't because I promised myself I wouldn't, but now it would be weird not to, right? You're kidding me.

Are you the only woman in Los Angeles not showing off for strangers? Speaks well of you, but does make it trickier.

Unfortunately, I know exactly what I need to do.

~~~ your pov