i've been making a ton of manips of maia reficco and joel lately. i've made like four but it feels like a lot lol

• vanessa •
two weeks later

vanessa: hey, is everything okay between us? if you're busy, I understand, but completely ignoring me isn't fine.

joel: it's not intentional, i'm sorry.

joel: we've been really busy with the re-recordings for the new album.

vanessa: is that all?

joel: is there another reason why i would unintentionally ignore you?

vanessa: no, we haven't talked since brandon was in the hospital. tatiana said you came with her but you never came by. And then you never answered my texts or calls. Did I do something?

joel: you didn't do anything, babe. I just thought it wasn't my place to see Brandon in the hospital, and the boys had gotten a message from our management and we had to meet with them.

joel: it's been a really busy week

vanessa: i'm—

"Oh my god, I sound so clingy," I sighed as I erased the message. I stared at the screen thinking of how to respond without sounding so clingy.

vanessa: i'm sorry, I haven't seen or talked to you in weeks. maybe you can call me whenever you have a break?

joel: yeah, sure

"You look horrible." I looked up from my phone and saw Tatiana. "You okay?" I nodded. "Are you lying?" I nodded again.

"I feel like Joel's lying to me," I answered. "And I'd rather not confront him because what if I'm just making it up?"

"What did he say?"

"They're re-recording the album, which I know is true because I see their posts," I explained. "But there has to be another reason why he left the hospital that night."

"Well, what do you think the reason is?" Tatiana questioned. "He left rather quickly. I left him and when I came back, he should've been in the room with you and Tones."

I looked at Tatiana. "When you walked up to the room, did you hear what Antonio and I were talking about?"

"Yeah, something about how cool Brandon is despite having two uncool parents," Tatiana teased. Oh my god, Joel must've heard the conversation Antonio and I had.

"Oh no," I frowned. "Tati, I'm going to tell you something, but I need you to promise me that you won't say anything. Pinky promise," I held my pinky out. She hesitated but wrapped her pinky around mine. "Antonio and I were alone, and he admitted he still has feelings for me. He broke up with Juliana and wants to get back together. And if you heard our conversation before you came in, Joel must've heard that conversation and left."

"What?"

"You heard me," I responded, not wanting to repeat myself again. "What if he heard it? He hasn't brought it up, but then again he's been ignoring me for the past two weeks."

"They have been busy," Tatiana stated. "But there's a big chance he heard what Antonio said. But, V, can I ask you a question? And as your best friend, I deserve an honest answer." I nodded. "Do you still have feelings for Antonio?"

Did I still have feelings for him? Yes. He was the one who instigated the break up, not me. "I think so— yes, I do."

"And Joel?"

"I really like him," I answered. "There's something in between us that I haven't felt before. I don't know what it is, but I think it's a good thing." It is a good thing, I'm sure of it.

Tatiana stayed silent, I knew she was thinking before she spoke again. She always spoke before thinking, but when she didn't I knew it was important to her. And she always gives her best advice after (even though she's always giving the best advice.)

"Tati?"

"Do you love Antonio?"

"I do," I responded. "I'm not sure if it's the same way I did before or not." I loved Antonio since we were kids, first it was like a friend, then like a boyfriend. Now, I wasn't sure.

"You said you really liked Joel. How much do you really like him?" Tatiana asked. "Do you love him?"

"I— we haven't said it to—"

"I didn't ask if you had said it, do you love him?"

"I— he makes me really happy, and these past two weeks sucked because we haven't talked and I never wanted to be this clingy girlfriend because I know eventually he'll be going to other countries and be gone for weeks. I do care about him and I really want to—"

"Answer the question and stop deflecting it, V. Do you love Joel?"

"Yeah, I think I do."

"And what was your first thought when Antonio told you how he felt?" Tatiana questioned.

"I panicked," I answered. "Maybe months ago I would've been happy or excited, but when he told me now I was neither. I know Antonio will always be in my life because of Brandon, but I really want to see what Joel and I can be. If we can make it, and if not, I'll have Antonio."

"Okay, picture this: you and Antonio never had Brandon and you two are just exes. Would you still want to be together?"

"Tati, you know how it was when Antonio and I were dating, we were amazing. We were young, and most young relationships don't last but Tones and I were different, I knew that. But that scenario won't work because we have Brandon."

"Okay, I understand. You want a happy family for him, B deserves it. But, what would happen in the future when you and Tones decide to break up again. Brandon is getting older and understanding more and more. I know it's your life and your feelings but think of Brandon's life and his feelings. But whatever you decide, just know I will always have your back."

• tatiana •

I love Vanessa, I really do. But sometimes she can be overthinking and indecisive when she had already had her mind made up (whether or not she knows it.) But I knew she had her mind and heart set on the same person, and I knew someone would get hurt.

"You know Yashua isn't here, right?" Richard questioned, letting me into his apartment.

"I know where he lives, if I wanted to see him I would be over there," I responded. "But we need to talk, and we need to be completely honest because I need to let Vanessa the truth before she makes a decision."

"A decision? What happened?"

I sighed, "I promised her I wouldn't say anything to anyone, but you're not anyone. Okay, I'm not going to dive into the entire story, but long story short, V's ex confessed he still has feelings for her and she believes Joel heard their conversation when he came with me to the hospital. I just need to know if he mentioned anything from that night."

"He didn't mention any of that," Richard responded. "Wait, when he came back that night he didn't talk to anyone, but he eventually did."

"What did he say?"

"He mentioned Vanessa's mother—"

"That bitch," I interrupted. Richard's eyed widened. "I mean— No, that's right. That bitch. I already know what she did."

In the few years I've known Vanessa's mother, she was everything but nice. She was always obsessed with Vanessa and her relationship with Antonio. Once they announced they were dating, it was like a dream come true. Except she started hating me because I was their friend, and she hated that I was also close with Antonio. She just wanted Vanessa to have the perfect life, and she had planned out Vanessa's entire life. And it always ended with Vanessa and Antonio, together.

"I see the gears in your head turning fast," Richard joked. "Kind of scares me."

"Where's Joel now?"

"Why?"

"Because I need to know what that woman told him before I tell Vanessa what I think she might've told him. She needs to know the real reason why Joel might've been ignoring her and it's not because he overheard her ex-boyfriend telling her how he still loves her," I rambled.

"Her ex said what?"

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dun dun dun

just kidding

🤪

keep reading

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My eyes widened as I recognized the voice, I turned around and saw Joel standing in the doorway. "Joel, it's not what it seems like. Wait, it is, but she—"

"I didn't hear their conversation," Joel admitted. "If that's what you wanted to know. And I didn't mean to ignore her, the past couple weeks have been a blur from the studio and here."

I paused thinking of my next words. Joel didn't need to know about Vanessa's indecisiveness, or that she was thinking of her future with either him or Antonio. "You left the hospital when I was at the cafeteria. Vanessa said you didn't go by, and Richard mentioned that her mother talked to you that night. And I know how that woman can be towards others."

"Oh," Joel mumbled something inaudible. "I don't think I want to—"

"Once she told me I was a slut because I was close to both Vanessa and Tones. And that I needed to leave them alone because the two of them were going to get married and have kids, and they didn't need someone like me in their lives," I interrupted, knowing it must've been something within those lines she told Joel. "I never told Vanessa, but I know how she feels about her mother. Vanessa only let her in because of Isabella. So if her mother said anything to you, can you tell me?"

Joel hesitated, then sighed. "She told me that whatever Vanessa and I have wasn't anything compared to what she and Brandon's dad had. And that they were a family, and I will never be Brandon's dad. That Vanessa deserves to be happy and that Brandon and his dad will make her happy."

"Joel, have you been ignoring Vanessa even though you told me and her that you didn't mean to? Like you know you could've sent her a simple text saying you were busy at the studio a week ago, but you didn't because you listened to the one person who doesn't care about V?"

"I didn't mean to ignore her, I just— I just thought maybe if I did, she'd maybe realize—"

"Realize what? Joel, you make her happy! I don't think I've ever seen her this happy since I've met her," I huffed. "Screw what that woman told you. Brandon likes you, Vanessa likes you. And sure you're not his dad, but stepdads are just the same."

"I—" Joel stammered.

"You make my best friend happy, and she feels strongly for you. And I can see you feel the same way. I think you should tell her how you exactly feel," I told Joel.

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okay, now it's the end of the chapter

i tried to update for christmas, but got busy. hehe

thoughts?

I added tatiana's pov because why not?

um, I don't really have an author's note because I wanted to publish this part before i go to sleep and its like 10 minutes until midnight.

ALSO THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS STORY #1 IN JOEL PIMENTEL. I FOUND THIS OUT ON CHRISTMAS AND STARTED CRYING BC I WAS SO EXCITED AND PROUD THANK YOU SO MUCH! I LOVE YOU!