Chapter Text
[I'm happy you found this! It's a slow burn where you meet Joost Klein and get to know him, falling in love. :) hope u enjoy]
In the stillness of the morning, May's cool air enveloped the city of Malmö, a clear blue sky above. Two friends walked side by side along the park path, skirting the newly sprouted blades of grass. They bore steaming cups of coffee in their hands, their breaths mingling with the vapors, white against blue.
(Y/N) spoke with a voice light as the breeze that kissed their cheeks. "I'm happy you're dragging me along."
Zara grinned. "Of course. I know you'll have a ton of fun once you're there."
Eurovision had never been a particular interest to (Y/N). She couldn't really care less. But Zara, on the other hand, was a small record producer, selling individual beats and working with small musicians. And she knew someone who knew someone, and voila; they had tickets to the whole thing, plus, tickets to whatever 'Euroclub' was, some sorta afters.
And (Y/N) liked to party. Zara too. So what could possibly go wrong?
As they continued along the path the sound of birds chirping echoed around them. The park was waking up slowly just like the rest of Malmö. (Y/N) took a sip of her coffee, savoring the warmth that spread through her chest.
"I guess I've never really given it a chance," She admitted. "But knowing us, it's bound to be interesting."
Zara chuckled. "That's the spirit! Plus, it's not just about the music. The energy, the people, the atmosphere-- it's infectious. You'll see."
"And, since we left that coffee shop I've seen a ton of bars. So if Eurovision's boring, you can find me somewhere there."
"Pfft. Yeah, if you get bored of all the famous people-- might feel like you don't fit in."
(Y/N) snorted sarcastically. "Girl, I'll tell them I'm Kate Moss' daughter or something."
"You don't look the slightest like-"
"I can tell them whatever cause I'll never meet them again. What're they gonna do, fact check me? Okay, yeah probably, but whatever. I'll say that my dad is the president or king of-"
"Don't you fucking dare."
"Imagine how fun that would be."
"I'd kill myself. I'd be so ashamed. Please, for the love of God, behave tonight."
(Y/N) giggled and gently elbowed her friend's side. "I'm kidding, Jesus."
The two of them were friends since middle school, basically grew up together, so they were very similar to one another and close like sisters. After going through some stores and trying on clothes they decided to have lunch and then head back to the hotel and get ready. Zara greeted some girl in the lobby without introducing (Y/N). She awkwardly stood next to her friend until they were done small-talking and continued up the elevator, taking turns in the shower while blasting music on their speaker.
"My mission these following days will be to find you a boyfriend." Zara said as she applied more blush to her cheeks.
"Oh, God." (Y/N) groaned back, concentrating on her lipliner. "I'll give you a 100 bucks and a kiss if you do."
"Wouldn't that be cheating if I found you a boyfriend?"
"Why would it be? You into me or something?" (Y/N) lifted an eyebrow to her friend in the mirror before the two burst out laughing. "Okay, 100 bucks, no gay stuff."
"You're in for a treat."
"And you're in for a... I don't-- for hard work? Hard work." She responded and they snorted again. (Y/N) was completely fine being on her own. She liked it. Zara often talked about boys, going on dates and trying to find the right one. That's something they didn't have in common.
Honestly, (Y/N) was kind of waiting to bump into someone. Maybe in a book store. No, wait, too nerdy. Maybe a record store. Making her drop the record in her hand, and they both reach down to pick it up, and their hands touch, and BOOM! Immediate connection, and they look into each others' eyes, and chemistry sparkles, and they exchange numbers and start hanging out, and falling in love, and--
"I still think you should get Hinge."
(Y/N) immediately frowned, glaring at her friend's reflection in the mirror. "You know I hate the feeling of knowing that there's a motive. Like, we're meeting up to see if we're compatible, that's the point. Either that or looking for hookups. No, I want to hang out with someone and get to know them without feeling pressured. Connect and become best friends."
Zara sighed. "And how will you do that?"
"I don't know. Through work? Or when we head off to study abroad? Or in a bar?"
The two continued to sing along to the music and finished the final touches to their appearances and they made their way to the Malmö Arena, the heart of the Eurovision festivities. Now, in the evening, the city was really buzzing with people. The arena was a hive of activity, with fans milling about, dressed in party outfits and costumes and waving flags. The air was electric, filled with snippets of music and laughter and the sheer enthusiasm of the crowd.
Inside, the buzz was even more intense. They were led through a maze of corridors eventually arriving at a bustling backstage area. Zara's contact, Marcus, greeted them with a wide smile.
"Zara, babes! Good to see you," he said, giving her a hug. "And you must be (Y/N). Girl, I absolutely love the outfit! You're so pretty, wow. Ready for the full Eurovision experience?"
(Y/N) nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. "Aww, thank you! And yeah, absolutely."
Marcus led them through the backstage area, introducing them to various performers and crew members. Everyone was friendly.
Finally, the fun part. The afters. Euroclub would be open until 5AM.
The interior was a kaleidoscope of colors—flashing lights, glittering decorations, and a sea of people. Everywhere (Y/N) looked, there were groups of people laughing, dancing, and celebrating. The sense of community was overwhelming. It was a weird sense being there, among 'important' people, being introduced and chatting with them like old time friends. Being flirted with, even asked out on a date sometime this week. Every time (Y/N) rejected these attempts, Zara would roll her eyes.
They found themselves out on the dance floor moving to the sound of some 2000's song that the DJ was playing when (Y/N) sipped on the beer in her hand and said, "Alright, I'm gonna step out for a smoke."
"You do that. I'll find that cutie with the big brown eyes again." Zara replied.
"Good luck. See ya." When the two parted, (Y/N) quickly realized that she had no idea where to head. The neon lights flickered over the moving bodies around her and she squinted her eyes. "Zara-..." She was gone. Okay. Well, let's just... go somewhere. (Y/N) weaved her way through the throng of dancers but it was just as crowded everywhere. Okay. Breathe. This way. Maybe.
She pushed through to where she saw a doorway and was about to turn the corner when someone stumbled out, colliding into her, causing her to drop her (luckily plastic) glass of beer. She yelped, nose against someone's chest, someone's hands on her shoulders to catch her.
(Y/N) regained balance and pushed herself off this someone's chest, confusedly blinking and looking up to see a tall guy looking back down at her through black sunglasses. "Whoa, sorry!" She exclaimed.
"No, no, no, I'm sorry." The guy quickly excused as his hands let go off her shoulders. "Are you alright?" He had a strong accent, but (Y/N) couldn't pinpoint from where.
"Uhh, yeah. Are you?" (Y/N) nodded, casting a glance down at their feet where the spilled drink lied melancholic.
The guy followed her gaze. "Ohhh." He sighed. "I'm so sorry. I'll get you a new one."
"No, no, it's all fine. I almost finished it anyways. And I'm going out for a smoke. It's insanely crowded here."
"No kidding." He said. "I was gonna go and smoke, too. Uhm, I can join you and offer you a cigarette? I at least owe you that."
(Y/N) waited a second to respond. She hadn't really checked this guy out yet, or registered what he looked like under the flashing lights. His face was hidden by the glasses and the cap covering his head with his hoodie up. He had a very cute smile though. "Sure, why not." She decided. Some company wouldn't hurt.
"Okay, thank God, cause I literally can't find the way out of here." He revealed, sighing in relief.
This made (Y/N) snort. "I'm so sorry to disappoint you but I have the same issue here, man."
His smile turned into a little pout. "This place is..." He shrugged. "Whatever. We can do it, I believe in us."
"Hell yeah, dude."
He snorted, and then the two glanced around the area, the dim lighting offering little to no help. "Okay, you know what?" He turned back to (Y/N). "Let's just, you know, scout around."
"Yeah. There must be a way out somewhere. They haven't uh, trapped us in here, have they?"
"Sure feels like it. Let's escape while we can." The guy grinned at her.
(Y/N) nodded with a smile before she led the way, gesturing for him to follow which he quickly did. He tried to keep up with her through the crowd, feeling like her tail, or a lost puppy, something following someone they shouldn't lose. She wasn't nearly as tall as him and therefore moved easier around the place. Finally she stopped to a halt.
"I can't even--" She frowned in confusion, shrugging. "I swear to God, the stairs that lead me here were totally next to a bar at the--... We're on the second floor, right?"
He nodded. "Yeah, second floor. I think?"
The two snorted. "I swear to God, there's a... uhh..." The music pounded in (Y/N)'s ears as she narrowed her eyes to try and see clearer. The guy followed her eyes and the two gasped at the same time. "Exit!" They exclaimed in unison as they saw the glowing sign above a door further down the wall.
"Let's go!" He cheered as the two hurried through the crowd until they finally reached it.
"Emergency exit?" (Y/N) read the letters on the door, then looked up at the sign above it, and then down at the letters again. "What, you think there's an alarm on this?"
"I doubt it," He said, looking at her. "What if some drunk bumped into it and set the alarm off, having us all-"
"-Evacuate." (Y/N) shook her head. "Good point."
"But you do the honors, just in case." He grinned at her and stepped aside.
(Y/N) snorted and rolled her eyes as she pushed on the door rather boldly, and the two waited a few seconds for an alarm, but nothing. Of course. "Ladies first." She waved for him to go ahead.
He nudged her as he passed, casually padding out in the dark corridor with his hands in his pockets. "These buildings, man. Can't find my way nowhere."
"Right?" (Y/N) caught up to his side. "It's a fucking maze, dude. And everyone else seems to know where they're going. It's like I'm 8 and lost my mom at the grocery store again."
The guy let out a loud giggle. "Glad I'm not the only one who feels like that." The club music got lower and lower in the background as they kept on walking away from the party.
"I hear on that accent that you're not from around here. Which country are you from?"
The guy gave her a side-eye. "Take a guess."
"I mean, I don't know, the accent is like, kinda... not German, is it?"
He shook his head.
"Gimme a clue."
He thought for a split second before pointing a finger up and down his body.
(Y/N) scoffed. What? "Well, yeah; you're from there, but where the fuck are you from?" She shook her head in confusion.
This made him laugh loud and he shook his head back. "I meant my height!"
"How was I supposed to know..." (Y/N) giggled along. "Okay, so, what? Tall, or...?"
"Huh? You think I'm short?"
"I mean, that depends on what you compare it to."
"What, are all guys from your country tall? Basketball players?"
(Y/N) shrugged and giggled again. "Are you a basketball player?"
"No!" He laughed along. "Okay, another clue." He once again pointed back at himself and his face.
"Just tell me where you're from already." (Y/N) scoffed as they continued their way through the hallway, passing storage rooms and closed doors.
"Blonde, blue eyes."
"Dude, you're wearing a cap and sunglasses. Is this-- are you fucking with me?"
"A little."
"Listen, I was just asking out of courtesy to make conversation, and I honestly do not care where you're from."
The guy scoffed before the corners of his lips tugged into a smile and they both drunkenly snickered. "Drugs. Raves. That's the last clue."
"Tall, blonde hair and blue eyes, drugs..." (Y/N) slowed down her pace as she pondered. "Oh!! You're from the Netherlands!"
This made the guy laugh again but he nodded now, clapping his hands together once. "That is right! Leuk je te ontmoeten."
"Luu... what now?"
He was just about to offer his hand for a handshake when they both flinched at the sound of a door opening and closing. "Hello? It's security!" The voice echoed through the corridor.
They looked over their shoulders to see a guy on the other side of the hallway.
"You are not allowed here!"
The two looked back at each other. "Run?" The Dutch asked.
"Run." (Y/N) nodded and the two went for it, sprinting down the dimly lit corridor side by side, the noise of their quick footsteps bouncing back against the walls.
"Over there!" Dutch dude pointed to one of the doors ahead with another similar sign to the first one. "Go, go, go." He held the door open for her and she rushed through where they were met by a staircase.
"Yes!" She exclaimed and the two rushed down the narrow spiral stairs, almost tripping over each other as they clumsily fled down, laughter bubbling up in their throats as they grabbed onto each other for balance until they finally reached the bottom and darted out the door. It lead to the backside of the building and into an alley where they slowed down to a stop.
"Go, he's behind us." Dutch dude reminded (Y/N) and they both went for it again, rushing down two blocks and turning the corner to see a crowded street. "Bro." He panted, grasping (Y/N)'s arm to make her stop. He let go once she did, and bent over, hands on his knees, gasping dramatically for air.
(Y/N) giggled, leaning against the wall behind while catching her breath, and then the two cracked up again, howling with laughter. "Wow. We did it." She breathed sarcastically between giggles.
"What'd I tell ya? I believe in us."
"What should we do next? Sneak into the control room and mess with the live broadcast for the second semi-final tomorrow?"
"Fuck yeah. I feel invincible." He said, still gasping for air. "Or rob a bank."
"We should totally run away together."
"And never come back." He grinned as he straightened his back again, reminding her of their height difference. "The second semi-final is in two days, actually."
"Thursday, right?"
"Yeah...? Oh! It's Wednesday by now. Right." He nodded. "Tomorrow then."
(Y/N) nodded, pressing her lips together as her hands found their way to her pockets. It was cold outside for May.
"What time is it now?" He wondered as he fished out a pack of cigarettes from his jacket, offering her one.
"Thanks." She took it and put it in her mouth, lighting it with her own lighter as she checked her phone. "3AM. I mean, it's late, but it could've been worse. But I should get back. Jesus. My friend has called me 9 times. And texted me even more."
"Oof." Dutch guy said as he exhaled a cloud of smoke.
The crisp air outside was a refreshing contrast to the thick air back inside that club and above them the black sky was speckled with stars. A comfortable silence settled between them, content in each other's company, as they took their first draws from their cigarettes, the smoke curling upwards in lazy spirals and dissipating into the night air.
Dutch was the one to break the silence with a chuckle. "Heh. This was definitely the hightlight of my night."
"Me, too. Except for that part where you made me spill my drink."
He flashed his white teeth in that charming grin again. "If I didn't, we wouldn't be here."
"Wow. Thank you." She said in a dull monotone voice. He laughed and she giggled. "Anyways. I should head back though. And I'm guessing that someone's probably missing you, too."
He nodded at her and the two started slowly walking down the street as they smoked together, following the sound of loud voices and music. "What's next on your agenda tonight?"
"Well, I need to find my friend. I think we might be heading home. There are more days to come and more nights for adventure, you know? So I think I'll call it a night."
"Not a fan of partying hard?"
"Dude, I never said that." (Y/N) shrugged as they approached the entrance of the building again that was still surrounded by people peering in and out, smoking and queueing in line. "Or, well, maybe I should first ask what your definition of that is, you being Dutch and all."
He chuckled. "Hey, no judging, alright?" He exhaled a cloud of smoke. "The offer on a drink is still up. If you want to uhh, you know, have one with me before you leave? You seem chill."
(Y/N) contemplated it for a second. She wanted to. Like, really, really wanted to. This guy was charming. He was fun, and from what she could tell, he was probably cute, too. Tall and a cool outfit with a very nice vibe. "You do owe me, man." She gave in and it made the Dutch guy smile big. "I just gotta find my-"
"(Y/N)!!" Someone familiar yelled, followed by another voice, calling her name, too. "(Y/N)!"
(Y/N) swung her head around to the crowd of people standing outside the building. It was Zara and Olivia, a girl they'd met tonight. (Y/N) took a couple steps toward them. "Hi, guys!"
"(Y/N), come here quick, we've been looking for you! This is important, you gotta check this out!"
Some guy shouted and (Y/N) looked back at her Dutch stranger a few meters away. He called something back to his acquaintances in what she assumed was Dutch, and then some security guard came up to him to lead him away. (Y/N) turned her face back to her friends who were also on their way over to grab her hand and pull her along.
She looked over her shoulder again, but the guy was gone, and she gasped audibly in confusion and regret and annoyance. "Wait, guys, I found a real cool--"
"Sch, no time! We've got an Uber back to ours, (Y/N), and Olivia is joining us. And--"
"Wait, hang on--"
"You gotta hear this. I think I might have a deal with this famous Spanish guy who makes a lot of music. He really likes my stuff!" Zara went on as they all squeezed into the Uber that was waiting for them on the side of the street.
(Y/N) looked out the glass, disappointed. Man, she didn't even get his name. Was that the security guard that had followed them? Was he gonna take the blame for the shit the two of them did together? He seemed cool. She sighed before turning back to Zara to listen to her friend.
"Ah! That's amazing, Zara, I'm so glad for you!" She smiled genuinely and hugged her friend, trying to push back the thought of some crazy stranger she just ran into.