After.
We took a shower, it was getting late, soon time for the show.

As we slipped into our outfits I had the guts to finally ask Joe something I had been secretly asking myself for months.
"Why did you do it?"
"What?"
"You know what."
"Really? You wanna talk about it now? After all that?
Come on Candy I don't wanna think about it anymore."
"I don't either, I just wanna know. I have the right to know."
He sighs resting his head on one hand,
"I don't know, I wasn't thinking. It's not like I had it planned...
I was in Electric Lady Studios late one night, when you were visiting California."
I nod.
"There was no one else left, they'd gone home but I was staying in the bunker because sleeping in our apartment made me feel like, very lonely. So I dialed you a couple times, no answer. I laid on the floor and wrote 'If Music Could Talk' in a stream of consciousness. Then someone came by, I think it was Frank, I dunno but he asked if I wanted to go to a nearby bar so I followed along."
He paused.
"So, what happened then?"
"You want me to paint you a picture or somethin? You asked why I'd done it, that's the story, I felt lonely and melancholic . I mean, we hardly ever spent a couple hours separate and now you had been gone two weeks. It wasn't easy."
"You make it seem like it was my fault! I wanted you to come, I told you many times, lets spend a month in California but nooo, finishing a stupid record was too important!"
"It wasn't my decision, you could've waited till we were done."
"Easy for you to say. Maybe your parents don't care about you, but mine do and I neglected them for too long because of you!"

No reply, he was frowning and on the verge of tears. Fuck, sometimes I speak too soon and without thought.

"Sorry, I didn't mean that, I was talking from my ass."
He shook his head, "no, you're right, they don't care."
"No Joe," I embrace him tightly, he wraps his arms around me with equal strength and gentleness.
"I was lonesome but I still shouldn't have done it, I didn't mean to imply it was your fault."
As we let go I admit, "I thought you did it because you wanted to be with an ideal girl."
"An ideal girl? What's that mean?"
"You know, like the girls in magazines; petite with round cheeks and welcoming eyes." I explain sheepishly,
"I'm nothing like that, the exact opposite actually."

He lets out a small laugh
"You're right, you're nothing like girls in magazines.
You're a passion-driven, tempestuous intimidating one..."
I frown
"...but that's only one of the many reasons why I love you so much.
There is no one like you, not even remotely like you, and I wouldn't want it any other way."
I smile bright.

Hello! So sorry if the last two parts seemed like fillers, the next part is gonna be better I've got,,,a surprise in a way lol. Thanks for reading ! Please vote/comment if you'd like x