Miranda POV Arriving home and getting back on track with work and my normal daily schedule was much more challenging than I thought it would be. My trip to see Joel get released was more than I would have expected and now that I am home I feel an emptiness that I was not anticipating. I knew we were becoming so much more than friends even before he got out, but I did not expect to feel the level of connection that I had while I was there. I had wanted to be there for those first special moments of freedom and being there created an indescribable bond between us.I didn't really know how he was feeling until I broke down, just before getting on the plane. Joel was so tender with me and confirmed that what he said to his mom was what he was really feeling. He actually did want to continue our relationship and explore him moving to Alaska so we could really see what can come from this relationship. I couldn't be happier. Well, that's not true. Long distance relationships are no joke
Joel POV I hung up the phone, gritting my teeth then pressing the phone roughly to my forehead while trying to keep my composure. But it was useless, my self-control was lost as my muscles tensed and I exploded, throwing the phone across the room leaving it shattered on the floor. "Fucking bitch!" I yelled at the empty air.I immediately regretted smashing my phone and it surely didn't make me feel any better. I did feel the need to let out more anger, though and remembered the punching bag that hung up in the makeshift weight pit in the backyard of my apartment building. Thank God for that neighbor who was training to be a mixed martial arts fighter. I look out the window and see him out there, moving what looks like a freestanding body opponent bag (BOB) into his circle of weights and punching bags. I left the room without so much as a glance at the phone to see the damage done, grabbing my ear buds on my way. I walk outside. The fall air hits my face and while it is still warm,
Miranda POV It's been a couple weeks since our fight and I still miss Joel terribly. I have been keeping myself busy hanging out with Amanda, not at the bars, but we have been to a couple of wine and paint nights, and I am finally the proud owner of that giant dolphin painting that I always dreaded. I guess it could be worse. My brother has also been surprisingly supportive, calling to check on me daily and he's even hanging out at my house more too. He's been over four times in the last two weeks, cooking dinner and watching movies in the evenings. He doesn't say much, but his presence makes all the difference and helps distract me. In fact, he’s here right now, laying on the couch with Beebs, vegging out on some reality show where they leave a bunch of single people in the jungle for a month to fend for themselves. I’m thankful. The evenings are the hardest as these are the times Joel and I would have marathon phone conversations; lying in bed, laughing before drifting off to
Joel POV"What the fuck Johnson!" I jerked my head up and looked into the red screaming face of my foreman. I had been mindlessly nailing studs up without listening or paying attention to my surroundings. This is a big construction no-no and for the second time today my boss had almost hit me with a load of two-by-fours. "Sorry boss. Just stuck in my head and can’t really focus.""Well, you've been stuck in your head all week. You’re becoming a danger to yourself and to me and I cannot have that on my worksite. Insurance and shit like that, you understand. Plus, I fucking like you. You are a damned hard worker. I like myself more though. So, take the rest of the fucking day off and get your shit together. Get your head cleared of whatever bullshit it is and come back Monday, but you fucking better be right in the head by then," He scolded. "Sorry boss. I'll get my shit together. Thanks." I say as I walk toward my truck. I was able to pick up a cheap beater with a heater for a f
Miranda POV Amanda pulled her phone out and pulled up the article she had saved in her search history. I stared in shock as I read the newspaper headline “Boyfriend of Alecia Pike sentenced 22-years for Manslaughter.” Wait. What am I looking at? I’m confused at first but it becomes clearer as I continue to read, “Joel Johnson, boyfriend of slain woman received a sentence of twenty-two years in the murder of Alecia Pike in the First Judicial District Court of Virginia today after a week-long sentencing hearing. The extended hearing allowed the many victims and families of the victims in this case to testify for the court’s consideration. It was reported that the second victim, a minor in the case, who suffered a first-degree assault at the hands of the assailant was also present in the court….” I could not physically rad any longer as I felt bile begin to creep into my airway. “Where did you get this?” I asked Amanda, still hoping it was some sort of mistake. Or a joke, this had to
Joel POV I sat in my truck breathing deeply. It was about ten minutes before my appointment and I was collecting my thoughts. I knew without a doubt that this is what I wanted but it could very well backfire. I had requested this appointment to request an out of state pass, but I knew even without it, one way or another, I would be going to talk to Miranda. Yeah, I know it’s risky and such behavior may get me locked up again, but I can't say I care much anymore. I’ve tried to call a few times but she has not accepted my calls or returned my texts. I need to talk to her, to apologize and if she doesn't forgive me then I will move on. I at least deserve a chance to say my piece. I pulled down the sun visor and looked at the backside, where I kept the picture of Miranda clipped. I never told her that I kept her with me and I wasn't sure why. Maybe because It was cheesy but more likely because it was difficult for me to open up, to care for someone and allow them to care for me. I
Miranda POV I sit up in my bed and am thankful that it's the weekend. It's been a long, hard week at work, and I can use both the physical and mental rest. I’m even more thankful that I am finally getting through each day without constant reminders of Joel and even though I think I am a long way from being over him, I am able to function a lot better than I was a few weeks ago. I hear a knock on the front door, Beebs barks, and I move into the living room, curious to see who could be at my house this early on a Saturday. Thinking it’s probably the local neighborhood kids trying to earn some extra money cleaning up yards, I throw on some shorts under my long tee shirt just to make sure they don’t get an eye full. However, when I open the door, I am not met by the local preteens. Instead, the very reason for my recent misery stands before me. I stare, shocked, until I can finally form words, “Joel, what are you doing here?” I should probably be scared. I mean what kind of psych
Joel POV I could barely see straight, and my hands started shaking as I formed them into fists. I hadn't been this furious since that day everything had happened. "I shouldn't have to explain myself to you or anyone else! Especially not your nosy bitch friend,” I say, raising my voice. “It is supposed to be you and me against the world. That's what you fucking told me, and I guess I was stupid enough to believe you.” Miranda backed away from me and I could see a glimmer of fear in her eyes, and I immediately regretted my initial reaction. I never wanted her to be scared of me. I had never forgiven myself for what had happened. So, how could I ever expect her to understand or forgive me when I can't even forgive myself? I tried to bring it up to her a few times, but when I did, I only felt shame and guilt. Now here I was, scaring her and for what? Because her nosy best friend had filled her head with bullshit, and she read some damned articles that were only half truths? I rememb