At first he ignored it. Then he denied it. But you were drifting from him and eventually no amount of ignoring or denying could suppress the intruding thoughts that you were being unloyal.

Joe loved you. Deeply. More than he had ever loved any women- and there had been many. So he couldn’t understand why you were acting so… off. It didn’t make any sense, he thought you were happy, that you were in love… but you were staring out increasingly later, growing distant and he was beginning to seriously doubt the strength of your relationship.

He could understand his popularity with women being an issue- they undeniably flooded to him, he was sure it was frustrating for you- no matter how much he rejected their advances. But he understood it too- hell, he was never impressed when anyone dared to hit on you infront of him… maybe he’d made the mistake of thinking that you’d grown together to surpass the external influences that threatened to test the love you shared.

And after tonight he finally realised why… Cherry was dry, wise, he had a mysterious demenour- except for when he was bickering with Joe- then he’d always fire up… he was a lot of things. But none of them included open vulnerablity. And Joe knew that. Cherry wasn’t affectionate, he never entertained his fan girls fantasies or cat calls- not even with a smidge of appreciation and yet here Joe was- watching Cherry’s attention entirely focused on you. His amber eyes soft and gaze appreciative.

Everything was suddenly made so clear- even in the way you two brushed past one another. The tension was so obvious, suffocating, heated tension. How was he only seeing it now. All those late nights, your strange, distant behaviour… it was because you’d been messing with Cherry.

Joe wasted no time in marching straight up to you and despite being in mid conversation grabbing your arm. “We need to talk. Now.” His voice was serious… maybe even angry...