Distant Memories (01)
The news articles read it all. Jake Gylenhall seen out with some other girl. Not just some other girl but some beautiful, tall blonde model. Holding hands, hugging, kissing, and this girl was definitely not the last girl he was dating. Normally Joseph was not one for gossip. He hated when paparazzi came after him so why read the filth on someone else? Yet as he scrolled through the article on the bright pink page of Perez Hilton Joe found himself just as absorbed as any other non-famous person. Not even part of him felt slightly guilty as he gave the article another hit, another view. This was important.
Why would it matter to the brunette man sitting at his kitchen counter who Jake was dating? Why did it matter who anyone was dating? Especially a man he had only met maybe once or twice. And a man he thought was a terrible actor to start with (and no he was not blinded with jealousy....that much) and had no reason to care about. Well that all had to do with the other articles related to Jake. The most recent probably twenty all had to do with Jake and a beautiful, innocent actress. An actress that Joseph had been in love with for far too many years. It was the girl he had lost to Jake. Two and a half years ago ago Mary Elizabeth had walked out of his life, and two years ago right into the arms of Jake Gylenhall.
This surely only meant one thing. Jake and Mary Elizabeth were no more. They couldn't be because Mary Elizabeth would never put up with a cheater or an open relationship. Sure he was Jake, but she had morals and respect for herself more than any cheap actress in hollywood. She knew she deserved only the best. Was it wrong that Joe's heart leaped with joy at this revelation? That sure she was heartbroken but at least she was single. That Jake no longer would stand in the way of destiny, and destiny certainly was Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Mary Elizabeth Winstead. They could still have their fall wedding and their six kids, it was still possible and that thought was far more elating than any news he had as of late. It was rather pathetic he was taking joy in her break up, but she made him sink to levels he never knew were possible sometimes.
Maybe he shouldn't go see her but Joseph immediately felt it was his duty to be the knight in shining armor. Combing his hair, spraying himself with her favorite cologne, and galloping out the door Joseph would run to the ends of the world to save her from any tears, and maybe garner himself some brownie points. He loved her so this was all in good nature, even if she didn't want to see him. It didn't really cross Joseph's mind that maybe Mary Elizabeth wanted to be alone, or her friends, not her ex boyfriend. To him this was perfect, he would show up just like the knights in fairytales and whisk the damsel off her feet and they would live happily ever after. It was a movie scene flashing through his brain as he hopped into his car and drove off into the sunset, well not really a sunset but it was more dramatic that way, to find the love of his life.
Armed with a bouquet of yellow roses (which were actually her favorite flower surprise surprise) and at her doorstep twenty minutes later Joe stood and waited, heart in hand for the queen to descend upon the stairs and allow him into her kingdom. There was no other way for this to turn out in Joe's head than for them to live happily ever after. Maybe he was far too confident but Joe felt that he and Mary Elizabeth were divinely inspired, blessed by the gods to be together. This was fate and he just had to catch it. This didn't mean Joe wasn't insanely nervous, he hadn't seen her in months and here he was with flowers and wine hoping she'd just let him inside. What was he going to say to her? Joe had no clue, truthfully he knew the right words would never come out but he had to take the chance anyway. She was the love of his life and if he wasn't willing to put his pride and comfort on the line for her, than he would never deserve her.









