YOU & ME
A AU story on the series ‘You’
Story Summary: Joe Goldberg has a sister. She knows about Joe’s obsessions, yet she supports him. She rarely knows about the killings he’s done… but Little does Joe know his sister has a big secret about his well-known obsession… Guinevere Beck.
Author's note: This will also become a Wattpad story coming May 4th! And this is half of an x reader request that was asked.
TW: 18+, mentions of murder, stalking, blood, mentions of abuse, and sexual/explicit content.
Part 1: Meeting HER
Oh, Joe, what have you gotten yourself into…
Candace Stone was already a rough patch for you; it went to where I had to make sure you ate and drank water. That’s how much it ruined you. You were such a fool in love, Joe, and poor Candace was fucking buried. I’ll never forget you coming to me, face pale, BEGGING ME not to say a fucking word.
Months later, here you are, working at this bookstore like a dog. What you did was wrong, yes, but you are my brother, and if I told anyone about what you did to Candace, you’d slit my throat and have me on a silver platter.
You and I were basically raised by Mr. Mooney, the original owner of the bookstore, hence the name, of course. We were taught a lot about first edition books and all. Although one disadvantage of being raised by Ivan Mooney is that, while I was sleeping on sheets and a mattress in Mr. Mooney's residence, you had to sleep in a glass cage on the floor.
Which made me force Mooney to have you sleep on a mattress. But as the stubborn boy you were, you didn't listen to me.
But now in adulthood, you and I slept on mattresses and sheets, not fancy ones, just normal standard ones that are comfortable, and Mooney... well… The man had a stroke, and he can't do what he used to, which made him ask you if you wanted to be the manager of the bookstore, and I was co-manager hired by you, of course.
We went through hell and back, you and I, Joe.
The sound of chimes was heard from the entrance. Knowing it was a customer, it was a blonde woman; her hair was in a bun, her blouse was loose, and her bracelets jangled like wind chimes. She seemed to be a college student based on her vibe. Something is telling me she likes a little attention. Well, those are some customers we know. I look at you, Joe; you looked at the blonde woman like she was the best sight in the world. I can't blame you; she was quite stunning. Little did I know you'd start your obsession with this woman.
I walk away to go to the Isle F-K fiction section of the bookstore. As I perused the shelves, I saw you and this woman talking—small talk, maybe jokes? Maybe something more. After their conversation, Joe went to another customer, and I was lurking through each book to see if there was any book that needed bookbinding. After a long moment I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turn my head… It's her, the woman you were talking to, Joe.
Hello… You...
"I'm sorry to bother you." The blonde said to me, her voice soft and gentle. I clear my throat. "Not a problem at all. What can I help you with, miss?" I ask the woman, setting down my clipboard that had lists of books that needed binding. "Um, I was curious if you have anything similar to Paula Fox's Desperate Characters?" The woman asked, I think for a moment. Then I remembered. "Follow me," I say to the woman, leading her to the fiction aisle where the books were organized by author. I then find the book I was looking for. "I think you'd like "If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things" by Jon McGregor." I say to her, giving her the book, The blonde took the book out of my hands and thanked me with a smile. "Might go well with Desperate Characters." I add with a soft, closed smile. The blonde made a small chuckle before replying, "I've been wanting to read that one for a while now. Thank you, I appreciate it." I nodded, watching her walk away. Now I'm understanding the looks, Joe.
Just in a matter of minutes, the woman goes to the checkout where you and our other employer, Ethan, are at. I walk to where you and Ethan are, as well as the woman. "Paula Fox, nice; you know she was Courtney Love's maternal grandmother." Ethan says, as if the woman didn't know that. The woman responded, "That's why I'm buying it." Smart girl, I suppose you told her that, Joe.
I made a small grin, proud of you, big brother. As I go through the list of the books, I hear you say, "Guinevere?" "Yeah, my parents were assholes with the whole naming thing, but everyone just calls me Beck." Beck… Guinevere Beck, that is her name. What a name; it sounds like something from a medieval fantasy story. I watch you give Beck her card back before she speaks again in that beautiful voice, "And you're Joe…" "Goldberg." You said to her, Yes, Joe Goldberg, and yet she doesn't need to know mine. This is your moment, Joe, your moment of destiny after Candace. "But everyone calls me Joe," Beck made a small laugh. Oh Joe, you lucky fool, you have no idea what is in store for you, do you?
Who are You, Guinevere Beck?
I closed up the bookstore while you were at home, doing God knows what. I drove home to our apartment building; we both have different apartment homes. I live above you, Joe. I have an extra key to open your apartment door whenever, as I am on your apartment floor; the sound of muffled fights is heard from your neighbors Ron and Claudia, poor woman. Yet Paco, their son, is reading. "Hey, Paco." I greeted softly. Paco looks up at me with his big brown eyes for a kid. "Hey, Lidia." He said to me, I see he's reading one of the books you would give him from the bookstore or the apartment. "What did Joe give you this time?" I asked with a soft smile. "The Three Musketeers." I nodded. God, I feel bad for this kid, Joe; poor Paco has to live with the fact that Ron is a shithead and Claudia's a nurse who struggles with Ron's abuse, at least from what I believe. "Is Joe home?" I ask Paco. Paco nodded, "Yeah. He just got inside a few minutes ago." I nodded my head, "Ah, okay… did you eat?" Paco shook his head up and down slightly. "Yeah, Joe gave me his meatball sub." Paco says, I made a small smile, glad that he ate at least. I went to unlock the door of your apartment, ignoring the fighting. Once I finally entered, I saw you; you were on your bed on your laptop. "Hey, Joe." I greeted, taking off my coat and putting it on the couch; I noticed you ignoring me. "Joe?" I say your name louder; finally, it got your attention. "Oh, hey…" "The hell are you so distracted by that made you…" I see you looking at a woman's social media… Guinevere Beck's social media. Seriously? "Really, you barely know her, Joe; you only knew her for like a minute." I spoke; this shouldn't be surprising after Candace. It's like you have a pattern of fixating on unattainable women. Well, that could be obvious. But I will say she is attractive. I just hope you're not planning on stalking her too. "Why are you so captivated by her?" I ask you, knowing that I might not like the answer, and you don't answer me. "Never mind, Joe." I say giving up; I better keep a watch on him more closely if he intends to find her address. I don't want any surprises.
Of course the next day was interesting; you were stupid to figure out that I put a tracker in your coat. This is the first time doing this, especially after what you did to Candace. I don't want to take any chances. As I am watching your tracker as I am in class, I notice you go to a certain location very often, an apartment complex; is it the Beck? I'm figuring this out, whether I like it or not. This has been going on for a few more days now. Noticing you going to the apartment every day, you have to be stalking this girl everywhere she is. You were at a university where Beck is. So this tells me a lot on this: you are stalking her, Joe.
On one of the nights, you were lurking outside her window across the street, watching her every move, and yet watching her get fucked by another man, who seems to be her boyfriend, maybe… Benjamin J. Ashby III, I'm guessing short for Benji. As I look where you're looking, Joe, I'd say that Beck, she would have made a Broadway show out of it, but.. she didn't because he didn't. Poor girl must be sexually frustrated; from her reactions, I would say she never finished. Ugh, I feel perverted watching her like this, but I can't look away. I watch this… Benji person leave, watching him get into a cab and leaving Beck unsatisfied. I turn my gaze back at Beck, and she… never finished; there she was, trying so hard to make herself cum, her green pillow was in between her legs. Her soft pink lips parted, and her eyes were squeezed shut in pleasure. I swallow hard, feeling a mixture of arousal and shame at the sight. I had to adjust my sitting position; my grip on my steering wheel was tight. I see you, Joe, oh you perverted fuck, masturbating outside of her fucking window across the street. But all of that was interrupted when an oblivious woman opened a door, which made Joe stop. Thank God, oh, I'm going to put bleach in my eyes after seeing him do that… Oh, Beck has no idea who the fuck you really are, Joe.
I got home from that, and I lay on my bed. Ugh… I can't believe what I just witnessed. Oh Joe, you stupid lovesick fool of a man, I can't believe you're going to go to such lengths for someone who barely knows you. What the fuck is next? Murder? Like how you did with Candace? Hell, this is going to be one hell of a shitshow. After a few days of this torture, I come down the stairs of the apartment, and I see you covered in slight hints of vomit. "Joe?" I asked you. You look at me as you are getting your keys. "Oh hey, Lidia." You greeted, "Why are you covered in vomit?" I asked you, and you replied, "Oh um… Beck… did this to me…" Of course, you followed Beck to a bar, Greenpoint. Remember, I still have a tracker on your ass, big brother. I nodded. "Figured since you have been stalking her lately," I say to you, the cat is out of the bag between you and me; you might as well come clean. I see you turn pale for a moment; you grabbed me and dragged me inside your apartment. Once you closed the door, your eyes were wide, your body was close to mine, "You don't tell anyone what I did." "I won't if you tell me why you are stalking her, especially after what you did to Candace." You stayed silent, but instead of answering my question, you asked me a question, "I need your help with something… something that we can keep between you and me." I raised an eyebrow. "With what?" I asked, curious yet cautious about what you will say to me next. "It relates to Benjamin J. Ashby, Beck's shitty boyfriend." Shitty, no wonder he didn't let her finish. "What about him?"
"Something that you have never done before," you said; your voice trails off.
Benji, while vaping, walks up to a man named "Jeff Penvensey"… Joe.
He messaged Benji about his soda, wanting to "try some"; obviously, he responded. It was just him and you, Joe, surprised he didn't recognize you before when taking Beck home after being on the subway tracks. I hear the sounds of footsteps coming down from the alleyway; I hid in a space where I was never seen, waiting for the danger to pass. But little did he know… you and I… mostly you, were the danger. "Hey man, I'm thinking maybe," I swung the mallet at his head; the sound of shattered glass from his soda was heard in the soundproof place, blood pouring out of Benji's head, my eyes wide, the grip on the mallet tight, god, I should be hurting YOU, Joe, YOU ONLY YOU, and look what you made me do to him. Oh God, why am I doing this for you, Joe, all because of Guinevere Beck? I felt Joe's hand on my shoulder. "Good hit, let's get him in the cage." Yes, the fucking cage, the glass cage that is held by old books as to be in cold temperature, cannot be in the sun under any circumstances. Now. Locking Benji in here. Sick move, very… sick.
It has been a day since this happened, and I could not sleep because of it; work was… normal, aside from the fact you and I had to pretend at times that Benji is in the basement of the bookstore, chimes are heard again, Beck. Oh Beck… If only she knew what she's getting herself into with you. "Hey, remember me? From almost dying on the train tracks." "Ah, it rings a bell." As the two were talking, I noticed the way Beck is looking at her, the way she bites her lip, the stare—why is my heart racing, why is my stomach turning into knots, and why do I feel a sudden surge of jealousy? No, no, I shouldn't be feeling like this. I barely know her, but God, why do I understand you so much when it comes to your obsession with her?
I watch Beck leave the bookstore, seeing her smile and leaving; I notice she dropped something. I see Joe walk to the back to go to the basement. I quickly make the move by grabbing what seems to be her keys and following her out the door. "Excuse me, miss!?" I yell out to the blonde; she turns her body to me; she had the look of seeing me before. "Hey, don't we know each other?" Beck asked me, and I made a small chuckle, "Um, actually yes, the uh… "If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things".." I reminded her of the book she bought alongside Paula Fox's Desperate Characters. Her hazel eyes brightened.
"That's right, you recommended that book to me." Beck pointed out, and I made a small smile. "Yeah, I did." I then remember why I was out here. "Oh um, I wanted to say that you dropped your keys," I say, giving her the keys—apartment keys. "Oh, thank you." Beck said to me, her smile brightened like a star. I couldn't help but feel a warmth spread through my chest. "You're welcome." I see her gaze on my name tag, "Lidia?" "That's right…" I say, my voice trailing off as I noticed the way she looked at me. "I'm Guinevere; everyone calls me Beck."
Yes, I know your name.
"Nice to finally meet you, Beck…" Beck, Beck, Beck, Beck, oh, the name, her name, so beautifully suited her. She reached out her hand to shake with mine; as we shook hands, there was this instant connection between us. But you can't know that, Joe, or else you'll kill me. But one day, I won't let that happen… not now.
As I watch Beck smile and walk away with her keys in hand, I will do whatever it takes to discreetly protect her.
After work, I start to unbutton my shirt, but I feel something paper-like; I take it out of my chest pocket, and I see an email, [email protected]. Joe and I both have this email now. Her email, what does this mean? No, no, it can't mean that. Can it?
