“If you’re gonna love me, better love me to the moon and back. From the bottom of your boots to the top of your hat.”
Character: Johnny Joestar
Fandom: Jojos Bizarre Adventure
Authors note: god, I’m obsessed with Ella Langley so much lol country isn’t my main kind of music but I’m weirdly obsessed with her lol anyway, enjoy! This is definitely an AU btw!
“Johnny, I’m sorry but we’re just two different kinds of people. You’re a man of power. Someone who comes from a wealthy family and I’m just not that. My family doesn’t have money, we aren’t from a family who transcends generations, we will never be a fit.”
Johnny growled in frustration, not understanding why you were so hesitant on just accepting the fact that you two like each other.
“You’re thinking about this too much. We’ve known each other since we were kids and suddenly my family is an issue?” You laughed in response, “it’s not that johnny! We’re just two separate people now. Yeah we might’ve been friends since we were kids but we’re grown ups now. You’re going to be a professional jockey and I can’t even afford to buy a fucking horse! We both have the same dream but you’re the only one who can achieve this.”
He starred at you, his blue eyes wavering in several different emotions.
You grabbed his hand and held it with such a softness that it kind of scared him.
“You’re going to make your family so proud. You’re going to become such a great jockey just like Nick, just like your dad, grandfather, great grandfater, and everyone before him but you don’t need someone to remind you of this dumb town. Just know that I’ll be supporting you from here and that should be enough for the both of us.”
Johnny wanted to reply but you didn’t want to stay any longer.
Finally, you placed on final kiss on his cheek and walk away from him.
Johnny felt his throat closing, tears pooling into his eyes, his hands getting clammy, and his mind racing a mile a minute but none of that was enough to stop him from pulling you back him.
He watched you walk away from him and away from his life.
-
The crowd roared in support, your female fans on the brink of tears while the males in the stands took notes on every single thing you did.
You patted your horse lovingly as she crossed the finish line with ease. Your girl immediately coming to a halt as you finally jumped off of her and took a bow in front of her before giving a kiss to the crowd in appreciation.
“Wow! ( your name )! What a win for you! You’ve won every competition so far this season! There’s only one competition left for you to win before you finally achieve the final race of the season. The Kentucky stakes is the only thing stopping you from the gold trophy! If you win this next weekend, you’ll be heading for the Kentucky Derby next spring. What could that mean for you?”
You gave the reporter a smile and took a drink of your water before looking towards her.
“That would mean a lot. There aren’t a lot of women who have achieved the Kentucky Derby so being here is just a really big accomplishment that I would’ve never thought I would have gotten. I grew up a lot differently compared to others and I never felt like I could accomplish something this big so I’ll never take any of this for granted. There’s someone in my life who introduced me to competitive horse racing and because of that, I cannot thank him enough.”
She smiled warmly.
“Does he have a name? Old family friend? Former lover?”
You shook your head no.
“I don’t think he’d appreciate the name drop so suddenly but he knows who he is and he’s one of the most decorated jockeys to date but I can’t out him this way. There’s a lot of unspoken words and feelings we’d need to work through but he means a lot to me, a lot to my career, and to this sport. Thank you!”
You thanked the camera once more before chugging back another water bottle and making your way to the dressing room where they were just replaying your interview again.
“The ghost of Johnny Joestar continues to haunt you, huh?”
Hot pants sat next to you, giving you a cold towel and your third water bottle.
“Oh shush it, you know how it is,” she nodded and watched as the second round of races began, “I do but I think it’s time you both stop running from whatever is happening between you two.
You let out a laugh and threw her the towel back, “stop joking around. Johnny hasn’t wanted to see me and he has his own career to worry about. I’m sure him and Gyro are causing enough terror to the women of the towns they stop at,” Hot Pants rolled her eyes, “but isn’t it ironic that the Kentucky stakes is being held in your hometown? To which you both are making an appearance? Isn’t that the best time to just put all of this to rest and finally reunite?”
“I don’t think so. I mean if the world suddenly makes us cross paths, I guess we’ll deal with that when we get there.”
She shook her head in disappointment and left so you could clean up.
-
The race was in a few days and although no one was due to arrive until the day before the race began, you wanted to visit a few friends and family.
The smell of the fall breeze made you reminisce in the memories that had here. The days of when Johhny would bring you one of his horses and the two of you would ride until you reached three cities over.
“Any plans for the day?” One of your friends asked. You shook your head no, “I don’t think so. I have a few duties with our old high school but nothing major. Why?”
She shook her head dismissively, “just wondering! I know a few people are coming in to watch the race,” you sighed in nervousness, “i bet. I have a lot riding on this race so I really can’t afford to fuck it up. If I win or even come in second place I’ll be heading to the Kentucky Derby next year.”
She patted your shoulder in support.
“Listen, if it’s anyone that deserves to be at the derby next year, it’s you! Don’t let anyone get into your head about it. Take a stroll around the park, go downtown, take your mind off of the race. The leaves just started to fall and I know you love that kind of thing.”
You agreed and gave her one final hug before heading towards your car.
Your hometown was small, not many people lived here, and in some weird way, that made your nerves ease up a bit. You knew that everyone was still at work or school so you weren’t expecting to get bombarded by fans or crazy dudes who wanted your number.
After grabbing a coffee, you went to the shopping center that was in the middle of downtown. It had a few of your favorite stores and you were due for a shopping spree.
In a weird way, you missed this part of your life but the way you left it made it bittersweet. You hadn’t been back since your emotional departure with Johnny.
You had went to school for a bit but after gaining a scholarship for competitive horse racing, your career instantly sky rocketed when they saw your potential. There had been a few times that where you and Johnny had stayed in the same city but you made sure to steer clear of any places that might’ve been where Johnny was staying at.
You knew that you had a lot to talk about and although you wanted to see him again, you were scared that he’d hold resentment towards you for how you left him all these years ago.
The night was coming in and the area was starting to get busy.
As you made your way back to your hotel, you noticed a small restaurant at the corner of your street. You figured it wasn’t going to be very busy as the most popular restaurants were already packed with people.
“Just one?” The hostess asked. You nodded, “can I get a seat at the bar please?” She nodded and let you pick your chair.
You ordered a simple dinner and a bottle of wine. You figured that since you were in walking distance of your hotel, you would be able to make it home easily.
“That entire bottle for yourself?”
You felt someone sit next to you and instantly recognized the long blond hair.
“Gyro?” You asked with such genuine shock. He laughed and placed his hat on his lap, “yep! Johnny boy is coming in a few minutes but I figured I’d see the woman that has my best friend yearning so badly before he came in.”
You didn’t say anything and let him sit there.
“You really are the woman Johnny loves and I figured I’d give you a heads up before he came in and took you by surprise.”
He threw in a few dollars for beer he chugged back and left through the back door. You stared at your bottle of wine in complete disbelief and before you knew it, you heard the door ring with someone coming in.
The hairs on your arm stood up when you locked eyes with the boy you had been running away from. No matter the warning you knew that nothing would prepare you for the reunion you were going to have with Johnny.
He approached the bar slowly and sat next to you. He took off his blue beanie and ordered a water before looking down to the bar top, not knowing what to say or do.
The lady that sat both you and Johnny made sure to keep any reporters and fans away from the restaurant as she figured two of the biggest jockeys in the world didn’t want to be bombarded with crazy fans or nosey journalists.
“Hi,” you whispered with such a small voice that it even took you by surprise.
Johnny stared at you with a smile and moved just an inch closer, “you look just as good as the day you left me,” you let out a laugh and shook your head, “you always had a way with words Johnny boy.”
He nodded, “you better win tomorrow, I want to see you racing with me next spring,” you nodded nervously and took a sip of your wine, “it’s easier said than done. You come from a jockey family where the cards are always in your favor. I’ve had prove myself every time I step into stables.”
“You wouldn’t have come this far if you weren’t meant for the derby. Gyro doesn’t ever believe in someone that isn’t himself or me and he genuinely believes that you’ll be right back in Kentucky next year with us.
You gave Johnny a nervous giggle, “I never meant to get this far. I was supposed to be some stupid business person in a boring cubicle. I don’t know how I got this far but I’m nervous that it’ll suddenly be ripped away from me,” you admitted.
He nodded understandingly and poured another glass of wine for you.
“It’s not. You’ve had the talent all of your life. I watched it myself. You’ve worked harder than I ever have. I was handed this life on a silver platter but you worked for it. You shouldn’t diminish all of your hard work because you’re nervous. What you’re going to do is win Saturday afternoon and bring your ass to Kentucky next spring.”
The restaurant had gone completely empty. It had left just you and Johnny along with the closing staff.
“We’ve been stuck inside this restaurant for an hour now. I’m sure that the staff has wanted us to leave a long time ago.”
You giggled and put cash on the bar as the bartender bent over, “there’s about a three dozen crazy fans and reporters at the front. If I can suggest something, I’d take the back door. It’ll lead you to the small street that connects you to the hotel you’re both staying at,” she gave the two of you a wink and went back to cleaning the glasses.
Johnny pulled your chair out and followed you out of the restaurant.
The street was still buzzing with excitement but as for you and Johnny, the two of you made your way back to the hotel.
“Do you think I would’ve still been this good of a jockey if we would have stayed together?” You asked. Johnny shrugged, “I think the distance between the two of us was a good thing. It allowed us to grow and be the jockeys we were destined to be but the universe did bring us back together for a reason, don’t you think?”
You agreed as Johnny scanned his hotel card to open the back door entrance.
“I still feel very shitty for everything I did. I know I hurt you a lot and I really didn’t mean to hurt you the way I did,” Johnny dismissed you completely and ushered you into the elevator, “everything that happened is in the past and I think we’re meant to focus on the present. We’re meant to focus on this.”
You stood in front of Johnny’s hotel door as he pushed you against him, “we were stupid teenagers but you weren’t wrong. I come from a wealthy family and that can be scary but if there’s anyone that can handle that, it’s you. All the scary people that were in our life back then are gone. My mom and Nick love you. Ever since my dad died, they’ve been more happier than ever.”
The small tears that ran down your face were wiped by Johnny.
“We both know we were meant to find each other again and I think that time is now.”
You agreed silently and Johnny brought you in for a kiss that was long overdue. One that was meant to happen years ago.
Yeah you were still nervous but you knew that Johnny would be there for you.
The fans roared once again for you as passed the finish line Saturday afternoon. The girls were screaming with tears running down their faces as the others were clapping as hard as they could.
Johnny (and Gyro) were sitting in your section, whistling in support alongside your family and this time when the reporter approached you, you gave her a smile that you could no longer hide.
“Kentucky is waiting for you next year! But this race, you have some extra support in your section! World renowned jockeys Gyro Zeppeli and Johny Joestar were standing with your family this race! Could you give us some insight on that?”
You laughed and smiled at Johnny.
“Johnny Joestar has been there for me since I got on a horse for the first time. He’s been there through it all even though might not seem like it. He’s been that special person in my life to help me through thick and thin. If there’s anyone who understands this life, it’s Johnny and by extension Gyro.”
“Would you say Johnny is a friend, a boyfriend, husband?”
“I guess that’s something you’ll have to wait and see, huh?”
You gave the camera one final smile and walked over to your section. Johnny knew with the camera still on you and with both of you agreeing that you’d keep the relationship as private as possible, all he could do is give you a hug and while you both wanted more, you knew the real celebration would be saved for later.
