hollywood - joe keery
pairing: joe keery x famous!reader
summary; being new in the hollywood industry was overwhelming, and being at a grammy after party? it was a lot.. yet something or rather, someone, was keeping you from leaving.
word count; 2.5k
rosalia writes; i really liked this concept yet i was soo caught up in my life i didn't get to writing it. but i finally finished it so i'm excited for you guys to read it!!
a breeze blows through your perfectly curled hair as you take in the view. the big hollywood sign up the mountain, staring back at you.
your heels are kicked off next to you, the bass drumming through the walls leading to the balcony. it’s surprising no one else is here, the view is absolutely breathtaking. but then again, inside the venue are some of the most famous celebrities you could imagine. all there, and you’re out here.
tonight you’ve won a grammy award for best new artist. a grammy. just two years ago you were working at a supermarket and going to school full time.
now you’re stood in a gown of a brand you can’t even pronounce and jewelry so expensive you’re scared you’ll lose it. it’s all a bit surreal. hence why you’re on the balcony, and not enjoying the grammy’s after party. you’re overwhelmed.
so lost in thought, you don’t even notice someone has stepped next to you, leaning against the railing.
he didn’t say hello immediately, just took in the same view before he spoke.
“did you know the sign used to say ‘hollywoodland’?” joe said, glancing over to you.
your eyes snapped away from the view, looking surprised joe keery was talking to you.
you blinked, taking in what he just said. “oh, i didn’t know.” you gave him a polite smile as you looked back at the sign.
you knew of joe keery, liked his music even. but you couldn’t keep up the small talk anymore tonight.
he nodded, taking your short answer as a sign not to bother you further, so he took a cigarette in between his lips, looking for a lighter in his pocket.
you noticed how he tapped every possible pocket he had, but no lighter. so you dug into your purse, holding one up. you snapped it open and sparked it, flames casting a shadow on both your faces on the dimly lit balcony.
his eyes met yours as he leaned forward a bit, letting the cigarette between his lips touch the flame. when it wouldn’t lit, he put his hands around the lighter, shielding it from any wind, eye contact never wavering, his hands touching your hand.
you’d be lying if you said that didn’t give you butterflies.
“thanks.” he said, blowing out smoke, offering you a drag.
you just shook your head. “you’re welcome.” you looked at him as he turned to face the railing again, taking him in.
after another beat, he turns to look at you again.
“i’m joe by the way.” he extended his hand to you. he didn’t need an introduction, you knew all about him.
you chuckled softly, taking his hand in yours, shaking it. “i know who you are.” you replied, giving him your name after.
“well, still feels a bit rude to assume you knew it.” he says, holding your hand a litte longer than necessary.
a moment passes, you look back at the party that’s happening inside, then at him. “are you not enjoying the party?” you ask.
he took a breath as he shook his head. “..bit too crowded in there. plus it’s all just less party, more networking. not really my type of thing.”
you just nodded, understanding him.
“shouldn’t you be in there? best new artist? congrats by the way.” he said, looking at you, smiling.
you huffed out a smile hesitantly. the title ‘best new artist’ didn’t sound real yet. “thank you. probably should, yeah.” you answered but honestly you had no desires to be back in that room. “i just feel a bit out of place there.”
he took another drag of his cigarette, eyes roaming over your face, like he’s trying to see you more clearly. “yeah? i mean, you deserve to be there, you know.”
in a way you knew it was true, your debut album had gone viral and the last year had consisted of interviews, concerts, fans approaching you on the street. you’re even invited to be on a talkshow next week. yet, you still felt like the girl who wrote songs in her childhood room because she wouldn’t get a text back.
joe could tell you were unconvinced. “they’re mostly nice people,” he said, his head nudging to the door. “i mean, speaking for myself, i don’t bite.”
you chuckled ever so softly. “not even a little?” you meant it more as a joke, but it definitely sounded like a flirt. a faint heat creeping up your neck from.. embarrassment?
all he did was grin as he took another drag from his cigarette, head shaking a little as he blew out the smoke.
a beat passes before he speaks again. “i really liked your album by the way.” he said.
“really?” joe keery listened to your stuff?
“yeah really,” he leaned back against the railing, running a hand through his hair. you sound surprised.”
“wow, i guess i just.. didn’t expect you to have heard it.” you answered. it’s true, you really didn’t. his music is pretty different from yours. “i like your music.”
by the look on his face he’s surprised that you like his stuff too. “you do?”
“mhm.” you tucked a strand of hair between your ear, should you tell him you even go as far as owning a record of his?
“well, thank you.”
there’s a small pause again, but this one feels different. less awkward, more… aware.
he studies you for a second, like he’s deciding something.
“what’s your favorite song on it?” he asks, nodding slightly toward you.
you blink. “on your album?”
he hums, taking another drag. “yeah. don’t say the popular one just to be polite.”
you let out a soft laugh, shaking your head. “i wouldn’t do that.”
he raises a brow like he doesn’t fully believe you.
you lean back against the railing beside him, a little closer than before. “probably fly,” you admit after a second. “it’s… calmer than the rest. i like that.”
he goes quiet for a beat.
not in a bad way, more like you caught him off guard.
“huh,” he exhales, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “most people don’t pick that one.”
“most people don’t listen properly.” you shrug lightly. you’ve had that song on repeat. when you’d go to bed, when you were writing. it was calm, cleared your head on occasion.
that earns you a look though. a real one this time. there’s something softer in it now.
“you always this honest?” he asks.
you tilt your head slightly. “you always this surprised when someone is?”
he lets out a quiet laugh, looking down for a second before glancing back at you.
“no,” he admits, voice a little lower now. “just didn’t expect it from you.”
“from me?” you echo.
his eyes flick over you, your dress, the jewelry, the whole polished image, before settling back on your face.
“yeah. you look like you belong in there,” he nods toward the party. “not out here… hiding.”
your breath catches a little at that.
“maybe i don’t want to belong in there,” you say softly.
another beat.
closer now, somehow, even though neither of you moved much.
he flicks ash off his cigarette over the railing. “then where do you want to belong?”
your eyes meet his, and for the first time tonight, you don’t feel overwhelmed.
just… steady.
“not sure yet,” you admit. “but this is better.”
his lips twitch.
“yeah?” he says, a little teasing again. “just the view, or…”
you smile slightly, a humorous scoff escaping you but you’re not looking away this time.
“depends,” you murmur. “are you part of the view?”
he’s about to respond when the balcony doors slide open, a couple giggling celebrities who’ve had way too much to drink, come out for a smoke, interrupting the moment.
one of them spots you. “oh. my. god.” she says as her steps are now headed towards you as she pulls whoever guy she’s with, with her.
“i am just, utterly obsessed with you!!” she says, her hand on your arm. you’ve seen her before on tv, some reality show you occasionally put on if you really feel like frying your brain.
you greet her, smiling politely. but you’d desperately want to go back to flirting with joe keery.
“your win is so inspiring. like, it really shows anyone can make it.” she says.
you blink. did she just give you the most back handed compliment ever? you shoot a look at joe, who already has his eyebrows raised.
the girl rambles on some more, the slurring in her words getting more noticeable as she speaks. the guy with her, completely spaced out.
finally when it’s taken too long, joe steps in slightly. “this grammy winner has somewhere to be, excuse us.”
the girl’s face turns a little sour, an obvious hint of jealousy tainting her face.
you can’t help the surprised smile on your face as you quickly step back in to your heels.
joe takes your hand in his and starts walking, guiding you to some other place.
“where are we going?” you ask, looking at his hand holding yours as he’s walking in front of you.
“just trust me.” is all he answers.
“grammy winner?” you recall, smirking at the way he had ‘casually’ mentioned it to the girl.
“grammy winner.” he just replies.
when you’ve walked up a staircase, you realize you’re going up to the rooftop. this felt so random, so thrilling? joe keery is taking you to a rooftop.
when he opens the door, it reveals a beautiful pool, accompanied by some lounge chairs and a bunch of little lights, creating warm glows all across.
“wow.” you say, when you’re both stood still at the edge of the pool, hands still intertwined.
he hums, almost proud of himself for knowing about this place.
“are we even allowed to be here?” you look around, settling your eyes on his.
“i don’t know. probably not,” he says, the ambience lighting creating soft shadows on his face. “but it’s better than hearing that girl give you one more ‘compliment’.”
you chuckle. “anything is better than that.” you let go of his hand and when you do, you’re already missing the warmth of it.
heels are kicked off again as you sit down, dangling your legs in the water.
for a beat, it’s just quiet as he sits next to you, facing you. you’re unsure of what to say, the silence growing heavier.
you finally turn your face to look at him, his eyes already trained on yours, making your heart skip a beat.
his eyes roam over your face.
“what?” you ask, voice a lot softer than intended, a blush creeping up on your neck and face.
after a second, his hand reaches up, tucking a loose strand of hair behind your face, causing your breath to hitch.
his hand lingers on your jaw, thumb drawing circles against your cheek.
“is this.. too much?” he asks, voice soft and a little rougher than before.
all you can do is gently shake your head no, all words lost when those brown eyes are piercing yours.
his eyes look like he’s still silently seeking permission, so you lean in the tiniest bit, lips parting ever so slightly.
he couldn’t hold back any longer, from the moment he’s found out about your existence he was intrigued, it started off with enjoying your music, finding out you’re charismatic from the occasional clips he’d see passing by on his phone.
then when he saw you get on that stage and accept your grammy? he realized he definitely had been harbouring some sort of celebrity crush for you, so getting to talk to you on that balcony couldn’t have worked out better for him.
the pad of his thumb brushes over your bottom lip gently, before finally closing the distance. his hand goes to cup your jaw again, your eyes fluttering shut as you move your mouth against his.
angling your body more towards him, you lift a leg out of the pool, tucking it under you as you lean more into it, your hand at the nape of his neck.
your heart is racing, mind going blank as you feel his tongue against your teeth, lips parting further to grant him access. you can faintly taste the smoke on his tongue, clashing with the champagne on yours.
the kiss is full of pent up desire and heat, and despite the cold air of the night, your body feels hotter than ever.
his other hand moves to grab your waist, tucking you a little closer to him. he kisses like a man who’s loves, rather than a man who lusts and it takes you by surprise. his lips were soft and warm, tongue brushing against yours.
when you’re parting again, you’re breathing a bit heavier, eyes still shut for a second as you bite at the bottom of your now kiss-swollen lips.
his hand stays at your waist as he finally opens his eyes too, thumb moving up and down. it was intoxicating, and you’d kill to kiss him like that again.
“god, you’re beautiful.” he says, eyes so soft and slightly dazed.
though, the moment is cut short by the sound of the rooftop door creaking open.
you barely have time to pull back before your manager steps through, eyes widening when she finally spots you.
joe reluctantly removes his hand from your waist, giving you some more ‘respectable’ space, though the warmth of his touch still lingers.
“i have been looking everywhere for you, the people want to see you!” the manager says, voice raised as she just stands in the door opening. with the way her eyes are wide, brows furrowed, arms folded, she’s pissed.
you look at her, and back at joe.
you don’t want to leave, not now.
but when your manager calls.. you answer.
“i guess that’s my cue.” you say quietly.
joe stands, extending his hands to help you up. you take them, and for a second, neither of you lets go.
“yeah,” he says, softer this time.
you look at his face, unable to read his expression.
you hesitate but you decide to speak again. “…i don’t want this to be one of those things people forget in the morning.” you say, feeling a little vulnerable.
you didn’t just ‘kiss’ around, so you prayed he thought the same.
he blinks, a tiny smile at the corners of his lips. “good,” he says. “me neither.”
and just like that, the tight feeling in your chest loosens.
because somehow, you know this isn’t where it ends.
the next morning...