AN: I have been sitting here this summer, and I was wondering, "What should I do? I'm so bored!" I started thinking about my story that I left unfinished. I need to finish it. So please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I only own Desiree, Katelyn, etc.

Near To You

Desiree leaned against Angel's chest on the warm, white sand as the water crept upon the shore. The sun was rising in the distance starting a new day and ending their perfect yesterday. This was the first time Desiree spent the whole night with Angel. Their adventures were getting longer.

Angel kissed Desiree on the cheek and spoke, "You are so beautiful when you sleep."

Desiree blushed, "Thank you, Angel. For everything."

"There's no need to thank me. It's my civil duty." He held her close.

"What?" Desiree moved away from him, so she could look at his face, "What did you say?"

He smiled, and kissed her lips gently, and she closed her eyes and kissed him back. When he pulled away, her eyes were still closed, and he whispered in Desiree's ear, "Come find me."


Desiree woke up to her alarm clock at noon playing a beautiful song, "Just give me a reason, just a little bit's enough. Just a second, we're not broken just bent, and we can learn to love again." I hope you're right, Pink, Desiree thought as she pressed the snooze button. She thought about her dream, and what Angel said to her. It's his civil duty, she thought, that's what I said to Arthur when I bought him food. She decided to shrug it off. She looked behind her, expecting to see Joe, but his side of the bed was made. As if he wasn't there at all.

Desiree closed her eyes to see if she imagined Joe coming over and kissing him. Did I dream about every touch? You have so many times before, she thought. Then she smelled something coming from the kitchen. Was I cooking last night?, she thought as she ran down stairs, praying she didn't burn down her kitchen.

When she ran into the kitchen, she stopped panicking. Joe did come over last night.

"Good afternoon, love! You look cute." He was near the cabinet taking out plates and cups. Joe was cooking for Desiree. Desiree looked down at her pajamas: a batman t-shirt and grey sweats.

"Are you being sarcastic?" Desiree said defensively, "Because if you are-"

Joe walked over to Desiree and kissed her forehead, "No, Desiree. I'm not being sarcastic."

"Oh. Then good afternoon, Joe," Desiree smiled, and walked over to the stove, "What are you making for breakfast?"

"Ah, ah, ah. Sit down at the table, and you will see! Besides, it's brunch not breakfast." Joe gave Desiree a quick kiss before sending her to dining table.

Once she obediently sat down, and she looked at Joe concentrating on not burning the food. It's like we're married!, Desiree thought excitedly, I'm a lazy wife..

"How did you sleep?" Joe asked as he was putting the cooked food on a plate.

"I slept well, what about you?" Desiree asked, still daydreaming.

"Well, you kick in your sleep, so not the best," Joe laughed.

Desiree blushed, "I'm so sorry! I didn't know what I was doing.." I knew Joe sleeping over was a bad idea.

Joe placed a plate and a small bowl in front of Desiree, "I'm kidding. Well, you did kick me, but I didn't mind." Joe had made an omelet, bacon, and cut Desiree's favorite fruits.

"An omelet? Kiwis and strawberries? You didn't have to do this, Joe." Desiree looked down at the food.

"I woke up at 9, but I didn't want to wake you. So I made myself busy. I went to the grocery store, and bought you more food, and I made breakfast."

"Brunch," Desiree corrected, they smiled at each other, "Let's eat!"

As Desiree started eating the omelet, she could feel Joe's eyes on her. She looked up, and sure enough, his eyes were looking into hers. Desiree quickly looked down, "Yes?"

"I've missed spending time with you," Joe said. Desiree closed her eyes. Why doesn't this feel right?, Desiree thought.

"I've missed you," Desiree wanted him to know she appreciates his company, but this moment felt too perfect.

"Desiree, can we talk?"

Desiree swallowed hard, and kept her eyes on her now empty plate, "About what?"

"About that night."

She looked at Joe, "No, I don't want to," She got up and walked over to the sink.

"I know, but I need to. I didn't mean to hurt you, Desiree. It just happened," He stood up.

"Joe.."

"Desiree, you can't just ignore how you feel about that night. Just yell, and make it better."

"Yelling won't make me feel better! Lets go back to being happy, why did you have to ruin that?"

"Because," Joe started as he closed the space between him and Desiree, "I am so happy that I'm back in your life. I am," Joe caressed Desiree's cheek as tears filled her eyes, "But I can't help feeling as though you haven't completely forgiven me.."

There was silence. Joe stood there, waiting for Desiree to speak. He dropped his hand from her cheek, and looked at his feet. Tell him Desiree, she thought, he needs to know.

Desiree took a deep breath, "You broke your promise."

"What?" Joe asked.

"You broke your promise. You probably don't even remember, but there was a time when you actually cared."

"What promise?"

"You promised you would never hurt me. The day you told me you loved me."

Desiree looked at Joe carefully, hoping he cherished the memory like she has, but he didn't seem to remember.

"Well, you broke yours," Joe retorted. Unlike Joe, Desiree knew exactly what she promised two years ago.

Desiree turned away, "I think you should go."

"But Desiree," Joe started. But she ran up the stairs locking her bedroom door behind her. She laid across her bed trying ignore Joe knocking on her door. She curled up on her bed tears running down her face. Desiree closed her eyes remembering one of the last times her and Joe were happy.


Desiree was on Joe's bed watching artists perform in Times Square on television. It was New Year's Eve, and Joe invited her over to his family's party. Desiree's mom worked nights, and she would've spent New Year's Eve alone.

Joe came into his room carrying two wine glasses of Sparkling Apple Cider, "Hey, it's 11:50."

"I know! The party downstairs must be getting crazy," Desiree said taking her glass, but Joe took it back, "What?"

He put down the glasses on his bed side table, and sat next to Desiree, "You know I love you, right?"

"Of course! I love you too, Joe," Desiree assured him.

With that response, Joe caressed Desiree's cheek, and as she leaned into his hand, Joe kissed her neck. Desiree swallowed hard, and looked at Joe with her big brown eyes, "Joe?" But she knew what he was trying to do, he didn't have to say anything. He laid Desiree down on his bed, and laid next to her. She kissed her from her neck to her cheek to her lips, leaving her breathless. Desiree could feel something hard on her leg, and she started to feel nervous. Joe pulled down her strapless, blue floral dress just enough to reveal her pink bra. He was about to place his hand on her chest when...

"Joe, stop," Desiree pulled her dress back over her chest, and moved away from him.

"I'm sorry, Desiree."

"Don't be. Thank you for stopping," Desiree looked at him carefully. He was looking down at him blue comforter. Desiree lifted his head, "Don't be upset. I have no doubt in my mind that you will be my first, Joe."

"You would be my first too, Desiree," Joe said quietly.

"I'm sorry, Joe. I'm not ready yet, but I will be. Soon," Desiree said confidently.

"You promise?"

"I promise," She held out her pinkie, and they linked fingers. Then Joe leaned forward to give Desiree a passionate kiss.

When Joe pulled away, he whispered, "Happy New Year."


"I didn't break my promise," Desiree whispered to herself, and she pulled her blanket over her head.


"Let me call you sweetheart, I'm in love with you. Let me hear you whisper that you love me too." Arthur sang to many couples gathered around him, "Keep the love light glowing in your eyes so blue. Let me call you sweetheart, I'm in love..with you."

As the audience put money in his guitar case, he scanned around looking for Leslie. She won't stop me this time, he thought happily. He quickly grabbed the money, packed Roxy, and closed the case. He headed toward Desiree's house.

I miss her so much, and I've only known her for a week?, he thought, I must be in over my head.

When Arthur reached her front gate, he saw a guy with brown hair and tan skin walk out Desiree's front door.

Arthur would have kept walking down Desiree's block until this strange guy was gone, but he had a weird feeling..

The stranger saw Arthur, "I don't have any money, and this house has a security system, so don't even think about stealing."

This guy has probably never left the suburban part of New York, Arthur thought, smiling to himself.

"I'm not here to steal anything. My name is Arthur, and I'm here to see Cookie," Arthur said politely, "I mean Desiree. Is she home?" Must be one of Cookie's friends..

"Desiree? Yea, she's home." he replied. When Arthur walked through the gate and was about to walk past the strange guy, he stepped in front of Arthur.

Arthur looked at him, and he spoke, "My name is Joe, and I'm her boyfriend."

Arthur narrowed his eyes, "She never told me she had a boyfriend."

Joe smirked, "Why would she tell you?" He paused. "Are you and Desiree friends?"

"Yea, we are friends. She helped me out last week," Arthur said cooly, "She even wanted me to spend the night."

"Oh really?" Joe seemed to be listening now.

"Yea, maybe your relationship with her is all in your head?" Arthur rose an eyebrow.

Joe looked angry, but then calmed down, "Well, I guess me staying over at Desiree's last night was in my head too."

Arthur's heart sank into his stomach. Is she really with this creep? Did she have sex with him?, he thought. Arthur's jealousy built up inside him, and he wanted to punch Joe, but he needed to be as calm as he was.

"Whatever, man."

Joe got into Arthur's face, "Stay away from her. I'm in love with Desiree, and no one is going to get in the way of our relationship."

"I'm-," Arthur started, but he couldn't finish with what he wanted to say, "I'm leaving. But don't worry, you'll see me again."

As Arthur walked back through the front gate, and down Desiree's block again, he replayed the conversation he and Joe just had in his head. He couldn't believe what happened. He was jealous, sad, and angry all at the same time. Why didn't she tell him about Joe? More importantly, Arthur thought, was I about to say I'm in love with Desiree?


Arthur headed toward the theater after hiding from Safeway's coworkers. He had just successfully stolen bread and vodka. He couldn't stop thinking about Joe and Desiree together. I can't believe I fell for another Leslie. He had already eaten all the bread by the time he reached the theater's front doors. When he got inside the theater, he sat down in the back row, he opened the bottle, and took a swig. After a second swig, Arthur began to cough, and rubbed his chest.

"Can't handle your vodka?" Wizard echoed from the stage.

"This is my first time, but I'm 17-years old, I'll learn," Arthur said drinking another mouthful.

"Why are you drinking, boy?" Wizard said taking the bottle only to have a mouthful as well.

Arthur told Wizard about meeting Desiree and what Joe told him today, and did all he could to not cry in front of Wizard.

"Vodka doesn't fix this kind of pain," Wizard started, "But it helps."

Arthur laughed at Wizard, looked at him, and waited for him to continue, "I don't think you should take this Joe guy seriously. You can only believe what Cookie tells you."

"I'm effectively drunk," Arthur stated, finishing the bottle, "and heartbroken."

Wizard patted him shoulder, "It'll pass," Wizard got up from the theater seat, and headed backstage, "Talk to her!"

Arthur knew what he needed to do, but he was afraid of what Desiree would say. What if she doesn't love me?


Desiree sat at her piano in her bedroom. As she touched the keys, she thought about Joe. When she woke from her nap she realized it had started to rain hard, and it didn't help with her sad mood.

She closed her eyes, and started to play, "Your fingertips across my skin, the palm trees swaying in the wind. Images. You sang me Spanish lullabies, the sweetest sadness in your eyes. Clever trick," Tears began to fall down her cheek, "Well I never want to see you unhappy. I thought you'd want the same for me. Goodbye my almost lover, goodbye my hopeless dream. I'm trying not to think about you, can't you just let me be? So long my luckless romance, my back is turned on you. Should've known you'd bring me heartache, almost lovers always do."

When Desiree stopped, she heard her doorbell ring. She looked at her clock, and it read 11:13 p.m. Who would be here this late? She rolled her eyes, knowing who it was already. Joe.

She slowly went downstairs, and yelled, "You better have a good reason why you're here this late!"

When Desiree opened the door, she was happy to see Arthur, "You sound sadder than me, Cookie," Arthur smiled weakly.

"Arthur! Come in," She opened the door wider, but instead of walking in, Arthur swayed side to side.

"I need help," Arthur hiccuped. Desiree held onto his arm, and helped him into the living room.

"Um, Arthur?"

"Yea," He said laying his head on Desiree's shoulder.

"Are you drunk?"

"Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner! You get a drunk guy on your couch," He lightly poked Desiree's nose, and moved his head on her lap, "Wait," He sat up quickly, "I'm mad at you."

"If I did something to hurt you, I'm sorry," Desiree said looking concerned.

"Why did you sleep with Joe?" Arthur asked.

"What?" Desiree said.

"Why couldn't you sleep with me?" Arthur slurred.

"What?!" Desiree yelled standing this time, "Who told you that I slept with Joe? How do you know Joe?"

"That rhymed!" Arthur clapped.

Whoa, he's really drunk, Desiree thought, "Arthur, please tell me. What makes you think that I had sex with Joe?"

"I can't," Arthur said.

"Why?"

"I'll be right back," Arthur ran into Desiree's bathroom, and started to retch. Soon after, Desiree came in, "No, Desiree. I don't want you to see me like this."

"You came over to my house for a reason. It's not my fault you are throwing up in my bathroom," Desiree smiled while rubbing his back.

After he finished puking, Desiree got him a glass of water and a toothbrush. This confused Arthur, "Why did you get me a toothbrush? It's not like-"

"You are staying the night, and that's that," Desiree stated, "You are in no condition to walk about New York at 12:30 in the morning."

"But Desiree-" Arthur started.

"Ah, ah," Desiree held up a finger, "Now shower, brush your teeth, and drink your water."

"Then go up to your room?" He smiled.

"Yes," Desiree said slowly. She turned on her heels, and walked upstairs. When she closed the door, she started to pace across her bedroom floor.

"Okay Desiree," She started, "You have a drunk homeless musician in your house who is sleeping over the night after your first love slept over. Does this make you an awful person?" Desiree stopped pacing to ponder this, "Maybe." She concluded.

I love Joe, but..am I falling for Arthur too?

AN: I hope you enjoyed!(: Please review!

Title Inspiration: Near To You by A Fine Frenzy

Songs used: Just Give Me Reason by Pink ft. Nate Ruess, Let Me Call You Sweetheart by Bing Crosby, Almost Lover by A Fine Frenzy