Location Scouting--Challenge #111 (PG-13)

[librarian_7]

A/N: The challenge, to explore some facet of a minor character. Here’s a look at a scene that could have happened, somewhere before the events of Love Lasts Forever.


Location Scouting


The late afternoon sun glinted off the surf, as the lone motorcyclist wheeled into a beach parking area, and, revving the engine into a last snarling roar, shut it down. Maybe this would be the place.

It had been a long afternoon; a lot of riding, a lot of thinking. He wasn’t sure when his original intentions had changed, but if the idea had been to get his head straight and decide where his future was going, well, he had accomplished that. And the trek had turned into a different sort of quest. He’d been to the Griffith Park Observatory, to half a dozen other places, but nothing seemed right. And he wanted more than just right, he wanted memorable. He wanted perfect.

He pulled his helmet off, and ran his hand through his dark hair. It was too warm to keep his black leather jacket zipped, even with the breeze coming in off the Pacific. After he’d set the helmet aside on the seat, he opened the jacket, letting the sea air in against his thin white tee beneath. That was better. He took a deep breath of the salt air, and looked around.

At this time of day, people were packing up and leaving, the girls in flirty cover-ups carrying sandy blankets and damp towels over their arms, couples with baskets stuffed with the careless remains of picnic lunches. Only the wet-suited surfers stayed, pushing against the tide for a few last runs at the rolling waves. He hadn’t been surfing for years. Not since he was a teenager, he thought.

A few of the girls cast appreciative eyes over the motorcyclist, and he scrubbed a hand over his jaw, a little embarrassed. He needed another shave. It had been awhile since he’d taken the bike out on the road, what with his girlfriend worried about the safety of it. He’d forgotten the reaction he got with it. It was…gratifying, to have the girls look at him like that.

He chuckled to himself. If things went well, his days of needing a chick magnet were over.

True enough, things hadn’t been good, lately. He wasn’t sure if Beth was losing interest, if she was developing real feelings for someone else, or if he’d just been too busy to pay enough attention to her. If they’d both been too busy to connect. What with the Fayed case, and the black crystal debacle, he’d been spending a lot of time at the office.

Well, he meant to change that. As soon as this Tejada case was put to bed, he was going to ease up a little, make more time for her. And make sure she’d want to make more time for him. He was convinced that was all it would take, that she just needed to see that he was fully committed to her, to them. To a future, together.

He walked out onto the sand, staring out into the distance, and put a hand into the pocket of his jacket, feeling for a little velvet box. His grandmother had left it to him, telling him on one of their last visits to give it to the girl he married. It wasn’t the value of the stones, or the setting, it was the continuity. The ring that would welcome her into the family. Into his family, for always.

He’d have to give that jeweler his colleague had recommended a call. Celeste something. He had the number. His grandmother’s hands had been tiny, and the band of the ring was worn with decades of wear. Beth needed a better setting. Something more up-to-date. Grandmother would approve.

Yeah, this would make a great place, exactly what he wanted. He indulged in a brief fantasy, seeing himself with Beth, here, at sundown. In his mind’s eye, the beach was empty, and she was standing gazing up at him with love in her eyes. As the sun hit the horizon, he’d take her hand and slip the ring onto her finger, as she promised to marry him.

He’d taken the bike out today to think about whether to break up with her, but he knew that wasn’t what he wanted. And standing here on the beach, alone, he knew he was ready to take the next step. Ready to propose. He snapped the box shut and smiled into the gathering shadows of the evening. Life was looking pretty good.

In fact, perfect.

[cassysj]

Given what we know this had me Poor Josh, I'm glad he didn't see it coming.

[darkstarrising]

Your glimpse into Josh's thoughts show that perhaps he shared some of the blame for their drifting apart, and that he too, had his ambivalent moments.

He’d taken the bike out today to think about whether to break up with her, but he knew that wasn’t what he wanted.

Loved how he fantasized about being on the beach and giving her the ring and her promise to marry.

Life was looking pretty good.

In fact, perfect.

Yet only a few weeks later, someone else would be on the beach with Beth.

Really sweet, Lucky

[RangerCM]

This is just heart breaking.......

And beautifully written. I knew who this was half way through the second paragraph, making it even more sad to read.

[MoonShadow]

I love the little peeks into the thoughts of the supporting cast of ML. I think it adds a wonderful dimension to our little world.
Thanks so much,

[allegrita]

Oh, this is really well done, Lucky. Perfectly woven into canon, and also incorporating some facts we learned later on--like how adorable Josh would look in a black motorcycle jacket and a white T-shirt, needing a shave... Ooh, sorry... *ahem*

Josh must have wondered whether he had a hope of making things work with Beth, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if he had contemplated breaking up with her to avoid her breaking up with him. And he obviously made a new commitment to their future. I can see him standing there at the beach, imagining how it would be when he asked Beth and she joyfully accepted his proposal. So sweet, and so very, very sad.

But... in some ways, I'm actually glad he died before he found out that she would've said no.

[helloeeze]

Oh, this is sad. Reminds me we never know what the future will bring. It's hard to dislike Josh when his only fault is....he's not Mick.

[mitzie]

So very sad!! And Josh admitting to himself that he made some mistakes in the relationship. And his vision of how he would propose to Beth and she would accept and oh this is just so sad and beautifully written...


mitzie

[francis]

How wonderful this short story is! Perfectly in character, yet showing a side of Josh we didn't get to see in the show. He was always the lawyer in a suit. As we have seen how good Jordan looks in a white T and leather jacket needing a shave, this was something that I could relate to. I wonder why Beth said it was too dangerous. Well, she's always seeking the thrill and then backing off when she gets scared. It's great how you give us a glimpse into Beth too.

This is heartbreaking with what we know happens later. He was so committed to making this work.

But... in some ways, I'm actually glad he died before he found out that she would've said no.

Not that I wasn't choking up when reading the story, but this comment made me shed a tear. Greek tragedy in the making.

[coco]

Oh this is sad.

A wonderful insight into the thoughts of Josh at this time. All his hopes for his & Beth's future and his uncertainty about their relationship. Now given I've seen Jordan at BBM in the leather jacket, t-shirt and scruff ( ) the image of Josh on the bike was wonderful. Not just the straight-laced lawyer in the suit is a wonderful image for Josh.

Very poignant indeed and I'm with Alle - I'm glad he didn't get to witness the fact that Beth would have said no.

[wollstonecraft61]

Oh, Lucky, I love this vignette. I picture Josh the way Jordan looked with his scruffy beard and jacket at the ML convention. I also was struck by the irony of the beach...he was going to propose there, where weeks later, Beth admitted to Mick that she would have said no and that she felt something for Mick. Just so sad. Josh didn't deserve any of what he got. He wasn't an a--hole, he loved Beth, she thought she loved him up until Mick came into her life, he tried to work things out with her when he saw her interest slipping. Just so sad...

[moonlight_vixen]

What a heartbreaking piece..

[librarian_7]

Thanks for the comments, my friends...I figure, we don't know for sure that Josh didn't have a little bit of a wild side...and well, so many of us saw Jordan totally rock the black leather jacket and scruff.

So, a little love for Josh, whose only fault was that he wasn't Mick.

Lucky

[Moonlighter]

A very, very sad peek into Josh's contemplation about his relationship with Beth. Bless him for making the decision to try to make it work, but like Alle and others have said, I'm glad he did not live to witness her rejection.

Thanks for the visual of a leather jacketed, T-shirted, scruffy Josh. Uh-huh -- I saw those photos from the convention too!! But one question for ya:

Spoiler:

Do you consider Josh a "minor" character? 'Cause I sure didn't!!

[Lilly]

Lucky, I was so happy to see this pop back up on active topics today. I had almost forgotten about it in the wake of "bigger" stories.

I remember the first time I read it -- at first being delighted to see Josh painted with a more rugged brush, as we had seen Jordan, with the black leather, white tee and scruff. That superficial reaction gave way to a deeper appreciation, though, for a more complex, well-rounded character than we were allowed on the show. This scenario is so totally believable to me. This is the Josh who might take his date to a bar to play video golf or who might playfully tease that he might be cheating on Beth as she lay next to him in bed. There were plenty of hints that this man was more than a boring, by-the-book, stuffed shirt. We just never got to see that side of him.

And, even now, those last few lines send a shiver down my spine. The tone throughout this piece is hopeful. There's a building confidence that is so engaging that by the time you reach those final words, you can almost believe that everything will be all right. And then it hits you.