Joe Keery Imagines

Online Relationship-Keys

Keys and Y/N met in Free Life two months ago. Since then, they've logged on at the same time every day, met in the same place, and played the game together. They've talked to each other and learned as much as they could about the other.

She learned about everything that Antwon did and how Keys and Millie got their AI back. He learned everything about her parent's divorce and how the game was her escape from their fighting and the stress of nursing school.

The more they talked, the closer they got to each other. Soon, the only thing that was off about them was the fact that they've never met face-to-face. It's not that they didn't want to meet each other. Neither one of them suggested it first.

Keys was about to change that. He took a shaky breath before blurting out the thing that he's wanted to ask her for a long time.

"We should meet." He quickly added, "You know, in person."

He held his breath as he waited for her response. The longer it took her to say something, the more like an idiot he felt.

"I don't know," she finally stuttered. Her eyes filled with tears when she thought of the last time someone she met online wanted to meet.

"It's not that I don't want to meet you, Keys," she said softly. "It's just. . . Last time. . ."

"Last time? What happened last time?"

"My friends had pushed me to start online dating. I started talking to this guy and he said he wanted to meet. I hesitated but eventually gave in. We went to dinner and things were going really well until. . . He kept. . . He tried to. . . I said no but he. . ."

"Y/N," he whispered when she didn't finish any of her thoughts. "Did someone try to hurt you?"

Y/N covered her mouth, trying to hide her cries. Keys' heart jumped into his throat when he heard her struggling to hold back her sob.

"Y/N," he said gently. "I'm so sorry that happened to you. But that guy was a jerk. He didn't deserve to meet you and he sure as hell doesn't deserve you."

Y/N held her breath as Keys hesitated. She could tell that he wanted to say more so she waited.

"Y/N," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I hope you know that I would never do that to you. I would never hurt you, Y/N. I need you to know that."

"I believe you," she whispered.

She closed her eyes and took a shaky breath. She knew Keys. And he knew her. Since the day they met, he's been nothing but truthful with her. She's gotten to know everything about him and he has given her no reason not to trust him.

"He forced himself on me."

This was the first time she had told anyone about what happened that night. But she trusted him.

"Y/N," Keys whispered, "you don't have to."

"I want to," she continued shakily. "I trust you and I want to tell you what happened."

"Okay," Keys nodded. "And I want to hear it."

"It started with him touching my knee under the table," Y/N started to shakily explain. "But then he asked if I wanted to go to the bathroom with him. When I refused. . . He tried to drag me. Luckily, our waitress had been watching. When he tried to force me into the bathroom, she got the manager. He ran over, asked if I was alright, and kicked the guy out. He let me stay and told me dinner was on them."

"I'm so sorry," Keys sighed. He leaned back in his chair and shook his head. "What's his username?"

"Why?" She chuckled.

"Because I'm going to find him and ban his ass from the game."

"Keys," she sighed. "It's okay."

"No," he said through his teeth, "it's not. Guys using the game to hook up with girls is disgusting. It's not the purpose of Free Life. The purpose of the game is to. . ."

Keys cut himself off, stopping himself from continuing on with his rant. He took a shaky breath as he thought about Y/N.

"I'm sorry," he said under his breath. "I just hate that he did that to you."

"He was a horrible guy," she sighed.

"I understand if you don't want to meet."

"I didn't say that I didn't want to meet," she cut him off, her smile finally returning. "Keys, you're nothing like him. I know you won't hurt me."

"So," he hesitated, "you want to meet?"

"Absolutely," Y/N chuckled. "Just name the time and place."

* * * * *

Y/N's breath got caught in her throat when they linked eyes. They slowly walked towards each other, their smiles matching. The second they were inches from each other, they stopped.

They wanted to talk but neither one of them knew what to say. Instead of saying anything, Keys did something he's wanted to do since they met online for the second time.

He gently grabbed her face and pressed his lips to hers. Before either one of them could get into the kiss, Keys quickly broke it.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "You told me about that guy and. . . I swear I wasn't trying to take advantage of you. I've just wanted to kiss you since our first online date."

"Keys," she gently cut him off. He bit his bottom lip, his cheeks burning. "It's okay."

Y/N stood on her toes and pressed her lips back to his. She felt him smile as he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her back. When neither one of them could breathe, he broke the kiss.

"You hungry?" He asked.

"I could eat," she shrugged, her face still flushed. He smiled as he reached down and grabbed her hand, intertwining their fingers. They started to walk towards Keys' car but he stopped them.

"You okay?" She asked. He took a shaky breath before turning towards her.

"I promise that I'm in this," he started. "I'm not using you in any way. I care about you, Y/N, a lot and I want you in my life. I really like you, Y/N. So much so that I think. . . I can't believe I'm about to say this, but I think I fell in love with you."

Y/N stood on her toes and gently pressed her lips to his. He smiled before kissing her back. She broke the kiss and leaned far back enough that she could look into his eyes.

"I think I fell in love with you too."