| Title: Here Without You Author: Fiery Phoenix Rating: PG to be on the safe side. Fandom: Bend it Like Beckham Pairing: Jess/Joe, implied at Jules/another character Disclaimer: Nope, BILB doesn�t belong to me. Don�t sue me, I�m only getting what the government is paying me�and that�s not much� Notes: My first BILB fic�testing the waters, so to speak. If anyone likes it, I�ll continue it�also, Joe�s last name is not noticeably mentioned in the movie, so I gave him one. If anyone knows his last name, let me know and I�ll happily change it. Summary: Pretty much a songfic/series of e-mails written back and forth from Jess/Joe and vice versa, with a few of Jules� e-mails thrown in. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Chapter One Recipient: Joe Connelly <[email protected]> Sender: Jess Bahmra <[email protected]> Sent: 12 September 12:24:18 GMT Subject: Hello! Joe, Hello from Santa Clara! What�ve you been up to? This week was AMAZING! Jules and I finally got all of our stuff moved into our dorm. It�s quite nice, and it has a cable connection so I can send e-mails to you. You have to admit it�s quite a bit cheaper than talking on the phone. Santa Clara is HUGE! I lost my way nearly six times today and had to stop and ask for directions�quite embarrassing. But my classes seem interesting enough. I haven�t chosen my major yet, mainly �cos I can�t see myself doing anything but playing football, but maybe I�ll major in something with business so I can start up my own football team someday. But don�t tell�my mum would have a fit if she found out that. America isn�t as overwhelming as I thought it would be. I thought that we would be laughed at because we talk differently from them, but no one seems to mind because there are quite a few people from different countries transferred here. In fact, there�s a girl from Nairobi playing on our football team�I think I should tell Dad that, that�d make him happy� Oh, and football is EXCELLENT. The team is really good, and our first match is in a month. Jules and I came in from our second practice a few moments ago, and we both need showers. Jules smells so bad that okay she�s looking over my shoulder at the computer so I have to be nice <BG>. But in all seriousness, I miss you Joe. I really do. I wish I could be with you right now. But then I keep thinking, �only four months until Christmas!� I still don�t know how we�re going to break this to my parents. It will be interesting, to say the least. But as long as I�m with you, it doesn�t matter what they say. Well, I have to go now. Water is a precious commodity in our dorm, and I don�t want Jules using all of it! Write back as soon as you can. Yours, Jess *~*~*~*~*~*~* A hundred days had made me older since the last time that I saw your pretty face A thousand lights had made me colder and I don�t think I can look at this the same But all the miles had separate They disappeared now when I�m dreaming of your face I�m here without you baby but your still on my lonely mind I think about you baby and I dream about you all the time I�m here without you baby but your still with me in my dreams And tonight it�s only you and me *~*~*~*~*~*~* Recipient: Jess Bahmra <[email protected]> Sender: Joe Connelly <[email protected]> Sent: 13 September 15:09:36 GMT Subject: Hello! Hello Jess, Glad to hear you�re settling in well. How big is your dorm? I had to stay in one my freshman year and I didn�t like it; it was too small. But yes, this way I won�t have to whore myself out just so I can pay my phone bill. <BG> Jess Bahmra, lost six times in one day? Inform the press! <BG again> You�ll get used to it in time�University�s much bigger than High School. I highly suggest getting a laptop so that way you won�t run out of pens or paper before your first term is up. I�m writing on mine now� America is really a nice place, once you get used to it. I went to New York for a few days a while back and it�s really big but easy to find a niche in. You shouldn�t have any problems. Is the coach treating you right? She should know that you two didn�t come all the way from London just to be degraded by some girl on a power trip. So your first match is in a month? Who are you playing? Is there any way you could get it on film so I could see it? That would be nice to look forward to. So even if I can�t see you in person, I can see you (and Jules) on film. I wish I could say how much I miss you, but there are no words for it. Are you as lonely as I, Jess? This is not going to be easy just seeing you a few times a year, but I care about you too much for me to just walk away. In all honesty, your parents will probably not be thrilled at the prospect of you bringing home a�what�s the name for me? A gora? Yes I imagine that will not go over well. But I�m willing to make it work for you Jess. And before this letter drains your spirits, start thinking about what you want me to get you for Christmas. Just remember, I AM just a broke women�s football coach�<BG> Write back�I look forward to hearing from you. Yours, Joe Chapter Two Recipient: Joe Connelly <[email protected]> Sender: Jess Bahmra <[email protected]> Sent: 15 September 17:05:36 GMT Subject: Birthday Joe! You didn�t tell me you have a birthday coming up! Why didn�t you tell me? I got the information from Jules yesterday and so I went out and got you some things. I sent it today�you should have it in a couple of days. I hope you like it. I saw this one thing I�m sending and went, �This is perfect.� And yes, Keisha, our coach, is wonderful. She�s very smart and knows her stuff. She treats us the same as everyone else, which is a nice change. It should be wicked�we�re playing UCLA first, then Sacramento. I will most definitely get the matches filmed and sent to you. Jules says hi. She�s been busier than I am the last few days; she�s gotten asked out on a date, can you believe it? The boy�s name is Travis, and he seems like a decent sort. Here�s what happened: I took your advice and went out to get a laptop, and Jules, trying to decide if she wants one or not, decided to come along. We went to this office store near campus and I saw so many different ones, but I finally found one; it�s an Apple computer, and it�s ORANGE! <BG> I love it; it runs really well, and orange is my favourite colour. (hint, hint) <BG again> So anyhow, I�m buying my laptop with Jules standing near me and the boy at the checkout line was �checking out� more than my computer! So Jules starts talking to him, and by the time my laptop was paid for, they had exchanged numbers. So she�s going out tonight. I miss you, Joe. I really do. Seeing Travis and Jules together really made me miss you more than I thought I did. You�re right, this isn�t going to be easy. But relationships that last never are. Yours, Jess *~*~*~*~* The miles just keep rolling as the people leave their way to say hello I've heard this life is overrated but I hope that it gets better as we go I�m here without you baby but your still on my lonely mind I think about you baby and I dream about you all the time I�m here without you baby but your still with me in my dreams And tonight girl it�s only you and me *~*~*~*~* Recipient: Jess Bahmra <[email protected]> Sender: Joe Connelly <[email protected]> Sent: 19 September 00:21:19 GMT Subject: Birthday Jess, It never came up in conversation! Otherwise, I would have told you earlier. When is your birthday, while we�re on the subject? I got your package today; thank you for the Santa Clara sweatshirt, the book and the pictures. I was not intending to read all of The Outsiders when I opened the package, but I did. Now I�m going to go out and buy more of S.E. Hinton�s books! You�ve made a junkie out of me, Jess� <BG> Hmmm�.Jules with a date? Remind me to tease her. I�m glad she�s found someone out there though�you have to tell me what happens. Sorry this is relatively short�It is a little past 1 AM here and I�m ready to drop. We had a wicked practice today...you Santa Clara girls better watch out! <BG> I just wanted to let you know I got the package, thank you, laugh at Jules for me, and I miss you more than it is humanly possible. Yours, Joe |