Sounds Like Love

Joni and the voice chat on the phone. They discover that they’re both in one another’s heads, but neither understands why. They engage in playful banter until Gigi texts Joni. Joni abruptly ends the call with the voice and tells herself to ignore him from now on.

Joni runs into Van at Cool Beans Café. Overwhelmed by seeing him again, her mind immediately shifts into memories of their past relationship. They were “friends in high school” and dated through college (78). Joni expected them to be together forever, but Van broke up with her just before graduation, revealing that she didn’t fit into his plans. Van has lived in Boston for the last nine years. Given how long it’s been since their breakup, Joni is surprised that he seems glad to see her and that she feels drawn to him, too. They part ways, and Joni joins Gigi at her table. She asks Gigi whether she thinks “If You Stayed” is about Van. Gigi encourages Joni to answer that question for herself.