Kid Brother II
Part Two of Part One
I'm trying to build a 4 or 5 part fic so bear with me! I'm totally open to requests in the mean time and would love any constructive criticism. Thanks for everyone's responses! 💙
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The bold oranges bleed into yellows and the sky becomes a muted blue as the sun's vibrance shines down on us. I wrap my blanket tighter around my shoulders, trying to ward off the morning chill. All of my girls were here and we were finally free enough to do something as simple as watching the sun rise over the sleepy town and my heart felt full. But-as there was always a but with me-a little part of me wished I had someone to share it with...romantically. I wish I had somebody else wrapped in this blanket so we could experience the magnificance together.
"I definitely need to bring Alfie up here soon," Zoe says as if reading my mind.
"It would be so romantic," Poppy scrunchles her nose. "Though Sean would probably talk through the whole thing."
We laugh when Anna says, "But you would love it."
I let out a sigh as Zoe leans her head on my shoulder. Every single one of my friends had been in long term relationships. They all knew what love was and I felt left behind. 27 and I didn't know what it meant to be in love. I blamed myself for it, obviously, I was so in love with my job that I always told myself work first and boys second. I didn't regret that but moments like these made me ache a little.
"You'll find someone soon," Zoe hears my sigh. "When you least expect it and you'll fall for each other and it will be better than what you imagine."
I smile at her optimism. And then the other girls find it funny to add on "and he'll have the biggest muscles you've ever seen," or "and he won't mind driving you around London traffic," while dissolving in fits of laughter.
"You guys are all so clever," I smile at my friends. "But almost half of those things are not even my type."
Zoe sits up and raises her eyebrows, "So what is your type Y/N?"
I think for a second, "Definitely not ripped, huge muscles are a turn-off!" Niomi sighs. "He's got to be handsome, strong-and that's mentally too! I love a good head of hair, he's got to be funny! And knows how to let loose..."I trail off as a certain someone pops into my head and I see Zoe's mind at work. "Got to be at least a couple years older," I add in. "Oh and taller than me. Nothing that starts with 5!"
We decide to grab breakfast and head back to Zoe's where most of us have to head back to our everyday busy lives.
"It was so relaxing being here, thanks Zoe."
"Stop working yourself so hard!" She complains as she pulls me in a tight hug.
"Hey! You should not be talking ms-throwing-christmas-launches-in-october!" Zoe laughs into my shoulder before releasing me.
"We need to remember to just hang out more."
"Deal!"
"It was nice of you to come by, sorry I wasn't home." Alfie comes up behind Zoe, peeling an orange.
"Oh at least I got to see your face in real life," I give Alfie a quick hug.
"Oi!" A voice echoes from upstairs. Shit I didn't know Joe was still around.
"I'm heading to London right after my video uploads. Ride with me."
I meet Zoe's eye and she raises her eyebrow. "May as well, I'm sure he'd like the company."
I shout an "okay" and excuse myself to go upstairs.
"How long is the uploading gonna take?" I ask Joe from his doorway. He's got his laptop in the middle of the bed while he stuffs pieces of clothing into a duffle bag.
"Should be 10 max. Then we can head out."
I step into the room and sit on the bed, "Sounds good."
Joe's eyes scan the room and then he sits next to me with his laptop. "I've been meaning to ask you if you could star in one of my videos?"
"Me?" I ask, confused since I'd never been on an official video before-just in the occasional vlog.
"Yeah, I sort of wanted to do a childhood type video next time I'm in Brighton. Mikey is making the trip to London in a few weeks so I was gonna take him with. And since you grew up with us, I dunno, thought it would add something more for the viewers. Plus they're always asking about you when you pop up on mine or Zoe's."
I consider it, "I'm not the best for something so formal."
What?! You don't have to be we'll all just be talking so no pressure."
I agree to it after he gives me some more details. Sitting this close, I can't help put drink in his features as he lays it out. When he was serious, Joe looked older but in a handsome way. I tried not to think more on it but my stomach started fluttering and I got up abruptly.
"Sounds lovely Joseph, I'm just gonna use the toilet before we go."
"Uh yeah," Joe looks at me funny as I fly out of the room.
I take extra long so by the time I'm done I hear Joe's voice downstairs. We were ready to go.
"No more portals, you're ruining the-the feng shui of the house." Zoe tells Joe as I step down. "The Feng shui?" Joe asks laughing.
Alfie lines up in front of the vlogging camera, "we've had a few ghosts show up through that portal. It's almost Halloween we don't want any more coming through."
"Joe's portal's creating tears in the fabric of the Zalfie house?" I joke and suddenly the camera's on me. Joe walks towards me as Zoe and Alfie chime in their agreement. "This is the lead archaeologist here at the Zalfie residence. Now what is it about these tears?"
"Archaeologist?" I ask Joe.
"Shh-scientist, now what were you saying?" Joe pretends to hold up a microphone as he angles the camera at us.
"These tears," I put on a serious voice and look into the camera, "are the result of the space portal Joesph Sugg has created and time and space is always a tricky concept wouldn't you agree?" I look at Joe who's been staring at me with a smile on his face. He nods while taking off his glasses and perching them on my nose. I almost laugh but bite my lip. "Nasty things slip through as Alfie Deyes has already told us so we need to let the portals remain stagnant for...2 months and...."
"16 days," Joe finishes.
"Precisely," I giggle as Joe takes the camera off of me and realise Zoe is doubled over giggling silently. Alfie is shakind his head at us but his smile reveals his humour.
"...so I guess we'll be taking the Mercedez." Joe explains. I walk away from him as he finishes up and give Zoe and Alfie another hug. Joe catches up to me and grabs my bag as well as his.
"What the bloody hell is in here?" Joe asks. "Just clothes, some toiletries." I respond. He shakes his head as he loads up the back. He sets up the camera on the dashboard after he turns on the car but he accidentally knocks it near my feet. There's an audible crack and we look at each other in horror as we reach for it at the same time.
"Shit," I say as Joe yelps. We pull back our heads and I rub the side before laughing. "Sorry you alright?"
"I'll be bloody fine what about the camera?"
I reach down for it, alone, and hand it to Joe. "I guess it's hard for anything to hurt that thick skull."
His mouth drops, "You're the worst at being nice!" I laugh evilly as he checks out his camera.
"That's weird nothing's wrong," Joe says and then points it towards him. "And it's been on which means everyone heard the real Y/N Y/L/N. She is as icy as they get ladies and gents."
I shrug my shoulders, "I'm a scientist just reporting the facts."
Joe raises his eyebrows and turns to the camera. "I am getting roasted so I'll just," he sticks his hand in front of the camera and turns it off. "That's really odd I swear I heard a crack."
I look down and suddenly spot the culprit. A small glass bottle of hot sauce is wedged under the seat. I pick it up and show Joe. We have a good laugh and soon we're on our way.
"How was the sunrise?" Joe asks after we listen to the radio for a bit.
"It was lush," I gush. "It was so many shades of the most beautiful colours, and it slowly lit up every single thing. It was so bloody romantic."
Joe laughs, "Romantic? You didn't even have your boyfriends up there."
"Well all the girls wished they were. Obviously I don't have one but if I did, that would be amazing."
"Aren't you dating that guy...Jackson?"
"Jacob? God Joe I went on a few dates with him three months ago. He was too clingy. That was so long ago!"
"Well I never bloody see you! You're always up at the crack of dawn rushing to work then rushing home where you work some more."
Joe is referencing to one morning when I bumped into him while getting coffee after I hadn't seen him in months but left after a two minute chat. He texted me afterwards saying how offended he was he wasn't worth more of my time-joking of course.
"It's just my job!" I defend myself.
"Yeah but you should take a break, hang out with friends. We live in the same part of London but I never even see you!"
"Well we lead different lives."
"No, next time I go out I am going to make sure you're there. And then I can watch you get drunk because I have not experienced that since your college days, and before that...senior dance." Joe laughs. I blush with embarassment.
"Fine, as long as it's not on a weekday and I don't have a date."
I go back to texting on my phone but Joe interrupts after a while.
"So...Justin?"
"Jacob." I correct him.
"Yeah, that bloke. He was clingy? What does that mean?"
"Well I told him from the beginning work's a huge priority for me and he said it was fine by him but after the third date he would get so annoyed if I didn't text him right away or if it took me over an hour to respond. He was too much."
"It takes you an hour to respond?"
"Ugh not you too." I roll my eyes.
"No-seriously Y/N are you that invested in work? I'm not so sure that's healthy."
"Listen Joeseph I get enough shite from all my other friends I don't need yours added in. That's like my kid brother lecturing me on working so much."
"I'm not your kid brother," Joe says.
"Obviously not!" I say-that would be creepy. "My kid brother is 21. I said like."
"I'm like your kid brother?" Joe asks and I could tell he was offended and maybe that was a little condescending but I was trying to ignore my newfound crush by saying what I should be believing.
"Ugh don't take it so literally Joe!" I pull out my phone again and browse through it as Joe stays silent the rest of the ride. When he pulls up in front of mine, I finally put the phone down.
"Thank you," I punch his shoulder lightly after he merely nods his head. "Why are you so moody?"
"Just tired," he comments.
I let it go, not in the mood to have any sort of discussion with him. Especially when he looked so hot that moody. "I expect to hear from you soon about that invite," I tease. "I'll see you around."
That finally gets him to look at me and his face melts into a smile, "You better be ready to go out with me."
My heart skips a beat but I play it off with a laugh. "You'd be surprised with how well I hold my liquor."
I walk up the steps to the apartment and as soon as I get inside I flop onto my bed. That was the most tense and emotionally confusing car ride I have ever had
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