#kidbrother

A/N: It's here! It's finally here! The last chapter. That took ages but I'm done. Read the rest here :)

I sit on the floor of the living room crossed-legged in the small space between the sofa and the coffee table; I tended to do my best work when I was on the ground. I type on the laptop resting on the coffee table as a mute Harry Potter movie plays in the back.

"Oh I forgot to mention," Joe says from where he lay on the sofa behind me. "I found a really funny picture my mum took of the three of us when we were young."

Joe was the only one left staying up late with me-kind of like old times. Zoe and Alfie had left for bed and Mike went home an hour ago.

"I'm not sure if I'm ready to see it," I groan. "I already know your mum's kept all the embarassing photos because she was always taking her camera out."

This begins two weeks after the last one. Clearly nothing momumental happened when Joe went back lol! One more part left and this fic is done!!

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I'm in line for my morning coffee when my phone buzzes. I pick up as soon as I see Joe's face.

"Hey," I answer.

"Y/N! Glad I caught you what you doing this weekend?"

"Um, I-"

"No that was rhetorical!" Joe cuts me off. "I'm going to tell you what you're doing!"

"Okay," I say amused. "What am I doing?"

"You're coming down to Brighton with me and I'm filming that video I talked to you about."

"This weekend?" I run through my head my upcoming deadlines. "I've got something due Tuesday."

"I don't bloody care Y/N! Bring your work with you but you are coming down even if I have to come down and haul your arse there myself!"

"Okay! Alright!" I say defensively. I guess I could take my laptop down and work from Zoe's place. "How was Germany?" I ask Joe about his recent trip for a collaboration there.

"I'm telling you in person-that way you have to come." He responds stubbornly.

"I said I was didn't I?! Where's the trust Sugg!"

"I lost it many moons ago," his voice muffles and comes back on. "Y/N I've got another call but I'll be seeing you bright and early Saturday."

I can't help the smile from spreading across my face the entire way back to work.

Joe's POV

"I've got a meeting Sunday morning," Zoe tells me. She rang me to get back about the video while I was on the phone with Y/N. "But if we film Saturday that works out perfectly."

"Great. Mikey's staying with his brother in Brighton so you'll just have to put up with us two," I reference Y/N.

"Like old times," she comments. "When are we all going on a double date then? Me and Alf, you and Y/N."

I chuckle, "What does that mean?"

"Joe come on!" Zoe groans. "I know you've had a crush on her since we were kids. Me and mum had bets on what you two would argue about next. Just ask her out already!"

"Zoe I can't just ask Y/N out!" I say.

"Why the heck not Joseph?"

"She's-she's Y/N!"

"But you don't deny you're in love with her?" Zoe prods.

"I don't even know what love is Zoe jeez. And I've no idea if she even likes me that way. And she's got this thing with guys younger than her-"

"Because of her stupid ex I know Joe, I'm her best friend! But I also know her type and she was describing you!"

"I dunno Zoe how am I even supposed to ask her?"

"You let her know you're interested," Zoe advises. "Then you ask her out. I'm not filming tomorrow if you don't agree to do something this weekend."

"I hate you," I joke.

"I love you too Joseph," she laughs. "I'll see you tomorrow."

•••

Joe picks me up around 9 and we talk about the video he wants to film on our way to Brighton. It was a rare sunny day for UK and it brightened my mood tenfolds. Joe asks if I'd seen one of his videos for reference but I confess I hadn't watched much Youtube recently.

"So what the heck do you do in your spare time?"

"I'll watch Netflix! And I hit up the gym, go out with friends! Why are you always picking on my choices!" I argue back.

"You're the most boring person ever Y/N," Joe says.

"And what makes you so not boring?" I challenge. "Maybe I should start filming myself and then I'll be interesting!"

Joe laughs my jab off, "Actually I've published comic books, one which has your name on it somewhere in the back seat. And I travel often and I'm producing my own music with my band!"

"You're what?! Joe that's so exciting! Since when?" I forget our argument.

"Actual producing? Not long but yeah it makes me nervous too!"

"Joe your voice is amazing, remember those talent show rehearsals we'd put on as kids?" I reminisce.

"You always lost," Joe laughs.

"Because the Suggs are born with musical talent!" He agrees.

•••

"Thank you all hope you enjoyed this very special episode of Sugg Sunday special," Joe does his outro and I wave goodbye to the camera. I'm sat between Mikey and Zoe, my hair is covered in slime and I've eaten too many 90s candies I could feel my teeth rotting on the spot.

"I need to brush my teeth," I stand up carefully so the remnants of the video don't ruin Zoe's floors. "And then I'm taking a steamy shower."

"I think I'll just clean up at my brother's," Mikey says.

"Aw no, stay! I haven't seen you in ages!" I say and Zoe seconds it. He promises to come by in the evening and I go upstairs to wash off the 90s nostalgia.

After I'm washed out, my hand naturally goes to my makeup bag to cover up the blemishes on my skin and the birthmark on my hairline but I pause. There was no need for that. I enter the guest bedroom and put on a hoodie and jeans and dry my hair off. When I make it down, everyone is debating what to order in for dinner.

"I'm alright with pizza," I give my input but nobody agrees. I shrug and sit on the sofa with my laptop. It was time to get some work done but before I could type my password in it's yanked from my lap and shut.

"That's rude etiquette," Joe holds the laptop to his chest. "You can't just work while we're all having fun!"

"Joe!" I grab the laptop from him. "I have a deadline! The agreement was to film and I could bring my work here."

"Huh," Zoe says from where she sits. "Seems we all had agreements with Joe for this video." A look passes between the two siblings but I chalk it up to some inside joke.

When the doorbell rings, everyone gets excited for food but turns out Mikey had returned. Soon after, the food actually does show up and Zoe puts on a movie. I dim the brightness to my laptop but Joe continues to complain that it's distracting him from the movie.

"Well move from your seat!" I say. He sat a seat away from me but there was plenty of space elsewhere. Instead he shifts over to sit right beside me.

"It's even worse!" He complains and I roll my eyes.

"Let her live," Zoe shakes her head.

"That's what I'm trying to do!" Joe exclaims so I sigh and close the screen. Joe takes it one step further and places it on the table. He then proceeds to rest his disgusting feet on my lap.

"You're disgusting!" I shove his feet off of me. I take back everything I've thought these past two weeks! Joe was a child.

"You two really haven't grown out of that," Mikey laughs. Nala thinks it's a game and runs up to the couch, looking between the two of us.

"She's a grouch isn't she?" Joe asks Nala. "Who do you love better?"

Nala continue looking from one to the other. Joe pats his lap to get Nala to come up but she runs away to Zoe instead.

"Wow," Joe leans back on the couch but since he hasn't moved back to his seat we're next to each other.

"You'll never win over his love," I whisper.

"I didn't want it anyway," he responds.

I chuckle and give my full attention to the screen. Some high school trio were slowly being separated in a creepy forest. Typical. My hands itch for my laptop and Joe catches it because he lets out a dramatic sigh and grasps my hands in his.

"You're addicted," he whispers so the others don't hear. But his touch sends butterflies, birds and the whole damn safari running through my stomach. I decide to be bold, taking the hand he holds and looping it from behind my head and around my shoulder. I snuggle in closer and Joe reacts immediately. He rests his chin on my head and hums happily. The safari turns into a tsumami, waves rearing high and splashing violently into my heart. I was in deep.

Joe's POV

I was annoying her on purpose-getting her to react was always fun and it was always how I'd flirted with her since we were kids. Although back then, maybe trying to shoot chewed gum into her hair wasn't really flirting.

When she snuggles into me on the couch I find it hard to believe but I pull her in right away. If I could have her like this, I would take it.

Zoe catches my eye overhead when she gets up and gives me a discrete thumbs up.

I wake to the bright light from my windows the next morning. Or afternoon, I realise as I check my clock. I thank myself from last night for being responsible and drinking tons of water before going home as my hangover is nonexistent. The warm body on the sheets next to me hums in his sleep and I recognise the shock of red hair as Josh. So I guess we did end up at my place, I realise as the night comes back to me.

Josh's hand is wrapped around my midsection and his face rests near my shoulder. He looked peaceful in the morning light, and he was a perfect gentleman last night-just as he'd been when we went out a few months ago. But a small feeling in the pit of my stomach makes me feel uneasy. In another life, I could see Josh and I getting on but in this one, Josh couldn't be more than a friend. Because now that I've had my first night with another guy whilst aware of my feelings for Joe, things didn't sit right. Especially when it was his best mate I slept with.

Zoe and I became best friends in primary school and Joe and I got quite close as kids too. After a certain point, however, we drifted apart as he was always trying to annoy Zoe and I or play pranks on us when we were trying to hang out. He'd always have a cheeky comment to everything I said which led to many years of arguing. But before that, we got really close. I don't even think Zoe realised how close her brother and I used to be.

The thing was, I used to sleep over at the Sugg house a lot when my parents were going through a divorce and because I had nightmares I would sometimes leave Zoe asleep and sit in their living room for some fresh air. One night, I ran into Joe who was sneaking a midnight snack and we got to talking. And after that, every time I slept over, Joe would come down around midnight and we would stay up. He told me what was going on with him and I told him everything I couldn’t tell others. He gave shite advice, I smile thinking about it, but he was a great listener. We stopped after my parents divorced and I lived with my dad. And once I got my first boyfriend at 15. Joe and I argued a lot, he was always making fun of me for the things Zoe and I did, for the kinds of boys I dated. But I can barely believe we shared so much with one other at one point.

I remember the other big moment with Joe from when we were kids. Our senior dance Zoe and I both had dates. Mine was my boyfriend I was dating since Christmas but the night before the dance he broke up with me over IM and I was devastated. Joe, upon hearing what happened, wore his nicest shirt and took a rare shower and showed up in Zoe's room while she tried to coat my lashes in waterproof mascara. He said he could go with me and honestly, it was one of the best nights I had all year.

"Hey," Josh's sleepy voice wakes me from my trip down memory lane. He kisses me on my bare shoulder and brushes his thumb against my waist, sending butterflies to my stomach. "You're up."

"Yeah," I sigh. I turn to face him and we examine each other for a few moments before he speaks.

"I shouldn't feel guilty, I mean we've done this before we knew we-that we had Joe in common. You know it's not that what we have is bad. You're beautiful and amazing but I just feel guilty?"

I exhale a laugh, "I know exactly what you mean."

"I thought so, that look on your face earlier was pretty easy to read."

I stroke his face and he returns a sad smile. "I really do like you, I wish things didn't turn out like they did all this while ago."

"Me too," he sighs. "I actually really like you too. But I think we can be great friends don't you?"

"I do," I smile. "Friends with a rich history."

Josh opens his mouth wide while he laughs and it's contagious. "You have a thing for Joe don't you?" He asks once we quiet down.

"What?" I begin to build up a defence but I realise I'm laying mostly naked with his best friend and basically it's not like he was going to tell Joe about this particular moment. "Maybe, I'm not quite sure yet."

"You do!" Josh pokes me. "You're denying it to yourself. And Joe talks about you too often and now that I know you like him too-quite frankly I don't know why nothing's happened between you two."

"Ugh," I bury my face in the duvet. "I don't want it to be weird! He's always been Zoe's younger brother and I used to see him like that too! I'm just not sure-"

I'm cut off when my phone begins ringing. I lean over to check and see Joe's grade school picture staring up at me. Oh gods.

"That's Joe," I say panicked. "What do I do?"

"Is he here?" Josh scrambles to get up while remaining covered and I hold the phone in my hand like it's about to go off at any second. "Maybe he's just calling about last night? Pick it up."

I do as Josh says. "Hello?"

"Y/N jeez I've been buzzing up to your flat for ages are you just waking up?"

"Joe-uh-yeah I'm just waking." I look at Josh wide eyed and he deflates into the bed. We were going to be found out!

"Can I come up at least!"

"What are you doing here?" I manage to ask.

"I told you last night we would do something today to make up for it. Y/N you remember right? It's 1pm!"

"Right," I vaguely remember. I grab my robe and slip it on, walking out to the hall to buzz Joe in. "I'll see you in a bit."

"Shit Y/N!" Josh says when I come back into the room. "What do we do?"

"Okay," I run my fingers through my hair, I was really in deep. "You stay here in bed, don't show up. I'll sit Joe in the front and get ready in the bathroom. We'll leave and I'll text you when you're clear to go? He'll never have to know."

"Okay yeah," Josh agrees. "Just make sure to hide my things from the front."

Right, I place Josh's shoes in the closet and throw his jacket into the room with him just in time to hear Joe knocking.

"Oh, you really did get up." Joe comments when I open the door. I blush, in trying to clean up any evidence of Josh in the living room I forgot to look at myself in the mirror. When I catch my reflection, I burn with embarassment. My hair was a mess and I had remnants of top eyeliner on my cheekbones.

"You want anything?" I ask Joe as I grab a makeup wipe and take off last night's makeup.

"I'm good, late night?" Joe sits on the couch and watches me remove my makeup.

"Kind of. What did you wanna do today?"

"Thought we could grab lunch. Just hang out, I want to redeem my behaviour from yesterday so I'm even willing to go to one of those museums you loved to visit on school trips."

I laugh, I can't believe Joe remembered. "I haven't been to one in years Joe! I'd love that!"

"Yeah? Perfect! I just have to let Josh know I can't film with him and Mikey today then."

"Wait what?" I panic. Josh? Did he know or was I being paranoid.

"I was supposed to film with them today but I'll ask him to do it tomorrow. It's not a big deal."

"Oh, right!" I act casual but my heart is racing. "I'll just...get ready quick."

Just as I think we're in the clear, a phone goes off in the kitchen. But not my phone. The ring tone is distinct and it belongs to Josh's phone. I watch Joe's face go from confused to a realisation and then to a dark shade of angry. I stand frozen as Joe finally meets my eye.

"You went home with Josh," he says plainly.

"Well," I say but I have a hard time even explaining myself. Joe looks so upset and disappointed with me and it's like we're 10 and I've just told him the girl he has a crush in finds him weird.

"Hey," Josh shows up behind me. "Y/N your spare futon sucks. Oh hey Joe, didn't hear you come in." Josh puts on a whole one-man act as he goes searching for his phone. "Have you seen my phone I thought I heard the ring tone."

"In the kitchen," I manage to say. Joe looks between us with suspicion so I try to cover up. "Josh and I had a nice chat last night, catching up since we lost each other's numbers. I let him crash since it got so late."

Joe nods but I can tell he doesn't believe me. "Why haven't I got to sleep on your spare futon?" He asks and my heart sinks. He was testing the story, cheeky little Sugg.

"Trust me bro, you don't want to." Josh calls out. "You can try laying in it, you'll split your back."

I want to tape Josh's mouth shut. Why was he carrying on the story! "Maybe I will," Joe says as he gets up and walks past me to the guest room. I don't have time to find Josh and slap him across the face so I run after Joe. But when I get to the guest room, the guest bed is disheveled and a button up lays crumpled on the floor as does Josh's jacket. Wow, Youtubers really knew how to out on a prank and this one just saved our asses.

"This is solid like a rock," Joe says from the bed. He's relaxed again and I can tell he's bought the story but I want to cry from all the anxiety it caused me.

"It's not like I ever have people sleeping over." I joke.

"You should change that," Joe says and he gives me that look again. Like the one from last night where he means more than he's saying.

"Okay!" I clap my hands. "I'm getting ready-half an hour max!"

Joe groans, but he heads back to where Josh is. I apply my makeup with shaky hands.

Josh ends up joining us for lunch. When we get a moment alone while Joe finds his car, I yell at him for being so callous and then praise him for his quick thinking. And somehow, Josh and I are not awkward at all as we all hang together. We laugh and talk about things like we'd been friends all alone.

Josh leaves as we head to the museum and Joe decides he wants to see the popular paintings first. I take a few pictures of him and he forces me to take some too, making me promise I would update my Instagram.

We find ourselves walking along the river while the sun begins to set and it colours the sky in magnificent colours.

"Are sunsets as romantic as sunrises?" Joe asks.

"What?" I look at him, confused.

"From Zoe's place, the sunrise you said was romantic. Are sunsets just as romantic?"

"Oh," I laugh. "Sunsets are definitely more romantic in my opinion."

"Yeah?" Joe asks as he holds out his hand to me. I take it gently and he pulls me towards the railings where a bench lays. We sit on the bench, my hand in Joe's which rests in his lap. The sky begin to darken as the sun sinks lower but the sky remains a kaleidoscope of oranges and pinks.

"You're actually right," Joe finally says. "This is gorgeous and romantic."

"Yeah," I laugh. I glance at my hand still in his lap and my heart can't help but skip a beat. "Joe?" I get his attention. "How do you manage to do this?"

"Do what?" He lets go of my hand to face me. "What you mean?"

"I dunno," I say flustered. "You're generally-you rarely take anything seriously...but then you sit here with me and I experience such a serene moment with you watching this sunset. I don't think any boyfriend's ever made me feel this way. But you're just Joseph, y'know? But you're also...you're not. You've grown up and I barely noticed." I finish, my voice a whisper.

"I hope that's a good thing." Joe states.

"Yeah..." I pull out his contact information from my phone and try to counteract the tense moment I'd created. "But you're also this kid." I show him his half-lidded grade school photo I have for his contact.

"Y/N!" He tries to grab my phone but I snatch it away. "That's not funny I've already asked you to take it down!"

"Never," I cackle but when Joe threatens to use a horrible picture of me I pretend to agree. But there was no way I was actually doing it.

"So wait are you saying I'm mature?" Joe goes on.

"Okay I never said that," I tease. "But matured, yeah."

"Hm," he says and leans back with a thoughtful expression.

"Do you want to go back to mine?" I ask. What was I doing! My feelings were in a mess enough spending the whole day with him and now I was inviting him back? But a part of me just wanted to say 'f it' and kiss him already. I wanted this weird tension to be over, to confirm if he felt for me what I felt for him. And whether what I felt for him was legit.

"Do I get to sleepover on the rock solid bed?" He questions while we make our way back.

"My bed's pretty comfortable," I flirt. He stops in the middle of walking and stares at me, shocked.

"I can't believe you just said that."

"What? We've had sleepovers before," I say innocently.

Finally gotten it up, I rewrote this so many times but I'm enjoying building up the story :) Part I

Friday was not going as planned. For starters, I woke up late and had to rush to work which meant I was late for my meeting and barely signed on the client I had been trying to recruit for the last two weeks. Just barely. When Joe texts me in the afternoon, my mood is automatically uplifted.

"We on for tonight?"

"Most definitely on," I text back.

"What you smiling at?" Kendall, my assistant asks.

"Nothing, just a friend," I say casually.

"Ooh," she sits on my desk. "A boyfriend?"

"Ugh no," I turn towards my laptop so she doesn't see me blush. "Just an old friend-he's invited me out and lord knows I need to unwind after this morning's shit show."

"Do I know him?" Kendall was really good at her job. Otherwise, she was too nosy.

"Joe, his sister's been around a couple times." I roll my eyes to myself.

"Oh my gosh your Youtuber friends?" She moves in closer as if I'm gonna drop their contact info into her lap. "He's a cutie! Totally dateable."

"What are we chatting about," my friend Shannon slides a coffee to me.

"Oh you're an angel," I give her a gracious smile-she was intentionally saving me. We both talked shite about Kendall on more than one occas.

"Have you met Y/N's Youtube friends?"

Shannon glances at me and I stifle a laugh, "Love, give it a rest. She isn't going to introduce you to Joe and you aren't going to have his babies."

"I didn't say that!" Kendall exclaims.

"You really didn't have to." Kendall rolls her eyes and goes back to her station. "Thanks for swooping in."

"Now you owe me, next time Charles starts chatting me up in the photocopy room you're claiming a girl emergency." I shudder, "I would do that regardless."

I rush home after work and heat up leftovers while finishing up my work. Joe said to meet him at a pub not too far away. He extended the invite but all my friends had partners they would rather spend their Fridays with. I only retouch my makeup and switch my lipstick for something more sultry. slip into a black halter dress and tease my hair towards the front.

"See you soon," I text Joe at 8 after making it to the station. He sends me back a heart and my own skips a beat.

Not cool, I scold myself. He's Zoe's younger brother and I really had to hook up with someone tonight so I could get over this weird flame I held for him. I didn't wanna be that girl but the truth was he had a plethora of girls his age and he never showed any sign he could be into me. Plus it would complicate things.

The tube doesn't take long and I reach the bar soon after. "Y/N, is that you?" Joe asks sarcastically as he spots me before I do in the dim lights. "I'm seeing a mirage boys, that can't be Y/N!"

"Oh stop it," I lean in to give Joe a hug.

"These are my mates, you've met Caspar and Byron when you dropped by the house that one time?"

"Hey," I wave at the two boys. Byron I definitely remembered, he was cute but I knew that all of Joe's friends were younger than him.

"Josh and Conor are getting drinks-that's Jack and that's Mikey."

"A lot of names," I laugh. "But I should remember them all."

"Joe you didn't even give us her name," the one with the beer-Mikey says.

"I'm Y/N," I say not waiting for Joe.

"Lovely to meet you Y/N," I could tell Mikey was trying to be smooth and maybe he did have something going for him but once again, too young.

"You getting a drink right? I'm paying on this honorable night," Joe jokes.

"I can get my own!" I say.

"Alright boys," a voice directly behind me yells out. "First round is on me."

I recognise Conor because I actually listened to his music but the boy with him makes me freeze.

"Josh?" I ask.

The tall ginger glances at me and is about to look away but he stops. "Y/N?"

"Oh my god!" Josh puts his drinks down and bends down to give me a hug. This was so unreal.

"You two know each other?" Joe sounds suspicious and I blush as I realise we would have to explain how. I was ready to lie but Josh forges ahead with the story.

"Yeah! We went out on a couple dates-"

"You two dated?" Caspar interrupts.

"Wait," I turn to Josh after the realisation hits me. "You told me you were 27!"

"Did I?" Josh's face turns a deep shade of pink as all the boys around us start to rile us up.

Part 1 with more to come!!! I know it’s a little dry but I was trying to set up this fic. Feedback is helpful but I hope you guys enjoy this anyway!!!! 💛

————–

You had never seen him as anything other than your best friend’s kid brother. He was only about two years younger than you but two years was tripled when you and your best friend were mature 13 year olds gossipping about your latest crushes and he was a tiny 11 year old menace trying to find an excuse to ruin your night. But I guess some things never changed because here he was, trying to ruin your girls’ night once again.

“Could you maybe stay upstairs so you don’t interfere with the night?” I ask, exasperated because this was the fourth time Joe tried to sneak downstairs for the food we had made earlier. The girls were trying to decide on what to watch and I had popped into the kitchen to grab the rest of the cookies out of the oven.

“It’s not my fault whatever you girls baked smells so bloody good!”

I roll my eyes as he reaches for the cookies cooling on the counter. “Okay just take one because you’ve already eaten half-!” I try to compromise as I jump back from his outstretched hand. “I swear Joeseph I feel like we’re back in primary school.”

He gets a goofy grin on his face, the same one he’s always given-especially when he was trying to get out of trouble. It was charming, at times, but right now I wanted to wipe it off his face with my dishcloth as he reaches for the plate I’ve filled.

“Stop it!” I try to shield the cookies with my body and place them behind me on the counter top but I was a fool to think this would stop him. He reaches around me until his arms encircle my waist as he grabs another. I turn in his embrace and find myself inches away from his face which suddenly grows serious as he swallows. My face heats up as the blood rushes to my face and I try to say something to lighten the serious mood but my mind is frozen and all I can think about is how intoxicating the cologne Joe’s wearing is and that if I leaned in slightly-

“You’ve got a birthmark on your hairline,” He suddenly interrupts and my hands fly to where the stupid mark lies. I used to be self conscious about the thing as kids made fun of me but then I got bangs and then I would cover it with makeup and I hadn’t given it a second thought until now. I pull my hair forward to cover it instinctively as my face blushes thirty shades of pink.

“Sod off,” I push Joe’s hands away from me and grab the plate to make my way back to where Pretty Woman was starting.

“What took so long?” Zoe asks as she reaches for a cookie.

“Your brother was trying to eat them all,” I say as I roll my eyes, flopping down beside Anna and grabbing my glass of wine. I stare at the screen but Julia Roberts is far away as my heart still beats like jello. It was nothing, I try to tell myself, I was just caught off guard and ew! That’s Zoe’s kid brother who shot Nerf guns at us when he was 10 and who cried to us after his first girlfriend (age 9) dumped him and who threw up all over me after we sneaked him his first drink. I’ve just been single for too long and I was getting my signals mixed up.

“Ugh I just love her hair,” Naomi sighs as Julia Roberts wakes up on screen. “It’s kinda like yours Y/N!” She exclaims.

“Yeah but Y/N’s is brown and it’s not as big,” Poppy comments from her seat.

“You have to see her hair when we tease it then!” Zoe laughs and looks over at me but I miss the joke and just give her a smile. She looks at me funny, “You alright?”

“Yeah, sorry.” I flash her a smile and hold up my wine. “Already a little tipsy and just-” I throw my hands in the hair which makes everyone giggle.

“Better switch to coffee then Y/N.” Zoe reminds me because we promised no hangovers tomorrow. We were all gonna be up bright and early to watch the sun rise. “I’ll put on a pot.” Zoe goes to get up but I jump up. “You’re sweet but I know where it is! Don’t bother pausing!” I say as Anna reaches for the remote.

I rush out of there and the first thing I do is splash my face with water. I fill a glass with water and down it first before I realise I had downed too many liquids too fast. Just as I reach the bathroom door, Joe steps out.

“Might not want to go in there,” he jokes.

“That’s disgusting!” I step away from the door and look at Joe in disgust. This was more like it, I try to think. He was a disgusting boy who I would never ever even consider for a second to be in to!

“Hey?” Joe calls as I turn to find another toilet. I turn back around and raise my eyebrow. “I didn’t mean anything by the birthmark comment, I just forgot you had one there.”

My hand reaches up again and I laugh it off, “Yeah, whatever Sugg!” I take the stairs two at a time to get upstairs. I didn’t wanna stay anywhere near him tonight, especially if he planned on being sweet.

But of course with the way the night was going, just as I finish up upstairs I pass Zoe’s guest room where Joe is laying with his back slumped against the headboard, probably editing his newest video. I watch him for a few seconds but he catches me lingering.

“Hey come in here,” he motions me forward laughing. “Look at this clip. I was going for a scare prank on Oli right,” he trails off explaining what he planned on doing and how Oli’s reaction just made the whole prank “golden.” I smile at his enthusiasm and the way his smile brings out his laugh lines but by the time I watch the clip, I’m in stitches myself.

“That’s funny as shit but poor Oli!” I say between tears. “He’s too sweet and cute to mess with!”

Joe’s laughter dies down as he raises his eyebrow, “He’d be over the moon if he knew you called him cute.”

“Then you should let him know,” I tease but this makes Joe’s expression completely blank. “Yeah, I guess. Then you two can go out on a date although I’m sure after an hour with him-”

“Oi what’re you two doing up here?” A voice calls out from the doorway. I jump up guiltly, wiping away the tears that had left streaks on my face.

“Hey Zoe look at this,” Joe calls his sister over, our tense conversation over. “It’s the prank footage I was telling you about.” He starts laughing all over again streaming but Zoe waves her hand. “Lord I’m trying to have a Girl’s Night Joe, leave my friends alone! Y/N I’m grabbing some face masks I’ll see you downstairs?” She wiggles her eyebrows and then dissappears from the doorway. I stare at her retreating figure in confusion. What was that supposed to mean?

“I won’t keep you,” Joe says to my back so I turn around to face him.

“It’s nothing,” I say.

“Nah go on I’m just gonna finish editing this. I heard there’s a stripper downstairs anyway.” He teases.

“Oh you’re so clever,” I stick my tongue out at him as I back out but he throws a pillow at me which I manage to just catch before it hits my face.

“Thank you!” I hold it up as I exit the room.

“No wait!” Joe yells. “That was the fluffy pillow!”

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!"