The City (Joe Sugg/ ThatcherJoe Fanfiction)

Chapter 14

Joe's POV

"Why are you being such a dickhead Joe?" Zoe whines from the front seat as soon as Riley closes the door and heads towards the school. That damn Harry kid is waiting for her again. 

"I'm not the one being a dickhead." I retort as she turns in her seat.

"Why are you even angry at me? I did nothing wrong!" she argues back.

"Why am I angry?" I scoff, "You shouldn't be offering to show her off to guys." I say, referring to Riley.

Zoe laughs, "Seriously Joseph? She's young and single, I am just trying to help her out. Not like you're her boyfriend or anything. You don't have control over her."

"She's sixteen Zoe, everyone at that thing will be way older than her."

"Joe, you're 22. Jack and Finn will be there and they're only twenty so your argument is invalid."

Fuck. I messed up there.

"That's not the point."

"Yes, it is. Stop acting like a jealous twat"

"I'm not jealous! Why the hell would I be jealous?"

"Because she doesn't like you." she says bluntly.

"If she doesn't like me then why did she let me take her to dinner last night?" I argue back.

"Joe, I told you to take her to dinner after you picked her up from her friends house dumb-ass."

"She didn't go to her friends house though! I picked her up and we went to a movie. I just told you she went to her friends because I knew you would give me a hard time." I admit and Zoe cracks a smile.

"Joe, you should've told me!" she says excitedly, her attitude the polar opposite of what it was two seconds ago.

"I thought you'd get pissed off.." I mumble.

"Pissed off? Why would I be pissed off?" she says with a laugh. "Did you two have fun?"

I shrug, "It was a horror and she was absolutely terrified."

Alfie laughs from the drivers seat. I had almost completely forgotten he was there.

"Should've seen her when I forced her to watch Nightmare on Elm Street with me when she was eleven. She slept with her light on the rest of the time she was visiting."

"Did she clutch onto your hand the whole time? Hide in your arms?" Zoe asks excitedly.

I shake my head, "No. We left after twenty minutes and got some McDonalds then went to the park."

"McDonalds? Joe! You cheap bastard!" Zoe exclaims.

I raise my hands defensively. "I offered to go somewhere else but she wanted it. Not my choice." I lie. Not wanting to tell them about her confession. I wonder if Riley's mum told Alfie about Jack. 

It was obviously what her nightmare was about last night. The look in her eyes as I held her. 

He's dead she had spluttered as I stroked her hair. I can't help but wonder how he died and why on earth she would think it was her fault. A part of me wanted to ask her but the more sensible part of me knew that it would only hurt her to have me ask such personal questions. 

Zoe's voice interrupts my train of thought.

"I won't set her up with Caspar then.. They would've made such a cute couple.." I shoot her a glare and she is the one to raise her hands defensively this time, "Just kidding!"

The car returns to silence for a moment before Zoe pipes up again. "Have you told her that you are going back to Bath next week?"

I frown, "No, why would I?" 

"Well.. Because you won't be around everyday. If you intend on asking her to go out with you it may be a good idea for her to know that you actually aren't living in London permanently."

I shrug, "I'll be back soon though. My apprenticeship is almost finished. Anyway, you and Alfie will come home for Christmas so she'll probably tag along too. Won't she?"

"I don't know. She might go home for Christmas. See her family.."

Alfie shakes his head, "Her parents normally work over Christmas. She wouldn't want to go back there."

"That's so sad!" Zoe exclaims, "Imagine not having the whole family around for the best holiday of the year.."

"So she will come, right? Anyway.. It's not like I'll never be back. I'll probably come to London to hang with you guys on the weekends."

"I suppose so. All I know is you better ask her out soon or someone like that Harry is going to get her first."

Ugh, don't even mention Harry. It's obvious he is into her. Every morning they meet at the gate and after school he walks her out of school. Like a little stray puppy dog.

If I don't act soon I will end up being the stray puppy and he will be the loyal, purebred show dog. Always by her side. But, dogs are territorial and there is no way he is going to snatch her from me. Not without a fight.

A/N

Aww, Joe is getting jealous! 

My reads have doubled in the past couple of days which makes me SUPER happy :) Love you all <3 Keep those reads coming! xx