Wild hearts run free (Joe Elliott fanfic)

Ch2 A love that grows

********All warnings apply

When I got home I got in trouble from the small fight I started. My dad was proud so he only grounded me. Not that I went anywhere. He told me to go to school and hold my head up high. That it would drive the lad crazy. Eventually he'd leave me alone. When it came down to my dad knowing about Joe he wasn't thrilled with it. I assured him it wouldn't interfere with my education and Joe agreed.

He did want to date me. He even would walk me home. Which really wasn't far from the school. "You know how I said you inspired me. Well I've had this dream of being a rock star. I've only come up with the name leopard or the leopards. Dat's why those wankers make fun of me. Now I really thought this through. I want you to tell me what do you think of this honestly." He said as we walked slowly home.

He handed me a drawling he said he drew the other night. It was a spotted leopard sitting by a phonograph. Kind of like the RCA dog. Above the picture it said, 'Deaf Leopard'. At first I was
offended. "Is this a joke? Oi tell you, you Brit's never quit do you? You just love to be all mean."

He stopped walking and I stopped. "Elizabeth, it's not a joke. You should feel honored. I would never make fun of someone. Well unless they were a close mate. But never mean. It has nothing to do with your ears. I like your ears. They're the greatest thing you'll own. Ok I'm not glamorous or charming. You probability can hear and dat's something. To be able to just turn the world off whenever you want. I really like you and if you weren't grounded, I'd like to take you out. Course I have no job or money right now. I'm fixing to start a job and with some luck and saving I'll have this band. Me mum gave me a guitar for me birthday. When your da allows you to go out, want a come over and hear me play?" He said as we started walking again.

"So what's with the name Leopard?"

"You see the mark on me face, well dat's part of why they make fun of me. The other well I can't tell you. If I do, I'll have to kill you. Just kidding. Wanted to see what you do if I said dat." He said as I giggled at him.

"Oi think dat mark is sexy. With all dat hair in yer face you can't even see it. Oi guess you and me are almost in the same boat. Outcast."

"Like misfits. Beth do you um, have you ever heard music?"

I put my hand in his as we walked. "Once a few times. Then living in Dublin how can you not? Even if Oi couldn't hear. Irish music has a way of coming from the soul. It could make anyone's
heart and feet dance. If you could do dat in your music, then you own the world. This is me house. Oi'll see you tomorrow."

"So you don't think I'm fooling myself on this? Wasting me time?"

I pulled him to me as we now were standing face to face. "Oi think if you can really pull it off you would 'ave a lot more then you ever dreamed of. But then again Oi 'aven't heard you play." I moved his bangs and seen his eyes. They were the greenest I even seen. "There they are. Oi was beginning to think you had no eyes. So is dat the other reason for the name?"

"No. I can only show dat to someone I'm involved with."

"You have cat eyes and a beautiful smile."

"Hey, the guy is supposed to be seducing. I can't be seduced."

I pulled him down to me and whispered in his ear, "If Oi were trying to seduce you, you'd know it." Then I let him go and walked away. He stood there with a half grain on his face almost kind of like he bite his lip. Then he slowly turned and walked home.

Since my parents wanted me to learn more than anything, they wouldn't let us date until summer. Joe wasn't happy but he respected my parents. Back then no matter what you still had to show respect for your elders.