Haunted

n o l a b e l s

✫ ༒ Joey ༒ ✫

I had been clean for a week. It wasn't long but it was something. Everyday that passed the craving for drugs hit me harder. But I was trying to resist.

After my kiss with Gabriella last night, I was unsure of what to do. I knew she was the boyfriend type, the holding hands type and the meet the family type.

And I was anything but.

I did like the girl.
A lot.
But I wasn't sure if I was into the whole girlfriend thing. Especially when that meant dragging her into my fucked up life.

But she had texted me, asking me to come over. So, I obviously had to.

I figured it was to talk about our kiss. Which, I had no idea what to say about it.

Either way, here I was climbing onto her balcony and waiting for her to open the door leading to her bedroom.

When her eyes landed on me she shot out of her bed and skipped over to the door.

"Hi, Joe," She smiled, pushing open the door so I could come in.

"Hey, Angel," I grinned, stepping into her bedroom.

"So," She hummed, blushing when she looked at my face, "Last night was fun."

I knew it.

"Yeah," I nodded, "It was."

I dropped down onto her bed and she followed suite.

"Listen, I'm really not one to just kiss people. And I know we are friends, so I just hope this isn't awkward," She blurted out, "I don't know if you're into me like that or if it was just a drunken mistake but, I like you."

Shit.

"Yeah, I'm into you," I said before I could think.

"Really?" A giant smile grew on her lips.

"Yes," I nodded, "But I'm not really sure about the whole girlfriend thing."

"So, you don't want to be boyfriend and girlfriend? Does that mean I can see other lads?" She frowned.

No! Hell no.

"No," I shook my head, "And I won't see other girls."

"But we aren't dating," She furrowed her brow, looking deep in thought.

"Dating with no label," I shrugged, "I'm just not ready for it. I'm fucked in the head, Gabriella."

"You really have to stop saying that, Joe," She smiled, "I think you're great. I'll be your no label date."

I couldn't help but smile. This girl brought out the good in me.

"Don't expect me to bring you around my house, Angel," I frowned.

"Same goes for you," She shrugged, "We are in it together."

She grabbed my hand with hers and intertwined our fingers.

I was so right about her being the hand holding type.

"Joe?" She mumbled.

"Yeah?"

"Can you try and lay off the drugs," She whispered, "It makes me worry."

Just when I thought my stomach couldn't knot any more, it did. She wanted the drugs to stop. I couldn't blame her.

I couldn't imagine falling for someone like me.

"Yeah," I nodded, "I've been clean a week."

She smiled, "Good. That's really good."

It was good for now.
Knowing myself it wouldn't last.
It never did.

"Aoif is finally on board with us being together," She smiled, "I talked to her and Case this morning."

"Great, I can keep my cock," I chuckled.

"For now," She teased, snuggling up to me in bed.

I wasn't one for cuddling, I never had been. Probably due to the lack of affection in my house growing up. But I didn't resist it.

"We should watch a film!" Gabby squealed, "I've never hung out with a sort of boyfriend in my room before."

"I guess I'll be your first," I smirked.

A blush spread across her cheeks and she awkwardly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "Yeah, I guess you will...are."

I laughed.

Her hand moved to touch my arm, tracing one of my various tattoos.

"I like these," She smiled, "Do they all have meaning?"

"No," I shook my head, "Some do but some were just because."

"Ya know, my mam always told me to stay away from lads with tattoos," She laughed, "But here I am in bed with one."

"What's up with your mam? Has she always been a bitch to you?" I asked, not caring about being rude.

Her mam deserved it.

She sighed, resting her head on my chest, "For the most part yes. She's completely overbearing and really hard on me. My da got her pregnant when she was seventeen. They tried to make it work but she left him and ever since then it's like I've reminded her of him in some sick way."

I knew the feeling all too well. My mam saw me as the reflection of my da.
Which was the worst feeling in the world.

"You're a lot better than she says, Gabs," I smiled, "She doesn't know what she's talking about."

"You really are a sweetheart," She giggled, "No one would ever guess that."

"You better not tell anyone," I frowned.

"Cross my heart hope to die," She nodded, intertwining our fingers again.

I don't know how I ended up here. Growing up I was determined to never let a girl into my heart, but here Gabby was, cuddled up on my chest with our fingers locked. It was like no matter how hard I tried to shut everyone out, she tried even harder to get in.

And I had let her.

Christ, I practically told the girl we could date. So, there was no going back now.

And for some reason, I didn't want to.