Torment (One Direction Fan Fiction)

Bob Smith Packs a Punch

Joey was shivering, only slightly, when Edith stepped into the café, three other people following her. Joey sat in the corner booth, number sixteen, cupping a cup of green tea between both of her hands. Edith raised an eyebrow, before moving over to the girl. When she sat in the chair opposite Joey, Joey almost split her tea everywhere. She’d been so absorbed in her thoughts.

“Ms Williamson.” Joey said, slightly shocked. How long had she been sitting here?

“Joey.” Ms Williamson, or Edith, inclined her head. Joey licked her lips.

“I wanted to discuss your offer with you.” Joey murmured.

“Sorry, my minds a little bit everywhere. But…I’m not sure if you knew, but my brother; he woke up out of a two and half month coma. It was medicine induced, and closely monitored, and his brain seemed to handle it well because he remembers things fine…but he revealed something that concerned me the other day.”

Joey ran her finger along the edge of the cup. “I can’t tell you exactly what it is, because…well, because. But it means that I’m unsafe, and publicity isn’t something I need now. I was wondering if…if your offer could possibly wait?”

Ms Williamson watched Joey watching her. She was a relatively pretty girl. She had a heart shaped face, a decently sized mouth. Her pixie haircut was longer than it had been when Joey had first met Zayn, but Ms Williamson wouldn’t know. She hadn’t seen Joey then. A curl adorned her forehead, and her grey eyes looked tired and sore. She didn’t wear any makeup. Her eyelashes were naturally dark, and her skin had a brownish tint to it. She had the potential to glow, but she seemed to be exhausted. Ms Williamson sighed.

“Joey…look, I like you. You’re a strong girl. But…what you’re asking is a bit much.” Edith ran a hand over her face.

“I’ll wait though. You’re decent. I mean, you have a lot of potential. So…I’ll wait.” Joey exhaled shakily as Ms Williamson spoke, cupping her face.

“Oh Jesus, I thought you were going to tell me to take a hike.” Joey mumbled into her palm. Ms Williamson chuckled, patting the back of Joey’s hand.

“Right now though, I have some business to attend to.” She smiled at Joey before pushing herself upright and leaving Joe to finish her cup of tea. The three men that had followed her in, followed her out. Bodyguards maybe?

Joey finished her tea, paid for it, and then left the café. She felt slightly cloudy inside. Zayn had been weird after their kiss. She couldn’t understand what he’d meant, but the second he’d said it, he’d left her there on the floor. Her back was acting up a bit, but she ignored it at the best of times. What was bothering Joey the most right now, more than Rey, was Zayn. She pressed her lips tight, kicking at the ground in frustration.

She’d kissed him…and he’d just run away. Well, it wasn't the first time. That dick-head. She ground her teeth. She realised, subconsciously, she’d came to a halt in front of a bus stop. And the bus had pulled up. Joey sighed. She had money, why not hitch a ride? She slipped in between the doors, just as they were closing, and the bus driver scowled at her.

She smiled apologetically and made her way to the back of the bus. Once there, she sat down and let the bus go where it needed to. She had about fifty pounds in her pocket so the bus could go wherever it wanted to. So lost she was in her thoughts, she didn’t notice that the passengers in the bus had dwindled to two, and that the driver had repeatedly announced it was his last round. When finally, the driver caught her attention, Joey was forced to get off at the next stop. Ironically, her neighbourhood. She paid her tariff, which left enough to hire a cab, and got off of the bus.