girls // joe sugg

i

3rd August 2015

Penelope Marie Burr

The train station was unusually crowded for 12:30pm on a Monday. I pushed my way through the crowds of lovers, families, and others standing in the way of me seeing my cousin, Tanya, again.

My older cousin Tanya, who's eight years my senior, was getting married in a month to her high school sweetheart, Jim. I'd been invited by her to be a bridesmaid. Tanya and I had always been super close, despite the big age difference. We'd practically grown up together. And when I'd learnt she was getting married, I was extatic for her.

My worn out sneakers scuffed over the concrete floor of the train station as I made my way towards where Tanya had parked. My suitcase dragged behind me, filled with enough clothes to last me a month.

I spotted Tanya almost instantly. She hadn't changed much since I last saw her, although her hair was shorter.

"Penelope!" She called out, despite my attention already being on her. I made my way over towards her car, throwing my large suitcase in her boot. I slid in the front seat and waited for Tanya to start the car. In the car ride home, the two of us made small conversation about the wedding. She explained to me about how her other bridesmaid was a friend she'd meet through YouTube, called Zoë Sugg. She continued on to tell me about how her brother, Joe, and her boyfriend, Alfie, would be Jim's groomsmen. I was a bit nervous to meet all her friends, because, at 17 years old, I would be one of the youngest ones there.

But my nerves were all washed away when we arrived at Tanya and Jim's house. A few of their friends were there, including Zoë, Alfie, and Joe and I was greeted with a warm hug from Zoë almost as soon as I opened the door. I hugged her back, introducing myself quickly, before excusing myself and shuffling up to the bedroom I would be staying in. I changed out of my holey tights and baggy t-shirt into a nice pair of jeans and a off-the-shoulder crop top, more appropriate to meet all of Tanya's older friends.

The hallway squeaked as I tiptoed through her house down to the lounge, where all her friends were hanging out. I walked straight over to Tanya, and she practically stopped the party to introduce me. She went through the people, pointing out individually who was who.

"Guys, this is my younger cousin, Penelope. Penelope, this is Zoë, who you met earlier, Alfie, her boyfriend. Next to Alfie is Caspar, and next to him is Jim, who you've met, obviously. And then on the end is Joe," I skimmed through the small group of people before my eyes landed on the dark blonde male on the end. He was attractive, but clearly a little bit older than me. We made eye contact and my eyes flitted away, a pink tint making it's way up my cheeks. 

I sat my self down on a sofa, feeling a little left out as everyone continued their conversations, leaving me to myself. That was, until Joe sat down on the sofa next to me. Tanya glared slightly at him.

"Don't try anything, Sugg. She's only 17," He raised his hands, as if to admit defeated, before winking at me. Tanya rolled her eyes before turning back to her small group of friends.

"You looked lonely so I thought you could use some company," He smiled softly at me.

"Thanks," I chuckled, quietly. "To be honest, I was feeling a bit out of it."

"Why's that?"

"Well, for one, I'm the youngest, probably by a few years. And you all know each other, I'm the odd one out."

"You're 17, right?" I nodded. "That means you're only three or four years younger than Alfie, who's the youngest out of all of us."

"Wait, how old are you?" I was suddenly confused and slightly intimidated, it dawning on me that everyone was more than three years older than me.

"Believe it or not but I'm actually 23," The shock was apparent on my face because he chuckled at me. "Surprising, right? Don't worry, I get that a lot."

"Sorry if I offended you, you just look a lot younger."

"Yeah, don't worry, you didn't offend, I'm used to it. Hey, do you wanna go for a walk? I can show you around the area?"

"Yeah, sure. That'd be nice, just let me get some shoes and tell Tan," I stood up, walking over to where she was standing. "Hey, Tan. Joe and I are just going to go for a walk," She pulled me off to the side, away from the group.

"Don't let him try anything. He's six years older than you. Just remember that."

"Don't worry, Tanya. I doubt he'd try anything anyway," She shook her head, pulling me into a hug.

"You underestimate how gorgeous you are, little cousin," She pulled back, kissing my forehead, before returning to the group. I ran up the hall, grabbing my shoes from my bedroom, before returning to where Joe was standing by the door. He grinned widely at me, holding the door open as I walk outside.

"So, what was that about?" He asked, curious about Tanya and I.

"Oh nothing, she just reminded me that you're six years older than me, and that I shouldn't let you try anything. Just being an overprotective cousin, as always."

We walk silently through the neighborhood, the only noise is the occasional fact from Joe. In the end, we ended up at a park, both laying in the grass, heads next to each other.

"Wanna play twenty questions?" Joe asked, voice quiet to match the park around us.

"Yeah, sure. But you have to start."

"Fineeeee!" He said,dragging out the e. "What's your full name?"

"Penelope Marie Burr. What's yours?"

"Joseph Graham Sugg."

"When's your birthday?"

"September 8, 1991, you?"

"November 7, 1997."

The two of us spent the next hour passing questions back and forward, finding out things about each other than didn't even matter, until my phone vibrated in my pocket, a text coming through from Tanya.

Tanya: penny! Where are you? It's been almost two hours! Joe better be behaving!

Penelope: chill Tans, he hasn't done anything, we're just at the park. We'll come back now

I sat up, turning round to face Joe, who still lay with his head in the grass.

"Tanya wants me home, I think we should head back now," He pulled himself up before pulling me up, his hand feeling soft in mine. I brushed myself off before heading back to Tanya's house, side by side with Joe.