Finding Me (A Joe Sugg / ThatcherJoe Fanfiction)

Chapter Seven

I woke up the next morning next to Joe Sugg. The actual Joe Sugg. My mind raced back to yesterday: I woke up next to Brandon, I met Joe, we watched movies, and.... What else happened? I can't remember a thing, all I knew was Joe was shirtless in my hotel room.
I carefully moved to my right- careful not to hit Joe- and closed my eyes. He must have felt me because he wrapped an arm around me and whispered, "morning." I could not resist a sexy British voice, let alone when he sounds so... erotic this morning.
"Hey, morning," I turned to face him and smiled.
"You look like a raccoon," he wiped makeup from my face, and my mascara, or eyeliner, smeared all over his hand. Crap, I thought, I probably look like shit. I got up and hurriedly went to the bathroom. I heard his voice say, "don't worry, I bet that 'The Raccoon' is the style now." I smiled in the bathroom mirror and took a makeup pad and washed all this nonsense off my face. When do I never take off my makeup before I go to bed? This seemed strange: me not taking off my makeup and Joe shirtless. I had to ask him what happened last night.
I poked my head out of the bathroom, "hey.. Um, what happened last night?" I had a friendly tone so I could easily play it off. Joe scoffed and walked to the bathroom.
"Nothing.. Why?" He asked with hesitation. His face was solemn and he barely opened his mouth when he said these words. This Joe was definitely different than the one I watched on YouTube.
"I didn't take off my makeup last night, and I always do. I was just wondering.." I laughed a little bit and he just looked at me.
"I think I overstayed my visit Mary, I'll talk to you later," and like that Joe walked out of the room. Why was Joe so defensive about last night? I'm sure nothing happened, but if something did.. he would tell me, right?
I texted him as soon as I got out of the bathroom: what's wrong? What happened?
No response.
I grabbed a towel and decided to take a shower. I thought about this morning and I looked down at myself. There was something odd about the left area of my chest.. It looked, discolored? I shrugged it off and continued to wash my body. I strangely missed Joe. We were together all day and he just left. He had to stop doing that and leaving me. Was he foreshadowing something? I chuckled and shook my head. The water felt so good on my cold body and I decided today's shower was going to be extra long.
I stood in front of the mirror naked. Was there something wrong with me? Did boys not like me because of how I looked? I turned to the side and looked at myself with careful inspection. I looked okay, I am just a normal, average girl. I rolled my eyes and covered myself with a towel. Today I was going to visit the zoo. Not only because I love the little animals, but I needed to do something that didn't involve boys. It's odd, I thought, I was never the girl who surrounded myself with boys and ever since I got to England that's all I've been doing.. I blow dried my hair and brushed my teeth to get ready for the day, just then I heard my phone buzz. I rushed out of the bathroom, careful not to trip, and looked at my screen. Brandon. I closed my eyes and sighed in disappointment. My room was really cold for some reason.. I looked down and realized I was naked in my room because my towel had dropped as I rushed to my phone. I laughed and got dressed in a cute summer dress. After convincing myself that the text was never going to change from Brandon to Joe, I decided to read the message: Miss you Mary x
I decided not to reply, I don't need a man to make me happy. I needed to make myself happy, well, for me. I left the hotel and walked to the zoo. It was a fairly long walk, but it was good for me to get out and explore.
The zoo was beautiful. It may be better than the zoos in Wyoming, that's for sure. There were so many animals here- even a panda bear! We definitely don't have those in our zoos. I was enjoying myself and my mind was erased from all the boys from before. Three little girls came up to me and told me they liked my dress and that boosted my self-esteem for the day. How nice of them, and how nice of everyone at the zoo! People would let me go in front of them because I was "foreign", but I politely declined and they were grateful. It was wonderful to surround myself with happy people and children. Although there were a few times there were children screaming bloody murder because they wanted to see the bears. Besides that, this turned out to be a really good plan.
The zoo closes at nine tonight and I plan on staying there for the whole time. Workers at the zoo were very friendly and there was one, a boy, that caught my interest. He had one prosthetic leg, but he overcame that and had a big smile on his face. I went up to him and we carried out an intelligent conversation. His name was Dustin and he started smoking when he was only eight years old. That's how he lost his leg. There were some tears I shed, but I wouldn't let him see. He told me he lost his family because of smoking, but wanted to continue smoking anyway. It was an addiction. He overcame lung cancer and had a high chance of getting it again. Dustin smoked two or three packs a day, or more. He told me he wasn't remorseful at the time, but now he is. This boy, or man, is 24 and has done a lot to end his addiction. I respected him. I couldn't believe that he was so open about his story and his life to me.. I was a stranger.
"Why would you tell me all of that?" I managed to get out before bawling my eyes out.
"You seemed like you needed some insight on other things. Your mind seems troubled. Are you alright?" He asked holding my forearm.
"Yes, of course, it's just boys.. They're so complicated. Thank you for inspiring me with that story... You're so wonderful Dustin... I can't believe one man could overcome that much.."
"I am no superhero or anything, I am a normal guy. And you know what, normal people are amazing. Normal people can turn out to be superheroes," he smiled and handed a little girl a balloon.
"You are a superhero," I kissed his cheek and I teared up. I never would have thought that someone who went through that much would actually be alive to tell their story. I'm proud of him for quitting, or trying to quit. He took control of his life and is not letting a doctor put a time stamp on him. He is not some kind of toy or food, he is a human and his life is valuable.
"Hey there's a boy over there that has been eyeing you for quite some time, do you know him?" He pointed over to the monkey exhibit, but there was nobody there. I shrugged my shoulders and looked back at Dustin.
"I have to leave now... It's almost nine.." I looked at him and he smiled.
"I hope to see you again," I smiled and hugged him. He was taken aback, but he awkwardly, yet friendly, hugged me back.
I waved to him as I left and I slowly walked to the entrance/exit. Today was such an awesome day and I would never forget this. I took out my phone and took a picture of the zoo. I should make a scrapbook, I thought. I continued to exit the zoo and the parking lot was surprisingly empty at 8:45. Children were crying screaming, "I don't want to go home!", and the parents were calming them down saying, "I'll get you a gift if you get in the car.." And the children went, reluctantly, into the car. I shook my head and thought, if I ever had children, I would try not to bribe them. It's my way or the highway.
The walk home was longer than I thought, even though I went the same way. The sun was setting and the temperature was decreasing rapidly. I crossed my arms and rubbed them. Boys were whistling at me from across the street and I ignored them, for my own good. Nothing good comes out of boys whistling at night. I quickened my pace and the hotel came into view. Just then someone jumped in front of me.
"Oh God," I screamed and jumped backwards.
"Mary," the figure said. It was a boy, you could tell. The figure was tall and muscular.
"Who are you?" I said trying to do my best to go around this hooded man.
"It's me... Brandon," he undid his hood and revealed his face. I shook my head and laughed. My heart was racing a million miles a minute.
"Don't scare me like that ever again," I grabbed my heart and it didn't seem to slow down. After awhile though, my heartbeat returned to a regular 'lub-dub'.
"Sorry, I, uh, what's up?" He asked. I was confused why he would scare me and ask 'what's up?' I continued walking to the hotel with him trailing behind me.
"Going home," I said picking up my pace.
"Mind if I stay?" He grabbed my shoulders and turned me around to face him.
"Yes I do mind, no you cannot," I shook out of his grasp.
"You didn't say that when Joe rejected you baby," he brought his mouth closer to mine and I could smell alcohol on him. Brandon was drunk and it wasn't even 9:10 yet.
"Stop," I yelled in his face. I wouldn't let him take control of me like this, not after my good day. I don't want him to think he's in control either...
"You are so feisty and it turns me on so much...." He put his lips on mine and for a minute I was stuck to him. Someone came between us and said," leave her alone." I recognized the voice, but from behind it could've been anybody. British accents sound the same to me anyway.
"You want her? Fine, have her. She's prude and I don't like her anyway, I thought she was going to be a good fuck," Brandon turned away and ran across the street, "don't forget Mary, I'm always watching.. I will always be here." I started crying and the man put an arm around me trying to calm me down.
"Shhh, Mar, please," now I knew who it was. His embrace warmed me up so I was no longer cold in the English air and we walked to the hotel. Nobody else bothered us that night on the streets. He remembered the hotel number and went in my purse to find my room key. After fifteen minutes, I was stripped and put into pajamas.
"Goodnight Joe," I said as he tucked me into bed.
"Goodnight Raccoon Eyes," he smiled as he kissed my forehead and muted the television. He sat in the chair at the corner of the room and allowed me to sleep the rest of the night.

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Alright guys, I am extremely sorry for a long update but I have had writers block! Now I have an important question for you...

Would you like some chapters from Joe's perspective? --- million dollar question.

Now I will continue to update, I'll try to do so at least twice a week... Give me feedback y'all! Do you like it? Not like it? Tell me in the comments or vote if you love it! Thanks so much my little Suggers/Suggets! <3
-Court