Bubble Wrap Boy (Joe Sugg) *On Hold*

Chapter 5

Perfect.

That's the only word I could use that would describe how today was.

After the dancers we decided to get ice-creams and sit in the park next to a small playground. Joe and I went on the swings and he pushed me until I accidentally fell off. Joe wouldn't stop apologising but I reassured him it was fine, and honestly, it was fine. Just spending the day with people who seemed to have a genuine interest in me made me smile.

They weren't pretending to be friends with me for my parties, or alcohol, or sex. So far, they were the closest people I had now.

It got late so we went to a little Italian pizza place and got a pizza to go and then sat by the lake in the park we were at earlier.

All night Marcus cracked awful jokes, Alfie sang happily, Zoe laughed her cute little laugh and Joe and I danced around to Alfie's songs.

It was now around 8:30 and we all just lay here, our feet dangling in the water, enjoying each other's presence.

No one said anything, no one needed to. The silence was comfortable and it was what we needed after a day filled with non stop laughter.

I had my eyes closed and was almost about to fall asleep when I felt one droplet of water.

Then two.

Then hundreds.

"Fuck," someone finally said before we all jumped up and made a run for it. Marcus was in the lead with Zoe and Alfie just behind him and then Joe and I trailing behind at a slightly slower pace. I was behind him when he reached out with his hand and grabbed mine, sending a small jolt up my spine.

Together we all ran until we reached shelter of a small store. We all just looked at each other and burst out laughing.

The sight of us was ridiculous.

Marcus' normally half spiked hair was all over his face, Alfie's doing the same. Then Zoe's hair was all over the place and her eye makeup was slightly running which I'm sure is what I looked a lot like too.

Then there was Joe who still managed to look perfect. His hair was drenched but it didn't look bad and his white shirt had gone see through which allowed me to see an outline of his well sculptured abs. And finally, his mouth was formed into a lopsided smile.

He caught me staring and winked, making me blush.

Wait, I don't blush. Since when did I blush?

"Like what you see Vi, there's a lot more where this came from," he suggested cheekily before sending me another wink. This caused Alfie to smack him up the head.

"That's my cousin and a 17 year old you're talking to. Watch it," he said warningly and the worse thing was, I knew he wasn't joking.

I knew Alfie would never allow me to date someone as old as Joe but why did that make me suddenly sad? It'd be wrong for me to date Joe, or even think about dating Joe.

But that's not Alfie's decision.

"Fuck Alfie, that hurt," Joe said rubbing the back of his head. "Besides, it was just a joke. You know I'd never even think about doing anything with Viola. Fuck."

Ouch.

We kept walking down the footpath, the rain getting heavier and heavier each minute. Alfie pulled Joe off to the back of the group, probably to get his 'over protectiveness on' I guess.

I'm sick of it, sick of Alfie trying to be my father. Sure, he doesn't want me to get hurt but I can handle myself. I have for the last 2 years.

Soon Joe and Alfie both joined us, Alfie going straight back into conversation with Zoe and Marcus whilst Joe just tagged along silently.

I touched his hand. "Joe, you okay?" I tried to hide the worry that was evident in my voice but I didn't do it very well. "You haven't said a word to me or any of us."

He pulled his hand sharply away from mine. "I'm fine Viola."

I wasn't happy with his short answer but before I could say anything about it he walked off ahead.

Right.