The next day seemed much like the last, endless boredom in the hot sticky climate of the cafe in which I worked. It might as well have been a rainforest.
Dan's constant phone vibrations were also an annoying addition to this day, going off every few seconds or so.
Buzz buzz buzz. Buzz buzz buzz. BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ.
"Can you please stop texting your freaking girlfriend for one minute?!" I shouted at him, fed up.
He just sniggered at something on his screen, oblivious to everything I'd just said.
I jumped down from my seat on the counter and walked towards him, snatching his phone from his hands.
"What the hell, Fray?" He exclaimed, a bothered expression on his face.
"What the hell me? What the hell ME?" I repeated.
"Am I missing something, is it repetition day or something?" Dan questioned.
I rolled my eyes at him before huffing and rushing to the kitchen, making my way to the back. A small section in the corner had been transformed into a make-do staff area, and included a small coffee machine (ironic, I know), a pin board for events and shift hours, and a small fish tank, in which there were unfortunately no fish - we hadn't got round to buying any yet.
I walked over to the fish tank, and turned around, balancing Dan's phone between my thumb and forefinger over the open top.
"I swear to God, Dan, turn your phone on vibrate NOW or I shall drop it in here." I said bossily, gesturing to the fish tank.
"And how am I meant to do that if you're holding it?" He sassed.
"Seriously Dan, it's killing me." I placed his phone on the shelf, walking back to the front of the cafe. Surprisingly, a figure leaned against the counter with his back turned towards me. It was almost immediate to me who it was, but then again, he was my brother.
"Liam!" I screamed, running towards him and giving him a mahoosive hug.
"Woah there," he said, stumbling backwards. "Hold your horses."
I detached myself from him. "Sorry! I'm just so happy to see you!! What are you doing in London?"
"I came down to see my girlfriend, I thought I'd pop here quickly to see how you were."
"Oh yes, this girlfriend of yours I have yet to meet..." I said, smiling. I then remebered the various text I had received from Finn that I had chosen to ignore.
"Yeah, I could say the same about you," He said, raising an eyebrow.
"Did Lara seriously tell you?" I asked, walking back round to the counter.
"Well, you know, she just swallows the gossip and spits it right back out doesn't she." He said.
"Well that's a nice way to put it." I snorted. "And anyway, I asked you first, she must be in London then right?"
"Yeah, I did tell you I'd be coming down soon, I guess this is a little earlier than I had planned..." He explained.
"A little? You told me you'd be coming down a couple days ago, if I'd known it would be today I wouldn't have made plans."
Dan walked into the cafe at that point, still clutching his phone. "I heard screams, is everything alright?" He joked.
"Liam, this is my co-worker Dan, Dan, this is my brother Liam, he came from WolverHampton." I introduced them both as they shook hands.
"Well I'll leave you two to catch up then." He said, backing away to the far side of the counter.
Two cups of coffee, a cinammon roll and a couple of hours later, Liam and I had finished properly catching up. He had told me all about his wonderful girlfriend, Sophia, who I was now eager to meet. However, whenever he brought up my 'boyfriend' I just shook the matter aside. I was going to kill Lara later.
"So I take it you're doing something tonight if made plans," he said, picking up his jumper from the back of his seat.
"Yeah, I'm going to an event with some friends."
"An event, how exciting." He laughed. "Just please don't come running to my house in the middle of the night telling me you broke up with someone."
I rolled my eyes. "Haahaa, you are so very funny."
He walked out, waving at me through the glass window. But then, something behind him caught his eye. I furrowed my eyebrows as he narrowed his, before shaking his head and walking away.
Moments later Ella walked in.
"You're early," I said. Was it Ella who my brother had just recognised?
"Yes, sorry, but c'mon it's only a few minutes." She said, pulling my arm.
"You're an hour early Ella."
"So? It's dead here, I'm sorry, but do you really think that there's going to be a sudden coffee rush in the middle of Summer at 3 o'clock??" She asked.
I raised my eyebrows at her. "You can go," Dan said. "But you owe me one."
"Alright, just let me get my stuff." I said, catching her small smirk in my periphal vision. I took my apron off, replacing it with my sweater and grabbed my shoudler bag from behind the counter. "Let's go." I mouthed a quick Thank You to Dan as Ella dragged me out.
I sat down in the familair passenger seat of her red mini, pulling my seat belt across my body before she zommed off.
"So I was thinking we could just go to Bicester, there are loads great shops there but we can also buy some nice dresses for good prices." She told me.
"Okay, but isn't Bicester really far away?" I asked, rummaging through my bag for my phone.
"This mini has served me well, I can get us there in no time." She smirked, stepping on the gas.
I got my phone out, finding I had received a text from Finn.
To: Fray
From: Finn
Hope you're looking forward to finding something to wear tonight with Ella, don't hesitate to spend all the money. I mean it. :)
"Who's that??" Ella asked.
"Finn, he wants me to spend all the money he gave me for the dress." I explained, typing a reply.
"He gave you money, lucky, all I got this morning was 'Wear something nice'." She complained.
"I can give you some if you want, he definitely gave me too much and I'm not going to spend it all." I offered.
"No, we are going to find shoes, and a dress, and jewellery, we're finding evreything for you so you can look stunning for Finn tonight."
It was at this point that I noticed what Ella was wearing. She wore a cotton pink blouse paired with denim dungarees and converse. A complete contrast to what I saw her wear the other day at our 'double date'. Her hair was in a half up half down do, mad untamed curls flying about at random angles, but yet, somehow, she still managed to put it off.
"I have a question to ask you, about Jack and Finn's past." I said.
"Fire away, but don't get your hope's up." She turned the music slightly lower.
"The other day, when I mentioned something about meeting their family, Finn immediately just, I don't know, he just went rigid, and he said something about him never wanting me to meet his family. Did something happen, or... I get it you can't tell me. If it's personal." I questioned.
Ella's fingers flexed on the steering wheel. "That's a hard one Fray, I mean, Jack and Finn, they have a dark past. They've been through a lot, but they've still stuck by each other's sides through everything. There are lots of reasons why Finn may not want you to meet his family, some bad, some not so much, and I, I don't know which ones he means. I don't want to tell you because they're not my stories to tell. Finn's obviously waiting until he's sure you're ready to hear everything, and I'm sure you've probably got secrets which you haven't told him."
"That's true, I suppose I'll just have to wait out for him." I sighed, fiddling with my fingernails. "Do you know everything?"
"I think so," she replied. "I don't really want to remember half of it. And Finn's probably not just waiting until he thinks your ready, some of the stuff he has to tell you, he might not even be ready to retell."
"It's really that bad, huh?" I said, noticing we were already on the motorway.
"It's not too light, but, I mean, where there's darkness, there's always light. I really can't put it in a much more positive way." She smiled.
I sighed. "Do you mind if I...?" I gestured to myself pulling my legs up crosslegged on the seat.
"Go for it, I do it all the time when Jack's driving." She said.
"So, you and Jack, you really do love each other from what I hear?" I asked, immediately regretting putting her into the most awkward situation I could have thought of.
She blushed. "Well, we've been through a lot, we've had ups and downs. I don't really know to be honest, I just..."
"You love him. I see it, he loves you too, don't worry." I was digging myself a deeper hole.
She chuckled. "Finn has a soft spot for you too you know, Jack was telling me he's changed a bit since you've been around."
I smiled. "I do like him. I just don't know how much, and I don't even know if he feels the same way."
"He does, trust me. It's good for him, you're good for him."
***
Before I knew it we were parking up at Bicester, and Ella had dragged me into God knows how many shops. I had described the mask to her, as I was afraid to bring it incase I would be the nutcase I am and somehow lose it, so she did the best she could in trying to find a suitable dress for me to wear. I don't even know how many items she forced my to try on before we found it. But as soon as I saw it, I knew it was 'the one', and Ella took no time in agreeing with me quickly.
I stroked it with my hands as it lay on the mannekin. I had my own one lying in my arm, purchased and packed in a fancy clothes bag, or whatever they're called. The only thing that had me worried was the price. Because it was extortionate. Very, very extortionate.
Ella soon found a dress similar to what she was looking for, and after what seemed like hours of decision making, she went and bought it. I thought we were going back to the car park when she grabbed me and took my to various jewellery and shoe stores. I simply denied buying anything, saying I had spent more than I had intended to already, but Ella wouldn't take it.
"C'mon Fray, look at them, they're calling out to you, do you know what they're saying. 'Sallllleeeee, we're on saaaalllleeee.' How would you feel if you were a pair of shoes and someone tried you on before putting your back on the shelf and leaving you to rot and die feetless in a-"
"Okay," I interrupted. "If I buy them will you be quiet, please just be quiet." I pleaded, picking up the shoes and heading to the till.
The car journey home was filled with how we were planning on doing our hair, and makeup etc. What we thought the boys were going to wear, it was all very exciting to be honest, and I was looking forward to it. Although Ella warned me beforehand that anything could happene at one of Jimmy's parties. She drove home quickly and efficiently as on the way there, and dropped me off at my flat at the time she had planned. I thanked her for her advice and the successful shopping trip, and told her I'd see her later before rushing off to get ready.
***
I looked at myself in the mirror. My hair was braided up into a messy but classy halo braid that wrapped round the top of my head. Simple black studs lay in my ears, and a matching necklace on my neck. Many plain silver rings adorned my fingers, varying in size, and the bean bracelet my brother had bought me for my eighteenth hung on my left wrist. My dreses subtly hugged my curves, ending just above my knees, and I had matched it with a pair of Louboutin pointed heels. My makeup vaguely matched my outfit, as I had opted for a nude lip, dark and bold eyes, and a natural base.
I grabbed my pre packed (can you guess) black clutch, and took one last look at myself, before closing my bedroom door and grabbing my grey coat from the sofa. With a few minutes to spare, I fiddled with my mask. How could I put such a beautiful mask on my face and pull it off? The answer: I couldn't
There was a knock at the door. I took a deep breath, and walked to open the door, holding my clutch under my right arm and my mask in my hand. I looked through the peephole just to check if it was the man I had been expecting, before opening the door.
Finn stood there wearing a black tuxedo, fitted and finihsed with a classic bowtie. His suit jacket was done up, a simple black mask hung out his trouser pocket. His chesnut hair was combed back giving a natural and glowy look to his pale face.
The only thing wrong were the red battlescars that lay on his knuckles.
"You look so beautiful," he whispered, leaning forwards.
"I tried my best, I wasn't exactly sure what to get, but..." I said quietly.
"If you had worn a sac you still would have been the most beautiful one there."
"You're kind of obligated to say that, you're my boyfriend." Why did I even...
He raised his eyebrows. "Shut up," I said, and before he could make a sly remark I walked to the lift and pressed the button.
I heard Finn close the door behind me. "No, but seriously Fray, you look really incredible."
I blushed slightly, turning towards him and pulling at his jacket's lapels. "I like this, it looks nice on you. It makes you look older." I commented.
"Is that a good or bad thing?" He asked, pulling me into the lift.
"A bit of both," I smirked, wrapping my arms around his neck.
He grinned, before placing his hands on bakc and pressing his lips on mine. He was lucky I wasn't wearing a colourful lippy, because we pretty much made out throughout that entire lift.
He led me to a new but recognisable vechile, and I idenitifed it as the sports car in Finn's garage I had seen the morning I was at his penthosue, with the iconic number plate.
I scoffed.
"What. You don't like it?" He asked, holding the door open for me.
I stepped inside, waiting for him to come round. "Sports cars aren't really my thing." I said.
"This isn't just a sports car Fray," he said, looking shocked.
I sniggered. We caught up for the rest of the ride. I told him all about the eventful shopping trip earlier, but when I went to ask him about his day, he ofcourse just shrugged. He parked up on a sideroad in London, helping me out and leading us to a fancy hotel.
We were about to walk in when I stopped him, gesturing to the mask in my hand.
"Almost forgot," he said, smiling. He took it from my hand, and gently placed it over my eyes, tying it in a bow at the back of my head. I adjusted the mask on my face, and, unsurprisely, it was also very comfortbale.
Finn put his elasticated one on his face, and we proceeded through the hotel to the 'party room'. A bouncer stood outside, stoppping Finn, who simply raised his mask and gave the man a cold stare.
The bouncer moved out of the way, gulping. I rolled my eyes and Finn, everytime?
Before the party room was a small cloakroom, in which, funnily enough, stood Jack and Ella, handing in their coats to a man behind a counter. We walked up to the masked couple.
"I told you those shoes would go, you look gorgeous," Ella exclaimed.
"So do you, really, you just, you look really beautiful." I said.
"Watch out Jack, I think Fray might still Ella from you." Finn laughed.
I brushed past him, grinning, and handed my coat over to the man behind the counter. He gave me a cloakroom ticket in return. "Thank you," I said, to which he simply nodded.
I turned around, seeing Jack mumble something in Finn's ear, his eyes narrowing. He looked up, turning to the other side of the room. I followed his gaze.
There stood, three men huddled close together. I immediately recognised the one side on us as Jimmy, who looked like he had scrubbed up well for tonight, although his nose appeared to be slightly crooked, I wondered why, smirking inside. The man opposite Jimmy was unfamiliar to me, tall and undermining, someone you wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of. However, the man standing face onto us, but looking at Jimmy, was very familiar to me. Even though he wore a mask, and had his hair styled slightly differently from when I had seen him earlier, I still knew who he was, how could I not?
"Oh my God," I said, stunned in my position.
"What?" Finn asked, all three sets of heads turning to face me.
"That's, that's my brother."
Hey guys!!!
Wow, it's been a long time, and that's all on me, I really have no excuses, but hopefully I shall update maybe once or twice soon as I'm in holidays right now so I have no work and I can just relax!!
I'm honestly eternally sorry for the wait, just to make things clear, I am NOT putting this story on hold, I'm just taking time to update so I can make the chapters as filling and accurate as possible.
Having said that, I haven't proofread this one properly yet, so I'm sorry about the SPAG mistakes :)
How's everyone been, let me know what you think of this chapter in the comments, it's slightly longer than usual (1,000 words longer ;)).
There's a photo of Fray's mask in media and I shall put up a photo of her dress so you actually have a visual idea of what she's wearing soon, as I realise you haven't actually got a description in this chapter.
I know not much happens but I promise so much drama happens in the next chapter, and as always, I left you with a cliffhanger. Did anyone see it coming?
Question: Favourite artist live?
Do I even need to? One direction, obviously.
OMG I FINISHED BREAKING BAD AND THAT SCENE IN THE FINALE AND JESSE AND WALTER AND JUST SO EMOTIONAL
JESSE AND WALTER WERE ALWAYS RHE MAGIC DUO
AND THEY JUST MAKE ME REALLY EMOTIONAL MAN
I'm sorry I'm not emotionally stable
YOU GOT NO FANS #3
Sorry.
Not sorry.
#stayweird
Love all you people lots and thank you for voting and reading my fanfic it means a lot and you all really make my day so thank you very much you don't know how much it means to me and I and going to stop rambling now okay bye
- Stay Beautiful
Tara xoxox
YOU ARE READING
Run (A Finn Harries Bad Boy fanfiction)
Fanfiction"The strongest love is the love that can demonstrate its fragility." WARNING: Occasional bad language and sexual references, don't say I didn't tell you so.
