Pulling Heart Strings

8.

*Zayn's P.O.V*
The movie was going on for one hour when I stretched and yawned. Today's events, mostly dinner tonight, had made me anxious. I didn't want to be the bad guy and put my sister through that dinner, but Paul and Simon were demanding to meet the girl who'd be joining us for half a year or so.

I looked around me, wondering if any of the other lads seemed as tired and sleep-deprived as I did. Something suddenly grabbed my attention. Joey wasn't talking. She was usually talking or messing with one of us... but she wasn't even moving. I craned my head to look at her. Her back was to us, her arms cuddling a pillow tightly, her legs curled up to her chest, a blanket covering most of her body. When did she fall asleep?

Harry turned around too, and furrowed his eyebrows. "Wasn't she awake, like, five minutes ago, mate?

"Must be exhausted." I shrugged, patting her leg and turning around. It made sense. The dinner seemed to make her as anxious as me, or even more. Harry cocked his head to a side, biting his lions his eyes flickered from me, to the couch, to the ground. The way his fingers fidgeted together and his eyes seed to search my face, I knew he was debating on whether to tell me something or not.

I was about to ask what was up with him when he spoke, "When are you going to tell her?" that grabbed everybody's attention since Liam paused the movie and looked at us sideways. "Tell her what?" I muttered, not catching on. "About what it's like being with us...." he trailed off, noticing Liam and Louis tense up at his words.

Anybody who is seen with us is usually a target for direct hate. Sometimes the hate comes in minor waves, other times the hate comes rolling in like an avalanche.

The hate had separated the boys from their girls but... I thought Joey was prepared for that. She's been through worse. But that's why she's not prepared for this, you idiot, my mind scolded. I frowned.

"She should know what's up with our fans, Harry. I don't think we need to warn her." Liam pointed out.

"But what if she doesn't? What if she thinks it's not a big deal? What if she thinks they'll approve of her because... let's face it. Our fans are protective." Niall mumbled, playing with some fringe on our blanket. I let out a sigh. Unfortunately, he was correct. She'll be so hurt if she gets something totally different than what she expected. Some will want her dead under a minute. My sister wasn't really ready for this.

She's tough, she's a warrior... but like she said, I don't know what's been happening in her life. If only she told me what her life has been like, then I would have known if this tour was good for her. Sure, I missed her loads... but Joey has gone through so much in the past years.

Was she stable enough to endure this? Or was I underestimating her?

"I guess we could give her a heads up when we go deeper into the tour... let's say America." I let out a chuckle, knowing it got worse over there. They all modded before glancing towards her. "Should I take her up to her room? She looks uncomfortable." Niall asked in a hushed whisper, careful not to wake my sister up. I shook my head, small-smiling towards the blonde, who nodded his head and turned back around to watch the movie.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

*JOEY'S P.O.V*
Pointless conversations drifted around me as I poked at my breakfast. The only thoughts that rattled my mind right now were thoughts of what was posted online, of what was waiting for me on my Twitter feed. So many thoughts whirled around my mind, fogging everything else.

I was disconnected from the world and not in the good way.

I couldn't even rest well last night. Every time I thought about what was lurking behind that blue screen with the white bird, my eyes started watering and my breathing seemed to increase.