{Joe's pov}
I shut the final box and pushed it into the taxi and walked back inside, running my hand through my hair.
"Caspar?" I shout down the stairs.
"Yeah?" He bellows back.
"I'm ready to go mate." I reply.
After my views started going down on YouTube I knew it was going to go bad from there. I was right. After 2 months I wasn't earning a lot and then they never published my book. I was devastated and Caspar was still doing fine. We had talked about it and decided Marcus could move in as Niomi has moved back in with her friends after a messy break up.
"One Minuet." He shouts back to me. His voice is echoy and empty. I walk over to the kitchen and run my hands along the counter. I'm gonna miss this place. I shuffle towards the TV but turn away. Everything reminds me of our prank war.
Caspar turns up at the top of the stairs and waddles towards me nervously. I run to him and hug him. "Caspar, thank you for being such a great friend and always being there and I'll never forget you." I blub into his shoulder "I wish I could stay but even if your career fails I'll be here till the end. I gonna miss you so much buddy!"
Caspar backs away and holds me at the shoulders. I feel like I have betrayed him and avoid his eyes.
"Joe!" He whispers, " I'll gonna miss you too." A tear falls to the floor and I wipe my face.
"Stay happy Casp, don't ever change."
"You too Joe. You too"
We hug again and I back away this time.
"I have to go Caspar. I'll speak to you over face time." I rush my words and grab my bag from the sofa.
I mentally am crying and it feels like my heart is being ripped out moving from this place. I open the heavy door and walk out onto the uneven London streets. I close is softly behind me and walk towards the car. I throw my self into the back seats and slam the door behind me.
"Hey! Watch Your Self Man!" The taxi driver yells. I grunt.
I just zone out and replay all the time with Caspar. It's killing me. I open my bag and pull out my headphones and plug them into my phone and drown out the world with music. I let the tears run down my face and let myself cry. No one here will judge me.
The drive takes about 45 minutes and I finally arrive. The building is a simple 2 story house with 3 bedrooms. The attic room is the smallest. I pay the driver and swing the car door open. I pick up my bag and shuffle to the boot. I slide my hand under the handle and lift the boot open. I lift out box after box until all of my stuff is on the pavement. I throw my bag onto a box and regret it as it misses and lands heavily on the floor. The taxi speeds away and leaves me on the street. My phone rings from somewhere in my bag and I sigh. I let it ring as I lift my stuff into the front garden. I move three boxes before ringing the door bell. I hear screaming from the other side of the door and a crash. A few minuets later Darcy turned up at the door quickly followed by Louise.
"Joe?" Louise was clearly shocked. The others didn't tell her then. A shatter comes from the kitchen. Jim shouts and Niomi walks from behind Louise.
"WHO THE HELL LEFT A CUP ON THE EDGE CAUSE IT'S BROKEN NOW!" Jim screams into the hallway. I smirk as Niomi smiles at me. Darcy backs behind Louise closer to me.
"That would be Darcy Jim! Calm down and come here!" Louise says. A cry comes from somewhere upstairs and Niomi disappears back into the house. Jim walks in just in a dressing gown. Darcy gallops off after Niomi.
"Joe? Why are you here its only what? 9? Come here mate!" Jim pulls me in through Louise.
"Jim I can't all my stuff is out side. Niomi said that I was good to stay here so long as I paid. Did she not tell you guys?" I think back to when I was talking to her. I had been on her side when Marcus and her broke up. We had gotten closer after they broke up and went out into town quite a lot. I also stayed at hers a lot during their arguments to help them both. I did get drunk one night but that's something else.
"No Niomi's been busy since they broke up."
"OH. Is it OK for me to stay then?" I'm worried that I'm now not going to have a place to stay. I can't go back to Caspar either.
"OH Joe of course you can stay!" Louise squeals, " Do you need help with your stuff?" I glance over to the boxes and spot a group of teenage kids eying up my stuff.
"Yes please Louise." I drop my bag inside the door and run outside to join Louise. I drop a box onto a bigger box and carry them into the front garden. Jim is standing at the door ready to bring in boxes.
"Niomis waiting for you upstairs, Is there something going on with you two Joe? You would tell me wouldn't you?" Jim asks taking the boxes from my arms.
"I'm not sure. But I would tell you." I look Jim in the eyes and he looks concerned.
I walk back over to Louise and pick up the final box and follow Louise into the house. I climb the stairs behind her and we turn up into the attic room. Niomis voice is calming someone. I put the box down and see her leaning over a Moses Basket. Louise pushes her box onto the pile where Jim has been putting them. I walk over to Niomi and look over her shoulder.
"Niomi?" Its a baby. "Niomi who's is that?" I touch her shoulder and she flinches.
The baby lies quietly gurgling as Niomi strokes its face. She brushes my hand away.
"Joe." She whispered, "Remember when you stayed over... She's yours Joe."
I shake my head.
"No, no, no, no Niomi, Its Marcus's surely. " I can't believe it. It can't be mine. It has to be Marcus's. I run downstairs slamming the door behind me.
"Jim? Jim!" I run into Darcy, "Hey Darcy where's Jim?"
"Uncle Jim With mummy." She squeals. I run into each room
"Jim? Louise?" Jim appears out of the bathroom and Louise comes from the kitchen.
"Who's hurt?" Louise panicked.
"What?" Jim asked.
"Niomi, that's Marcus's right you guys know that yeah?" I whisper. It can't be mine. It must be Marcus's
"Joe she needs a DNA test first." Jim assures me, " Its a 50% chance of being yours."
The room starts moving and I grasp the kitchen worktops. Louise helps me to the living room but it goes dark. The last think I remember is falling out of Louises arms and then Jim's face.
I wake up being fanned by Jim and Niomi. Louise is sat with Darcy soothing her telling her I'm ok.
"It's ok Darcy Uncle Joe is fine. He's just tired and was silly and decided to have a nap." Louise says calmly to Darcy. Niomi is looking away while Jim is staring at me.
"Stop," I grumble "It's cold." I lower Jim's fan and close my eyes again.
" Joe are you ok? " Niomi panicked Darcy pushed her self off of Louise and she ran over to me poking me in the eye.
"Mate I didn't know what to do. Louise panicked after and Darcy started crying then Niomi dropped her and.."
"Ow Darcy!" I groan
"No Darcy we don't hit people do we?" Louise scolded. Niomi gulped and looked embarrassed
" Wait," I realise what Jim said "You dropped the baby? HOW COULD YOU BE SO CRUEL? I DONT CARE IF THATS MINE OR MARCUS'S YOU ARE AN UNFIT MOTHER." I yell Darcy runs and cowards behind Jim.
" Joe calm down. " Niomi trys to say.
" No! That poor child! " I yell I stand up "Where is she?"
Jim stands too.
"Niomi, I think Joe might want to see her. " he lifts Darcy onto him hips and helps Niomi up in her shaken state.
"ok" Niomi whispers.
"Darn right I am seeing this baby. And darn right and I taking her too. I can care for her and you obviously can't." I shout. Louise rushes behind me and puts her hand on my shoulders and guides me out of the room. She pushes me up the stairs back into the attic.
"I'm not taking sides but...... I'll ask Niomi where the stuff she'd got is." I crouch by the basket and a happiness overwhelms me. The baby smiles and me and grasps for me. I offer my finger and she firmly grips it.
"Its ok sweetie. Daddy's here now."
"Joe. Please take care of her. She means the world to me. You will bring her back won't you?" I look up to see Niomi looking down at me on the floor. I refuse to raise my voice around the baby.
"What's her name?" I ask
"I like the name Layla." Niomi replays crouching beside me.
"Well me and Layla will be going after we have her stuff." I pull my finger away from Layla and cross my arms. Niomi moves to a chest of draws. I open a few of my boxes and choose the most empty. I slid it to her signalling she should start pilling the stuff in there. I grab my bag and search for me phone. I had a missed call from Mum. Oh well. Layla was my priority now. I dial 'Zoella28039'. It rings 3 times before picking up.
"Joseph Sugg you have rang the Sugg taxi services how May I help?" Zoe jokes down the phone.
"Zoe can you pick me up from Jim's, Louise's and Niomi's please?"
"What are you doing there Joe? Yeah I can come get you but it will be 1 hour and Alfie is coming too. Is that ok?" She says down the phone.
"Yeah. Can I stay at your place for like a few weeks aswell?" I ask. I pace the room look at Niomis who is folding baby dresses, leggings tops, bows, shoes, socks, bottles, nappys and other baby essentions.
" Yeah sure, But Joe won't the gang mind?" Zoe is always the more sensiable one
"I don't live here anymore Zoe." I say bluntly. "Im homeless... Pretty much"
"What a pickle. Well we wi talk in the car. See you in a few hours." She hangs up the phone and I shove it back into my bag. I sigh leaning against the wall.
1 hour