Things are going to start getting interesting…
Living with the brother and Jim Moriarty, Sophie had decided, was a dream. Aside from Jim's occasional 'episodes' (usually involving shooting various objects around the house, or, which still unnerved Sophie, people) everything was perfect. Sophie had finally got to properly bond with Sebastian when he wasn't doing a job for Jim, and when Jim wasn't out spinning his criminal web Sophie and Jim were essentially best friends. Or as close to best friends you can get with a criminal mastermind.
Living with Jack Moriarty, Sophie had decided, was a nightmare. Jack's wandering eye certainly hadn't stopped; and the taunting definitely hadn't gotten any less. Though, it was something of a joke to the Moriarty brothers. Jim noticed everything, Sophie had been living with him for just over 2 months now but it took less than 2 days for Jim to realise just how big of a (crush? Obsession? Liking? Hating?) Jack had for Sophie. Anytime Seb wasn't in the room, Jack would heckle Sophie with "Moran, don't pretend you're not attracted to me" or "I'm still counting how long it will be until you fall for my alluring wit and charm, princess", or something very creative along those lines. And Jim found it hilarious, and much to Sophie's annoyance, Jim would hum the wedding theme anytime it was himself, Sophie and Jack. Sebastian hadn't cottoned on. Thank God.
Essentially, everything was running smoothly in Sophie's life. Jim had paid (OK, and probably threatened to make into shoes) one of the most prestigious tutors in the country for Sophie. Apparently he'd done the same for Jack the year before, but Jack, in the words of Sebastian 'sent the bloke running after muttering 8 words about what he'd do to him if he didn't get his arse out of the house in the next 5 seconds.' Sophie decided it was best not to ask.
Yes, everything was running smoothly. Until the Incident, that was. Sophie was completely ignorant of this fact, but apparently anytime Sebastian and Jim left for business Jack held a party.
"Soph, we'll be back in three days. You'll be fine." Finally, Sophie untangled herself from Sebastian's arms as they exchanged goodbyes.
"I know. See you, Seb." Sophie smiled at her big brother and turned to Jim who was stood smiling expectantly to Sophie, and as per usual, chewing his gum. "You too, Jim." It was still a little awkward for Sophie, but she'd accepted the fact that Jim and she were actually friends, so she didn't hesitate to move forward and let Jim's arms embrace her too.
"Bye,Sophie darling." Jim's Irish voice sounded sincere as Sophie pulled away from the hug with a smile, and realized the other teen with them was rolling his eyes at the display of affection. "Ciao, little brother. Try not to burn the house down. Or at least save my Westwood's and Sophie if you do."
With a final nod of the head to Jack, and a warm smile to Sophie, Jim span on his heel and made his was out of the manor, followed closely by Sebastian.
Great. Sophie thought. Three days with him.
"Sooooooooo," The elongation of the word made Sophie roll her eyes as she closed the front door, turning to Jack who was stood leaning ignorantly against the 100 year old antique drawers in the entrance hall. "Just us."
"And the cooks. And the cleaners. Don't think about it." Sophie turned on her heel and made her way across the marble floors, hearing Jack follow swiftly behind her.
"I wasn't thinking about anything. Just pointing out we basically run this house now." Sophie could feel Jack walking beside her, and with a sigh, looked up with a slightly furrowed brow. "Well, myself more than you. But details. I thought I should probably tell you I'm having a party tonight. And since I'm such a good guy, you're invited, princess."
Sophie scoffed and looked up, stopping in her steps to stare Jack straight in the face. "Yes, like I'd ever want to attend a party full of booze and drugs and sex. Some of us teenagers, however a dying breed, do actually have some respect."
Jack legitimately sighed and shook his head, running a hand through his black dishevelled hair. "What am I going to do with you, Moran? Well actually what I'd like to do with you is quite the different subject. But the invitation still stands, princess."
Sophie scowled and span on her heel, realizing she didn't want by any means to spend any more time with Jack than she'd have to.
Sighing, Jack turned also as the pair parted ways.
Sophie turned to check Jack wasn't following her and made her way down to the kitchen, realizing she was going to have a pretty boring time without Sebastian or Jim to talk to, making quite the ache appear in Sophie's chest. It then struck her that she was going to have to listen to Jack's party going on until God-knows what time tonight.
Sophie made her way up to her room with an unusual sense of longing for Jim and Seb, but more than that, annoyance towards Jack.
She made a mental note to lock her bedroom door tonight.
It was 11PM and Jack's party seemed to be in full swing, girls from all over were here, boys just the same, though none of them quite got the attention Jack managed to get from girls. They were jealous of him, sure, but hell would they do something about it. Something about him, about his black eyes, just made them scared.
Sophie sat plaiting her uncontrollably curly red hair and sighed, letting it unravel and fall in a long flaming waterfall down her back. She'd given up attempting to sleep with the noise of the music, and had decided she just needed food, but had already neglected going down into the brothel downstairs for an hour, and couldn't wait any longer.
Grudgingly, Sophie unlocked her bedroom door and made her way down the hallway past 2 sets of couples getting it on and one girl vomiting violently into the toilet. Wary of the amount of people, Sophie looked around knowing she wouldn't recognise anyone and began weaving through the masses of people to find her way to the kitchen. There was no sign of Jack as Sophie looked around, probably getting it off with some girls somewhere. Moron.
Thick smoke loomed in the air as Sophie dodged people heckling about her, finally getting into the kitchen after having her arse squeezed twice when making her way through a particularly large crowd of 17-19 year old-ish looking lads. Realizing most of the food was already gone; she settled for taking an apple from the counter and turned against the masses of people around her. The area was particularly crowded, so Sophie ducked around people and made her way out onto the patio through the back door to make her way round to one of the side entrances.
There were some couples talking (and yes, doing a lot of making out) around her but far less people than what there were inside so Sophie was slightly pleased at that fact.
It was only when Sophie rounded the corner of the house when she realized she wasn't alone. Footsteps, definitely male were following her. Spinning, Sophie wasn't greeted with who she expected. Jack Moriarty wasn't the one following her, but an almost overly muscular blonde 18-ish year old, Sophie recognized as one of the boys who'd grabbed her arse.
Creep, following me. Was the linear thought processing through Sophie's mind as she walked away from the drunk looking 18 year old.
"Well, it seems I've hit the jackpot with the fit girl finding toniiiiiiiiight!" Sophie shuddered, when all of a quick sudden the guy advanced on her, roughly pressing his lips to hers and pushing her harshly against the wall, devouring his alcoholic mouth with hers.
Realizing the situation, Sophie tried to move her mouth away frantically, but was denied as this creep's ferocious kissing had her head firmly pressed against the wall, causing painful waves to pound through Sophie's head. The situation fully hit Sophie as she felt the guys hand begin to slide up the inside of her shirt. In disgust, Sophie whimpered into the guy's mouth and with all her strength pushed her hands onto his chest and managed to break their mouths for a fraction of a second.
"Get off me you per-!" Without cause, Sophie's sentence was cut short by his tall, muscular body to be pushed off her by and unknown force, releasing Sophie with a horrible pain in her head and confusion as to what just happened.
Jack had been making out with some blonde in the back of the house when the situation caught his eye, and something in Jack flared. It was like a bomb had been released, and in a second Jack began to run towards the guy Jack recognised as Paul Thomas forcing his hand up Sophie's shirt. Furious wasn't the word. But why was he so? Why was he bothered that Paul was touching her? Jack didn't know, but he just was.
Paul was so drunk it didn't take much effort for Jack to force him off Sophie and push him violently into the wall, releasing Sophie. Jacks hands were shaking with rage, pressing ludicrously hard on Paul's shoulders into the wall of the mansion, his features dark and haunting with fire burning in his eyes.
"Don't. You ever. Touch her. Again." It was almost a growl as Jack released his arms from Paul's shoulders to clench his fist painfully tight to deliver a sickeningly loud punch to Paul's face, causing him to fall onto the floor and scramble up in his drunken state and run away from Jack as fast as his legs would carry him.
"I…" Sophie was in shock, she could still feel Paul's taste of smoke and beer inside her mouth and his calloused rough hands on her body. She looked up to Jack whose features were darker than she'd ever seen them. His eyes were burning and his jaw clenched as he shook staring into the spot where he'd punched Paul. "Thank you."
Sophie's voice pulled him out of the state Jack was in, looking up at Sophie and giving her a slow nod, he looked… confused? "Wait here." In a second he stormed off, leaving Sophie stood shaking in the cold. She closed her eyes slowly and took a deep breath, feeling her breath condense in the cold air.
"Out. Everyone leave. Out." Sophie's eyes opened frantically as she heard Jack's voice booming from inside as she listened to the scuttling sound of feet inside. What was he doing?
Before long the music had stopped and Sophie waited alone outside, making her way towards the patio and sitting on the bench, contemplating everything that had just happened. By the sounds of it everyone had left.
The patio doors were suddenly open and Jack walked to Sophie carrying a large blanket, draping it over her and ushering her inside. Obediently, Sophie stood with her brow furrowed and wrapped the blanket around her and following Jack inside, scanning the kitchen for the mess made. Sophie was taken by immediate surprise when Jack span on his heel, his expression unreadable.
"Sorry. Actually, I'm not. That guy is bad news. You didn't look like you were enjoying what he was going to do to you. Night." At that, Jack looked up at Sophie and locked her gaze, before nodding sharply and spinning on the spot and stalking up to his bedroom, ruffling his black dishevelled hair in his hands, out of pure loathing. Paul Thomas was going to regret ever laying a finger on Sophie.