Imperfections

| three

My mother owns a bakery near Summer Hill's shopping arena while my father owns a car dealership business. Mom started her bakery about ten years ago and by now, everyone in the town pretty much recognises her, hence recognise Dylan and me as her kids as well.

Summer Hill isn't the kind of town where everyone knows everyone but it also isn't the place where it would take a lot of effort to actually find someone. The neighbourhood kind of just goes in circles.

"So, how was your summer?" I ask Josh when it's finally the two of us, chilling outside Mom's bakery.

"Magical." He grins at me, his expressions contagious. There's a small twinkle in his eyes which make me gasp.

"You met someone, didn't you?" I shove at his shoulder and he chuckles, shaking his head. "Josh, seriously? Tell me."

He finally turns his body completely towards me, "I was messing with you. I talked to you every day when I was away. If someone was in the picture, you would've known."

My shoulders slump, my excitement dying down but then he's right. If he was seeing someone, it would've been more obvious. He spent the entire summer travelling around with his mothers. Josh isn't secretive, he's the most open minded and honest person I know. A quality that flourishes our friendship beautifully.

"So, how was your summer?" He gives me a knowing look.

I groan in response, "Terrible. Don't wanna discuss."

"Fionna filled me in on the glory details that you missed out." He laughs and my cheeks heat up from embarrassment. "Aw, you're blushing."

"No, I'm mortified!" I shake my head at him, reaching out to take his chocolate milkshake. I sip on the drink and use it as an excuse to hide from his intense gaze.

"How are things at home?" He asks, and I frown at him.

We don't talk about things at my home. Ever. Fionna and Josh are the only two people I once confided in about how fucked up my parent's relationship is. Only because they found me crying in the bleachers. But I never discussed it, never have, never would want to.

"Same old." I shrug and he nods, offering me a comforting smile.

I look away from him. I don't want anyone's sympathy, even if it's my best friend's. Josh and I have been hanging outside the bakery since more than an hour now because we both had nothing better to do. With senior year just beginning, we're yet to reach a stage where we're burdened under the pile of assignments.

Unlike the three other idiot guys I know, Josh doesn't play sports. He's least interested in it, much like me. That's another reason we bond together so well.

"Is that Dylan?" Josh squints his eyes as if to focus better and I turn around to see my brother entering Ted's diner.

"He must've gotten free early from the practice." I shrug and he nods, but still seems to be in a daze. "What?"

"Nothing." He shakes his head, smiling a little but it doesn't reach his eyes.

"Fionna was being all cryptic around him today. Do you know what that's about?" I ask.

"What?" He frowns in confusion. "Is she losing her cool around him again?"

"Yeah. I thought you'll know. Never mind." I wave it off.

"How's your sociology class coming along?"

"I have to start working on my project." I groan, almost forgetting about it until he brought it up.

"You've got individual projects?" He sounds surprised.

"Yup, and it holds majority of my grade," I tell him. "I kinda have a topic in mind already."