Biology||Josh Richards

5.2

"Yeah, I guess so," I say to Avani over my cell phone.

I had told her about what happened with Josh but she wasn't entirely sure why he had mentioned the cheating part either.

"So, when are you leaving for your dad's?" She asks politely.

I sigh, looking over at the alarm clock that sits on my desk. "45 minutes, then I'm not going to see any of you guys for five whole fucking weeks."

"Damn, well, do you think Char and I could stop by in 5?"

I bite my lip to smile, "I'd love that, see you soon."

It was nearly 10 minutes before they had arrived. I was dressed in sweatpants and a plain tee. Everything was packed and ready to go as we sat on my porch.

"Wait, so what exactly happened?" Charli asks, I turn to face her, sitting crossed-legged.

"I don't even know, it was weird. I didn't tell him because I was scared of his reaction but I can't believe that he would think I could be cheating on him." I let out a breath. "It just hurts, ya know?"

"Yeah," Avani agrees, "but you have to think of it from his perspective too. Josh hasn't had the best luck when it comes to girlfriends and trust. It's not that easy."

"Believe me, I know." I exasperate, bowing my head downwards.

In my peripheral vision, I see a blue car driving up the street and I immediately know who it is.

"You guys should get going."

They stand up, as do I. I hug each of them so tight it feels impossible to let go.

"I'll miss you two. Text me every day, okay? Love you."

Charli squeezes me. "We love you too, and we will."

"Yeah, okay." I smile at them both, grabbing my bag and heading to the car. The nerves that keep jittering out of me are astonishing. I step closer I take to the car, my breath shortens.

"Hello, sweetheart. Ready to go?" The figure known as my father says as I take a seat on the passenger's side.

"Don't have a choice," I mumble, waving one last goodbye at the girls.

The car ride was nearly an hour-long drive, but when we arrived at a pale-colored duplex home, I felt more uneasy than I did in the car.

It was homey, yes, but knowing that my mom, friends, or anyone else were here was nauseating.

When you first walked through the light oak door, there was a small living area to the left and if you walked in further, there were also small kitchen appliances in the corner of the house. Next to it was a staircase leading to upstairs.

A hallway laid across from the couch that was sat in the living space that had a door on the left and right.

"Here it is, your room is the first door on the right down here. My room is upstairs." He pauses his hands on his hips in one of those cliche dad poses. "We share the kitchen, you get your bedroom and the bathroom down here, there is a small living room upstairs which is also mine and this one right over here can be yours."

I nod, taking in my boundaries.

"Now, the rules of this house. You have a curfew of 6 o'clock every night with no exceptions, dinner will be either delivered or made yourself. Lights out at 10 pm and you will be awake by noon.
"No friends shall be aloud over unless I give permission, and you may only hang out with friends if you're hanging out in the neighborhood. If they're over, doors must be open and I can see you."

He was acting like a counselor at a strict summer camp, does he expect my friends to drive 60 minutes to get here just so we can practically be spied on?

Instead of allowing my anger to slip out, I nod with a tight line as a smile and head to my room.

The walls were white, a mattress layer in the corner of the left room, a closet on the opposite wall. On the wall opposite to the door, was a normal-sized window with blinds that had the sun peaking through.

I shut the door lightly and plop down onto the bed. Not very comforting if you ask me. The sheets and comforter were grey but yet it still didn't feel normal.

The only thing I could do to waste my time right now was to be on my phone, but I knew if I went on social media, I would end up accidentally sending Josh a funny video.

He still hasn't texted me, it makes me wonder how he is feeling about all of this.

Sure, we fought. But we didn't break up, right? So when one of us quit being stubborn and own up to our mistakes then everything will be back to normal. In some ways at least.

Me: 6 pm? Really?

Avani: you're kidding.

Me: Nope, I'm bound to my room, so-called "living space", bathroom, me sometimes the kitchen.

Avani: sounds like I need to come to save you.

Me: no can do, my dad doesn't know you. He said if friends are coming, either leave the doors open or go to the park. We live an hour away.

Avani: oh shit, so he doesn't like us.

Me: apparently so.

We text endlessly for actual hours because by the time we finished talking, it was nearly 7 at night.

Walking out of my room, I turn into the kitchen to see it dark and empty. I open the fridge, bread and peanut butter catching my eye.

A sandwich will do.

After making the sandwich and heading back into my room, I decide to watch a show and start to relax. I felt too exhausted to shower and take out clothes or anything.

Today was far too stressful then it should have been, between the fight, crying for an hour and a half, packing up my stuff, saying goodbye to the friends I won't see for five weeks, and arriving to my new second home.

I know I'm being dramatic but why can't thing just be... better?

It may be unrealistic but I can at least dream.

a/n
YALL ARE NOT EVEN PREPARED FOR NEXT CHAPTER AHHH