piece by piece~j.d

~47~

Josh was nothing if not determined, he had always been driven and motivated. A feat that had a large impact on him winning a premiership in his first year, something that had led him to becoming one of the most influential midfielders in his team. This characteristic also followed him off of the field and into his personal life. The exact thing that led him to chase after what he was passionate about reaching, a journey he had no doubt been on before.

He was also respectful, he didn't want to push anyone too far out of their comfort zone. He never wanted to force people into uncomfortable situations knowing just how tolling and scarring they can be for someone. Which led him to his dilemma, not knowing whether or not he should go after what, more specifically, who, he wanted. Or to let time speak for itself.

Distracting himself in other areas seemed like a good result in his mind, if he is too busy doing other things. Perfecting skills, leading by a good example, always worrying about something else. It would leave him no time to focus on the thing that he truly wanted to put his energy in.

It worried many around him, his immediate family being some of the main people that were the most concerned. Both Kyle and Lara could notice the difference, others who would not have known him as well could think that he just clicked into what he needed to do to improve, but those close knew that he did that regardless, this was him burning himself out to stop some intrusive thoughts from flowing in. An unhealthy coping method that didn't rank as high as others because it appeared, in a sense, normal.

~~~

Aubrey was much the same in many ways, turning her attention to her students and making sure that the classes were as fun and entertaining as she could possibly make them. This ultimately led her to an uncomfortable situation, with spending more time at the school it meant that she was more involved in the planning of certain events. The upcoming one just so happened to be a footy day and with her relations with Bailey not exactly being a secret, they were quick to ask her if she could organise for a few of the bulldogs boys to come and make the day extra special.

She wasn't ever going to say no, and was quickly able to get some confirmation from the club that they would organise some of the boys to help out. Everyone was overjoyed, especially the kids in her class who were for some reason, dying to meet Baz.

"Fair warning they're crazy, and I'm sure some of them are obsessed with you." Aubrey warned, her and Baz were carpooling, though she still harboured some anger at her brother for leaving her solo on many occasions and purposely pushing her into a situation that she wasn't happy with. "Definitely should have worn the hawthorn colours today though, not the dogs." Aubrey referred to the team that they both supported as children.

"You speak so highly of them, I'm sure I'll be fine." Bailey assured her, while completely ignoring her statement.

"Do you know who else is coming? Like how many of you are going to be there?" Aubrey asked, twirling a strand of her newly blonde hair. "Just curious."

"All I know is that Jack is going to be there, he messaged me this morning to ask if I was going as well. I think there's going to be like two others." Bailey shrugged, he really didn't have the answers that he knew she wanted.

"Alright, don't let Jacko be too much of an idiot." Aubrey laughed, he seemed quiet to the public but could be a pest when he wanted to. She was fairly sure that he would be on his best behaviour, but just in case, it would be Bailey's fault if he wasn't.

~~~

"He's a lot taller then I expected. I thought he'd be like the same height as you." Ruby, a girl in the class mused.

"Impossible." Baz laughed, shrinking onto his knees so that he was the same height as most of the kids in the class. They were to mark the roll and then meet everyone at the oval where the group of boys would be. "I'm Bailey, nice to meet you."

As the class made their way down, Ruby held onto Bailey's hand and spoke animatedly to him about anything that she deemed important in her life. Aubrey grinned as she watched her brother act enthusiastically. They were both good with kids and always had been, the exact reason Aubrey had gotten into teaching.

"There are the other boys." Baz spoke, pointing the group of three to his sister who was a few meters behind him. She nodded and followed his gaze to where Jack, Josh and Adam were all chatting to a few of her co-workers.

"You guys go stand with Miss Bellamy for me, we'll be back in just a second!" Aubrey called and her students did so willingly, an array of colours for each team that they supported were floating around. "Hey." She greeted all of the people in the circle, she smiled at them all knowing that there could be no animosity bought into today.

"We figured out all of the rotations, if you two are on board." Mr Larue, the sport teacher announced. Both Bailey and Aubrey shared a look before nodding. It was in moments like that, that people around them could easily tell they were siblings. "Bailey and Adam you two are on handballing, there'll be two groups there that you can choose how to run it, Aubrey and Josh you two are on kicking drills together and Jack and I will take some tackling and possibly a few game like scenarios. Are we all okay with that?" He proceeded to point out the directions in which they would all be standing.

"Sounds good." Aubrey confirmed, her and Josh walking to the left of the oval where there were a few footys and cones set out. "You ready for this Josh?"

"Ready as I'll ever be."

~~~

Josh and Aubrey worked through the first group easily, they spoke when necessary and focused on the kids when they needed help with technique or just instructions. Many of them were distracted by the important person that was Josh. It was in between the first two groups where it got interesting.

"The kids you teach are pretty cool." Josh timidly started a conversation. "They seem to make you happy."

"They really do, I'm really lucky to have them in my life. Kids have a way of shining a light on different aspects of life when you'd usually completely ignore them. They're oblivious to the darkness around them, but that naivety works wonders on the way they think. They helped me when I thought I would never get back up." As Josh watched her speak, his hand reached up to move a stray piece of blonde hair that had fallen slightly from her ponytail, a movement that had previously been mindless became awkward as he instead let his hand drop to his side just before he had made contact.

He wasn't able to feel Aubrey's heart rate pick up, nor the way that her body longed for the familiar touch that was his. Josh's touch had been a haven, the duplicity of the feelings that it still gave her were confusing. She should have been seething as she was when she thought of him, but still she was unable to stay away.

"Some people have that affect for a long time even after childhood. Aubs."

;)