Fake It

(09) this just got physical

"What was going on with you out there, Josh?" Ben asked his mate, having just finished football practice.

Ben, Parker and Josh were in the locker room, changing into their clothes after showering.

Josh packed some of his stuff away into his locker as he shrugged. "Just didn't have it, I guess."

"Yeah?" Parker gave a smug smile, raising an eyebrow. "Or are you having withdrawal symptoms?"

Josh sighed, putting his shirt on and turning to Parker. What was the guy going on about now? "Pardon?"

"Well, if I'm not wrong, it has been a while since you've gotten any" Parker chuckled as he tied his shoes up. "You know, something like that can mess up a guy's concentration. Or maybe now that Taylor's free-"

"Shut. Up. Parker!" Josh slammed his locker door shut before sitting on the seat in front of it.

Why was Parker been giving Josh such a hard time lately? He didn't understand the guy's motives.

"Well I mean, I don't know..." Parker carried on, still finding what he was saying funny. "Maybe it's Williams' ass you-"

"It's not always about that!" Josh replied, his volume increasing and temper decreasing.

"Oh, totally" Parker shrugged, looking up at Josh. "If you're not gonna do it, do you mind if I do? She might-"

"l'll knock you out if you touch her!" Josh yelled, lifting his arm up and taking a swing at Parker.

"Calm down Josh!" Ben called out, pushing Josh to protect Parker, though he was too late. "Come on, guys."

"Fuck you, Josh" Parker sighed, holding his nose which was now bleeding onto his fingers.

Josh didn't feel an inch of regret after punching Parker. He deserved it, at least that's how Josh was feeling.

Ben didn't want to choose the side of one or the other of his friends, they were both being ridiculous.

Standing up, Parker looked into Josh's eyes and shook his head. "You know what? For the last four stupid years of high school I've had to watch you fool people into thinking you're the king fucking shit. This bet is one that you're going to lose. You're going down."

- - -

Walking down a set of stairs, Josh looked around the dim lit room in awe. There were so many artworks of all kinds hanging around the walls.

What Josh was admiring in particular, was Hayley's painting. It was unlike anything the guy had ever seen.

Hayley heard footsteps and froze - this room she was in, wasn't exactly a free-for-all area. "No one is allowed to be down here except for me."

"That's amazing" Josh complimented Hayley's painting, stopping at the end of the stair case. "I'm guessing it's your... Mother?"

Hayley didn't bother turning around, she knew who it was and wasn't sure if she wanted to speak to him right now.

Smiling at the compliment anyway, Hayley figured she may just let Josh off the hook. "Yep. She was an artist like me... Apparently."

"She's gorgeous" Josh smiled faintly, tilting his head at the artwork.

The painting was a portrait done with black and grey colours, mimicking a film photo that Hayley had on the desk beside her for reference.

"Unfortunately, not everything is hereditary for me" Hayley sighed to herself, looking up at her canvas.

"How'd she die?" Josh asked in the politest way he could, stuffing his hands into his pockets nervously.

"She didn't" Hayley let out a small laugh, placing her paintbrush down. "I don't remember much. She sort of just vanished."

Josh nodded, listening to Hayley's answer. He felt sorry for the girl but now he realised what she was doing. "You can't keep going on like this, though."

"Going on like what, exactly?" Hayley furrowed her eyebrows, finally turning to face Josh.

"Shutting everyone out" Josh answered Hayley, sighing as he watched her get up and start to pack her things away. "You sit down here with a million locks on the damn door."

"So... So I shut people out" Hayley shrugged, rinsing the paint off of her brushes. "So what? I make decisions - and I think that's more than what I can say about you."

"I do make decisions!" Josh answered defensively, though he knew what Hayley meant.

"Okay. Where are you going to study after school, Josh?" Hayley puzzled the guy behind her. "I saw your name on the list outside the Careers room. That's something you haven't decided."

"Well there's some stuff you don't... wouldn't understand" Josh looked down, folding his arms. "At least you don't have to live with my dad."

"Tell me how bad it is" Hayley placed an arm on her hip, once again facing to look at Josh.

"My Dad went to Yale. It was apparently the best years of his life" Josh shrugged, leaning against the rail of the stairs. "There's a photo of Dad and I at home, from my fourth birthday. I'm sitting on his lap and opening my presents - he put a damn Yale hoodie in wrapping paper!"

Hayley nodded and tilted her head as she waited for Josh to continue. "Yeah, and?"

"It's like, ever since I can remember he's been bugging me about it. He always tells me to figure out my future - but really, he wants me to figure out his future" Josh frowned, turning as he began to go back up the stairs.

"Wait!" Hayley half-yelled. "Hold on. Are you hearing yourself? You're so lucky! You can go to any college! You're so good at football and I bet many other things. You're eighteen and you're old enough to start making your own choices."

"Alright, alright" Josh nodded, turning to face Hayley again. "You have a point - but what about your future? Shouldn't you be saying some of that to yourself?"

"I'm trying to figure it out" Hayley smiled as she bit her lip and looked at Josh.

Something was bugging Hayley. While she thought for a moment, Josh looked into her eyes, admiring her. Hayley found the silence too awkward, so she spoke again.

"Why did you even come down here, Josh?" Hayley asked, pinpointing what had been on her mind.

"I... forgot" Josh lied, running a hand through his hands as he shifted his weight to one side.

The pair stood in silence once again, looking into each other's eyes. Josh began to lean closer towards Hayley's face, planning to kiss her - he got so lost in the moment.

"You're not trying to get my vote for that stupid prom king thing, are you?" Hayley asked Josh, probably the worst of times to do so.

Josh moved his head away from Hayley's rather quickly. Widening his eyes, the guy was surprised by his actions.

"Oh sugar... That thing..." Josh trailed off, before sighing. "I've gotta motor."

"I was thinking maybe we could talk about the prom?" Hayley asked Josh, though he had already began walking upstairs.

"I'm sorry, I really have to go now. I have to help my Dad out" Josh lied, walking up the steps.

"Josh?" Hayley raised an eyebrow, annoyed by him suddenly needing to go. Though, she did understand it must be important.

"Yeah?" Josh turned, raising an eyebrow at the redhead. What was it she wanted to say?

"Never mind" Hayley shook her head, going back to cleaning up her art supplies.

Hayley was going to save what she wanted to say for another time - Josh was clearly busy.

"I'll give you a ring tonight" Josh gave Hayley a small smile, which turned into a grin once Hayley had nodded. "Okay, bye!"