head in the clouds

nine; josh

"So we all agree not to tell mom about this, right?" I say as we walk out of the mall. 

"Definitely." Ashley says. 

"Hey," Abby says. "How old is Tyler?" 

I shrug. "I think my age, why?" 

"Cause he's cute." 

I look back at her with eyes so wide I was expecting them to fall out of my face. "Shut up, don't say that to me! I'll kick his ass!" 

She laughs. "Calm down, he's too old for me anyways." 

"You're damn right he is!" 

We walk the short distance back to my car in silence. Abby sits up front with me this time, making Ash sit behind me. Which means she plays the music, which means-

"I WISH I WAS RIOT GRRRL," We scream together as I back out of the parking space and begin the drive. "RIOT GRRRL PUNK, FIGHTING FOR EQUALITY AND SMEARING ALL THE CHUMPS."

***

We had a quick thirty minute conversation to figure out where we should eat dinner. Abby wanted breakfast for dinner, Ashley wanted regular dinner like burgers and I wanted Mexican, but "we've had Taco Bell every night" and "we're tired of Taco Bell". So we just settled on breakfast and now we're at IHop waiting for our waffles. 

"So," I say. "Uh, do you want to talk a-about what happened?" I ask, fiddling with a straw. 

"Josh," Abby says hitting my arm. "Not in public! Wait until we get home!" 

I roll my eyes and slouch down in the booth. "Sorry." I mumble. 

"It's okay." Ashley says. "He didn't... he just wouldn't leave me alone. I was in line for getting pretzels for all of us to share and he just would stop trying to talk to me and I told him to fuck off and he put his hand on my shoulder and then I just screamed. Literally before I blinked T-Tyler was there and everything else just happened to quickly. Then Tyler found you guys for me." 

I nod. "I'm sorry this happened, Ashley. I just, I got distracted and I thought you were with Abbs until she told me you weren't and I got panicked. I'm sorry I let this happen." 

She shakes her head. "I'm okay, J. Nothing actually happened, it was only scary for a few moments. Tyler and his friends helped me calm down, it was really funny watching Tyler punch the guy. He hit him so hard blood flew out of his mouth! It was crazy!" She says, a smile growing on her face. 

Great, now I basically owe my life to this guy I met five days ago. 

"I didn't even need to see that to know he's attractive." I catch Abby saying. 

"Abby!" I scold. "Not around me!" 

Abby and Ash laugh as the waitress brings out our food, placing the plates of breakfast on the table. We collectively say thank you to her before she leaves and continues about her job.

"I'm about to fuck up these waffles." I say earning a laugh from Ashley. 

***

I look back at the girls. Abby has her hands wrapped around Ash, trying to keep her comfortable to the best of her ability. 

Pat is screaming about something downstairs. Some nonsense thing that he doesn't fucking need to be screaming about. And she's just fucking taking it. She's just sitting there, letting him shout at her. 

"I have to do something." I say, resting my head on the doorframe. 

"He's just going to yell at you, Josh." Abby says.