seven [j.m.k]

VIII

"C'mon just do it." Jake pressed as him and Josh hovered over my computer and I.

"It's the deadline, Bobbie, there's no reason for you not to." Josh looked like he wanted to press the submit button for me.

Danny had the idea of me entering the pictures I took of Josh into the photography contest at the art festival downtown. Since learning that I might, the twins have been adamant on me doing it.

It's in a week and today is the deadline to enter any pieces in. I hadn't planned on entering them at all, until last night when I stayed up editing my favorite three. I called Josh and told him I decided to enter them, so the twins have been here since I got off of work at 4. It's now 6.

Josh reached from behind me and tucked pieces of hair behind my ears. He then rested his hands on my shoulder and his chin on my head.

"Bobbie just do it. The pictures are amazing, you have to." He rubbed my shoulders as Jake tapped his fingers on my knee, propped up from my criss crossed position.

I leaned my head back and met Joshs eyes, giggling.

He leaned down to my ear, almost pressing his lips to it.

"Press submit, press submit, press submit, press submit." I laughed at the ticklish feeling, squirming as I sat back up.

I looked at the screen.

Thank you for your submission, Bobbie.

"Jake I swear to God." I looked up to see him snickering, a smug look on his face.

"If I didn't, nobody else would." Jake shrugged, leaning back in the chair he was sat in.

"I would've." Josh raised his hand, and I brought my knees to my chest instead.

Joshs finger dangled down over the top of the chair and tickled right under my ear, snickering as he did it.

"Stop it." I laughed, wriggling my neck as he pulled his finger away.

"I gotta piss, be right back." Josh said, walking off to the bathroom.

"You guys are fuckin insane." Jake softly whispered, and I blew out a deep breath.

"It's been almost a month. And nothing. Absolutely nothing more than exactly how it was before I basically confessed my feelings for him."

"I mean, it doesn't seem like nothing to
me-" Jake cut himself off as the bathroom door opened back up, but pinched the elbow of the shirt I was wearing.

It was Joshs, a loose white long sleeve that he wore everywhere. I asked to wear it last time I saw him, and he hasn't asked for it back yet.

"So, they announce the winner at the festival?" Jake asked, his fingers now tapping on the desk in front of us.

"Yeah, after the last music act." I thought back to the festival last year, going with Carrie as something to do to past the time.

"Oh, that's us!" Josh excitedly said, and I laughed at his giddiness.

It was much easier to lightly laugh these days. It had also gotten easier to sleep, and the pleasentness of Eli's absence had finally set in. I felt lighter, and more peaceful.

I felt loved, and loved without any kind of hinderence or limits.

Except the limits of friendship.

The only thing that's changed is how Josh calls me "honey" now. I appreciate it greatly though, and always feel a little twinge in my stomach whenever he says it.