Crescent🌙

5

I really hope you enjoy this story so far 

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"Hey Tyler, it's nice to meet you!" Josh's mother stood by the open door, drying her hands on a kitchen towel. Her smile, wide, elevating the mood, making me smile back to her.

"Nice to meet you too."

"Come in!" She moved out of the way, her hands pointing towards the living room. I nodded, drying my mud-covered boots on the door mat. In bold letters it read 'welcome', and I really did feel welcome.

I sat idly on the couch, hands underneath my legs like a shy schoolchild. The fireplace was lit, flames peeking out from the coal, casting a warm and orange glow on the furniture. I was comfortably warm, wearing a hoodie; swallowing up my whole figure until I was just fabric. I stared at the ground, eyes the weight of sandbags, tired from the previous night of storms.

Josh's mother sat next to me, legs crossed and hands on her lap. "So", She started, "Are you adjusting to your new life well?"

I nodded, adding a smile to my nervous face. "Yeah everything's fine so far"

"Well that's good to hear, have you made any friends?" She asked.

"Yeah a few, they're great." Well mediocre is what I would have said, but it's nice to stay positive around people.

"Good." She finished the conversation, "I'm just going to call down Josh, he's probably still getting changed. I'm surprised if he even remembered you're coming over." She clasped her hands together and stood up, making her way upstairs.

Not long after, they both came down stairs, Josh trailing behind his mother as if he wanted to be anywhere but here. I smiled sarcastically at him, letting him know I wasn't too pleased to be there either. But Josh paused, looked me confused in the eyes. He clearly became tense, pointed at me and said  "Tyler? I didn't know you're my neighbour!"

"Yeah." I shrugged.

Josh walked up to me, sticking his hand out. I went to shake his hand, a little confused, but then he grabbed it and pulled me into a bro hug, patting me on my back. He was taller than me so I felt a little smothered, I could clearly smell his strong cologne. Once finished, I stood quite awkwardly, a little flustered at the sudden gesture.

Josh's mother chuckled. "Well isn't it nice you guys know each other! I'm sure you'll be great friends."

"Oh yeah definitely." Josh teased me. "In fact I was thinking about inviting him to the concert where I'm performing."

I nodded.  Though somehow Josh forgot to mention to his mother that the only reason I was invited is because he begged to copy my homework. And I let him.

"Oh yes wouldn't that be nice." Josh's mother walked to the dining table. "He's such a good musician, I'm really proud of him."

"Oh I'm sure he is." I teased.

We sat at the dining table, Josh's mother coming in to serve dinner. We upheld friendly conversation, and although the food was good, I still didn't want to be there. Josh loved to ask question about the embarrassing parts of my life, trying to rile me up I suppose. But Josh's mother loved to talk about Josh as a kid, this was something that I could not miss out on.

Afterwards, Josh's mother suggested that he take me to his room and entertain me. It was the furthest room down the corridor, the door was clean on the outside but on the inside it was covered in posters. There was a double bed shoved to the corner of the room, sheets dishevelled on top. Josh sat there, so I followed and sat next to him.

We were a little silent at first, my mind wandered off into far away lands whilst I eyed around his room. He was a little alternative, the walls painted grey and the furniture black, there were even signed copies of punk rock albums hung up. I noticed that on his desk there was eyeliner.