this charming man - j.k.

eight

Josh's POV

I looked around my room waiting for time to pass a tad bit quicker. It was 6:30, so I was going to leave in about 10 minutes to get Juliette.

I looked at the present sitting across from me. I knew she would like it, but I was still nervous. I really wanted her to be happy.

I left the house, about 6:40, giving me 20 minutes to make a 15 minute drive. I had put the present in the backseat so she didn't see her present when I got there. I drove for what seemed like forever. Listening to the radio, singing along, and thinking about Juliette.

Finally, I had arrived at the Anderson residence. I circled the block a couple times, cause I was about 10 minutes early. I assumed she'd be ready by now.

I got out of my car and walked to their door. I knocked loud enough for most to hear. I waited, considered knocking again, but at-last the door opened.

"Hi, Josh!" Juliette said smiling.

"Hi, Julie." I said smiling back at her.

"Bye mom, I'll be back at 10." Juliette said hurriedly stepping out the door. She about had the door closed when her mom hollered.

"Juliette!" Juliette opened the door, rather slowly, and talked to her mom.

"Yes?" She asked nervously.

"Come inside." Her mom said from behind the door. I couldn't remember what her mother looked like for the life of me.

"But Josh is here." She said pointing to me still behind the door.

"I know, I want to meet him." Her mother said calmly. I raised my eyebrows becoming slightly nervous.

"Mom..." Juliette said looking back at me.

"Juliette." She said. She looked at me with a small smile as a little apology.

"Cmon, Josh." She said opening the door. I walked in there front door to see her mom sitting on the couch and Jaylen beside her.

"Hi, Mrs. Anderson." I said smiling. I hadn't done this much, it felt odd.

"Hi, Josh." She said. "Come sit."

I looked at Juliette to see her looking at me with the same expression. I walked over to Mrs. Anderson and sat down.

"Juliette, Jaylen, go be busy for a second." Her mom said. I looked at Juliette not wanting her to leave the room. I wasn't that nervous, but I didn't want her leaving me alone.

She walked out with Jaylen, me starting to feel insanely awkward.

"So, Josh." She said. "What are your intentions tonight?"

I giggled a little when she said that. Surprised because usually they ask that with dates, and neither me nor Juliette really said this was a 'date.' Unless she told her mom that.

"Um, I was planning on taking her to maybe get drinks, like pop, since she probably already had a birthday dinner. And I'm gonna give her the present I got her, and I'm not sure about what else. I had some ideas, but it's really what she wants to do." I said.

"That sounds nice." Her mom said.

"Mhm-hm." I hummed.

"Well, I know you're a good kid. At least I've heard that from both of them." She said. "So I trust you won't get my daughter hurt or anything like that."

"I don't plan on ever hurting her." I said.

"I hope so." She said. "Alright, I better let you go, or she'll be having a panic attack back there."