invisible string [ joshua bassett ]

nine

casters house was full to the brim of people i didn't know. left, right and centre i knew not a single person apart from who i was in the club with a few days ago. at first i found it weird that they would have a birthday party on a week day, but later found out from matt that it was because it was the only day they all had free.

we had been here for an hour now and there was still no sign of the boy i was craving to see. we had saw matt, caster and vince a few times but they were all making their way around speaking to everyone. joshua was no where to be found.

i decided i wouldn't let it bother me. he hadn't text me so it was clearly just a one time thing and i was just needy for attention. three months without any male contact will do that to a girl.

my phone buzzing in my bag finally allowed me to turn my attention away from imogen drinking neat vodka. pulling it out, i was met with his name once again. should i? should i not? if i was stone cold sober it would of been a no, but the wine i had drunk made me give in.

" hello? " i said, quite loudly, into the phone. the girls looked at me, rolling their eyes when they realised who i was talking to.

" aphrodite? where are you? " atlas asked me. i covered my left ear with my hand to try and hear him better.

" what has it got to do with you? " i snapped but instantly regretted it. i hadn't even heard him out yet and i already snapped.

his voice began to mix with the music and i wasn't able to hear a word that he had said.

" i can't hear you? " i told him, looking around to try and find the door to outside. i made my way through the crowd, apologising to people as i did and pushed the back door open.

" you never fucking listen. " atlas began cursing through the phone once i had gotten away from the music.

" excuse me? " i said. was he for real?

" maybe if you would of listened to me more, i wouldn't of fucked aimee. " my vision flashed red and it was as though an alarm was going off in my head.

" fuck you! " i spat, ending the phone call. i let out an annoyed groan, tilting my head back and letting out a huff of air. word of advise, never give an ex a second chance. even if it's just explaining themselves.

" aphrodite? " i couldn't turn around. the whole night he had been now here to find and of course, he's here now. there was no way he would of missed the little scuff i had on the phone.

i slowly turned around, putting a smile on my face but it dropped as i saw him. joshua sat outside with a redhead sat right next to him. i had seen her face before, but i couldn't put my finger on where.

" joshua, hi. " my voice was high pitched it even made me cringe. joshua didn't look bothered though as he flashed me his signature smile.

" i should get back inside. " i added, awkwardly pointing to the door i had came though moments earlier.

" no, stay. " joshua said which made my eyes widen. his girlfriend was sat right there.

" emily was just leaving. " he looked over at the girl. she gave both of us a dirty look before leaving through the door i came through.

joshua stared at me. i stared at him. neither of us moving a muscle or saying anything. the expression on his face was unreadable and i hoped that mine was the same. he was stood up now. i have no idea when he stood up, i must of missed it.

" are you okay? that sounded intense. " joshua asked, motioning me to come over to the seats. i obliged and found myself sat next to him on the bench.

" it was my ex boyfriend, i don't know why i even answered it. " i don't know why i was telling him this, just a few days ago i was kissing him and now i'm telling him about my ex boyfriend.

" not over him? " i couldn't tell what joshua's voice was laced with but there was definitely something there.

" i'm way over him. i think it's just the attention. " i admitted, shrugging my shoulders. i would never get back with atlas, even if he was the last boy on earth.

" what's the catch with emily? " i finally asked, wanting to get the attention off of me for a minute. joshua rolled his eyes automatically.

" the exact same situation as you. " joshua said, a little smirk playing on his lips. i matched his and after a few seconds of staring at eachother we burst out laughing.

" i'm sorry i haven't text you, i've been so busy with work i've been getting home and going straight to sleep. " his excuse seemed genuine, no trace of a lie in his words. i just nodded in response, i'm sure the line of work he is in is packed unlike working at the coffee shop.

it got silent between us. not the awkward kind, the comfortable kind. joshua was staring out into space whilst my eyes trailed over to him. i could see his brain working.

" hear me out, " he said.

" my least favourite words. " i asked and joshua turned so he was fully facing me.

" we both miss the attention and having someone there in a relationship. and obviously the, you know. " he said, nodding his head once i understood what he meant. i blushed as he said it, flashbacks of a few nights ago coming back.

" maybe we could be that for eachother? " even though he wasn't saying it, i knew what he meant. friends with benefits.

the idea didn't sound too bad. we both get what we want but at the same time there was no tie because we won't actually be together. i nodded my head as i thought it over, struggling to find a flaw in the plan. it wasn't as though we would catch feelings for eachother.

" okay. yeah. " i agreed and joshuas face instantly lit up.

" we should probably add a few rules, just so it doesn't go terribly wrong. " i chuckled as i said it. joshua nodded, thinking about it for a few seconds before speaking.

" two rules; no falling in love and no strings attached. " he said. it seemed easy enough.

" i think i can do that. "