invisible string [ joshua bassett ]

eleven

i had completely forgotten about my shift at the coffee shop the next day, so when i woke up to find i needed to be there within the next ten minutes, i don't think i had ever moved that fast. i ran about three red lights and my knuckles turned white with how hard i had gripped the steering wheel, and i was still thirty minutes late.

it was a saturday so the shop had way too many customers for my liking by the time i put my apron on. i apologised more times then i could count to my other colleagues and finally got to work.

" good morning, what can i get you? " i asked, clicking away on the computer and putting my in my worker code.

" i didn't realise you worked here. " i looked up and found caster staring back at me, a smile on his face. what a pleasant surprise.

" oh, hey. i don't know how long for, i was very late today. " i laughed.

" i've never seen you in here before. "

" i've never been. josh told me it was his favourite coffee shop and i had to try it. now i know why it's his favourite. " caster told me. i rolled my eyes at his last comment, he just liked the coffee.

" well, what can i get you? " i took his order, one of the other workers making it for him.

" do you and the girls want to go for a meal with us tonight? i need to check with the others but when they find out you guys are going they will definitely come. " he asked, tapping his apple pay on the card machine. i racked my brain for any plans i had for the night, finding nothing off of the top of my head.

" yeah, that should be fine. i'll check and let you know. " caster and i said our goodbyes and i got back to work. i sent a text to the girls to let them know of the plans tonight and everyone apart from lexi could make it. once i told caster the plans were official.

each minute at work seemed to last an hour but eventually it hit four pm and i was free. on the ride home i decided to listen to some of joshua's songs. people may think that's a bit crazy, but i thought of it more as a sign of respect. i was spending all of my time with josh, and was yet to listen to his songs or watch his show.

the first song that came one was one called 'common sense'. i listened to the lyrics and hummed along to the melody once i had got it. it made me wonder if the songs were about emily. to my knowledge, she was the only person joshua had seriously been with. the thought made me feel sick with jealousy. i needed to stop thinking that way or i was just going to fall down a rabbit hole and start stalking the girls instagram.

a few songs later and i was back at my apartment. it was only four thirty and dinner wasn't until eight, so to pass the time i decided i would finally break my high school musical the series virginity.

i made myself a disney plus account, setting my profile picture as sid the sloth since he was my favourite ice age character. after a few seconds of scrolling, joshua's face was staring back at me. i will never get over that.

joshua looked a lot younger then he does now, that was the first thing i noticed. his hair looks lighter, maybe highlights? i smiled as his character spoke and snuggled up into my blanket.

i managed to get through three episodes of joshua's show before i had to get ready for the evening. watching him on my tv screen made my respect grow for him even more. josh had told me how much work he puts into his music and show, and it really pays off.

one new message

joshua🫶🏻
caster just told me you're
coming tonight. cant wait
to see you

dottie😘
i cant wait to see you too
mr bowen

joshua🫶🏻
someone's done their
research