The Mark

11

THIRD PERSON POV

That same Monday, Josh's alarm started blaring. He let out a long groan and hit the snooze button without looking at the time. He turned over and closed his eyes for a few more minutes. It blared again. He slapped the button once again but decided to get up. The time was 7:35. He got up a little later than expected but he dreaded going to school. He didn't want to see his "friends" after what happened last Friday. He was afraid they were going to misconstrue what actually happened and why he stopped them. What they did though was wildly irresponsible in josh's opinion. He couldn't let it get to him today. He had to be stoic in front of them. He wiped his face and sat up out of bed.

After dressing, he ran up stairs, quickly grabbed a granola bar, and left for school. The drive was peaceful for Josh. Normally he had loud music blaring, but this time it was at a low comfortable volume. Josh just wanted to feel a calm before the storm. A seventeen minute drive later he arrived to his destination. He parked in his normal spot and opened his granola bar and right as he was about to take a bite someone banged on his window. Josh jolted and dropped his granola bar which of course angered him.

"What the fuck?!" He said rather harshly while turning his head to look at who just ruined his morning. As he turned, he saw the face of the idiot that follows him religiously. "Of course it's Brandon." Josh thought to himself. Brandon doubled over in laughter and pointed at Josh as he was making fun of him. Josh ripped his seatbelt off and grabbed the granola that littered his lap. He slung his door open and threw the crumbles of granola at Brandon.

"Thanks for ruining my breakfast dick." He said as he reached for his backpack and stepped out of the car. Brandon did a mocking frown.

"Aw c'mon Josh, I thought you'd want to know what being interrupted feels like." He smiled innocently. Josh let out a half chuckle and shook his head. Anger still filled him.

"Alright asshole. You guys almost killed him."

"I thought you didn't like him?"

"I don't, but that doesn't mean he should be killed. We're kids. Ten years from now we won't even remember his name." Josh brushed past Brandon and started heading towards the building.

"What happened after we left anyways?" Brandon questioned while jogging trying to catch up to Josh who was speed walking to get away from him.

"I don't know." Josh lied, "I checked to make sure he was alive and still breathing and a then left him alone and went home."

"Hmm, I wonder how long he stayed out there for then." Brandon bragged, "I'm sure he couldn't really walk after what we did to him."

"You're lucky he didn't call the police on you guys."

"Nah Josh, he's lucky he didn't call the cops cause he wouldn't want to know what we'd do to him if he did." He looked over while finishing his sentence. "Oh hey Joey." Another one of their friends had met them on their walk to the building.

"Hey guys-, oh Josh you look so mad." Joey said as he caught up to Josh and looked him in the face.

"He's mad cause we almost broke his favorite toy." Brandon chimed in.

"No I'm mad cause you ruined my breakfast." Josh gritted. His face was almost as red as his hair.

"C'mon it was just a granola bar."

"Fuck you."

"Oh um, I have an extra bar! I accidentally grabbed two this morning. Here Josh." Joey reached in his pocket and pulled out the green packaged bar and handed it to Josh.

"Thanks Joey." Josh's facial expression softened as he grabbed the bar and opened it to start eating. Joey was always Josh's favorite out of the little following he had. He was the youngest and still had a sense of innocence to him. He didn't really take part when it came to jumping Tyler. He just followed the other guys around as to not get lost and to fit in. He was so smart too. Josh often went to him when he needed help with an assignment and he was always so nice about it too. Never made Josh feel like he was stupid. He was just so genuine to Josh and he valued that highly.