Purpose | Josh Dun (ON HOLD)

Awkward lunches

     The bell rang, signalling the end of my fourth period class, English, and the beginning of lunch. I had half an hour to myself. Half an hour to get away from all the glowing eyes of my peers. It wasn't much, but I'll take what I can get.

     I often ate alone underneath a tree at the far end of school. No one really wanted to sit with a girl like me.
At least it's Friday, I thought.

"Arielle! Arielle, hey wait up," a voice shouts from behind me. I turn around and see Josh, doubled over trying to catch his breath.
"I've been calling your name for like five minutes!"

"Sorry Josh, I was lost in thought I guess...." I said sheepishly.

"Hey it's alright," he says smiling, "You're eating lunch with my friend Tyler and I today, remember?"
"Oh yeah, of course!"
Josh led me through the bustling cafeteria until we stopped at a round table in the back corner. A skinny boy with brown hair, whom I recognized from my English class, was sitting alone.

"Hey Baby Boy!" Josh yells, slinging his right arm around the boy, who I assumed is Tyler.

"Hey Jersh!" Tyler exclaims. He raises his eyebrows when he sees me standing there, in all my awkward glory.

"Who's this? Have you been cheating on me?" He looked like he was on the verge of tears.

"Oh no Ty, you know you're the only one for me. I would never do that to you. This is my friend Arielle."
I raise my eyebrows at the two boys.

"A-are you two um...together?" I asked. I didn't have a problem with it, I was just genuinely surprised.

     Suddenly they both started cackling with laughter. I stood there, confused, while watching the two laugh until tears streamed from their eyes.

"Oh my God! Josh, can you actually believe she thought we were together?" Tyler asked while wiping the tears from his eyes.

"Dude, that was gold! It actually looked like you were crying!" Josh raised his hand and high-fived Tyler while laughing. When the two finally calmed down they turned their attention back to me.

"Hey, I'm Tyler, nice to finally meet the girl Josh wouldn't shut up about," Tyler said while smiling.

"I'm Arielle," I said while sitting down.

"So, how long have you lived in Columbus?" Tyler asked.

"I've actually lived here my whole life."
"Really? Us too! Right Josh?" He says while nudging his friend.

"Oh, um yeah."
An awkward silence settled between the three of us.

THEY HATE YOU! THEY THINK YOU'RE A FREAK, YOU CAN'T EVEN HOLD UP A CONVERSATION!

I started to breathe heavily, I felt like I was being suffocated. All my insecurities were creeping up from behind me and getting me into a choke hold.

"Elle, are you okay? Elle? Do you need help?" I felt a warm comforting hand on my shoulder. Turning around, I nodded my head at a concerned looking Josh.
"I'm fine, thanks," I said smiling genuinely at Josh.
"Elle?" I ask. No one's ever called me that before.

"Oh yeah," he said while rubbing the back of his neck nervously, "I just came up with it right now actually. Is it okay if I call you that? I figured Ari was too plain." He asks while staring up at me with big brown eyes.

He's so cute, I thought.

"Yeah, it's cool," I said while smiling.

CAN YOU BE ANYMORE AWKWARD? The voice inside my head shouts.

"S-so, are you guys new here? I've never seen you here before," I asked curiously. The two nervously stared at each other, as if they were caught red-handed.

"Um actually we've been here since freshman year. Isn't that right Josh?" Tyler says nervously.

Before Josh gets a chance to reply, the bell rang, signaling the end of our short lunch break.

"See ya later, Elle," Josh says while Tyler waves goodbye.

I didn't miss the breath of relief  Josh blew when the bell rang, as if he was relieved that he didn't have to answer.

Or he just hates you...

But I couldn't help but wonder what he was so nervous about.

|-/
I'm back! Sorry this was short and crappy but I'll try to work on writhing better chapters.

Let me know what you guys think! Should I continue?