To Be Freed

Chapter Five

~Josh~

"You like her, don't you?" Haru interrogated after dropping Courtney off.

"No, Dad, I don't! Only as a friend," Josh was getting irritated by them.

Makoto chuckled in the driver's seat, "She seems really nice!" He encouraged.

"Why are you encouraging this?" Haru demanded. "He's too young to be in love!"

"He's older than us when we first met!"

Josh couldn't take it. His parents rarely fought, and Josh hated it most when it was over him. "Guys!" He shouted. They both stopped their bickering and Haru turned to look at him in the seat behind the driver's with a sour face. "It doesn't matter! I barely know her, so I couldn't possibly like her!"

He saw Haru's shoulders relax and turn around to face forward. Josh let out a sigh of relief.

"You really don't like her?" Haru wondered.

"Only platonically..."

"Okay."

At least Josh thought it was platonically...

"Why'd you give her my number, Dad?"

"It'd be weird to give her my number, wouldn't it?" Makoto laughed.

"I guess..."

~Courtney~

She sat behind, as Makoto mentioned, Haru in their car. "Where to milady?" Makoto joked and wink at her. Josh rolled his eyes.

She gave him her address and he put it in the GPS. They started driving.

"How long have you been swimming, Courtney?"

"This is my second year..."

"Wow! How are you almost as fast as Josh over here?" He tipped his head towards Josh.

She shrugged her shoulders, "Beats me."

Haru looked pissed. "Makoto, are you saying I didn't teach Josh good enough?"

"Not at all."

Josh was facing his window motionless. Courtney wanted to say something... But felt like it was a bad time. His arms were crossed. The rest of the drive was silent. There wasn't even music playing on the car radio.

After what felt like hours, Makoto pulled up to Courtney's street. "This is pretty close to our house. It's weird how you and Josh don't go to the same school." Josh sat up upon hearing his name.

"I'm homeschooled."

"Oh, really?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Okay then. See ya 'round!"

"Yep. Hey Josh!"

He turned around, "Hmm?"

"I'm gonna have to see you again so that I can pay you back!"

"Um... okay then." He smiled a bit.

"Bye guys!" She hopped out and began walking.

Makoto rolled down the window with a torn piece of paper in his hands. "This is our address and Josh's number in case your mom gets out of hand again." Courtney thought it weird to be immediately given their information, but took it anyways and looked at it. Truthfully, their house was close to hers. The writing was scribbled, as if they were in a rush to write it. It probably was.

"Thanks!" She turned and started walking to the hell hole she called home.
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