To Be Freed

Chapter Eight

A/N This is the chapter between Part One (when they're 14) and Part Two (when they're 16).

~~August~~
~Josh~

"Josh... Josh!" He was shooken awake and looked to see Makoto smiling at him... Again. He rubbed his eyes and looked at the time: 6:52.

"Shi..." He looked at Makoto, who eyed him, "Oot! I'm gonna be late!" Josh jumped out of bed and ran past Makoto to the restroom. He brushed his teeth as fast as he could and then ran outside and downed cereal.

Haru was quietly eating mackerel. "Slow down," he said to Josh pouring the food down his mouth.

"I can't!" Josh replied, taking a breath. "I'm gonna be late for school!"

"High school, for that matter," Haru commented, slowly eating, "And it's the first day, too."

"That's not helping."

Makoto went into the dining room and sat down. "Do you guys want to hear a story about a little girl I'm teaching?" He asked, chuckling.

"Uh, sure," Josh finished his bowl.

"Last month, she signed up, not even knowing how to float, and yesterday, she dove off the block for the first time!" Makoto said, beaming.

Haru chuckled, "Just like Josh; a fast learner."

"Cool. How old is she?" Josh wondered, standing up to put his bowl in the sink.

"Six."

Josh left the kitchen and went to his room to change, then grabbed his bag and instrument, looking at his phone. There was a text from Courtney. He bit his lip, forcing his smile down and read the text:

See u at school XD high school

Yup u scared? he replied

Lol no but i bet ur wetting ur pants

Nuh uh

Yep

~Courtney~

"First day of school!" The curtains of her room were opened, but barely any light flooded in. The sun was only peeking out a bit. Courtney sqeezed her eyes shut as the light in her room was turned on.

She turned her head to her clock on her nightstand: 6:21. She blinked sleepily and grabbed her glasses, standing up and walking to the restroom.

She brushed her teeth lazily, her eyelids drooping. Maybe she shouldn't have stayed up late worrying about this. In the hallway she heard her mom laughing. She's probably talking to Jamison-- her boyfriend. Courtney rolled her eyes as her mom began talking about her to him. She'd met him before but, God how she hated him.

He was bald,-- yuck --tall, and wears a t-shirt everytime she sees him. Even in the winter. Now Courtney didn't even want to leave the restroom, knowing she would hear his horrid voice over the phone.

"Courtney, hurry up!" She knew her mom was still on the phone because her tone was nicer. Courtney sighed.

"Yep!" She yelled from the restroom, not caring whether her mom scolded her or not. Probably not. She was still yammering to Jamison.

She left the restroom and saw her mom on the couch on her phone as usual. For Courtney, that was good. It meant that she wasn't always nagging at her.