Discretion | Josh Dun

28| Alex's Blessing

For my Eliah

☼ Josh

          I feel my eyes flutter open at the smell of the sizzling bacon in the next room, however, apparently I wasn't the first one to wake up.  I look down to see my the crotch of my jeans slightly protruding. With a mental groan I look over to the beautiful girl who had fallen asleep on my chest, her hands wrapped tightly around me.  Her dark makeup had dried in trails down her face and and her long waves had been pushed into a ponytail, small strands had since escaped to encircle her peaceful face.  Her cheeks were a nice shade of pink in the faint sunlight that came streaming through the blinds. I carefully pull her arms from my torso in an attempt to wiggle free without waking her, my attempts had failed however.  Her large hazel eyes opened slowly, looking up to me with a smile.

"Good morning, Josh." Her voice was sleepy, but sweet.

"Good morning." I replied back, suddenly very self conscious of the cuts and bruises that littered my face and body, not even to mention the awkward situation that she most definitely noticed already. "I'm going to go see what's up in the kitchen." I pointed and shuffled away uncomfortably. "Just go back to sleep."

As I passed a large mirror that hung on the wall I looked at my busted, slightly swollen lip, and the bruises on my jaw, cheeks, and eye.  I frowned at my appearance that I was usually so sure of, for right now I looked a mess.  Phoebe probably thought I looked like absolute shit, probably only stayed with me last night out of pity.  I was more sad than angry, but it was infuriating to think that those bastards busted my face up, probably making Phoebe look at me with disgust.  I huffed before continuing into the large kitchen, Alex had pulled her dark blue hair high on her head and was singing and dancing along in front of the stove, a spatula held in her hand.

"What are you doing?" I asked suddenly with amusement in my voice, making her jump and drop the utensil from her hand.

"Jesus, Josh." She exhaled slowly, holding a hand to her apron covered chest, "You scared me." She rinses the spatula and returns to the skillet in front of her "I was just making you guys breakfast."

"Why?" I questioned honestly. "Don't you hate me?"

"I figured we could move past that." Alex suggested in a hushed voice, "Look at the pancakes as some sort of truce."

"A truce? For what?" I asked as I approached the island in the middle of the kitchen and took a seat on a stool.

"For everything." She shrugged. "Pancakes?" Alex looked to me with a small smile, clearly wanting me to accept the truce.

"Yes, please." I return her sweet smile, excited for some food.

"Does that mean you accept my offer?" Alex leaned over the counter, resting her chin on her balled hand.

"I guess it would be the healthy thing to do." I answered as I sat up on the stool, "I get the feeling that you and I fighting all the time wouldn't exactly be what Phoebe would want. I don't want her to feel like she has to pick sides."

"And she won't have to." She straightens her back and stands upright. "Truce?" She extends her hand invitingly.

I take it without hesitation, "Truce."

She drops her soft hand and takes hold of the spatula again, tending to her pancakes once again, "Well, I guess this means I can give you my blessing then."

"Excuse me?" I chuckle slightly at her words

Alex shrugs, "As her best friend,I give you my blessing to 'date' Phoebe." she put up air quotes. "As long as you treat her like no other boy would." She turns to me and gives me a serious look, "And you take your anti-psychotics. I don't want you to hurt her unintentionally, or at all for that matter."