Down in the Forest || Joshler [Completed]

4- Brendon is a Dick

"You throw like a chick!" I heard Brendon shout. I looked over to where he was and saw who he had yelled at. Josh rolled his eyes and turned away from Brendon and Dallon, who were laughing. Suddenly, Brendon chucked the ball, hard, at Josh. It hit him square in the back of the head and he fell. Without any hesitation, I ran to where he was.

"What the hell, Brendon!" Hayley shouted, joining me. I reached Josh's side and placed a hand on his back. He was on his knees with his head against the blacktop. I lifted his face to see he had busted his forehead when he fell. He looked back at me and his face was full of defeat.

"Are you okay?" I asked. My eyes flickered wildly over him to see if he was hurt anywhere else.

"I think so." He lifted a hand to the cut on his head and winced.

"Hayley, go and tell Mr. Roberts what happened. I'll take Josh to the infirmary." She nodded and took off. I did my best to help Josh up and he slung his arm around me.

"Pussy," Brendon laughed as we walked away. When we got to the infirmary, I helped Josh onto a cot. The nurse walked in and began questioning us as she pulled out what she needed to clean his cut.

"What the hell happened to you?" she asked, pulling a stool up to where Josh was and sitting on it.

"Brendon, um, threw a basketball at the back of my head and I smacked my face on the ground when I fell." The nurse just sighed in response. She placed an alcohol wipe to Josh's forehead and he took in a sharp breath, his hands holding tightly onto the edge of the bed. The veins in his arms popped out. "Jesus, that hurt."

"I'm sorry," the nurse said, sweetly. "But you'll thank me later when it doesn't get infected.

"I'm sure," Josh said. She placed a bandage onto the cut and gave him some painkillers.

"You're good to go. Take it easy though, kid." Josh nodded and stood up. The nurse must've forgotten that I was there because when she turned around she jumped slightly. "You. Make sure he doesn't do anything crazy." I looked at Josh to see him smirking back at me.

"I'll try my best," I said, laughing awkwardly. Josh thanked her before exiting the office. I left after him.

We walked back to the cabin not quite together. I was following behind a few feet, not sure of what to do or say. The last interaction we had had ended with him calling me a dick. He held the door open for me and I smiled politely before walking inside.

"Thank you," Josh said, closing the door behind him. I turned to face him and smiled.

"Of course. I wasn't just gonna let you bleed on the ground." Josh smiled and walked over to the bunk bed. "Brendon is a dick."

"Yea, no kidding," he laughed. The door swung open and I turned to see Mr. Roberts. Brendon walked in after him. He looked like he had cried, but it could've just been the lighting of the cabin.

"Boys," Mr. Roberts said. "I must say that I am very disappointed with you. Calling names and violence will not be tolerated. So, I need each of you to apologize." I turned to face Josh and we both had the same look of confusion on our faces.

"What am I supposed to apologize for?" Josh asked.

"Fighting goes two ways, Josh."

"We didn't fight. Brendon made fun of me and then threw a basketball at my head. I did nothing to him." With each word, Josh grew angrier.

"Just apologize, Josh." After almost a minute of watching Josh stand noncompliant, he finally gave in.

"Fine. Whatever. I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry, too, Josh," Brendon said. There was a thick silence until Mr. Roberts clapped his hands together.

"Great! Conflict over!" I laughed at how blind he was to what was actually happening, but quickly tried to cover it with a cough. "I'll see you boys tomorrow." With that, they left. Josh sighed dramatically and got into his bunk. I laid in mine and looked up at the bottom of Josh's mattress.

"I'm sorry."

"What're you sorry for?"

"I'm sorry that I've been a dick."

"It's okay. I mean, I've been pushing you away for the past two days and you still helped me and stuck up for me. I think that shows that you're not a complete dick." I laughed a little and smiled to myself. It was working. I thought back to what he said earlier.

"What friend of yours did I pick on?"

"Ryan."

"Ryan Ross?"

"Yea." A memory of tears and red paint filled my head. I tried to shake it away but it stuck.

"I'm sorry." I knew my apology meant nothing but I said it anyway. It seemed to be all I could do. "How is he?"

Josh didn't answer. I waited for a while but after he still had said nothing, I let myself fall asleep.