Down in the Forest || Joshler [Completed]

20- Time of Your Life

"This is our last meal!" I heard Kyle pout.

"Don't be so dramatic!" Jordan said back. "We aren't dying!"

"I'm gonna miss you guys during the school year," Lucas added.

"Same here!" John chimed in. I smiled bitterly at their conversation and turned to face Josh. I watched as he shoveled mashed potatoes into his mouth. I wondered how things were going to be at school. I'd let my guard down in front of him. Josh knew the real me that I couldn't be at school.

"Are you okay, Ty?" Josh asked, swallowing.

"Yea, I'm good. It's just weird how close it is to being over." He nodded and looked down at his food.

"It is weird," he agreed. He sighed and continued eating. I looked around the cafeteria at all of the people I'd met. Marina and Melanie were separating a pair of arguing girls. Brendon and Dallon were laughing loudly. Patrick was watching as Pete caught grapes in his mouth. Gerard and Andy were eating silently. Ashley was dumping her plate. When I got to Hayley, she was looking right at me. We made eye contact and she waved for me to go over to her. I furrowed my eyebrows and walked to her table.

"What's up?" I asked. She grabbed my arm and pulled me to sit down at her level.

"Have you told Josh yet?"

"Told him what?"

"That you like him!" I laughed at her and rolled my eyes.

"Not yet," I admitted. "I don't know how!"

"Just tell him! I'm sure he feels the same way." I looked at Josh as he ran a hand through is faded red hair. "And you better do it tonight. You'll regret it if you don't."

"I know, I know. I will. Thanks, Hayley." I hugged her before going back to my table.

"What did she want?" Josh asked, wiping his mouth with his napkin.

"She was just telling me to stay in touch," I lied. Josh hummed in response and stood to throw away his trash. I finished mine quickly and thought about how to tell Josh.

I knew that I like Josh a lot. What I didn't know was how to tell him that. What if he still hated me? What if he didn't like me that way?

He did kiss me.

I remembered the kiss and smiled. I rubbed my lip gently with my finger tip wishing for a similar sensation. I cursed myself mentally for not kissing him back.

"What're you thinking about?" Josh's voice snapped me out of my thoughts and I looked up at him. It took me a minute to realize that he'd asked me a question.

"Huh?" Josh laughed lightly before sitting down.

"I asked what you were thinking about. You were smiling." I blushed and looked back at my food.

"It's nothing." Josh started to say something else but was cut off by a loud bell. We all stood up from our tables and made our ways out of the cafeteria. There was going to be an all camp assembly at the theater to celebrate our last night. Josh and I did a quick head count before leading our campers to our seats. Once Mr. Roberts walked onstage, the audience became silent.

"Hello campers and counselors! I'm sure you all feel as if this summer flew right by. Just like every year, I'm very sad to see you all go. But, I'm hopeful to see you back next summer! We're going to have one last performance from the counselors as a farewell to the campers." I looked over at Josh and he was biting his lip.

"What performance?"

"I was supposed to tell you," he whispered. "We're all singing Good Riddance by Green Day."

"How could you forget to tell me that?"

"Sorry! You know the song right?" I rolled my eyes.

"Of course I do," I said, nudging his shoulder with mine. Josh laughed and turned back to the front.

"Can all of the counselors please join me on stage?" We all stood and made our way to where Mr. Roberts was. We arranged ourselves in an oval shape and Patrick picked up his guitar. He nodded to us to make sure we were ready before starting to strum. I smiled at the familiar chords.

Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
So make the best of this test, and don't ask why
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time

Josh was standing close enough to me to hear him singing. He was pretty good. His voice was beautiful and so was he.

It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right,
I hope you had the time of your life.

Everyone was really talented. It wasn't like middle school choir good. It was fucking We Are The World good. Hearing everyone else sing so good made me nervous about my own voice. I couldn't compare. I began singing quieter.

So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time
Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial
For what it's worth it was worth all the while

I felt Josh push my arm and I looked at him. He mouthed the word "sing" at me. I smiled at him before facing the audience again and singing louder.

It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right,
I hope you had the time of your life.

We sang the last part again before finishing. I looked out at our campers as they applauded wildly. I felt an arm slide around my shoulders and pull me into their chest. I could tell from the smell that it was Josh. I smiled and hugged him tightly. I felt another pair of arms wrap around my wist and another around my neck. Soon, we were in a huge group hug. The audience awed and we giggled as we fought to keep our balance against all of the body weight.

"Let's have another round of applause for all of these hard working people!" Mr. Roberts said loudly. We all pulled away to watch the kids in the audience jump out of their seats and clap. I felt myself blushing and laughed.

Maybe it wasn't such a stupid summer camp.

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A/N
Just a few chapters left !!