unholy (joshler)

chapter one

PART ONE

Josh has always hated the mornings, especially mornings like today's.

"Josh? Bring me the dogs leash please. I wanna get all of his energy out before tomorrow's game."

He sighs as he drags himself out of bed, following his Grandmas voice into the kitchen, grabbing the blue leash along the way.

"Here ya go."

"Thanks Hon. Have Jordan and Abby gotten off the bus yet?" Josh's youngest siblings take the late bus as they get out thirty minutes after Josh and his older sister Ashley whose a freshman in college as he's a senior in high school.

"Not for another fifteen."

"Okay, make sure they get their chores done won't you? Debra is coming over tomorrow and I can't have a messy home." Josh nods curtly as his Grandma places a kiss on his cheek.

"Always the helpful one." Then she's off and Josh is sighing as he starts the dishes.

It's Ashley's chore but shes at work, trying to pay for college while in a household of five and one income. It's not that their poor, but with a drugged out mother and an absent father money isn't something they see a lot of.

Bill had run off when Abby was born and Laura only comes around twice a year for money and a place to stay. That leaves Cindy, Laura's mother, in charge of the four children who don't know any different from their average sized house in the small town of Columbus, Ohio.

There's a Taco Bell, a run down movie theater and a couple of thrift shops. A small Walmart is just inside city limits and a Mcdonald's is right next to the small high school.

Columbus High is just like every other high school, nerds, emo's and drama queens. The popular cliche is the important players from the football team and the basketball team, spare a couple of cheerleaders.

The power couple is the school's God, Tyler Joseph and his lucky lady Jenna Black. Despite the normal cliche they're actually pretty nice people, not that Josh has ever made an effort to speak to them. He's a people watcher though, he learns a lot.

Tyler's the captain of the basketball team and his best friend is a boy named Pete who is, unsurprisingly, the football captain. The two sports seem to gravitate towards each other.

Dallon Weekes is Tyler's other buddy, another player on the basketball team. They're all very religious people, in fact, the whole town is. Church every Sunday, preaching in school and in the drive-threw at Sonic.

The teachers wear jeans to work and Tyler sings in the church choir, not that Josh has ever gone to hear him. He himself struggles in that department.

After everything he's been threw, he doesn't believe in a holy being or an afterlife. He'd like to, in fact he's constantly trying to connect with the man everyone speaks of. But for him it's impossible and in a home where his guardian is always working and his siblings are no more aware then he is, it's kind of hard to find yourself spiritually.

Josh finishes up the chore right as Jordan and Abby come running inside. Jordan is in the eigth grade while Abby's in the sixth, both graced with sharp features and adorable laughs. The two are very close and Josh envies them.

"How was school?" He asks, placing a kiss on both of their heads as they sit at the kitchen table to do their homework, a routine for them.

"Good! I got an A on my spelling quiz." Abby states proudly, high fiving Jordan.

"Congrats you smart little bee." Josh replied to which both kids laugh. "Remember to do your chores okay? We have the big game tomorrow which means company."

"Yes Sir." Jordan answers with a mocking salute and Josh rolls his eyes are he leaves the kitchen and goes into Cindy's room.

His next task is folding laundry, something he can bet his Grandma would be happy for him to do. She already has a lot on her plate.

"Josh?" Abby asks from the door way and Josh puts down a shirt and smiles.

"What's up?"

"Um, I just wanted to ask you something. Is it okay to ask for 20 dollars? I have a field trip Monday and I have to have the money and this signed." She holds out a form, her eyes guilty at having to ask.

Josh's heart sinks. Cindy might not be able to pay for this, better yet find the time to sign the form. He sighs.

"Come here." He grabs her hand and takes her to the room he and Ashley share. Grabbing his savings jar, one he fills with money from mowing lawns and walking dogs, he pulls out a 20 dollar bill.

"Thank you." Abby mutters as he grabs the form and tries his best to forge Cindy's signature.

"Don't mention it kid. Wake me up a bit early and i'll pack you a lunch okay?" She smiles gratefully and gives him a hug.

"You're the best."
-

It's around 10 pm that night that Ashley comes home, the kids already in bed (after Josh's nightly bed time story of course) and Cindy fast asleep.

Josh has waited up, sitting at the kitchen counter when she walks in. As soon as she sets her purse down Josh places a steaming mug of peppermint tea in front of her.

She smiles weakly and takes a sip before sighing.

Josh doesn't say anything, instead he busies himself wiping down counters and making sure the turkey is defrosting for tomorrow.

"You did the dishes." Ashley states and Josh nods.

"I figured you could use a break." She sighs again, this time more weak and tired.

"Look Josh, im sorry." He looks up curiously.

"For what?"

"Putting so much on you. I mean, you practically raise Abby and Jordan, you do most of the house work and still mange decent grades. You should be living life, not taking up the role of a stay at home mom."

In any other circumstance Josh would have laughed at this weak joke, but the sadness and truth behind her statement makes him choke back tears instead.

"It's fine really. I'm fine." She watches him, stirring her drink absentmindedly.

"Football tryouts were last week. You didn't go."

Josh had been planning all summer to finally tryout, to finally do something he loves and is really good at. But then the time came and he already had so much to do.

"I know."

"Why not?" The brown eyed boy sighs.

"I don't know...it was a Thursday and Abby was sick. Plus Pete Wentz has got captain since Freshman year, imagine if i swooped in and took it? Social suicide Ash." But Ashley isn't fooled, she narrows her eyes and pushes her drink away.

"Abby was fine that day, and you don't care about social suicide. What was it really?" Hanging his head in shame, Josh puts the towel down.

"The dues. 150 for the year." Ashley nods and looks away. He feels bad for making her upset, he shouldn't of said anything in the first place.

"I could of helped out ya know."

"No, no Ash you have to save up for school. You need too." Ashley doesn't respond, she pulls her younger brother into a hug and breaths him in.

When she pulls away she wipes her tears and grabs her bag.

"I love you. I'm so sorry." Then she's turning away and walking down the hall, leaving Josh to put away her cup and cry silently.