Family Friend JoshxReader

Chapter 5 First Show

Beep beep beep.

I groaned rolling over smacking my head right into Jackie's.

"Owwww," Jackie and me moaned in unison. Alec laughed in from the bathroom.

"Up and Adam girls!" Alec called through toothpaste and toothbrush.

"It's at 'em stupid," Jackie murmured. 

"I heard that!"

Jackie rolled her eye and I laughed. I looked over at the clock. 6:00 am. I literally rolled out of bed when there was a knock on the door. 

"Come in," Alec called out.

Tyler and Josh waltzed on in fully dressed and awake. Tyler pointed and laughed at me lying on the floor. 

"Shield your eyes from the beast!" Jackie flailed her arms one hand covering her eyes.

I rolled my eyes heaving myself from the floor. I glowered at Jackie as I yanked clothes out of my suitcase. 

I walked into the bathroom, "Out. Now." 

Alec raised his hands in defeat walking out. 

I took a shower scrubbing hard wanting to look at least decent today. I towel dried and quickly threw some clothes on.

"Not a morning person?" Josh asked.

I squinted my eyes at him, "No."

Tyler laughed, "Oh that's a good one Josh. Once she threw a whole bowl of popcorn when I woke her up at 7 in the morning."

"No way," the other three said together.

"In my defense we went to bed at 2 am that night," I tried to cover my tracks.

"Good try kid. We all know the truth. You're a monster in the morning," Alec said ruffling my hair.

"Shut up," I yanked away from his hand.

"Let's get moving people," Josh said moving towards the door.

"You heard the man," I said herding the group towards the door.

Time Skip.

I could hear people filing into the arena. Breathe. In. Out. I was holding my black sticks, tapping them against my legs nervously. 

Josh came up to me, "Hey, you'll do fine. Just pretend it's me and Tyler out there listening to you drumming."

In. Out. "Ok, thanks. I really appreciate it."

"Yeah no problem. Remember I'm back here waiting once you start, but now I have to go get ready ok?"

"Yeah thanks Josh."

Five more minuets. Pacing and now tapping. What if I mess up? What if the sticks break? What if I miss a beat? A pair of arms wrapped around my waist. My body tensed.

"Hey it's me, relax." Alec whispered and instantly I calmed down.

"Just focus on my voice. Relax." 

And I did. This was a ritual. Alec helped me focus before shows. Steadied me. In a brotherly way. I was pretty sure Alec had a thing for Jackie anyway. Vice-versa too. I closed my eyes one final time. One more inhale. One more exhale. Alec let go and I turned around to see a very shocked Josh. My eyes widened in fear. No. No. Oh no. No. He didn't think that me and Alec were? Jackie pulled on my arm towards the stage. 

I sat down on my stool anger washing over me. How could I do this? To Josh? Did I actually do anything? I had no idea, but I was upset. I started banging on the drums. Furiously. After our first few songs I looked over back stage. Josh was there looking very upset. Sadness washed over me. I was thankful our last song was a slow one.

After our set ended Jackie thanked the crowd then we left the stage.

I passed Josh, "I'm sorry."

He looked at me and shook his head then walked to the stage.

What have I done?