calm down // josh dun

n i n e

I CAN'T CONFRONT YOU. I NEVER COULD DO THAT WHICH MIGHT HURT YOU.

--Josh's P.O.V--

"Alright, class, I know all of you are working hard on your projects and I'm excited to see what all of your presentations will be like," Mrs. Teller explained. "We will start presenting on Monday. Have an amazing weekend!"

The bell was about five minutes away from ringing when I put my pencil down and began to put all of my stuff back into my bag. Declan continued writing and I noticed that he had his sleeve pulled over his right hand. He clenched his teeth together every time he gripped the pencil too hard.

"Hey, is there something wrong with your hand?" I asked.

He looked up, confusion on his face. I gestured to his right hand and realization dawned on him. He pulled the sleeve of his varsity jacket up to reveal a bandaged hand. "Oh, I cut myself trying to open a metal can of oranges. I should have probably went to the hospital and got stitches, but I'm afraid of needles."

I snorted as the bell rang. "Seriously, who accidentally cuts themselves on a can of oranges?"

Declan shrugged, standing up from the desk and shoving his notebook and pencil into his bag. "Me apparently." He slung his bag onto his shoulder and we stepped out into the highway. "So, do you want to come and work at my house after school? I have a hockey game tonight, but Parker doesn't want us at the school until five or so. We can work until then."

I nodded. "That sounds fine to me." Declan stopped walking as we arrived at his locker. "See you after school?"

"Yeah," he muttered already in the process of entering his locker combination.

I started towards my own locker that was farther down the hall. I ignored Parker Axton who shoved passed me and I tried very hard to pretend that I didn't hear a thud behind me that signaled that Parker shoved Declan's head against one of the lockers.

"Hello, Joshua Dun, how has your day been?" Jenna asked the moment I reached my locker.

"Pretty good," I responded. "Declan and I are almost done with our English project."

"Tyler and I are almost finished as well. We just have a little bit more to write," she explained, leaning her body against the locker next to mine. "Ezgi's still sick today though. After school Tyler and I are going to drop by her house and bring her the homework. Do you want to come along?"

I shook my head, shutting my locker and slinging my bag back onto my back. "I would love to, but I can't. I'm going to Declan's house after school to finish up English."

She smiled sweetly at me. "Alright, Tyler and I will see you at the hockey game then. We will save you a seat."

I was extremely grateful that Jenna was my friend because just being in her presence made me feel so much better. She just gave off a positive vibe and I loved her for that.

"Well, Josh, I have to go to my next class, but I'll see you in journalism, okay?"

I smiled. "Okay."

•••

The rest of the school day went by without incident and before I knew it, I was waiting on the school steps for Declan.

"Bye Josh! See you at the game!" Jenna called to me with a wave. I waved back, but my gaze broke away from her as I heard noise from my right.