mine [joshler]

V (Josh's POV)

Thursday

Three weeks. Probably the longest three weeks in my entire life. After countless times of trial and error (even stooping as low as doing the fake trip and taking a little peak under his skirt), I decided it was time to phone a friend. A real professional; Matthew Timothy Healy. He banged nearly every girl you could name in our grade. Maybe it's his charm or his Manchester accent that makes the girls fall over themselves, but he gets his way one way or another, and hell, he's damn good at it too. He just happens to be one of my closest friends as well. He knows my weaknesses and strengths better than I know my own self. The guy was insanely gifted when it came into reading people. It was almost like he had a superpower that he never told me about.

"Hey! Matty! Wait up!" I called, catching him in the hallway during the transition to eighth period.

"What's up, J?" He asked, turning to face me while he ran his free hand through his thick, dark brown hair. I could smell the faint scent of cigarettes on him, but hey, that's just how he is.

"I need some help... And it's a guy this time." I admitted to him quietly, almost in a whisper.

"I know." He shook his head and tisked at me, taking the information in like he knew this was bound to happen. "You are simply a disaster, Joshua. I've seen you trying to talk to that Joseph boy."

"Yeah, Tyler Jo-" I started.

"Ah ah ah... I didn't finish." He cut me off mid-sentence. "I don't understand why you're so afraid? I get it and everything, he's an adorable boy. Him and his little skirts and face full of flawless makeup. I know, J, but you're being so silly about the whole situation! This isn't fourth grade games, Joshua. Junior year, remember? I've never seen you react this way to someone. You trip over yourself every time you're in his sights. This femboy has changed you. Get back on your game, man. Don't be afraid. He's just as much as a challenge as the next one."

"But he's so different! He's nothing like all the others!" I claimed, trying to prove my point.

He shook his head. "I haven't even gotten to my point and you're already chiming in with your own little protective statement. Just play it like you always do. It always works for you, doesn't it? Just play the 'sly boy' card as usual. Play it off cool."

"But-"

"No!" He snapped. "Just do what I say. I promise you it'll work. When am I ever wrong, Josh?"

"Never..." I sighed, deciding to finally man up and just get it over with. He did have a point.

~

Tenth period came around faster than I anticipated. This was our lunch period that we all had together. On a typical day, Tyler sat with his own table of 'heathens' that didn't really have any other group of people to retreat to. I sat with a couple of my friends that ranged from the football team to some of my band friends. It's quite the melting pot, if I do say so myself. Some days, Matty sits with us or wherever his newest "love" (he never refers to his girl of the week as a girlfriend or anything like that) is. Today, he was with us, still prepping me up to put the plan into action.

Operation Fem Boy(™) was in full effect now. (Hey, I wanted a cool name for it as the lame ass dork I am.) The plan was simply to play it off cool just like Matty said.

"You got this, alright?" He patted me on the shoulder. "You can do it. You're Joshua William Dun. You can do anything."

"Oh God..." I laughed a bit. "You sound like my coach, Matt."

"Just tryin' to put you in the right mindset." He smiled.

"Alright... I think I got it." I took a deep breath, ready to stand up before Matty tugged me back down in my chair.

"Shit! He's coming over here! Play it cool like I said." Matty whisper shouted at me.

I gulped and focused my eyes on a spot on the table in front of me. Nope, nope, nope. My heart was pounding like a bass drum in my ear. Never have I ever felt this way about speaking to someone. How come Tyler is having this affect on me? I can't. I can't do this. I thought to myself.

I stood from my seat and walked to the bathroom, seeing Tyler was nearly at our table. I met Tyler's eyes for a split second before darting them away as I walked out of the crowded cafeteria. I felt disappointment wash over myself and I could just feel it radiating off Matty. But most notably, I saw that Tyler had this crush of defeat in his eyes I've never witnessed in someone before.

~

The end of twelfth period. I couldn't afford to fuck it up again. This is my last chance to make a move or it's game over. No more procrastinating, no more excuses, no more second guessing myself. This was it.

The bathroom cool off gave me enough time to sort together my thoughts and get another plan in motion. The real Operation Fem Boy was finally in play, but with a twist for what's right.

One last pep talk, and before I knew it, my legs already started making their way to his locker.

"Alright... Deep breaths, Josh." I muttered to myself, breathing in deeply and exhaling to try and calm myself. "You can do this... Confident is key. Play it cool like Matty said, and you'll be fine."

His locker was in view now, but he looked to busy packing up to notice me coming his way.

Going in for the kill.