“Well…” Oli began. “Josh didn’t believe me when I told him everything that happened. I explained everything over again and he still doubted me.”
“What exactly did you tell him?” Matt asked, leaning in and raising his eyebrow. “What you say always matters, no matter how insignificant.”
“I told him exactly what I told you!”
“Then there’s no reason why he shouldn’t have believed you. Did you tell him that you still loved him?”
“Well maybe that was it.” Matt said. “Maybe he didn’t believe that you loved him and that you were just saying that to make him relive all of that shit.”
“No, he was just being stubborn like he always is.” Oli protested. “Maybe he would’ve forgiven me if his stupid girlfriend wasn’t there.”
“She was there?”
“Well like five rows away and her headphones in, but she was still there. I feel like she’s trying to change him or more so, she already has.”
— — —
Bring Me The Horizon’s set seemed to be dragging on forever. Don’t get him wrong; he loved playing shows, that’s what he lived for, but today he just wanted to crawl into his bed and cry about the fact that he’d lost his best friend.
All these years he’d spent trying to get Josh to know how much he cared about him seemed to have been vain.
"Thank you so much Pomona!" Oli screamed into his mic one more time. "We’ll see you next time!"
The band waved at the crowd as they left the stage, sweat pouring down their foreheads.
Matt noticed Josh coming their way so he grabbed Oli’s hand and intertwined it with his.
"What the hell are you doing mate?" Oil mumbled.
"Josh." Matt replied, nodding his head slowly towards Josh’s direction. "I need to try something out. Look at him when we pass by, okay?"
Oli nodded and slowly turned his head as Josh passed by. The younger male looked down at their hands, looking back up at Oli, giving him a look of I thought you said you loved me, what the hell are you doing with him? In turn, Oli gave him a cold look and turned back around, leaving the other dumbfounded.
As the band reached the bus, Oli spoke up.
"Holy shit, did you see the way he looked at me?" Oli laughed. "It’s like he wanted to punch both of us."
"And that’s how I arrived at my definite conclusion. Joshua Franceschi has feelings for Oliver Sykes."
"You bloody wanker! There’s no way that’s a valid conclusion."
"Did you not see the way he looked at us when he passed by?" Matt asked. "His eyes lingered on our hands for more than a few seconds. Why would he have that reaction if he didn’t have feelings for you?"
Oli stayed quiet, he knew Matt was right.
No one seemed to be in the bus as they entered. It was quiet and surprisingly cold. Oli sat beside Matt, turning to face his friend.
"Exactly what I thought. I’d like to conduct one more experiment at the barbeque later if you’d let me."
"Okay." Oli said. "But if I don’t see anything, we’re stopping this. I don’t want you getting in trouble with your girlfriend."
"Speaking of Valerie, I need to go talk to her." Matt said. "I haven’t spoken to her at all today."
Matt stood up and walked to the bunk area, getting in his bunk and closing the curtain after him.
