Desperate Measures (Marianas Trench) -ON HOLD-

Chapter Two

it's kind of short and sweet if you will, so let me know what ya think of it. It gets better, I hope LOL

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Josh Ramsay paced back and forth waiting for his other band members to show up. How long did it take to drop some chick off at home and get to the studio? Seeing as she lived in the same building as Josh, he knew exactly how long it took to get from his apartment building to the small studio he owned. Mike and Matt seriously needed to hurry up.

Why couldn't they be more like Ian? Josh cast a sideways glance at his friend and drummer, Ian Casselman who had taken to playing games on his phone while they waited. Ian shouted an obscenity at his phone as he lost the game, causing Josh to shake his head and laugh as he continued to pace.

He debated on what and how to tell his band members why he had called such an emergency meeting. Surely when they heard his confession they would laugh hysterically at him. In hind sight, if it was one of them confessing Josh would laugh.

"Okay who died?" Matt asked sauntering into the studio with a Tim Horton's ice capp in his hand and a donut.

So that's why they had taken forever.

"Hey, sorry, Matt was hungry." Mike said walking in behind Matt and taking a seat on the worn leather sofa next to Ian.

Once everybody was seated, Josh stood up facing his band members, wondering how he was going to explain his situation and why Mike and Matt hadn't got him anything at Tim Horoton's. Ian didn't seem to concerned as he sat staring at Josh waiting for him to say something.

"We have a problem." Josh stated clapping his hands together.

"What kind of a problem?" Ian asked raising his brows at his band mate.

"Um, well." Josh paused, scratching the back of his head.

"Well?" Matt urged his best friend, around bits of chewed up donut.

"I need a girlfriend." Josh blurted out, the others laughing at his confession.

"Desperate!" Mike sang out.

Matt and Ian both stifled their laughter. As Josh suspected they weren't taking this seriously. Who the hell would?

"Seriously, I need a girlfriend." He groaned.

"Why?" Mike asked curiously.

"Do I ask you why you style your hair in that god awful mowhawk every day?" Josh shot back.

"Uh, hair is a bit different than needing a lady." Ian pointed out with a shrug.

"I just do okay. So if any of you assholes care to help, I'd appreciate it. If you have a sister, cousin, aunt, ex-girlfriend, ex-wife, or friends please send them my way."

"If only we knew a single, good looking girl." Ian laughed at the idea.

"We do!" Matt piped up swallowing the last bite of his donut, shoving the straw to his iced capp in his mouth and taking a long sip.

Looking at Matt with interest, the other three leaned forward waiting for him to explain. Darting his coffee coloured eyes back and forth over the faces of his friends, Matt gulped and smiled sheepishly.

Two days since Matt had revealed that the girl in 512 was jobless. Mike was a bit amused by the information that Matt had pried out of Harri during their few minutes of awkward conversation. In those two days Josh had taken a special interest in watching the cute brunette whenever she came or went. A bit stalkerish yes, but he wanted to pick the right moment to ask her.

It wasn't as if he could just walk up to her in the parking lot, introduce himself and ask her to be his girlfriend. He could, but it would probably result in Josh using the phrase "Oh my nuts!" as Harri furiously stormed away from him and then later served him with his first restraining order. Josh would clearly have to have a plan going into this.

If he were smart he'd listen to Ian, when he said hiring a woman to pose as your girlfriend was just wrong, but clearly Josh wasn't that smart and he was desperate to get his name cleared. Having a girlfriend was really the only thing to help him out right now, as pathetic as it was.

On the small balcony of the apartment that he shared with Mike, Josh poked his head over the cement side when he heard a car door slam shut. Seeing the familiar brunette grabbing shouldering her bag and walking toward the building Josh saw it as his chance to make his move. Maybe he'd just introduce himself, make it a little less awkward for when he did ask. Maybe he'd make Matt ask for him, it was his idea and he did seem to know Harri a little better.

Leaning a little further over the side of the balcony, Josh stared out into the warm Vancouver sunshine. Flicking his cigarette ashes over the side he casually glanced down at Harri who was approaching the building. Acting as though he had just spotted her, Josh cleared his throat trying to get her to look up.

"Nice day." Josh commented loudly for Harri to hear him down below.

"Oh, yeah real nice." Harri replied looking up at him.

"They say it's just going to get warmer." Josh added.

"Oh." Harri nodded.

"I'm Josh; you saved my cat the other day." Josh introduced himself with a small wave.

"Uhuh, Mike's roommate." Harri said, shielding her eyes from the bright sun as she looked up at Josh. "Well, I have to get going have a nice day, Josh." She finished the awkward conversation before walking inside the building.

"Fuck." Josh cursed tossing his cigarette into the butt can and walking back inside his apartment. Flopping down on the couch, he kicked his feet up on the coffee table and grabbed the tv remote.

"Who were you yelling at?" Mike asked walking out of the kitchen.

"That girl from 512." Josh answered. "You know, I may just get Matt to ask her." He confessed

"I think you should just make a statement and forget paying someone to be your girlfriend. Harri is nice, I like her and I don't want her to think we're all idiots." Mike added with a shrug.

Thinking over Mike's statement for a moment or two, Josh sat deep in thought. Should he just give this up and make a verbal statement? He could, but how effective would it be? If people thought he was gay, there was no way of changing their mind unless he did something drastic to prove it wrong. Having a girlfriend would certainly help that. Wouldn't it? Ah hell what did Mike know anyway?