Under The Covers {joshler}

sophomore year - part six

tw: mention of v*mitting, this chapter is kinda heavy oops

-x-

"Josh, can we maybe talk?" Debby's voice was soft over the commotion of the crowd. She was jostled by people bouncing around in excitement, practically pushed into Josh, who held her upright by her elbows so as to keep her a safe distance, she smiled in thanks.

"Not right now Debs." Josh cursed himself for letting the old nickname slip out, a habit he felt sure he'd have broken.

"Please, it's imp-" Debby was cut off by Tyler 'knocking' into Josh. As if by instinct Josh immediately let go of Debby to hold Tyler on his feet. He smiled warmly at the brunette, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and ruffling his fluffy hair playfully.

"There he is!" Josh said fondly. "Champion." He cheered and a few other people whooped and hollered around them.

Debby smiled weakly at the scene, catching Josh's eye, she opened her mouth to speak, to try her sentence again but Tyler interrupted once again.

"Come on," He shoved playfully at Josh before turning to the crowd more, "Party time!" He shouted, knowing it would instantly cause the crowd, especially his teammates, to go wild. People began flooding out the gym, excitedly talking about the party, girls discussing what to wear, boys asking how they're scoring beers.

Debby got swallowed up by the crowd, her small frame practically crushed. Josh found Tyler pushed into him for a second, Tyler squeezing his hand so they wouldn't get separated in the mass of bodies.

He only felt Tyler's hand slip from his when he was pushed directly into Colin, who smiled and clapped him on the shoulder.

"We lost you." He joked, Josh smiled back.

"There you are." Brendon said triumphantly, pushing through the flow of teenagers, Sarah clinging happily to his back as he held her up by her thighs. "Plan." Brendon said, clicking his fingers before pointing at his best friends. "Meet at Colin's, knock back a few beers, then head to the main event?"

He raised his eyebrows expectantly, gaze flitting between the two boys, Josh shrugged before looking at Colin.

"Sounds good." He shrugged too. Brendon let out something akin to a battle cry, high fiving Colin, before adjusting Sarah on his back, she giggled and Josh's chest ached in a way he never felt before. It was like seeing them together so happy felt bittersweet, he longed to be able to do that with Tyler, to be giddy and in love in public but he told himself he was happy just to have Tyler.

...

Brendon was last to arrive at Colin's, everyone else sat in the basement already holding drinks. Josh winced as he watched Ashley down her third cup of alcohol. She stumbled as she stood up trying to reach across the table to refill her cup. Josh intercepted her reaching hand and pulled her down into his lap. He could feel her heart beating erratically, and rubbed her back soothingly. She didn't seem phased by Josh's actions, leaning into him, resting her head on his shoulder and studying his profile. Josh just listened to Hayley and Colin talk about how Colin's brother wanted to start a band and Colin was gonna play drums for them.

Ashley suddenly brought up a hand to grab at the tufts of Josh's hair. Josh laughed in confusion trying to look at her while her hand held his head in place. "Joshie, we should dye your hair."

Hayley instantly perked up, "Oh my gosh yes, let's all do it, I've been wanting to dye my hair for ages."

"Me too!" Ashley said excitedly, sitting up. Her hand finally slipping out of Josh's hair.