Under The Covers {joshler}

junior year - part one

tw: more v*mitting and also some smut 

-x-

"She really tried to apologise?" Hayley scoffed as she painted another thick stripe of bleach across Josh's hair, it was a few weeks into the summer break already and once Josh had cleared it with his boss (having only worked at Guitar Centre for a little over a month) he had agreed to go over to Hayley's house so they, along with Ashley, could dye their hair.

Once all the bleach was applied to the top of Josh's hair, the trio sat in the bathroom, Ashley on the toilet lid, Hayley perched on the edge of the bath, Josh sat next to the sink. The old towels wrapped over their shoulders were ripped and smelled a bit stale, but the bleach covered the smell pretty quickly.

"I guess, I mean, I kinda didn't accept it and then she ran off." Josh ran a hand down his face, he felt as tired as Ashley looked.

"You did the right thing Josh." Hayley assured.

Josh shrugged, thankful when the conversation turned to something else. After not long it was time to wash the bleach out and once again Hayley helped Josh to apply the colour he'd chosen onto his hair, while Ashley dyed her own. They may have had a bit too much fun washing the colours out, getting dye all over their hands and necks, tinted water splashing all over the bath that Hayley moaned about having to clean up after the giggles had subsided.

Afterwards Josh text Colin and Brendon to come over to Hayley's house for their usual movie night, while Hayley went to call for pizza. Josh realised after a minute that Ashley hadn't returned from the bathroom, he headed back upstairs to check on her.

He found her stood staring at her expression in the mirror, her long hair now a bright blue. Josh felt his heart constrict when he noticed the scissors she was twizzling in her hands.

"Ashley?" Josh said cautiously, telling himself he was the worst friend for not noticing how heartbreak had destroyed her. She didn't seem to notice he was there before slowly holding the scissors up to her shoulder and grabbing her hair, before Josh could say a word she began cutting her hair Josh watched in awe as more blue strands fell into the sink.

With every cut the emptiness in her eyes seemed to fall away and once it was all roughly the same length she smiled, her first genuine smile in a while before turning to look at Josh.

"I love it." He said just as Hayley approached. She stopped dead at the sight, before taking the scissors and wordlessly neatening the back so it was cut more evenly.

"C-can you cut me a fringe too?" Ashley asked and Hayley smiled warmly nodding and turning Ashley so she could pull hair onto her face.

"There now we match." Hayley cheered standing next to Ashley in the mirror, she smiled at their matching fringes. They hooked their pinkies together leaning into one another.

"Best friends?" Ashley asked.

"Forever." Hayley promised releasing their fingers in favour of a side hug.

'Hey!" Josh teased and let both girls pounce on him with hugs and laughter.

"We love you too Joshie." Ashley promised.

...

"Dude I love it, green suits you!" Brendon said as he and Colin inspected Josh's new hair. Colin agreed pulling a cigarette pack from his pocket and letting Ashley take one.

The two left to go outside and smoke.

"So there's a party next weekend if you guys are up for it?" Brendon said to Josh and Hayley still staring at the bright yellow he'd already complimented.