sleep // minizerk // discontinued

eins

New book who dis?

Song: Take You There, Jack Hegarty 

~~~

The two boys were sitting in their kitchen just discussing up-coming events and video ideas. The taller boy, Simon, wasn't getting involved as much as normal. Nor was he as excited and boisterous as normal. The older boy, Josh, was worried for his younger counterpart. The taller's behaviour was confusing and unnatural. Perhaps he hasn't been getting enough sleep, or maybe something has happened to upset him. Josh must have been zoned out whilst Simon asked him something as the younger boy flicked the older's forehead with a light grin spreading across his face. Josh jumped at this action, mumbling a quick sorry as he knew he deserved the flick.

"I said; I'm thinking of taking a break for a week or so, what do you think?" Simon said repeating his previous words to the other boy, hoping that this time he'd get a decent answer out of him rather than just a blank look.

"Why, exactly, would you taking a break?" He asked to clear his confusion which had appeared when Simon had asked a question of fewer than 20 words (which would be simple to answer under any circumstance but after those most unexpected words he wasn't sure).

"Well I've been thinking a lot lately and I want to change my content a little bit. I'm kinda bored of it, you know?" Simon counters walking over to the fridge and getting a can of his favourite drink, Redbull. Josh doesn't completely understand but gets what Simon is hinting at.

"So what are you gonna do during this... break?"

"I've been creating, well more like thinking up, a short film concept so I kinda want to see how that goes and maybe film it. I can't find any spaces to rent out, so I probably won't." Simon answers pulling an expression that shows both confusion and a hint of annoyance.

Josh thinks about this answer for a while, trying to process it properly. And then he remembers.

"I have a friend who can help you out," He says nonchalantly. Simon snaps his head towards Josh (not literally but it sounds better when writing). "I could call her now and we could talk about it."

"That'd actually be the best thing I could have right now." The taller boy says walking over and resting his elbows on the kitchen island, drink in hand.

Josh pulls his phone out of his pocket and brings up the right contact. The phone rings for a couple of seconds and it then gets answered. A lot of background noise is heard and then a muffled 'hello' can be heard.

"Vee, hey, it's Josh," Josh speaks into the phone on speaker, looking at Simon and then smiling down at the kitchen island.

"Oh hey Joshy, can you hold on for like three seconds? Okay thanks," she says. More noises can be, one of which is the sound of a door opening.

"Zoe! can you shut the fuck up, I'm on the phone." Is yelled through the other end of the phone. A few more muffled noises later a large sigh can be heard.

"Sorry 'bout that, Zoe was watching youtube without her headphones in. Loudly, I might add." 'Vee' says through the phone, half laughing at her roommate.

"It's fine. But anyway, I was wondering if you could do me a favour? Well, I say me, it's more like my friend needs a favour." Josh says into the phone whilst rubbing the back of his neck.

"Okay," 'Vee' says dragging the 'y' out uncertainly. "It depends on what this 'favour' is."

"You know Simon right? I told you about him once when he-"

"I know who you're talking about." 'Vee' cuts in.

"Okay well, he was thinking about making a short film but couldn't find anywhere he wanted to film it and it got me thinking; you have a studio space, and equipment, and you're a nice person- most of the time- so I thought we could give you a ring." Josh says explaining his thought process to both the girl on the phone and the boy standing across from him.

The line is silent for a bit, but then the voice cuts in again.

"Well, I'll need to check when the shoot would take place, what it was about so I know a rough time frame to work out set design and I'd need to know more details like that." She says across the line.

"So that's a yes?" A hopeful Josh asks.

"That is indeed a yes," 'Vee' answers "but, like I said, I'll need to talk to Simon. But I'm guessing I'm on speaker and Simon's sitting next to you or something."

Simon looks at Josh questioningly wondering who this girl was and how she made that very accurate assumption. Josh just half laughs at the girl and how she's always somehow right.

"He's actually standing just opposite me and yeah, you are on speaker." He replies.

"Okay, well then you were a bit rude Josh. Not introducing us properly, mum wouldn't be proud of you." The girl says very sassily into the phone.

Josh rolls his eyes at the girl's behaviour, considering this is pretty normal.

"Fine. Simon this is Niamh but you can call her Vee-"

"No you can't, nobody can." She cuts him off again.

"Whatever, Niamh this is Simon." Josh finishes with a smile on his face which basically screams 'I'm over it'.

"Hi Simon, it's nice to finally talk to you in person. Sorta." Niamh says through the phone, a smile evident in her voice.

"Hey, yeah um I would say the same but Josh hasn't actually ever spoke of you. Isn't that right Josh?" Simon grins rather mischievously, trying to draw the attention away from himself.

"At least I'm helping you out now. I could've just left you on your own." Josh says smugly knowing he's won.

A look of defeat washes over the taller boys face, knowing that Josh was right.

"Look, I hate to break up this playful banter but are we gonna talk film? Or are we gonna end up as one talk wonders?" Niamh semi-sarcastically asks through the phone.

"Well I mean, realistically, how easy is it to talk about a film idea over the phone? Is it actually that easy?" Simon says slyly, tilting his head down to look at the countertop, but still looking at Josh out the top his eyes.

"Is that you trying to get into my pants?" Niamh says laughing, tilting her head away from the phone.

Simon becomes slightly flustered and doesn't know where to look or what to do, Josh watches on slightly amused at how flustered the taller boy is getting from the situation.

"Just come over and stop being weird," Josh said regaining control over the situation.

"Okay, dad." Niamh remarks before hanging up the phone. 

Josh just looks at Simon confused, this causes the younger boy to break out in laughter. Josh just shakes his head at the boy's laughter and the girl's remark. 

"I like her," Simon says standing up tall again. "She reminds me of me. Wait that's a little conceited."

"Well I mean you're both madly vain, also full of terrible puns," Josh says also standing to his full height, but then slouching down. 

"Prick." The taller boy mumbles under his breath. Josh's phone buzzes as this comment is made, meaning the older boy doesn't hear the insult thrown his way. 

Vee: What's your address again?

Josh types out a quick reply, putting his phone back into his pocket. He looks up at Simon wondering if he plans on saying anything else. Both have rather blank looks across their faces.

"I'm going to head upstairs until Niamh gets here. You do whatever." Josh says heading out of the room and back up into his room.