DROWN » JOSHLER

twø

"mom doesn't want me to hang out with brendon." josh muttered in a low voice so that only patrick, who was sitting beside him, could hear. although he doubted it was necessary over the loud buzz of the cafeteria.

patrick raised a brow, "come again?" josh sighed, closing the mathematics book.

"mom doesn't want me near bren, pat." josh whispered, eyes on the dark-haired boy sitting across from him and patrick, laughing at some lame joke he said.

josh felt his heart clench when dallon looked at brendon and smiled, and it was obvious that it wasn't because of a mere joke. oh, how josh wished someone would look at him like that.

sure, plenty of girls in their school asked him out, but that was the problem; they were all girls. but it's not their fault, really. they didn't know - in fact, nobody did.

he knows people who've had to face dire consequences when they first came out, ranging from constant bullying to being kicked out of the house.

but what scared him even more was the fact that the parents sent their children to this camp to "make" them like the "appropriate" gender. although his mother was a therapist, those who help you with your problems, he knew he couldn't tell her.

he could always feel her demeanor change when the lgbt were brought up, so it was clear that she didn't like them. and to what degree that feeling went, he didn't know.

what if she kicked him out after he talked to her about it? where would he go?

he'd disappoint her yet again, and he didn't want to.

josh felt his phone buzz in his pocket. he checked to see that it was a message.

from : mom

hi honey call me when you're free its important

[received; 12 : 22 ]

"i need to make a call. i'll see you in class." josh told patrick who nodded, seemingly too busy mugging up formulae for the maths test next period. he'd finished his lunch early, in a matter of ten minutes to be exact, and memorised everything needed for the test.

he threw his backpack over his shoulder and walked out of the cafeteria, phone in hand, already dialling her number. on the fourth ring, she picked up, but before he could say anything she began talking.

"where are you?" she asked.

"at school." he answered and furrowed his brows when he heard shuffling on the other side, "mom? is everything alright?"

"yeah, everything's alright. what classes do you have after this?" she asked and josh paused to think for a moment.

"well, lunch ends in a few minutes and i have the maths test after this and i, uh. i prepared for it. during lunch." he said, chewing on his bottom lip.

"what do you have after maths?" came her question. no 'did you eat's or 'that's great'. nope.

"um, physics, spare and then p.e, but i heard the coach is absent so .. " he trailed off.

"oh. can you do me a favor, josh?" she asked, already knowing the answer.

"yeah, ma. anything." he said, quietly.

"i need you to go home after the test." she said and josh's eyes widened.

"huh? why?"

"i forgot a very important file at home and i need you to bring it to my office before one-thirty." she explained sortof.

"but mom .. your workplace is so far away. it'll take me half an hour or so to reach by the bus." josh said, trying to make her rethink about it. he heard her sigh.

"you can finish your test early. i'll ask richard to let you leave." she said and josh inwardly groaned. why did mom have to be high school friends with the principal?

"okay. i'll try to get there as soon as possible." he said but he dreaded doing it. who would want to be in the middle of psychopaths? not josh, that's for sure.

"thank you, baby. i'll see you soon then. remember, it's the bright blue file in the top drawer. one-thirty." she repeated once again and hung up.

josh slipped his phone into his pocket just as the bell rung. students started pouring in in the hallways almost instantly. josh sighed quietly, making his way to his class.

"maths, here i come."

*~*

"Find something that makes you happy and never let it go. :)"