Desperate Measures (Marianas Trench) -ON HOLD-

Chapter Three

sorry it hs been forever updating this. Here is a little something. Let me know what ya think and how ya feel. Does it need more of something? Less of something? What would you like to see? Maybe add Mike juggling fire batons and Matt doing hand stands naked?

---------------

Josh ran his fingers through his dark hair and groaned. This was a lot easier said than done. He had convinced Mike that Harri would be the perfect fake girlfriend. She was cute, from what Matt said witty and really sweet, plus funny. Mike couldn't deny that she was pretty great, which is why he didn't think Josh should even consider using her.

Why not get someone else? Maybe a mutual friend? Someone who knew exactly what an asshole Josh Ramsay could be?

In true Josh fashion the fact Mike didn't want him to do something made him want to do it even more. There was no turning back now, as he stood at the door for apartment 512 ready to knock and ask if Harri was around. It had been a little over a week since Josh had ambushed conversation on her from his balcony. Deep, deep down Josh felt bad for that. He'd have to apologize when he talked to her.

Here it went!

Raising his hand to knock on the door, Josh was startled when a very attractive blond swung the door open, followed by a slender dark haired guy. They both stood staring Josh down like some kind of a criminal. Smiling awkwardly Josh waved.

"Stalking isn't very flattering." The guy insisted with a huff.

"Liam, shut up!" Dawn groaned glaring at her roommate. "He's right you know. What do you want, we could hear you moving around and decided to just see why you were creeping." She said looking at Josh.

"Hey, is Harri home?" Josh asked leaning against the door frame smiling sweetly at Dawn.

"Hold on." Dawn replied with a sickening sweet smile. "Harri, some dude wants you." Dawn called shutting the door in Josh's face.

Standing there with a door closed firmly, make that slammed, in his face, Josh frowned. So was he talking to Harri or not? He rocked back and forth patiently on his heels waiting for Harri or someone to come back and open the door for him.

"Harri!" Josh could hear Liam inside calling his roommate.

"What do you want?" Harri called back in a loud manner. She had been busy talking to her mother when Dawn and Liam had started yelling at her like they were crazy people.

Poking her head out of her bedroom, Harri raised her brow in question and shrugged when she realized neither roommate was paying any attention to her. They drove her nuts sometimes. Slipping out of her room, she ventured to the kitchen where she found Liam and Dawn talking casually to one another. Clearing her throat to make her presence known, she waited for them to give her some kind of an explanation as to why they were yelling at her.

"Dude at the door for you." Dawn answered pointing to the door.

"Thanks." Harri answered going to answer the door.

Who the hell could want her?

Finding the man from 507 on the other side of the door, Harri stood eyeing him over. Josh smiled sheepishly at her. She was even better looking in person and in person. Matt didn't lie when she said she was hot. Josh could easily see him walking around with this girl on his arm.

"Here to apologize for yelling at me the other day? You know that was creepy as hell." Harri stated.

"Hi, I'm Josh, I don't think we've ever been properly introduced.." He said sticking his hand out and introducing himself. "Mike's my roommate. Anyway, can you come down to our place for a bit?"

"Um, well I..." Harri started trying to sound a lot busier than she was.

"Just a second or two, please." Josh begged. "Trust me, it'll be well worth your time!"

Harri had never been in any of the other apartments in their building. Following Josh to his apartment, she was a bit shocked to find that the apartment he and Mike lived in was the exact same layout as her own, only the bedrooms were on the opposite side and their balcony faced the front parking lot instead of the back row of trees. Why it surprised her, Harri wasn't sure. It wasn't as if she had expected every apartment in the building to be different.

A major difference in Josh and Mike's apartment is that it was a tad messier and they had a lot more black than the apartment she lived in, which they had decorated with bright fun colours. Liam had insisted that the bright colours would make it feel happier and make it look ten times better. Although the black look worked really well too. Josh motioned for Harri to follow him from the kitchen to the living room, where she recognized Mike and Matt, along with some other curly haired man.

"Guys this is Harri, Harri you know Matt and Mike. This joker is Ian." Josh introduced Harri motioning for her to have a seat if she'd like.

Harri remained standing, with her arms folded her over chest, except for the seconds it took for Mike to hug her, Matt to high five her and Ian to shake her hand and properly introduce himself. Before sitting back down, Mike asked if she wanted anything before Josh got down to business. Harri politely shook her head and turned her attention to Josh.

"Business? Exactly what business do you have for me, anyway?" she asked point blank.

"Here's the deal, I need a girlfriend to make some important people happy. Mike and Matt said you're looking for work. Be my girlfriend for the next three months and I'll pay you." Josh explained. The other three snickered.

"Wow, desperate much?" Harri shot back with a bit of a giggle.

"You have no idea!" Ian muttered with a chuckle.

"What is the agreement and I want this in writing." Harri stated.

Was this guy serious? For three months, he would pay her to be his girlfriend? This was the craziest job offer, if one could call it that, she'd ever got. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad? It was paying. Nah, Harri wrinkled her nose, before she thought about anything she wanted to hear what he had to say. Even then it would be a huge gamble if she took the job.

Who the hell went around asking girls to be their girlfriend for pay? Wasn't that what escorts and call girls were paid for?

"Usual boyfriend and girlfriend stuff. I don't know. Holding hands? Looking all happy?" Josh was baffled.

"Basically you have to pretend you're in love with Josh." Matt added, saving his friend from this sinking ship. "You know, holding hands, cuddling, gazing at him like he's the greatest thing ever." He said causing everybody to crack up to a degree.

"If it helps, nobody but the five of us will know it's a set up or that I am paying you." Josh offered with a casual shrug.

Harri nodded. It would be an easy way to make money. Not to mention, Josh wasn't all that bad to look at. He may be a nut case for all she knew, but a job was a job right? Sucking in a deep breath, Harri closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose shaking her head. What was she getting herself into?

"Fine, but before I agree fully, can I think about this?" she asked with a laugh, unable to believe she'd even consider such an idea.

"Sure, will two days be enough?" Josh asked with a raised brow.

"Oh, it'll be plenty!" Harri scoffed.