"Wh-where is it?" Josh asked the police officers that were sitting in front of him.
"Well, we've tracked it down to a bush in Ireland. We called the Police Station in Dublin and asked them to check out the number but they said it was in a bush, so there is no luck. We're checking the area and CCTV cameras though to see if we can get a registration for that car." One of the Police Officers said fidgeting with their hat.
"Oh, okay." Josh said, sighing.
Josh wasn't being a knob with the sighing. He was scared. Frightened. He knew someone was out for him because they had tracked the phone to a bush. There was no sign of evidence to show who it was.
"Sorry, Mr. Franceshi. We'll let you know if we find out anything else." PC Harris said, leaving.
"Thanks, guys. It means a lot." Josh replied.
After they left, Josh collapsed on the couch.
"Looks like I won't be leaving this house until after they have found out who shot me. I'm actually petrified to leave." Josh said, hugging into a pillow whilst lying on the couch.
I stood there, he looked nervous. I felt terrible for him. I walked over, moved his legs and sat down next to him.
"Don't worry, everything will be fine." I said.
"I-I-I just.. What have I done to be shot?"
"You've done nothing, stupid."
Josh started to shake and a tear rolled down his face. His bottom lip quivered, this time it wasn't just a tear, he had broken down completely.
My eyes started to water seeing Josh in such a state. I sat up and put my arm around him, rubbing his shoulder. His head was buried in my shoulders, crying his eyes out.
"It's okay, Josh. Everything will be okay." I whispered to him.
"N-n-no it's n-n-not." He said stuttering, taking short breaths.
"I don't like seeing you like this."
"I-I-I'm never like this."
"Look, I'm going to make us all a cup of tea and then we're all going to bed. Okay?"
Josh nodded. The colour of his skin was flushed away. He was completely grey.
As I put the kettle on, I took a look in the living room to see what Josh was doing and he was just sitting, staring at a blank tv screen, expressionless. He didn't even move.
---------------------
"Thanks for that, Jack. It helped quite a bit." Josh said, as we walking up the stairs.
"No problem, I was just worried about you. That's all. You lost the colour of your skin. You were shaking and crying. It's the least I could do." I replied.
Josh turned round and said goodnight to me and Hayley as he walked into his bedroom.
Me and Hayley made our way into the bedroom. I walked over to the bed, took my clothes off and got into bed.
I felt a body join me in the bed, it was Hayley. She shuffled a bit closer and rested her head on my chest and smiled. I smiled knowing the fact I had my arms around her like I was protecting her. I fell asleep. With a smile, still on my face.
-----------------------------
BANG! BANG! BANG!
"Police!" Josh said running to the door, the next morning, with a towel in his hand as he'd just came out of the shower.
Josh opened the door while rubbing the towel on his hair to dry it and it seemed to disappointing:
"Oh, it's you!" Josh said, opening the door wider to let the person in.
"I did tell you I was coming round to see you today!" Max said, walking into the house with plastic bag,
"Hey, Max!" I said, waving from the couch.
"Hey, Jack!" Max said, sitting next to me.
"What's in the bag, Max?" Hayley asked.
"Well, you're just out of the hospital, aren't you? I brought you a gift!" Max replied.
"Wh-what?" You didn't have to bring me anything!"
"Well, I already have, I got you.."
"A football?" Josh said, interrupting Max as he pulled a football from the bag.
"Not just any football.." Max said, handing Josh the ball.
"OH. MY. FUCKING. GOD. Is this..? Is this for real?!"
"Yep!"
"How did you get this?"
"I know people, y'know?"
"What is it?" I asked Josh.
"I-I-It's a signed football. From Arsenal!" Josh replied.
"That's not all!" Max said, handing Josh an envelope from out of the bag.
Josh grabbed the envelope and ripped it open.
"Oh shiiiiiiit!" Josh shouted from the top of his voice.
"WHAT?" I asked.
"A free season ticket? And a letter from Arséne Wenger, the coach of Arsenal! Oh my God, Max!"
"Woah, what does the letter say!?"
"Dear Josh,
Your friend, Max, was telling us that you're a huge Arsenal fan and that things haven't been working out for you lately. We're sorry to hear about your shooting.
In return, I thought that I would give you a free season ticket and a VIP pass so you can meet the players and sit with the VIP people.
Get better soon. I look forward to seeing you!
Arséne Wenger."
"WOW!"
Josh leaned over and hugged Max:
"Thank you, Max! You're the best best friend ever!"
"Thanks, Josh. You deserve this!" Max said, hugging Josh back.
I stood there and smiled. This was the happiest I'd seen Josh in weeks due to him being in hospital and now getting told they haven't found any evidence of the shooter.
Josh, Max and I sat on the couch and just had a general conversation until we heard something come through the letter box...
"Oh, that'll be the mail!" I said, walking out of the living room walking towards the front door.
I saw a piece of paper, laying on the ground. I bent over and picked it up.
It had letters on it.
It was like some kind of secret code.
It read:
"Josh,
I'm going to get you one day.
Then you'll be sorry."
I looked at the paper, reading it over and over again.
"What mail is there?" Josh shouted to me.
"Oh, uh, nothing! Just crap." I said folding the paper in half and placing it in my back pocket.
