medicine ~fransykes~

Chapter 11

Song of the chapter: product of a murderer by of mice and men

Josh's friends were catching on quick. Josh, Matt (Kean) and Patty were all stood outside school, leaning on the wall by the gates whilst they waited for Oliver to arrive. Somehow, Josh had convinced both his friend group and Oli that it would be a good idea for them to all sleep over at Josh's house after school on Friday. Oli, of course, refused repetitively for 3 days straight, insisting on the fact that Josh's friends would hate him being around. Josh's friends were reluctant too, each trying to make up some lame excuse as to why they couldn't come. But in the end, Josh had managed to convince all 3 of them that they had to come.

"I don't understand why you invited Oliver to this." Half questioned Patty as he turned his head to squint his eyes at Josh.

"I like hanging with Oli and I think you guys would too if you gave him a chance." Stated Josh, shrugging as he looked down at the ground and blushed.

"You like hanging round with him or you like like hanging round with him?" Snorted Matt as him and Patty shared a knowing look. They had known Josh for waaay too long to not know when he was starting to fancy someone.

"Yeah it's pretty obvious that you enjoy being round Oliver a little too much." Patty said.

"I don't have a crush on him if that's what you mean." Josh retorted, trying to hide the way his cheeks darkened.

"You 100% do."

"Yeah you're not that great at hiding things."

"Whose not good at hiding things?" Questioned Oli as he approached the conversing group of boys. Josh looked at his friends in panic, silently pleading them not to expose him in front of the brown-eyed boy.

"Matt, he cheated in his maths exam earlier and now he's denying it." Said Patty, bullshiting his way through the small lie as he covered for his embarrassed friend. Josh lightly bashed his arm against Patty's as a way of showing his appreciation.

"We should set off." Josh commented, hoping that would change the subject.

The four boys set off towards Josh's house. Oliver stayed silent through most of the walk, observing how to boys around him acted. Josh was just like Josh always is, lively and smiling as he bounced around excitedly. Matt was less so, slumping slightly as he walked out of tiredness, but still adding a fair amount to the conversation around him. Patty was high pitched and loud, often the main contributor to the discussion as he practically span in circles as he walked, he was literally that hyper. Oliver could feel the discomfort circulating around Matt and Patty, the way that Patty refused to look him in the eyes when he spoke or the way Matt gripped his left wrist to prevent his hand accidentally touching Oli's arm.

When they reached Josh's house they decided to go straight to Josh's room. When they reached the second floor, Oli gripped Josh's hand and pulled him towards him so that their chests were touching.

"I told you your friends wouldn't like me." Whispered Oli as he looked down into Josh's eyes.

"They do, just give them a change to warm up around you." Whispered back Josh.

"Bull-fucking-shit."

"Ols, please don't leave. I really want you to stay and try and be friendly with them." Josh bit his lip as he finished talking, wrapping his arms around Oli in a quick hug. Oliver let Josh drag him up the next flight of stairs and into his room. Josh noticed Oli glancing skeptically at his two other friends and squeezed his hand gently as he lead the tall boy over to his bed.

Matt and Patty were sat on the small couch in front of the TV, fighting over the rights to the remote. Josh knocked his knee into Oliver's to remind him that he wasn't alone and Oliver smiled lightly. The two boys on the couch finally agreed on a film, some random horror on Netflix that Oli had never heard of. The four boys ended up watching the film in silence, much to Oli's relief, he didn't really want to make conversation with anyone right now. When the doorbell rang, signalling that the pizza delivery was here, Josh left to go collect their food. As soon as the bedroom door shut behind him, all eyes were on Oli.