Youngblood

Chapter 8

Dianne's POV

I think today is one of the first time's I've woken up and wanted to get out of bed straight away.

Why? Because currently my school life is way better than my home life. I've got a workaholic mother who only cares about her work and how well sales are going through. And it's so boring and lonely at home. Whereas at school I've got Joe and Anna and everyone else to be with, even if I do have to complete five hours of lessons as well.

I get ready as quickly as I can and hurry down breakfast, as all I want to do is get out of this house. I can already hear mum on the phone and typing away at her laptop. See what I was talking about?

I sling on my bag and head out on the walk to the bus stop. I sit at my usual spot at the back of the bus when I see Joe, Mikey and Oli get on. Joe hasn't been on the bus the past couple of days, as Zoe was dropping him to school, so it's nice to see him. But he looks worried.

Joe's POV

At first when I wake up, I can't be asked to get up. But then my phone goes off.

And again.

And again.

I turn over and take it from the side and see a bunch of messages from the group chat, asking about Josh. I'm sure it's nothing. People are allowed to not be on their phones twenty-four seven. But then again, I suppose it is Josh, who is constantly on his phone even when he's not meant to be. Maybe he was just having a day off it.

I get ready slowly, and Zoe decides to head off to school early to get some extra revision hours in. I keep on getting messages from the group chat, and the more I think about it, the more worried I become. I walk on down to the bus stop with Mikey and Oli and when I get on, I see Dianne at the back.

"Hey boys," Dianne says. "Joe, you ok?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," I lie.

"Seriously," Dianne says. "Mikey, Oli, you don't look too great either."

"Josh just hasn't messaged us since school yesterday, which is really unlike him," Oli says.

"Maybe he's just lost his phone," Dianne suggests. Oh yeah, why didn't I think about that? That's probably all it is. It is Josh after all.

"That makes sense," Mikey agrees. "I guess we were all worrying over nothing."

"Yep. Boys can be ridiculous sometimes," Dianne laughs as the bus starts to move. We chat about things other than Josh for a while until we arrive at school, where we get off and the four of us head over to the rest of the buttercreams and Anna. And even Caspar's there.

"Wow," I comment. "Are you feeling ok?"

"I decided to be organised for once," Caspar says.

"You're definitely not ok," Mikey laughs. "So who still isn't here?"

"Er there's Byron, which is probably due to his bus being late, and Josh if we don't include Lauren, Katya, Amy and Chloe," I say. Josh. Josh isn't here. Stop being silly Joe, he's probably just late because he was looking for his phone.

It's a few of minutes before the bell and Byron arrives.

"Still no Josh?" Byron asks.

"He's probably just lost his phone," Dianne tells him.

"And is frantically looking for it," I add.

"I suppose," Byron says. But that's when we get a message from Josh's Mum.

Hello boys. I'm sorry to tell you, but yesterday Josh didn't come home. We went looking for him, and found him unconscious in the park. He's currently in hospital. Do any of you have any ideas what happened?

"I can't stay here," Mikey says.

At that point, Amy, Chloe, Lauren and Katya decide to come over.

"Anything wrong?" Chloe asks.

"You could say that," Jack says. "We need to go to the hospital."

"He probably doesn't want all of us there," Conor says.

"Right. How about girls stay here and the rest of us to go the hospital. All six of you can come to mine after school, and we can either let you know what's happened or take you to the hospital," I say. Everyone agrees, and I give Dianne one last kiss on the cheek.

"Be careful," she says.

"I will, I promise," I assure her, before heading on out of school with the others.

A/N: Bit of a shorter chapter, and a cliffhanger! Let me know your thoughts xx