"WHAT THE HELL?!"

Chapter 2 Josh

I flop onto my bed with fatigue. Today has been a long day, just as I'd imagined.

My phone starts vibrating on the bedside table. I roll across the King-sized bed to collect the phone. It continues to vibrate.

The caller ID is Little Miss Clever, immediately I feel my face heat up. I don't even want to talk about it.

"Hey, Naira."

"Hi, Josh."

"What's up?" I ask, trying to sound cool.

"We're going to the new restaurant in town, you want to come?" she replies.

I can hear a hint rush in her voice followed by a loud beep, I guess she's already getting on the bus.

I hesitate, not sure of what to say.

My mum said she's going to the town centre to see the manager of a new restaurant because she wants to talk about business stuff. I'm not too sure but I think she'll arrive there by 8:00, so I'd have to leave before then to avoid any awkwardness with her seeing my friends for the first time.

"Uhm, what time and where should I meet you guys?" I stutter.

"At 6, the fountain. I have to go now so I'll take that as a yes?"

"Sure. See you!"

"Bye!" she cuts off.

I feel so gleeful I dance to my closet and pick out a big hoodie and a pair of jeans.

I walk out of my room with my socks knowing the floor was going to be freezing and walk down the stairs to my shoe closet.

Yes, my very own shoe closet.

I have heaps of shoes in it, piled over each other, most of them which I don't wear. As I put on my brand-new trainers, I hear mum's footsteps walking towards me from the kitchen. I rush towards the front door but just as I am about to reach for the door handle, she calls my name.

"Joshua!"

I grumble. I was so close!

"Where are you going? I thought you had a whole pile of homework to do. You better do it now. We came back early because of you!"

"Whatever." I mutter and open the door.

"Where are you going?"

When I don't answer she walks after me.

"I can pick you up at 8:30." When I turn around and scowl, she changes her mind.

"Or maybe not, but please be back by 8:00, We don't want you getting lost in the dark."

A few months ago, I would have started arguing with her but with everything going on, I decide not to.

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The walk to the town centre isn't far, mum and dad phone me a couple of times but obviously I don't answer.

"Hey guys." I greet.

"Mate, how are you going?" Mason exclaims. We do that special fist bump thing we invented back in Year 7 summer camp.

"Great, hey girls."

"Hi Josh."

"Hello Joshua." Gemmaline says unenthusiastically.

Although her friendly nature, for some reason she acts like that every time we meet but then she warms up and acts normal after about 5 minutes, it's weird.

Naira puts her phone back into her bag.

"We've got about 1:30 hours. My mums picking me up in the car park at 8. Should we go straight to the restaurant or should we head somewhere first."

Mason looks up from his phone as well.

"Defo going for the food, thy stomach is part of my body and thy shall not betray it." He recites the last part of the sentence like a posh, noble man and everyone laughs, even Gem.

"You're such an asshole." I cry and we crack up.

The restaurant is visibly new due to the big banner that is hanging in the middle of the gigantic dining room. The tables are made of marble and are black while the walls are crystal-like and also black. However, the carpet and chairs are all white making the place look simple but at the same time modern. I'm not saying modern is simple but...

"Sir, would you like a menu." The waitress interrupts my thoughts.

"Yes, please. In fact, could we all have menus." I reply while looking at the person I assume is the manager. He is standing right at the back of the restaurant telling off one of the waitresses. The waitress looks young, about 20. I notice that Mason and Naira are also looking in that direction. Suddenly, the waitress pulls off her blazer and flings it over his head, just missing his glasses. Unfortunately, due to the force of the blazer, his wig blows right off his bald head and flies straight into a nearby customer's cream of tomato soup, splashing it onto her beautiful summer dress and face.

Half of the restaurant start laughing and even the old man with the bald patch on the next table who kept on glaring at us let out a small chuckle. Mason and I lose it, go totally crazy and laugh are heads off while Naira just giggles and taps Gem continuedly on the arm.

The waitress has already left the restaurant with her handbag, good for her. The manager is lost for words. He just stares dumbly at the 'wig soup' with his mouth wide open.

There is a long silence when he starts looking back and forth at the lady and the soup.

Someone starts clapping on the other side of the restaurant and everyone else joins in to cover the awkwardness.

The manager started strolling to the kitchen wigless and trying to keep a straight face. The lady suddenly stands up and starts running towards the manager with her handbag, but because of the managers large stomach, he doesn't run far till she starts beating him up with her handbag.

"I'm done." Naira mutters and picks up her bag and so does Gemma, "Let's go somewhere else."

I stand up.

"What about Pizza Hut?" I look particularly at Naira because I know it's her favourite restaurant.

"You read my mind didn't you, Josh?" She smiles.

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"It's okay for mum to drive you home, she won't mind." Naira says for the fifth time already.

"It's fine, I'll walk." I reply again, for the fifth time, but then I think again, if Naira's mum drives me home there would be no chance I'd see my mum.

"Actually, if you don't mind?"

Naira hit me playfully on the arm. She's a tall girl, up to my lips. Her dark brown half-afro, half-wavy hair is plaited to the back of her head and tied up in a ponytail. Her light brown skin is particularly bright tonight and she looks like an angel in a summer dress that goes just above the knee. Her dark brown eyes are staring straight ahead as we walk closer to her mum's car – a light blue Nissan leaf.

I look in that direction and can't believe my eyes.

Heck no.

"Hi honey" the women says and pulled me into a hug.