"What are you doing? Josh seriously stop. Let's just drive around a bit. Come on" I pleaded
"Stay in the car!"
He made his way out, slamming the door behind him, keys still in the ignition, engine still murmuring. The storm back in his eyes, more unpredictable than the morning. I hated this. The guy always wears his heart on his sleeve, his next move always obvious, at least to me. But twice in one day I have been clueless to him. Dark clouds quickly covered the sky, the sun couldn't be seen. It was barely past 4, but I could no longer make out the features of the two men. I couldn't hear them talking either, but I took this as a good sign; at least they weren't yelling.
Once again, I was wrong. 2 minutes later Josh balled his fist and punched his father's face. His father didn't hesitate to retaliate, punching him straight back. Before I could respond, Josh, the taller of the two, was pinned by his father to the ground, taking punches. Calling the police, I sprinted out of the car, thoughts racing all over the place, not knowing what had just taken place, tackling his father. The world spun around for a moment, and when it came back into normal view all I saw was a fist flying at me. Then pain.
I could feel the shock travel through my bones, a blistering pain travelling through the side of my face. My blood rushed straight to my left cheek and I could feel it swelling up. As I was busy worried about the single punch I took for my best friend, Josh grabbed his father by the collar of the tank top, pulled him up, and punched him. It must've been hard because he stayed down this time as Josh leaned down to check me out.
"I'm fine" I lied, the last thing he needed was guilt for me
"No you're not, I can see it bruising already..."
"Maybe you need a mirror there coz that pretty boy face of yours seems kinda messed up" we chuckled for a second, just as we did any time I called told him he had a pretty boy face.
"I'm sorry. He just got to me, he said... he just started insulting mom. He... I'm sorry, it's my fault. I shouldn't have attacked him, especially not with you here"
"It's not your fault. You shouldn't have attacked him but it's not your fault, understood? Try not to get in any more fights will you, with the wall or otherwise, your hand is bleeding." I focused attention back to him knowing it wouldn't last.
"I won't, I promise." he confirmed.
I didn't believe him though. He sounded genuine, and I could tell he meant it, but the way he got when he heard about his father this morning, the attack he just launched on him, something told me that he couldn't control it.
His dad was coming to, ready to start again. The guy just oozed anger, his movements hard but quick, his brows furrowed, his face red, although that may have been from the punches.
"The cops are coming, you might want to leave here before they arrive" I stated.
Hesitating for a second, his father left. And I was alone with Josh.
"If you do get in a fight, don't tell me to stay in the car, I got your back."
I half scolded him, but he knew that I only did so because I cared. I didn't like when I couldn't read him and it seems every time he going to get angry, I would be lost. But that might just be because he wouldn't know what he's going to do. Or maybe he could hide his emotions all along but hasn't wanted to.
The police arrived pretty quickly, and we told them what happened. Or at least our version of events. We said that his father attacked first, didn't want to risk anything happening to Josh. The cops basically told us to keep an eye out and call them if he showed up again; super helpful.
