The following day we have Biology again but it's on the last period. Mr Halls, my biology teacher, felt as though this was the best time to merge the classes and decide the groups. In a little over 5 minutes the school day will be over and the class will be staying behind to form the quartets. I'm unable to peel my eyes off the clock on the wall, next to the whiteboards, as I see the time slowly approach towards my doom. Perhaps doom is quite dramatic as lately I have improved my social skills thanks to the uncomfortable confrontations I have had speaking to people as I was finding out about my brother. Josh is a primer example as otherwise I would have never let him in. However, that doesn't take into account my fear of getting to know people and letting them in.
"It's time" whishpers Josh with a giggle as he notices that I'm staring at the clock still. I nod and and breathe out heavily and put on a genuine smile.
"Time to put my social skills to the test..." My tone is relatively cheerful at the statement, surprising even myself as I feel my palms get clammy and sweaty due to the nervousness.
We put our stuff away as we wait for the other class to join. Shortly after they waltz into the room into a loud noise and stand by the teacher's desk.
"So... Lila is nice and she's friends with Nicole so they would most likely be together, I say we try to get with them..." Josh looks at me for a approval to which I simply nod because I don't really know the people in question, which could be a posivite because it means we are straying away from the popular group. Luckily after a good 10 minutes of sorting things out we do end up with Lila and Nicole. Lila is relatively short with dark eyes, long voluminous curly ginger hair, and beautiful freckles. While Nicole looks more book smart which her grey cardingan and glasses. She's a few inches taller than Nicole, about my height, with short strawberry blonde hair and majestic green eyes.
"Hey, we haven't spoken in ages!" exclaims Lila with a beam across her lips. Josh nervously smiles it off without saying anything which makes the whole encounter slightly awkward. I unexpectedly decide to butt in saying: "You two know each other?"
"Well kinda, we were friends before stuff happened... Anyways we need a topic for the project", without awaiting a response, Josh walks up to the teacher to pick a topic for the group. I give Lila a confused look.
"Oh, nothing... He hasn't told you yet I suppose." she says as she brings back one of her curls.
So many thoughts spiral inside my head, trying to stop myself from jumping to conclusions. 'I mean what so secretive that he won't tell me? Did he do something bad?'
He entually comes back with a topic written down on a piece of paper, in all of this he avoids my gaze completely.
"Guess we are doing genetics guys..." he forces I raised pitch but it doesn't fool me. I can tell the thing he's not telling me is big but I won't push him to talk. I'm always here if he wants to.
Since the groups and topics are chose we have no reason to stay and make way to leave the school building. Suddenly, two guys, both about the same height and medium build scream "Josh! You gon really walk out on us like that?" says one. "Pathetic!" spits the other on the floor. In all of this I'm just walking besides Josh, who looks down and ignores the voices. Until, they catch up to us and I'm shoved away aggressively, "Sorry brunette we need to have a word with Josh"
"Oh no you didn't!" Fervent anger visibly floods Josh's system, a color that I had never seen before on him, and he looks back to check if I'm okay. I raise a thumbs up unable to put on a smile. The push made me lose my balance and fall to the floor, but I'm fine. Josh is the one that needs help here." What's the matter Isaac?"
I make a mental note that the guy with charcoal black hair and olive skin's name is Isaac.
"Nothing really just catching up" responds the guy with dirty blonde hair next to Isaac.
"Then we have nothing to do here Lucas!" he easies his grip from Isaac and walks towards me. At this point I realise that I'm still on the floor watching the dispute carry out attentively. He stretches out a hand which I grab and push myself off the ground.
"When did you get so boring, Nicole ruined ya!"
"Don't speak of her like that!" he hisses at them without looking back, slowing down his pace to a halt.
"She's my little sis, I can speak of her however I want" clacks back Lucas daringly. At this point it's quite obvious he wants a fight.
"Only by a couple of minutes" Josh turns around and looks at Lucas, "have some respect for other than yourself... You have not changed one bit"
"Make me!" Lucas grinds his teeth and clenches his fists together to who Josh shakes his head and leaves for good after saying: "You aren't worth my time".
We retreat to the spot we went last time. The abandoned green expansion. We sit on the grass and I hint him to talk. At this point I'm very confused and he really owes me an explanation
"It's nothing bad I promise" he raises his hands up in defence, slowly going back to the laid back Josh I met, "It's a long story though..."
"We've got time", I try to soften my gaze to make it feel less accusatory and allow him to feel confortable telling me the full story. I reckon it works as I watch him take deep breath and sigh heavily.
"It was all Lucas..." he begins with a bitter expression on his face, possibly at the thought of such a sorrowful memory.