In the name of love

A late birthday gift

Josh up there.

Josh POV

  I woke up the next morning, well afternoon now. Lindsey was right, I do sleep like a bear in hibernation. I'm not gonna admit that to her face though so that's our little secret. Back to the day on hand. I woke up woth a message from Ryan asking if I was coming to the park today. I guess I'll go since there's nothing much to do here. I began to get up and get dressed to go to the park. "You thought I was done with you?" Janine said standing in the door way. I really do not have time for this today. "How can I make your life better?" I sighed as I looked at her. 

  Doesn't this get tiring for her? Having that much negative energy can't be good for you. Whatever, it's her life. "Boy shut the fuck and go wash my car!" she said throwing a bucket at me. More like in my direction since I moved out of the way. "I don't think that's a good idea. There's a car wash place down the street. I think they'll do a better job then me." I said as I walked past her. "Get the fuck back here! You gonna clean my shit." she said stomping behind me. I'm really not paying her any mind at this moment. She's like a little kid that was just told not at this moment. As I was walking down the stairs I felt myself lose balance. She just tripped me.

  "That'll be the last time you talk back to me like that." she said as I stumbled down the steps. Luckily I caught myself mid fall and straighten out my balance. I slipped three steps but luckily I managed to catch myself before I damn near split my shit before even hitting the bottom. "Next time, I'll see to it that you won't have anything to save you." she said as she walked away. Lord please help me and spear her. I composed myself and continued my walk outside the house. I honestly don't know how much more of this I can take.  It seemed like my body was on auto pilot because I don't even remember walking to the playground. I'm here now so let me find a nice hill to sit on. I just let my mind wander and the breeze brush against my body as I day dreamed.

  "Hey Josh. Josh?" Ryan said walking up to me. I snapped out of my thought and turned to see him approaching me. "I didn't see you come in so I decided to look for you. You look like you're in deep thought about something. You OK?" he asked as he looked at me with concern. "Yeah I'm good." I said with a fake smile hoping to convince him. "I'm not gonna press the issue so I let it ride. I came over here to ask if you wanted to play tag with me and a few of my friends." he said pointing to the group of people that were standing around laughing at whatever jokes were being told. I stood up and dusted myself off  "Sure." I said as I followed him. He introduced me to his friends before we started the game. I don't know how many rounds we played but by the time we were finished, it was pitch black outside. Ryan can run man, nigga like you Usain bolt or something? 

  I waved by to his friends as I began my trek home. "Hey wait up." I heard Ryan say from behind me. "You know you don't have to walk me home right? I got it." I said as I kept walking. "Yeah but you're my friend so I'm gonna make sure you get home safe. That's what friends are for right?" he said as he bumped my shoulder. "Yeah." I said. "Look, you don't have to be embarrassed about staying here. I told you I don't care." he said stopping in front of me. It's not that. It's really not. "OK That's good to know." I said letting out a sigh. When we finally made it to my "home", I waved him off. I went upstairs and went straight to sleep. I can't think at the moment. 

 The Next Day  

  "Happy Birthday Ugly!!" We yelled to Lindsey as she came downstairs. Me and the twins baked a cake from scratch for her to celebrate with. "Thank you guys so much! You've been nothing but like family to me and I just want to say I'm so lucky to have met each and everyone of you." she said as she teared up. "Wait don't cry, blow your candles out baby girl. This cake isn't gonna cut itself." I laughed as she smiled and did just that. "Wait you guys are gonna have sugar before you go to school, awww man I feel sorry for some of your teachers." I laughed at them. "We know how to handle our sugar. Promise." Julian said as he held his pinky out. "I hear you." I said crossing mine with his.  After we cut the cake, we all headed out to school. "Today's gonna be a good day. I can tell." I smiled as we continued to walk.

  "Well yeah, it's my birthday my man's. Not to mention the sun is out on my birthday! This is about to be a beautiful day!" she danced in front of me, making me smile. "Live it up baby girl It's all for you." I danced with her. "You two are annoying. It's yo early for that shit." Nasir said annoyed. "Boy shut yo milk dud head ass up. It's my day so I'm not trynna hear none of  that ight?" Lindsey said using her hood voice. I burst out laughing because she was dead ass serious too. "Come on y'all let's get to school. I don't want to be a witness to a double homicide." I laughed as I kept walking. When we finally made it to the building, Lira and Troy screamed happy birthday to Lindsey as the whole hallway joined in singing the song. My friends are amazing. 

  Trey came up to her too but we walked past his ass and went straight toward my real friends. "Thank you guys sooo much!" she said hugging the both of them as they handed her a card and and balloons. She opened the cards and smiled as tears streamed down her face. "You guys really didn't have to do this." she cried. The each gave her $40 a piece but it's not the money that made her cry, it's the what both cards had written on them. I couldn't see much, but knowing these two, I knew it was something nice and sincere. "Come on you three, we still have class to get to." I said smiling at them. For the rest of the day, Lindsey was getting showered with happy birthday wishes as well as a few dollars. She left out of the school with close to $110 in her pocket. 

  I was just so happy to see my friend happy. "We got to hurry up and get changed." she said as we left the building. We  were going to the arcade with Troy and Lira in a little bit. We were literally power walking home now. When we made it in, we quickly change our clothes. Once we were ready, I texted Troy and told him  we were good to go. He responded saying he was 10 minutes away so he'll see us soon. "Linds you ready?" I said walking down the hall. "Yeah, here I come now." she said as her door opened. She looked so nice. "Let's go partner." she said as she hooked her arm around mine. Soon as we began to walk down the steps, we heard a car horn honk. Skip being cute, we ran our asses right on outside. Lira and troy bust out laughing when they saw us running. "Go!" we both yelled as Troy drove. 

  When we got to the arcade, it looked like quite a few people were having fun without. Troy and Lira got our tokens and the fun began. We played a few racing games as well as some ticket winning games. I must've been on a roll today because I kept getting the jackpot from every machine. The little kids were mad lol. I even took the last bit of tickets from one machine so the had to refill it. The guy gave me the extra tickets because he didn't feel like putting them back. when it was time to cash our tickets in, I got a nice big bear for Lindsey as well as some junk food for myself. We played a few more games before calling it a night. "I really can't thank you guys enough. This was the best birthday I ever had." Lindsey said as she hugged her bear. "You're so welcome big head. I'm so happy you enjoyed yourself." I said smiling at her.

  For the rest of the ride home, we sung some songs and made a few jokes, just living in the moment. When it was finally time to say our goodbyes, we waved to Troy and Lira and quietly walked in the house. We were too tired to even make it upstairs, so we just crashed on the couch. 

  When I woke up the next morning, Lindsey was nowhere to be found and the living room was a mess. My back was hurting too. That's weird. I went upstairs to take a shower and get dressed. When I finally finished getting dressed, I walked back downstairs. Everyone had a sad look on their face. What did I miss? "We're sorry Josh. We really are." Julian said to me. I looked at them confused. I walked back upstairs to Lindsey's room to wake her up and ask her what happened. When I opened the door, I was shocked. Her room was a mess. Lamp broken in the corner, papers everywhere, bits and pieces of clothes scattered everywhere. I ran back downstairs. "Where's Lindsey?" I said as everyone shrugged their shoulders. 

  "What do you mean y'all don't know?" I yelled. "That's the thing Josh. Janine bolted the basement door while you guys were out. She and Lindsey got into it this morning and she threatened to set her on fire if she didn't leave soon. The whole time she was packing, Janine was still bothering her. They fought in her room hence why it looks like that. she was throwing things at her too as she was walking downstairs and out the door, she threw a candle from the kitchen but missed and hit you instead. Lindsey bolted out the house crying. She dropped two things and tried to come back for them but Janine quickly lit them on fire. We don't know where she went Josh. We even tried looking for her after Janine left but we haven't been able to find her." he finished.

  It felt like my world was shattering into a few pieces and there was nothing I could do about it. I felt sick even staying in this house so I quickly ran out. I felt like a shitty person. My best friends needed me and I wasn't there for her. I have no idea where she even is right now. This isn't fair, she didn't deserve that! I kept running until I couldn't run any more. I found a nearby hill and just sat there and cried. "Hey Josh, long time no see. Josh?" Ryan said as I keep my head down. I don't want to be bothered right now. I felt myself being lifted into the air but I didn't open my eyes to see who was carrying me. "Josh look at me." Ryan said as he put me down on the chair. 

  He handed me a box of tissue as well. Look knows the ugly cry be having you look like an ashy pebble or tree branch. I took for tissues and wiped my face as well as blow my nose. "Care to tell me what's bothering you?" he look at me with concern. "She's gone Ryan. I don't know where she is. She needed me and I didn't help her." I said as tears started to come down my face again. "slow down, who's gone?" he asked. "Lindsey. She got kicked out and I don't know where she went." I said to him. I spend the next few minutes explaining what I was told as he sat there and listened. "Wow. That's insane. It's not safe for you there." he said. " I know but Ryan I really miss her." I said as he hugged me. "I'm so sorry that this happened to you Josh. I'm right here if you need me." he said hugging me. 

 I hugged him back when we broke apart, I just stared at him. Something about him just made me feel calm and somewhat happy. I don't know what came over me but the next thing I knew, my lips crashed on to his. He was caught off guard at first but begin to kiss me back. Reality finally set in as I broke the kiss. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. I have to go." I said as i ran out the door. I heard him yell my name but I kept running. In addition to losing my best friend, I just ruined a friendship. As if the day couldn't get any better.

Hiya. I'm back at it again with the back at it again.

I'm liking this style of writing. 

Thoughts?

Josh?

Janine?

Lindsey?

Ryan?