Chapter 14
Because I Know He's Always There To Protect Me
I remember the day I met Josh for the first time. I will never be able to forget it, for that day was just the beginning of our friendship. It was raining outside and I couldn't help but admire the view from one of the windows in the living room. I didn't mind when it rained but when it thundered it always scared me so much, I would hide under the tables, shaking with fear. It wasn't thundering, though. Neil was sitting on the floor, making a house of cards. How he did that, I still don't know. Glancing outside once again, I noticed a cute little boy with chubby cheeks, holding an umbrella with one hand and a lollipop with the other. A cheeky grin displayed on his lips, showing his pearly white teeth.
"Neil, there's a boy outside. Do you think we should help him?" I asked, looking at him. He walked over to the window and sat beside me. When he saw the boy, he nodded his head.
We ended up opening the door for him to enter. As soon as he did, without saying another word, he sat down on the sofa, enjoying his lollipop. Neil gave him a weird look and when I raised my eyebrows at him, he just shrugged.
I cleared my throat. "What's your name?"
He looked up at me and took the lollipop out of his mouth. "Josh." And then he continued on relishing his lollipop. Neil and I sat down on the sofa opposite the one Josh was sitting on. We kept on staring at him and after what felt like hours, he finally glanced at us. "What?"
"Uhm, why are you here?" Neil asked and I knew he was trying to be calm about it, though he failed miserably. He received a kick on his shin from me. Wincing, he glared at me.
"You let me in." After saying that, his eyes drifted off to my comics which were lying on the ground beside Neil's house of cards. Josh's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Is that the latest Batman comic?" He asked.
"Yeah, my Mum bought it for me. Would you like to read it?" I replied kindly. It was good to see that we had something in common.
"I would love to. I'll let you read some of my Marvel's comics too," he replied with the same cheeky grin he had given me when he was standing outside.
That was pretty much the beginning of our friendship and later I found out he was in my school. He eventually started hanging out with me and Sophie and we would exchange our Marvel comics with each other. Josh was a healthy kid at that time with rosy chubby cheeks. I would always pinch his cheeks.
In the next few years, we became totally inseparable. I remember him telling me how much he wanted to slim down so the other kids at school won't tease him. I would reply that he was perfect just the way he was. But it happened anyways. Before the start of the Freshman Year at high school, he finally slimmed down. He was no longer the chubby kid we knew. He just turned into one of those hotties who became popular the moment girls saw him. Sophie and I were scared that the popularity would snatch him away from us but we couldn't have been more wrong. Josh was there by our side everyday and every minute. Other popular students would ask him what he did hanging out with loners like us but Josh always defended us.
I wouldn't want to lose our friendship for anything in the world.
But there were times, like now, when he infuriated me to know end. We were sitting in the English Literature class and I was flipping through my textbook when he started pulling my ponytail.
"What is it?" I hissed at him, turning around to face him. He was sitting with the same old cheeky grin everyone loved so much. In all those years, that's one of the things about him that never changed.
"I just like pulling your hair."
"Well, don't because I'm trying to study here." I turned to face my book again, tightening my ponytail. After a few minutes, he pulled it again. "Okay now seriously.. WHAT THE HECK IS YOUR PROBLEM?" I whisper yelled at him.
"You're so boring." He pouted making him look adorable. I had to bite my lip to stop myself from frowning. I rolled my eyes and looked at the teacher who had already dozed off. Why do they even take up the job of teaching when all they do is sleep? "See even Old Grumpy Ass is sleeping," Josh said. 'Old Grumpy Ass' was our nickname for Mrs. Taylor, our teacher. She was an old woman who was known for her grumpiness, hence the name. Before I could reply, Josh's phone started ringing. He quickly tapped the answer button before Mrs.Taylor saw him. After a few minutes of hushed yelling, he tapped on my shoulder. I wonder who he was talking to and what made him yell.
"What happened?" I asked him, concerned.
"I need a straight answer. Did you or did you not get a call from him?" His question was simple, yet his tone gave away how angry he was. I was confused. What was he talking about?
"What?"
"You know what I'm talking about, Maanvi." Oh $hit! He only called me 'Maanvi' when he was extremely angry. I finally got what he was talking about. How did he come to know? Who the hell would tell him?
"Yes," I whispered, not meeting his eyes. I knew he would hate me for not telling him... for being such a horrible best friend. But what could I do? I heard him release a breath and felt his fingers on my chin, making me look at him.
"You don't need to hide anything from us, Em." His voice was tender and caring.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know what to do. I just hung up but I know something bad's going to happen. I thought he was finally gone." I felt my voice crack as I said those words. Something's terribly wrong... I know that.
"I just got a call from Mark and uh.. he saw Katheryn in the mall," he replied with a frown. "Look, Em. I'm not sure what it is but I have a feeling he's back. And if he is... just don't let him get near you."
Memories of him flooded inside me. His smile... the way he looked at me with affection. Was it all a pretense? Tears blurred my vision as Josh enveloped me in a tight hug, rubbing my back comfortingly.
"Shhh... it's okay. We're all here with you. I'll protect you."
I'll protect you...
And those were the times when I loved my best friend more than anyone or anything. Because I know he's always there to protect me.
* * * *
A hand sneakily wrapped around my waist. I jumped in surprise and looked to my right, only to gaze at his chocolate brown eyes which held a glint mischief in them. It wasn't blank anymore but it wasn't giving away his emotions either. He was good at hiding them.
"Would you please leave me?" I asked, my voice laced with irritation, although I couldn't ignore the electric currents which surged through my body at his touch. Up close, the cinnamon and honey scent felt so overwhelming that I had stop breathing so that I didn't sniff and look like a weirdo.
"Aw, and I thought you wanted me to touch you," he said, his lips forming a pout which made him look adorable. Yes, people. I just admitted that Virat looks 'adorable' when he pouts. And no, I don't have any feelings for him.
"Did I ever mention that I hate you?"
"You know you love me," he said with a smirk.
I rolled my eyes and replied, "Whatever floats your boat, Jock."
He laughed loudly. His laugh is always good to hear and it makes the people around him do the same. That laugh, I tell you, is contagious. "So are you coming for dinner today?" He asked.
"Dinner?"
"Oh Mom must have forgotten to tell you. You guys are coming for dinner at our place," he said with a small smile on his lips.
"Hmm, okay. I don't want to starve, do I?" I smiled mischievously.
He stopped suddenly, glancing at his mobile. A frown had formed on his face now. "Why is everyone frowning at their phones today?" I muttered remembering the frown on Josh's face when he was talking to Mark earlier. "Huh, did you say something?" He glanced towards me, his hands still clutching the mobile. The distant look in his eyes told me he was thinking very hard about something. What did the message on his phone say?
"No." I pursed my lips, still worrying about what made him frown. It was a bit silly, really. I never used to care about Virat and now I cared about stuff which made him frown. It shouldn't be like this, should it? Not only that but I've even thought about how his touch sends those stupid sparks inside my body. How his closeness makes butterflies flutter inside my stomach. People would say that I liked him... loved him even. But no, I know that's not the case. It's probably the teenage hormones or I have officially gone crazy.
"Um.. Maanvi? I have to go somewhere. So.. uh.. I'll see you later I guess." Without another word, he strolled away from there.
It bothered me. I know it shouldn't, but it did.
Maybe... just maybe.. I care about him more than I think I do.
* * * *
Author's Note
Hello people!
I just wanted to thank you for the comments you guys left (as usual) :D Sorry for the late update and also for any mistakes. I tend to make that a lot :P
Let me know what your thoughts are!
Love,
Stella
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