Josh was standing in front of his bathroom mirror practicing. “Hey, Blake here’s your phone.” He shook his head making his hair fly about. “Too generic. Remember last night, when we got caught in the rain and you slept over? Well you left your phone...No. Ugh.” He was very frustrated with himself. It wasn’t that difficult right? All he needed to do was give her the phone right? Wrong. This was so much more than that. It was more than giving a phone back, a materialistic object back to some girl. First off, she wasn’t just some girl this was The Girl. He just knew it. He knew from the moment he saw her, something howled inside of him as strange as that sounds. Maybe he was getting too carried away with his thoughts; maybe not. “What am I going to do?” He asked his reflection in the mirror. He shook his light brown hair out of his eyes sighing as he walked away into his room. Right when he flopped on his bed his cell phone rang loudly buzzing in his pocket. He looked at the clock as he fished the object out of its confinement, it was nearly nine o’clock. Who would be calling now? Josh pulled the phone out with much gusto making it fly to the floor. Naturally he flew to the floor to retrieve the loud thing, needless to say, he was half-on half-off the bed when he answered. “Hello.”

“Hey man,” It was Jordan. “The guys, saying me and Logan, who you haven’t met yet, are going to the movies, do you want to come?”

Well that’s nice of him to include me. “Sure, what time?”

“Just come over to my house at ten, I’m driving.”

“Alright. Cool. See you then!” They hung up the phone. “I wonder what we’re seeing.” He lay on his bed, which he clambered back onto, as a sudden realization dawned on him his baby blue eyes widened. “Crap! She said that they were both her “brothers”. What have I gotten myself into?” Nevertheless, at ten o’clock he was in the backseat of Jordan’s car.

A boy with dirty blonde hair and pale blue eyes turned toward Josh, he assumed this was Logan. “That was some quick thinking at the soccer game earlier.” Logan commended nodding his head approvingly.

Josh blushed a crimson color shrinking into his seat. “It really wasn’t anything. I just have experience with that kind of thing. Where I used to live I was captain on a select team as keeper and forward. I know how it feels.” If it were possible the crimson became darker. What was with his mouth? He didn’t want to say all of that.

Logan turned backwards toward the blushing boy. “You play soccer?” He sounded generally shocked and looked it too with his brows knitted together.

Josh nodded. “My team was ranked number one in our area. We were on our way to state when I moved.” He had a large smile on his face remembering old times. Then he crashed back to reality remembering quickly who he was in the presence of and shrank back into himself. “I wasn’t the best player. I wasn’t the only captain there were three of us.”

Logan’s jaw dropped. “Wow!” He kept ogling him ignoring the last part of what he said. “Hey, Jor this guy could be what we need. He could be the piece that fits! Think about it! Some unknown no-name new kid, shows up out of no where, befriends our group and has a thing for your girl’s best friend.” At that Josh’s eyes bulged. Apparently it was very obvious. “You can’t make this shit up! It was meant to be!” Logan exclaimed having a crazed look upon his face. “You have to talk to coach!”

Jordan chuckled at his best mate. “Chill. I’ll talk to coach, but you know he is going to want proof before he goes for anything.” He looked into the rearview at Josh.

Josh raised his eyebrow, his shy demeanor fading rapidly. “When and where?”

Logan was practically jumping in his seat with a face-cracking smile. “I like this kid!” The other two guys began laughing at this. The rest of the car ride, which wasn’t very long, was spent talking about the beautiful game.

When the movie was done Jordan and Logan went to the restroom while Josh went to the car to wait; he always hated big crowds. “You were at the soccer game today.” A tall, fit guy with black hair stated to Josh who was leaning up against Jordan’s truck.

“Yeah, Dan that’s right, he was at the game! That’s the guy who was all over Blake.” A shorter boy to his left said. Josh just managed to contain himself from rolling his eyes, he seemed to have met dumb and dumber. “Looks like she’s moved on.”Suddenly everything made since, assuming correctly that this guy was indeed Daniel.

“I feel sorry for you man. You should get out while you still have a chance. That one, she’s a bitch. Turned the whole effing school against me. She’s hot and all,” the other guy nodded his head to clarify. “But that’s all she is.” Josh’s hands were shaking. “She leads you on and expects you to stop. You can’t get in her pants for shit.” Now his blood was boiling. Who does this guy think he is? Josh shook his head unconsciously; Daniel laughed.

Josh raised an eyebrow taking a deep breath. “She wasn’t the one doing the leading.” He took a step closer to Daniel. Although they were of the same height Josh’s eyes were cold as ice, filled with hatred.

“Think you’re a tough man do you?” Daniel couldn’t control his shaking voice.

He took another step. “I just think you should get your facts straight.”

Daniel had enough he pushed Josh out of the way. “Brainwashed you too has she? News flash moron, she is just a dumb bitch. Only good if you need a trophy.”

It was all Josh could do not to lose every ounce of self-control. He pulled his fist back and swung with all of his might connecting with Daniel’s jaw; he stumbled back in shock clutching it. Josh stepped forward about to hit him again when his friend, dumber, grabbed his arm. He hit Josh in the face by his eye. Daniel finally regained his composure pushing josh face forward into the concrete. Dumber saw the opportunity and kicked him hard in the chest area. Josh writhed in pain, he moved his foot forward tripping Daniel. People were starting to notice the tussle, Daniel and Dumber fled the scene leaving Josh groaning on the ground. When the two were out of site Jordan and Logan came out of the theater. “Perfect timing guys.” Josh groaned clutching his chest when they were finally in hearing range.

“What happened?” Jordan demanded while he and Logan tried to get him off the ground. His cheek was skinned and his left eye was puffy.

“Had a little run in with Daniel and a friend of his.”

“Don’t you know anything?” Logan shouted. “Never start a fight when there are more than one and only you. Basic common since.” He shook his head. “You have guts though. Tell me you landed at least a couple good hits on the sucker.”

Josh laughed then winced. “Can you take me home?”

“What will your mom and dad say?” Jordan asked concerned they now had him slightly standing working on getting him in the car.

“They aren’t home.” Josh confessed as he slid into the backseat with much help from the other two guys.

“Then I’m not taking you home.”

“Why?”

“You’re hurt. It looks like you fell onto the concrete which means you probably hit your head. Something bad could happen.” Logan stated. “My parents would freak and I don’t think I could sneak you in.”

“My parents wouldn’t go for it.” Jordan said. “Blake’s dad is out of town. We can go there.”

--

Ryan and Blake were sitting on the couch of the former’s house in front of the big screen. They were in their pajamas with a big bowl of popcorn on the coffee table watching The Ruins. About half-way into the movie the door bell rang once, twice, three times in a row. Reluctantly they paused the movie and went to the door. Josh and Jordan were standing, well Josh was bent over. “Oh my gosh! What happened? Come in.” Blake rushed covering her mouth. He looked in really bad shape; so much for a girl’s night.

“He got into a fight.” Jordan stated matter-of-factly. The three of them moved Josh onto the sofa.

“How could you let that happen?” Blake rounded on Jordan the second they got to the kitchen; out of earshot.

“I thought Logan was with you.” Ryan blurted.

“He was. We were in the bathroom, he decided to wait out by the truck. We got held up when we saw some friends of ours and started talking. Logan’s mom called him on our way home telling him he needed to get home before he was grounded for missing curfew.” Jordan explained to the two girls in front of him.

“Well, who did he fight?” Blake asked. Jordan remained quiet.

“Baby, who did he fight?” Ryan asked this time looking into her boyfriend’s hazel eyes.

He looked down sighing loudly. “Daniel and a friend.” He looked up to see Blake cover her eyes and walk to a corner.

Ryan bit her lip. “Did he tell you why?”

“No.”

Blake took a deep breath turning around to face them removing her hand in her process. “Come on.” They walked back into the living room. Blake knelt down so she was Josh’s level. First she lightly brushed his face with her hand examining his swollen eye. “I need ice, a bunch of it, and some baggies and rags.” Jordan and Ryan left to get the things leaving the two alone. She sat up on her knees and let her hands drift down to the him of his shirt.

“What are you doing?” He asked in alarm.

She laughed. “Checking for broken ribs. The shirt needs to go.” Why she was whispering it, she didn’t know. He leant forward while she slid the shirt off of him accidently grazing her fingers against his abs. He leant back down letting her examine him. She moved her hands up and down his torso making him shudder. “I don’t think anything is broken, bruised but not broken.” They locked eyes for a moment, she started leaning toward him. They were so close, they could feel the others breath on their face. She closed her eyes.

“We got everything.” It was Ryan, looking at the site in front of her she really felt like kicking herself.

Blake jumped backward bumping into the coffee table. She had never hated her best friend before, she never planned to, but this moment was pretty close to it. Blake quickly regained her composure walking over to the couple she grabbed the items from their hands. Her hair fell in front of her hiding the blush that was attacking her face. Josh just sighed he could still feel her warm breath against his face.

“We’re going to go upstairs and look for some...blankets.” Ryan said trying to give the potential couple some alone time and feeling incredibly guilty for stopping what could have happened. They left for upstairs as they said they would and once again left the two alone.

Filling a baggy with ice and covering the bag with a rag she gently put it on the side of his head where it was swollen. He was definitely going to have a black eye. She looked into his ocean blue eyes for the second time that night. “Why did you fight him?”

He reached out grabbing her free hand, holding onto it. “He said some...things.”

“Like what?”

His eyes shifted. “Things about you.”

Before he could continue on Blake interrupted him. “I want to know. I can handle it.”

Josh saw how fierce her eyes were and knew there was no denying her of what she wanted. “I was minding my own business when dumb and dumber came up to me.” She had a little laugh; he smiled, he loved making he laugh. “They were at the game. Dumb starts talking about you so I figure that’s Daniel.” She opened her mouth but he continued. “He said you were a bitc...well, you know. Then he says you’re hot, but that’s it.” She saw hatred burning in his normal calm blue eyes. “She’ll lead you on and won’t let you get into her pants. Only good if you want a trophy. You have to understand.” He was pleading with her. “I couldn’t just sit there and let him talk like that about you when nothing he says is true. I said she wasn’t the one doing the leading. He pushed me and it escalated from there. I’m sorry” Surprisingly her eyes were soft and there was a small smile on her lips.

“Don’t be.” Their eyes locked once more; she licked her lips subconsciously. The ice was now removed from his face and her hand was in his light brown hair running through it over and over again; it was really soft. Blake leaned down she closed her eyes. Their lips met. An explosion of emotion poured out into the kiss. In that single moment they knew, they knew they were meant for each other. Suddenly every wrong turn, every bad decision was worth it because they wouldn’t be the people they were today, or be where they were if it hadn’t have happened. He moved his hand up her arm leaving it at her shoulder stroking her skin the tank top didn’t cover. She stood up still locked with him and sat down on the sofa next to him; he had his other hand at her waist keeping her balance. A few seconds later they pulled away from each other and the room was no longer filled with the bright light. Reality was setting in all around but neither cared. They were still wrapped up in the kiss. He had a goofy lopsided grin across his face, she had a feeling that the look was mirrored on her own. She bent down so her mouth was next to his ear. “I’m ready.”

A/N: Sorry for the longish wait. If its any consolation I was working on it all week haah. So what do you think? I was going to end it at their lips met but I couldn't. So they are finally together. I don't like this chapter very much but it needs to be here for the obvious reasons. part 2 will be up soon. I really don't have much to say so Happy readings to you all!