My Heart CH.13

My Heart: A Joshayley Story
Chapter 13

HAYLEY'S POV:

There was some tension at first, but I couldn't help myself. I guess a gravitational pull just was doing it's thing, pulling us together. He loosened his grip on the guitar, moving in toward my face, and me doing the same. We both agreed, in our own minds, that this was okay, and nobody was watching. This whole place was dim, dark and quiet, and I could hear my heart beat against my chest as if it would explode any second. But come to think of it, that always happens around him. These thoughts are moving too fast. We were friends. Just friends? No, we were close. Becoming better friends. Becoming more than friends.

JOSH'S POV:

What was I doing? It was slow and I was hesitating. Do I really want this? Once I was about to touch her lips, she turned her head. "I'm sorry," she said softly. Oh, Hayley. Don't be sorry. We both wanted to.

"No. Don't be," I told her sincerely. I grabbed her hand. I could see she was getting nervous. "Hayley, seriously, don't be sorry."

"Well at least now I can breathe," she said, composing herself again. "Josh...I think we just...you know....um..."

"Movie?" I asked, before she could run and I would be alone. She smiled at me. "Thanks for finishing that sentence. I feel like such a dork."

"Come on. Just leave the stuff here, no one is going to get it."

"You sure about that?" She asked, obvious skepticism.

"Yeah. It's been many years. I think these instruments can take care of themselves." She laughed. I hoped she was okay.

We both left, and my hand was still in hers. She didn't want to let go, and I didn't, either. Are friends even supposed to this? But I liked holding her hand. I liked being near her. Maybe I should just ask her out..

or not.

I knew she didn't want to do that stuff. Or does she? I can't read minds, but if I could, and I knew she liked me back, I would totally ask her out. God, why was I thinking like this?

We walked towards the bus stop, and I explained how the cinema was one trip down the highway. Luckily I had enough money for the both of us. Of course I would let her choose the movie and let her buy the food with my money. I think that's the way to go, because most guys should treat even his best dudette friends with respect...or did I always just treat her to these things because I...liked her? I shook the thought away. We boarded the bus. I hope her mom isn't worrying and that her dad can accept me..if I ever meet them.

"So...I'm sorry again," she said. I sighed and looked her in the eyes, shaking my head. "Hayley, stop saying you're sorry. I told you, we both aren't at fault here. That was just random. Maybe." I said the word 'maybe' quietly to myself. I noticed she was still holding my hand tightly, and I liked it. "So what do you want to see?" I asked her.

"I don't want something super gushy and love-y. I think I'd enjoy some horror flick or good explosion movie. Not trying to be a boy or anything, but....yeah. Well you can pick," she said.

"No, you pick," I replied without hesitating.

She looked down and smiled, and then looked back at me with those big, green eyes. "So...up for a shoot-down? I don't know, something with a mix of tension, thriller and big guns?" She asked with a laugh. I just looked at her for a while.

"Earth to Josh?" she asked, snapping in front of my face.

"Oh," I realized my trance-like state, widening my eyes. "Sorry. We'll watch whatever you want."

She laughed. "Yeah, okay."

Once we arrived at the theater, that fresh popcorn smell immediately welcomed us both. Hayley and I looked up at the black movie board, with the red tinted titles of movies and movie ratings flashing across the screen. "Well, I believe it's lady's choice," I told her. She looked up at the board with curious eyes, probably debating which movie was more fun to watch. Once she finally made up her mind, we bought two tickets. We both then approached the snack counter and the chubby guy in a red uniform at the register frowned at us, eyes bored and tired. We bought a large popcorn, two large candy bars and two sodas. "Okay, I think the movie's going start in five minutes. I gotta go to the bathroom but I'll see you inside, okay?" Hayley said.

"Sure, Hayles," I replied.

I entered the dark theater. The commercials were still playing. I found two close seats and put the popcorn and sodas in place. Once I sat down I heard a familiar voice. "Josh?"

When I turned back, I realized who it was. It was Luke, with a few of his friends. "Dude, what are you doing here?!" he said out loud. A few people told him to shut up, but as Luke would do, he ignored.

"I'm actually here with..." she then appeared next to me, as if on cue, and Luke exclaimed out her name. "Hayley!"

"Oh my God! What's up, Luke?" Hayley said in a hushed whisper. "Oh, it's cool. And you guys here on a date or something?" He asked that question with such force, like he didn't want a 'yes' to that question. "No, we're not." Hayley replied quickly. "Oh okay then. You think we can hang out later?" Luke asked again. "I've got homework to do. But we can always sit together at lunch and catch up on things, it's still hanging out," Hayley replied simply. I looked at her with a half-smile and we both then turned towards the screen and laughed quietly to each other. I leaned in toward her ears. "You know," I whispered, "I think Luke's got the hots for you. Rumor's been going around."

"No way! Luke?" She exclaimed quietly. "I hope he doesn't ask me out. I wouldn't want to turn the poor guy down."

"So you would say no to him?" I asked. "No offense to the guy, but yeah. He's not really my type of guy. But he's cool, at least." After realizing we were being hushed by more than five people, Hayley and I turned our heads toward the screen without another word.

As the movie passed by, occasionally we would reach for the popcorn at the same time and our hands would touch, hers usually warmer than mine, and this spark would go through me. It's never really happened before, but somehow I was feeling...different. As if something new, something completely foreign, was entering my system and I wasn't sure if it would leave or not.

We exited the movie theater quickly so Luke and his friends wouldn't be able to catch up later, and Hayley didn't want them to hang with us anyways. Or maybe it was me, but hey, she didn't have any objections. Once again we boarded the bus.

"So got any Jaelyn ideas?" she said, looking back up at me with green eyes that suddenly impacted me in an unexplainable way.

"No. You?"

"Not really. I don't really want to go to that party."

"Really?" I asked, with surprise.

"Well we haven't been talking about revenge. Maybe on Saturday it could be another songwriting day, but with Zac on drums at that awesome practice building. I never heard him play."

"He's a beast on the drums," I replied. She laughed. "Well that will just make it more interesting to hang with him."

"Then let's do it. We can all do some band-like stuff. Even though we all aren't officially a band."

"Okay. Saturday's plans are way better now," she told me with that beautiful grin. "Thanks for the invite."

"No problem." I said with a smile. She then returned that smile, laughing, and the entire bus ride I found myself enjoying her company more and more.

We got to my street. "So until tomorrow then?" I asked.

"Yeah. And until Saturday for that band practice," she replied. "The first of many, I hope," I added. She went walking towards her house, and though I wanted to walk her there like a gentleman, I knew she could take care of herself.

I opened the door. It wasn't too late, and mom and dad weren't home. Not surprising. Zac was at the dining room table, working on homework or something. He looked up at me. "How was the date?"

"What date?"

"You and Hayley Williams. There's something going on, Josh. Don't deny it," Zac said.

"We're just friends," I replied, avoiding the topic and looking into the fridge.

"Mmm-hmm." Zac replied, looking down at his papers, disbelieving.

"Ugh." I replied, carrying a glass of orange juice to the table. "So what is that anyways?"

"It's another song. I figured since you and Hayley wrote the first one I might as well get to work on some other ones."

"You? Working?" I asked sarcastically.

"Ha-ha, very funny. But really. So have you written more? With her?"

"Kind of," I replied.

"So did you ask about the band thing?" Zac said.

"Yeah. She agreed--no, she asked me about it, but I don't want to rush the whole thing. Asking her directly is going to be a bit hard. Got any ideas on how we could give her some kind of message before we ask her? About joining us?"

"We should give her a mix CD of the songs we like. She'll get into the sound and then we can ask, if she seems willing. I'll give it to her...because I know how you get all tense around her."

I hit Zac jokingly, and he pulled his arm away. "It's true!" he added. "Come on, I know you want to ask her out."

"I don't know how she's going to take it, Zac."

"I do. She's going to say yes. Simple as that," Zac replied.

"How are you so sure?" I interrogated.

"Because I can see the future!" Zac replied in an eerie, ominous voice. "Shut up," I told him, rolling my eyes. I headed upstairs and lay down on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. Oh Hayley. What are you doing to me?

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