The Adventures of Josie

After a 10 minute make out session Brian admitted Josie could kiss. Two hours later they were reminded of the time when people started leaving dinner. They hadn’t spent the whole time making out, but a good chunk of it. Josie finally found out Brian was 21 and they had spent a few minutes guessing at what Jay, Chris, Jackie and Lisa’s reactions would be if they knew. They’d both decided to keep it a secret, going so far as to sit at opposite ends of the table at dinner with Chris and Jay like they had been doing for weeks. After dinner they went outside to smoke. They walked up the hill to the smoking area and Brian and Jay took one bench while Josie took the other and Chris stood. There were only a couple other people outside since everyone was either at dinner or still off campus. Chris paced or a few minutes before having what they called a revelation. Since Chris was a raver, he’d done quite a bit of drugs and now, even the simplest idea, or thought came out as this huge, seemingly life altering realization.

“Brian I was looking for you!” he nearly shouted as he remembered.

“You were? Where?” Brian asked.

“Uh, I went to your room and you weren’t there.” Josie looked away to hide her red face.

“Check the rec?” Brian asked

“I think I did.” Chris answered.

“I don’t think you did. I went in after lunch and just came out before dinner.” Brian said simply, as if he hung out at the rec every waking minute of everyday like Nick. Chris thought about it a minute and shrugged his shoulders before leaving to get back to his video game.

“I was looking for you too.” Jay said when Chris was out of hearing range “And unlike Chris, I remember checking the rec.”

“I was at the football field.”

“You went to the football field?” Jay asked incredulously. “Alone?”

“I wanted to get away from you assholes.”

“I see.” Jay said, looking at Josie. “Where you been?”

“I was in my room.” Josie answered almost immediately. “I was studying.”

“Right.” Jay said unbelievingly as he stood and walked away. After a few minutes Brian got up and sat down next to Josie.

“Don’t worry. Jay wont tell anyone what he thinks he knows.”

“You could have done better than the football field.” Josie said.

“You told him you were studying! What kind of alibi is that?” Brian exclaimed.

“A believable one. I’m taking the GED test this week.”

“You, me and 18 other people. You don’t see the other 19 of us studying.”

“You’re taking the GED test? Like, this one, this week?” Josie was surprised. She’d assumed Brian already had his GED.

“Yes, this one this week.” Brian said, resting his arm on the back of the bench behind her.

“Think you’ll pass?”

“Doesn’t really matter. If I don’t they’ll just send me again in another few months. You think you’ll pass?”

“I hope. I never wanted to come here in the first place. Faster I get my GED the faster I get out of here.”

“You don’t really like it here do you?”

“When I got here I hated it. You didn’t help improve my opinion but it isn’t so bad now that I’m used to it.”

“Why are you here if you didn’t want to come here?”

“My mom made me come. She wanted me to take culinary too but luckily she wasn’t able to choose my trade.”

“Whats wrong with culinary?”

“Nothing if you enjoy cooking. I’m fine with dinner and baking and stuff but I wouldn’t be able to do it as a job.”

“What do you two think you’re doing sitting together like that? Everyone thinks you hate each other, they might think hells frozen over.” a voice said behind them. Josie turned to find Mr. K standing behind the bench.

“It’s more of a mutual dislike, I think.” Brian answered.

“You told me you hated me.” Josie said.

“That was before,” he smiled “Now, your company is bearable.”

“Bearable?” Josie argued, sliding further down the bench.

“Bearable, meaning tolerable.” Brian said.

“Ah, I see, it was all momentary insanity. Try not to kill each other, I’ve had a busy day.” Mr. K said, walking away.

“Tolerable, meaning you’re just putting up with me?”

“Like you enjoy our time together.” Brian answered sardonically.

“When we can talk like normal people, I do.” Josie said, getting up. She started walking away but stopped when she remembered something. “GAME ON, MOTHERFUCKER!” Josie yelled over her shoulder on the way to the dorms. Sure, making out with Brian had been a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon but it left her confused. And her confusion wasn’t even about Brian; it was about her feelings for Brian. Josie couldn’t hate Brian, no matter how much she wanted to, but did she like him?

Brian was an asshole, plain and simple. Josie had known that since day one and yet, it was the only thing she was really sure of. Brian had been completely different for those two and a half hours between lunch and dinner. And when she had told him about her dad he had actually seemed like he cared. Of course, thinking of that reminded Josie that she had told him about her dad. She stopped mid way between the smoking section and the dorm to smack her forehead. Why had she told him, of all people?

“Why’d you hit yourself?” a voice asked from behind her.

“Because I’m an idiot.” Josie replied, having déjà vu and since last time it was Nick, she was afraid to turn around.

“Why?’

“Just because.” Josie replied, and continued walking away. She walked right by the dorms and down to the bus stop. She sat on one of the benches to wait for Joe. Joe always ended up at the bus stop to smoke since it was the closest place to smoke and 75% of the time you wouldn’t get caught. Josie looked at her watch, Joe was usually at the bus stop by now. She had decided not to smoke to do her best on the GED test but after the day she had she figured she needed/deserved it. Josie scanned her surroundings and rolled her eyes when she saw Mr. K approaching. She hadn’t even done anything wrong yet and she was going to be in trouble.

“Relax Miss Reynolds. I’m not here to yell at you.

“Oh, Okay. So whats up?”

“Just thought I’d come over here and tell you your friend is restricted to his room for the rest of the night.”

“Joe?! Mr. K how could you?”

“I had no other choice. He was obviously intoxicated and everyone was noticing. I couldn’t not do my job of disciplining him.”

“But you would have if there were no witnesses?”

“I have turned my head a time or two. Especially with you and Joe and other harmless pot smokers.”

“Because we’re harmless?”

“Most of the time. Joe was too disruptive today but most days he’s fine.”

“So you won’t kick us out?”

“You’re both good students during class, and you don’t cause any trouble outside of class. I see no reason to get rid of either of you.”

“Okay. Well, thanks. I’m just gonna go up to my room now.” Josie said, standing. She’d decided this was a very awkward conversation. She walked by Mr. K and had started up the path towards the dorms.

“Night Miss Reynolds.” Mr. K said.

“JOSIE!” She replied and kept walking. She was halfway across the ramp to the girls dorm when she heard someone call her name. She looked around before seeing Joe in a window on the boys floor. She turned around and walked down the handicapped ramp to talk to Joe.

“They locked me up. I’m a prisoner!” Joe said.

“So I’ve heard. Why today? Why couldn’t you have waited until tomorrow?”

“Rough day? I’ll hook you up but only if you share.”

“What?”

“I’ll send someone out with some; you smoke it together.”

“Fine. Thanks Joe.”

“Come give me a hug!” Joe exclaimed while lifting the screen. Josie hugged him through the window but he wouldn’t let go.

“Joe, what are you doing?”

“Distracting you so you won’t run while you have the chance.”

“What?”

“Okay I got her.” someone said taking her arm. Joe let go and smiled.