I Don't Wanna Be Alone Ch. 5 [Hayley Williams & Josh Farro]

I didn't do much for the rest of the day, except drive myself crazy worrying about the next day at school.
''This is ridiculous, I need to get some fresh air and clear all the psycho out of my head,'' I finally thought, as I decided to leave my room and go for a walk outside.
My parents were apparently at work, and my sisters were sitting at the kitchen table downstairs.
''Where are you going?'' they asked, in almost unison.
''Out. I need to take a walk. Tell mom & dad if they come back before I do so they don't freak out, kay?''
Erika nodded, while McKayla just grunted and continued to flip through her magazine.
God, I loved my sisters.
I grabbed my keys from where I had thrown them onto the sidetable in the entry-way the night before, and left the house.
The weather outside was slightly humid and warm. Some clouds loomed on the horizon, and it would probably rain in a couple of hours.
I stuck my hands into the pockets of my short-sleeve hoodie, and walked along the sidewalk, not really paying attention to where I was going.
I ended up at the neighborhood park.
A couple of little kids ran around happily, screaming and laughing, while the parents followed them, tiredly, yelling various things after them.
''Tyler! Come back here! Mommy has your apple juice!''
''Danielle! What are you doing?! STOP THAT.''
A little girl ran past my feet. She was about 5 or 6 years old, and she laughed triumphantly while a boy of the same age chased her, a determined look on his face.
I smiled, remembering when I had been the same as a little girl. Always being chased by the boys, but always beating them. I may have been small, but I was fast.
''Sam! Come over here!!'' said a familiar voice.
I widened my eyes as I recognized it; it was -
''Hayley?''
''..Hey Josh,''
''What are you doing here?'' he asked, shaking his hair out of his face.
''Came for a walk.''
''Oh. Why -'' he was interrupted by Sam's hasty return. She ran past me in a blur, and hid behind Josh's legs.
The little boy followed her, past Josh's legs.
''Whoa, Sam, what're you -'' Josh started, but Sam ran away again, towards the direction of the slides, the boy still chasing her.
I felt a giggle brewing in my throat.
Josh looked at me cynically. ''I know you want to laugh Hay, I can see it on your face so go ahead,'' he said, a crooked smile on his face.
I let out the giggle.
''Mrs. Johnson got me to babysit her 'little angel' today, while she has a book club meeting or something. Let's just say that her little angel is only little,'' he remarked, looking in the direction Sam had run off to.
I smirked, looking at him. ''Sucks.''
''Yep. Hey, what happened to you yesterday at the dance? You just. Disappeared, and when Melanie couldn't find you, she FREAKED.''
''Oh. I uh, felt really sick, and I just.. Walked home,'' I said, really not wanting to return to this subject AGAIN.
''You're okay now, though, right?'' he asked, looking at me, concerned.
''Yeah, I'm fine.'' I said, turning my face away from him as I felt myself flush again.
''Okay, just making su - SAM. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?'' he said, as he ran towards Sam, the 'little angel' who seemed to be trying to smother the little boy who had been chasing her earlier.
I bit my lip, and turned on my heel. This was the perfect opportunity for me to leave.
--------------------
And that's about how awkwardly the rest of our sophomore year and the summer passed.
Josh and I were still friends, but there seemed to be a wall between us that only Melanie and I noticed.
The wall, of course, was Brittany.
She would eat lunch with us in the cafeteria, walk with Josh to every single class [even though they had none together], and just be stuck to his side everytime I saw them during the school year.
In the summer, she came to every movie night, pool party, and outdoor barbeque that Josh was at.
It was like she was a parasite, sucking all the blood out of my best friend.
Not that he noticed.
But I guess after a while I kind of got used to it - not like I had any choice.