Josh's POV

I was getting bored in my room. After playing fallout 4 for quite a few hours straight I couldn't bear to look at the computer screen anymore. So I decided to leave my humble abode and go outside to see what the outside world was up to. I heard my sister's voice from the kitchen. Claudia is here already? God, how long have I been playing that game?

I see my nephew Scott, drawing something on a piece of paper on the dining table. "What's up?" I mess up his hair.

"Ugghh why do you have to mess up my hair all the time?" He whines," Mom is right about you. You are a messy boy. You love messing things up".

I was quite offended by this- I am not a messy guy. Okay I do keep my clothes all over the place but that actually helps me find my stuff easily. And sometimes I might have a few empty pizza boxes lying around and soda cans- sometimes.

"Oh yeah? Once your mom wore the same outfit for a month after breaking up with a guy. She didn't shower for a month because she wouldn't get out of her bed".

"I never did that!" my sister Claudia defended herself from the kitchen.

"Oh yes you did. We all remember that. I can't believe you wanted to get back to Ben even after he admitted he was gay", I laughed.

"That never happened!" Claudia lied. Of course she is going to lie about that. She always pretended like it never happened.

"Stop troubling mom. We all know you keep your things dirty ", Scott defended her mother.

"You wanna know where else I get to be dirty-".

"Joshua Spencer mind your language", my mom cried out from the kitchen stopping me from finishing my sentence.

"I didn't say anything!" I said feigning innocence.

Before my mom could chide me my phone started ringing. It was none other than Leo Arsen.

"Hey dude what's up?"

"Eh nothing much", I replied.

"Dude I need a favor from you and it's kinda huge".

"Just like my di-".

"Eww dude no stop".

"What? I was about to say dictionary. It is quite huge", I can imagine Leo rolling his eyes and it was kind of fun to irk him.

"Anyways", he cleared his throat," As I was saying, I need you to do me a favor".

"What kind of favor?"

"I need you to drive me to South Carolina".

"South Carolina? That is like eight hours away from here!"

"Uh-huh. I know that. But it's kinda urgent. You see-", he faltered, clearing his throat again,"Its Emma's birthday in a few days. I wanna throw her a surprise birthday party. What would be a better birthday gift than inviting her mother. Her mom is at South Carolina for some business work so I want to go there to convince her to come with me to Florida even for a day".

"Ever heard of a cellphone? You could use that to call or text her about it".

"You don't think I didn't try that? She doesn't want to come. She says she is too busy".

"Well maybe she is. Its sad she wouldn't be able to attend her daughter's birthday though".

"I won't take no for an answer. I need to at least try to bring her here. I feel like there is something more to it".

"Okay I get it", I reply tersely.

"So...", he drawled. "Are you we going to South Carolina or not?"

"Uhh.. I don't know dude... You never admitted what I told you few days ago", I said sounding serious.

"What?"

"Remember what I wanted you to admit few days ago when we were over at Derek's house. Something about me being...".

"Seriously? You still remember that?"

"Say it".

"Fine", he sighed, "Josh is the sexiest guy at our school".

"And?"

"He is the best at COD".

"We are going to South Carolina baby! Besides I would have gone with you anyways, it was just fun hearing you confess that", I laughed.

....................

"Here is the thing about Leonardo Arsen. a) He is nothing like Leonardo Dicaprio. Come on! I would hop on a gay cruise for Leonardo Dicaprio any day. If Leonardo Dicaprio is Mona Lisa painting then my best friend is just a stick figure drawing. b) I don't know why I needed to state that random fact. c) Not only am I more smarter and better looking than him, but I happen to be a better driver than him. He doesn't tell this to anyone but he failed his first driving test and the second time he barely passed. That's why he rides a bike and girls just happen to dig it.

So that's why I was going on a road trip with Leo to meet Emma's mother. I put the seat belt around me,"Ever heard of those cliche stories where two best friends go on a trip and they fall in love?"

"Huh? What about that?" Leo asked putting on his seat belt, looking confused.

"I hope that doesn't happen to you", I deadpanned.

"Dude just start the car".

Nine hours and multiple bathroom/lunch breaks later we were finally at South Carolina.

"Where is she?" I asked stirring the car to left.

"I don't know", he replied looking clueless.

I immediately stopped the car beside the sidewalk,"What? We drove all this way and now you don't know where she is!"I was astonished.

"I didn't tell her I will be coming. I thought of calling her immediately after reaching here".

"Well that seems idiotic. What if she isn't here or she might actually be busy?"

"Calm down Josh. I will call her".

I didn't say anything. I was getting pissed at him for being so careless. He dialed her number and I can hear the faint sound of dial tone ringing as the place was eerily silent.

"Hello. Yes. I am fine. I hope you are doing well Mrs. Justice. How are you doing?........ Uhh I had something to say........ I am uh at South Carolina visiting a friend. I was wondering we could meet up. It's kinda urgent........ Sure!....... Right now?....... Yes I am free....... That would be great!" He hung up. "We are meeting her at a cafe in fifteen minutes".

"Josh this is Emma's mother June, and June this is my friend Josh", we shook hands, she looked exactly like Emma. She had blonde hair while Emma was a brunette. They had the same facial structures except for the fact Jane was just older looking.

"You are very beautiful June. I thought you were Emma's older sister if it wasn't for Leo introducing you as her mom", I said smiling at her.

"Why thank you", she blushed. The way to a girl's heart was getting their mothers to like me. And complimenting them and telling them they looked like their daughter's elder sister instead of their mother was the way to the mother's heart. So I was used to this and it works like a charm every time. Except this one time I complimented this woman when I went to the girl's house but it turned out to be her housekeeper which was awkward.

We had little chitchats. June asked us about school and how her daughter was doing. Leo and I ended up ordering a lot of things since we were famished from the road trip. June was very nice about it.

"Leo is throwing Emma a surprise birthday party. Will you be able to make it?" I asked taking a bite of my grilled cheese sandwich.

"Uh... no Josh. I have to be in LA the day after Emma's birthday. I wish I could be there though", she said sadly.

"You could catch a flight that night. In fact I checked the schedule. There are quite a few flights that night", Leo said.

"I don't think that would be possible. I have to attend an early meeting", she said.

"You can go to your work directly after getting off your flight. Sleep in the plane", I suggested.

She sighed,"I don't think that's possible boys. I need my beauty sleep".

"Seriously your sleep is more important than your daughter's birthday? I mean it's just for one day. She will be elated to see you", Leo said trying to be calm even though he was livid.

"I am sorry but I just can't. Emma is my daughter, I know how happy she would be but that's not possible". Now I was getting pissed at June. It's like she didn't want to attend the birthday party.

"Are you sure June? I feel like you are trying to avoid your daughter's birthday party", I said.

Before she could say anything, a man came to our table who looked like he was in his early forties. "Hi babe", he kissed June on the cheek, greeting her.

She seemed quite uncomfortable,"Boris what are you doing here?"she said hesitantly.

"Just here to pick up lunch for Maisie", he said, then I noticed the little girl behind him.

"Mommy!" the girl went up to June and hugged her. Leo was staring at them with wide eyes.

Jane hugged her back. I didn't know Emma had a little sister, neither did Leo seeing his shocked expression.

"Take Maisie home. I will be coming back soon", she said, "By the way these are Emma's friends", she said to Boris.

"Hi. I am Boris. June's fiance", he said giving us a warm smile.

I had a feeling Emma didn't have a idea about her mother's fiance or Emma forgot to tell Leo about it, seeing Leo's expression I bet it was the former.

Leo somehow managed to speak to greet Boris, after some small talks he left us.

"Does Emma know she has a younger sister and will be having a stepfather soon?" Leo asked.

"No", June replied looking guilty.

"That's why you didn't want to attend the party right?"

She didn't say anything. I frustratingly ran my hand over my hair, "When do you plan to tell her?"

"Not any time soon. That's why I am avoiding meeting her".

"But you have to tell her someday", Leo said.

"I will but not now. Emma is still not over the fact that her father left us. I don't think she is ready for this".

"Ready or not, you have to tell her. She will be sad. All this happened and you didn't bother telling her? You have another kid?!"

"Maisie is not my daughter. Her mother died after she was born so she considers me as her mother. I never corrected her".

Leo sighed, "Please tell me you would be at the party. And you have to tell her then. This is not something you say over the phone".

"You are right. I need to tell her as soon as possible".

.............................

"These paintings are amazing. Was all of these painted by your grandpa?" Emma asked.

"Uh huh. This hallway is full of grandpa's paintings", I said.

"The ones in your room are yours?"

"Yeah".

"You know your paintings deserves to be recognized. You should have an exhibition".

"Uhh I don't know. I think I am not all that good yet. I need to work more on my skills. That's why I will be going to art school", I said candidly. "Compared to my grandpa's paintings mine are nothing"

Emma was eager to see my grandpa's paintings for a long time so she ended up coming over to my house a few days later after I came back from South Carolina. We were at the pool where Scott and Sarah were learning how to swim from the new instructor my sister hired for them.

"Your house is beautiful", Emma commented. "I didn't know you were that rich or else I would have made you order pizza every time you come over to my place", she joked.

"Okay. By the way I ordered pizza from Carlo's. It will be here very soon", I said.

"Really?" Her face lit up with joy.

"Mhmm".

I saw Leo walking towards us holding a pizza box in his hand. I guess Carlo sent Leo to deliver the pizza, and that's exactly what I wanted. It was time to go on with my plan.

"Emma you have something on your hair", I said.

"Where?"

"Just... here", I said reaching for her hair leaning in closer.

Here is the thing about my best friend
Leonardo Arsen. He was an idiot who was obviously likes the beautiful girl in front of me but he didn't have the guts to say that to her, who obviously likes my best friend too. They just needed a push which meant making my best friend jealous, which meant pretending to be interested in Emma.

I mean it wasn't a hard job. Emma was beautiful and charming. Maybe if Leo wouldn't have liked her, I would take my chances with her but I made sure to keep those thoughts locked away somewhere because I am not the type to be breaking a bro code.

It was working. Leo was looking at us, with wide eyes. He rushed towards us, and I pretended to remove dirt from Emma's strand of hair.

"Uh what are you up to guys?" He asked us, a little too eagerly.

"Oh nothing. Just hanging out. It was a good date- I mean day".

"Uh huh. It was. Josh showed me his grandpa's paintings. They are amazing", Emma replied.

"Oh that sounds fun. Maybe I will hang out with you guys", he said, "You don't mind do you?" He asked looking at me, giving me the if-you-try-something-funny-with-my-girl-I-might-just-barbeque-you-alive look.

"Of course not".

..................

I was really sick for the last few weeks. I was finally able to write a chapter for you guys. Thank you for reading!