Life as I Know It 4- Josh and I
It's interesting how just a little thing, like food poisoning, and can take down the mightiest of people. I woke up about an hour after I fainted. Now, don't get worried, it was just some bad hot dogs. It's odd that nobody likes hot dogs and now I know why. When I was released, I walked into the waiting room to see Jessie and Josh in sadness. They, however, where happy to see me.
"Dilly," Jessie yelped as she ran and hugged me.
"Be careful, Jessie," Drew told her, "he's really weak."
"Yes, that is why your coming back to Kansas City with us," Rachel told me. "At least until you feel better."
"Oh, come on. I don't want to go to Kansas City. I'll be good here. I can handle myself," I smiled.
I let Jessie go and I started to jump, until the pain came back and I bent over.
"OWW," I screamed in pain.
"Come on, Dylan," Drew said in a firm voice, "You can't take care of yourself and Rachel and I need to get ready for the move."
"I'd be in the way. I'll have mom fly down."
"Or I can watch you," Josh said, stepping up.
"Josh, what do you mean," Rachel asked.
"Well, he's been courteous to me," Josh started, "as in letting me stay when I had no place to stay. The least I can do is just keep an eye on him, at least until he gets better." Then Josh turned to me, "If that's ok with you."
"Actually, I think that's a good idea," Drew admitted.
"Wait, we are forgetting something," I said, "don't you have a career? I cannot have you risking a very expensive paycheck to baby-sit me for free."
"Don't worry about my job," Josh assured me," I am going to call and tell them I'm taking a few personal days off. Besides, we aren't doing much because of the damn lawsuit. Just making public appearances here and there. Besides, I think you getting better is more important than my fans."
With that, I had no choice. Drew, Rachel, and Jessie decided to take an earlier flight, since I ruined Jessie's birthday party. I sat on my couch while Josh made some telephone calls. I couldn't help but eavesdrop.
"Hello," Josh started. "Hey, yeah, it's me. Um, Just. I already called management and they agreed, but I thought I should tell you the truth. I am going to stay in Florida for another week. Wait, wait wait. Let me explain. I told my parents I was gay. Not good at all. They kicked me out and disowned me as their son. I was getting to that part. I stayed with someone I met at Rachel's wedding. Her new husband's brother. It started out as a blind date and ended up to be a `something.' Don't worry, he will not tell anybody. He's really cool. Can't wait for you to meet him. His name is Dylan. He's, I think 21, maybe 22. He is now working for Jessica Simpson as her clothing specialist. Listen, I can deal with this on my own so let me. I will see you next Monday."
Josh walked in and sat next to me. He saw the big smile on my face.
"You overheard, didn't you," he asked.
"Overheard what?"
"Never mind."
"Good," I smiled happily, " cause Rachel's husband's brother can be very nosy."
Josh looked shocked while I laughed.
"Are you mad," I asked him.
"At you? Never. But I am going to have to do something with thoughs ears of yours."
We laughed as he helped me to bed. I was exhausted. I lay down and look at Josh as he tucked me in. He sat on the bed and looked at me.
"I just want to warn you," he smiled, "but if you ever scare me like that again, Dylan, I will have your head."
"Sorry," I nodded.
I looked at his beautiful eyes and sighed.
"Josh," I asked.
"Yeah?"
"What was the last relationship you were in?"
"Is this suppose to be your bedtime story?"
"Come on. Please tell me?"
"Ok. Ok. I will tell you about Ryan Phillippe."
"Ryan Phillippe?"
"Yup. I met him at a Hollywood premiere. We talked and everything, then he told me to meet him in the storage room. I got there, and he kissed me deeply. I kissed him back and it was an all out tongue war. Then he took of my clothes and well, you can guess what happened after that."
"You had sex with Ryan Phillippe," I asked in hysterics."
"No, horndog," Josh said as if he was offended. "I woke up," he laughed.
I hit him on the shoulder. By Thursday, I was feeling better. I could efficiently get up and do things on my own. To celebrate, we ordered pizza and beer. It was almost funny, seeing J.C. from N'Sync sitting there downing a beer. We were pretty buzzed as we sat and talked about our lives, past and present. Josh told me that he had a few sexual relationships with some ex MMC-ers. He also told me how Justin, even then, has always been his shoulder.
I told him about realizing I was gay and loosing friends over it. I also told him about Ryan and about Robin. We sat there laughing, crying, reminiscing, and just getting acquainted with each other. We fell asleep on the couch that night, in somewhat of a drunken stupor. The rest of the week we'd just hang out at the beach or go out and do something. By Saturday, I was back into work. Lucky for me, Jessica had no appointments until Monday. Josh spent his trying to write music, without much success. He always got stuck on the hook and dumped the song completely. I personally think it's because he was using my keyboard. Sunday night was Josh's flight out of Orlando, so Sunday morning we just sat and talked some more.
"You know, Josh," I smiled, "this has been the best time I have ever had."
Suddenly, he got a glimpse in his eyes and grabbed the keyboard. He took it out and started an introduction to, what I thought, was a new song.
Josh sang:
I will give you The best of my life Yes I'll give you All that you need Anything, That you want I will give it to you
He stopped and smiled.
"You made me think of that sound," Josh said. "I got a new CD called "Club Mix 2000" and that sound was on there, "Best Of My Life."
"That seems like a nice song," I smiled, "but I never heard it."
"Well, it just about a guy who feels like his girlfriend is about to break up with her, so he promises to give the happiest part of his life to her. You made me think of that."
"Why me?"
"Dylan, I know it's been a week and all, but I really like you. I mean more than I should right now. I am going to be leaving in a couple of hours and yet we haven't really established what we mean or what we are to each other, so I'm doing that now. I want you to know that, if you'd have me, I would like to be your boyfriend."
I looked at him, and for a split second, I swore I saw Robin's face in his. My eyes swelt up. The word boyfriend already started flashes of Rob and me, the happiness we shared. The feeling of loosing him. The fact that he died so close to me, yet I didn't know. I looked at Josh's worried face as he saw my tears start to flow.
"Josh,' I started, "maybe it's better if you find someone else to care for. I don't think I'm ready for a relationship yet. You need to find someone who, maybe is worth the fight."
Josh looked hurt. He walked over to his already packed bag. I picked it up.
"I should go. You know planes."
He opened the door and then turned to look at me.
"I did, you know," he said to me. "I did find somebody who's worth fighting over."
Josh then closed the door.
To be continued
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