Chapter Text
''Let me get this straight.'' Josh said, holding up his hands. ''Basically, what you're telling me is that I need to move and go to the party with you?''
''Yes.''
''Sam.''
''Josh.''
''I just have a lot more work to do today.''
''No, you don't. You've finished most of the assignment already and we've only just had our midterms. I think you're good.''
''What if I wanted to prepare for the next midterms?'' He tried jokingly; his voice uneven.
''Josh.'' Sam said unamused as Josh instantly quipped. ''Sam.''
''You're going to regret this one-day, buddy.'' Sam straightened his tie and checked the mirror to fix his hair. Josh had already made his way over to the corner of the room, where he had built himself a little fort with some cushions on the ground and a laptop plugged into the socket next to him.
''Today is not that day.''
Sam waited for a moment and took in the image that was before him. ''Buy yourself a new laptop already, will ya?''
''I might.''
''Don't stay up.''
''Love you too.''
''Have fun.'' He said softly, more to himself than Sam, who apparently had already left their apartment. Josh checked his watch and realized that it had probably been a while since he'd exchanged words with Sam. It was close to three am. Josh cursed. He'd done it again.
Honestly, he couldn't remember the last time he'd had a proper sleeping schedule, and this wasn't helping either. Even though the midterms were already done, he had trouble clearing his mind.
The assignment, or more like THE assignment as Sam had called it, was bothering him. He knew he could nail it if he put his mind to it, it was just that his mind had been playing tricks on him for the past few weeks. Unable to focus on his work anymore, he frustratingly put his hands through his hair.
It was then that he realized the sound of UB40 coming from above. Had that been going on all night? He stood up from his spot and stretched, tempted to put his leg on the chair again and go for a good stretch, but it wasn't early morning yet and he wasn't about to go to the emergency room once again because of an unstable chair. He shook the horrific memory from his head and walked over to the kitchen.
Josh groaned. Sam had taken the last cup of coffee again and had yet again, failed to make a new batch. Josh absentmindedly threw the filter with mush in it in the bin. He quickly checked the kitchen cabinets and realized he was out of coffee. Only slightly embarrassed by his following move, he picked up the old filter out of the trash and put it back into the machine again. No one would ever have to know.
The music above him changed and it definitely had a heavier bass than before. Josh stood there, annoyed at the sound that was apparently coming from his ceiling. They'd never had issues with their upstairs neighbor before. Neighbor? Neighbors? He was clueless. As usual.
The building they'd lived in wasn't in the safest neighborhood, but it was close enough near campus for them not to care too much about it. Sam and Josh had met each other in their freshman year. Both unable to function in the crowded dorms, they'd decided to go steady and rent an apartment a few miles from the campus. That had been three years ago. It'd helped that both of the guys were from an upper-class family, so money wasn't really an issue. Though they'd probably try to deny that until the day they died.
There was no way he was going to be be able to sleep with that kind of noise going on. All of the sudden the music died down. He heard some people yelling at each other and then it suddenly went silent. Josh was more worried about the thickness of his walls at this moment. It was now close to six am already and he decided to just stay up instead of trying to sleep for just one hour. He once again went to sit back in his spot, trying to find some distraction on the internet.
A Sam shaped figure entered the living room. Shit, how much time has passed? The blinds were still shut and most of the lights were still on. Sam sighed and hung up his coat, throwing his already loose tie on the ground somewhere in the process.
Josh chuckled. ''Look who is here to do the walk of shame.'' Sam just ignored him and walked directly to the coffee pot. He grabbed a mug from the cupboard and quickly took a sip.
''Josh, why does this coffee tastes like it was made yesterday?'' Sam looked at Josh suspiciously but took another sip anyway. ''I swear that I took the last cup before I left.''
''Yes, thank you for that by the way. Remind me to pick up some new filters and coffee, will you?''
Sam slowly turned around to take a look at Josh, who was now unwilling to make eye contact. ''You didn't even go to bed, did you? Don't you have a class in like two hours?''
Josh rubbed his eyes, only now feeling his tiredness seeping through the cracks. ''No and yes.''
''You've got to stop doing this. It's unhealthy.''
''Says the person who just had meaningless sex with a girl just because he could.'' Sam opened his mouth to protest, but the lack of caffeine in his system made him close his mouth again. ''Honestly, for the first time in ages. Yes, I'm man enough to admit that – it wasn't because I didn't stop working.''
''Why's that?''
''Our upstairs neighbors were playing music at 3 am. It was UB40, but still.''
''Then why didn't you go knock on their door?'' Josh stared at him blankly. ''All right, good point. Great talk.'' Sam proceeded to pour the coffee down the drain and quickly washed his mug. ''I'm going to shower, want to grab some breakfast after?''
''You know it.'' Josh immediately sniffed his shirt to figure out if he should shower as well. Ew. Yeah, he should. ''After I shower as well… We should go to that new place on sixth. I heard some good things about it.''
''You had a social interaction with people? When did this happen?''
''Sarcasm doesn't work for you Sam.''
''No, but one day you might work for me.'' He'd been hit square in the head with a pillow before he'd even finished his sentence.
xxx
''That's not even food.'' Sam said as he looked at Josh's plate. Scrambled eggs, bacon, two sausages, some beans and white toast with butter were only the beginning of what could be called 'Josh's breakfast'.
Josh sighed and stuffed his face with some of the scrambled eggs. ''Is it going to be one of those days?'' he said, mouth still full.
''I just don't get how you can eat all of that without gaining any weight. I work out four times a week and I'm still not able to put my leg on a chair like you did last time.'' Sam said, unable to keep himself from laughing.
Josh held up his fork in defense. ''You promised we weren't ever going to talk about that one.''
''Well, you promised to start eating healthier. So, guess who the real liar is here.''
They continued their banter as another waitress walked up to them. ''Can I get you boys some more coffee?''
''Yes, please.'' Sam said instantly as he held out his empty cup. Both looked at Josh expectantly. He looked up and studied her face intently for a moment. ''Josh? Don't be rude man.''
''I- yes, please.'' Josh held up his mug as well and subtly checked out her nametag. ''Thank you, Donna.''
''You're welcome-''
''Josh. It's Josh.'' He replied eagerly.
Donna gave him a polite smile and repeated his name. ''You're welcome Josh.'' She filled his cup and moved onto another table. And then he subtly checked out the rest of her body as well. Sam instantly moved closer to Josh to whisper.
''Was that your attempt at flirting?'' Sam deadpanned. ''No wonder you haven't brought a girl home in a while.'' Josh narrowed his eyes at him and decided not to grace his question with an answer. He was right after all.
Josh had trouble keeping the blonde out of his thoughts the entire day.
xxx
After a long day of a whole two hours of class, Josh found himself in the cafeteria looking for his Con Law partner-in-crime. It didn't take long for him to see his friend in the crowd. ''I knew I would find you here.''
The guy didn't even look, instead just took a sip of his coffee and continued reading the newspaper. ''How?''
''It's where the pie is.'' Josh quipped, as he sat down opposite of his friend and threw down his backpack next to him on the floor.
Toby chuckled. ''Funny. Why are you here?''
''I thought you might want to get a head start on the final assignment.''
''Didn't Mr. Feig tell us to keep waiting until after we've actually had the syllabus containing information about the assignment?'' Toby said, looking unamused. He put down his newspaper and stared at Josh. ''What's really on your mind, Josh?''
''Nothing.'' He muttered.
''All right, well, I offered – so now I don't want to hear anything about it.'' Toby picked up his newspaper once again. Josh slowly pulled it down to look Toby in the eyes.
''There's a great new coffeeshop on sixth.''
''That's what you wanted to tell me?''
''Absolutely.''
Toby laughed. ''You're the worst liar in the world Lyman. If truly want to make it in politics, you should probably do something about that.'' Josh simply shut up and showed him a smug smile.
It wasn't long before another person joined their table. Josh instantly turned around to look at her, showing his brightest smile. ''My dearest Claudia Jean, how are you doing?''
''I swear to God Lyman, if you call me Claudia Jean one more time.'' She said, threateningly pointing her finger at him.
He chuckled as he tried to pull off and innocent look. ''It is your name, right?''
''Don't tempt me.''
''Somebody is in a mood today.'' He fake whispered to Toby, annoying her even further. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a second.
''Sorry, I'm just really nervous about the American History results. They should be up this afternoon.''
''How do you even know that?'' CJ had always been one of the first to provide information no one was supposed to have.
She smiled smugly. ''I never reveal a source.''
Josh opened his mouth to speak but swallowed his words. Instead he decided to go for a more friendly option. ''You'll do fine anyway, when was the last time you didn't pass?''
''Honestly, I can't remember.''
''There ya go.'' They all went quiet as they continued their work. Toby read his newspaper, CJ had pulled out some of her paperwork she still had to review and Josh… had laid his head on the table and was fast asleep.
CJ slapped Josh softly on the head. ''My dear boy, you realise you have a bed for these kinds of activities.''
''I couldn't sleep last night.''
''Couldn't or wouldn't?''
''That's an excellent question, CJ.'' Toby quipped.
''Why thank you, Toby.'' They both mockingly bowed.
''Anyway, are we still handing out pamphlets Thursday?'' Josh said, trying to stir the conversation away from where it was heading.
''You are blantly ignoring the question, Joshua.''
''The people in the apartment above me were playing music at three am. At least that's when I noticed – it might have been going on for a while.''
''So, you just knocked on her, his, their door and told them to stop, right? Like any actual functioning adult would do?'' Toby muttered.
Josh faked his shock. ''Are you telling me that you think I'm immature?''
''This is news to you?''
''Boys, stop it.'' CJ said, unable to contain her laughter. ''Just, do what he said. If it happens again, go there and ask them to stop. It really isn't that hard.''
Josh tried to rub the sleep from his eyes and sighed. ''It really is.''
xxx
Josh sighed as he put his key in the lock of his apartment. He tried to balance the post in one hand and his coffee in the other hand but failed awfully and dropped everything. Including himself as he slipped in the fallen coffee. Apparently startled by the noise, Sam opened up the door.
''What the hell are you doing?'' Sam barked.
Josh just held up his hand. ''Oh no, I'm fine, thank you for asking.''
''Do you need help?''
''No, please just let me lie here for a second. I need to take this all in.'' It was only then that Josh realized that Sam was standing in the doorway in his boxers. He instantly felt relieved that he'd fallen down instead of just opening the door. Suddenly he became aware of his surroundings. ''You're also hearing this music, right?''
''Yes, I do. You okay?''
''Help me up.''
''All right.''
''I'm going to say something about it. I need my sleep. I'm an adult and I should be capable of making these kinds of visits. I'm a bulldog. I got this.''
''Um, okay, are you sure you haven't hit your head?'' Sam said, now genuinely worried.
Josh straightened his back and fixed his shirt. ''Never been better.''
''You've ruined your shirt.''
''It's just material.'' He looked down to see the mess he'd made. Oh, boy. ''I should probably clean this up…''
''You should.''
''I just need to go speak with our lovely upstairs neighbors first.''
''Sure.''
''I mean, I'm all hyped up now and I think I should just do it.''
''Okay.''
''Do you think I should do it?'
''Josh.''
''You're, right. I should go for it. Thanks Sam.'' Josh looked over Sam's shoulder and saw a girl not far behind him, wondering what all the fuzz was about. Sam followed Josh's look and leaned closer into him.
''You can stay away for like fifteen more minutes, right?'' Josh simply turned around and walked up the stairs determined to make his case.
He knocked on the door. It was only then he realized that he was still wearing his coffee stained shirt. Well, it's too late to back out now. The door slowly opened and revealed the blonde that served him his coffee that morning. Donna, her name was Donna. Say something!
''It's you.'' He said, surprised.
''It's me?''