Page 39 of Faking Forever 1
Out of the corner of my eyes, I notice my mom coming my way, momentum in full. Lifting my head, I give her my attention, expecting a list of things to do, even though I just got here.
She always did that kind of thing. No “Hey, how are you?” or anything. Straight to business.
“Peewee, can you please set up? I have to help your father with more bullshit from the car, and it’s just too hot for your mother.” she complains, wiping her forehead with a napkin as she chomps on her peppermint gum, “I’m scolding here, and I need a cigarette and an inhaler at the same damn time, right now.” she stresses.
Sierra and I look at each other, entertained by her actions.
“I’ll catch you later?” Sierra suggests before walking to her tent.
I look at my mom and finally give her a response, “Just help Daddy. I got it. Don’t worry.”
90
BAD IDEA
She takes that answer and books it the minute she has confirmation, leaving me alone with more boxes. Smiling to myself, I look inside one of them, getting ready to pick it up, not considering the weight. It had a punch of prizes like trinkets from the store and boat supplies. It didn’t seem too impossible to do on my own. But neither does anything else to me. So, my judgment probably isn’t the best.
I lift the box, expect no troubles, and turn around to take it to the back of the tent. On the way, my shoelace makes the clever decision to snag itself under my other foot, practically tossing me towards the ground. I knew the fall would be tricky, so I closed my eyes and brace myself.
“Paisley!” Josh yells, grabbing my waist.
Somehow, he managed to grab the box, too, catching everything and me all at once.
“Why don’t you ask for help, huh?” he says, shamelessly taking everything from my hands.
“I’m sorry.” I try to fix myself.
“Let me do it. Or I’ll tell Beau to find you, butplease, you can’t just lift something heavy. Not by yourself.” he says, setting the items on the ground, “Really, you shouldn’t be doing it at all.” he looks at me.
“Got it.” I nod.
Josh’s phone begins ringing, causing him to dig for it in his pocket. When he gets it out, he looks at the giant stage almost a mile away in the field where his dad is.
“I gotta go, too, now…” he says before smiling at me. ” Wish me luck?” he adds, showing his pearly white teeth before turning and jogging away.
And then there was one.
91
FAKING FOREVER
Something about Josh had changed that I had yet to pinpoint my finger on. I had figured out all the little things by now, like how he works for his dad to look at him like a proper adult. Or howhe genuinely cares about things he didn’t before. This difference wasn’t on the outside, though. It wasn’t about his looks either. Some motive or something had to be edging at him to make him want to be a better man. It doesn’t matter to me what it is because it looks like a good thing. Regardless, I can’t deny my curiosity that revolves around his sudden maturity.
I want Rich to win because he genuinely deserves it. His dad truly cares about making a change. So does Josh. Caring about the environment might strike Sierra as a weak attribute, but there’s truth in what Josh had to say—even if she was only joking. If our city continues to neglect the beach, it could cause some issues. We already haven’t had rain in well over a month, and since most people refuse to die down on water usage for mindless things, it just gets dryer and dryer every day.
The last thing I would want to city is for my city to go to shit because of more careless people being able to take control.
Rich and Josh will do the right thing. I know just of it.
92
6
rushing back
JOSHUA
Backstage, things felt tense. I was already not looking forward to having to face Darcy because of the simple fact that she annoys me intensely. The bigger problem was that her dad wasn’t any different. The apple hadn’t fallen too far from the tree at all. I can only imagine what her mother is like.
