4th of July // JOJI

Best Friends

“Cherry coke and rum?” He smiles.

“You know me well.” You take a drink and the two of you stand quietly, observing the chaos around you. Someone turned on the sound system and the music is loud enough that it makes your skin tingle and your lungs feel like mush. The bass thumps in time with your heart beat as though they’re one.

“So where’s your girlfriend?” You practically have to shout and immediately regret your words. You throw more of your drink back and hope that you hadn’t sounded jealous. You bite your lip, eyes everywhere but his face.

“She’s-” He begins but Adam’s drunk and flailing body comes crashing into Joji yelling “Cannonball!” The two of them crash into the water, sending a wave over you and everyone standing by the edge of the pool.

“Sorry!” Adam yells to you, laughing, as you push the wet hair from your eyes. “Come on, get in!”

“I will in a little. I’m gonna get my bathing suit.”

“No fair!” Joji yells and gestures to his wet clothing, “I didn’t have a choice.”

“Yeah! Just jump in!” Soon all eyes are on you and you have no choice but to jump, fully clothed and squealing when the cold water hits your skin.

“God, I’ve missed you guys.” Adam was gushing as you resurface.

“I see you all the time.” You splash him gently and he retaliates much more forcefully.

“I meant all of us together, dumbass.”

“You’ve gotten so fuckin’ soft while I was gone.” Joji swims over to the shallow end where he peels his soaked tee shirt from his skin.

“That’s just what happens when I’m drunk.” Adam shrugs. You smile at Adam but you can’t keep your eyes from lingering on Joji. The way the water drips down his chest and the way the muscles in his arms flex as he tries to remove the soaked fabric. The sight leaves you swallowing hard.

-----

You’re shivering in a guest bedroom as you pull the soaked clothes from your skin and replace them with sweats. You take your time drying your hair in the bathroom while you recap the evening in your mind. It’s surely past midnight now and everyone who isn’t passed out or planning to stay the weekend has left.

Being in the pool earlier felt just like your early college days when you would skip class with Joji and Adam whenever his parents were out of town and the weather was nice. You’d splash around and then get high while laying out in the sun.

A knock on the door pulls you from your thoughts. You let Joji in and he flops onto the bed. He looks so good laying there, scrolling through his phone as if everything was normal between the two of you. Maybe it was for him. He had changed out of his wet pants and into a hoodie and joggers. His hair was still wet though, some strands falling over his forehead.

“Uh, so…” You walk past him to hang the towel up and try to not be so awkward, “Where’d your friend go?”

“Who?” He looks up from the screen.

“Your girlfriend?”

“Natalie.” He laughs, noticing how uncomfortable you are, “She’s not my girlfriend. Just a friend.”

“Oh.” You feel relief flood your body and take a seat at the end of the bed.

“You’re acting different,” His eyes search your face and he looks amused, “Why are you being so quiet?”

“I’m not.” You pull your knees to your chest, feeling defensive.

“You’ve never been quiet before.”

“Sure I have.” You’re suddenly annoyed. He hasn’t seen you all year and now he’s talking like he still knows you so well.

“It’s not a bad thing.” He laughs again and you roll your eyes. “I just can’t figure you out tonight.”

“Well you haven’t seen me all year, maybe I’m just different now.” You hadn’t meant for it to come out so accusing and now he lay there just looking at you.

“I doubt that.” His brow furrows.

“I just mean a lot has happened while you were gone is all. A year is a long time.”

“I guess.” He drapes a hand over his forehead and then rubs his eyes, taking a deep breath. “You know I was a little busy right? I mean I was in f*****g Asia?”

You stay silent, only proving his point that you were much quieter now.

“I’m gonna go to sleep. You staying all weekend?” He finally opens his eyes but you’re looking away. You don’t want him to see how red your cheeks are.

“Yes.” You answer softly. He’s pissed and this isn’t what you wanted.

“Cool.” He gets up.

“Wait, Joji,” Before you can think to stop yourself, you grab his arm as he walks past the foot of the bed. “That came out shitty. It’s just been so long and we haven’t talked. I wasn’t sure how to act tonight. I think I’m just drunk and emotional.”

“Dude, you’re one of my best friends.” He pulls you up from the bed and you drape your arms over his shoulders, resting your head against his chest. You notice how fast his heart is beating. “Nothing’s changed, okay?”

“Okay” You whisper, not sure you believe him but you nod anyway. “I’ll see you in the morning.”