Hey readers! Hope you enjoyed chapter 6! Sorry there was such a lull in my writing earlier this month but I had a lot going on job wise plus I moved. Regardless, I just want to say thank you to all of you who emailed me over the stretch of my hiatus. It was super encouraging to know that my story was missed so! You all are the best!
Please let me know what you think about the direction of the story and remember you can always email me at brawlinauthor@gmail.com. I absolutely love hearing from readers and I always reply (promptly even! :) in fact that is actually becoming my favorite thing about writing this story!
Let me also take a moment to thank readers Jeremy for the use of his eyes over the last few chapters and Austin who will be taking a look at chapters from here on out! They are absolutely great and I'm so happy that they are willing to correct my many grammatical errors.
Also, considering my writing has become a bit more sparatic I was wondering if anyone would be interested in getting put on a mailing list for updates on future chapters. It will be a BCC'd mailer sent from brawlinauthor@gmail.com that will simply notify you of chapter updates and maybe info about other stories that I write. Just email me and let me know you'd like to be added!
Cheers! ~ D. West
"Hey Josh!" Mike, the other pool boy, yelled at him from across the patio. It was Josh's first day working at the country club and he was enjoying himself so far. It was a fairly simple job, check the skimmers, make sure there were plenty of towels, and basically that was it. The best part was that once fall rolled around he'd be moved to groundskeeping for the golf course so he didn't have to worry about finding another job.
"Whats up?" Josh yelled back to the shaggy-haired twenty year old.
"We're low on towels in the womens changing room. Mind running down to the basement and grabbing some more before we open? You remember where they're at right?"
"Sure thing!" Josh said, remembering the tour that Mike had given him earlier. He slipped in through the side door which connected to a short hallway lined with offices. Beyond that lay the lobby which contained the door he needed to use to reach the basement. Other than his brief tour of the facility earlier that morning, Josh had never been in a country club before, despite his father having always been a member back home. Josh had never been invited to attend any of the events his father frequented. He could only guess that the other club members wouldn't have approved of a bastard child being brought into their ranks. Shaking off that thought, he decided to take a quick look around since it was only 10:30 and the place didn't even open for another thirty minutes.
Drifting down the main hall he peered at the countless pictures that adorned the walls. Many of them were very old, displaying scenes from events throughout Rockshire's history. Sporting events, grand openings, parties, picture after picture was fascinating. However, as he approached the end of the hall which gaveway to the main dining room he spied a picture that really caught his eye.
It was of a man and woman cutting into what appeared to be a wedding cake in the club's dining hall. They were a beautiful couple, but more than that, what attracted Josh to the photo was the way that the man stared at his bride. It was compelling how much his gaze alone was communicating - love, fascination, devotion. It was all there in a simple look from his piercing green eyes.
Josh couldn't be sure how long he had stared at the photo as laughter from the dining room shook him from his trance. He hadn't even been aware that anyone was there yet but as he turned to face into the dining room he caught the glance of familiar eyes. Gorgeous green eyes. The same eyes, he realized, that he'd been staring into in the photo, only younger. It was only after he found Rob's eyes that he realized why the man in the picture had looked so familiar. It was Rob's father.
Josh couldn't see the entire table, but he gathered it was a large party, all dressed as if they had just come from church. Robert looked flawless in a seersucker jacket and brightly colored pants, standing out boldly from the two dimly dressed gentleman on either side of him. He participated in the conversation, legs crossed while lounging back in his chair at the head of the table, in much the same manner as a prince. His face was etched with the familiar pose of disenchantment, as if everything around him was completely unbearable. Simply put, he looked bored out of his mind, 'but when doesn't he look bored' Josh thought, 'other than Friday night' he smirked.
"What are you doing up here?" The tall woman who ran the club spoke from behind him. He believed her last name started with a B... but he couldn't be sure. Josh was always so horrible with names. "You're not supposed to be inside the club house. You belong by the pool." She said, making no attempt to hide her distaste for the situation.
"Sorry ma'am, I just came inside to cut down to the lockers for more towels."
"Well go around the outside next time. No one wants to see a pool boy trouncing through the dining room!" Her glare sent daggers through Josh. He had no idea why, but he feared this woman.
"Is there an issue?" Rob's voice sounded from around the corner as he rose from his chair to approach them.
"Not at all Mr. Tilton, I was just correcting one of our staff members here. I'm so sorry we disturbed you all. Run along and fetch those towels" She said, flicking the back of her wrist at Josh essentially shooing him down the hall.
"His name is Josh." Rob said firmly with his not-so-subtle air of arrogant authority and for the first time since they'd known each other Josh was somehow pleased to hear it. "And he happens to be one of my close friends Mrs. Bunt. I expect that he will be well taken care of?"
"Of, of course Mr. Tilton" She squeaked, "run along then... Josh" she said with a polite smile after a short pause. Josh could tell she was pissed. Hell, he probably would be too. He scurried off towards the door and bolted down the steps not at all wanting to piss her off further by standing there any longer. He knew that Rob was only trying to help, but god, that mouth of his was doing more harm than good this time. Sweeping in and acting like you own the place might work for the privileged but for the rest of the world it usually only made shit worse. Rob didn't understand how much Josh needed this job to save money for a car.
"You're pissed" Rob said over the loud bang of the mens locker room door closing behind him. His entrance startled Josh so much that he dropped the basket full of towels he'd picked up. Josh hadn't expected Rob to follow him in the slightest.
"I didn't need your fucking help Rob" Josh said as he began furiously refolding one of the towels that had dropped.
"I never said you did" Rob said, leaning down to help with the other towels.
"You're a dick"
"Never said I wasn't" He said chuckling. They continued folding the towels in silence until they were all neatly placed in the basket again.
"I appreciate it..." Josh said finally.
"Well its kind of my fault that you dropped em anyway."
"I meant with scary lady upstairs."
"I knew you appreciated that too" He said smiling. Josh loved that smile.
"Smart asses get their ass kicked" Josh said, picking up a towel to throw in Robs face.
"I think you tried that once if memory serves." Rob said with a devilish grin, catching the towel and handing it back to Josh. As Josh reached to take it from him their hands grazed ever so slightly and Josh felt the contact immediately. Merely a finger stroke, that was all it was, yet it had Josh reeling to take Rob, to kiss his lips, his neck, every inch of him. They stared at one another intently, Josh could see it in Robs eyes as well, he felt something too. Of course he did, Rob never denied what he felt, he only regretted that he felt it.
"I uh... I better get upstairs." Rob said, shuffling to his feet.
"Yeah... and I need to get back out to the pool. Especially since Bunt is probably going to be up my ass because of you." Josh laughed, trying to make light of the situation.
Rob looked at him very seriously before saying, "do you really think so?"
"Maybe... she looked pretty pissed. You couldn't tell?"
"What days do you work?"
"Just weekends, why?"
"I guess I'll have to make sure I'm here. Y'know to come to your rescue again." He said just before he escaped through the heavy metal door again. He knew Rob was most likely bullshiting but it still felt nice. So nice in fact that he felt his chest swell in that same weird way it had the morning before. Rob had an effect on him, there was no denying that fact, but why? There was nothing there. He'd thought about it all night and he'd concluded: Robert Tilton was trouble.
"Oh Josh" He heard from behind him as he began his ascent from the lower level up the small grassy slope to the pool area. He'd heeded Mrs. Bunt's words this time and had taken the outdoor route. This choice however left him walking in plain sight of the balcony above where Jenn had obviously spotted him from. He knew her voice without even having to see her face.
"Hey Jenn" He said, looking up to the porch to meet her stare. He'd wanted to say "what the hell do you want?" but considering Jenn was most likely a member he didn't think that would go over to well with his employers.
"I didn't realize you worked here" She said, grabbing the large hat she had on by it's side, dipping it down in an effort to block the sun from her face.
"I just started today"
"Oh, well they really should have hired you as a lifeguard."
"Huh?"
"I'd be by the pool every day to see you shirtless" She said with a smile prompting Josh to blush. Even if he hated her guts she still seemed to always be able to embarass him.
"Well good seeing you..." Josh said, spinning on his heels to treck the rest of the way to the pool.
"Hold on a minute Joshy boy! You aren't still mad about that little misunderstanding a few weeks ago are you?" She frowned sarcastically.
"I think we should talk about this some other time I've kinda got a job to do" He faked a laugh. Of course he was still mad, infuriated actually. They'd used him. She'd used him! But... hadn't Rob used him too?
"Oh don't be silly the club hasn't even opened yet."
"True, so how are you here?" He said too quickly to catch himself.
"Jenn, Uncle is ready to leave." Rob stated as he came to lean on the balcony's railing next to Jenn, "Good morning Josh." He was pretending as if this was the first time they'd seen each other. It suddenly made sense though, how Jenn was here early. She was a Tilton, or at least related to them.
"I'm worth the wait." She said, winking at Josh, "So Josh, do you have plans this Saturday?"
"Uh... just working here."
"Jenn, we really need to go." Rob said, grabbing her by the elbow.
"Not so fast Robert, can't you see I'm having a conversation? Quit being so rude to Josh." She laughed. Rob glanced down at him and then back at her never removing his hand from her.
"Why?" Rob said, without so much as looking at Josh. The question felt like a punch to his gut. Every single time he felt that he and Rob were making progress he shot Josh down. He knew it was in an effort to hide their relationship. At least, that's what he kept telling himself.
"Oh Rob!" She said, rolling her eyes and ripping her arm from him, "Ignore him Josh, anyway since you're free I was thinking you might like to go on a date Saturday. The brawl has been moved to that night considering our little incident last week." Josh couldn't believe what he was hearing. Did this crazy girl who had basically treated him like a fly landing in her web really think he'd be going on a date with her? Josh glanced at a fuming Rob which suddenly took precedent over Jenn. 'Really dude? You're pissed that she's asking me on a date when you've basically treated me like a worthless piece of shit this entire conversation?'
"I don't think Josh would be int..." Rob started to say before Josh interupted him.
"That sounds great Jenn. I'd love too." Josh said, smiling at her before glancing at Rob. Don't you dare try and speak for me asshole, Josh thought. "What time should I pick you up Saturday?"
"Oh, we'll pick you up. Ricky will drive us." Jenn said.
"Uh... Ricky?"
"Of course, we're doubling silly, Ricky and I, you and Michelle. You're going to be Michelle's date of course." She smiled slyly, not looking at Josh but rather at Rob. Josh could tell Rob was not happy, his jaw locked tightly as he stared at Jenn icily. Josh found it amazing that Jenn was completely unfazed by Rob's intimidation tactics and in fact seemed rather amused by it all.
"What Rob? It's not as if you're ever going to man up and ask her." She said to him, "He's been keeping Michelle in the friend zone for years." She nodded towards Josh laughing. Josh found it rather awkward. He was pretty sure he knew why Rob kept her in the friend zone. At least, he hoped he knew why.
"Hey bud! You got those towels?" Josh turned to see Mike yelling from above the fence a few feet up from him at the top of the hill.
"Sure thing! Sorry it took so long man I just got distracted." Josh said, "Sorry y'all! Gotta get back to work. I guess I will see you and Michelle Saturday Jenn" He winked before turning to walk the rest of the way up the hill. "Oh and Rob" Josh turned back to face them, "Smile more. Ok?" He watched as the icy glare melted, softening ever so slightly into his usual look of boredom. Josh knew though that Rob was still pissed and that excited the shit out of him.
Rob -
"Have you ever wished you could go back and repeat a night over again?" Rob asked Evan as they took their seats at the usual table in the corner of the cafeteria.
"Like do it over to make it better or something?" Evan asked as he dug into his plate of what was supposed to be bar-b-que while Rob took a moment to think about his question. Make it better as in not let it happen? Was that really what he wanted?
"Dude whats up with you?" Evan said, between bites. Rob realized in that moment that his best friend was pretty much the most disgusting eater he'd ever laid eye on. How had he never noticed it before?
"Nothings up with me. I just..." He glanced across the room to spy Josh coming in with some of the guys from his roster. He smiled, glad that Josh had some friends to hang around finally, "nevermind."
"What is it Rob?"
"Nothing. It's fine man." But it wasn't fine. In fact it was as far from fine as he'd ever been in his entire life. Friday night was all he seemed to have on his mind. Each time he thought back to it he smiled. He smiled because it had felt right, but more than that, he smiled because Josh asked him too.
"You're acting weird man."
"What?" Rob chuckled, trying to shrug off Evan's staring at him.
"What are you smiling about? Did you get lucky this weekend or something!?" The accusation had Rob panicking internally. He felt his heart race and the smile immediately left his face.
"Right, between the running from the cops and making it to my truck I ran into a beautiful young damsel in distress..." Rob managed to say unwaveringly.
"I thought you were already at your truck when I called?"
"Nope... I was on my way back."
"So you were on your way back and you didn't wait for Logan and me and the rest of the guys to give us a lift? That's shitty dude"
"I uh... sorry I flipped. I was drunk and I just couldn't risk it man." As shitty as he knew it was he didn't give a damn. He wouldn't have changed one thing and it definitely wouldn't have turned out the same had he waited up for the guys. He took a moment to glance over to Josh making his way through the lunch line.
"Why do you think they showed up?" Rob said, attempting to change the subject as quickly as possible.
"The cops? Dunno... I mean Logan blames the new kid and I've gotta admit it does seem kind of weird."
"New kid?" Rob asked, knowing full well that he meant Josh.
"Holt... like maybe he's trying to get payback or some shit." Evan said, before ripping into his potato chips.
Would Josh do that? Rob didn't think so. But, how could he be sure? Suddenly Rob realized he had no idea why Josh was walking alone in the woods that night. That was strange wasn't it?
"Why would he join Luke's roster then?" Rob said out loud, not exactly asking but rather stating his thoughts aloud.
"What better way to find out where the Brawls will be? Rosters find out way in advance of the crowd when and where stuff is going down. And I mean... what better way to avoid suspicion?"
"What's up?" Jenn said, taking her seat next to Evan.
"I was just talking to Rob about Logan's theory."
"About Josh Holt ratting out the Brawl last Friday?" She said rolling her eyes, "you do realize Logan also watches that show Ancient Aliens... and thinks it's historically accurate."
"Ok then explain where he disappeared too after his fight!" Evan grunted. Rob tensed at his suggestion.
"To piss maybe? Hell if I know but Josh isn't the only new recruit. It could have been any of them. Just because Josh is an outsider doesn't mean it's him." She stated as she delicately cut her salad.
"Speaking of pissing I'm gonna do that and head to my locker. Catch ya'll later." Rob said as he stood. He needed to escape this conversation before he said something stupid. But before he completely left the table he turned to Evan, "Do it over again because it was incredible."
"Huh?"
"Repeating the night... I'd want to repeat it and not change a thing" Rob said before turning to head towards the exit.
He made his way to drop off his trey before heading up the stairs to the second floor bathroom. It was barely used during the lunch periods and he needed the quiet. He'd desperately wanted to tell Evan exactly where Josh had been that night. He wanted to defend him, which still made little sense, but there was no denying that it was his reaction nonetheless. It was all he had thought about since Sunday - how good it had felt to come to Josh's side and stand up for him. But still, he couldn't be sure why Josh was alone that night. Why had he been skulking away from everyone else?
He stared at himself in the mirror, unsure of who stared back at him. He was scared, he was always scared, but even moreso now because he couldn't control this. He couldn't control the way he felt, the possibility that people might find out and more than anything he knew he couldn't control Josh. In fact, it was becoming more and more obvious that Josh was much better at controlling him. But one thing stood clear from the lunch room conversation: Rob had no idea who Josh was, what his motives were, nothing.
"Hey..." Rob heard the familiar voice trail from behind him. He hadn't bothered to look up when he'd heard the door open but as his eyes met with Josh's in the mirror he wondered how long he'd been standing there. 'Perfect' he thought sarcastically, 'exactly who I needed to see right now.'
"Hey" Rob said in reply.
"You ok?" He said, crossing his arms to lean against the wall.
"Do I not look ok?" Rob said coldly, nervous that someone might come in and wonder why two rival brawlers were conversing.
"I just saw you leave the cafeteria and you looked kinda pissed"
"And how is that any of your concern exactly?" Rob spat.
"You can pretend to be a total dick all you want. You aren't fooling me man." Josh shrugged his shoulders and simply smiled. Rob felt a tension leave his shoulders that he hadn't even been aware was there. How could someone he barely knew see right through him so easily? When no one else could? It was disarming.
"Excited for your date?" Rob said, turning to face Josh, choosing to ignore the smug rebuttle.
"Why? You jealous?"
"You know the answer to that." He said, unable to catch himself. In fact he was beyond jealous actually.
"Shouldn't have been such a dick at the club then." Josh grinned, cocking his head to the side knowing full well he had total control over the situation. It was sexy how dominant he could be but Rob couldn't stand for it, couldn't let that domination affect him the way in the pool. He launched himself towards Josh, pinning him against the wall.
"That hard to keep your hands off me?" Josh said, he hadn't even flinched at Rob's actions. He simply stared at Rob with an unmistakeable heat in his eyes. Suddenly Rob realized this move was a bad one as he felt his cock start to stir at Josh's stare.
"You're a cocky little shit Josh. You think you know me but you don't know shit man. Got that?" Rob barked merely inches from Josh's face, "I'm not sure what game you're playing at but I swear to god if you end up hurting Michelle with this revenge plot of yours I will fuck you up Josh... Understand me?"
"Revenge plot? What the fuck are you even talking about Rob?" Josh said, making out as if he were genuinely confused by Rob's words.
"I don't know... I don't know Josh. I don't know anything about you." Rob almost whispered, he knew he wasn't making any sense. Words always seemed to escape him when it came to Josh.
"What are you accusing me of Rob? You think I'm out for revenge? You think that's why I went home with you Friday night? This has gotta be a fucking joke" Josh spoke in a raised voice, "don't know anything about me? I think you know something pretty damn big about me Rob, wouldn't you say?" Rob felt hands on his chest push him back away from Josh.
Rob backed away, breathing in heavily before decideing how he might continue, "You need to calm down!" He whispered. "A stupid drunken mistake doesn't mean we know each other Josh." You're taking that out of context. I don't know you... you don't know me."
"Why are you always such a dick!?" Josh said, his face twisted somewhere between hurt and rage.
"Why are you always such a hot headed little bastard?"
"What the fuck did you just call me?" Josh yelled. It was the last thing Rob heard before he realized he was on the floor. Josh had moved so quickly he hadn't had a single second to react.
"What the hell Josh" Rob shouted back, finding himself pinned to the ground with Josh's fist raised into the air above his head.
"I am not a fucking bastard. Do you hear me!?" Josh continued yelling, his eyes bloodshot and watery.
Rob was dumbfounded. He stared into the young man sitting on top of him longing for the sexy eyes that had been staring at him earlier. He wasn't exactly sure how they had gone from their regular verbal sparring match to an actual fight but it physically pained him. The ache he felt in his chest over his words enraging Josh in this way was almost unbearable.
"What in God's name is going on in here!?" A fuming Principal Wright screamed as he entered the bathroom. Rob could see him pause, absolutely shocked by what he saw as he rounded the corner. Fighting on school property wasn't something that happened often at Rockshire. "Get off of him son" he said calmly after assessing the situation. Rob felt Josh's weight lift from his chest and then they were both promptly escorted to the principal's office. Josh never so much as looked at him the entire trek across campus.