Seeing Pink (open)

[Joshua Joseph Fischer]

It was a day of nightmares. First his sister Jo had helped their mom with the laundry and some how managed to turn all of their whites pink. Most of his whites were now pink, and what few of them that had not been in the wash were not going to last him all that long. So he had gotten his mother to bring him to the mall to buy some new ones. Josh took his time since his mom and Jo were off shopping elsewhere in the mall. They usually liked checking all the stores for anything that might be new or on sale. Him on the other hand just liked to go to a chain store that he was familiar with.

Although he could imagine his father being off some where in the area looking for a location for his store. Josh knew that at the end of the day his father was very much married to his work. It kind of annoyed the rest of them, but they had gotten about as use to it as they could be. The three of them ate their meals together at the house while the man of the house went about barking orders and making the big decisions. In his mind he would rather have it stay like that instead of him becoming one of his father's workers. Josh did not want that man controlling anymore of his life than he already did.

As he finished picking out what he needed Josh looked around trying to figure out what else he could look at to waste some time. Instead he decided to just check out already. Afterwards he headed to the food court inside the mall. Like any other person he too got hungry. Although he was known to have quite the appetite. He went over to the Arby's there in the mall and ordered himself a meal. As he took his order of a junior roast beef sandwich, a junior ham and cheddar sandwich, curly fries, and a Jamocha shake Josh turned around and started to look for a place to sit. It was not long before he found a nice empty table, sat down, and started to eat.

[Haley Bob James]

With her best friend's birthday coming up pretty soon, Haley knew that she needed to get him a gift. Of course she already had a book that she had stumbled upon by one of his favorite authors but she wanted something else to go along with it. Haley knew that since he didn't live that far away, that she could probably get there easily enough for his birthday. After all, they were best friends and have yet to miss each other's birthdays and she wasn't about to start now, simply because he had moved.

Thank goodness Haley was good with her money because she tended to save the majority of the cash she made with working at the cafe so she could afford to get Lucas something good. Haley had been to several stores throughout the mall and actually had a couple of ideas but nothing rock solid yet. At least she had ideas, right? Haley had already been in the store for over an hour or so and had bought several small things, including a thing or two for herself. Why not? It was her money and she deserved a treat now and then too.

Malls were famous for making people hungry and considered this mall had a couple of good places to eat and considering the smell of food was hitting to her nose, Haley realized that she had gotten hungry now. Coming down the stairs towards the food court, she realized that she had a hard decision before her. "Hmm. Where should I eat...."[/color] Haley said out loud but only to herself. Haley looked over the options and glanced over at the various people. Once she did that, she spotted the new guy Josh, eating at the Arby's. She laughed and decided to go there. After ordering a cheddar roast beef, curly fries and a soda, Haley made her way to the table that Josh was at. "Fancy meeting you here."[/color]

[Joshua Joseph Fischer]

Josh saw Haley coming over at he was busy eating one of his sandwiches. He was chewing a part of it in his mouth as she spoke. It was hard to do anything other than to smile at her some at first. As he finished chewing the bit of sandwich that was in his mouth and had swallowed it he motioned for her to shit with him. Mainly because they were friends and he would rather have her company than to sit there eating alone. "Yes, fancy to meet you here as well. Sit, I could use the company." His verbalization was just to confirm that he wanted her to join him.

"Jo was helping my mom with the laundry, and to make a long story short it ended up with me having to come shopping to replace the casualties. How about you?" Josh went back to eating his sandwich as he waited for her to reply. As he ate he studied the situation and their surroundings a bit. Haley seemed to have been shopping as well by the bags she had with her. Although she did not seem to be like most of the girls that he knew. Most of them defined how good their day of shopping went by how many bags they had filled and by how expensive the stores were they had bought it all from were. She did not seem to be that type, at least not by what he saw. In his mind that was a good thing. Some people were just too into what brand names people wore. Josh was not one of those people, but sometimes he worried that Jo was becoming one of them.

Taking a momentary break from eating away at his sandwich he took a some sips of his shakes. It was one of his favorite shakes. His sister loved teasing him about how 'girlie' his tastes were when it came to shakes and drinks in general. Josh like peanut butter and chocolate and things that tasted similar to them to him. Although he usually playfully blamed her and his mom for how much he preferred those sorts of tastes.

[Haley Bob James]

Haley was able to see that he had a mouthful of sandwich and speaking to her at that particular moment wasn't going to be happening, so when he motioned for her to sit down, Haley nodded and sat her tray down before sitting in a chair opposite of him. "Thanks."[/color] Haley said before taking a sip of the drink she had ordered. Before too much longer, Haley ended up popping a curly fry into her mouth. After all she was hungry from shopping and the fact that she hadn't ate anything yet. She listened as he mentioned that his twin Jo had been helping their mother with the laundry and something went horribly wrong. The statement alone caused Haley to tilt her head to the side and look at him with a questioning look.

"I see. Laundry accident caused this outing. Wait, is Jo a female then? Not many teenage guys are willing to do laundry with their mothers without a bit of a fight."'[/color] It honestly hadn't dawned on her until that very moment that Josh's twin might actually be a sister instead of a brother. It's actually interesting that it never really formed in her head to even question the gender of the infamous twin Jo. While she gave Josh time to answer the gender question of Jo, Haley began telling him the reason she was out and about in the mall. "Well my reason for being here is a little bit more basic and definitely less dire than yours. I am actually shopping for a birthday present for my best friend. I have a few ideas and already have one gift for him but looking for at least one more."[/color] Haley explained and then took a bite of her cheddar roast beef sandwich.

[Joshua Joseph Fischer]

It was easy for Josh to realize that he had brought her attention to the fact that his twin was not of the same gender as him. He had not planned on telling her that yet. With the slip up though he was forced to come clean about it. "Yes, and I'm sure it was something of hers that did the trick." Josh knew all too well that Jo had a bunch of colored under garments. It was hard not to notice them as they they were hung to dry in the laundry room enough of the time when he went to get his own laundry when it was done. "She's off shopping with my mom, having fun." In his mind he could easily have preferred to spend his day elsewhere.

He listened to her talk about shopping for a birthday present for her best friend as he ate some more bites of his sandwich. It seemed a lot better and more enjoyable reason to be at the mall. Josh also wondered how her guy friend was like, but he figured he would just have to wait to possibly find out. "Your best friend sounds like a very lucky guy." Indeed he was not use to getting birthday presents from anyone outside of his close and extended family. When people outside of the family gave him a birthday present it was usually because they felt they had to since they were at his and Jo's party. More often than not it was something small, rather cheap, and not personal in the least. He was sure Jo's friends wished at times that they did not share a birthday.

[Haley Bob James]

Okay so Haley was a little shocked that Josh's twin Jo was actually a female but some things did make more sense now though. It wasn't a big deal to her whether his twin was a female or male but for him, it seemed like he might be a little aggravated or even disturbed that he had to admit that his twin was a female. Hearing the comment about something of hers was the culprit of the laundry accident, Haley couldn't help but laugh a little bit. "Well, I guess you just learned the hard way not to mix your clothing in with Jo's huh? Never know when there might be a stray colored sock or even something more girlie."[/color] Haley said with a grin, not wanting to say bra or panties, after all she didn't want to make him blush.

Haley smiled as she listened to the compliment that Josh handed out to her best friend. Haley knew that she was lucky as well with having Lucas as a best friend. Right now though, honestly, she felt more alone with having Lucas as a best friend simply because they weren't able to see each other everyday. It wasn't easy to have a best friend that moved away. "I know I'm lucky to have him as my best friend.[/color] She said with a little nod. Haley was actually surprised that Josh hadn't made a comment or asked anything about Nathan. She knew without a doubt that someone had mentioned something around the school in his hearing range about the odd ball couple that didn't seem to be a couple anymore. Haley was aware of certain things being said because they have definitely been said in her presence quiet recently.

[Joshua Joseph Fischer]

When Haley laughed and commented on not mixing his clothes in with Jo's it did not sit well with him. Mainly because he knew how things worked around his house. "Easier said than done in my house. My mom always makes certain not to mix things like that, but I guess Jo isn't as cautious." Truth be told Jo had seemed more into helping their mother in an effort to get a favor out of her than just because she wanted to help out. He saw right through most of Jo's so-called good doings while his parents were too busy admiring them to see the real reasons behind them. Josh could not wait until it was time for their sixteenth birthday because he was sure Jo would be busy kissing up to their parents so that they would give her what ever car or vehicle she wanted. "She's just cares about getting what she wants and my parents just think she's an angel of a daughter, I know better."

He went about eating his first sandwich and finished it after not all that long. Josh was one with an appetite and often ate more than other people. His mom liked to comment on how he was a growing boy as some sort of explanation for it. Before he went to start eating his second sandwich he looked over at her and wondered what to say next. It took him some moments to come up with something, and when he did he was not sure whether to ask what he had thought to or not. "I've been hearing a lot about you and your boyfriend," he led with as the words of his question formed in his head. "So why haven't I seen or met him yet?' The fact that she hardly mentioned the so-called boyfriend of hers was something that he felt was rather odd. Especially with how people were talking about them.

[Haley Bob James]

Haley tilted her head to the side and looked at Josh as he explained that his twin was a major suck up. Her sister Taylor had been sort of that type when she was in her teenager years but once she got older, she just turned into something completely different and honestly not better. "So do you think Jo did it on purpose? The clothing accident I mean?"[/color] Haley figured that if something of Jo's got damaged in the laundry along with Josh's, that would be an easy way to hit up the parents for a new outfit or something. Haley shook her head a little. "Your parents will eventually catch on because she'll slip out and show that side to your parents sometime."[/color] She said with a little smile.

Haley took another bite of her sandwich and then washed it down with some drink. She glanced over at Josh and could tell that he was thinning of something but it wasn't clear what until he opened his mouth and the words came tumbling out of it. She sat there a little dazed for a couple of moments, in silence. At that particular moment, Haley wasn't even sure how to answer the question considering she hadn't spoken or even seen Nathan in awhile now. Heck, it was doubtful that they even had a relationship still. If she had to bet on it, she'd say that they didn't. Haley sighed eventually. "Well, it's really complicated - to tell the truth."[/color] She took another drink before looking at him again. "If I have to give an answer at this moment, I'd probably have to say that the relationship is more than likely over."[/color]

If he asked, Haley would give a little more detail but she wouldn't give the full account of what had happened between herself and Nathan. She was definitely curious as to what Josh might have heard about them. Of course she knew what she has heard but wondered if he heard anything different. "So, what exactly have you heard about my "relationship"?"[/color] There was no doubt in her mind that he knew the boyfriend in question was none other than Dan Scott's son Nathan and that they were an odd match to say the least too but would Josh actually mention that little factor? Haley had no clue.

[Joshua Joseph Fischer]

Josh knew his sister and he knew she knew him in return. Part of him did wonder if there was a possibility that she could of done it on purpose, but another part of him knew that she probably would not want to chance his reaction. "I don't think she ruined the laundry on purpose. I am certain however that the outcome didn't hurt her any." He knew all too well that she was probably using what had happened to her advantage. Josh did not even want to know what kind of bill she was ringing up. "She'll probably only slip up if it's something really big." That was the only way their parents found out about most of what they did not tell them willingly.

He ate as he listened to Haley answer in regards to her and Nathan. There was a lot being said about the two in the hallways at school, but Josh hated to believe too much of what people said about other people. Mainly because he knew how wrong people could be about things. How open and honest with him she was made him feel honored. Maybe others would not consider what Haley had told him as being worth that much, but he knew how hard it was to say some things out loud. Josh took a couple sips of his shake before he went to answer her question.

"I think I've heard just about everything people could say. Especially people that don't know the details of the situation." He looked at her knowing how relatively how it was to be on the other side of rumors. "Enough of them are just rumors. I know that because I know you, and they don't sound like you. You don't seem like the type to just use people." Everyone used people from time to time without meaning to, but people were making Haley out to sound like she had purposely used someone. She also did not strike him as someone that cared about how popular they were. Besides even the rumors were flawed in the sense that both her best friend had become popular before her by what he had heard. "It's very clear that they don't know you."

[Haley Bob James]

Haley listened as Josh confessed that he didn't think that his sister had messed up the laundry on purpose but that it didn't hurt her case any either and she nodded her head. "I'm sure that it didn't. After how you pretty much describe her, I'm sure it helped her a lot more than it hurt her and your mom doesn't suspect a thing I'm sure."[/color] After saying such, Haley took a drink of her drink and looked at Josh. She gave a little shrug at his next comment. "It will really just depend on what she did. I mean it could be something little but extremely bad or really hard to miss and it will tip your folks off. Then again though, she could end up slipping up on something major too. She is so used to getting away with things apparently."[/color]

As she listened to Josh retell some of the things that he had heard throughout the school system having to do with her relationship with Nathan and what people suspected happened between them. She sighed and crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back a bit in the chair as she listened and looked at him. "Of course no one and I do mean no one knows the true facts of the situation. Well obviously besides Nathan and myself."[/color] Haley said, stating the obvious. Haley gave him a little smile. "No, I would never use someone just for fun or for any other reason. I'm not like that and never have been."[/color] Haley knew that it was going to be a little difficult not to give too much away and still explain the issues that caused the break down in her relationship with Nathan and be able to dispose of stupid rumors.

"No, you are right. These people starting the rumors don't know me at all. But even if they did, they wouldn't know the reason for the relationship to end. Even my best friend Lucas doesn't know. Of course he'd be happy either way because he never got along with his half brother anyway."[/color] Haley sighed and took a deep breathe, gathering her thoughts and ideas on how to address the issue and not give too much away with doing so. "Nathan and I are from two different "classes", if you follow that sort of thing and honestly, even though we had a lot in common besides the social status deal, there was just some stuff that we weren't ready for and couldn't get past. No one got used in the relationship but I do guess hearts did get broken and a little abused unintentionally."[/color]

[Joshua Joseph Fischer]

After listening to what she said Josh finished his second sandwich. It really was not hard to do given how much she had to say. Especially about her and Nathan. "She's just started doing it more recently. Jo's just really good at it so far. Maybe the laundry incident was pushing things a little far, in her favor, but I know she didn't mean for it to happen. However I do think that it might make her a bit more daring." Indeed Josh knew that Jo would probably figure that she could get away with almost anything after that.

"Classes..." Josh never really paid much attention to what others saw as being the 'classes' that Haley so happened to mention, although he knew his father probably saw things differently. Him and his father were different in enough ways that it would not surprise Josh if his father would judge someone by what 'class' they were. "I never understood how someone is supposedly better or worse for being in one class versus another. We all have to start somewhere." He really did find them only being useful in terms of people that felt they had to judge others. Although he knew Jo was enjoying the financial aspect of their lives at the moment way too much in her own ways. Their family was rather well off, but Josh still liked to be somewhat conservative when it came to spending money. He was saving most of his money that he got from his allowance for a 'rainy day' so he knew that when he really needed it that it would be there to fall back on.

"You don't have to tell me anymore about it, unless you want to." Josh really did not need to know all the details or even that many of them. "I just had found it interesting that you had only mentioned him the once. You hadn't even mentioned that he was... your ex or boyfriend." Indeed it had made him decently curious when he had found out that her and Nathan had been an item. Especially with how little she had mentioned about him before. "It had just caught me off guard."

[Haley Bob James]

"Well the only reason I never really mentioned him more than that once, when it came to him and I, I just wasn't exactly sure how the relationship stood. I mean I knew you'd ask some sort of question about the two of us that I'd have to give you a tough answer to. Honestly it is really a hard situation."[/color] Haley sighed and took another drink and shook her head. "The relationship is pretty much over in my book but it might be different for him or it could be the same. I don't know because he and I haven't talked since that one particular event."[/color] Haley stopped right there and wasn't about the indulge the type of event that it was. She wasn't ready to tell anyone what had happened but knew eventually that it would come out.

"I'm glad that you aren't pushing me for answers. I appreciate that a lot and thank you for it. You never know, I might end up telling you details over time but at this moment, I can't say that I am ready to do so."[/color] Haley gave him a little smile. Any time she had to talk about her "relationship" with Nathan, she felt exhausted and just wore it. It always felt like it took a toll on her emotionally. "I don't honestly believe in the whole "class" thing either but a lot of the richer and popular people around here do. You'll see that the longer you are here at Tree Hill High School. It sucks but it happens everywhere."[/color]