Shallow Pleasure || Chapter One

"If it means something, take it to heart..."

...

"You know this isn't over. I hope you think of me every painstaking second you're away, Joshua Matthews." She said, apathetic and a contemptible grin manifested along her lips. Albeit, her voice laced with venom, and her eyes seeming to shoot daggers—killing him instantly presuming it were at all possible. The mere thought of her threat itself, suppressing any noise from him, whatsoever as he remotely held his breath.

Josh quietly sat, his eyes steadily gazing outside to the foreign scenery surrounding him. Momentarily, absent-minded of the harsh rain berating against the taxi's exterior, and sliding down the glass windows—the music emanating from his headphones withholding him from all other distractions as his body lazily leaned against the car door. Traveling from one country to the next, the horrific events preceding his arrival openly vivid, despite attempting to forget about it. The taxi's wheels then abruptly coming to a halt, and Josh's body immediately jerking forward. Furrowing his eyebrows, he stared irritably at the driver, who nonchalantly held out his palm in acceptance of the cab fare. Josh grumbled, and reaching into his wallet, displaying his gratitude with a crisp twenty British pound.

"You have a good day, sir." Said the driver, a plain smirk on his cheeks. Josh slightly bowing his head before exiting out of the vehicle, and slamming the door shut behind him. Soon listening to the tires screeching along the gravel pavement as the taxi drove off, looking closely at the quaint building standing straight ahead of him. Josh inhaled a breath, his hands hiding in the depths of his pockets as he began to walk forward towards the entrance.

He stood in the doorway, his russet brown eyes surveying the entire atmosphere of the tea shop, and the several consumers mingling with a friend, or simply sitting alone. Nothing more in front of them except a cup of something hot, and a pastry. Josh subtly pursed his lips together, blatantly seeming out of the place amongst the crowd of London natives. Just hours before had he still been living in an apartment in New York City until a misfortunate turn of events caused him to find anywhere else in the world to be.

Josh proceeded to linger in the doorway, an awkward look on his face when eventually a body mistakenly stumbled into his. He glanced over his shoulder, his eyes catching sight of a rather short woman with long brunette hair walking into the establishment with her child, and smiling at him apologetically.

"Pardon me, my mistake." She said, her English accent implausible, and Josh deliberately stepping aside to give her room.

"My fault, there you go." He remarked, allowing the mother and daughter to smoothly walk pass him.

"Thank you so much!" The woman exclaimed, and tugging her daughter's hand as they ambled up to the counter.

Josh smiled. He hadn't been back to London in nearly fifteen years after visiting for a family vacation. Only ten years old at the time, the affair practically a distant memory.

He felt somewhat uncomfortable, howbeit his feet seeming glued to the floor as he struggled to leave anywhere else away from the front door, though now slightly more off to the side, and out of the way of anymore incoming patrons. Josh glanced at his cell phone, the time being two-thirty in the afternoon, indicating it still had been approximately nine-thirty at night back at home. He was becoming anxious, certain this is where he was told to wait up, and slowly getting impatient. Josh tapped his foot repeatedly, his mind heavy, while using the spare time to contemplate to the adjustments of settling in a different country. A hand then lightly grazing his shoulder, Josh looking back, and a weight hastily lifting off of him.

"Joshua, long time no see!"

Josh smiled widely, a grin stretching across his lips from the sight of an old friend he hadn't seen in ages, and seeing as he held out a palm to him. "It's good to see you, Hayes."

"Likewise." He replied, his English accent thick and refined, and his smile vibrant, exposing his purely straight, white teeth. His eyes a beckoning hazel hue, and cheek stubble thin and profound, while his chestnut brown hair had bangs swooping to one side. Hayes, standing at a height of 6'1", a few inches taller than Josh himself, and his grip firm as the two shook hands. "Welcome to the city of London, I'm certain you're going to love it here."

"I sure hope so, man because going back to the states right now isn't really an option." Josh said, releasing his hand from Hayes', and scratching his forehead nervously.

"You never were that specific on the phone when we last talked. Is everything alright back home? Did something happen?"

Josh quickly dismissed the interrogations. "Yeah, don't worry about it. London is my home now." He said with a shrug. He didn't want to admit the real reason for moving to England, and hoped Hayes would give him the benefit of the doubt, and not question him about it again, at least for a while.

Hayes smiled, and patting Josh on the back as he wrapped an arm around his neck. "Let's get going then, shall we? Your belongings that you had shipped arrived here yesterday. They're back at my place now." He informed, and guiding the two out of the shop to his car outside, parked just along the curb.

Josh's lips parted. "Whoa, a BMW? You stunting like that? The last time I saw you, you were a scrawny little boy with glasses, and a crooked smile." Josh teased, recalling first meeting Hayes during his getaway, and bumping into him at the Queen Elizabeth Olympian park his parents had took him to sometime within their last visit.

Hayes chuckled, his cheeks blushing, embarrassed. "Yeah, well now I'm twenty-three, and working my way out of law school. My father's also a surgeon, so this is all courtesy of him." He explained, and Josh nodded, watching as Hayes walked around the car to the driver's side, while he stood near the passenger's door, waiting entrance.

"Well, anyway I'm happy for you. You've accomplished a lot. I wish I could say all that." Hayes started the car once the two buckling themselves in, and carefully pulling out onto the street.

"What do you mean? You did finish college, didn't you?"

Josh softly rolled his eyes. "I did get my bachelor's degree, but then the next four years after that were kind of… complicated." He said.

Hayes briefly looked to him. "Guess it goes back to whatever reason of you having to leave. Well, no need to fret. I'm happy to have you stay with me until you get going here on your own." He said.

Josh smiled weakly. "Yeah. Thanks again, by the way."

"Anytime."

The time after that fairly quiet, considerably. Josh not doing much conversing with all he had on his mind. Hayes then filling the air of the stiff quietude with the car's radio until finally parking thirty minutes later in front of a large and wide apartment building with plenty of windows, and chromatic yellow bricks. The rain eventually subsiding a few minutes earlier.

Josh stared in awe, the sight of the abstract architectural structure of the framework one to behold as he slowly stepped out of the car, his mouth ample as he stood with his head tilted up. Hayes sauntering up beside him, and smiling modestly.

"No way…"

"What?" Hayes asked, an eyebrow arched.

Josh gazed at him in disbelief. "What? What do you mean, what? The only places I ever lived in were a cramped dorm room, a tiny apartment, and a bedroom in my parent's house, and neither can compare to this place."

Hayes shrugged. "I suppose. It's okay." He said, Josh shoved him with a smirk.

"Just show me the inside already." He demanded, and Hayes gladly leading the way. Josh nearly breathless as he stepped through the door.

The space white, modern, and simple with a balcony overlooking the street. Hardwood and tile floors, marble counter tops with a stainless steel sink and refrigerator in the kitchen, and a couch, love seat, and flat screen television in the living room. A plain, round glass table with four chairs sat in the dining area, and a hallway that most likely lead to the bathroom and bedroom. The apartment had been a little cluttered with papers and textbooks as well as a desktop computer sitting in one of the corners evidently for Hayes' studies.

Josh narrowed his eyes at Hayes, acknowledging his nonchalant attitude to him seeing his place first hand. He punched Hayes in the arm, causing him to flinch.

Josh laughed. "Don't tell me your old man paid for all this, too?"

"I do have a side job as well, Joshua. Regardless, no. This is all my mother."

Josh groaned. "Alright, I realize you English like to be formal, but please don't call me Joshua."

"My mistake." Hayes said, grinning. "Anyways, I will be giving you my room for the duration of your stay. All of your things are already situated inside. I will sleep in the living room on the pull out couch."

Josh looked at him, displeased. "Wait, shouldn't I be the one on the couch? I mean, this is your place, man. I don't want to kick you out of your own bedroom."

"Nonsense, I insist. Besides, a lot of my schoolwork is out here, so this will be fine."

"Alright, if you say so." Josh shrugged, and treading his way down the hallway to the bedroom. Hayes' voice traveling to him as he walked, distancing himself.

"I will have to be leaving out soon, but I do have plans for dinner tonight, so do not worry." He informed, though Josh too distracted from the bedroom to respond. A king size mattress smack dab against the wall on the far side of the room across from the door. A window to the left of it, and another flat screen television with cable stationed onto the wall, and a mini fridge in the corner. Hayes didn't appear like the spoiled type, though his parents on the other hand must usually insist on the best money could buy.

Soon closing the door behind himself after perceiving the décor, running across the floor prior to jumping up, and landing back first onto the bed. A grin on his lips, and folding his arms behind his head, while looking up at the ceiling. It was going to be challenging not to appear like a mooch and a scrounge when he was going to be living in a place like this for the next couple of months. Josh savoring every moment here there was.

Hours later, and he didn't even realize he had gone to sleep until a sudden knocking aroused him. He blinked his eyes repeatedly, and looking toward the door just as Hayes materialized.

Josh yawned, still laying back. "What's up?" He asked, groggily and closing his eyes back.

"I need to be getting to the library now, though I should not be gone long. Will you be alright?"

"I literally couldn't be more all right than I am right now." Josh grumbled. He hadn't realized how jet lagged and tired he was until then.

"Okay then. I'll be back once I'm all done with my work." Hayes retorted, and cracking the door as he trekked away.

Josh listened to his footsteps, and movements, and jingle of his keys until the front door finally closed and locked. Hayes displayed a lot of trust in Josh considering they haven't seen each since they were young, though still managing to keep in touch every now and again over the past few years once Josh going back to the states. His stomach then starting to growl. Josh sighed, and lifting himself up, en route for the kitchen.

He closely scrutinized the fridge and cabinets, both filled with more than enough options and varieties. Nevertheless, merely settling on a jar of mini pickles to snack on. He hadn't been too keen on making a mess, and having to clean it up afterwards, or serving up something heavy to eat since Hayes promised he had dinner covered.

Josh plopped down onto the couch in the living room, careful of Hayes's papers and books for law school, and turning the television on to something random, considering he hadn't been familiar with all their different channels. He leaned back, one leg on the table, and crunching on his pickles as he ate right out of the jar. Although, not even fifteen minutes later, and he could hear keys outside the door.

Josh rolled his eyes and chuckled.

He shook his head, immediately taking his leg down, and setting the pickles down before standing up, and casually walking toward the door with his hands in his pockets. "What, did you forget something, Hayes?" Josh said to himself, knowing Hayes to be quite disorganized and absent-minded from time to time. He listened as Hayes seemed to be struggling to unlock the door, it sounding as though he even dropped the keys from his hands at one point.

Josh calmly grasped the knob after unlocking the door, and opening it to reveal the silhouette standing in front of him.

"Thank goodness, I thought I missed you!" Josh stumbled sideways, being slightly pushed aside.

"I desperately need your help, or I might just lose it!"

Josh instinctively furrowed his eyebrows, his heart capsizing from the person he thought to be Hayes, though wasn't. His eyes widened, and his lips parted.

Blonde hair. Pale, porcelain skin, and a petite physique. She paced the room frantically, a hand rubbing across her forehead until she finally started to slow down her movements. Her eyes quickly met his, and her voice softly starting to falter.

She stood stiff, speechless as they gawked at one another. Neither one seeming to have the words, at least not immediately. Josh promptly licked his lips and stammered. "M—Maya? Maya?"

She cautiously stepped backwards at the mention of her name. "Wh—What? Where's Hayes? Why are you in his place?"

"What? Maya, Maya, it's me! Josh! Josh Matth—"

"I just want to know where Hayes is!" She exclaimed, and anxiously glancing around the apartment before meeting gazes back with Josh.

Josh looked at her, flustered. "Uh, he stepped out, but he said, he'd be back soon."

"Well, then I'm leaving until he comes back." Maya said, walking past Josh to the door, and carrying the several sketch pads in her arms she brought in with her.

Albeit, Josh lightly gripping her arm, and halting her from going any further. "Maya, what are you doing?"

"Please, let go of me." She pleaded, attempting to free herself.

Josh cocked an eyebrow. "Why are you talking in an English accent?"

"I'm begging you, I said let me go!"

"Why are you being like this? You know me! It's me, Maya! Josh? Riley's uncle? You know, your best friend from—"

"I have nothing to say to you, now please, you're hurting me!" Maya cried.

Josh looked at her reluctant and perplexed before gently releasing his hold on her. She stumbled slightly, and momentarily looking at Josh prior to hurriedly ambling to the door to leave. Nothing but silence following her exit.

Josh still remained speechless.

He couldn't believe the odds of seeing her after all these years since the last time they were together back in New York.

Josh awkwardly pursed his lips, and combing his fingers through his hair. He stepped back to the couch, and carefully easing down to sit; his elbows on his knees, and palms together as they touched his lips. Josh forgotten she had moved to live in London, believing they were never going to see each other again after their previous and distressing final encounter with one another.

However, now they had been closer than he ever thought possible. Although, obvious she wanted nothing to do with him.

Admittedly, he didn't blame her.


PLEASE REVIEW » It only takes a moment to give a little feedback. This is an AU Joshaya story that takes place in London, England. Hopefully it's interesting so far. I'm also researching London as I write this, so any possible errors or mistakes about the country and its cultures, I apologize for in advance. Thanks to all, who have read, favorited/followed, and reviewed. Much appreciation!

Recap of Chapter:

Josh moves to London to get away from an ex, and moves in with a mutual childhood friend.

Josh encounters Maya after years of being apart, though she isn't happy to see him.

And on that note, until next chapter!