What if one of Nathan's friends that he called on the bridge let him stay at theirs?

I grimaced as I looked down at my phone, Nathan was calling. He was one of the biggest pricks in existence and yet I knew that I was going to answer this call. The problem with Nathan is that he never takes anything serious, we were twenty years old for god's sake and here he was with community service, hanging around with someone like that couldn't be good for you.

However, I'd known him since we were in school together, he was the class clown of course always getting into trouble. Always getting me into trouble. But he was a friend, and with that thought in mind, I answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"Josie! Josie girl! How are you?" He chirped. I held the phone away as I made a face.

"I'm good Nathan, why are you calling me?"

He sighed, "I need somewhere to stay." My eyes widened, he was asking to stay with me? No. There was no way I could live with the twat, we couldn't even be in the same room for ten minutes without arguing, him living with me would drive me crazy. I sat down as I realised that no one else was going to let him stay with them either. Nathan was good for a laugh but when it came down to it no one in our friend group liked him enough to do something as drastic as let him stay with them.

I squeezed my eyes shut as I leant back on my sofa. I had the space, I had gotten a nice little job hacking into banks and other random places, I was kind of a big deal in the hackers circle. No one else knew what I did for a living except my dad. And he was the one who taught me all the tricks I know.

If Nathan lived here he might find out. I chewed on my lip, I guess I was taking too long to reply because Nathan's voice came through the phone once more.

"Josie?" I was taken by surprised by how depressed he sounded. His voice lowering slightly as I realised this was real, he didn't have anywhere else to go.

"Yeah, alright Nathan. You can stay with me, do you need picking up or are you alright?" I winced at what I just said. I already knew that I was going to regret it.

"Thank you! Josie, you are not gonna regret this! Uh, yeah I could do with a lift." I sighed as he told me where he was, he'd apparently decided to go back to the community center so that it was easier for me to get him. I ran a hand through my hair as I looked in the mirror right next to the front door. I looked very stressed, Nathan wasn't even living here yet and he was already annoying me.

I got to the community center in about ten minutes, Nathan was waiting for me outside and gave me a bright grin as he spotted my car. I pulled into the nearest space, shifted out of gear and pulled the handbrake up, unbuckled my seat belt and opened the car door. Nathan beamed as he looked me over and walked over, clearly struggling with all of his bags. I walked over and grabbed the one that he was holding, allowing him to move the other one, which was currently over his shoulder into a more comfortable position.

I was shocked however when he dropped his bag and pulled me in for a hug. Nathan had never hugged me properly before, it was always an arm around my shoulders or if he was feeling particularly friendly, around my waist where he would usually attempt to cop a feel. I stood there, not entirely sure what was going on with him but I knew it was something serious, and slowly returned the hug. I felt him relax when I did so and as he went to pull away he pressed a gentle kiss to the top of my head.

"Thanks for coming Josie. I appreciate it." I nodded, not knowing what to say. Nathan bent down to pick up his bag and walked towards my car, he opened the boot and took the bag I was carrying for him and threw both of them haphazardly into the boot. I winced and tried desperately to remember if I had anything fragile in there. "Shall we get this part started?" He grinned, holding his hand out. I looked at him in annoyance, wondering if all of a sudden he wanted to hold my hand. "Can I drive?" Or maybe not.

"No. You can't drive." I opened the door and got in, turning the key and feeling the engine rumble to life. I waited until he got in and put his seat belt on before I started the short drive home.

"So Josie," he started. "I haven't seen you in what? A week?"

I snorted. "Three months."

In the corner of my eye I could see him start counting his fingers. "Three months?" He furrowed his brow in concentration. "How did that happen?"

I shrugged. "You've been busy." I teased, referring to his community service.

He scratched his cheek and turned fully towards me, somehow twisting in his seat to do so. "Oh yeah, I suppose that'll do it. Today was actually my first day." He started grinning. "I'll be done before you know it."

I laughed at his optimism, that was the nice thing about Nathan, nothing could ever keep him down for long. "If you say so." I pulled up to my house, parking in the driveway and opening the door, wondering once again if I was making a huge mistake.

Nathan got out of the car and stood beside me. "Wow, this is a nice place." I was shocked at the lack of sarcasm but for someone of our age I suppose this was a nice house. Any house that wasn't a flat or just a sofa was a nice place.

"Grab your stuff." I told him. "I'll show you around."