Wethersfield, CT 1980
Josh, Sam, Danny and Toby left the locker room, bickering and covered in sweat. The four of them had just had particularly grueling basketball practice but they were in high spirits. Sam and Josh were razzing Danny and Toby about this Friday being their last game, that they were going to have to become old men now, that before they knew it, they'd be like their coach Jed Bartlet and his best friend Leo McGarry- old men with knees not good enough to keep up with Josh and Sam.
"Are you that eager to replace us?" Danny tossed back at Josh who wore his signature Cheshire cat grin.
"Yeah, we can finally have a real captain." Josh sassed at Toby. Josh regularly made fun of Toby's leadership skills, given his less outgoing nature but in reality, Josh was sad about his pseudo brother leaving him and worried about losing Toby's strategic mind. Josh clapped Sam on the back. Josh didn't want to be captain. He liked playing the role of rebel rouser too much. But Sam was perfect for it. Sam rolled his eyes at Josh though. He wasn't looking forward to losing Danny and Toby either.
"Are you guys nervous about finals?" Sam asked, changing topic.
"Sam, it's not for three weeks." Danny reasoned.
"Yeah but if we fail, we won't walk at graduation." Toby offered up without much emotion. His friends could see through him. He was fretting over this.
"And that'd be a shame. You'd be so damn cute in that cap." A feminine voice says behind them. Toby's grimace turned to grin as he recognized the voice but didn't turn around. The other three turned to see the redhead jump on Toby's back just in time.
"Andrea." Toby offered in greeting.
"Tobias." Andy said, jumping back down.
"Stop that. God, you two are gross." Josh whined with immaturity a la Joshua, referring to the two ogling one another.
"Speaking of, Joshua, who are you planning to romance into going to prom with you by this weekend, hmm?" Andy quirked her head at him. At the mention of prom, Sam let out a involuntary groan. "Oh, that reminds me, Sam. Mall wants you to know that her dress is lilac."
"This was a terrible idea." Sam rushed to say. The group rolled their eyes at him.
"It'll be great, Samuel. She likes you." Andy insisted.
"This is cute and all but very high school. Could we talk about something else?" Toby griped. It only served to get the group physically moving but they didn't move on from the topic as they made their way to the parking lot.
"Hey! Get off my truck, you crazy people!" Josh yelled out as they got closer to their cars, jogging a bit when he saw them. The two girls he was yelling at just rolled their eyes and continued sitting on the hood of his truck.
"Joshua, don't be so rude." The brunette with big crazy curls scoffed at him.
"You really should be nicer to me." The straight hair brunette added.
"Why's that, Elizabeth?" Josh asked standing in front of them with eyes alight with mischief. He regretted it a little when Liz's hand smacked him on the back of the head. "OW!"
"You deserved it, little brother." Joanie laughed. "She is doing you a huge favor after all." Joanie's mischievous smile mirrored her brother's from a second ago. They were only a year apart but often were mistaken for twins.
"What are you talking about?" His brow scrunched, he asked.
"I'm taking you to prom." Liz said casually.
"No. What. No." Josh panicked a little.
"Careful, Josh. You'll offend a girl." Liz smiled. Her mischief was less obvious, more akin to her father.
"I can't take my coach's daughter to the prom! And you have that college guy!" Josh squeaked. He threw a glare in Joanie's direction. He had a little bit of a crush on his sister's friend.
"That college guy is named Doug and I've dubbed the Doug The Douche." Joanie announced.
"Oh, shush. He couldn't help it. Something came up." Liz said to Joanie, blushing. "Anyways, Doug can't come and Joanie told me about your situation and so I'm doing you a favor."
"So your date ditched you and you're doing me a favor?" Josh put his foot in his mouth as only he could do so expertly. This time Joanie whacked him upside the head.
The rest of the group caught up to Josh at this point.
"You're taking Liz to prom?" Toby laughed but stopped when Josh sent him a death glare.
"Oh, cool. You can double date with Mall and I! Not that it's, you know, a date. Just four fri-"
"Sam, shut up." Joanie smiled at her younger brother's friend. Sam snapped his mouth closed. As much as he liked Mallory and had for a while, he still had his residual preschool crush on Joanie.
"Josh and I are going with Joanie and her date. You take Mallory somewhere nice now. Or I'll tell Mr. McGarry." Liz threatened. Sam gulped. Danny clapped him on the shoulder in support.
"Who are you going with Danny?" Joanie asked.
"Me!" A voice from behind the group said. They all turned to the tall and wonderful Claudia Jean. Danny's smile erupted.
"Finally!" Josh sighed.
"As friends!" Danny rushed to say. Both Danny and CJ blushed a little. Josh couldn't help but notice that Toby looked at the ground during this. He often wasn't sure whether his very good friend was in love with his girlfriend of the past six months or their friend their whole lives- CJ.
"Hey! Quit loitering! Get out of here. Don't forget about that essay tomorrow, Josh!" Jed Bartlet called out from twenty feet down as he got in his car.
"Hey, you have that essay due too." Josh whined at Sam.
"Yeah but I'm the good student." Sam grinned. Josh rolled his eyes. Liz hopped off the car.
"Alright, Joanie will tell you what color tie to get. See you later guys!" Liz waved goodbye as she walked to her dad's car where her sophomore little sister was also getting in. Zoey wouldn't be in high school for another few years.
"I can't believe you did this." Josh accused Joanie after they all said their goodbyes and they were in the truck driving home. Josh got to drive on Tuesdays and Thursdays while Joanie drove the rest of the time. He got it one Saturday a month as well if he wasn't in trouble for something.
"Oh, please. I was helping you. Besides, she was sad about Doug. You have a crush. Mutually beneficial."
"I do not have a crush on her."
"Grow up, Joshua. Why can't you just admit when you like a girl? I swear, you'll be thirty eight and still not being able to cop to your feelings." Joanie rolled her eyes as the Lyman children were well known to do.
"When I like a girl, I'll be sure to let you know." He sassed back. "What's dad doing home?" He pulled into the driveway.
Later that night, when neither could sleep, the two of them cuddled together in Joanie's bed like they used to when he was little and scared. They both felt little and scared in that moment. Noah Lyman had announced to the two of them that he was sick. Unfortunately for the Lyman family, it wouldn't be the last time he'd have to say those words to his children.
Thanks for reading! Please review! I know I have million in progress fics but this AU popped up in my brain a few months ago and I'm on a plane I got to writing with it. It won't be centered on them in high school but I'll have intermittent flashbacks. Also don't let this chapter fool you- this is not a Josh/Liz fic lol who do you think I am? Donna will enter center stage soon no worries- again pls review i am an ego slut for reviews
