For the rest of the day, the only thing on Josh's mind was the writing on the wall. It pissed him off so much to think that someone had conned him. Someone hated him enough to do this. What was even worse was that he hadn't a clue who it was. There were only a few logical explanations. But who said it had to be logical? Maybe it was just some punk.

Wait, Principal Morris never said what it said. Did it say "JG loves CY"? Or just, "I love Cyrus"? Probably the former, but there's still hope.

But as the day went on, the incident took up a smaller and smaller fraction of his mind. Then, lunchtime rolled around.

Josh slammed down his tray against the plastic picnic table.

Josh: I hate everyone.

Teddy: Ooh, harsh.

Josh: Shut up.

Teddy: Hey, I just think it's kinda stupid to hate everyone when only one person actually did this.

Josh: You don't know that.

Teddy: That's a good point.

Josh: Where's Stewart?

Teddy: Uh, dude, do you really have to ask?

Josh: Oh. Oh yeah.

Josh kicked himself mentally.

Josh: So what do you think?

Teddy: About?

Josh: Thisstuff.

Teddy: You mean the bathroom wall thing?


Josh: Uh, yeah, that's what we're talking about here, buddy.

Teddy just ignored that last comment.

Teddy: I give them 10 points for execution. Not even the janitor knows who it is.

Josh: I'm sure someone knows.

Teddy: Well, the person who did it probably knows.

Josh: Oh, ya think?

Teddy: Maybe not. Maybe they were drunk. Or hallucinating. Or sleepwalking.

Josh: Or maybe the Mafia came to their doorstep two nights ago, threatening to kill if they didn't.

Teddy: That sounds plausible.

Josh: Okay, honestly nowwho do you think did it?

Teddy: Honestly?

Josh: No. I want you to tell me a lie.

Teddy: In that case, I have no clue.

Josh: And honestly?

Teddy: Stewart.

Josh: STEWART?!

Teddy: Dude, we weren't very cool to her yesterday.

Josh: When are we cool to her?

Teddy: That doesn't help things.

Josh: But that doesn't give her the right to get me in trouble for something I didn't do. Just because she's pissed. For a stupid reason, I might add.

Teddy: You think that's a stupid reason?

Josh: It's a very stupid reason.

Teddy: Well, I still say it could be her. No one knows what goes on in that mind of hers.

Josh was beginning to believe it.

Josh: It's always the innocent ones you gotta watch out for.

Teddy: True that.

Josh: Do you have to say "true that"? It'sbothersome.

Teddy: Man, you're so out of it.

Josh: I know.

At that, they threw out of the remnants of their lunch, and headed back inside for 5th period.





Thursday afternoons, Josh thought. Could Thursdays suck anymore than they already do? The weekend is so close, yet so far. You're already in the mood for partying, but you still have to do your homework by the next day. I despise Thursdays.

Lizzie: Joshua, eat your peas.

Josh: Yeah, mom, I know.

Alex: Mmm, peas!!!!

Alex was Josh's little sister. She was only 5, and already was showing signs of insanity.

Josh: You just like peas because mom says you should like peas.

Gordo: At least she listens.

Matty: Hey, what about me?

Matty was Josh's little brother. He was 12 now, and becoming more of a brat. They usually called him Matty, so they wouldn't confuse him with Josh's uncle Matt. But Matty had a girlfriend, and that was more than Josh could say.

Josh: You think you listen?

Josh started cracking up.

Matty: Dad, tell him to shut up.

Gordo: Both of you please be quiet.

Alex: Mommy, can I have more peas?

Lizzie: Sure, honey.

Lizzie dished out more peas to her favorite little daughter.

Josh leaned over and whispered to Alex.

Josh; Hey, do you want my peas?

Alex: Sure!!!

Josh: Okay, well let's wait until mommy and daddy leave the room, okay?

Alex: Why??

Josh: Because uhotherwise the boogyman will come and eat you!

Alex squealed and yelled to her parents.

Alex: Mommy, daddy, I don't want the boogeyman to eat me!!

Gordo looked sternly at his oldest son.

Gordo: Bribing your little sister again. How low can you get, Joshua?

Josh: It's in the genes, dad.

Lizzie: That's it, Joshua, go to your room.

Matty: Ooh, Joshy's in troubbble!

Lizzie: Matty, I'm not going to tell you again.

Josh got one good look at his family, sitting at the table pathetically, trying to look normal, before he stomped up the steps.



Riiiing.

Riiiing.

Riiiing.

Finally, someone picked up.

Stewart: Hello?

Josh: Hey, Stewart.

Stewart: Oh. It's you.

Josh: Don't get too excited now.

Stewart: Believe me, I won't.

Josh hadn't told Stewart about the decision he had made yesterday. How he chose her over Cyrus. It was too weird of the thing to tell someone. And he didn't want her getting the wrong ideas

Stewart: Uh, Josh?

Josh: Yeah?

Stewart: Was there a point to you calling me? Or do you just like to waste my time?

If she knew what I sacrificed to keep her as a friend

Josh: Okay, real quick. What do you think about this wholewriting on the bathroom wall incident?

Stewart: I don't know. It wasimmature. Why do you care so much?

Josh: Oh yeah. You don't know.

Stewart: Know what?

Josh: What the wall said.

Stewart: Could you be any more vague?

Josh: The wall said, "JG loves CY".

Stewart: And I care becau---oh. JG. I get it.

Josh: It took her 5 years, but Stewart finally realizes my initials.

Stewart: CY is?

Josh: Cyrus.

Stewart: Am I supposed to know who Cyrus is?

Josh: The girl I was talking to at lunch yesterday?

Stewart: Ohh, the whor---er, that girl.

Josh: What ever happened to not judging people?

Stewart: That philosophy is lost on people like her.

Josh: Good to know. So uh. Who do you think did it?

Stewart: Did what?

Josh: Wrote that stuff on the wall.

Stewart: Honestly?

Josh: No, I want you to tell me a lie.

Stewart: Well, in that case

Josh: I was KIDDING.

Stewart: I know, I know. Well, I sort of think it wasTeddy.

Josh: TEDDY?!

Stewart: Yeah, you know, Teddy, that kid you're sort of friends with

Josh: Why would it be Teddy?

Stewart: I know you're too oblivious to notice things like this, but I saw him looking at Cyrus. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was a little jealous.

Josh: Oh, come on. He's a guy. What kind of normal teenage guy wouldn't give Cyrus a once-over?

Stewart: Why do I bother?

Josh: Fine, fine. Maybe I'll consider him a suspect, or something.

Stewart: Good, good.

Josh: But you know, Teddy thinks that maybe y---

Stewart: Ack, dinner's waiting. See you tomorrow.

And she hung up.



History. History repeats itself, so why not wait until it does, and then learn about it? History, real history, non-repetitive history, is the most boring thing you'll ever learn about it.

Josh's thoughts were beginning to not make any sense.

When he awoke from his dream world, a piece of paper was on his desk. He looked over at Max, who nodded at him to open it.

He unfolded it, slowly and gently, so the teacher wouldn't hear.

When he was finished, he read the note:

Josh:

I know who wrote that stuff on the bathroom wall, but I can't tell you here, or now. I'll tell you later today, ok? Don't respond to this note. I don't want anyone to find it. Destroy it. Soon. Thanks.

-Max

Max knows? Thank God. It's judgement day, Josh thought.



A couple hours later, Josh walked outside to lunch to find his two best friends, screaming at each other.

Teddy: If you weren't a girl, I would smack you across the face right now!


Stewart: Oh, try me!


Teddy: Why would you think it was me?

Stewart: Maybe it has something to do with the fact that you're annoying, little brat!

Teddy: Well at least I don't spend my days pissing and moaning about nothing!


Stewart: Oh, screw you!

Teddy: I hope you fall into a bottomless pit and die!

Stewart: Well I hope you fall down Mount Everest and die!

Teddy: Well.I just hope you die!

Teddy and Stewart stomped off in different directions.

Kid: Haha. That was awesome.

Josh decided that this kid might know something.

Josh: What just happened?


Kid: I think they both blamed each other for that writing on the bathroom wallyou know, that thing at the assembly yesterday? And then they just started screaming, and uh, you know the rest.

This is my fault.



It was last period. Algebra II. Algebra, Josh thought, another useless subject.

Again, Josh was sitting next to Max. Thank God for Max.

But again, waking up from his thoughts, there was another piece of paper on his desk. He opened it, more quickly this time around.

Josh:

Hey, I don't think I would've seen you after school, so I'll tell you now. I saw the person do it with my own eyes, but I think they'd murder me if I told on them. It was that new girl. Cyrus Young.

-Max

-------------------------------------

[A/N: Uh oh! Just how mad are Stewart and Teddy? Why does Alex like peas so much? And when did Max get so smart? Find out next time, on Joshua Gordon.]