But I'd Rather Swim Ashore [Josh]

[Natasha Grace Bennett]

Okay, so going out in very public places wasn't really her thing... But then again, what was her 'thing'? Natasha tried to push those thoughts out of her head as she entered Square One, feeling horridly out of place. Normally she wouldn't come to a place like this alone, but she was tired of being nagged at by her older sister. According to Ari she stayed home too much and needed to get out and meet people. 'Well, damn it Ari, here I am...' Yes, her sister had succeeded in getting her out in a little black dress for the first time in... a while.

Her eyes scanned the area. There was a LOT of people. It seemed like it was a break in music, because the stage was void of anything but a few amps. Noticing a bar to her left, she made her way over and found a spot to sit. She ordered a water, not really a big drinker. Every now and then was okay, but she was... very 'outgoing' while drunk, and she didn't want to look that stupid in public. Not alone.

She ran her fingers through her hair and leaned an elbow on the polished bar top, waiting quietly for the next band. Maybe they'd be something she liked. She sipped at her water through her little red straw, deciding to get a real drink when the bartender came around again. She could stop after one, right?

[JOSH CAMERON HARTLEY]

him go out for fun? oh, the idea was practically impossible to think. josh had way too many responsibilities to go out and have fun on the weekends. he had bills to pay, a job, a daughter to take care, and he had to make sure his brothers stayed out of trouble. sean and brian were still young and rebellious, josh was always on the look out for them. also, he cared for his mother, even though she had never cared much for him or his brothers. yep, he had a shit ton of stuff to do and going to square one tonight was not something on his "to do list." yet, here he was.

this place was more of sean's scene. it was a hardcore joints that played loud, drum banging, guitar blaring music. everyone in here was either pierced up, tatted up, or both. josh felt a little out of place. he was a pretty clean cut guy, despite having a history of drug abuse. but that was all in the past now. after he learned he was going to be a father, he quit and made michelle do so as well. but after the birth of juliet, unlike michelle, he stayed clear of drugs.

wearing a pair of dark washed jeans, a black and white plaid shirt and converse, he felt a little too casual for this place, but hey, whatever. he was positive people here didn't even care about things like fashion. as he walked through the crowd and over to the bar, he felt a little uneasy. today was michelle's day to have their daughter and he never felt comfortable leaving her with her. josh was protective over his baby girl. he would never let anyone babysit her. it was a battle for him to even let a stranger hold her. he took a deep breath and calmed down. it was fine, jules will be okay.

josh sat down next to a pretty girl at the bar. he flagged the bartender over and waited for him to come. he looked over and saw that the girl was natasha. man, he had always had a crush on her. he had a little thing with her sister, ari, but it never took off. josh had always liked natasha, though she never knew that. well, maybe tonight was his chance to place himself in the picture. if she even remembered him. josh leaned over and tapped her shoulder. "hey, natasha. it's me, josh?" he said, hoping his name would ring a bell.

[Natasha Grace Bennett]

It wasn't long before a new band started setting up, hooking in guitars and putting drums in their place. The crowd seemed to be getting pumped, the tension and excitement in the air seemed so thick you cold cut it with a knife. Just as she was wondering if the night would end up being anything exciting, she felt someone tap her should from behind. She turned around and saw someone very familiar. It wasn't until he told her his name that it connected with her though.

"Oh, Josh!" For the first time that evening she smiled, relaxing just a bit. Josh had dated her sister once, though it didn't ever seem to become anything serious. He had seemed likable enough throughout the relationship though, Nat had always thought he was a good guy. "Of course I remember, how are you?" She now sat facing him, letting herself look him up and down. He was dressed casually for the most part, but he pulled it off. He was definitely good looking, though Nat had never given herself the chance to notice while he had dated her sister. She had seen him a few times since, but never for very long. The few conversations hadn't been memorable or anything.

The bartender made his way back over, and Nat waited for Josh to order his drink so she could next. Maybe tonight would turn out better than she had first expected. She took another sip of water, still smiling. He was definitely attractive, how had she never noticed before? After he ordered his drink, she turned to the bartender and said, "Gin and tonic, please," then turned back towards Josh. "I haven't seen you in forever."

Natasha didn't have a whole lot of friends. It wasn't due to a lack of personality or humor - just the fact that she tended to be too quiet, too unsure of what to say when meeting someone new. Once she got used to someone though, she could be really outgoing, funny, even charming. Well, she could do the same after consuming enough alcohol too though. She reached a hand up and rubbed her right shoulder, making a mental note to stay relaxed tonight. Maybe Ari was right, she did need to loosen up.

Nat couldn't be sure why, but something about tonight felt good, even promising.

[JOSH CAMERON HARTLEY]

a grin spread across his face once he realized that she remembered him. god, if she hadn't, he would have felt like such a fool. he had never stopped crushing on her and he didn't think his heart could take it if she forgot who he was. sure, they never talked much, even when he had went out with ari, but still, he had always tried to be friendly and make a good impression on her whenever he saw her around, which hadn't been much lately. josh was just so busy with work and his daughter that he didn't have enough time to be social.

"i'm good, just working a lot and taking care of juliet. she's four now." he said with a slight nod. the town was small, so everyone had heard about the whole pregnancy fiasco back when he was still in high school. even though he was still young, josh was never embarrassed of his daughter and he always bragged about juliet whenever he could. it probably got annoying sometimes. "here's a picture." he said and pulled out his wallet to show nat a little girl with pale skin, dark hair and bright, blue eyes. he was always showing pictures of his little girl. realizing that she might not even be interested, he blushed, fumbling with his wallet before sticking it back into his back pocket. "sorry, i kind of forget that not everyone his interested in seeing my daughter."

the bartender arrived and he ordered a beer. he let nat order her drink before he resumed the conversation. "yeah, i don't have much of a life." he admitted with a chuckle. "but how have you been?" he asked, taking a sip of his beer afterwords.

[Natasha Grace Bennett]

Josh seemed glad that she remembered him, which made her insides warm a bit. Or maybe it was the gin she was sipping on... Okay, so it was probably both. Still, he had a nice smile, and she was glad he actually seemed to like her. When Josh mentioned his daughter, she smiled and nodded. "Four? Wow, she's getting old. Does it make you sad?" She tried to imagine being a parent and watching her kids grow... From what others had told her, it was a bitter sweet thing. Still, she didn't really need to be thinking about children anyway. She had never went further than second base with a guy. The idea of being naked with someone... Even the thought lit up her cheeks, turning her face red. She quickly focused on he picture he was pulling out, trying to forget her previous thoughts.

"Wow, she's beautiful! She looks just like you." She looked up at him and smiled. When he put his picture away, seeming a little embarrassed for talking so much of his daughter, she laughed, shaking her head. "No, it's fine! She's pretty, I can't blame you for wanting to flaunt her." She took a few more drinks and listened to him talk about not having much of a life. Nat nodded. "I know how you feel. I don't really get out much myself. Just... don't find the time I guess."

Nat could feel the warmth now spreading through her body, loosening her muscles. Yeah, she was a light weight. Though she definitely wasn't drunk, not even a little. It just never took long for her to feel the affects start to kick in. The music had started a few minutes ago. It was loud, very loud. It was rock, and everyone in the crowd was swaying and moving to the music. It wasn't bad, not completely her taste though. She tapped her foot in tune with it, a smile still playing on her lips. "I'm actually here on Ari's orders, apparently I am home too much." She laughed lightly, shrugging.

[JOSH CAMERON HARTLEY]

"ssh, don't mention that. i hate the thought of her growing up. i like to keep pretending she's my little girl." he admitted with an embarrassed laugh. god, the last thing josh ever wanted to think about was his baby growing up. she was already going to attend pre-school this year! josh knew that when he dropped her off at the school he would be bawling his eyes out and would have no one to turn to for comfort because juliet's mother was such a slut. ugh, the thought of michelle just twisted his insides. how could he have ever been stupid enough to be with her? she used to be so different and then...it was like he never knew her.

like his younger brother, josh used to be quite the player until he settled down with michelle. michelle was his longest relationship and he thought it would be his last too. after all, the girl was having his baby, shouldn't they get married? josh was willing to, but michelle said no. she liked to have her fun. little did josh know that she had been cheating on him the entire relationship. he had found out from her afterwords and there was speculation that juliet wasn't his, but when the little baby was born, that rumor went to rest because if you take just one look at her, you would know that she was josh's little girl. after michelle, josh didn't really go out. he dated a little bit, but no one felt right, and sex? better forget about it. that hadn't happened in two years.

josh smiled at nat, happy that she didn't seem to mind he was talking about his kid. most women were not up for that sort of conversation or they just right up and left at the mentioning of a guy having a kid. at least nat was still here, but then again, this wasn't a date or anything, so she was probably just being polite. "thank you, she really is, huh?" he said softly, looking down at the picture of his daughter before putting it back into his wallet and sliding it into his pocket.

in agreement with her, he nodded. "i know right! god, there just isn't enough hours in the day. i'm all focused on work and juliet that anytime for myself usually just ends up going to sleep." he said with a laugh. josh noticed her tapping her foot to the beat. the music was good and definitely danceable, but he was too shy to ask her. "ha, yeah ari loved to go out. but i don't think there is anything wrong with staying home.