Fandom Snapshots From The Past { The Last of Us 1x1 with icedthemoon }

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines
Freshman | 14 | Current location ;; Seattle, WA

“Let’s go let go!” Hayden did not want to be late for the first day of high school. He didn’t want to be late to figuring out this new school with his best friend. He didn’t want to have to be in this house any longer hearing his sister whine about the fact that she could drive but didn’t have a car to drive. He didn’t want to hear one more conversation about how they couldn’t afford a third vehicle. He wanted to go. By the time he was in his dad’s car with Kyra in the front seat, he was so excited. Dad was talking about how he missed this the last year but he wasn’t going to miss it this year. Hayden wasn’t listening. He was too excited. “Hayd. Hayd!” He snapped his head forward to see his sister staring at him. “Jeez, Hayden. You saw him like every day in the summer. Why are you acting like you’re going to go see your love for the first time since he went off to war like ten years ago?” Hayden flushed red. His father lightly tapped Kyra’s arm. “Stop teasing him.“ He was out of that car the second he could be. He ran as fast as he could as far away from them as possible. Kyra was in her senior year, so she would be around. He would never admit that but it made him feel a little less stressed. Having both Josh and Kyra meant he was going to be okay. Hayden ran inside and immediately felt horrendously lost. How was he supposed to find Josh?​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua Smith
Freshman | 14 | Current location ;; Seattle, WA

Joshua stood inside the huge foyer of the high school, looking around. His first class was science which seemed to be upstairs if the number was accurate. He looked at the front door when it opened and he saw Hayden. “Hayden!” He yelled as he ran towards him. During the summer, Josh had grown about two inches from 5’7 to 5’9 and his voice had deepened just a tad. Not super noticeable yet, but high school was all about change. He wrapped his arms around Hayden, hugging him before he stepped back. “Ready for high school?” He asked with a smile. So much had opened up for them. Josh had his track audition Friday afternoon, and they could volunteer for the aquarium and zoo now. “I forgot to ask you but what’s your first class again? I can’t remember if we had any of the same classes.”​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines
Freshman | 14 | Current location ;; Seattle, WA

Hayden had yet to grow. He was still this little guy all of 5’ 6” and his sister, who was a handful of inches taller than him, did nothing but tease him about it. His dad assured him that the tall genes would eventually come. He was 5’11” which meant that it seemed likely that Hayden would keep growing. But not yet. Until then, he would just be little. When he heard Josh calling his name, he felt so incredibly relieved. “No,” he answered honestly. Was anyone ever truly ready for high school? He looked at his schedule. “Um… I’ve got a science with… Mrs. Bimberg? I assume that Bimberg comma Linda would be a Mrs.” He laughed as he looked through it. “Thank goodness history is later in the day or this was going to be how I die. Let me see your classes. I know we won’t have it all the same. I am not going into track with you.” He raised a hand and patted Josh’s cheek. "But I am ready for your tryouts. You’re going to be amazing.” He sighed as he looked back at his list. “Ah, there it is. The necessary choir. I don’t know why we have to have all these electives.”​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua Smith
Freshman | 14 | Current location ;; Seattle, WA

Josh pulled out his schedule and checked it over before looked at Hayden. “We share science first period and oh look, fourth block history. See? The universe likes us a little bit.” Josh said as he smiled at Hayden, showing him his schedule. “That’s okay, I don’t have choir but I am happy to have you in science with me.” Josh admitted as he looked at Hayden. He felt the pat to his cheek and blushed a little. “Thanks Hayden. That means a lot. Though I’m still nervous about it, knowing I’ll have my cheerleader with me makes it worth it.” He admitted, smiling before he heard the first bell. “Shoot! We gotta get going. I think science is upstairs and down the second hall.” Josh said, unsure of the layout quite yet.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines
Freshman | 14 | Current location ;; Seattle, WA

Hayden would always be there for Josh. Since their families seemed to have come to the unspoken Hayden is part of the Smith family until the Gaines family could take him back, Hayden pretty much was always with Josh. Whatever he was doing, so was Hayden. That meant if they were going to be doing tryouts, of course Hayden would be there. Actually, what Josh didn’t know was that his mom and dad were both off on Friday for their anniversary, for the first time in a long time, so they could have come to get him. Hayden told them absolutely not and that he had incredibly important things to do. He had cheering to do. “Already?! I knew we were going to be later this morning.” He ran down the hall and to the stairs. “Dad wanted to take pictures for posterity or whatever.” He moved up them quickly with Josh by his side. Up at the top, he did a quick scan. “You were right, Josh. Come on!”​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua Smith
Freshman | 14 | Current location ;; Seattle, WA

Josh laughed as he heard Hayden and followed him though he ran at a light jog versus Hayden’s run. He had gotten so used to having Hayden at his side that he couldn’t imagine when he wasn’t there. He loved hanging out with him, spending the summer with him and now they’d have school together. “I’m right beside you bud, let’s go!” He said with a laugh as they ran down the hall and ducked into the classroom. He could only hope that the teacher hadn’t seen them or didn’t mind them being almost a minute late. Josh of course was laughing quietly as he did, finding this all quite hilarious. Little did he know that Jacob was the same way. Logan was always on time but Jacob.. eh most of the time he was on time. And unfortunately for Josh, most of the teachers he’d have would know either brother.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines
Freshman | 14 | Current location ;; Seattle, WA

Bimberg comma Linda was in fact a Mrs. Bimberg. The final bell rang just as they slipped into the room. She smiled towards them and waved for them to find a seat. Thankfully they were not the only ones who were late. Plenty of people were trying to come in and find seats. All of these seats sat two kids as well. The lab stations were at the back of the classroom. Hayden of course led them to a place where they could be together. “Thank you for all for being here today,” the teacher began, and even though Hayden loved science, the first day was always a bit boring. What came next? Of course the syllabus. Always the syllabus. He leaned over and started to draw not in his notebook but in Josh’s. This was something that he did now when he did not need to have his full attention on the teacher. He was drawing the molecular structure that went along with several of the posters around the room like the nerd that he was.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua Smith
Freshman | 14 | Current location ;; Seattle, WA

Josh was already immensely bored and they had just sat down in class. He had gotten a bigger notebook this year because he’d ended up running out of room in the last one between notes and drawings from him and Hayden. He looked up at the teacher and sighed softly as he bit his lip and watched Hayden drawing this time. Sometimes he found it more interesting watching his best friend drawing rather than doing it himself. He looked up at the teacher, pretended for a moment to care about the syllabus before he turned his attention back to Hayden, watching him with a small smile dancing on his face. He really wasn’t paying much attention to anything else but Hayden’s drawings. This was going to be a long first day if every class was going to be like this. Josh never did like first days of school.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines
Freshman | 14 | Current location ;; Seattle, WA

Hayden was entirely distracted by his own drawing. Entirely. He was good at nodding when appropriate or answering questions when the teach asked, but otherwise, he was engrossed in his own drawing. They weren’t super great. He drew a line between two of his little circles. He wrote ‘hydrogen bond’ on it and then labeled the hydrogen ‘Hayden’ and the oxygen ‘Josh.’ He laughed as he finished and then kept drawing different chemicals that he could show had two merged pieces. He liked thinking about science that way. It was just the two of them fitting together so incredibly well. Then at some point even that got boring and he draw a shark eating various science things. Finally the class was over and he sighed. “Guess it will be a while until we’re back together, huh?” He shoved all of his things into his bag and stood to go to his next one. ​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua Smith
Freshman | 14 | Current location ;; Seattle, WA

Josh watched the drawing and smiled at the hydrogen bond, and then saw their names written on the atoms. He could've watched this all day but unfortunately the bell rang signaling the end of class. "Yeah. I'll see you at lunch though." Josh said as he stood up and put away all his things too. He smiled at Hayden as he turned to head out of the classroom. "I'd help you get to your next class but.. I'm not sure where my own is." Josh chuckled as he turned to head to where he thought it would be. "See you soon!" He said as he waved, heading down the hall. The next class went by painstakingly slowly for Josh, and the class after that was a free period. So he doodled during it and soon it was lunch time. He waited outside the cafeteria doors for his best friend with a smile.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines
Freshman | 14 | Current location ;; Seattle, WA

He did not want to separate, but it was like how classes always went. He waved until he was on his own. And then it was class. And class again. Hayden did admittedly pay attention way better when he was on his own than when he was with Josh. Well, at least on syllabus days. When it came to the actual classes, yeah, he may still not have done what he probably should have done. They were fabulous partners in labs though. He knew that from before. They were always great at group work. They worked so well together that they could do just about everything together. The classes dragged until lunch. He did not have any free periods. He was jam-packed with classes and activities. He had an extra science, which he shouldn’t have been able to do but he tested well enough, and his father was an incredibly persuasive man. He ran to the cafeteria, and the moment he saw Josh, he had the biggest smile on his face. “Hey you! Do you know what amazing lunch they have in store for us today?”​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua Smith
Freshman | 14 | Current location ;; Seattle, WA

Josh didn't take any extra classes other than what was necessary, he didn't want to put too much academics when he knew he'd be training for track meets in his off time. His smile grew wider as he saw Hayden and waved happily. "Hey! And, uh no. I don't. It'll be a surprise." He said with a laugh as he looked at Hayden before he turned to lead them inside. "So, how were your classes?" Josh asked as they headed to the line. "I had math after science and that is going to get rough." Josh said as he smiled, hooking his fingers in his backpack straps as he stood there in line.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines
Freshman | 14 | Current location ;; Seattle, WA

Hayden sidled up next to Josh as they stood in line. Yeah, one of them should have been in front of the other, and they would sort that out when they got closer. Until then, he liked to be beside him whenever possible. “Oh, I can help you with math. It won’t be so rough if you’ve got your favorite tutor with you all the time.” He grinned as they moved up in the line. “I’ll yell math problems at you every time you run by when we’re training.” He could see it now. Hayden would park himself in a central location to do all the extra work that he had and Josh could run all around him. When Josh needed him for moral support, he would be there watching. It was going to be great.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua Smith
Freshman | 14 | Current location ;; Seattle, WA

Josh smiled as he looked at Hayden, knowing they should be single file but it really didn't matter till they got closer. He couldn't help the chuckle as he nodded his head. "You know, having my favorite tutor while I'm training, that's not a bad idea. Though, I don't know how my focus will be when I'm running." He said with a grin as the image came to his head. "But, I think that you're on the right track." Josh added with a laugh. Yeah, he loved a good pun and when one presented itself such as that.. who was he to say no? His grin only grew as he looked at Hayden.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines
Freshman | 14 | Current location ;; Seattle, WA

Hayden giggled, because that was really silly. Josh was so silly and so funny. He was always laughing with him. “Okay, you’re right. Maybe I’ll wait until you’re done with all that running that you’re doing. When you need to take a break, you come do some math with me, and then you can go again. We’ve got this. You and me.” In his mind, he thought that they would be the two of them forever. He didn’t know how. He had this vague vision of going to college and them being roommates. Josh would get a full ride through his track. He didn’t know really. He just thought they’f be together forever. He moved behind him as they approached the food.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua Smith
Freshman | 14 | Current location ;; Seattle, WA

Josh smiled at Hayden's giggle, it made his heart warm like someone had hugged it directly. He was getting feelings like that more and more lately. And they always happened around Hayden. It was odd, and strange but at the same time he quite enjoyed it. "See, that's a good idea. That way I'm not so distracted that I fall." Josh replied as he smiled. "You and me. Best friends forever and always." Josh agreed as he grabbed his food, it was ham sandwiches and chips today. He walked over to a table and sat down, waiting for Hayden with a smile on his face as he set his backpack down at his feet.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines
Freshman | 14 | Current location ;; Seattle, WA

Hayden laughed at the idea of Josh falling. “You don’t fall, silly. You are perfect.” He grabbed his sandwich and chips and walked to the table with him. He hung his backpack on his chair and sat right across from Josh. He leaned forward as they ate. He loved that Josh thought they would be best friends forever. It was just so heartening. He could keep his little daydream alive forever. And maybe some of the other ones that happened occasionally. He tried not to focus on those when he was actively with in that moment.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua Smith
Freshman | 14 | Current location ;; Seattle, WA

Josh chuckled at that and shook his head as he looked over at Hayden. "I'm far from perfect." He admitted as he took a bite of his sandwich. It made him feel warm inside that Hayden thought he was perfect though. He looked down at his food as he thought about what he said. He meant it too, that they'd be best friends forever even when they're old and gray. He had thoughts about that, and wondered if.. maybe he felt more than just friendship towards his best friend. But he didn't want to ruin what they had so he decided to change the subject. "I think it's kind of cool that we have the first and last class of the day together. Though I'm not looking forward to English after lunch."​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines
Freshman | 14 | Current location ;; Seattle, WA

That was probably true. No one was perfect, and the reason that Josh was so great was because he wasn’t perfect. His imperfection was what made him perfect to Hayden. The fact that he made mistakes was kind of beautiful. Everything he did was kind of beautiful. He ate his sandwich thinking about that. He shook his head. “No one ever looks forward to English,” he laughed with his mouth full. He covered it with his hand like that would make it any better. “But just think. We make it through a little longer, and then you can get me through history again. It’s what you’ve always wanted,” he teased.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua Smith
Freshman | 14 | Current location ;; Seattle, WA

Josh smiled at Hayden as he he nodded his head in agreement. "True. I know I've never looked forward to English." He admitted as he took another bite of his food and smiled at him. He always knew how to make things so much better. "You're so right. One more class then we can work through history together." He said as he ate a handful of chips. "And yes, that is what I've always wanted, to help you get through history, again." Josh teased back as he shifted in his seat as he continued to eat his sandwich.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines
Freshman | 14 | Current location ;; Seattle, WA

Hayden was still a slow eater, and he probably would be forever. He barely finished half his sandwich when he started on his chips. It was a decent meal even if not the best he ever had. He was thankful always. “No one is looking forward to real essays either.” He groaned as he thought about having to read some book and talk about it for so many pages. He was not looking forward to that at all. “Think we can write one paper and both turn it in?” He chuckled at the idea.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua Smith
Freshman | 14 | Current location ;; Seattle, WA

Josh turned and finished his sandwich as he heard that and chuckled softly. "Like a joint book report?" He asked with a smirk on his face. "Sure, I don't see why we can't do that." He said with a shrug of his shoulders. "We'll probably read the book together anyway." He added as he worked on his chips. "I feel like the teachers wouldn't even be surprised. We probably aren't the first duo to consider turning in one paper together." Josh found the idea hilarious himself.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines
Freshman | 14 | Current location ;; Seattle, WA

Hayden shrugged. “Maybe we can turn in all our assignments together. We do all of our work together anyway. I bet our teachers already knew that we did our homework together. We always got the same ones wrong.” He ate his chips with a grin. He paused as he pulled one out. It was two chips joined as one in some freak chip accident. “Look at that. I wonder how that happens in these factories.” He broke it in half and offered the bigger half to Josh. “It only seems right that we honor this duo of chips as our own duo.” In their own personal bubble. He waved at another friend as they passed by and looked back at Josh.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua Smith
Freshman | 14 | Current location ;; Seattle, WA

Josh hummed as he listened to that and smiled, laughing a little bit. "I'm sure they figured it out pretty quickly." He agreed as he smiled, thinking about last year. He remembered a few times that one of the teachers thought they were cheating because they always did get the same ones wrong. But it was just them doing their homework together. He looked at the chip that Hayden had and tilted his head a lit bit. "It's certainly strange how things like that happen." Josh agreed before he took the other half of the chip. "I agree, and a little toast to the chip. May our duo last longer than theirs." He said with a laugh, tapping his half of the chip against Hayden's before he ate it with a grin.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines
Freshman | 14 | Current location ;; Seattle, WA

Hayden laughed at the memory of their previous year. He was sure that this year would be just the same. Maybe all of their high school years would be. He tapped his chip with Josh’s and nodded his head before eating it. He chuckled. “I certainly hope so. I don’t think this one has existed very long.” The lunch was soon to be over. It was such a nice first lunch. He sighed as he looked at the time. Only a little bit longer. ​