Names

Josh was good with names.  He could put names to faces the way he always knew which method to use to find x.
But he knows that he shouldn't always know everyone's names, or forget names sometimes, especially the ones of those beneath them.
So Josh pretended that he couldn't remember some names, even if it belonged someone he'd never forget.

#

Josh was walking home from school one day, not that long ago, and he cut across the courtyard to walk through the field when he saw the boy, lying on the grass with his camera pointed straight at the sky. 
Josh stopped just before walking into his head, and after a few moments of dead silence (and wondering if the boy fell asleep trying to look through the viewfinder), peered over his camera just in time to hear the shutter go click.

Josh froze, not sure what he should do.  Running seemed pointless: the kid had a picture of him now.

"Uh..."

The boy lowered his camera.  Light freckles, pale skin made paler by his jet black hair and dark eyes, and a quiet expression that somehow seemed mocking no matter what the situation was.  Josh knew his name.

Metis raised an eyebrow at him.  "...Can I help you?"

"I..." Josh decided that apologizing would be the best way to go. "Sorry."

"It's okay.  The teacher supplies film." Metis' eyes flitted back to the clouds, and he seemed to be contemplating taking another photo to replace the one Josh wrecked.

"What's your assignment?"

Metis frowned at the sky.  "Hell if I know.  Found objects, I think."

Josh tore his eyes from the boy's face and followed his gaze. "Well... clouds probably count."

"They totally do."

Josh stared at the clouds for a few idle moments, not thinking about anything in particular.  "That cloud looks a bit like the batsignal..." he said absently.

He was startled by a sudden choking sound that came below him.  Looking down, he saw that Metis was, apparently, trying very hard not to burst out laughing. He rubbed his face a bit and grinned up at Josh brightly.

"It really does, doesn't it?"

And Josh wondered why he should have to forget anyone's name, especially one that belonged to someone with a lopsided grin, lank arms, grass stains on his elbows, and a camera that looked like it weighed more than its owner.

Josh's cellphone rang, and he jumped. He slid it out of his pocket and took a step back.

"I guess I'll see you around then..." he started.

"Metis."

Josh knew this, but he nodded anyway. "I'm Josh."

Metis nodded and smiled at him.  "See ya."

Josh flipped his phone open.  "What's up, Cassie?"

"Where the hell are you, Josh?  Everyone's waiting for you!"

Josh winced a bit, and waved at Metis as he began to put more distance between them.  "I'm on my way."

"Well you better hurry the hell up, or we're leaving without you."

"Yeah, yeah.  Hey, I talked to this guy named Metis.  Do you know him?"

"Metis?  I have no freaking clue.  Didn't your parents ever teach you not to talk to strangers?"

Josh grunted, but glanced over his shoulder at his classmate, who was now turned over on his stomach, seemingly taking a photo of something in the direction of the school.

"I'm serious, Josh.  Whoever this guy is, he's probably not worth your time.  I don't even know who he is."

Josh was barely listening.  A blonde individual had joined Metis on the field, bending over to place his hand over Metis' lens. He saw Metis bat his hand away, and then yank the blonde so that they were both sprawled on the grass.  Josh couldn't see his face, but he knew who he was.

"Josh?  Josh?  Are you still there?"

"Yeah.  I'm coming, I'll see you soon."  He snapped his phone shut without waiting for a reply.

Charles.  That was his name.

The next time Josh saw Metis, he pretended that he had forgotten his name.