Josh's POV
It had been way too long since I'd last had some guy-time with Nick Dobbs, and I desperately need to talk to him. About girls; specifically my newfound interest in brunettes and indifference about a certain young blonde.
"Well, I just don't see why you're still with her, then," Nick spat out bluntly.
"Sometimes I wonder that, too." I sigh, leaning forwards with my elbows on my knees and head in my hands. I could hear my pulse in my brain, thudding like a ticking alarm clock; a ticking bomb. I had to figure this out before I completely lost my mind.
Nick looks at me expectantly, his green-grey eyes filled with worry. I never get stressed over girls, and he knows that. But he also knows what it's like to not being able to let go of a person you've loved her so long, and he learned to regret making that decision. What if I learned to regret leaving Chloe?
This was such a dilemma. I felt trapped with her, unable to explore my options and feeling my youth slip away, but the idea of not having her gives me this weird achey feeling in my chest. Like an anvil is crushing me.
"Nick, when I started this fling with Chloe, all those years ago... I had no idea it would be so serious. I had no idea how long I expected it to last, but I didn't think people would talk about us getting married. And now that they do, whenever someone mentions, I start to feel like I'm gonna projectile vomit. Everywhere. All over the place. I'm seventeen, I'm not ready for that. I can't even decide what I want for breakfast, let alone who I want to spend my life with. I shouldn't even have to think about that right now!"
"Oh, but you do. You signed up for this when you sealed the deal with Lukasiak. She's not about to let you walk out the door."
I groan, suddenly exhausted from thinking and using my head so much, and plop back down on the couch, the cool leather enveloping me and helping me to see clearly.
"I'll never be able to commit to Chloe if I'm always wondering what could have been with Maddie. I rushed into things to quickly, I never got to just have fun and be a teenager. That's what I want right now. Teen Love."
"If that's what you want..." murmurs Nick, just barely audible, "That's exactly what happened with me and Brooke, and now look at me. I'm begging on my knees for a second chance and it was her who was in the wrong! Imagine what you'd have to do to get Chloe back if it was you leaving her."
I glare at him. The Brooke and Austin and Paige and Nick Love Rectangle is one thing I don't discuss. Damn, I hate that guy.
Picking up my phone, I start to dial a number.
"Josh?" a girl's voice asks.
"Yeah, it's me. We need to talk."
