Ex Best Friends with the Bad Boy

6 - Cassie

Willow's POV

My lecture ends with lots of notes and added homework. With a sigh I pick up my bag and leave the room. I don't get far before I hear someone call my name. 

"Willow!" Josh calls out, my head snaps around and I quickly spot him with his waving hand that tells me to walk over. Sighing I walk over to him with a smile on my face.

"Hey J." I greet once I reach him. Josh gives me a hug that I awkwardly return. "What's up with the random affection J?" 

"Can a man not just hug his best friend?" Josh asks with a sad smile, I tilt my head and give him  another hug. Something was up, I could tell by the sadness that lingered in his eyes. 

"Let's go get a coffee." I suggest, Josh looks at me with surprise before quickly nodding. 

"That'd be nice." Josh's voice is sad and I quickly take his hand and weave through the crowded hall way. Once we're outside my hand is still in his but the innocent act goes unnoticed by both of us. It seems Josh needed this. We get there quickly with minimal talking which worries me further, I hadn't known Josh for long but I already knew he wasn't once to stay quite. We sit down and order our drinks, we stay sat in silence until the waitress has given us our drinks and walked away. 

"Josh." I softly speak, his eyes snap up to meet mine. "What's wrong?" 

"Oh nothing Will." Josh attempts to deny, I give him a look and he sighs before starting again. "Ollie found a rat in the gang, he was someone I vouched for." 

"How did Ollie find out?" I question, placing one of my small hands on one of his larger ones. 

"The guy staged at attack, he had suspected him for months so we made a situation that only he knew about that would be perfect for an attack. When there was an attack we knew it could only have been him." Josh sighs. "Five men still died, it's my fa..."

"Don't you dare finish the sentence." I scold. "J, this isn't your fault. You can't blame yourself. Yes, you vouched for the guy. But his decisions don't magically become your fault. You vouched for him, yes. However that is in the past, the best way to help Oliver and the others is to find out who he works for and what they want." 

"That makes sense." Josh sighs, "I just feel guilty." 

"I know J, that's because your a good person. Just promise no matter what happens next with this guy you won't blame yourself." I request. 

"I can't do that Will, it's still my fault." Josh states. 

"No J, it's his. Unless you held a gun to his head and told him to betray the gang, this isn't your fault." I argue. 

"He wouldn't have had a chance if it wasn't for me." 

"Maybe. But maybe someone else would've vouched for him, or maybe he would've found another way in, maybe it would've caused more deaths. There is no way of knowing for sure so don't sell yourself short. Use this guilt and turn it into anger, he tricked you. Lied to you, made you feel like you could trust him only to use that trust." I state, Josh's eyes flicker and there is once again light inside. 

"You're right. He needs to be punished and taught a lesson. I will find out who he works for if it's the last thing I do." Josh says with determination. I nod and remove my hand from it's place on top of Josh's and he looks down and smile. "But first I'm going to finish my coffee with my best friend." 

"Not your best friend J." I smile, while rolling my eyes. 

"Oh really? So you always sit random people down and give em a pep talk?" Josh smirks.