Game Changer: a Josh Richards' Story

3- Josh

SONG SELECTION: Talk About Love by Zara Larsson featuring Young Thug

You were sitting on the couch drinking your fourth drink. Amelie had wandered off and you figured she was with that Blake kid who'd been chatting her up all night. You definitely should have slowed down because you were feeling beyond tipsy, but you were having fun for the first time in a long time. You, Emma, and Mads were hanging on the couch and watching Zack and Griffin play beer pong.

Zack: "Dude, if you're gonna stay sober, we're gonna have to find a different game. I can't keep taking these shots for you."

Emma got up and walked over taking Griffin's cup and chugging it:
"Try to beat me then."

Zack: *with a flirty smile*
"Line those cups up, girl."

They were so cute together even though they weren't actually together. Zack had been one of your closest friends since he started making music with you and Jaden a few years ago but watching him totally fall for Emma was just the sweetest.

Mads: "God, they need to just make it official already."

You: "For real... so cute!"

Josh plopped next to you and interjected:
"I think we'd be pretty cute."

Mads was shocked but you decided to play along:
"Don't let it go to your head. You're not exactly my type."

Griffin was watching your every move with the kind of jealousy that wasn't aggressive... mostly just sad.

Josh: *pointing his drink towards Griffin*
"He's definitely not your type."

Mads: *drunkenly giggling*
"She's definitely his though."

Josh: "Nah, she's everyone's type. I mean look at her."

You were trying to hold your composure but couldn't control the flush of red spreading across your cheeks and down your neck.

Mads: "I think I'm gonna have Griff drive me home before I run into J and ruin all of our nights."

Her and Jaden never hung out, but were perfectly civil so you knew she was just trying to spare Griffin from having to watch this boy flirt with you. You and Josh were laughing and talking without getting to know each other too seriously. He was openly flirting with you and it was getting harder to pretend to be uninterested. You laughed so nervously that you spilled a little of your drink and quickly apologized:
"Oh God that's embarrassing."

He stopped you from wiping your arm on your jeans by pulling your wrist to his lips and softly kissing the drops off before they ran down your elbow. He licked his lips then commented:
"Just like a body shot."

You couldn't even stutter out a response because you were so flustered as he added:
"Speaking of which, I gotta go grab another bottle.

As soon as Josh exited towards the kitchen, Emma approached you with a worried look on her face.

Emma: "Where did Amelie go?"

You knew that was code for you were going a little too far and Amelie was the only one who could ever rein you in. You were having fun but started to get self-conscious. A lot of people thought Amelie was too uptight, but she always ended up being right. She was literally perfect and never did the wrong thing so if she had thought you were getting in trouble flirting with Josh, she was probably right.

You decided to go find her before Josh got back so she could call Griffin back to pick you up. The rush to your head the moment you stood confirmed it was definitely the right move. Plus, all you wanted was to get closer to Jaden again and didn't want to ruin it by hooking up with his friend.

As you stumbled down the hall, you suddenly felt like you might pass out so you rushed into the bathroom to splash water on your face. When you pushed the door open you saw Amelie sitting on the counter with her legs wrapped around Jaden... KISSING!