Hard To Love (a Josh Hutcherson Fan Fiction)

Chapter 16

Song of The Chapter: Until You by Dave Barnes

-6 months later, June, 2013-

Stella's POV

Its been six months since I ran away from Josh and so much has changed. Though they are minimal, I still have panic attacks. Most of the time, they occur when I see or hear something about Josh on TV or in a magazine. One of the magazines I saw said that he has a new girlfriend now. Her name is Lanchen or something, and if you ask me that sounds like someone throwing up. I'm not mad that he has a girlfriend, I guess everyone has their way of moving on.. But sometimes I still get recognized out in public as Josh's 'ex'.. though we never dated in the first place. We still haven't spoken, and I am trying to be ok with that but it isn't going well. I often find myself staring at his contact in my phone, debating on whether or not to push the 'call' or 'send message' buttons but I can never find the courage to do it. 

I have been working at a movie produer's office in dowtown San Diego. I don't do much work though because I am just a paid intern, but its a job, and somewhat it gets my mind off of Josh. Something about working around actors makes me feel a little bit better. Other than interning, I sometimes take pictures for local weddings or events like birthday parties, which I am glad I am finally getting back into photography. 

I have been doing good with starting to be happy again, but lately something doesn't feel right. I haven't heard a lot about Josh in the media for the last month, which must mean he is filming a new movie or that he is back in Kentucky. I'm sure he is doing better than I am.. 

"I don't want to go to work today." I moan as Corie opens the blinds in my room to wake me up. 

she laughs, "Come on lazy butt, get out of bed. You need to go to work and stop moping around." 

I sit up in my bed and run my fingers through my hair, "Where is everyone else?" 

"Well Nolan is at Jake's house, and Avery is at the neighbor's playing with their new puppy." she sits at the foot of the bed. "Why don't you want to go to work today?" 

I shrug my shoulders, "Just not feeling it today."

"and this has nothing to do with the fact that Josh is back in the US?" she asks.

"What do you mean? he was out of the country? Where did you find this out?" I ask.

"wow so eager." she laughs, "If you wouldn't have been avoiding the TV for the past few days, you would know! He was in London filming a movie, but he just got back yesterday I think. But who cares! you have been doing so good, time for work!!" she says as she gets up off of the bed and walks out of my door. 

I make a noise that sounds somewhat like a donkey mixed with a dinosaur and I can hear Corie laugh at me, so I smile then roll out of bed and trudge to the bathroom. 

I turn on the shower and as I wait for the water to heat up, I press the power button on the radio. The last 20 seconds of Ho Hey plays then it goes to commercial and I step into the shower, 

"Josh Hutcherson and Lanchen Mihalic, fact or faked? Find out after this hot new track!" The lady on the radio station says, then plays a new song by Justin Bieber, typical. 

I feel my chest get heavy as I wait for the song to finish and give the answer to the question. My ears are on alert. Not that the answer will change anything, but hearing things about him makes me feel like we aren't really that separated from each other. 

A few months ago, my name was all over the press and the internet. My twitter gained thousands of followers, and everywhere I went, someone knew my name. That kind of attention wasn't as cool as I thought it would be. It was more of a neusance than anything. So I can only imagine what this Lanchen chick is going through. I wonder what Josh thought about my name being brought up all the time. But some things I will never know.