A Walk to Eden

27

*Jake POV*

"Wow. You really love her." I say. He just smiles to himself and nods his head. "So."

"So." He chuckles.

"How do you think Josh is going to feel?" I ask. He looks at me and frowns.

"I would hope he would be happy for us." He says. I look away from him.

"I hope so too. But you know how he is." I answer.

"Well. I'm happy. And she's happy. And isn't that what he wants at the end of the day?" He kicks rocks, huffing.

"I think he wants to be the one happy with her." I mumble.

"Well. She choose me." He answers standing up.

"Where you going?" I ask.

"To go tell him." He turns and looks at me. "I'm done sneaking around him." And he walks off inside.

This is shit is definitely going to hit the fan. Josh has liked her for years. It's going to break him when he finds out that Sam is now with her. I'm happy for them. But I also feel Josh's pain. She's perfect, and funny. Her laugh and smile is contagious and lights up any room. Anyone would be lucky to have her. And Sam treats her well.

*Sam POV*

I knock on the door. "Josh?" I hear him inside. "We need to talk. Can I come in?" I hear him walk to the door and he opens it. He walks back to his desk and sighs when he sits down.

"What do you need?" He asks.

"Well. I need to tell you somethings, but I need you to understand that I had no intention on hurting you." I say. His eyes widen and he sits up. "I know you liked her. Or, like, her. But you broke her heart. And you never talked to her, never went to see her. It's been almost two months since you asked her out." He runs his hand down his face. "Now. Your my big brother. I love you. And I never want to hurt you. But I needed to find myself. I've been through a lot, and when I'm with her.. it all goes away." He shifts in his seat and the color drains from his face. "Josh. We're together."

"Right." He scoffs.

"Hey!" I yell.

"No Sam. You don't know how you feel. And you can't just get into a relationship just because she looks at you." He snapped.

"Josh! You did that! I've loved her ever since the beginning! But I tried to cut myself out of equation for you!" I yelled back.

"Loved? Come on Sam." He rolls his eyes.

"I love her. And she loves me too." He snapped his eyes to me.

"What?" He whispers.

"This morning. We said it." He looks down. "Josh. I love her. And I almost said no to going on tour because of it." I say. "But.. she talked me back into it." He looks up at me, and just shakes his head. "I think I'm going to ask her to come with us."

"What?" He stands up.

"I want her and Eden there." I say.

"Is this so you can flaunt? Show me what I'm missing out on?" He yells.

"No! I just want them there, not only for myself but everyone!" I stand up.

"Sam." I look at him and he stares me down. "Get out of my room." I stand there, and realize he's not joking. I leave the room, feeling this looming cloud over me. Why wasn't he happy for me? For us?

*Jake POV*

I decided to wait until Sam left to talk to Josh. I gently push the door open and see him staring at nothing. "Josh." I say, but he doesn't look at me. "Josh." I say a little louder. He peeks his eyes at me. "Hey man." I sit down on the bed, across from him. "Why are you-" He turns fully to me.

"Did they really?" He asks. I just blink at him. "Did she really say that to him?" He chokes out. Tears start pooling in his eyes. I look away and nod. He runs his hands through his hair. "Damn it." He croaks out.

"Josh." I mumble. "We need to be happy for them." He throws his head up at me.

"Really!" He yells.

"That's our brother, and our friend. They are happy. And they are happy with each other." I try to remain calm, but when Josh gets worked up, so do I. He just shakes his head and stares at nothing again.

"I get that I fucked up. But I was waiting for the right time. And it never showed. And now..." he sniffs. "Now she's gone. With my little brother." He scoffs again.

"If the right time never showed up maybe it wasn't supposed to happen." I told him. He rolls his eye. He just looks at me but back at the wall. "I'm sorry man. But they are happy. And they do love each other." I stand up to leave. Before I walk out I turn my head. "If you ever need to talk I'm aways here." He doesn't listen but I leave anyways.