Hard To Love (a Josh Hutcherson Fan Fiction)

Chapter 24

Song of the Chapter: Terrified by Jordyn Kane

 Stella's POV

Josh starts working on his new movie this week, Journey 3, but luckily the filming will be done in Hollywood since the majority is in front of a greenscreen, so he won't have to travel this go around.

I woke earlier than Josh this morning, he was up memorizing his lines until about 4am. I get out of bed and go into the kitchen and fix myself a bowl of cereal and turn the TV on. The channel is on the news, so I open the guide and search for a channel to watch, the sound of the news still playing in the background.

Typical News day, Obama did this, this celebrity did that, Kim Karadashian got another butt lift, blah blah blah. For so many reasons I hated the news, if its not gossip, its stressful arguments, always one thing or another. I would like for one day to turn on the news and them say "I'm sorry, but yesterday nothing eventful happened and everyone lived their lives peacefully and normally, so we have nothing to tell you!" But the sad and unfortunate truth is that the world is uncapable of having one full day of peace. I almost change the channel to a rerun of Long Island Medium when a headline spoken catches my attention;

Tradgedy affects the lives of citizens of New York City this July morning when an orphanage burns down, leaving several injured, the number still rising, and the death toll being set at 1 as far as we know it. More details when we come back.

What orphanage? Couldn't they have given any more details? Gosh I fucking hate the news.

I get up off of the couch and run to the phone. I dial Ted's number from memory and wait. 5 rings and it goes to voicemail. "Ugh." i groan as I slam the phone on the counter and rush back into the den to the TV.

The fire broke out around 3 this morning, the cause being a lit cigarette. As of now, the courts have decided to take the owner of the orphanage, Lucille Thomas, into custody to do further investigation, as she is believed to be the one who disposed of the cigarette carelessly. The motives of her actions are still unkown. We will keep these children in our hearts and prayers as we recover from this awful tradgedy, back to you Tom. The news reporter finishes and it goes to weather.

I turn around and see Josh drying his hair with a towel, "You look confused, what's the matter?" he asks as he comes and sits beside me on the couch.

I try to find my voice back, my words soft as I speak, "The orphanage, it burnt down."

"What? The one in New York?" he asks, inching closer to me.

I nod, "I need to go. I need to see who died and who is injured. I know those kids Josh. I need to go. Today."

He looks at me and shakes his head. "What?" I say. 

"No. I have to work, can it wait a few days?" he asks. 

"Josh. I can go alone." I say sternly.

He sighs, and shakes his head again, "no." he says flatly.

"Excuse me?" I say.

"Stella. You are not going to go there on your own. I can't let you do that. I'm sorry," he tries to go in for a hug, but I slam my palms against his chest and push him back.

"And why the fuck not, Josh?" I raise my voice.  

"I..." he looks around the room, "I just can't baby please." he tries to come closer but I back away. 

"Josh, I have been doing things on my own for a long time. I taught myself not to rely on anyone, and I'm not going to start now. I am going, whether you say so or not."