United We Stand

13. Aloha

             After we ate and met Dakota in our room, I started gather things that are mine. Well sort of. Basically everything I've owned or have worn.

I brought with me a big duffel bag from my house to here. Josh texts me and I tell him where the room is located and he comes in with four bags full with clothes from yesterday. His face falls when he sees the huge duffel bag on the bed. Josh doesn't even glance at Dakota or Liam.

          He places the plastic bags on the bed. "What's going on?" He asks me. "Hello to you too." Dakota mutters as she stalks off to the bathroom. Liam frowns. "Who said you're welcomed in our room?" Liam says. I scold at him but he ignores me. Josh smiles smugly. "She did." He says.

           Liam opens his mouth to answer but I pull Josh away. "I'm moving to Hawaii, and going to school there." I tell Josh. His shock quickly gets replaced by sadness.

                       "Oh. Why? When?" Josh sputters. I look at my shoes. "I don't know when. But really soon. It's safer there and I want to finish school." I answer.

Something flickers on his face. It comes and goes so fast I'm not even sure it happened. Josh's face turned dark with a mad grin on his face. It was like a glitch but I must be imagining something. I push the thought away.

    Josh nods. "Of course. School is always number one." He whispers numbly. Liam rolls his eyes and starts loading the clothes from the plastic bags to my duffel bag. Josh lifts my face with a finger on my chin. "What about our...?" Josh doesn't even finish the sentence. I know what he means. What about our date?

I shrug. "Um. You can visit Hawaii with us...?" I say to Josh while asking Liam.

            Liam looks at me instantly and mouths a no. Josh's mood lightens up. He turns around and slaps Liam on the back. "Yeah! That's a great idea! It would be fun hanging out with Skylar's friends!" Josh grins. Liam musters a weak smile. "Yay." He mumbles.

     Dakota bursts out the bathroom. "You're going to Hawaii?" She exclaims. I nod as if it is obvious. "I'm coming." She says calmly. Really? "But what about your partner?" I ask. Dakota shrugs. "She already lives in Hawaii. We barely talk because she claims I'm too short. But that's beside the point. I'm coming because I have nothing to live for. Don't think I'm getting attached." Dakota tells me.

                 I laugh. "Yup. Sure you aren't." I say. Dakota rolls her dark brown eyes and urges Liam to continue with my clothes. Josh turns to me again.

"It that okay with you? That would be awesome to spend time with you there." Josh asks. I think about it. I've never had a guy move for me before... "What about your job? Your partner? Your room? Your friends?" I ask. Josh shakes his head.

          "I'll just ask off for a couple of months because I don't usually ask for time off. My partner died because some traitor hybrid. And maintenance will take care of my room. Plus I have no friends." Josh says. I snort at his last answer, although his partner dying is horrible.

"What happened to your partner?" I ask. Before Josh can reply Liam interrupts our conversation.

"We'd all like to know. Really. But Sky, we need to get going. Try and find Brooklyn while me and Dakota try to find a flight for today. Josh, you can go with Sky." Liam orders. I'm touched by the fact Liam is sending me and Josh together. Josh shuts his mouth and nods. "Okay." Me and Dakota say in union.

            "Thanks for my clothes." I say to Liam but he waves me away. I follow Josh out the door. "Where to?" He asks. "To the place you brought me to watch a movie." I reply. He nods and leads me there. We open the doors and find all the lights off. The tv is on but everyone on the couch is making out. Ew.