Where My Love Went - A Novella

Chapter Six : Old Friend

Josephine

"What did you just call me?"

"I'm so sorry. I thought you were someone else." The blue-eyed, blonde-haired beauty takes his hands off my shoulders and steps to the side.

"No, wait–"

"I'm sorry, I–" He turns around, leaving his back to me when a name leaves my lips.

"Will?"

Oh, not my lips. Her lips. That pretty blonde girl standing in the hallway in front of us.

"Laura, what are you–" He turns to me. "You– I– Again, I am so sorry. I thought you were an... old friend of mine." His voice cracks when he says the word "friend". "Excuse us."

He puts his arm around the girl's waist and leads them away. "Will, what were you doing?"

"I don't know. She looked like... Like..." She stops dead in her tracks and looks back at me. My eyes widen when I realize I'm eavesdropping, but she doesn't seem to care about that. She turned back to the guy–the one who looked so familiar and called me that name; like the guy in my dreams. "You can't be serious. Will, we talked about this."

Will. Where have I heard that name before?

"Oh my God, Josie!" Rachel squeals silently. "Tell me you did not just run into Will Anderberg!"

Will Anderberg. I place my fingers on my temples and squint my eyes. How do I know you, Will Anderberg?

"He's one of Colorado's star players!"

It clicks. He's a hockey player. At the game, we were just at.

But that doesn't explain why he called you "Joey".

"I'm sorry to interrupt." There's his voice again, the one from my dreams. And he's looking down at me– Oh, shit, it's Will. "I just have to ask... Um, how do I– Is your name Josephine?"

I shake my head. "Sorry, my name is Josie."

He swallows slowly as his face turns pale. "Sir, are you okay?" A waiter asks as he walks towards us.

"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you." He turns back to me. "I'm sorry again to bother you. I just... I used to know someone who looks a lot like you."

"Weird how the world works, huh?" Rachel pipes in.

I happen to glance out the window just in time to see Will's girlfriend walking down the street. "Um, Will, sir... Your girlfriend is leaving you."

"She's not my girlfriend." He says before standing up straight and clearing his throat. "Excuse me."

A few seconds later, Rachel whispers. "That was so weird."

I watch him walk away. "Yeah... No kidding."

Later that night I lie awake, tossing and turning, begging my eyes to close and not open again until morning.

It's well past two a.m. when I fall asleep, which means I haven't gotten near enough sleep when Rachel wakes me up and presses the phone against my ear. "It's the dean." She whispers before scurrying away.

"The dean?!" I yell before flinching. I clear my throat, "Erm, excuse me. Hi. Good morning."

A chuckle rings through my ear. "Good morning. Is this Ms.Woods?"

"Yes, this is she." I yawn.

"I'm so glad I was able to reach you. Um, I know this is going to be a bit of an inconvenience to you, but I think we need to meet in person." My stomach drops. "Is there a day that works best for you to make it to the city?"

I cough. "Um, I'm actually in the city right now. Are you available today?"

"I'll clear my schedule. This is important."

Great. I'm getting kicked out before I even make it there.

"How does noon sound?"

"That sounds great, sir." My voice squeaks. "I'll see you then."

***

Noon could not have come any sooner, and by the time it arrived, I was a sweaty mess.

"Ms.Woods, please come in. The officers will be here shortly."

My brows furrow. "Officers?"

"Yes. Don't act so surprised. I'm sure we both knew what was coming."

"Sir, I don't know what you–" A knock on the door interrupts me.

The dean opens the door and in walk two State Troopers, dressed in black uniforms, both male. "Nice to see you again. Glad you could make it on such short notice."

"Is she here yet?"

"Yes, of course." He steps to the side. "Josephine Woods, gentleman."

My heart begins to race as they step inside the office. I don't know what's about to happen but I'm terrified. The tall one takes out a pair of handcuffs and begins to tell me my rights.

"What's happening?"

"Everything you say can and will be used against you in court."

"In court?!" My breathing shortens. "I don't– What did I– Who is Josephine?"

Will

My phone slips out of my hand as I stare at the TV screen in front of me.

Mounted on my wall is a television with a mugshot of Josephine. Of my Josephine.

"She's alive?" I grip the roots of my hair before turning the volume up.

"Josephine Woods, now 26, went missing 10 years ago in 2014 and was presumed dead 3 years later. She was arrested this afternoon by State Police and is being held in custody. Police believe she ran away 10 years ago and are trying to figure out why she decided to come back now."

I laugh through tears. "Oh my God."

"Her bail was posted this afternoon." I shut the TV off before she could say a price and grab my things, running for the door.