Until Dawn: Tyrants {Josh Washington}

2//the sound of settling

^Death Cab for Cutie^
A/N longer chapter because I didn't update yesterday!!:)

The bus halts, it's tires speaking in the cold. I stare at the Blackwood Pines sign, feeling my chest tighten. I have been here so many times, but now, the scenery feels like a completely different place. This time, Beth won't be at the door to greet me, Hannah won't spend all night talking to me about Mike. They aren't going to argue over which one gets to be the dog in monopoly. They aren't going to be here at all.
I stand from my seat, carrying my belongings passed the small number of people on the bus.
"Have a safe night!" The driver waves as I flop down the steps into the snow.
"Thanks. You too," I reply. The door closes and the wheels begin to spin, taking the bus away from my footprints.
I turn around, facing the beginning of the path. My lungs fill with cold air, and I let it out in a shaky cloud.
This is it. I'm going to see them all again. I'm going to see Josh.
I begin walking down the path to the cable car, a growing number of butterflies in my stomach, all flying around and making me feel sick.
I pull my coat tighter around my body, trying to trap in warmth. The metal gate appears in my vision, and I notice a note taped on to the frost.
"The gate's busted. Climb over! -Chris". Great. I look to my left and see a stone wall, it's parts sticking out. I step closer, my eye catching footprints on the stones, signifying that someone has already climbed it. My foot lifts to match the markings, and I continue to follow the imprints, trying not to slip with my clumsy self.
Soon, I'm at the top, and I jump down, almost dropping my bag into the snow. I sigh, feeling satisfied.
The entire scene looks grey as I continue my journey to the cable car. A few small animals move around me, obviously not used to people walking up here.
At the cable car station, I look around. The place looks abandoned. A few long breaths exit my mouth as I wander around, remembering things from the past.
I find a key on the ground by the door with another note from Chris.
"If used, please return to Chris".
He must've known that I would be the last one to arrive, just like all the other years.
I pick it up, and turn the lock with cold fingers. I lock the door behind me and put the key in my pocket.
My eyes catch a small television with a staticky image of the station displayed on the screen. A few posters line the walls, and the cable car is gone. I press the button, and wait for it to come back. I spend my extra time thinking about other years.
I sit on the floor with Hannah, Beth, and Sam. It's 3 in the morning, and everyone else is asleep. The living room is littered with various empty alcoholic drinks. It was a good first night.
"I can't believe that Mike only had 2 beers," Hannah begins.
"Hannah. Stop talking about Mike!" Sam laughs a bit as her best friend.
"I can stop talking about him, but I can't stop thinking about him!" Hannah replies, smiling.
"What should we do tomorrow? I mean, besides the usual of playing board games and drinking," Beth changes the subject.
"Can we go skiing?" Sam asks.
I watch my friends talk, and I smile tiredly.
"I'm planning on painting a bit tomorrow, but I think we should," I agree with Sam.
"Alora, all you do is paint and draw," Beth tells me.
"How could I not? This place is beautiful," I grin sheepishly.
"You don't just draw the scenery. Admit it Alora, you've been drawing an awful lot of Josh lately..." Sam hints.
My face turns bright red, and they all laugh at my embarrassment.
"Shut up, okay?" I joke.
The cable car stops at the station, startling me from my thoughts. I shiver, having a growing nervous feeling in my veins. I look around, feeling like I'm being watched.
I ignore the feeling- there's no use in getting paranoid, and climb into the car, closing the door and starting my descent across the mountain.
"I just can't believe you like my brother. It's weird," Hannah explains.
"Well, emotions are emotions. I'm just impressed that I didn't tell anyone until last year, even though I've felt this way since eighth grade," I admit.
"Eighth grade? Geez, Alora. Holy shit, that's sad," Beth shoots me a look of surprise.
"I know, I know," I shrug.
"You know, Josh probably wouldn't be against dating you, Alora," Sam tells me.
"Why do we get to talk about Alora and Josh but we can't talk about Mike?" Hannah complains, sending us all into a fit of laughter.
The cable car shakes as it stops, and I wipe away a tear that's close to freezing on my skin.
I pull on the door, but it doesn't open. I knock a few times, gaining the attention of Jessica and Mike. Looks like I've interrupted a snowball fight. Jessica opens the door, and I step out quickly.
"Sorry if I intruded on anything, guys," I apologize, shuffling around the pair.
"Alora, hey," Mike greets.
"Nice to see you two," I smile weakly, already figuring out that Emily and Mike must've broken up, and now Jessica is dating him.
I look down while I walk passed them, trying not to cry again. How am I going to get through this?
I climb through the snow, up the mountain, leaving the happy pair behind me.
The path seems narrow, surrounded by trees and a gray sky, but I keep going, trying not to feel unsettled.
I see outlines of people ahead of me, and I reluctantly walk up to them.
Sam smiles at me.
"Alora, it's been so long," She goes in for a hug.
"I missed you," I tell her, then I pull away. "Chris, I have your key,"
"Oh, good. I was hoping someone would keep it warm for me," He says as I hand it to him.
Then I see Josh. A beanie covers his hair, and he's looking at me with regretful eyes.
I don't resist the urge. I quickly walk to him and give him a giant hug. He wraps his arms around me as well, and the coldness of the air fades a bit.
"Man, I've missed you," He whispers into the hug.