Never Been One For Goodbyes - A Josh Cuthbert/UnionJ fanfic

Chapter 6

I closed the door as quietly as possible, I assumed the boys were all asleep still as it was only 9am.

"Where have you been, dirty stop out?" JJ winked.

"I fell asleep on the beach." I laughed nervously. Not exactly true. I did fall asleep on the beach but Lula woke me and after walking her back to her apartment she asked if I wanted to stay over, seeing as she lives on the opposite side of town, I figured I'd crash there, so I did. I woke up before Lula this morning, hoping to get back here before the boys woke up. No such luck, they were all gathered in the living room drinking tea.

"Yeah yeah whatever!" Jaymi laughed knowingly.

"I was thinking we could go to the waterpark later?" George suggested. Everyone seemed to agree.

I reached into my pocket to grab my phone, only to realise that I'd left it at Lula's. shit.

"I just need to nip out, I'll be back in a bit." I called running towards the door.

"Don't be late for the waterpark!" George yelled after me.

"I wont!"I laughed back, shutting the door as I left the building.

Luckily there was a bus than ran across town so I hopped on it and got off two streets down from Lula's. I knocked on the door and Tara opened it, she looked as if she was on her way out.

"Oh Josh thank god you're here!" She panted, relief rushing through her features.

"I errr... I..." I stuttered before Tara interrupted me.

"She's in a bad way, but I have to go to work," she explained, "will you stay with her for a while, please?"

"Umm sure." I agreed, giving in to the desperation in Tara's eyes.

"She's in her room," Tara added before giving me a quick hug on her way out, "you're a life saver josh!"

So this hadn't gone as I expected, but I was genuinely worried about Lula, all I knew was that she was in a bad way. 'A bad way' what does that even mean?

I made my way slowly up the stairs and found Lula's room. She was sat on the floor with her head between her knees, clutching one of Amy's stuffed toys.

"Talulah?" I said quietly, she looked up slowly, her eyes were puffy and it was clear she had been crying.

"Joshua?" She replied, standing up and wiping the tears from her cheeks, "what are you doing here?"

"I errr... I..." I saw tears welling up in her eyes and her bottom lip started to quiver. Deciding this wasn't the time to tell her that I'd actually just popped in to grab my phone, I walked over slowly and rested my hands on her shoulders, "hey, what's wrong?"

This was obviously the wrong question to ask as she burst into tears, I allowed her head to rest against my shoulder as her hands gripped my t shirt, I felt the heat of her tears against my body as I held her.

"It's ok." I hushed, lowering us both to the ground so we were sat with our backs against her bed. After a while she calmed down a bit.

"I can't do it anymore Josh." She croaked, her voice was hoarse from crying.

"Can't do what?" I asked softly.

"I'm 20 years old, how am I supposed to look after a child when I'm barely an adult myself?" She replied, beginning to cry again. As if on que,  Amy started screaming, causing Lula to throw her head into her hands.

"It's ok, I'll get her." I smiled, standing up and plucking the screaming child from her crib, as I picked her up her screams softened and I sat back down next to Lula, with Amy on my lap.