My Love Letter

Chapter 6

Josh balled his fists. “The real question is, why the heck are you here? And why don’t you have any clothes on?” 

“You mad, bro?” Adam sneered, yawning like he owned the place.

“Yes, I am! Why the heck don’t you have anything on?” 

"What's your problem, dude? You her boyfriend or something?” 

Josh lifted his head high, tossing his hair. “My problem is you- and no, I’m not her boyfriend; I'm her childhood friend."

Adam rolled his eyes and put on an are-you-serious face. "Wow. Just, wow. You're pathetic, like a little girl."

Josh's face turned as red as a boiled lobster, and I grabbed Vanessa's hand to keep her from walking out the door or beating Adam to a bloody pulp. The latter sauntered into the living room and clicked on the TV, and Josh turned around and stalked to his car. His shoulders were tight and his head low, and I motioned for Vanessa to stay behind as I ran after him. 

"Josh, let me explain, plea-"

"Save it," he grunted. "I don't care anymore." He yanked the handle of the driver's door open so hard I thought he'd break it. 

"But-"

"I've heard and seen enough."

I slid in front of him and slammed the car door closed, almost catching his fingers. "Let me explain, Joshua."

"Kimberly. Get out of the way." His voice had a low, metallic quality to it, something I'd never heard.

"Not until you let me explain," I retorted.

Running his hands through his hair, Josh sighed loudly. Then he physically picked me up, trapping my arms to my sides, and placed me down away from the car. He hopped into the driver's seat.

"Bye, Kim. To think I thought we- nevermind." He muttered something to himself and looked behind his shoulder as he backed out of the driveway. 

"Joshua Starr! Stop it!" 

It was, as usual, too late. He peeled out of the driveway and down the street like a maniac, and I wanted to cry. Had I just lost the best guy friend of my life? I went back inside, shutting the door sharply after me. Vanessa was nowhere to be found; she was probably in my bedroom. I power-walked to the living room, aching to backhand my insufferable houseguest. Said houseguest was on the couch, watching some stupid show on the flat-screen TV. He had changed into a pair of navy-blue gym shorts and a white t-shirt.

I let him have it. "Oh, so now you have clothes on? Why didn’t you have any clothes on at the door earlier? "

“Why do you care? And I just felt like wearing my boxers. Is that a crime?” 

What had I ever seen in him?! “Yes it is," I barked, "and because of that little scene you made, my best guy friend won't talk to me! Adam...you’re such a-an idiot!"

He stood up from the couch and walked towards me in that cool-dude manner, uncaring, unseeing. I backed up uncertainly and found myself against a wall again. Great. I crossed my arms and stared up at him, refusing to back down this time. Adam's eyes were filled with constrained malice, and when he spoke, his words were laced with venom.

“But you love this idiot. Have you forgotten that waste-of-paper letter you made for me?” His words bit into my heart. My eyes welled up, and I was angry at myself for letting him affect me, at my eyes for tearing up at his words. 

"Let me go, Adam." My throat felt parched.

He looked at me down his nose again and stalked back to the couch. then he pointed a finger at me

“Keep my name out of your mouth," he said icily.

I didn't even bother glaring at him but stomped from the living room and into the restroom, where I jerked my glasses off and splashed my face a few times. I didn't want Vanessa to see me like this. After finishing up there, I pushed open my bedroom door and chuckled in spite of myself at Vanessa, who was sprawled on the bed, asleep. It wasn't even eight o' clock PM yet. I sat beside her, and she jerked awake.

"Hey...when did you get back?" She yawned and covered her mouth.

"Like, ten minutes ago. Why'd you fall asleep, you silly?" I clicked on the TV.

"I was tired," she said, "and your bed is so comfy." 

After turning the channel to some mindless sitcom, I asked Vanessa a question I'd been pondering for a while.

"Hey, do you have Josh's cell number?"

"Why?"

Not the answer I'd been expecting. I played with a bit of my hair. "Just wondering." 

"Uh-huh. You like him, I know it." She grinned triumphantly. "You like Joshy!"

"Vanessa!" I playfully punched her in the arm.

"Ok, ok, yes, I have it. Hand me a piece of paper, will you?"

I did so, and she scribbled it onto the paper, adding a little heart beside it. She giggled, winking at me, and I rolled my eyes, plugging the number into my phone.

"You going to call him now?" Vanessa asked.

"I-I don't know." 

"Call him now- I'll leave you alone."

"Van-"

"It's ok, it's ok; I don't like intruding on other people's phone conversations." She hopped off the bed and shut the door behind her. I sighed exasperatedly.

"You can call him, Kim," I tried to convince myself. "You can do it." I shook my head, tossing my phone from one hand to the other. "Mmm...I don't know..." 

Then I made up my mind. Why not call Josh? If our friendship was truly finished, he wouldn't answer, and I could break down in peace. I touched the green 'call' button and put the phone to my ear.

Ringing.

Ringing.

More ringing.

“Hello?”

I had to cover my mouth before I gasped aloud. He'd answered! What do I do? What do I say?

AWESOME AUTHOR NOTES!!!!!!

I'M SORRY FOR THE WAIT....

I WORK HARD ON THIS CHAPTER

LOVE IT \(>.<)/ <3

VoTe (^.^)b

CoMmEnT \(^.^)/

ShArE :D 

HATE IT t(-_-t)