Stubborn Love

chapter: 5

recap:

   When I was done changing I went back to Jen's room where she was waiting for me in her yellow bikini. We went downstairs and to her backyard laughing and talking the whole way. As soon as I stepped outside my happy mood evaporated when I saw who one of the three cars belonged to.

   There standing by the barbeque making food with Mason was Josh. I grabbed Jen's arm and said, "Why didn't you tell me he was here?" "I figured you guys would want to see each other again after being apart so long. I kinda forgot how you guys left off," she said to me. "Well since they haven't noticed me do you think it would be okay if I snuck out of here?" I asked. As I finished saying that the boys just had to turn around.

   We all awkwardly stood there for a few seconds before I mumbled out a small and quiet hi. After I said that some of the tension seemed to fade but it was still there. "So Grace is going to help me get drinks and stuff like that from inside, while you guys finish cooking," Jen said. Did I mention she is slightly bossy. The guys nodded their heads as if to say ok while I followed Jen back into the house. We silently moved around the kitchen grabbing what we needed.

   I was dumping a bag of chips in a bowl when I heard Jen say, "I'm sorry for not telling you that Josh would be here." I sighed quietly before I said, "It's ok Jen you didn't realize that we aren't on the best of terms right now." "Are you guys every going to work it out for James' sake?" she asked me. "He doesn't know that James is his son. I saw him at The Boathouse because he was the waiter but he ignored me along with James," I said to her while grabbing the bowls. "I'm sure you guys will work things out once you guys have the balls to talk to each other," she said also collecting the things she had to carry. "I hope so," I said before bracing myself to go outside again.

   We all sat down at the patio table and began to eat. We were sitting in an uncomfortable silence until Mason broke it. "So Grace are you going to be finishing grade twelve at our school?" he questioned me. "No actually I already graduated," I replied to him. "How'd you manage that?" he asked. "I took some online courses in Ireland which helped me graduate before I moved back here," I said. "Oh that's cool," he said. I just nodded my head. "Well now if I ever need help with anything in school I know who to ask," Jen said, also trying to ease the tension.

   Jen and Mason fell into easy conversation, they kept trying to incorporate Josh and I into the conversation but we mostly stayed silent. When we were done eating Mason offered to help Jen clean up, so that left me outside alone with Josh. We were silent, all that you could hear from us was our breathing. I was playing temple run on my phone but I felt eyes burning holes in face so I kept screwing up. Eventually I couldn't take it anymore so I turned the game off and looked up from my phone at Josh and asked him, "What?"

   "What do you mean what?" he replied. I let out an annoyed sigh and said, "I'm doing this with you, especially not here." "Doing what?" he asked with a smirk making its way on his face because he knew what I meant. "I'm not going to put up with you being a jerk and then have me blow up at you all so that you could tell me you hate me for freezing you out," I said to him. He opened his mouth to reply but Mason and Jen walked out so he closed it and went back to ignoring me.

   "Jen I invited Amy over. I hope you don't mind," Josh said to Jen. "I don't," she replied to him before taking a seat next to me. As soon as the boys started talking I leaned towards Jen and asked her, "Who is Amy?" "She is his totally slutty girlfriend," she replied. I became tense after she said that. I couldn't really expect him to not move on from me. Even though I'm the one that ruined our relationship by freezing him out, I hoped that he would wait for me and welcome me back lovingly. I guess I convinced myself somewhere along the way that he wont be mad at me after I explained what happened, and somehow we could be a family; Josh, James, and I a family.

   Jen and I were lying by the pool sun tanning, while the guys were goofing around in the pool. All was well till I heard a high pitch, annoying voice yell,"Joshy." I opened my eyes, sat up, and removed my sunglasses and looked towards were the god awful sound came from. Standing by the pool was a bleach blonde, obliviously fake tanned, plastic barbie. Her clothes were far to tight and her ass was hanging out of her shorts. Her top was showing her stomach and her fake boobs were falling out of her shirt. I was about to ask who the slut belonged to, but I saw Josh get out of the pool and walk to her. As soon as he was close to her she kissed him. A frown immediately came to my face.

   I never would have guessed that he would date such a slut because before I moved away he always said how he hated sluts. I sighed quietly before sliding in the pool. When they finally pulled away for air I heard Barbie ask, "Whose the girl in the pool?" Josh replied, "She is a friend of Jen's," he said with disgust in his voice. Ten minutes later I heard them walk out of the house. Barbie as I like to call her was wearing a bikini that showed more skin than it covered. Her lips along with Josh's were swollen and she had hickies on her neck, so everyone unfortunately knows what they were doing in Jen's bathroom.

   When they got in the pool I decided to get out and sit on one of the deck chairs. I never noticed until now but Josh looks so much hotter than he did before I left. His abs and v-lines are amazing not to mention his arms. I was pulled out of my daze when I heard my name being called. I recognized the voice as Mason's so I looked towards him. "Grace this is Amy Josh's girlfriend. Amy this is Grace she is our old friend," Mason said introducing us to each other. I decided to be civil so I said, "It's nice to meet you Amy." She gave me a dirty look than focused her attention on Josh. "Bitch," I mumbled under my breathe.

   I was talking to Mason and Jen most of the time. Josh and Amy completely ignored me and they only talked to each other, Mason, or Jen or they would be making out. At one point I thought they were going to do it right there in the pool. I was sitting around drinking an Arizona talking to Jen when my phone rang. I looked at the caller id and saw it was my mom. I excused myself from the conversation and walked away from the noise to answer my phone.

Phone Conversation

G: Hello

G's Mom: Thank god you answered

G: What's wrong mom?

G's Mom: It's James, he is sick. He wont stop crying, I've tried calming him, your dad has and Chloe has but it won't work. You have to come home Grace.

G: Ok I just have to change then I'll come. Is he ok?

G's Mom: He is running a temperature

G: Ok I'll be there soon, bye

G's Mom: Bye see you soon

End of conversation

   As soon as I hung up with my mom I went over to Jen. She was talking to everyone. "Hey Jen, I have to go," I said to her. "Ok is everything ok?" she asked. "I hope so," I said. "Ok, text me later," she said. "Ya I will. Bye," I said to her. "See ya," she said back to me. As I walked away I said bye to everyone else. I only got a reply from Mason, but I couldn't be bothered to care at the moment. I quickly went to change before I got in my car and drove home.

   As soon as I got home I ran into the house. I found a sleeping James in his play pen and sighed in relief. "It was just a fever, I gave him his baby medicine and he fell asleep," my mom said before hugging me. "I was so worried," I said to her. "I know hunni sorry for scaring you," she said to me. "I'm going to go have a shower quickly before he wakes up," I said to my mom. "Ok," she said.

    I went upstairs and showered quickly before putting my pajamas on. I came downstairs and found James lying awake in his play pen. I picked him up and planted a kiss on his head, "Hi baby," I said to him. He giggled when I talked to him. I made him a bottle and fed him. I continued talking to him and he had a smile on his face the whole time. I texted Jen letting her know everything was ok.

   For the rest of the night I stayed up with my mom, dad, and Chloe. When it got late I went upstairs and put James to bed before going to sleep myself. I lost consciousness as soon as my head hit the pillow.