Can't Be Touched

Columbus, Ohio

*Kayla's POV*

I was standing in the terminal, waiting for Josh. It had been years since I'd last seen him, or even been home, but here I am. Columbus is where I grew up and Josh and I were thick as thieves back then.

I was searching for his mess of brown curls and facial scruff when I was picked up from behind and whirled around in multiple circles. The arms around me looked foreign but felt like home.

When the stranger set me down and I turned, I was shocked. The brown haired boy I'd once known now had neon pink hair that matched mine. His beard was gone and he had a sleeve of tattoos.

"Kayla! God, I saw that pink hair and I was like, dude no way!" His smile stretched across his face and all I could do was smile back. His eyes still squinted when he smiled.

"Great minds think alike, ye-ah?" My voice cracked a bit at the end and I couldn't help the few stray tears that fell down my face. His smile faltered and he pulled me into his arms. He didn't know why I was crying, but he consoled me anyway. He had no idea that I was crying because I should have never left Columbus. I should have never left him.

*Josh's POV*

She cried against my chest and buried her head in my shirt. She'd been through a lot since she'd left. After the whole Bradley situation, she called me. I knew she was staying with her friend Chris, but I wanted her home.

She finally took a breathe and stepped back a little, rubbing her eyes. I smiled at her makeupless face and pink hair. I picked up her duffel bag and threw it over my shoulder before taking her hand.

"C'mon, there's some people who want to see you."

We walked through the airport together and I got stopped a few times for pictures or autographs. Kayla would stand to the side and watch, smiling at me. She was proud of who I'd become, which in turn made me the happiest guy alive.

Multiple people asked if we were dating and I'd blush like a bafoon, while she just smiled shyly and politely told them no. It took practically everything in me not to tell them, "yeah, look at my amazing and wonderful girlfriend. She is perfection".

So I may or may not still have a massive crush on this girl. She was the first girl I'd ever fallen head over heels with, and here she is now.

I smiled at her outfit as she climbed into my truck. Her sweatpants had a gumball print and bright pink waist band. She had on a plain black tank top and pink converse. She was perfect.

I walked around the side and chucked her duffel in the bed of the truck, going around and unlocking the driver side door. Kayla had made herself comfy, criss crossing her legs and reading an alt press magazine that had Tyler and I on the cover.

*Kayla's POV*

I read the article on Tyler and Josh, my best friends. They had become a hit after I'd left, traveling all over the world. I reached over and grabbed Josh's hand while he drove.

"I'm really proud of you prince Josh." He smiled at my old nickname for him and squeezed my hand.

"Thanks princess Kayla."

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*Josh's POV*

We pulled up to the apartment complex and she had to jump out of the truck. She was still incredibly short and it made me laugh. She climbed up onto the tire of the truck and reached over the side to grab her duffel, but I grabbed it before she could.

She gave me a look and huffed, but I just laughed, watching her hop down. She walked up to me and tossed her hair out of her face.

"Ya know, I can carry my things. You don't have to." I just shrugged and she walked alongside me as I lead her to the apartment. I unlocked the door and stood back, knowing Tyler would be waiting on the other side with Jenna.

"Kayla!" Tyler pulled Kayla into a bear hug and rocked her side to side. "You're finally back, we missed you soooo" he was using his sing song voice which made her laugh, hugging him back just as tight. "Hey wait..." he held her at arms length and inspected her, then looked at me with an accusatory look. "What'd you do to her hair."

I started laughing and dropped her bag next to the couch, holding my hands up in surrendor. "I promise you it was like that when I picked her up."

Kayla smiled and looked over at Jenna, then looked at Tyler and made an ahem noise. Tyler's eyes widened and he quickly introduced the two of them, while I walked into the kitchen.

Tyler came walking in after about fifteen minutes and leaned against the cabinets. He had a knowing look on his face, one that only your best friend would get when they know something.

I just looked at him blankly while he looked at me with that knowing grin. Finally I asked him what he wanted.

"You missed her dude, like a lot. Now that she's back, your feelings are coming back again. Did my little joshy forget how much he missed Kayla?"

I sighed and groaned all in one, putting my head in my hands. Tyler reads me like an open book. "You can't tell her." I spoke through my hands.

"Tell me what?" Kayla strode in and I felt my heart drop. Tyler quickly covered for me.

"He got a cat."

"WHERE, NOW, TELL ME." She went into full on search mode and I hit Tyler.

"Dude, that was supposed to be a surprise!" I was actually kinda upset because that was supposed to be a surprise. Now she's running around the apartment, trying to find the cat. She loves cats just as much as I do.

She ran back into the kitchen, wrapped her arms around my neck, and lifted her feet off the ground so her full weight was dragging me. Her pink hair was all in her face and her eyes were squinted shut.

"Tell me where the cat is or I will destroy youuuu!" Tyler started laughing at her and I rolled my eyes.

"He's in my bedroom, first door on the right." She immediately released me and darted down the hallway, into my room.

I looked at Tyler and huffed. "So this is my new roommate."