Indestructible: Reinforced

Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

     November 2009

     Confession Time

     “Est-ce que Josh Anderson?” Laurette asked me as we stepped out of school and onto the pavement. “Is that Josh Anderson?”

     I followed her gaze and it rested on Josh, who was leaning against his car – a black BMW X3 – and looking at me. He waved at me awkwardly and waited till a car passed before he crossed the street.

     It had been three weeks since he’d dropped me off at my house and had kissed me on my cheek. Three weeks of him not calling and me waiting for his call. Three weeks of listening to sad songs and eating a lot of chocolate. Three weeks of moping around and not caring whether Avy and Jake got back together or not. Well, almost three weeks.

     I’d decided to forget about Josh Anderson two days ago.

     And now here he was, strolling over to me with an incredibly sexy black hoodie on. Laurette excused herself before he got here but stood a few feet away with Emilie. They weren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

     Josh didn’t spare either of them a glance when he reached me. “Hey.”

     “Hi.” I replied without smiling.

     He smiled at me apologetically. “Can we talk?”

     He wanted to talk? About what? “Sure.” I crossed my arms over my chest and looked at him. “What is it?”

     “I know you’re mad-“

     “Why would I be mad?” I interrupted him. “I haven’t seen you in a while. We haven’t even talked. Why would I be mad?”

     “Gaby, just stop.” He held up his palm. “Once I explain myself to you you’re going to feel like crap because you acted that way. Now, get in my car, please, so we can talk without your friends knowing every detail of what we’re about to discuss.”

     I looked up into his blue eyes. They were still as beautiful as ever and they still had the same effect on me. My heart was racing and my cheeks were one compliment or hearty laugh away from turning red.

     “Fine.” I pulled out my phone and rang my driver. I apologized and told him I was going to hang out with a friend then I was going to come home later. I hung up and turned to face Josh again. “Where are we going?”

     “I just need to be alone with you.” He answered as we crossed the street. “We need to talk and I don’t know how to talk with people around me.”

     I frowned. “What?” I asked confusedly.

     “Just give me a minute.” He opened the door for me and I climbed into the passenger seat. He walked around the car and got in.

     “This is so weird.” I muttered as he revved up the engine and pulled onto the road. I was still a little bit mad at him. The week after our “hangout” I’d been expecting his phone-call day and night. During week 2 I’d been very angry, and I’d been cussing out males and listening to songs that made fun of men. Week 3 had been depression week for me.

     I glanced at Josh. His eyes were on the road and he was frowning. And he looked troubled, preoccupied, and nervous. Definitely nervous. He kept running his fingers through his hair.

     I soon realized that we were heading back towards the neighborhood where we lived. Yeah, we were neighbors. How inconvenient was that? I wanted to hate him and forget about him, why had he shown up now?