Indestructible: Reinforced

Chapter 50

Chapter Fifty

     September 2012

     Present Day

     I rubbed my chest in an attempt to ease away the pain. It wasn’t a pain triggered by sadness or anger, it was bitter-sweet. And I hated it, I truly did, but my eyes were welling up with tears.

     I turned my head and buried my face in Josh’s chest. He smelled so good and the ache intensified. I wrapped my arms around his stomach and kissed the spot above his heart.

     “You okay?” He looked down at me and rubbed my arm soothingly. “What’s wrong?”

     I pulled away and wiped my cheeks on the back of my hand. “Nothing.” I sniffed and smiled at him. “Just another flashback.”

     “You’re having too many of those.” He chuckled. “What did you remember?”

     “Our first time.” I blushed. “And what happened afterwards.”

     “Aha.” He nodded and tightened his hold on me. “But why did it make you cry? It’s not a bad memory, not to me atleast.”

     “Me neither.” I shook my head. “Those are happy tears. Emotional ones. It was the best night of my life.”

     “Mine too.” He smiled. “But the night you answer my question might top it, depending on your answer.”

     I sighed and rested my head on his chest again. “I’m going to spend the rest of my life with you, Josh.” I replied. “But I’m nineteen. It’s too early.”

     “Hey, don’t rush it, baby.” He chuckled and I couldn’t stop myself from grinning at his cuteness. “Don’t be so hasty. Your head isn’t clear right now, wait till this whole ordeal is over.”

     “Okay.” I laughed and snuggled closer to him. “I’ll do that, why didn’t I think of that before?”

     “It’s alright.” He rubbed my arm. “I think of stuff that never cross your mind. We complete each other, Gabs.”

     I giggled and then tuned Jake and Drake back in. They were still arguing, but in hushed voices. And they were standing right outside Avy’s door. I wondered if she could hear them.

     “What are they fighting about?” I asked Josh.

     “They’re bringing up past issues.” Josh sighed. “Drake’s giving him shit about Ellie, and Jake’s striking back with Amelie. And at some point Jake mentioned the kiss Drake and Avy shared after some dance years ago, and Drake stammered and didn’t know what to say so he just insulted Jake by telling him he was a drunk and a bad influence on her.”

     I shook my head. “This is nonsense, really.”

     “I know.” Josh groaned and rested his head on the wall. “I hate them both.”

     “Why didn’t you try to stop them?”

     “I’m too tired.” He yawned. “And if I step in, I might just hit one of them. And I don’t want to hit Jake, he’s my brother and all. And I don’t want to hit the other one because then Avy would kill me.”

     “Shit.” I bolted upright and looked at Josh. “Where’s Cynthia?”

     “I don’t know.” He frowned. “You’re asking the wrong brother.”

     “Jake.” I called and waited for him to stop arguing with Drake and look at me.

     “What?” He snapped.