— Wren —
Not a single word had been exchanged during the drive to the airport. The only sound in the car was Blink-182 song blaring through the speakers. I quietly hummed along while Josh sat in the passenger seat, his attention fixed on his phone, fingers constantly tapping as he texted someone.
As I gripped the steering wheel, preparing to change lanes, some reckless driver cut me off. "Asshole!" I shouted, laying on the horn, my road rage getting the best of me.
"Careful next time," Josh muttered, still engrossed in his phone. A couple more minutes passed in tense silence before I decided to break it.
"Why didn't we go with Tyler and Jenna? They're probably already there."
"He's not talking to me," Josh replied, his tone serious.
"What?" I chuckled, assuming he was joking. "Why not? What could you have possibly done to get your best friend not to talk to you?"
Josh remained silent, his fingers resuming their rapid typing on his phone.
"Josh?" I prodded.
"He's just not talking to me. Just leave it alone, Wren," he said, raising his voice slightly.
Something was off. He had been acting strangely since the party, constantly on edge. I tried to convince myself it was just nerves, but doubt nagged at me. What had Josh done to upset Tyler? And who on earth was he texting so obsessively?
The remainder of the ride to the airport was filled with a heavy, unresolved tension. The familiar song lyrics played on, the music serving as the only bridge between our thoughts. I couldn't shake the feeling that Josh was keeping something significant from me. His usually warm and engaging presence had been replaced by a distant and guarded one.
As we approached the airport terminal, the bustling atmosphere only seemed to amplify the silence between us. Passengers scurried with luggage, families bid tearful goodbyes, and announcements echoed through the intercom. Josh finally pocketed his phone, but his expression remained inscrutable.
We parked the car, and Josh turned to me, his eyes searching mine. "Sorry." He muttered, offering a weak smile.
I nodded, though my curiosity burned. It was clear that whatever had transpired at that party had left a deep mark on both Josh and Tyler, one that Josh wasn't ready to share.
