Josh's POV
"No, I won't be able to make it," I spoke into the phone. "No, Ryan. My friend is here in the hospital. I can't just leave her."
"Chris is going to rip your head off," Ryan shouted into the phone.
"It's a fucking emergency, tell him it's Rebecca."
"Wait, that chick who was in your apartment earlier? She's cute, you know." I rolled my eyes. "I saw you two all cuddled up on the couch."
"Yes, of course I fucking know," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "And we were not cuddling." I heard him laugh.
"Yeah, whatever. I just know you haven't looked at anyone like that in a long time. Not even to Ryan Ashley." I winced internally. I rubbed my head in unwanted stress and frustration, along with worriedness over Rebecca.
"Don't," I growled harshly. "Just put Chris on the phone." I heard shuffling sounds from the receiver along with the muffled voice of Ryan speaking to Chris.
"What's up?" Chris asked.
"I won't be able to make it to the band meeting today," I told him.
"Why not?" he asked in annoyance. "Josh, we're practicing for Warped Tour. We need you here."
"We're deciding on what songs to play. Anything you choose, just message me." He gave me a deep sigh.
"What is this about, Josh?"
"Rebecca is in the hospital. She had a severe allergic reaction and I'm staying here with her until she is admitted out." I sat down and bounced my knee up and down. I leaned back and sighed.
"You haven't told her yet, have you?" Chris has been bugging me to tell her that I'm in a band and that I am best friends with her cousin. It just never comes up in conversation. "Josh, she has to find out from you before she sees it somewhere else."
"I was going to tell her today. I really was."
"Tell her exactly what?"
"That I was going to be gone for the summer," I muttered. He sighed. "I was going to tell her, okay? But that's when she couldn't breathe. I had to take her to the hospital."
"It's your life, Josh. I'm not telling you how to live it, but I am telling you your friendship could end badly. Since she was cheated on, I don't think she's too happy with people lying to her. I'm also worried for you. You know how the fans are. If they see you with her and those photos get online, you know they are going to start to make assumptions." I closed my eyes with an internal wince. I hung up and put my phone aside. I've been here for over an hour and no one has told me anything. Another half hour passed by until a nurse called out for relatives of Rebecca. I stood up and approached her.
"She's going to be okay. I'll take you to her room."
"Thank you," I responded. She walked through the halls. "Will her baby be okay?"
"We are running some tests, but so far everything looks fine." She sent me a kind smile. "Are you the father?"
"Um, no, I'm just a very concerning friend," I answered with a tight smile. "She's been through a lot lately." She opened a door for me.
"She should be waking up soon. Her family has been notified and should arrive any minute now."
"Thank you," I repeated. She left the room without another word. I sat down on the seat by her bed. The rashes that were on her arm were slowly fading away. She had more color in her cheeks rather than the pale complexion she had when I carried her in here. I leaned over and brushed the hair from her face aside. I browsed through social media for a while until Rebecca stirred awake. I turned my phone off and sat up straighter.
