Lust Over Love

Chapter 1

"So you're coming to Chris' tomorrow night right?" Josh quietly asked his cousin, Rose.

Rose was lost in thought of how terrible her summer had turned out to be. She and her best friend Jordan had been planning so many road trips and high times. Jordan however had fallen in love with your typical bad boy who had trapped her in his dangerous life. Leaving Rose all alone.

So here she was, trying to find new friends to hang out with for the rest of her summer. She had always been close to Josh so she figured hanging with his friends would suffice.

"Yeah. I guess so, who all is going and what are y'all doing?" Even though Rose was desperate to have friends again she was kind of sketched out to be at a party with all boys.

"Oh it's not going to be like a huge party or anything.. Just Aaron, John, Chris, Renee, you, and I."

Great. Renee was going to be there. Renee was Josh's girlfriend who just about controlled every aspect of his life. Rose and Renee used to be good friends when they were younger but ever since she and Josh got together she turned into a controlling freak. But then again who wouldn't, Josh was very attractive. He attracted just about every girl, it was no surprise that Renee would feel threatened.

"Oh and before I forget, John mentioned that he thought you were cute. So don't be offended if they make any sort of sexual remark.." Josh said shyly before walking to the kitchen to find something to eat.

John? Rose couldn't remember when, if ever, she had met John. Perhaps John was the short one. Or perhaps he was the one that had gone to visit Josh just the day before. She wasn't quite sure.

As for the rest of the boys, Rose figured she should at least try to get along with them. Her parents, who at the moment were having marital issues, decided to vacation in Belize in hopes of rekindling their love; thus leaving her to stay at her Aunt Krista's, Josh's mom. So there was no way out of making the most of her summer with these boys and sadly, Renee.

Josh walked out of the kitchen holding a plate of chicken Alfredo in one hand while frantically trying to type out a message on his phone. It was just past midnight and Rose was getting tired so she figured she would go to bed. As she got up Josh sat down and started talking to her.

"Oh and one other thing, whatever you do tomorrow night, stay away from Chris. He's emotionally reserved and I know how you get when you're drunk." This last remark left Rose flushed red and rather angry. How dare Josh say something like that! Yes, she had had her wild days but nonetheless she was able to control herself!

"Josh, darling, your friends don't interest me. I just want to have a good time, YOU make sure THEY stay from ME." Rose turned and walked away with a swing to her hip to show she was serious.

Josh slightly chuckled and went back to staring at his dim phone screen.

What did he mean that Chris was "emotionally reserved". She had met Chris just a few days before; he wasn't anything special, just your typical 18 year old boy who thought he was invincible. Perhaps he had a girlfriend, but "emotionally reserved" sounded like it was a complicated relationship.

Whatever. None of her business.

~

The next morning when Rose awoke she noticed that Renee had spent the night with Josh. They were laying on the couch, Josh on the edge as Renee took up over half of the couch.

Very quietly Rose tried to make her way to the kitchen to not disturb them, but as she walked around the couch she knocked down a picture frame that was on the coffee table; making Josh startle and completely fall of the couch.

"Josh, why the fuck is she up this early?" Renee slightly got up to glare at Rose for waking her up.

Rose quietly apologized and kept on with her mission to find something to fulfill this hunger she had. As she was in the kitchen she could hear Josh and Renee arguing about something.

"Do you know if Gisselle is going tonight?" Josh asked.

"Oh my god. Can Chris please get over her. She is not interested in him! She said she was going to try to go but she has to work."

"Good."

Josh turned the tv on so Rose could barely hear what Renee said next.

"Chris is pathetic. He loves her and she just plays with him, she basically has him whipped and they aren't even together!"

"He doesn't love her. He needs to find someone who will actually love him so he can get over Gisselle."

"Well good luck with that, that boy is a hot mess."

Rose ate her bagel as she analyzed everything she had just overheard.

Chris was desperately in love with some girl that showed no emotion to him whatsoever. Why would he be wasting his time if she showed no emotion?

Rose had never been in love, sure she told her parents and whatever few friends she had "I love you". But actually being in love, never.

What is like to be in love, she wondered. Will there be butterflies and moments where all you think about is that person you love? Are you able to breathe and fully function when you're not around that person?

Being in love sounded horrible.