The Girl Who Worked In A Music Shop

Chapter 47

Phoenix PoV
I wake up, suddenly. I look around to try to remember where I am, I feel something warm around me... then it comes to me like a tidal wave.
I'm in Josh's house because Tyler had a date... and his ARMS ARE ROUND ME!?!

I take a moment to catch up with myself. Im still lying here, in his arms, he's holding on tight and breathing slow... he's still asleep. Good.
I slowly untangle his arms from around me and very cautiously sit up and proceed to walk over to the kitchen where my phone is. The movies still playing, It must be at least on its 3rd run by now...
I make it to the kitchen, the radio is still playing. I noticed that when I first walked in, it must be always on... I used to do that when I was little so it didn't sound like I was alone.
I check the time,
6am exactly. SHIT.

At that exact moment the song on the radio changed. To.. our song, the one he wrote for me... Pete why the fuck did I miss your first show? Oh yeah because my best friends needed me.... or did they? The song got to the chorus and I was in tears, the same words crashing inside my head.
You made a mistake.
He will hate you.
You just lost the one person who loved you, nice one.
Loved...

"Phoenix?" I looked up to see a half awake Josh standing in the hallway, I realised I was looking up at him. I'm on the floor in tears. Nice.
"Are you okay?" He came over and sat next to me,
"I should've seen his first show... what if he hates me?!?"
"He would never hate you! He knows you're here! Besides it was him who called Tyler.."
I looked up at him but he was just staring at the floor.
"He did what?" He paused for a second.
"...he called Tyler saying how you where back on... you where back on your medicine and he wanted you to come home for a day to calm down. Then Tyler agreed with him because he thought... well we both missed you so..."
We sit in silence... both our brains processing what to say next like predicative text, except both of them where on freeze.
"Oh..."
I calmed down. Came to my senses.
He held my hands and helped me to my feet, when we where standing we didn't let go.
"Josh.."
"Yes"
"Why did Tyler call?"
"I just told you-"
"Why did Tyler call"
He stood there, he was looking at the floor still. He suddenly looked straight into my eyes,
"He called because of me. I was angry for not saying goodbye properly so I just... took it out on myself I guess..."
"And the drums"
"Yeah... and the drums" he gives a faint laugh,
"Josh"
"Yeah?"
"We need to go"
"Oh right yeah.."

We let go and grabbed my stuff, we waited for Tyler to arrive then we where off yet again.
Yet again I had to see the Chicago lights for the last time.
Yet again I had to say my goodbyes.
This time though, I was excited... this time I had left the right way. Spending my last moments with the people I care about.
"Hey Phee!" Tyler called from the front, the seating arrangements where the same from last night.
"Yes traitor?" I grin, Josh sniggers. I can practically feel Tyler's eyes roll.
"There's your plane..."
My stomach dropped. This time with them has gone so quickly....

Tyler parks as far from the plane as he could so 'we can walk for longer.'
When we where all finally out of the car I turned to them both,
"Can you guys do me one last favour?"
"Sure!" they both say in unison... I honestly think they are both somehow mentally connected.
"Josh... can you give me one last piggy back?"
"Sure.... why?" He asks tilting his head slightly,
"I'm giving Tyler one last chance to save me"
Large grins spread across each of our faces as we prepare for one last race...
"OKAY! I'm giving you a... umm... five second head start!" Tyler could barely contain how ready he was. I hop onto Josh's back and wrap my arms around him tightly, then we where off...
"GO!"
Josh hesitated at first but picked up speed quickly, he was actually pretty fast for having another persons weight added to his.
"OKAY I'm freee!" Tyler screams as he begins to sprint after us.

It was so close... Tylers hand reached towards my back.... and...
"HA!" I say as Josh spins around in celebration,
"HAHAHAHAHA! I almost had you!" Tyler tries desperately to redeem himself.
"Y O U L O S T" we chant together as I jump off his back and spin with him.
I could tell that Tyler wasn't enjoying this victory as much as we where...
"Oh Ty! You'll always be my hero!" I mess up his hair with my hands,
"Awwwhhh but I just carried you all that way..." Josh put on a sad face and made it look as if his lips where quivering. I smile and shake my head.
"Yes Josh you'll always be my strong hero" we laugh.
Did I ever mention how amazing their smiles are, Tylers is just filled with hope while Josh's is just pure sunshine.... I look up at them. Tyler's beanie sitting perfectly on his head while Josh's soft blue hair reflects in the sun perfectly.
After sometime both exchange a smile and then BAM.

They both crash into me, engulfing me in the largest, warmest and loveliest hug. I felt my anxiety melting away... as if they where draining it out of my body,
"Thank you" I say, stretching my arms between them.
"Thank you too" Tyler mumbles into the moment.
During moments like this I wish I could just stop time.
Of course after every good moment comes a bad one. Just like once you're in a good mood you're just waiting for the darkness to take over.
And in this moment the bad moment began with the long awaited words.
"You're going to be late Phee.." Tyler mumbles again, we let the words fade away into the cold winter air... we don't let go.
"Phee.. your plane leaves in 10 minutes" Josh, also mumbling, let's go. All our eyes are the same shade of red...
"Here" Tyler slipped my backpack off of his back.
"I need to go or I'm gunna to have to pay a fine" he says looking even more depressed.
I hug him a final time.
"I'll see you at Christmas!" He waves and gives a warm smile.
After we let go we both turn to Josh.

Josh POV
There's no way I'm just going to say my goodbyes and stand here.
"I'll go with you... to the terminal" I say.
She smiles faintly. I turn to Tyler.
"I'll be back in ten minutes" he smiles and waves the keys.
"Be in this spot or you walk." With a smirk on his face he turns back to give Phoenix one last hug.
"Remember one thing.." she says to him.
"Hmm" he hardly replies,
"Don't forget about me you traitor" they laugh, the sad kind. Then break apart and he gives his last wave before jogging back to the car, spinning his head round to us.
"Shall we?" I say, linking her arm in mine. She doesn't hesitate, I can't tell if it's because she's sad or not.

We walk straight to the terminal. As we draw nearer she pulls my arm and slows down till we're standing by the entrance. Her head stays low, I lift her chin with my hand, her cheeks are filled with a mix of tears and mascara.
The second I see her I loose it too. Nothing hurts more than seeing the person you love upset.
I press my head against hers and we cry together..
"Thank you..." she murmurs,
"What for..?" I say, studying her face for answers.
"Being here"
I pause for a moment... letting it sink in.
"I will always be here... I'm just a call away"
She smiles and drops her bag into the floor before hugging me hard.
I wrap my arms around her tightly. Just to be protective.
We break apart and she smiles sadly up at me, then instead of just letting go I lean in further.
She closes her eyes.

And I kiss her.

The next thing I knew I was passing her bag over and she was through the doors, I watched her bag sway on her back as she walked away from me.