Keep Quiet // Josh Dun (completed)

chapter thirty three :: rainy waiting

"I'm gonna make it up to you," Josh told Nicole. "I promise."

Josh showed up at her house the following weekend. She was avoiding him at school.

Nicole didn't say anything. Her heart was already broken in two and trying to repair itself.

"Come on baby," Josh laid next to her in her bed. "You have to talk to me."

Nicole didn't answer. Instead, she rolled over away from him.

"Nic," Josh put his arm over her. "Please."

Nicole squeezed her eyes closed as she grabbed his hand, slotting her fingers between his.

Josh knew that was her way of telling him that she still wanted to be with him, even if she was pissed.

"Josh.." she started. "I don't think you understand how much I need you right now."

"I know, b-but I'm trying to fix that." He said. "I've neglected our relationship and I'm so sorry for that."

Nicole didn't say anything.

"I'm so sorry that I failed you," Josh pulled her arm so that she was facing him. "But I still like you just as much as I did the first day we met."

Nicole bit her lip as she thought. She couldn't even look at his face without wanting to squeeze her neck again.

"And I hate these," Josh put his hand on her neck and ran his thumb over the gauze. "And I don't wanna be the reason that they're here."

Nicole couldn't even speak. It wasn't like she didn't want to respond, but something was scratching away at her thoughts and telling her not to say something. Something was telling her that something was going to go wrong. She didn't know when or what would happen, but it wasn't just a gut feeling.

"Are we good?" Josh asked.

"Yeah." Nicole whispered.

"Are you sure?"

She nodded.

"I need to hear you say that you forgive me." Josh pushed.

"I forgive you." She said quietly. She wasn't sure whether she meant it or not.

"Will you give me a kiss?" He asked, a small smile on his face.

Nicole looked up at him and gave him a small kiss.

"Your dad really wants to kick my ass." Josh mentioned when he pulled away.

Nicole nodded. "I freaked out on him and he thinks it's your fault."

"Because it is." Josh replied.

"No," Nicole said. "I'm the one with the um.." She pointed her index finger on her temple. She didn't want to hurt Josh or make him feel as if he was in the wrong, so she took the blame for it. "You didn't do anything wrong."

They both knew that was a lie.

"You know how I'm gonna make it up to you?" Josh started as his thumb traced her lips.

"How?"

"I'm gonna take you out for a birthday dinner since I couldn't make it here on time." He told her. "And I'm actually gonna be there."

"When?" Her hand was placed on his bicep as she laid on her back and he hovered over her.

"This weekend. So that we actually have time."

Nicole nodded. "I like you too." She replied to what he said just a few minutes earlier.

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