Bitten By Love

Chapter 8

***Josh's POV***

My heart was beating like a thousand drums. Simone will probably hate me for life. I don't want to lose my best friend. I don't know what to do here. If I try to convince Simone to go out with Ramon she'll probably stop talking to me. On the other hand if I don't convince her the video would be released and she would hate me for life. Its a lose lose situation.

"What's the deal?" She asked again.

I could feel my palms starting to sweat.
'Be brave Josh. She's your best friend. She'll understand.' I tried to encourage myself.

Simone stopped pacing and finally sat down.

"OK. Here goes." I cleared my throat.
"Ramon wants you to go out with him so I gave him your number -"

"Why?" Simone shouted.

"Please don't interrupt. Let me finish." I continued. "I needed something from him too so it's actually a trade."

"What could you possibly want from that jerk?" Simone interrupted again.

"I needed him to set me up with a girl." I exhaled. "They are kinda friends and he could put in a good word for me."

Simone sighed deeply. "Awe. You're doing all this for a girl? That's great." She smiled. "OK. I'll do this for you and your girl." She said putting air quotes on girl.

"Really?" I was surprised. "You'll do this for me? You'll start liking Ramon? "

"Whoa! I said I will go out with him. I didn't say I will like him."

What a relief! I thought I was going to lose my best friend but she's actually going along with it. She didn't even want to know who the girl was and I'm glad she didn't ask. How could I tell her that Davia is the girl? She would be livid!

"So where have you been?" I asked as I remembered that she didn't answer me earlier.

"I told you already." She said in a really high pitched tone. That's something she does when she is lying.

"Come on Sim. You're lying. I know you better than anyone else knows you. Where were you?"

She took a deep breath. "I was at Sister's Rock." She paused for a minute. "I really miss her J."

Oh my God. I have been so insensitive. I thought she was sneaking around and lying to me but she was just missing her sister.
Sister's Rock is a rock at our local park where Simone and Samantha made there own. It was the place they go whenever things got bad at home and they wanted time alone. It was their secret spot. She probably went there because she misses her sister and wants to feel close to her again. I should have figured that out.

She stood at the window, her eyes looking distant. I walked over to her and engulfed her in a hug. "Everything will be ok Sim."

"I really miss her." She sobbed into my shirt. I really wish I knew the right things to say to make her feel better.

"Go to the dance." I said.

"What? Why?" she looked up at me, surprised.

I didn't know why suggested that. "It's what you're sister would have wanted."

Tears streamed down her face. I hugged her again. "Shhhh. Its going to be alright." I stroked her hair knowing it's the only thing that calms her down.
We stood there hugging for a while until her breathing began to get steady. She let go and walked to her closet.
She took out a dress.
"It's Samantha's." She started crying again. "She bought it to wear to the ball."
"I think she would love if you wear it." I smiled. "It's probably the only time I'll see you in a dress....other than the one you'll wear to our wedding." I joked.

She threw a pillow at me. "Jerk! From now on don't keep any secrets from me."
I extended my hand for her to shake. "Forever and Always?"

"Forever and Always." She smiled and shook my hand.

Forever and Always. Its something we always said to each other whenever we're scared, making a promise or recovering from a fight. When we were about seven years old we had a huge fight. I swore I wouldn't be friends with Simone anymore. One day she saw someone fighting me and she jumped right in to help me. From that day she made me promise that forever and always we would be friends.

I feel really bad making that promise when I know I'm keeping stuff from her. The video was a big mistake but I will tell her about it......eventually.

"I'm going to take a quick shower." Simone got up and walked to the bathroom. She winked. "Don't make any promises while I'm gone."
I laughed.
I'm happy that she doesn't hate me for making that deal with Ramon. I really hope nothing bad will happen. I couldn't forgive myself if anything does. I decided to text Ramon.

Me: Dude. She said yes.

A few minutes later he texted back.

Ramon: Of course she said yes. I know she couldn't resist me.

What a jerk!

Me: U have to promise me that you won't hurt her.

Ramon: All I have to promise you is not to release your video.

Me: What about Davia? What did she say?

Ramon: What did she say about what?

Me: Our deal. You promised you would get her to talk to me.

Ramon: Oh. She agrees to come to your house Thursday and go to the ball with you.

Yes!

I breathed a sigh of relief. Life is great!
After what seems like hours Simone came from the bathroom.
"No game tonight?" she teased. "Afraid to be beaten by a girl?"

I immediately sprung from the bed to set up the game. We played need of speed and chatted for hours. We haven't done this for a while. I've missed spending time with my best friends. Seems like whenever we're drifting apart need for speed always brings us back together.
I chuckled to myself.

"Are you giggling because I'm kicking you ass?" Simone laughed.
I grabbed the controller out of her hand.
"Give it back! You're going to make me crash!" She watched hopelessly as her car totaled.
"I win!" I held up my hands in triumph.
We played some more. By the time we got tired it was too late for me walk back home so I decided to spend the night. Simone gave me a blanket and I stayed on the floor while she took the bed.
We lay awake.
My mind started going in circles again. Davia is actually going to the ball with me. I cant wait to rub it in Kimberly's face. She will be mortified.

I thought about Simone and Ramon. If he ever hurts her I don't know what I would do. Simone has always been there for me whenever I needed her. She is my rock.
"Sim.." I checked to see if she was sleeping.
"Yes?" she mumbled sleepily.
"You're my Forever and Always." I told her.
She replied. "You're my annoying best friend who won't let me sleep." A few minutes later she flung her hand over the edge of the bed for me to hold. "You're my Forever and Always Josh" she whispered.
We fell asleep holding hands.