Definitions

Chapter 56: Girls Night and Skype Calls

Advice, abstract noun.
The abstract idea that we seek for when we can finally recognise that as an individual, we don't have all the answers. Sometimes, someone else got more wisdom in those things than you did.

Chapter fifty six: Girls Night and Skype Calls
"Wait, so you like Ethan now?" I asked, incredulously, staring at Em. "So what about Manny?"
"Oh, we're still close," she said, "But just good friends, that's all." She picked up a Dorito, and put it in her mouth.
"Wow, I've missed a lot then, haven't I," I said, still trying to take it in. "So what about you and Vik, Kay? You've still not told me about that." Kay coloured slightly, and I watched as a smile crept onto her face. Aww.
"We're just friends, really," she said.
"Supposedly," said Ellie. "He needs to ask you out, girl! You're cute af together! I'm gonna tell him to do it."
"No no no!" Protested Kay, her eyes going wide, and the rest of us giggled at her. "If he wants to do it," she continued, "He'll do it when he's ready. I'd rather that, to be honest."
"Well I ship it," I smirked. "But oh my gosh, you guys haven't seen Meah and Jide together, they're a natural hazard, honestly."
"Oh really?" grinned Frey.
"Yeah, they egg each other on no end, it's like an accident waiting to happen!"
"Hey!" Meah complained. "Shut up you guys, this is a good bit, and you're gonna miss it!"

We turned back to watch Kung Fu Panda, which normally, nothing could distract me from watching. Only the surprising information about Emily's love life had been able to do it. It was strange how these things happened, I thought. Em and Manny had seemed so perfect together, and now that I thought about it, I remembered Ethan himself commenting about it. I tried to recall if he had seemed jealous, but it was so long ago now, that I couldn't really remember. Also, Emily had only mentioned her side of it - she liked Ethan, but wether he could return those feelings would be another story altogether. I hoped, for both of their sakes, that he could. It was funny how your life could change so drastically in the blink of an eye, and you could only go along for the ride, hoping that the change would be for the better.

Simon seemed a little off colour, the next few times I Skyped him, and I couldn't seem to get out of him what was wrong. I told him about how I was back at Cheer now, and the coaches were deciding if myself, or the girl who had stepped in for me, was better suited to the place on the team. I also told him about what the girls and I had been doing - they were all flying home in a few days time, and we planning to go out for a goodbye dinner some time soon. He seemed happy enough to hear about it all, but I could tell something wasn't right. This continued over the next few days, and I grew worried about him. Finally, I decided to talk to Josh about him - normally I liked to keep our problems to ourselves, and help each other out, but this was really beyond me. Nothing seemed to fix this, and Josh had always been there for me before, when I needed advice from someone who wasn't Simon.

"I've noticed it too," admitted Josh, when I told him about how Simon was acting. He was thoughtful for a moment, and I waited for him to speak. "Now that you've told me this," he said finally, "I think I have a theory as to why, although I could be wrong, so don't hold me to it, will you."
"Well go ahead, spit it out then," I responded. "I've got nothing."
"Well, I'd say you've learnt to carry on with your life without Simon being there all the time, am I right?"
"Yeah, I'd say so," I agreed. "But what..."
"Hey, let me finish," he interrupted me. I fell into silence again. "So you've grown apart," he continued. "But I don't think Simon sees it that way. He hasn't been the same without you here - I've noticed it, and I know he's noticing it too. He can see the change in his own behaviour, and he can also see you getting on just fine without him, whilst he's stuck here counting the minutes til he can see you again."
"Oh, don't get me wrong, I literally have a countdown set on my phone, I'm dying to see him! I can't believe it's gone so quickly."
"But that's just it," said Josh. "You've had so much to occupy yourself with - in a new country, where everything's different, and even getting take out is exciting." I had to laugh at this. "Whereas Simon has been stuck here," he continued, "In the same place he's always been, just without the person he loves the most." I considered his words for a moment, and I could feel Josh's eyes on me through our video call, as I contemplated my next words.
"I guess you're right," I said, after a moment's thought. "So... I don't know what to do, like, what do you reckon I should say to him?" Josh shrugged his shoulders.
"Maybe just let him know you're missing him as much as he's missing you, I know you think he already knows that, but he probably needs telling again."
"Hmm, okay," I nodded. "I'll give it a try. Thanks Josh, that was actually really helpful."
"Don't sound so surprised!" He laughed.
"I'm not surprised at all, actually," I smiled. "That's why I asked you for advice in the first place, I knew you could give it."
"Okay, okay," he chuckled. "So anyway, text me when you know Frey and the girls' flight number for tomorrow, so I can look it up. Relying on Freya for that info is like relying on a sieve to hold water."
"So you rely on me?" I snorted. "I'm worse than a broken sieve!"
"Well, between the two of you, someone might remember!" He laughed.
"Are you doing the airport pickup tomorrow?" I asked. Josh smiled a little.
"We all are. You're not the only one who's missing your other half." I smiled at his words. We continued to chat about the events of the next day, until Josh said he had to go, and we ended the Skype call. By this time, it was quite late, and I decided to go straight to bed.

A/N: yes, I am perfectly aware that Kay and Vik broke up, but they're still friends, and I love Kay, so they're together in this story, or will be, at some point ;)

Hope you guys enjoyed, let me know in the comments!

-Jordyn <3