A Tragic Love Story

Chapter One

Josephine's POV

I was in my average high school college studies class when I felt a note hit the back of my head. I turned around to find my best friend, Caleb, giving me the goofiest smile. He was wearing a "Supreme" sweatshirt with Adidas joggers and his Nike slides. I stuck my tongue out at him when I bent over to pick up his paper airplane.

Wanna hang out tonight? I'll climb over

I looked at him, slightly annoyed, why couldn't this have waited until the end of class? I nodded my head and turned back around. Caleb and I had been best friends ever since I beat up a boy for him on the playground 10 years ago. We're both 17 now and seniors at the local high school in northern Nevada.

Buzz Buzz I felt my phone vibrate in my skinny jean's pocket.

Devil Caleb 😈😂: Love ya my lil pineapple! So around 11 like normal ?

Me: I swear to god I hate you sometimes 🙄 ya 11 works.

Devil Caleb 😈😂: nah you love me ❤️😜

Me: keep tellin yourself that. Now leave me alone !! 🖕

I put my phone away and pulled my long brown hair into a high pony. I swear me and Caleb were complete opposites. I was the quiet girl who kept to a couple of people while Caleb was the loud popular guy. He was on the school soccer team while I was in National Honor Society. He was getting scholarships for sports while I was getting scholarships for my academics. He wasn't afraid to call me his best friend though, so that was nice.

"Don't forget about the homework and pre-test," my calculus teacher groaned on. He was at least 76 and had lost all of his love for teaching. I had an A in that class, so I didn't really care.

Bringggggggggg

The loud millennials filed out of the classroom when the 4th period bell ring. I felt a heavy arm clunk down onto my shoulder which weighed me down.

"Hey lil pineapple," Caleb yelled over the crowd. I pushed his arm off and gave him the bird. He has called me his lil pineapple ever since I ate 3 pineapples in one day when we were 10. We were at a swimming pool and I was so hungry and I got so excited when my mom brought us some pineapple. Let's just say I can't even look at pineapples now.

"What do you want?" I asked, annoyance in my voice. How have I delt with him for 10 years? How have I not shoved a spork into his lungs yet?

"So what game should I bring tonight? Scrabble? Wait, never mind. You'll beat me. How about Connect 4?" Caleb asked. I nodded, not having enough energy to argue. He smiled and leaned down and kissed my cheek. He was always happy when he got his way.

"Woah woah woah there lover boy, how would Alexa feel about this?" I questioned with sarcasm. His girlfriend hated the fact I was his best friend and would do anything to make sure he and I didn't hang out.

"Oh, er, I might break up with her," he said while rubbing his neck. He always did this when he was nervous. I wasn't surprised, for he had had girlfriends come and go ever since we were twelve. I got jealous sometimes, but he didn't know this. We hung out almost everyday, but not really at school anymore. I, of course, never said anything. "Well I gotta go. Need a ride home?" he asked, changing the subject.

"Yeah, Brittany isn't here so I don't have one," I explained. He nodded his head before giving me a high five and walking away. I turned the other way and started walking towards my next class.

Caleb's POV

"I'm sorry, I can't do this anymore," I explained to Alexa after school. She stormed off (not before throwing my hoodie at me) right as Josie walked up to my car. She was wearing skinny jeans and Friends t-shirt with her black vans. She looked adorable today. I stared at her for a minute.

"What's your problem?" She asked like she was annoyed. I shook my head as in to say "nothing" before getting into the driver's seat of my grey Dodge Charger.

"Hey can you help me with that stupid pre-test for calculus?" I asked, interrupting Lil Pineapple's singing. She agreed, going right back to rapping "No Limit" by G-Eazy. I've been in love with this girl for 10 years, ever since she beat up Johnny Ward when we were 7. I've had countless girlfriends, trying to repress my feelings for her. It never worked.

"Aye, no limit I'ma fuckin' soldier, always lit yeah I'm neva sober...." she went on, adding hand movements. At school she was the quiet nerd, but when she was in private she was loud and funny. I found her adorable either way.

When we pulled into my driveway, she got out, waving at me as she went into her house adjacent to mine. When we were 11, we convinced our parents to buy houses close to each other so we could hang out even more. I don't know who I would be without her.

AYE YO BEST FRIEND IS CALLING!!! ANSWER NOW!!! My ringtone sang. I answered to find Josie.... crying.

"I'm coming over right now, just hold on tight," I concerningly said, furrowing my brow. I raced over to her house and knocked on her door repeatedly. No answer. I went around the back and scaled the tree next to her window. I tapped on her window and she slid it open, tears running down her face. I climbed in and enclosed her in a hug.

"My.... brother.... drunk..... hit... me..... with...... spoon," she let out in between sobs. Her brother was the fuck-up of the family. My face automatically turned red as I let go of her, heading for the door.

"NO! Please, just stay here, with me," she asked. I obliged, for I couldn't go against her word. She was now sitting on her queen size bed, staring at her reflection in the mirror.

"Where did he hit you?" I asked. She raised her shirt to reveal her stomach, bruised as all Hell. She started sobbing even more when I sat down next to her. She fell into my arms before slowly drifting off to sleep. This situation had happened countless times, ever since we were 11, when her brother started to get into drugs. He was 16 at the time, and it's only gotten worse.

About an hour after she drifted off to sleep, I layed her down and put my shoes back on. I layed a kiss on her forehead before climbing out the window.

"Love you Caleb," she let out before I closed the window.

"Love you too Josie."