Not Just A Fan - Josh Hutcherson

Chapter 69

Josh's POV.

Anxiety.

The current emotion I'm feeling right now.

Anxiety, within reason, is just a part of life; everybody experiences at some point.

At least that's how it's defined in the dictionary.

"She still hasn't answered?" Jennifer asks. She's laying on the twin bed across the room. They decided to have us share a room instead of paying for two. I honestly don't mind, Jen and I are practically inseparable.

"No."

"Well Connor said that she's alright. She'll call you when she's ready."

"It's nearly 7:00pm there. She had to have seen my calls."

"And it's nearly 11:00 here. Let's just watch the movie."

"I can't. I have to hear from her myself to know that she's okay."

"Whatever you say lover boy." Jennifer jokes.

"I'll be back in a second." I tell her. I go out into the hall and dial her number once again. This time, on the third ring, she picks up. Or at least I think she does.

"Emma?" the line is dead for a few seconds.

"Hey." she finally answers.

"Emma. Thank God. Are you okay? Why haven't you been picking up?"

"I just got my phone back. I.. I uh left it last night." she says quietly.

"What's wrong?"

"Josh I need to tell you something before I talk myself out of it. Last night-"

"I know you went to the party and I'm sorry that I said you couldn't go. That wasn't fair of me."

"You have no reason to be sorry. I should have stayed home." she sighs.

"No I'm glad you went. Did you have fun?"

"Not really," she takes a deep breath and her next words are hurried.

"Josh. I have something else I have to tell you-"

"I already know."

"You do?" she asks, her voice sounding distressed.

"Yeah. I thought you hated alcohol? Why would you drink? It still doesn't make sense to me." I know how much she despises alcohol.

"Oh...I don't really know either. I guess it was just in the heat of the moment. It's really not as good as everyone makes it out to be." she laughs. I can almost see her dimples and the way her eyes light up.

"I miss you." I tell her. She goes silent and for a moment I wonder whether she hung up.

"Are you still there?"

"Yeah," she sniffs."You know I miss you too. More than anything right now."

"Why do you sound so upset?"

"It's just-wait how are you doing?" she changes the subject.

"I'm fine I guess better now that I know you're okay."

"Aw Josh," I can almost see her blush, "what have you been up to?"

"I'm actually about to have another scary movie marathon with Jen. For the third night in a row. Even though she can't stand watching scary movies." I laugh into the phone. Jen always ends up covering her face in a pillow or yelling curse words at the screen.

"Oh. So you guys um share a room?"

"Yeah? Does that bother you?" I ask her.

"No..no why would it? You should probably get some sleep. I hope you're having fun over there."