Way To Live [Josh Raven] (English Version)

Chapter 7

Did I really need it? I like spending time with him, and I appreciate both of us being alone, sometimes, but honestly I don't know what to answer him.

– Ask me again in a few days. – He looks at me confuse but nods. He turns around and starts walking, exploring the place, I now know that wasn't the answer he was expecting. What did he want me to do? That I need it? Why? I don't understand it. – At what time do you have the soundcheck? – I try to lead to conversation to another place. – I follow him because if he continues walking I'll be lost.

– We have to be there around 1 pm, more or less. – I nod. His phone rings.

The situation was very awkward, I don't know why. I start thinking that maybe he's upset I answered him that.

– Are you okay?

– Yes, why are you asking? – He stops and looks at me.

– I don't know, you look upset.

– I'm not. When I go on walks I usually go and explore the places so I know exactly where we are.

– Are you telling me you're only walking around? Are you sure there's nothing up?

– I'm sure.

I still don't get what's happening. I look at my phone and I see I have a message on WhatsApp. It's the groupchat so I guess that's why Josh's phone was ringing earlier. It's Stevie, I open the message and to read it.

“Josh, Marchis, I asume you're together. We're leaving in half an hour.”

Why does he asume we're together?

I check the hour that he sent the message. 9:25. Good, we have fifteen minutes to get back, pack and meet everyone.

– What's up?

–  You shouldn't have ignored your phone. – He looks at me confused, not understanding what I'm saying. – We have to leave. Stevie was wondering where we were and that we leave in fifteen minutes.

– Fuck, I completely forgot.

– You knew we had to meet at a certain hour and you didn't tell me?

– I was supposed to inform you.

– Well thanks for informing me. – I start walking back to the path that we used to get here.

Not only the situation was awkward for an unknown reason but now he was supposed to inform me and he didn't. The thing that upsets me is that now we have to do everything quickly and it's not even my fault.

Going up it's not as easy as going down but I try not to show it because I know Josh will be willing to help me and now I'm pretty annoyed at him. Even though I'm trying to go up by myself Josh seems to notice I need help so he does help me. I don't deny his help because we don't need to waste more time. There's so much tension in the air you could cut it with a knife.

– Where are we meeting them? Because you didn't tell me that either.

– Are you going to bring that up all the time? I'm asking so I can start assuming it.

– Yes. It is important, you shouldn't forget to tell me those things, Josh.

– I know. I had other things in mind, it can happens to anyone.

– Yeah, yeah. – I roll my eyes.

– The hotel lobby. – I check the time. Nice, there's only seven minute left.

I get to my room, I packed everything that's in the room as fast as I can. I'm still mad at Josh for nor telling me this, it's my job. I guess Stevie knew I was with Josh because he might had told him, just because Josh had to tell me to be here.

I'm over thinking this way too much, but why should he tell them he would be with me?

I finish packing. I look at my phone once again, I have two minutes left. I walk to the hotel lobby and see there's nobody there except someone I thinks it's their tour manager.

– This always happens.

– What?

– Them being late. We always have to wait for them. – I roll my eyes and he laughs. Did I really do everything so quickly for this? – By the way I don't think we've met yet, I'm Mitch.

– I'm Marchis, glad to meet you. – I smile.

– I know. – I look at him confused. – They talk a lot about you.

– Do they? – He nods.

I see Sean and Stevie walking to us.

– Where are Josh and Michael? – Mitch asks.

– They're coming. They're waiting on Rob. – Stevie answers.

– Are they waiting on Rob or is Rob waiting on them?

– Rob is waiting on them. – It's now Sean who's answering.

– That's what I thought.

We wait for more than five minutes when we see them arrive.

– To be fair we were waiting on Josh. – Michael says while Josh rolls his eyes. – Don't say we weren't.

– I'm not saying anything. – He walks to the van. Is it me or is he still upset?

They all start waking to the van so I follow. Now Rob is the one driving.

The way to the venue is quite entertaining. Stevie is singing to the songs on the playlist, while Michael, who is listening to the music on his phone, is paying way more attention to Stevie than what he's hearing through his headphones. Josh is quiet and looking through the window. I still don't know what I did wrong for him to act this way. I don't think I did anything wrong. Sean sometimes sings along with Stevie, while Rob and Mitch are on a conversation that I'm not paying attention to. On my side I try not to overthink what's going on with Josh, even though it's hard.

I guess we're there when Rob stops the van next to a venue back door. I check my phone and remember Josh told me we should be here by 1 pm so I don't understand why we had to leave at 10 am so that's when I realize it's 12 pm. The way here seemed so short. Now we're here early.

We get off the van and get in. I see some tech people getting everything ready for the soundcheck.

– We're going to go buy some food, that's why we're here early. – Rob tells me. Now I get why we were in a rush. – I was told you're gluten free so I guess you'd want to come with us. – With who?

– Yeah, I'd like to come along.

– Okay, I'll go get Stevie. I'll be back. – I nod.

I see Rob walking away. My phone starts vibrating on my pocket. It's a message from Val.

“Hey, how's everything?”

“Hello. Everything's good, how are you?”

Everything's okay, except I'm trying to figure out why Josh's so upset. So I choose not to tell Val.

“Pretty good. What are you doing?”

“I'm going out now but I can call you and show you around when I'm back.”

“Okay, I'll leave you now so we speak later.”

I put my phone back in my pocket and when I look up I see Josh right in front of me.

– Can we talk?