JOSH DUN VS THE WORLD ✓

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: STOP BEING SO CHARMING, I'M TRYING TO HATE YOU

YOU'VE DECIDED TO:
APOLOGIZE TO HALSEY FIRST

+2 moments of reconciliation
-1 friendship
+1 evil ex appearance
+2 assholes who need to check their privilege

Josh runs out of Tyler apartment without anything to protect himself from the cold, stopping once he reaches the snow laden road. To his left, he can see Max and the others walking and yelling at each other. On his right is Halsey, alone and sobbing loud enough for him to hear.

The choice is obvious. The others don't deserve an apology for keeping a secret like that, knowing fully that it would hurt Josh and Halsey.

He starts running, chasing the flutter of Halsey's pastel pink scarf in the bitter wind, yelling for her to wait. Surprisingly, she does, turning and glaring at him as he catches up.

"I have nothing to say to you," she says scoldingly.

"Okay, I know I don't deserve for you to give me the time of day, I know I hurt you, but please, just hear me out," he huffs, bending over to catch his breath.

Halsey crosses her arms. "Why? Not only did you leave me for someone else, you cheated on me. You didn't just hurt me, you obliterated me."

"I know, okay? I know what it feels like to be cheated on. It happened before, with Debby." Josh straightens himself up, looking her in the eye. "It's like your whole world's fallen apart. The one person you trusted with your heart just takes it and crushes it and throws it away like- like garbage."

He can see the shock in her eyes from his blatant confession, but he keeps talking. She continues to stare at him through tears as he does, her arms falling limply to her sides.

"What I did was awful, unforgivable. Just because I don't remember doesn't make it okay. They were still my actions, and I have to own up for them."

"You- you really don't remember?" She asks quietly.

Josh shakes his head. "I was beyond drunk, I can barely remember anything before that either. Trust me, Hals, if I'd known, I would've told you right then and there," he reassures her. "I'm so fucking sorry, Ashley, more sorry than I've ever been. The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt you."

She inhales sharply, then sighs. "You understand why I can't just outright forgive you."

"Of course." He nods furiously.

"And you know why I need space."

"I get it. I just... you're so fucking perfect. You're funny and kind, talented and beautiful." Halsey blushes while he speaks. "You deserve so much more than a scumbag like me."

A small smile stretches across her face. "Stop being so charming, I'm trying to hate you. I should be so mad at you right now, but I just-"

"I love you."

There's a glimmer of surprise in her eyes, and Halsey covers her face with her hand to hide a laugh. "Okay, for real, shut up."

Josh holds her gaze. "It's true. I love you. Not romantically or anything, but I do. I love you to same wya I love my little sisters, you're a part of this fucked up family I got. You mean so much to me, Halsey, and I'm tired to losing people because of my mistakes."