The Reason Is You

Chapter 5

Olivia sat on Lisa's balcony with her pint of ice cream trying not to think about Josh, but failing to do so. She realized that she actually didn't know anything about Josh's current life, except for the fact that he performed more often now and the work he's been doing with the bar. For all she knew he could've had a girlfriend, or was dating someone. Maybe that's where he went, maybe he had a date, she thought. But then why would he ask her to go to Leatherbys tomorrow? But Olivia reminded herself that they weren't going on a date. It was just them talking, and just because they were finally going to talk about their situation, it didn't mean any feelings were going to be confessed.

Olivia started to speak to herself out loud. "Olivia, no. You can't think about Josh that way. You forgot about him. You have your own life. You can't get lost in that feeling again. No, no, no. Liv, this is none of your business."

"Liv, are you talking to someone?" Lisa walked out on the balcony, noticing her friend was alone.

"What? Oh, no. Just talking to myself and enjoying my ice cream. Want some?" Olivia offered the pint and her spoon.

Lisa grabbed them both and dug for a spoonful. "Where's Josh?"

"I don't know. After we were done at the bar, he just dropped me off here," Olivia shrugged.

"He didn't say where he was going?" Lisa asked.

Olivia shook her head. "Nope."

"Oh. That's weird."

The two girls spent the rest of their evening on the balcony just talking and catching up while sharing the pint of ice cream. A few hours later, there was a knock on their door and Lisa went inside to see who it was. When she came back out onto the balcony, she was accompanied by her brother.

"Where's Josh?" Olivia asked Gabe.

"Not sure. Got a text from him saying not to wait up for him," Gabe shrugged. "He also told me to tell you that he might not be able to go with you tomorrow, but I can go with you. I'd just have to call Louie to open it up for us." Gabe was referring to the bar, not knowing that Josh actually meant something else.

Olivia felt her face start to flush, and she hoped her friends didn't notice. Things haven't changed, she thought. Josh was bailing on her, again, and this time he was the one who made the plans and he was the one who asked her to go talk, yet he's the one who's not showing up. Typical, Olivia thought. Josh was probably out partying again, living his life that didn't involve her. She thought he'd finally changed, but she supposed she was wrong.

"Hey Liv, are you okay?" Lisa asked.

"What? Oh, yeah. Sorry just got lost in thought," Olivia responded. "And don't worry about it, Gabe. I finished the wall today and it should be fine. We don't need to stop by to check on it."

The siblings looked at each other. "Okay, if you say so. So, what did you have planned tomorrow?" Gabe asked.

"Nothing, really," Olivia replied, trying to hide her frustration. "I kinda wanted to go the mall to get one of those milkshakes from Leatherbys. It's still there, right?"

"Yes! Wow, I forgot about those. I've always loved their sundaes there. Aw, I really want one now!" Lisa whined.

Gabe ignored his sister. "Well, I don't seem to have any plans tomorrow, I can take you if you want? I need to pick something up at the mall anyways," Gabe offered.

"Sure, thanks, Gabe," Olivia replied.

As the night went on, Josh still didn't come back, and Olivia tried not to show that she was affected... but she was. All she could think about was the fact that he probably wasn't as different or as changed as she wanted to believe. She had to admit, a part of her really hoped that he had changed and he was a different Josh. She hoped that this new Josh was the same guy she met all those years ago, just grown up and more mature – the same Josh that she fell in love with.