sign of the times | joshua bassett

EIGHT

EMMIE'S POV

i tried my best to brush off wednesday night's thoughts. on saturday, i woke up to a new groupchat with olivia, josh and i. they were up early talking about potential plans.

jemmia
[liv, josh, emmie]

liv: hey kids

josh: aloha
josh: who's down to hang

liv: i am!
liv: emmie's def asleep

josh: what do u guys want to do

liv: they reopened the outdoor
ice rink! want to do that?

josh: that sounds fun sure

emmie: lol just saw this
emmie: uh ofc im down
except idk how to skate

liv: ok cool!!! josh can u
pick us up please

josh: yeah i'll grab you guys
at seven if thats good
josh: i'll teach you emmie i'm a pro

emmie: omg fun
emmie: im hype

liv: me too! see u kids later <3

eventually, after laying around all day, i got ready to go ice skating around six thirty. i changed into light wash jeans, a light sweater and a long winter coat. even though we were in california, i wanted the winter feel. i put my hair in two french braids and loosened them a little. i added a touch of mascara and a little bit of blush to my face. by the time i was done, they both were standing at the bottom of my stairs—olivia must've used her key.

josh got all of our skates and he had to help both of us put them on. i was nervous to get on the ice, but luckily there weren't too many people that night.
     "come on, emmie! its fun!" olivia encouraged me as i put on my feet over the edge. immediately, i wobbled around and found the wall to hold onto.
     "need help?" josh skated over to me. 
     "maybe a little bit," i laughed.
     "here," he held out his hand. i took it and he helped me off the ledge. he showed me how to move my feet and guided me for a few minutes.

once we went around a few times, i wasn't so nervous and i started having fun. olivia met some fans while josh skated with me. smoothly, he interlocked our fingers and we continued skating.
     "you good?" he smiled at me.
     "yeah, are you?"
     "yeah!"

we skated for about an hour. josh and olivia both said hi to fans and when they wanted a picture i took it. after the two younger girls walked away, we got off the ice.
"i forget that you guys are famous," i chuckled as i untied my skates.
"nope, we're not!" josh commented.
"not the f word!" olivia added.
"is it weird? you know, you're just doing stuff and people come up to you?"
"i love it," they said at the same time.
"maybe i should get tik tok famous or something, i'd be good at taking pictures with people!"
"please for the love of god...dont do that." josh shook his head.

josh dropped olivia and i off at my house, we decided to have a sleepover last minute. we figured she probably had clothes at my house anyways. after changing into more comfy clothes, we sat criss crossed on my bed.

     "so, what do you think of josh?" she asked me.
     "he's so sweet," i smiled.
     "you're cheeks are red..."
     "no they're not!" i touched them and they were warm.
     "do you..."
     "no, NO! liv, no."
     "yes you do! oh you so do!"
     "livey, i don't!"
     "okay, prove it!" she crossed her arms and smirked. "what do you like about him? ya know, in general?"
     "um," i paused. i had the longest list in the world full of everything i liked about him, but i felt weird about it. i had just met this kid and didn't really know him like that yet. "he's funny, we have a similar music taste, he's really nice, its never awkward around him, his curls are cute, um, when he smiles i feel like i could melt into a little puddle of emmie, he dresses nicely, and i liked holding his hand,"
     "i did not think you actually liked him," she said with her jaw on the ground.
     "because i don't,"
     "dude, did you just hear yourself?"
     "yeah," i just admitted how i felt with thinking it through.
     "aw!" she squealed as she hugged me. "what should i do with this information?" i she teased.
     "NOTHING." i suddenly became serious. "for real nothing. please don't tell josh!"
     "tell josh what? i dont know what i'm not telling josh," she shrugged and winked.