When We First Met

Surprise?

Sorry for the late update y'all! At least we are updating right? Anyways this chapter is..... how do I put it? Lots of Joshua dialogue :) anyways enjoy. LEAVE COMMENTS AND VOTES THANKS 😊

Joshua's POV
      My leg started cramping as I turned the corner to the audition hall.
      Auditions seemed to be over as the once populated hall was now empty.
      I jogged over to the auditioning room and entered through the door.
      Tim Federle was sitting in the same seat that he was in before I ran out. He looked preoccupied, checking his emails.
      "Sorry about earlier, Tim." I said. He jumped, startled.
     "What. Oh that. No worries." He smiled, waving me off.
      He turned to face me, "Now, a serious question. Who do you think.... no, who made the greatest impression on you?" He asked.
      "Olivia Rodrigo." I didn't hesitate. Easiest question I've ever answered.
     "That's what I was thinking too. Anyways, don't you have to be somewhere right now?" He question, getting up from his chair.
     "No, I had to be there about five minutes ago." I laughed.
     "Well better get a move on then." He hugged me.
     I ran all the way to my car, conveniently parked at the farthest place possible. Checking my hair in the mirror, I put my car into drive.

Olivia's POV
      Madison snorted, "Wow, he really is a character, huh? The audacity." She mocked.
      My face was flushed as I went through the five stages of grief, all in the passenger seat of Madison's Prius.
      "I know right? Who just holds someone's hand? Who likes that type of thing?...Okay, I liked it." I admitted, placing my head in my hands groaning.
      "He's not bad looking." Madison agreed, nodding her head.
     We had stopped by Dairy Queen, quenching       Madison's thirst for ice cream. Her Blizzard was now crumpled in her cup holder.
      I had barely made a dent in mine.
      "Let's look at the bright side, you just killed your audition and made a great impression on not only Tim Federle but also your costar. I consider that a win." She stated.
      "Mads, I don't think I'm ready for this. Especially so soon after Ethan. I couldn't do that to him." I groaned.
      "Liv, he literally just held your hand. He didn't propose. You're fine. Just pretend it didn't happen. You don't have to deal with it if you don't want to." She chided rolling her eyes.
      I nodded, grudgingly.
      "When did I become so wise?" Madison chuckled to herself.
      I rolled my eyes smiling and looked out of the window, buildings and houses moving by so quickly.
     
Joshua's POV
      The driveway was packed with people as I pulled in. All I could see were people posing for pictures and flashes from phone cameras.
      Suddenly, I saw a familiar face waving me down.
      I parked right next to her and got out of the car. My sister Claire ran up to me, "You're late, get changed." She handed me a bag with a dress shirt and pants.
      "Sorry, I-..." I tried.
       She smiled," It's fine Josh, it's just that Liz is almost here and I want you to be there for the surprise. Plus, Liz would be devastated if you weren't here."
      "Thank you, I owe you one" I said pointing to the bag.
      I ran into Liz McAlpine's house, hurriedly finding the bathroom.
      I threw on the plain black dress shirt and black dress pants, accompanied by the black converse that I was wearing earlier.
      I dug in the bag till I found it, cologne. Just a spritz.
     "Thank you Claire!" I chuckled.
      I looked at myself in the mirror.
      Not bad Joshua, you look like a realtor.
      I packed all of my old clothes into the bag and ran downstairs.
      Throwing the bag into the back of my car, I went to join my sister and her friend Cassie on the driveway.
      Everybody that was at the party was piling into the house, getting ready for the surprise.
      We filed in, following them into the house.
      "She's almost here. Everybody hide!" A blonde girl, Amber I think, yelled.
      It felt like hours, but finally we heard the key turn.
      "SURPRISE!" We all yelled, laughing.
      Liz had the craziest expression, a mixture of fright, happiness and surprise.
      "Oh my god. You guys..." She started, before getting buried in hugs.
      She ended up giving everybody a hug, individually. Took as long as expected.
      Finally she got to me, beaming, "Hey you."
      "Hey. Happy Birthday." I smiled down at her.
      She hugged me tightly around the waist. I hugged her back.
      "Find me later, okay? I need to talk to you." She whispered in my ear, before continuing to go hug my sister.
      I'm not afraid to say, I do well at parties. I danced with my sister and Cassie for an hour or so before talking to people that I had met before.
      I tried pulling Liz aside a couple  times, but she was always preoccupied.
What did she want to talk to me about?
I shrugged it off.
     I entered the dance floor again, joining into the Congo line that was forming quickly.
     After the line dispersed I began dancing with my sister, her friend and a few other people that I had met previously.
      Suddenly I felt a tug on my arm.
      "Hey, I'm sorry. Can I just borrow Josh for a moment?" Liz asked.
      "Yeah for sure, go ahead." My sister laughed, giving me a look.
      Liz pulled me from the dance floor, holding my hand. We went up the stairs. I almost tripped at the top, making her laugh.
     She dragged me to her room, closing the door behind us.
     "Wow. I haven't been here in a while." I said, looking around.
      Her walls were painted lavender, a similar theme to the bed which had a lavender and white comforter.
      She sat on the edge of the bed as I walked around.
      On her shelf, she had snow globes lined up. The ceiling glimmered from fairy lights. On her wall, she had posted polaroids of herself and her friends.
      One of the centre ones was a picture of us, me giving a piggy back to her, both of us smiling.
      I looked back at her, "I remember this, it was one of the first times we hung out right?" You said, 'proof or it didn't happen', so we took a picture." I said pointing to the Polaroid.
      "Yeah that was so much fun." She agreed, remembering the memory.
      She patted the spot on the bed next to her, "Come, sit."
     I obliged smiling. She smelled sweet, like some sort of flower. Her eyes sparkles under the fairy lights.
     "So, this year, I don't want to have any regrets." She started.
      "Especially not with you, Josh." She said in a quiet voice.
      Regrets? Where was this going. I'm so confused.
      She continued, "I don't know if you knew this already, I kinda...." She trailed off.
      "Kind of what, Liz?" I questioned, staring at her eyes.
     "Like you." She mumbled.
     "What?" I couldn't hear what she said.
     "I like you Joshua." She said, a little louder.
     "Oh, I see." I said. I didn't know what to say.
Shocked was an understatement.
     "You don't like me back? That's okay." She said, looking away.
      Quick Josh! Do something, say something, ANYTHING.
     She looked uncomfortable, I'd never seen her uncomfortable with me before.
      Before I understood what I was doing, I turned her head to face me and leaned in.
     She was surprised, she didn't kiss me back at first. I had never been this close to her before, it was.... different.
      She pulled away, smiling. "Wow, this is different huh?"
     "Ye huh." I nodded agreeing.
     "Can we try again?" She raised her eyebrows.
Before I could answer, she leaned in again. She was a good kisser.
      Suddenly a face popped into my head, Olivia freaking Rodrigo.
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Again, sorry for the late update. But I hope you like this chapter. I really like Liz and her music so that's why I wanted to portray her fairly. Also I think that Josh has a good sense of character and wouldn't associate with bad people so.... you'll have to wait to see who the antagonists are. Anyways, as usually VOTE AND COMMENT AND FOLLOW.
-Stanficc