Mrs. Washington- Sam I don't know what to do or who to turn to. Josh was doing fine when he got out of the hospital. He seemed to be getting so much better. They even lowered his medication. But now... he's stopped taking it completely. He says it makes his head swim and he doesn't like it. He's falling again Smantha. We woke up last night to him screaming from the guest house. He won't talk to me either, just blows it all off once morning comes around.

Sam- Maybe he needs to go back Melinda. I hate to even suggest that, but you and Bob don't have the ability to watch over him.

Mrs. Washington- I can't do that to him Samantha. When he was in the hospital he was just... he was gone. It was like I was looking at a shell of my son. The first day when we brought him home was the first time I had seen him smile in three years. He had some life in him. I just can't send my baby back there. I was wondering if maybe you could talk to him maybe come over and have dinner with us.

Sam- I don't know Melinda. You know Josh hasn't spoken to any of us since... since the day the cabin burned down. I even tried visiting him while he was in the hospital, we all did. He refused to see us. I think it might put more of a strain on him if I came around.

Mrs. Washington- Oh Sammy please! Josh always talked to you when he wouldn't talk to anyone else. There were times when I believed you two were closer than he was to his own sisters. I really believe that if he spent sometime with you he would finally begin to heal. Maybe even see the rest of his old friends. Chris has been calling every day to see how he's doing. Josh won't talk to him though.

Sam- I really want to make sure it's alright with Josh Mrs. Washington. I don't want to upset things more than they already are.

Mrs. Washington- Thank you Sam! You are like one of my daughters I hope you know that. You're wonderful.

Sam- Thank you Mrs. Washington. I have a busy week ahead of me with finales coming up, but I'll text Josh and see if this weekend will be okay.

Mrs. Washington- Great! Samantha... he really sorry for eveything he did. I had a meeting with his psychologist last Monday. He hasn't voiced it, but there are many signs that say he is pushing you all away because he is afriad you won't forgive him.

Sam- I hate that he feels that way. We all have forgiven him. This all will take time. We'll hopefully start with dinner and see how things go.

Sam sat in their groups usual spot at starbucks and sipped on her Pumpkin Spiced Latte. It had been three days since their conversation, and she had read and reread the messages several times. Melinda had called her on day two to ask dinner was still on for Saturday or Sunday night. Sam had lied, saying that she hadn't had chance to text of call Josh because of her studying for finales. The truth was she hadn't because she didn't know what she would say.

She had started to text Josh as soon as she ended her conversation with Melinda, but she had deleted the text. She couldn't help but remember the first time she went to go see Josh in the hospital. She asked the nurse to keep it a surprise as to who was visiting him. Both she and Chris wanted to see him and bring him a few things to show that they wanted to try and mend the broken thing that was their friendship. They hadn't expected what happened next. Josh wasn't even kind of happy to see them. He immediately snapped, started shouting at them to leave, that he didn't want to see them. The nurse quickly ushered out of the room and two more male orderlies came in. Sam had watched in a panic as the two male strapped him to that awful bed and the female nurse injected him with a sedative.

They found out later that the morning nurse hadn't given Josh his medication, that combined with seeing two of the people he had tormented so soon after the incident caused a psychotic break. They'd been informed that there could be no more surprised visits. After that every time the group came to see him, Josh turned them away.

What if he turned her away again just like in the hospital? What if even texting him cause him to break? So many things worried her. She didn't want to hurt Josh. Even after what he had done. Hell she should hate him. She should want nothing to do with him, they all should. But every time it came up they all remembered why it all happened.

The stupid prank that Jessica, Emily, Mike, Ashely, and Matt and played on Hannah... The prank that ended in both Hannah and her sister Beth being killed. Or so they had thought... They would all look at each other silently and after a few moments of deathly silence they would all agree that, though what Josh had planned for them up in the mountain was awful, they had caused the illness that crept into Joshua's head and drove him to his actions.

Sam jumped at the sudden presents of another person sitting in front of her. But looking up her nerves eased as she saw Chris' smiling face.

"How goes it study queen? Are the books speaking their wisdom to you yet?" He teased eyeing the books covering the table and even more in a pile on the seat next to her.

"Hardy Har, you guys should be studying to. Your Chemisty finale is tomorrow and if I remember correctly you need to ace that class to pass." Sam smirked.

"Yeah, well I studied before we came to meet you guys. So where is everyone else? We're late as is." Chris said as Ashley walked up to the table with two drinks in hand.

Chris smiled and took one of them. "Thanks babe."

"Yeah they're late. Mike called and said he and Jess were caught up in traffic. And Emily is at a hair appointment or something... maybe she said nails. I don't know. She's got a modeling thing tomorrow." Sam said staring down at her phone.

"What's up Sam? You seem... I don't know, out of it." Ashley said taking a sip of her Latte.

"Yeah... I just..." Sam stammered closing her Comp 2 book. "I... I got a text from Melinda the other day."

Chris sat forward instantly. "Is it Josh?"

"Yeah" She said. "She is worried about him. He stopped taking his meds because they mess with his head, but it sounds like not taking them is causing him to have nightmares. She asked me... she asked if I'd come to dinner this weekend."

"Does Josh know?" Chris asked.

"No, She wanted to surprise him, but I insisted on talking with him first."

"But you said you talked with Mrs. Washington the OTHER day." Ashley chimmed in. "How does Josh not know yet?"

Sam looked down at the table. "I... haven't contacted him yet. He hasn't wanted to see us for two years. I don't think he'll just all of the sudden want to see me."

"I think you just need to go." Said Chris forcefully enough to make both Sam and Ashley look at him. "Yeah you heard me right. He's been hiding from us for four months. He ignores our calls, doesn't call us. It's time we start just going over and talking with him face to face."

"I'm just worried about how me showing up will..."

"Hey, hey, hey why the long faces ladies and gents?" Mike asked sitting down next to Sam and pulling Jessica into his lap.

"Mike stop! I can sit in the booth." Jessica protested sliding off his lap, a hit of red coloring her cheeks.

"Sam is going over to the Washingtons to have dinner." Ashley said.

"Ashley!" Sam shouted.

"What! Did Josh finally call you?" Mike said in surprise.

"Who is he?" Jessica asked, she had never really been angry with Josh. Hannah had grabbed her before the 'pranks' started.

Sam grumbled. "No Mike, Josh hasn't talked to any of us at all. Mrs. Washington asked me to come to dinner as a surprise."

"Well if anyone should be able to get to him it will be you Sammy." Jessica encouraged.

"I haven't even said I would go yet." Sam insisted.

"Why?" Both Mike and Jess asked together.

"She's worried that Josh won't want her there." Chris said.

"No that's not it. Josh still isn't okay guys. Melinda told me he won't see us because he thinks we hate him for what he did." Sam said. "And I don't want his seeing me to mess up his recovery."

"Sam, you need to go." Mike said.

"What?" She looked over at him.

"You need to go. Josh needs to see that we aren't angry at him. And you're the best one to see him first. You know him the best after all. Since you, Beth, and Hannah grew up together you are like family."

"That's what Melinda said." Sam sighed. "But what if he won't answer my calls od texts? I mean he hasn't for four months right?"

"Don't tell him." Chris said flatly.

Sam looked over at him. "I can't do that Chris. You of all people know why." The thought or her first visit to the hospital with Chris to see Josh.

"Sam that was back when Josh was first admitted to the hospital. He hadn't had time to get better. The chances of that happening again are slim to none." Chris tried to assure her.

Sam sighed, "Maybe you're right." She pulled out her phone and pulled up Melinda's number. With a deep breath she hit the call button.

"Hello Sam! How are you?" Melinda asked happily.

"I'm good, I was thinking about what we talked about the other day. About dinner..." Sam started.

"Oh yes, just one moment."

Sam could her Mrs. Washington walking and then a door open and close. She waited quietly, assuming that she was putting distance between herself and Josh.

"Okay, sorry Samantha. Josh had just come into the kitchen. What about dinner honey. I haven't heard from Josh about you talking with him." Melinda said.

"I haven't tried yet. I was thinking and the chances of him answering me when he hasn't wanted anything to do with any of us for so long... I think I should just come. Do you think that's a good idea?" Sam asked as she twiddled her pencil.

Jessica, Mike, Chris, and Ashley started at her waiting for an answer.

"Yes, yes I think that would be best. I mentioned you yesterday and he went white. I do believe he wouldn't have answered you." Melinda said sadly.

Sam felt for her. She's lot Hannah and Beth, now Josh was her only baby left, and it felt like she was losing him as well. "Don't worry Melinda... I'll do everything I can to help Josh. We all will if he'll let us."

There was a pause on the other end and Sam's heart skipped a beat when she heard a familiar voice from a distance away.

"Hey mom, dad wants you to come and eeat dinner already. It's getting cold." Josh callled.

"I'll be there in a minute. So how does Saturday at 9pm sound?" She asked in a hussed tone.

"Saturday at 9pm sounds fantastic. I'll see you then Melinda." Sam said.

"Sam I can't tell you how happy I am you're coming. Love you honey."

"Love you too, bye bye." Sam said with a smile and then hung up the phone.

At that moment Emily walked up to their table. "What's up guys?"

"Sam is having dinner with Josh and his parents Saturday night." Ashley said.