Hey guys! I'm sorry this chapter is so short, but all of you guys were very eager to hear about Josh, so I thought I'd make a short chapter so you can get an explanation (or a little bit of one ;)) anyway, thank you so much for all the comments they mean everything to me! As always, please forgive the grammar mistakes and Like Comment and Follow!
Chapter 8
Josh and Riley
As soon as I got a text from Josh to meet up, I was out the door. I had many questions running through my mind; why did he leave Maya, does he know she's my best friend, what exactly did they do (although I'm not sure I want the answer to that one), and WHY THE FUCK DID HE LEAVE MAYA?
When I see the address he sent me I try not to smile, but I can't help it. The Bookmark Cafe seemed to be a constant in my life, which felt weird. Only because it was mine. I'd never been there with Maya and although I'd wish for the thought to go away, I didn't want too. It was nice to have this place to myself. Somewhere where I can gather my thoughts, enjoy writing of the strangers talking next to me, it was all so peaceful. But I don't like this person I'm becoming. I share everything with Maya. Sure I'd like to be independent but I can do that while sharing everything with Maya… Right? Gosh, this is so stupid. When I look up from the mess that resembles my thoughts, I find Josh. He is wearing a grey beanie to only cover the back of his head, his pale skin making his eyes look like pools of ink. He's wearing a black shirt with a flannel and jeans. I barely recognize him from when we were kids.
"Riley!" I guess he remembers me.
"Hi, Josh" we share an awkward hug, then walk inside to be warmed by our coffees. "It's been a long time," I say after getting my coffee, I wrap both my hands around it so he can't see I'm nervous.
"I know! It's crazy" I nod and the silence resumes. Something inside of me feels unusually impatient. He's hurt my best friend, therefore me.
"So, why are we meeting?" He looks surprised that sass would come out of the good girl. There's a dark side when you hurt my friends.
"Riley, what do you mean? You're my favorite niece!" He replies with forced laughter.
"Your only niece" his smile fades, "Why after all this time do you wish to see me?"
"Riley, do you know why I've never reached out?" I was surprised, no words came, I could only shake my head. "Well, when you were in middle school, I stopped visiting. Look, I went to a bad place. I dropped out of college, got in with the wrong crowd, basically ruined any possibility of a future. I lost all the good people in my life, including your parents, our family. What I'm trying to say, is it sucked. The worst part is it was all my fucking fault. I feel like I've hurt everyone in my path and I couldn't do that to you. I fucking hate what I did, more than what I can put into words. But that gives me no excuse, I'm sorry it has been too long Riley" I wish I wasn't tearing up, but in truth, we both were. "I have spent the last years of my life trying to fix what I have ruined. I've asked you here because I don't know how to well find the right people, to let my guard down. I figured you would be the right person," I stand up and give him a hug, we don't care that we're in public. He cries into the nook of my shoulder, I haven't seen anyone with this much emotion since…
"Thank you, Riley" I spend the rest of lunch trying to cheer him up. I decided it wasn't the right day to ask about Maya, you could tell something was really weighing on him and it hurt me dearly
As I walk home, I find myself searching for something. With so much on my mind, I barely notice until I've circled the Bookmark Cafe twice. It fucking sucks when someone is constantly occupying your mind and you know they probably don't even remember your name.
What will happen between Joshaya? Rucas? Will Maya tell Riley what she knows? Will Riley tell Maya that her knight in shining armor isn't so magical? Who was Riley talking about when Josh was crying? And why did Josh leave Maya?
Find out next time on Girl Meets NYU!
