CHAPTER 10

I went back to work, friends and my life I had left behind. It was all normal and happy, except something was missing, or rather someone, a couple someones. I missed Casey everyday, and every minute. I missed her sense of humour, and her bright blue eyes telling more then her words ever could. I missed sitting in that dirty old bar for hours on end, talking about everything and nothing all in one. I missed the smell of the sea air. I missed the sights of the mountains and the wildlife. I missed all the gruff fisherman I had now considered an extended family. As funny as it sounds I missed the smell of stale smoke lingering in the air. I was twisted. And I longed to feel that twisted again.

Days went by like months and my life seemed to go on around me, I was no longer living , just existing. I was miserable. And all it took was the ring of my phone for all that to change.

"hello?"

"hey, there sweetheart." my face light up instantly.

"JOSH!!!!!!" I yelled into the phone, I had never been happier to hear someone's voice, though I could think of one that would exceed this feeling.

"I was thinking you should come visit, it's been months and I miss you "

"aaawwww..." I teased.

"I will see if I can get some time off work."

"good, because I kinda already bought you a plane ticket" I could hear the smile in his voice.

"well then I will find a way to come"

"I knew you would."

"Josh?"

"yeah", he knew what I was about to ask.

"how is ..." it was hard for me to say his name, I missed him too much to think of often. If I didn't think of him then I couldn't hurt.

"how is Jake."

"I'd like to lie to yo and say he's fine, but..."

"I'm sorry." was all I could say. Silent tears rolled down my cheeks.

"alright, so you see if you can get the time off work and let me know, k?"

"alright, I will check tomorrow"

"cheer up sweetie, I love ya."

"yeah me too" and we hung up.

I couldn't get the time off work, we were swamped and my boss couldn't afford to let one of his writers go right now. Great I thought to myself. I was more depressed then ever.

A few weeks later my phone rang at 2 am. WTF, I thought as I reached in the dark for the phone beside my bed.

"yes?" I answered, annoyed.

"Jules?" the voice on the other end of the phone work me up in a hurry. It was Jake.

"Jake, what's wrong?" that was the only reason he would be calling this early.

"Josh was in an accident. He's in the hospital."

"I'll be on the first flight" I said without thinking and hung up the phone. I didn't care about work, or the cost of a last minute ticket. Josh was like a brother to me and if he was hurt I was going to be there.

I packed a bag, brushed my teeth, grabbed my stuff and left.

I called my boss from the airport as I argued with the women at the counter over things that really didn't matter to me. I just wanted to get there. My boss told me not to worry about work and that I could do all my work via email. That's when I realized I forgot my computer. I would get one when I got there. I waited for hours for my flight to leave. Finally I was on the plane in the air, I fidgeted nervously, surely driving the person next to me damn near crazy, but I couldn't help it, I had no idea how bad it was.

When the plane landed I was shocked to see Jake waiting for me.

"hey" I said sleepily.

"got luggage?" he asked

"one bag", he nodded. And walked towards the baggage claim.

" why are you here?" I asked, catching up with him.

"well someone had to come get you." he told me as though he was angry about it.

"I could have taken a taxi" I said quietly, feeling like a burden to him.

"Josh would have loved that. He'd wake up and bitch at me for letting you take a taxi" I smiled a little knowing he was right. I was Josh's little sister and he would do anything for me.

"right"

As we drove to the hospital, Jake told me what had happened. Josh had been hit by a guy running from the cops, through a red light, he was also hit by the cop cars that followed. In total his car was hit by 5 others. When we arrived at the hospital, Jake got out of the car and waited for me, grabbing my hand as we walked in together. He was very good at sending mixed signals.

I walked into Josh's room with caution, I was scared, his room was just down the hall from where Casey's had been. It was all bringing back too many memories. I sat beside him, holding his hand, staring at Jake across the bed. We said nothing, and we never left.