"Josie.. What's going on?" asked Vaughn.
"Vaughn, we need to talk."
"I agree. Let's go somewhere.." he looked at Lucas. "Private."
Josie looked back at Lucas with a 'I-don't-want-to-leave-you-here' look. But Lucas understood Vaughn and gave her an approving nod, and went to quietly sit on the rock where he was sitting before Josie came. Josie then followed Vaughn, at first there was an awkward silence between them before Vaughn broke it.
"Why Jos? I mean.. Cant we work this out?" he said with an expression that made Josie feel guilty.
"I'm sorry Vaughn but.. You just came on too quick. I didn't know how to react. I'm sorry."
Vaughn didn't know what to say. He just looked at her with a look that made her feel even more guilty.
"Listen Vaughn, I really did like you when we were together. I loved every minute. But then you had to go and just pop up that you loved me?"
"Because its true Josie.. I do love you.. I cant help how I feel.."
"I know you can't but couldn't you wait till we actually had a deeper relationship with each other?"
"I just.. Don't know.. You know how I feel for you.. And when you dumped me just like that.. I felt.. Like my whole world was going to end.. I just cant bare the fact of not being with you.. I need you Josie.." he said with saddened eyes.
Josie was speechless. Vaughn had just confessed his love to her, but she didn't know if she felt the same for him. She was perplexed, not knowing what to respond to what Vaughn had just said.
"Vaughn.. I.." Just then, Vaughn pulled her closer to him. He looked into her eyes and kissed her. Josie just loved the way he kissed her, but that was before. And kissing him just there, made her think about Lucas. She quickly pulled away.
"Vaughn I'm really sorry.. I just need.. Time.." she said as she started to walk fast, back to where Lucas was. Vaughn just watched her leave with pain in his heart.
"Well? How did it.. Go?" asked Lucas.
"We talked.. Told him it couldn't work out.. And then he kissed me.. But then I turned away."
"Oh.. okay.." said Lucas, looking down on the ground.
"Don't worry Lucas. I still like you." she said with a small smile.
Lucas smiled back at her and signaled her to sit beside him. She walked to where he was and sat beside him. He slowly slid his fingers into hers and held her hand. He felt as if he never wanted to let go, to pause the moment forever. She laid her head on his shoulders as they held hands and sat and stared at the lake.
As that was going on between Josie, Lucas and Vaughn. Corrine and Marshall were having a bit of trouble trying to come up with topics for conversation.
"So Cor, what'd you think of the movie?" asked Marshall
"It was.. How do I put this? Grotesque? I.. Have never seen so much blood in my entire life.. Except when we watched that slide show where they showed us that driving too fast can get you killed."
"Wow Cor. If it scared you that bad.. Why didn't you tell me it did? I could've taken you away from the movie house and we would've gone somewhere else."
"Its okay. It was.." she couldn't continue, if she did she'd say that she enjoyed having his arm around her shoulder, but she didn't want to just say it aloud. "Interesting..." she said as she smiled at him.
He just smiled back at her.
On a Monday morning, everyone was feeling rather, happy. Not normal for students who had classes ahead of them.
"Wasn't yesterday just.. Wow?" asked Josie as they were walking to class.
"Very.. Interesting." replied Lucas, and gave her a smile. She smiled back.
"What did you guys do that made it wow and interesting?" asked Marshall, confused.
"Oh, nothing." Josie and Lucas replied.
"Something definitely happened. Spill Josie! We're best friends! We stay in the same room! We sleep in the same room! Were like living together!" said Corrine.
"Don't you just hate it when she gets this way?" whispered Lucas.
"Oh well. I guess I'll just have to tell her to make her cut it out." said Josie.
"... plus I tell you everything Josie! I mean come on, at least tell me something! Anything!" said Corrine.
"Chill Cor, I'll tell you." said Josie.
As Josie was telling Marshall and Corrine what had happened between Lucas, Vaughn and her, Lucas was just nodding as Corrine and Marshall glanced at him. Josie then stopped telling her story. Corrine and Marshall were surprised that Josie would do that but were also happy for Lucas.
"So.. You're telling us that you guys are.. An item?" asked Cor.
"No.. We're not.. At least I think we're not." said Josie, then she looked up at Lucas.
"I don't know. If.. You.. Wanted to. Then I guess we could be." said Lucas.
"But we're not.. Yet I guess." said Josie.
"But.. Do you want to.. If ever I asked you I mean." said Lucas.
"Yeah.. That'd be.. Great." replied Josie, as she gave him a smile that made him smile back at her.
"Uh.. Okay.. Good for you guys!" said Marshall, as he flung his arms over both their shoulders. "Now.. Let's get to class!"
"Right behind you Marshall!" said Corrine, as she walked to Marshall's side to go to class. "You guys coming?"
"We'll be there in a moment!" replied Lucas, stopping Josie from replying first to Corrine.
"Lucas, we'll be late!" she said.
"This'll only be a moment."
"Okay. What's up?"
"Josie, I was thinking.. What happened yesterday.." Just then the bell rang. "Ugh. Bad timing." thought Lucas.
"Look Lucas, whatever it is.. Can it wait? We'll be late.. Now let's get going!" she said as she grabbed his wrist and started to run to class.
The whole time they were sitting in that classroom listening to Mrs. Evans (or at least trying to keep awake to listen), Lucas was smiling and writing down what he would say to Josie once he got her alone with him. He stopped writing and lifted his head to see what she was doing, and surprisingly, she was staring at him. He just smiled at her and she flashed him a smile too. Lucas then continued to write and waited for the bell to ring. Before Lucas finished writing his speech, a few minutes later, the bell finally rang.
"Finally.." he thought. And he lifted up from his seat and went straight next to Josie.
"Hey Lucas!" she smiled.
"Hey."
"So what was keeping you occupied during Mrs. Evans class?"
"Oh, nothing." he said, smiling.
As they were walking they had to go their separate for they didn't have the next class together.
"So, I'll see you later then.. in science class?" said Josie.
"Yeah, I'll see you there!" he smiled. And they both set off to their classes.
As Josie was walking to her next class, she spotted Vaughn and remembered that Vaughn was with her in her next class. She just took in a deep breath and walked inside. She spotted a seat next to Corrine and quickly took it.
"Hey Jos."
"Hey Cor."
"So, how you feeling?"
"I'm ok."
"Really?"
"Positive." said Josie, giving her a faint smile
.
The whole time they were in that classroom, Josie felt more and more guilty about what she did to Vaughn that day. Josie just sat there, taking notes and trying to push aside her guilt. And finally.. The bell rang! She was relieved, that she would be able to see Lucas once more. "Glad this class is over." she thought and she stood up and headed for Science, with Corrine walking beside her.
"Know what Josie?" said Corrine.
"What is it?" said Josie.
"I caught Vaughn catching glimpses of you a few times back there."
"Really?"
"Yup."
"It's okay. I don't care. I have Lucas now." she said smiling.
"So, your feelings for Vaughn are like over?"
"Well maybe not totally, I guess he'll just always be there, I mean he'll always be special but I've just moved on, that's all."
"Alright then."
In Science class, Lucas was happily waiting for Josie. He had already told Marshall his plan and had asked him for advice. Marshall just told him to do it if he really wanted it, and heck, Marshall knew he wanted it. Josie saw Lucas and waved at him. Lucas smiled at her. Josie got the seat next to Lucas.
"Hey Lucas!" said Josie, smiling.
"Hey Josie!" and he smiled back. "Josie, would you.. Like to.." before he could continue Professor Z had walked in.
"Alright class! Today's lesson.. Heat!"
"What is it Lucas?" whispered Josie.
"Later." he said smiling at her.
Josie couldn't help but think that what she did to Vaughn was harsh. Her mind was in a totally different place.
"Josie?" said Professor Z with a confused expression on his face. "Stop day-dreaming and start answering your seatwork. It is quite unusual for you to be gawking into thin air like this." he said and afterwards mumbled, "And I thought you enjoyed my class."
"Oh, sorry Professor Z. I was just thinking."
"Well, use that thinking to answer your seatwork. Now, get to it!"
"Yes, sir." Josie groaned, got out her pencil and started answering her seatwork.
Half-way through his seatwork, Lucas looked at Josie and couldn't help but be worried for her. He softly sighed and decided to ask her what was wrong after class. The room was in silence cause they were busy thinking of the answers to their seatwork, then the silence was broken when the bell rang.
"Finally, school's over." Josie thought.
"Alright class, please leave your papers on your tables. Class dismissed!" said Professor Z. Everyone went out the door, except for the Science Club, and Samantha.
"Alright. So, any news?" asked Sam.
"Yeah, one question." asked Marshall.
"Yeah, Marshall?" said Sam.
"Why hasn't Ashley been showing herself these past few days?"
"Well, I don't really know. Seeing that we're not that close and well, we hardly keep in touch with each other." she said with a touch of sadness in her voice.
Everyone looked at each other for a moment, trying to tune in to each others minds, trying to see if they knew what to say to comfort Sam. But Marshall just flung his arm over her shoulders and said, "It's alright, Sam. We'll help you in anyway that we can."
"Thanks, Marshall." she said with a smile.
"Alright then. No information about.. Well.. Anything?" asked Lucas.
After a brief moment of awkward silence, the door opened and a voice said, "I know something that'll be more than helpful to you."