"It's been 9 days,7 hours, 26 minutes and now 8 seconds since I last saw Josh" I told Rhys sullenly as we lay on our backs, staring up at the blistering sky at the Rivercourt. Rhys turned on her side and looked at me,
"You know, if we weren't in the middle of a sweltering heat wave in this Gosforsaken town, you know I'd do my 'I told you so' dance right?"
"Shut up, Ry. You told me shit-all." I said, playfully denying what she'd been telling me all week.
"Umm do you want to like get into this with me, or shall I end it now by bringing up the proof?" she asked as she brought out my phone and replayed about 10 different messages she left for me saying that I was an idiot and that I should swallow my pride and call Josh back. "Like, come on Jamie. It's not like you guys even got into a fight or anything, you just left to go on vacation."
"It's complicated."
Well, can you like, uncomplicate it for me please? I mean, you were always the smart one"
I let out a long and drawn out sigh, my way of letting her know that as complicated as things were and as much as I thought I understood it all, even I didn't know how to make sense of it , let alone break it down into Rhys-lingo for her. She tilted her head to the side thoughtfully, her eyes full of compassion.
"Alright, I'll stop asking….but can I give you some advice."
I chuckled and looked at her skeptically "Rhys, when do you ever ask to open your mouth? And better yet, when does your advice ever work…unless it's about sex?"
She looked at me indignantly but still went on talking as if I hadn't said anything at all.
"Ok, whatever, just shut up and listen"
I groaned and stretched my body out on the concrete as if I'd just woken up from a long and peaceful nap.
"I take it that means you're ready to listen?" she asked triumphantly. I could just see the scoreboard in her brain 'Jamie: far too many to count/ Rhys: Lucky number 1
"Yes, Rhys"
She bounced up and down "Yay, I finally get to be the smart one", she chanted to some random tune from out of her head. "Ok, so you like the guy, right?"
"Uhhh in case you haven't noticed I've been counting how long it's been since the last time I saw him, if that's not at least some form of like well then I-"
"Shhhh shhh I'm not done yet" she said, trying to shush me
"Sorry"
"Exactly" she said brightly
"What?
"That's my advice." She said to me as if I was crazy for wanting something more
"But Ry, you didn't give me any?"
She rolled her eyes at me as if I was completely dense "Jamieeeee! Don't you get it?"
"No"
"Ok, you just said that you keep track of the time you're apart….that means you like him, which means you should stop being stupid and call him back because his message was totally hot and if I were you I'd jump him the next I see him so yeah….that's my advice, babe."
In her own bizarre and completely incomprehensible way, Rhys Davis-Scott was undeniably brilliant. I guess my face gave my thoughts away because Rhys took one look at me and her face totally lit up. "You see? You know I'm right!"
Suddenly I felt a cooling shadow above me and an all too familiar scent.
"Right about what?" I heard the shadow above me ask
"Hi Zane" I said as I opened one eye to see if the rest of my senses were right.
"Hey babe" he said giving me a peck on the forehead and moving towards Rhys to do the same
"So what did you want to know?" Rhys asked
"What you were right about Ry?" he said
"Ummm nothing" Rhys said, looking at me as if she was trying to say 'I'll keep your secret safe but you better tell him soon or else I will'. I know it sounds impossible, but that's Rhys for you.
"Right, I'm pretty sure it's about a boy but I'm not sure who's boy it is but if it's Jamie's boy then I have an idea who it is and if I'm right about said boy, Jamie you might wanna watch your back because there are a few Scott's that aren't too happy with you if you know what I mean" he said cautiously
"Zane?" Rhys asked
"Yes, gorgeous"
"How do you know so much" she asked, in the voice she uses when she has the hots for a boy like a crazed cat in heat
I looked at Rhys and then I shared a look with Zane; we both knew that pretty soon Zane would get what he wanted. And honestly, I was happy for him, even if I was losing my safety net.
Zane wrapped his arm around Rhys and said "Well, let's take a little walk RyRy and I'll tell all about what it's like to be a triple threat….gorgeous, smart and of course completely charming."
"Ok" Rhys said with a giggle as she turned back and looked at me like 'I have no idea what I'm getting myself into but hey, I might as well have some fun along the way'. Zane gave me the exact same look in the form of a wink and I could honestly say that I was genuinely happy for them. I'd always been rooting for Zane and Rhys and now it was finally happening. My thoughts were interrupted when I heard my Uncle Luke yell from across the court.
"Eh, Jagielski! Get your hands off my daughter!" he said jokingly
I could see my dad, Uncle Luke, Jake, Shayden, Matt and Noah making their way over to us along with Mouth and his little son, Tyler.
"Hellllooooo family" Rhys' singsonged their way, I reached out my hand for Zane to help me up, dusted the concrete of my shorts and went to greet them.
"Once again, Zane" my dad said playfully "what is it with you and the Scott women? I think we're gonna have to watch out for this one, eh Luke?"
"I don't know Nate, he's been looking a little sketchy lately" Uncle Lucas played along with my dad. I noticed a slight blush creeping along Zane's cheeks as he looked Rhys' way.
"Yeah!" Little Tyler yelled out, throwing his two cents into the mix
"'Atta boy, Ty! That's the way to tell 'em. " Shayden and Matt said finding their way into the increasingly confusing conversation. But hey, that's the Scott's for you.
"What are you Scott's doing, corrupting my son?" Mouth said while holding up his ever present video camera, as an award winning director, he never went anywhere without it.
" Ahhh Shut up McFadden, you're just as much a Scott as the rest of us" my dad chimed in again
"I agree with Mighty Mouth, man. Y'all Scott's have a way with messing with our brains, especially your women." Jake said, his country twang slowly coming out as he sent a wink in my direction
"Thank You, Uncle Jakey" Rhys beamed as the rest of us all laughed
"Rhys, I'm not sure if that was meant to be a compliment" I mocked whispered, giving everyone the satisfaction of hearing.
"So Jagielski" my dad said "are you hear to get some play with the Scott women or are you hear to play some ball?"
"Well what do you think, old man?" Zane asked cockily
"Well I think that we're gonna run your ass into the ground, son" Jake answered back in the same tone
"Who's we?" Noah asked thoughtfully, opening his mouth for the first time since they got there
Uncle Lucas stepped up and said "We as in the 2006 State Basketball Champs versus you young'uns"
My dad, Jake, Uncle Lucas and Mouth nodded smugly at one another, completely confident that they could own their kids at what they thought would be another lesson for the boys in the game.
One the other side of the court, Matt, Noah, Shayden and Zane looked at eachother and laughed like hyenas thinking that this was the funniest thing in the world. While Rhys and I looked at eachother and rolled our eyes, so completely bored and used to this, as I held onto little Tyler's hand. He stood there watching the whole thing, completely mesmerized at how 'big boys' act with one another
Meanwhile, the two opposing teams hand drawn an imaginary line between one another and they flipped a coin to see who'd start the game to 21. Mouth took his usual place on the picnic table on the edge and Rhys and I took our places as the Scott family cheerleaders as Tyler ran around the court, sweetly saying that he wanted to play with the big boys too.
We were halfway into the game and it was pretty tight. The dad's were out to prove that they still had it and the boys were trying to show that they were just as good if not better. Even, Tyler had made a basket or two with a little help from Noah's shoulders. Both teams had a competitive streak a mile wide and neither team was backing down. Even Uncle Luke, with his heart condition was throwing himself into the game as if it were the state championship once again. Just as I saw him send the ball effortlessly through the hoop and I heard Rhys cheer "Go Daddy!" my phone began to vibrate.
I got the usual shivers that vibrating phones usually give me, but there was something else there. Like a tingling in my soul and I had the oddest feeling that it was Josh but another part of me felt that it was my imagination going to the moon and back. I decided to take a chance and prove myself wrong. I decided to answer without even bothering to look at the caller i.d.
"Hey You" I said brightly
"Way to spoil the element of surprise, Jamie" said an amazingly sexy and scratchy voice on the other end
"Oh my God, it really is you" I said, surprised at my own instincts
"Well who were you expecting?" he asked sweetly
"Well, I don't know, but I wasn't sure if it'd be you anytime soon. But I am glad you called"
"Good. So listen, I saw the new Vanity Fair and I gotta say-"he began but I cut in hoping that he didn't get the wrong idea or think anything of me and Zane.
"Josh, there's really nothing going on with-"
Now it was his turn to cut in "Jamie, I just called to tell you….well how can I put this without sounding like a complete Neanderthal? Ok, screw it. Jamie, you looked really fucking hot and I haven't been able to get you out of my head and I miss you like crazy and I just called to let you know that you're beautiful." He said without even taking a breath inbetween.
I relaxed and let myself giggle a little. "Really?"
"Yeah" he said while letting out a sigh "And there's also something else"
"What?"
"Where are you right now ?" he asked me
"I'm in Tree Hill, Josh…but you already know that"
I could feel his smile on the other end of the line. "Well, I knew you're in Tree Hill but where exactly are you?"
"I'm at this basketball court that everyone usually hangs out at" I said confusedly "Why?"
"Well,I pulled a few strings and right now, I'm closer than you think?"
"Oh my god! Josh, where are you? Are you in Tree Hill?" I asked excitedly
"Well not exactly, babe. More like Wilmington"
"So? That's practically Tree Hill anyways, stay put. Where are you? I wanna come find you!"
"No" he said simply
"What?"
"Let's make this interesting" he mused mischievously
"Well how do propose we make that happen Mr.Keller"
"Oooo, big words. That Rhys has been teaching you something hasn't she?" he teased
"Shut up" I said playfully "But what did you have in mind?"
"How bout a little scavenger hunt?"
"Come again, Josh?"
"A little game of find the hottie" he joked
"Oh my god! I love that game!" I heard Rhys scream from nearby. That girl had ears like a freaking jackrabbit.
"Well, when you put it that way…aren't you scared that I'll get distracted along the way?"
"Arent you related to every other person in Tree Hill?" he asked matter of factly
"Dammit, you got me there" I said conceding defeat "but how exactly does this game work?"
"Well I can drive to Tree Hill and every now and then I'll call you and give you hints about where I'll be and I'll keep doing that until you find me." He explained
"But what's the point in that? Why can't you just tell me where you are?"
"Afraid of a little challenge, are we Miss Scott?"
"Excuse me, you do realize that the Scott's practically invented the word challenge. In our dictionary, it happens to be right next to the word competition."
"But C isn't next to oh, nevermind" Rhys said from behind me
"Tell Rhys I said 'Hi'" Josh said inbetween chuckles
""Josh says hi, Ry" I said softly so that the rest of the family wouldn't hear, not that they really cared when they were wrapped up in the game.
"Oh hi, hotness" Rhys belted out on my end
"Well nice to see that someone in your family actually likes me" he said thoughtfully
"Oh, yeah, sorry about that Josh"
"Well it's ok, my dad's not exactly your biggest fan either"
"Hey!" I said
"Sorry, sorry, that wasn't exactly smooth, but I thought you should at least know"
"Well, thanks for the heads up on that one. You won't see me in the front row at any Chris Keller shows anytime soon."
"Yeah" he said quietly, I could tell he was thinking about something
"So when does our little scavenger hunt start?" I said with a smile
I could feel him grinning right back at me "I don't know, you tell me"
And with that, he hung up the phone and I felt a rush of energy pulse through me. I had to get out of there. I had to see him, but being surrounded by my overprotective Keller-loathing family did present a bit of a problem.
"Rhys" I called her over to me and she came bouncing over, eager for gossip
"You rang, darling"
"I need you to cover for me."
"Oh. My. God! Why? Oh my god, what are you gonna do, and does this have anything to do with Josh?"
"Rhys, shush! Of course it has something to do with Josh! He's and town and-"
"What? He's What?!?! Oh My God! That is so hot! He came all this way for you? Ahhh!!! Oh my freaking God, this is like so-"
"Rhys!"
"What?" she asked as I ruined her moment of….whatever it is that Rhys does when she's ecstatic
"Can you keep it down? God, you know my dad would flip out if he heard any of this. Nobody can know about this. Nobody! Not even Zane, and don't act like you wouldn't say anything because I know you would and you know Zane can't keep a secret to save his life so, not a word, not a fucking word, Ok?
Rhys looked startled by my little outburst, she took my hand and look at me seriously. "You really like this guy?"
"I really do" I said to her just as bluntly
She bounced up and down happily "Then go get your man, bitch!"
"So you'll cover for me?" I asked
"Of course I will, you didn't even have to ask. Anything with boy and you know I'm on it"
"Oh my God, Ry, you know you're like the best cousin ever right?"
"Of course I am" she said tossing her long dark curls "but it sounds the best coming from you" she said sweetly
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I said. I gave her a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek and I ran towards my car. I got in and turned down up the radio and spend off to find my man. The sounds of Jeff Buckley's 'Eternal Life' filled the car. The song, fit the moment so perfectly, I had to wonder if there was a God making this moment absolutely perfect for me and Josh.
I sped around town like an idiot for a good half an hour straight, hoping for Josh to call but nothing. No ring, no vibrating, no nothing. I could feel myself getting more annoyed by the second. My car was too hot, my radio was giving me a headache and for some reason everything and everyone ran slower in Tree Hill and for a split second I had a longing for fast paced LA where at least, I knew that even if there was a shitload of traffic I'd get where I wanted to be so much faster. But instead of letting myself feel cranky, I turned on to Main St and stopped at my aunt Karen's café.
I walked in and the place was buzzing with energy, everyone was crowded around the tables or lounging on the sofas listening to music, sipping on Karen's amazing smoothies and just enjoying the summer. I found a spot at the counter and stuck my head in a little further to see if anyone was there. Just as I did, I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. I turned around and saw that it was my cousin, Keane with a fresh strawberry smoothie in one hand and a stack of empty plates in the other.
"Now which one's for me, I asked jokingly
"Careful, smartass or I just might take this back to the kitchen" she said as she placed the smoothie down in front of me
"Thanks" I said as I took a sip of the sweet pink liquid
"God, it seems like I haven't talked to you in like forever, Jam. With everyone around it's kind of hard to get to you." She said kindly
"I know what you mean. It's like I can never really get a break with them and all trip, I've really wanted to just spend the day hanging out with you. Seems like you're the only sane Scott I know" I chuckled to myself
She smiled and looked straight at me "I know what you mean, hon. I love you guys but sometimes I'm happy that it's only 3 or 4 times a year. With the exception of you, of course."
"And that's why you're my favorite Scott" I said
"Well, you're mine too. But seriously J, what's up. You've been kind of wandering around a lot by yourself lately. Talk to me here."
This is what I'd been waiting for all trip, a chance to just spill my guts to someone other than Rhys; Someone who'd tell me without being afraid of how I'd handle it. Keane was frank, that way. She'd tell you exactly what she thought of the situation and she'd make it so that you'd see the side that was best for you, even if it wasn't the right one all along. She'd give the truth, whether I wanted it or not and it seemed like I really did need a good, hard dose of it.
"Well, Kea, I'm sort of in a relat-"
"Wait, wait! Hold that thought, sweetie." She said suddenly, with a huge smile on her face
"Why?"
"Well, missy, if you must know, there is a totally hottie in the booth behind you checking you out!" she whispered giddily
"Oh my God, really?" I asked. My first instinct was to turn around and look at him but then something stopped me, my guilt over Josh and he sound of Keane's voice
"Ohhhh no no no, Jamie don't look at him, don't let him know I'm telling you this" she acted as if she were in High School again
"Oh, fine then. Well at least tell me what he looks like, Keane" I said, excitement creeping in my voice
She giggled "Even though he's sitting I can tell he's tall. He's wearing jeans and a green t-shirt but it's like an odd green, but it totally brings out his skin tone by the way. I can't see his eyes but he's wearing the sexiest pair of aviator's I've seen on a boy. Like, Jamie, think Wentworth Miller in the early days of Prison Break. All in all, he's one tall, sexy glass of iced cappuccino, baby" she was satisfied that even I was tempted to look after her description of him.
So I let my curiosity get the best of me. I slowly turned around and behind me, nonchalantly looking at a menu, was Josh Keller, looking incredibly sexy I might add, was sitting there in the flesh.
Alright y'all so I left you with a little cliffhanger there. Hit me up with some reviews and if I'm feeling generous there will be some MAJOR drama in the next chapter or two. After all, it's Tree Hill….anything can happen
-Baila