(𝐑𝐄𝐉𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍)

I wake up with a headache in an unfamiliar plain room. I look around and notice a letter on the nightstand next to a bottle of water and a few pills.

I reach over and take it before realizing it's Tristan's handwriting. 'Take them when you get some food into your body,'

The door unexpectedly opens, and Tristan steps in with two brown paper bags. "Good to see you're up," he replies.

"What is it that has you in a good mood?" I asked as I sat up against the bed frame.

He hands me one of the bags and shrugs, "Nothing,"

I take a peak inside of the bag, "Croissant ham and cheese?" I ask, and he nods.

"Thank you," I tell him, "But I need a shower first,"

"You don't have clothes here," he says.

I look at him, "You do,"

"And how would Joshua feel about that?" He asks as he takes a seat in the chair next to his desk.

"Well, it's either that or these, and I'm not staying in these,"

── ·✩· ──

After the shower, I immediately changed into a T-shirt and shorts.

I took the water and tablets Tristan had left for me and went downstairs to the kitchen, where Tristan and Josh were.

"You stayed the night?" Josh inquires.

When I look over at Tristan, he has a croissant jammed into his mouth and is acting oblivious.

"Yeah, I couldn't go home, so I just crashed in one of these twenty rooms, which I do get a bunch of college boys would need," I tell him, and he chuckles.

Chase comes down the stairs shirtless with bed hair, "It's too early for you to be here," he groans.

"Who called your name three times," I say, rolling my eyes.

"Actually, what was her name, Erica, or was it Eva,"

"We didn't need to know about your exploits last night," Tristan mutters.

"Hey, don't be jealous you don't get any action anymore," he says, and Tristan scoffs.

Chase smirks and shakes his head as he playfully mumbles something under his breath.

"How are you getting home, I can drive you," Josh says.

"Kate is taking me home," I tell him.

I take the pills and down it with the water.

"I can take you home in like ten minutes instead," He says.

"I told my mom I was with her; it'd be weird if you dropped me," I say.

"Weird?" He asks, "How?"

"Like suspicious," I tell him.

"Oh, I get it," he says as he takes his breakfast to the dining room.

"Can you lovebirds try to hide your 'love', it's fucking weird, and unless you want Josh to," he pauses before drawing his finger across his neck. "Then chill,"

He walks into the dining room after Josh, and I immediately feel anxious.

"Don't worry about him," Tristan says.

"Yeah, I know better."

── ·✩· ──

"That's one new fashion sense," my dad remarks as I go inside the house.

"Do not," I say, and he begins to chuckle.

I take a seat on the couch next to my mother. "How was the night?" She inquires.

"It was interesting," I tell her.

"Interesting, how?" she says as she takes a sip of her coffee.

I hesitated a little since I was intoxicated and couldn't recall anything.

"I'll get it," I say as I hurry to open the door as the doorbell rings.

"Josh, what are you doing here?" I ask.

"I just wanted to make sure you got home safely and to talk to you about something," he says. "I was going to when I dropped you off, but you went with Kate instead,"

I smile slightly, "Well, thank you, but you could've just texted," I say.

"I prefer face-to-face interactions, especially with you," he replies softly."Josh," I trail.

"I know, I know, we're not going there, but I'm always here no matter what," he says.

"So, can I come in?" I nod in response to his question.

He walks in, and I close the door behind him. He says hey to both of my parents as he walks up the stairs when my dad speaks.

"Josh, is it?"

"Yes, sir," he mutters.

My dad squints his eyes and then looks at my mom.

"We'll be up in my room," I tell him, and he clears his throat.

"Door open, please," he says.

My brows furrow, and I glance at my mom, "Door open, love," she says.

"Fine," I tell her as I walk up the stairs.

"Are your parents this hostile to Tristan?" He chuckles slightly at his joke.

He then sits awkwardly on the side of my bed and shifts awkwardly.

"You okay?" I ask, and he nods.

"Just never been in your room, with you alone," he mutters.

"Yeah, that's a first for me, too," I say.

"Did you want to speak about anything in particular?" I ask.

"Would you ever consider going back to Chase?" He inquires.

"What," I chuckle.

"I mean it, would you ever give him another chance?"

"He's had enough chances; he prefers to be single and for right now, I don't mind it either, so no, I sure as hell wouldn't,"

"What about Tristan," he whispers, looking me directly in the eyes, and I feel threatened if I look away.

"I just want to concentrate on myself; I'm not looking for a relationship or putting myself out there; whatever happens happens, and that's it,"

"That doesn't answer the question," he says.

"Technically, I did; Tristan and I ended abruptly. It was just the right choice at the time,"

He walks to me and stops right before our bodies collide. My back was pressed against the wall, and I didn't have much room to slide myself out.

"You said, whatever happens, happens, right?" He asks.

"Josh, I already told you,"

"But what if?" He questions.

"What if what?" I ask.

"What if you had a change of heart?" "I've liked you since I met you," he says, "I've always been there; I have to be the one for you, but how will you know if you don't try."

"I just got out of a relationship Josh, and I'd like to decide my destiny," I say.

I have so many feelings for Tristan that it makes me stupid. But with Josh, there's nothing, not a spark, not a glimpse of a future of us together, there's just nothing, and I've always seen him as a great friend.

I do like Joshua, I love his personality and his stupid way with words, but I can never see a life with him.

"I'm sorry, Josh," I say.

"You don't have to be," he says as he takes a few steps back.

── ·✩· ──

"You need better friends," My mom says. She takes a sip of the red wine and puts her feet up on the outdoor table.

"You know Josh has it hard," I say.

"If Tristan knew, he'd have it harder, maybe even a punch on the side for extra hard," she jokes.

"That was the most dad joke I've ever heard a mom use," I say. I slide down into the couch and admire the fire in front of us.

"Yh, well I'll have to fill in for your dad until he gets back," she mutters.

"But his parents are divorcing, and the group is only now coming back together, so he'll have some sort of stability back into his life,"

"Hopefully, he'll be back to normal soon," I say.

"He's always liked you, Liv; you were just too taken to see it," she states.

"I thought it was just a once in a while thought, where he'd wonder what if I was with him instead of Chase, not oh, I've liked you since Chase introduced us," I say.

"I feel shitty how I just rejected his feelings, but after Tristan, I can't find myself in another relationship," I mutter.

"Tristan is just,"

"Different," My mom says, interrupting me.

"He talks to us as if he sees us as his parents too,"

"That's because you guys liked him from the start," I say.

"Yeah, because from the start, he was decent," she says.

"I understand," I say as I get up from my seat, "I'm gonna go start roasting some marshmallows before Grace and Dad get here," I say, and she nods.

── ·✩· ──

𝗼𝗼. ⁞ 𝐀𝐒𝐇 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐒!

Hey guys, that concludes chapter fifty-one; how do we feel about the new chapters? I'm not going to lie; I feel like my writing is decreasing slowly, but I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, leave your feedback in the comments. Chapter fifty-two is coming soon.

Don't forget to comment on your feedback and vote.