Joshua O'Brien

August 22nd, 2018

My fourth and last class of the day was world religions, the best part about it was that Jessica had it with me. I only took the class because it was required for my degree, but Jessica took it because she wanted to explore the other religions of the world. Which in hindsight doesn't make any sense because we're both agnostic. I had been thinking about the conversation I had with Danielle a few days ago. I expected her to be jealous but to try and use Shaun as her pawn was too far.

Atleast that's what I told myself, for all I know she probably has moved on. I don't even know why it's bothering me, I should be focusing on my girlfriend Jessica. I mean Danielle didn't even show up the party at all. I guess she was telling the truth when she told me she wouldn't go. I felt like I was too deep in thought because when I looked up I saw Jessica just staring at me.

I smiled and propped my head on my hand. "Hello you."

"What's on your mind?" She asked.

"You."

"Cute, now what's really on your mind?" She asked.

I sighed and leaned back in my chair. "I was just thinking about these past few days. I feel like I haven't really been doing a great job as a boyfriend."

"At least you're admitting it." She said.

"Why don't we go bother Quinn after this? Then after we can go somewhere together?"

"Why do we have to bother Quinn?" She asked.

"He's my best friend Jess, I feel like ever since he's been here he hasn't really been himself."

"Well I'm sure someone else is already worrying about him. You don't always have to worry about everyone all the time." She said.

The professor dismissed the class and as everyone was getting up and leaving I looked out the window. The building was right across the street from a small plaza that had a bunch of stores and places to eat. I looked back at Jessica and thought it'd be a good idea to bring her there.

"You're right." I stood and grabbed my book bag. "Let's go get a coffee." I held out my hand in front of her.

"Lets." She said with a smile before taking my hand.

We both left the building and went across the street to this coffee place called Austin's Café. I had brought Jessica here a few times but if I was being honest it was only because it reminded me of the dates I took Danielle on. We used to always go out to small family diners like Carlo's back home. Something about it was humbling to us both and I was just hoping to recapture that same feeling with Jessica.

When we got inside I took a seat at one of the booths as Jessica ordered our drinks. I sat there looking out of the giant glass windows at the cars driving by. One day I wanted to take a road trip to somewhere far away and just escape this place. I had brought the idea up to Shaun and he said the best time would be spring break obviously. But to me that was too long from now, I wanted to take a road trip sooner than that. Maybe that's what Jess and I needed, a vacation with just the two of us and no one else.

"I hope you like pumpkin spice because that's what I got you." Jessica said handing me a coffee.

I rolled my eyes and took a sip of it. "Thanks."

"What's the look for?" She asked sitting across from me.

"What look?"

"You look like you're thinking about something important, more important than this." She said.

"Well you're right." I smiled and held up two fingers. "Two words....road...trip."

"You're joking." She said smiling.

"No I'm serious, let's go somewhere. Just the two of us, no distractions." I leaned over and held her hand before planting a kiss on it.

"I like that idea, best you've had in weeks." She said taking a sip of her coffee.

"Sooo?"

"Let's do it." She said giggling.

"Holy shit! Josh is that you?!"

I turned around in my booth to see a face I didn't think I'd ever see again. Many years back in middle school I met a girl by the name of Alice Carter. After highschool I doubted ever seeing her again. Friends like to say that after school that they'll stay in touch. But that's a dream, in reality friends grow apart as life takes over. But I'd be lying if I wasn't really happy to see her standing across the café.

"Oh my god, Alice is that you?"

"I'm sorry who?" Jessica asked looking very much confused.

"Holy shit! It is you." Alice said walking over to us.

I stood up from my seat and threw my arms around her. She seemed to only copy my actions and pull me much closer.

"It's good to see you."

"I didn't know you were coming to FSU." Alice said pulling away.

"Well honestly I didn't know either the last time I saw you."

"Josh who is this?" Jessica asked.

Oh I'm so sorry." I sat down next to her and put my arms around her. "Jessica this is Alice, she's an old friend. Alice this is Jessica, my girlfriend."

"Oh my god it's so nice to meet you." Alice said sitting down across from us. "Wow Josh aren't you batting out of your league? She's way too pretty for you."

I leaned my head on Jessica's shoulder. "Oh please."

"I like her already." Jessica said smiling.

"Alice and I go back all the way to middle school."

"Believe it or not he was still this ugly then." Alice said.

I chuckled. "You wish."

"What brings you to Austin's?" Jessica asked.

"Oh I'm meeting my boyfriend here." Alice said looking around.

I raised an eyebrow. "Boyfriend?"

"Yeah, look there he is now." Alice said pointing behind me.

I'll be damned if I didn't see Isiah of all people walking towards us. For as long as I've known Alice, she didn't seem like the relationship type. None the less with someone I actually knew. Then there was Isiah, how the fuck did he pull someone like Alice?

"Josh? What are you doing here?" Isiah asked sitting down next to Alice.

"What am I doing here?" I motioned between him and Alice. "Why didn't you tell me you got yourself a girlfriend?"

"You never asked." Isiah said giving Alice a kiss on the cheek.

"Do I have to? It feels like something you could've just brought up in conversation."

"Sorry I wanted to keep my personal life.....personal." Isiah said.

I held my hands up. "Oh dude by all means I'm happy for you. I just never expected to see Alice again, let alone with you of all people."

"What's that supposed to mean?"
Alice asked.

"It means Josh over here thinks I have no game when it comes to girls." Isiah said.

"Well I wouldn't say 'no game'. It's just Alice is like up here." I raised my right hand high above my head. "And like your down here." I then dropped my left hand under the table.

"Wait where am I?" Jessica asked.

"Oh I don't think I could raise my hand high enough Jess." I smiled and winked at her.

"You're so stupid." Jessica said giggling.

I took another sip of my coffee before putting my arm around Jessica. "So how long have you two been together?"

"How long has it been?" Alice said looking at Isiah.

"Like three....no four months." Isiah said.

I nearly spit out my coffee and instead almost choked swallowing it. "Four months!"

"Yeah that's right four months." Alice said.

"How the fuck have I not accidentally found out about you two?"

"I mean to be fair Josh, there was a huge gap where we didn't hang out. That's when I met Alice." Isiah said holding Alice's hand.

"How did you two meet?" Jessica asked.

"I think it was here actually." Alice said.

"Yep Alice was just sitting all by her lonesome working on something for school. " Isiah said holding his hands up like a picture frame. "I just thought to myself, 'wow what a beautiful girl'. So I sat down with her and we just hit off right away. I later asked her out and the rest is history."

"So you guys met at the end of the spring semester?" Jessica asked.

"Yep, I remember I was working on a very important paper." Alice said leaning her head on Isiah's shoulder.

"Next thing I know this handsome asshole sits across from me and totally distracts me." She added before kissing Isiah on the cheek. "You're lucky I got a good grade on that paper or else I totally wouldn't have gone out with you."

"I made it up for you in the end so why does it matter?" Isiah asked pecking her on the lips.

"Shhh not in front of them." Alice said giggling.

"I'm still shocked to see you again Alice. Even more shocked that your dating my best friend's brother." That's when a lightbulb went off in my head.

"Wait! Speaking of Quinn, how long has he known about your guy's relationship?"

"I think for as long as we've been dating. But before you get upset with him, I told him to keep it a secret. Looks like he kept his word." Isiah said.

"Damn why the secrecy?"

"Because I just didn't want it to be so public. Like I know for you thats a hard thing to do but for me it's what I wanted, just atleast for a few months." Isiah said.

I shook my head and waved my hands. "Whoa whoa what hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Do you not remember my last girlfriend?" Isiah asked.

"The blonde right?"

"Yeah, the one you and Quinn scared off." Isiah said scoffing.

"No offense Isiah but if your girlfriend can't accept who you have as friends, then that girl is no good for you."

"I hate to say he's right, like I really do. But he has a point." Alice said smirking at me.

"I mean Josh and I go way back to middle school. Also Quinn and I seemed to be cool around eachother." She added. "I don't see the problem in meeting your other friends. Plus if I can handle Josh I'm pretty sure I can handle anyone."

I laughed and stuck my middle finger up at her. "Ok again, fuck you."

"Wait there was a party a few days ago. Why didn't you bring Alice?" Jessica asked.

"Oh that's because I was sick and just didn't feel like going." Alice said.

"Yet you trusted your boyfriend to go to a party by himself?" Jessica asked.

"Yeah why wouldn't I?" Alice asked placing her hand on Isiah's cheek.

"That takes a lot of trust to do some shit like that." Jessica said.

I sucked my teeth and shrugged my shoulders. "I mean let's be honest it's not like Isiah could do better."

"I seem to be doing just fine." Isiah said pressing his forehead against Alice's for a moment.

"Ok ok enough about your guy's relationship. We need to catch up Alice, I mean it's been like years since I last saw you."

"You know Isiah and I were just talking about heading up to Lake Jackson this weekend. You guys should come with us." Alice said.

I put my arm around Jessica. "Sure, yeah we're down."

"Wait now hold on just a minute." Jessica said before turning towards me. "Josh what about the road trip?"

"What about it? This is a road trip Jess."

"I meant with just the two of us." Jessica said scolding me.

"Jess come on there will be plenty of days for that. How about we look at the brightside of this, you know it'll be fun."

"I mean you guys don't have to come if it buds into your alone time." Isiah said.

"No it's fine, Jess and I were just talking about taking a trip of our own is all."

"I mean I think it'll be a fun double date. Plus it'll give us time to get familiar with one another Jessica." Alice said.

"I feel like I'm more familiar with Josh's friends than I am with Josh himself." Jessica said.

I held my hand up and smiled. "Ok I know that means you're upset with me, but I feel like you're missing the bigger picture."

"And what's that?" Jessica asked.

"If we end up having a great time we'll go back with just the two of us."

"Promise?" Jessica asked.

I held my pinky out in front of her. "Pinky promise."

"Fine." Jessica said wrapping her pinky around mine.

"I like these two together, we should be more like that." Alice said.

"Oh I think we're doing just fine. You haven't seen them on a bad day." Isiah said.

"This isn't a bad day?" Alice asked raising an eyebrow.

"Not even close." Isiah said chuckling.

I scoffed. "Oh ha ha very funny you two."

"So what you're guy's plan for today?" Alice asked.

"Well we were hoping after this we could just go back and relax at my dorm."

"And by we he means just him." Jessica said.

"What? You don't wanna come back to my dorm?"

"I 'want' to have some alone time. Being at your dorm means having Shaun and your ex in the same room as us." Jessica said.

I raised my finger up. "Ok first off those two aren't even a thing."

"Then what are they doing making out over there?" Jessica asked pointing over to a corner in Austin's.

I shot my head around to look for them. "You fucking what when."

I felt so stupid when I saw no sign of either one of them. I basically just took Jessica's fucking bait.

"See this is what I mean. I feel like ever since your ex got here all you've been thinking about is her." Jessica said.

I turned my head back towards her and shook my head. "Ok do not joke like that. That shit is not funny."

"Ex? How many girls have you been through since I last saw you Josh?" Alice asked.

"Just one, honestly just one. I don't know why everyone thinks I'm like some sleazy player." I threw my arms up. "I'm a one woman type of a man Jess, I don't know what you want from me."

"I just want to know that you're thinking about me and not her." Jessica said.

"Jessica the only one thinking about her is you." I leaned forward and placed my hand on her cheek. "I've been thinking about you all day, trust me when I say you're the only woman on my mind."

"Awwww that's so cute." Alice said.

"Don't know how he does it." Isiah said.

"Is that Quinn?" Jessica asked pointing over to where the cashier was.

I kept my gaze on her. "Ok ha ha very funny."

"No she's being serious dumbass. Aye Quinn!" Isiah shouted across the room.

I'll be damned when I turned around to see Quinn ordering a coffee. I mean it wasn't that surprising because this was a popular spot. But still, what a coincidence.

"Oh shit what the hell are you guys doing here?" Quinn asked walking over to our booth.

I chuckled. "Apparently getting reacquainted with one another."

"Oh I see you found out about Isiah's girlfriend." Quinn said.

"Yeah, which you never told me about."

"Hey Isiah told me to keep it a secret so I did." Quinn said.

"You realize Alice is like one of my bestfriends right?"

"Well that's funny because you never brought her up to me." Quinn said shrugging.

"What are you doing here Quinn?" Isiah asked.

"Oh I'm meeting someone here." Quinn said looking around.

"Why the hell is everyone meeting here?" Jessica asked.

"Who you meeting?" Isiah asked.

"Just someone I met a few days ago." Quinn said.

I squinted my eyes at him. "Ooh he's being vague, that means it's a girl."

"Does not." Quinn said.

I smirked. "Ok then are you meeting a girl?"

"Yes but that doesn't make you smart." Quinn said.

"Who is she?" Isiah asked.

"Again just some girl I met at the party." Quinn said.

I leaned back in my seat and crossed my arms. "Hmmm ok I see you're getting back out there."

"Ok I am definitely not, its just supposed to be a friendly cup of a coffee." Quinn said.

"That's what you think? Is she single?" Alice asked.

"Yes but that doesn't mean I have to date her, come on guys." Quinn said.

"So you go on coffee dates with all your new friends?" Jessica asked.

"It's not a date!" Quinn said raising his voice slightly.

"Could've fooled us." Isiah said sucking his teeth.

"Well if it's not a date then I'm sure she'll be glad to sit with all of us." I suggested.

"Alright fine, if that'll get y'all off my back about it being a date." Quinn said.

"As fun as that would be, I think I'm gonna actually head back to my room." Isiah said.

"Ah come on babe we just got here." Alice said.

"Hey I want you to come with me." Isiah said holding her hand. "I figured we bothered Josh long enough. I'll text you about Lake Jackson later Josh."

"Alright then, it was nice seeing you again Josh and hey it was nice meeting you Jessica." Alice said sliding out of the booth with Isiah.

I waved at both of them. "Get back safe you two."

"Hey no funny business Isiah." Quinn said sliding into the booth across from me.

"You're one to talk. Have fun with your coffee date." Isiah said leaving with Alice.

"It's not a date!" Quinn shouted at them.

I laughed a bit. "Who would've thought Isiah would be the only one getting any action out of your family?"

"Oh trust me it shocks me everytime I think about it." Quinn said.

"So Quinn I've been meaning to ask you...about Adrian." Jessica said.

My ears perked up at that name. "Wait who?"

"He doesn't know?" Quinn asked looking between Jessica and I.

"Know what?"

"I mean honestly Josh it hasn't really come up in a conversation yet so I just haven't told you." Jessica said before placing a hand on my shoulder. "But I have an older sister named Adrian, who's been in rehab for over a year. Who I haven't seen in over four years."

I just stared into her eyes trying to process all of that information at once.

"Oh....that's....rough."

"If it helps....I saw her a couple of days ago." Quinn said.

"How is she?" Jessica asked leaning forward a bit.

"She's good Jessy Jess." Quinn said smiling. "She's really good....I don't even know if you would recognize her because hell I barely did. She's uh...she's actually moving in to an apartment just a few blocks from here. She's gonna start coming to FSU next week."

"Holy shit....that's awesome!" Jessica said nearly jumping out of her seat.

I placed my hand on hers to feel it shaking. "You seem....a bit anxious."

"I mean what the hell am I supposed to say to her? I can't imagine she'll be happy to see me, it's been so long." Jessica said.

"Well I don't know your sister but I can only imagine if you just tell her the truth that she'll find a way to forgive you."

"You're right....you don't know my sister at all." Jessica said shaking her head.

"Just gives me more incentive to meet her." I winked before looking at Quinn. "When's she moving into her apartment?"

"A few days from now." Quinn said.

"Jess you have to go see her."

"It's not that easy Josh." Jessica said.

"It's only gonna get worse the longer you hold it off Jess. You're gonna see her eventually, she's moving in a few blocks away for fucks sake. If you truly care about your sister then you'll go to her first. I'm sure some part of her will respect that."

"I don't know, Quinn how did it go for you?" Jessica asked.

"Well she pretended like she didn't know who I was at first which I found surprising but....she came around. I mean she came around hard. For a moment...it was like old times." Quinn said with a grin on his face.

"You gotta make things right Jess. You're family...I'm sure that means something to her."

"Alright, Quinn let me know the moment she moves into her new place." Jessica said.

"Yeah of course." Quinn said.

"Alright Josh I'm gonna head back." Jessica said kissing me on the cheek.

"Like right now?"

"Yeah, I wanna head back to my room. I just need to think right now." Jessica said sliding out of the booth.

I half got out of my seat. "Do you want me to go with you?"

"No it's fine, I'd actually rather be alone right now actually." Jessica said.

I sat back down and nodded. "Alright, get back safe then."

"Keep an eye on him for me Quinn." Jessica said before leaving.

"I got you Jessica no worries." Quinn said.

We both watched her walk out of the Café and head back to the campus. That just left Quinn and I alone now. He looked back at me and instantly I could read it on his face. He knew exactly who I was thinking about now that Jessica had left.

I tapped my fingers on the table a bit. "Sooo....how's Danny doing?"

"Why don't you ask her yourself?" He asked.

"I don't know, I guess it's just awkward talking to her in person now."

"You mean you don't trust yourself with her?" He asked.

"What? No Quinn, look I don't know how hard it is for you to understand but I like Jessica a lot. Danny and I....we're old news now."

"You keep telling yourself that Josh. It doesn't take a genius to see that you still care about her." He said.

"I'm just tired of people telling me how I should feel. It's gotten to the point where I don't even know what I feel. I know I'm supposed to be all happy I'm with Jessica but.....it's like everyone's telling me that I should be with Danielle." I hit the table a bit before laying my head in my hands.

"Even Jessica doesn't think I like her which I do, I really do Quinn."

"I think you need to talk to Danny. It's the only way you're ever gonna get over this." He said.

I sighed and closed my eyes. "What room is she in?"

"Dorm building B, room 32." Quinn said.

I opened my eyes and slid out of the booth. "Good luck with your date man."

"It's not a date!" Quinn shouted as I left Austin's.

I made my way back to the school and over to the girl's dormitories. Quinn said that Danielle was in building B so that's where I went. I took the stairs up to the third floor and went all the way down the hall to room 32. There was a chance that she wasn't even in the room. I was standing there for a while in front of the door thinking of what I was gonna say. I mean how was I gonna tell her that some part of me missed her. As hard as I fucking tried to move on how the hell was I gonna tell her after all I said that I actually missed her.

Even after all the fights we had after we broke up, even after she tried to make me jealous. It was until I reached my hand out to knock on the door that I stopped myself. What was I doing? I had an amazing girlfriend named Jessica who I actually cared about. Was I really willing to jeopardize that for Danielle? For all I knew Danielle didn't even care about me anymore. Maybe it was for the better that she went on with a guy like Shaun, she deserved better than me. I turned to walk away when the door opened. I looked back to see Danielle standing there in the doorway. Her hair was tied up in a bun and she was wearing an oversized hoodie and some boy shorts underneath it. Every fiber of my being was telling me to walk away.

I almost did until I noticed that the hoodie she was wearing was one of mine that I had left at her house a few months ago. The fact that she kept that instead of throwing it out must've meant something. I realized I was just staring at her and I probably should've said something but I just took a step closer to her. Her eyes were staring daggers into me as I took another step closer. Next thing I knew I was standing just inches away from her. This was it, my last chance to walk away before something bad happened.

Was I willing to do what I thought I was going to do? That's when I realized...I was willing.

The next step I took was to close the gap between us. I pressed my lips against hers and immediately it was like are bodies synced together. Like they were always meant to be synced together. Her arms snaked around me and pulled me even closer. I moved us into her room and shut the door behind us. I lifted her up and carried her to her bedroom and laid us both on the bed. It was only then that I pulled away and looked her in the eyes again. I saw so many things in her eyes but the most pronounced thing was....joy. I guess after all this time she really did still care for me.

"I missed you." We both said at the exact same time.

We both laughed at our jinx before kissing each other again. I felt Danielle's hands go for my belt and that's when I realized how far we were taking this. I guess I already crossed that line, no point in going back. I helped her unbuckle my pants before kicking my shoes off. I reached down and pulled my pants off before Danielle rolled us over and straddled my waist. She broke the kiss and I looked up at her as she slowly took off her hoodie revealing nothing underneath.

I propped myself up on my elbows as I just took in the sight of her beauty. She could tell I was staring at her body which caused her to blush crimson. As cocky as Danielle came off sometimes she was still really shy. But with me she always let that barrier down, she trusted me. I watched as she slowly took her hair tie out and let her hair down. I leaned up and trailed kiss up and down her neck and collar bone. I felt her breath hitch a bit before she moved her hands to the hem of my shirt before taking it off. She then moved her hands to my chest and pushed me back on to the bed. Her lips crashed back into mine as one of her hands trailed down my body and to the hem of my boxers.

I grabbed a hold of her waist as she pulled my boxers down to my knees. I used one hand to help her pull them the rest of the way down before rolling us over again. I couldn't get enough of her lips, I missed them for so long. I watched as she took my hand and moved it down in between her legs. I took the hint and pulled her boy shorts down her legs and tossed them across the room. Danielle couldn't stop smiling as I kissed her again on the lips before moving my body in between her legs.

"Do you remember what I told you the first time we had sex?" She asked.

"Hold on to you...and don't ever let you go."

"I....I love you Josh." She said.

"I should've never left you....I love you too Danny."

"Then hold me...and don't ever let me go." She said before kissing me again.

I felt her hands tangle in my hair as I thrusted myself into her. It was like our bodies came together like they used to. It had been so long I forgot what she felt like, she felt perfect. This moment was perfect, everything outside of this room didn't matter...just us....only us.