OLD FRIENDS

────────── INEZ PATTERSON ARRIVED at the other end of the cable car station. She got up with Oliver and headed towards the door, unable to get it to budge. "Frozen shut?" She asked, looking over at him.

"Move over." He said, she shrugged and moved away from the door, jokingly putting her hands up in surrender. He knocked on the door. "I think someone is out there, looks like Jess."

Suddenly, Jessica Riley's face appeared in the small window on the door and she opened the door for the two of them. "Do you guys like not know how to open a door?" She said as the two Patterson's stepped in.

Inez rolled her eyes but didn't say anything else. "Well, who else is here?" She asked.

"Uh, Mike's here, not sure where he ran off to." She admitted, with a short shrug as she sat down on the bench.

"Have you seen Josh yet?" She asked sheepishly but she already saw the growing grin on Jessica's face. "Not like that."

"Mhm sure, but no I haven't. My guess is he's already up at the lodge." She said.

—

About 20 minutes later, everyone was slowly gathering up at the lodge, minus Mike, Emily, and Jess. Inez, shivering, was sitting on the porch steps.

Josh glanced around. "Think they're having a threesome?" He joked.

Matt looked up. "Hey, man..."

"Sorry-" Josh started to say.

Inez looked up at him. "Aren't you supposed to be finding us a way into your lodge?" She asked.

"That I am." He said. "C'mon Cochise." He and Chris walked off to find another way into the lodge.

There was a long silence among the group, nobody knew what to say. "So," Oliver said, trying to break the silence. "What has everyone been up to?"

They exchanged some glances with one another. "Well- Em and I are together." Matt started to say.

"Believe me, we know," Inez told him. "I've seen her Instagram."

Matt cracked a small smile. "Any other new flooding romances between any of you guys?" He asked. "Ash?"

"Hm?"

"You and Chris yet?"

"What?" She questioned nervously.

Matt glanced at Oliver, Inez gave Matt a look, silently telling him not to ask Oliver about his love life. Matt understood and went silent.

After a few minutes, Josh returned, without Chris. "Chris is going to try and get the door open from the inside." He explained.

"Well, I hope he hurries his ass up," Matt mumbled.

Josh sat down beside Inez and she glanced over at him, getting that look from Sam. He glanced around. "Oh come on guys, I invited you all back up here to actually talk." He said, nudging Inez in the side.

She winced before looking over at him. "Hey." Was all she said, gulping down the nervous lump in her throat.

Josh looked at her. "Hi." He said, one of his stupid grins on his face. "You know you don't gotta be all awkward with me, Nezzie."

"I'm not." She said, shrugging. She glanced over at him and he raised an eyebrow, doubting her previous statement. "I promise."

"Whatever you say."

She rolled her eyes. She got a suspicious look from her brother and she just shook her head. She spent the last year just wanting to talk to him but now in the moment, she didn't know what to say. She cleared her throat, speaking up "How have you been?"

He looked over at her, and she could see it in his eyes, he was about to lie to her. "It's been fine."

She shook her head. "Liar." She mumbled. "If it hasn't been fine for me it definitely hasn't been fine for you."

He looked down and put a smile on her face. "I needed you." He said suddenly.

She realized that he didn't reach out to her, but she didn't reach out to him either. Besides once, a couple of days after the incident. The only other time they talked was when Josh officially called things off between them. "I'm sorry." She whispered, quiet enough for only he could hear it. "I'm so sorry Josh, for all of it, everything. I should have stopped the prank instead of being a part of it. I didn't just betray you, I betrayed Hannah and Beth as well. And for what? Nothing at all."

He looked up at her again, his face softening for a moment. "Thank you." He said quietly. "You're the only one that's apologized to me that I think actually meant it."

She smiled slightly. "I was sorry the minute I saw the look on Hannah's face." She could feel her stomach twist in a way it hadn't in years. She couldn't tell if it was a good or bad feeling. When they were kids, Josh made her feel flustered all the time, just like he was now, but she hated it now. She didn't wanna go back to Josh, she thought he deserved better, somebody who wasn't involved in such a cruel prank that caused the disappearance of his sisters, and somebody who didn't kiss Mike Munroe.

Even if she was drunk, she still remembered the entire kiss. She remembered telling herself she should have pulled away, but she didn't. She hated Mike, but that didn't mean she didn't find him attractive. She also remembered Inez wasn't the only girl he kissed in their friend group. Both Emily and Jess have kissed him as well, maybe that's what made her so uneasy. Josh was the only other guy she ever kissed other than Mike.

They should be incomparable. Josh was good to her, he always was. He did whatever a boyfriend should do, bought her flowers, and chocolate, and made sure she was comfortable with everything they ever did together. He was respectful to her family. She hated to admit it, but Mike was a better kisser, but he was an asshole. But he knew what he was doing. She never told Josh was happened between her and Mike, she felt like she should. But what was the point now? They were over and it would only hurt him more. She didn't want that. She never meant to hurt Josh.

authors note  .  .  .
aww thank you guys so much for all the love on this story, it means so much!! i'm really hoping you're enjoying it!