Julie sighed contentedly as she laid her head on Josh’s chest. Josh laughed and Julie looked up at him, slightly irritated.
“What’s so funny?” Josh shook his head, still chuckling softly.
“You’re happy just because you can lay your head on my chest. I find that funny.” Julie smiled, then quickly frowned.
“This has been one of the worst weeks of my life. I should be having fun, planning my wedding, and hanging with my friends.”
“Does this have anything to do with Alyssa?” Josh asked quietly. Julie looked down at the bedspread at pulled at a piece of loose string.
“Yes.” Julie sat up. “She used to be a really good friend. Then she went away to college and came back a bitch.” Josh sighed.
“Don’t take this the wrong way Jules, but have you stopped to think that maybe you’re not being a good friend either?” Julie’s mouth dropped open.
“Excuse me?” Josh put a hand to his aching forehead.
“You can’t blame everything on Alyssa, Julie. You’re both at fault.” Julie shook her head.
“No! It’s all her fault.” Julie stated. Josh contemplated how to defend Alyssa without Julie getting MAJORLY pissed at him.
“I know you’re happy because we’re getting married Jules, but Alyssa has a lot going on in her life right now. Her parents might get a divorce which is probably devastating to Alyssa, she’s fighting her feelings for Ryan, and she wants to go to Paris to try to get rid of her problems. Not everyone can be happy Jules.” Josh pulled Julie into a hug. “You can’t blame everything on her.” Julie continued looking down at the bedspread.
“I’m still mad at her.” Josh sighed.
“I’m going to bed. Let me know when you decide to be fair Julie. You’re just as much at fault as she is.” Josh turned off the light and laid down. I hope this goes away soon.
****************
Julie Holland
I can’t believe that Josh was defending her. Most of all, I can’t believe that he was right. I can’t blame it all on her. I only wrote her once. I never called her. But I’m still mad at her.
*****************
Ryan sighed as he let himself into the apartment that him and Alexia shared. He had the feeling that he was in BIG trouble. Alexia was sitting on the couch in her pajamas, a pair of baby blue ruffled pants and a matching tank top. She was angrily flipping through the channels and eating Ben and Jerry’s Chunky Monkey. Ryan put his keys on the table and sat down next to her.
“I don’t even want to talk to you right now Ryan.”
“I’m sorry I’m so late--” Alexia whipped her head around and angrily pointed her spoon at Ryan.
“You think I’m angry because you came in late? God you’re such a MORON! Tonight was our one year anniversary and did you show up for dinner? NO! I don’t want to hear an explanation because I know it has something to do with Alyssa Morgan. My stuff is packed and tomorrow, I’m going to go stay with one of my friends. We’re through Ryan. I want a boyfriend who devotes himself solely to me. I can tell your mind is elsewhere and I don’t want to deal with it anymore.” She angrily changed the channel again. “You can sleep alone tonight too, because I’m sleeping out here.” Ryan turned to go to their room, but not before he saw a tear slip down Alexia’s cheek. She was strong, but she wasn’t that strong. He turned and walked away. There was nothing he could tell her, nothing he could say to comfort her. He was guilty as charged.
***************
Alexia Jordan
There. I did it. I set him free. Now he can go be with Alyssa. Actually, he can’t. She’s with Jean-Paul. Maybe now he’ll know how it feels. Of course, Alyssa’s mind isn’t on Jean-Paul. Her mind is on Ryan. I feel sorry for Jean-Paul. Poor guy probably thinks that Alyssa is devoted to him when she’s off meeting Ryan. At least I have something in common with somebody.
***************
Going and staying with her parents instead of in the hotel had been a big mistake. When Alyssa woke up the next morning, her eyes were swollen from crying and she heard her parents arguing downstairs. Alyssa sighed as she sat up and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Her mom was in a better mood now that she was staying at home but the arguing still went on. Alyssa quietly padded down the hall, down the stairs and into the kitchen. John Morgan was sitting at the able, reading the paper and eating his breakfast. Jane Morgan was preparing breakfast for Kira and Alyssa, now that she was awake.
“Hi Mommy.” Jane smiled and fed Kira some oatmeal.
“Good morning Alyssa.” Mr. Morgan got up and left without another word. Alyssa looked down at the formica tabletop.
“Why are you and Daddy always fighting?” Jane sighed, and put her spoon down.
“Your father insists that we help Trista through every problem that she has, no matter how big. I keep telling him that Trista has to learn some responsibility, and we can’t let her run to us every time that she gets in trouble.” Alyssa shook her head.
“It seems like you’re playing favorites, Mom. I’m not the perfect child that you make me out to be. It’s a lot of work to keep up my grades, and be something “special” just so that I can please you. Trista tries so hard to be what you want her to be and it’s STILL not good enough. When are you going to realize that you don’t have two perfect daughters and one IMperfect daughter. You have three daughters who try their best to please you. Trista tries the hardest and yet, you only focus on me and Mira. I’m sick of it.” Alyssa walked out of the kitchen and up to her room. This was one of the exact reasons that Alyssa liked being on the other side of the world. It was alot of pressure, being the “perfect” daughter. No one could ever do it and Alyssa was sick of trying.
“Jesus Christ.” Alyssa muttered as she grabbed a pair of jogging pants and a Lycra tank top. Maybe jogging would help get rid of some the anger that Alyssa had been harboring for the past few weeks. She jammed her feet into some tennis shoes, grabbed her walkman, filled up a water bottle, and stomped downstairs. As she went out the front door, she made sure to slam it really hard behind her. She walked to the park that was near the house and started jogging along the path. Too many thoughts were running through Alyssa’s mind, and frankly, it was pissing her off. Ryan was a constant thing on her mind, she could now add her parents to the train of thoughts. Alyssa had barely seen Jean-Paul since they had come to Orlando. He had some friends who lived here, and they were taking him sightseeing everyday. In a way, Alyssa was relieved. At least she didn’t have to deal with the fact that Jean-Paul thought that Alyssa was totally devoted to him when her mind was really on Ryan. After running three laps, Alyssa sat down on a bench to take a rest. She rested her head on her knees and was startled when she heard a voice behind her.
“If it isn’t the future journalist.” Alyssa froze. That voice sounded very familiar. When Alyssa lifted her head, Brian Klein stood there, in all his sexiness.
“Brian?” He grinned, rather sexily Alyssa thought, and sat down next to her on the bench.
“Alyssa.” He looked her up and down appreciatively. “You sure have changed.” Alyssa shook her head in disbelief.
“It’s only been a year. But then again, you never really noticed what I looked like before we graduated so I guess I should expect a line like that to come from your mouth.” Brian grimaced.
“Ouch. Aren’t we the ice queen?” Alyssa shrugged.
“I’m just sick of dealing with your crap. You didn’t notice me back in high school, why should I give you the time of day now?” Brian smirked.
“Because deep down, you still want me.” Alyssa laughed.
“Ego big enough? Get over yourself. Why don’t you go back to whatever rock you crawled out from under and the leave me the hell alone?” Alyssa got up and started jogging, almost sprinting, home. She was suddenly very angry because, somewhere deep down, she knew that he was right. Some part of her still wanted him, for the simple fact that she could never have him. Alyssa sighed as she felt herself start to calm down after sprinting a couple of blocks. Too bad she couldn’t jog all her life.
********************
Trista sighed as she unlocked the door to her parent’s house. Truth be told, she wasn’t here to see her parents. She was here to see Alyssa.
“Called in sick again?” Jane Morgan said, the instant that Trista stepped through the door. Trista gritted her teeth.
“I have no one else who will watch Rachel.” Trista shrugged her shoulders. “Since my mother is such a bitch.” Jane’s mouth dropped open.
“How dare you talk to me like that?” Jane’s face turned crimson under her fury. “You’re a good for nothing whore. That’s all you are. I want nothing to do with you Trista. Get out of my house and don’t ever come back again.” Trista shrugged again, and turned to leave.
“Your loss.” Trista said as she walked out the door. “You’ll never see Rachel again.”
*******************
Ryan wathced helplessly as one of Alexia’s friends grabbed her two suitcases. All Alexia did was glare at him. Ryan knew that it would be awhile before he and Alexia would be friends. She never gave up a fight easily, and Ryan could tell that she was pissed at him and would be for quite a long time. But even as he watched her walk out the door, Ryan felt strangely relieved. It was unfair to expect Alexia to stay. She wasn’t his main focus anymore, ad she knew it. But, on the other hand, he was still stuck in no man’s land. Alyssa was still with Jean-Paul, and would continue to fight her feelings for him. Ryan sighed. Why couldn’t things be easier?
********************
“It’s beautiful.” Taylor breathed when she saw Julie’s wedding dress. Julie grinned.
“I knew it was the dress the minute I saw it. Josh is going to freak.” Julie hung the dress back in the closet and sat down on her bed. She opened a spiral notebook and looked over some things. “Speaking of the wedding, I have to call the planner and make sure she’s on track, I have to call the florist, and the church to make sure everything is set. And then, The big wedding on July 12.” Taylor smiled.
“I can’t believe you’re getting married.” She looked down at the bedspread. “No more spending the night over at my house, gorging on junk food. You’ll have a husband to take care of.” Julie smiled softly.
“Things won’t change that much.” Taylor nodded, looking somehwhat happier. “Besides,” Julie shrugged her shoulders. “Things can’t change anymore than they already have.” If they do, Julie thought to herself. It’ll end up killing me.
Chapter Five
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