Chapter 29

My crying had finally subsided after thirty solid minutes. I'm sure certain parts were uncomfortable for Josh. But he didn't complain once to me. My body was limp against his as he continued to run his fingers through my hair.

While I was having a breakdown Josh had taken out my braid and continually combed his fingers through my hair as he held me. Every so often he would press a kiss to the top of my head or my forehead and I loved it.

I feel his grip on me loosen and his body start to move underneath me. I let out a whimper in protest and tighten my hold on him.

"I'm just adjusting baby." he whispers in my ear.

Once he's settled again he wraps his arm around my body and rubs my back soothingly.

"I don't want you to go Josh. Please don't leave me" I beg him

"I'm not going anywhere baby."

I lift my head up and look into his eyes again.

"Promise?"

The corners of his mouth turn up.

"I promise Piccolo"

His hand moves down to my thigh and rests there as he watches me.

"You never did tell me why you went to Italy" I mumble

"It's a long story"

"I have time. I need a distraction."

"After my mom left my dad didn't know how to take care of me. So he shipped me off to a school in a small village outside of Sicily. I had to stay with a family there who had a son around my age. He went to the same school. His name was Antonio."

He starts rubbing my thigh absentmindedly, which helps me keep my focus on him and what's he's saying to me.

"Anyway long story short, Antonio and I got along really well, he practically became my brother and he really helped me a lot through all the changes. I learned Italian from him and his family"

"How long were you there?"

"Two years"

My eyes widen and my jaw drops. He was away from his father for two years!

"When I turned sixteen he said he wanted me to come back but our deal had to remain in tact still. He said if I didn't go live with him he would refuse to pay for the schooling I was getting there, and since I was in Italy on a temporary residence I had to leave."

I take a second to think about what he told me.

"I'm sorry your dad is such a dick" I blurt

Josh chuckles.

"I'm not"

I look at him questionably.

"If he wasn't such an ass I wouldn't have met you."

My heart fluttered and I felt a piece of me come back to life.

"But you saw me crying"

"Yeah, but I wouldn't have talked to you if I hadn't stopped by your house."

"Why?"

"Why what?" He asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Why wouldn't you have talked to me?"

The doubt began to creep its way into the pit of my stomach again. I felt like I was going to hurl. I knew he was out of my league. His fathers words ring in my ears. "You're not his type"

"I wouldn't have talked to you because I was scared."

That wasn't what I was expecting him to say.

"Scared? Of what?"

Josh looks away from me briefly before his intense green eyes lock on to mine yet again.

"Scared of how you made me feel. That first time I met you even though you were crying, I knew there was something special about you. I didn't know what it was but there was something about you that I was drawn to. That hasn't happened before and I didn't like it at first."

He pauses and swallows before he finishes.

"But now that I know you, I know that you're the greatest girl I've ever met. You're kindhearted, you're smart, you're sweet, you're funny, you're the most beautiful person I've ever laid my eyes on inside and out. And it kills me to see you like this. It kills me that there isn't anything I can do to help you or to fix what's bothering you. I know that your brother doesn't approve but I want to be there for you Kelly. I want to be able to hold you when you need it and comfort you."

"Josh you are the greatest thing in my life. You're the best thing that's happened to me. I don't care what my brother says I care about you. You've made me a better person. You've made me a better daughter. And there's nothing that I can do to repay you. You've done so much for me and I don't know how to show you how much it means to me; how much you mean to me."

His hand comes up to cup my face again. My skin tingled at his touch. He was healing me, he was fixing me. I needed him to put my pieces back together. I needed him to love me the way I love him.

"Kiss me"

I'm not sure which one of us said it but we both answered by pressing our lips to each other's. His hand moves to the back of my neck to tangle in my hair and my hands move up to the sides of his face.

It had been so long since we kissed and I didn't realize how much I missed it, missed him until now.

Our lips were moving in perfect harmony with the others and our bodies were responding in a way I didn't know they could.

We both pull apart at the same time and I rest my forehead against his. He tucks my hair behind my ear and gives me a quick peck on my lips.

"Josh I lo-"

I'm cut off by someone yanking me up off the ground and away from Josh.

I turn around and am met with the angry brown eyes of my twin.

Shit.

I hadn't even thought of where we were when I ran over to Josh. I just needed to be with him.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Logan shouts at me.

I open my mouth but before I can say anything Logan is yelling at me again.

"How could you do this Kelly? How could you betray me like this? You know how much I hate this fucker and you went behind my back!" He screams at me.

Thalia and our parents run over to us when they hear Logan's shouting.

"I didn't take you for the slutty kind" Logan spits at me.

I knew he was mad and he didn't mean what he was saying, but that really fucking hurt.

"Logan Mitchell Willis!" My mother yells when they reach us.

I look around the graveyard and see all eyes on us. I was embarrassed.

"Logan please you have to understand-"

"Like hell I do! How would you feel if I went behind your back and fucked around with Trina?!"

Thalia takes a step back and looks hurt at his outburst.

I glance to her just as Logan does. He steps towards her but she brushes him off.

"You're a dick" Thalia says to him.

"Tali I didn't-"

"No I don't want to hear it. Josh may be an asshole in your opinion, but haven't you noticed how happy she's been lately? It sure as hell isn't because of you." Thalia snaps at him before walking away from us.

"Tali wait!" He yells after her but doesn't make a move to follow her.

Josh is by my side now and holding on to me with his good hand.

"Logan you need to calm down" my dad says to him.

"Calm down? Why should I calm down? My sister is Messi ya round with my sworn enemy! The guy that kicked me off the team! Why aren't you pissed of at her?"

"Because Thalia was right. Ever since they've started dating she's been so much happier. I know you don't like him but life isn't always about you." My mom says.

"Wait. You guys knew she was seeing him?"

"We all did, Thalia included." My dad says

Logan's fury only increases as his gaze falls on Josh. If looks could kill I'm sure Josh would be shriveled up by now.

"I can't believe you." Logan says to me.

"Why? Do you find it so hard to believe that I could finally find someone that takes my mind of the hell I live in constantly? That someone could make me smile and happy?" I scream at him.

Logan just stares at me with a fire burning in his eyes.

"You didn't even ask me if I was ok with you dating Thalia. You just went a did it! You stole my best friend from me!"

"You haven't complained about it before!" He counters

"Because I wanted you to be happy you prick! I saw how happy she made you and I became ok with it because I wanted what was best for you. Why can't you do the same?"

Logan groans and starts pacing.

"Why did it have to be him? I mean Ezra has been in love with you for years! Why couldn't you have picked him!"

"Because I don't love him!" I scream

Silence envelopes the group and Logan stares at me with wide eyes. My parents share a look with each other and I'm to afraid to look at Josh to see his reaction to my confession.

This really was not how I wanted this to go.

"You're dead to me" Logan sneers before he stomps away from us.

I didn't have it in me to chase after him, so I watch as his figure gets smaller the smaller the farther he goes from me.

What have I done?

•

So intense! Sorry this chapter is so long! I wanted to get it all in. A little sweet before the storm!

We're over half way so the rest of this will wrap up within 10-20 more chapters. (I know it's seems like a lot but there's is so much left to happen it will fly by!)