Where did we leave off? [JOSH]

[taylor nicole monroe]

Taylor shoved her phone in her pocket she had texted Josh to meet here after class today. She was honestly oddly nervous about seeing him. She had not seen his since he checked out of rehab. She was surprised to find out he went here to Jackson. but she was glad all the same. Finally someone who understood her and what she was going through. She smiled to herself as she walked slowly through the stable. Her light brown eyes resting on a horse with it's head poking over the door.

She moved slowly over to his stall she raised up on to her toes not caring if it hurt her flats. she held her hand out for the horse to sniff and take in her scent. she was presenting herself to him or her. She glanced at the worn plaque on the stall door. "Blackjack....cute." she commented as she moved to pet the side of his face. She was glad he seemed to have accepted it. Black jack seemed friendly enough. but Taylor found rather ironic she was making friend with a horse rather then anyone at this school. She knew it was her fault though. she was just to scared and she knew it.

The blond rocked back on her heels shaking her head where was he. She glanced around but she was in a stable full of horses. But she was honestly glad the place was not swarming with student she wanted a private moment with Joshua she was curious if the rumor she had heard about him having a girlfriend was true. She was not afraid to ask. But she kind of hoped it wasn't.

[summerw]

Josh walked out the class and straight to his dorm. He had gotten a message yesterday saying Taylor was here and now she had text him telling him to meet her at the stables after class. Of course, he was going, but he had to freshen up first. He changed of his "I don't care" clothes to his "I'm tryna impress" clothes. He looked in the mirror and ran his hand through his hair quickly. He felt like a girl sitting here checking himself out and laughed to himself. He grabbed his phone, shoving it his pocket and walked out.

Josh started walking to the stables. He was dying to see Taylor again for the first time since he left. Here, he had thought they were over and he'd never see her again and had went out and got a girlfriend. Of course, he and Arabella had only known each other shortly. She was an italian sophmore and had basically ran into him at the coffee shop. They hit it off because her personality reminded him so much of Taylor. The only difference was Taylor could stand up for herself and so far Arabella hadn't done that.

He had missed Taylor so much and ever since he had to explain her to his sister Charlie, he'd been dying to see her again. They'd helped each other through rehab. Josh entered the stables. Hee immediatly saw Taylor and held his breath. She looked more beautiful then when he last saw her. He walked over to the entrance and stood there. He smiled and looked at her. "Hey Taylor."

[taylor nicole monroe]

Taylor ran a hand through her blond hair pulling it away from her face her gaze moving away from the horse to the rest of the stable beside her. She wondered how many horses where actually housed her. But she shook her head and spun around as she heard a voice. A wide smile sweeping across her face at the sigh of it's owner. "Josh!." she exclaimed excited to see him. She could not contain herself so she quickly gave him a hug. she had missed him majorly since she had last seen him. In fact she had never even expected to end up seeing him again. But life certainly had dealt her a lucky hand because here she was and he was here to.

"God, I missed you." she said a smile not leaving her lips. "I thought I wasn't going to see you once you left....but here you are." she said biting her lower lip. As much trouble as she was having adjusting to jackson high Josh being here certainly made her feel so much better about everything. "How have you been?" she asked curiously. She wondered what he had been up to since rehab and if maybe the rumor of him having a girl was true. but she was not about to out right say it yet. She was still buzzed on the excitment of seeing him again. she would hate to ruin the moment just yet. but she certainly was not going to keep quiet about it.

Taylor smiled taking him in again after all it had been awhile since she had seen him. Still looked as handsome as ever. "My you look cute today." she said flirtaciously. she could not help it the flirt in her always found a way to come out. especially with Josh. They had been through a lot together. "Then again you always look good." she said softly with a shrug. Her eyes finally looking away from him to the the stall beside her.

[summerw]

Josh couldn't help, but smile as Taylor nearly tackled him. He figured she was just as excited as he was. That, of course, was always a good thing. That meant she missed him as much as he missed her. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer as an instinct. They were both definitely lucky to be in each other's presence again. After everything, seeing her right now was what he needed. "God, I've missed you too Taylor...a lot." He noticed her big smile and realized his couldn't be too far behind hers. They were really grinning at each other. It had to be the excitement.

"I don't think either of us really thought we'd see each other again. Just me leaving so quickly after...everything." Everything. Something he hadn't thought about. Had anything actually happened to Taylor while he was gone? Had she met someone else? Had "it" happened to her? Was she lonely? Could she defend herself? Did she have to? All these questions were playing over in his head when she spoke up. "Oh, I'm fine. Just getting adjusted actually. Are you...did anything..." Josh paused letting the unsaid words linger in the air. He knew what he was going ask and he knew she probably had an idea too.

He watched her look at him and immediately start flirting. This was the Taylor he knew and loved. "Thanks Taylor, so do you." He smiled releasing her so he could look at her better. She was amazing. Now that he was closer, he could tell she looked even better then what he fell in love with in rehab. He watched her look away. He tilted her chin towards him so she was looking into his eyes. Josh looked her over. Pausing on her eyes and hesitating on her lips. He missed her and wanted badly to kiss her. He wanted to pick up where they left off. He exhaled quickly, licking his lips. "So do you and you know that."

[taylor nicole monroe]

Taylor relished in the hug loving the closeness she had to him. She really had missed Josh majorly. They had really been there for each other through rehab no matter how horrible it got they always had had each other. Well till her left...and got discharged. She was happy for him but sad at the same time she had lost someone so close to her but now here he was. It was kind of perfect. "It's so good to see you again." she said meaning it. "I'm not letting you out of my sight mister are going to hang out whenever we can." she said with a smile. She knew that was easier said then done but she did not want there to be any doubt that she wanted to hang out with him.

"Yeah....everything.....But the good news is I'm out and here now!" she said brightly. she was not about to focus on the bad things. She loathed some of the things that had gone down in CAC Vitamins the guards and...But she shoved her thoughts aside focusing on Joshua. But his question or rather unfinished question caught her off guard. She glanced down for a moment before looking at him. "It took me awhile to get out of there..." she said vaguely. "But you know me I don't take crap from anyone." she said with a sigh.

Taylors let a smile slip onto her face as he complimented her back. It was good to always have someone to flirt with it felt good when they flirted back. She let him hold her gaze as he tilted her chin up. She let her eyes wash over his facial features. She felt the impulse to kiss him but she was scared the rumors were true. Not that would stop her she knew she wanted him back. But she was not about to cross that line. "So...I've heard word that you've found a new girl." she stated hoping he would further educate her on this subject. She hoped it wasn't true but from that moment that happened she knew she still had a shot. She looked down from him. "I'm not sure if I should believe the rumor mill around here. Hard to trust people after all." she said but she did trust Josh that was a fact one she hoped that would not change.

[summerw]

Josh smiled, a gleam in his eyes. "Of course we'll hang out babe." He said automatically calling her what he used to. Even though it had been a long time since they saw each other, he still had tons of feelings for her. Seeing her smile again had brought him happiness. He listened to her talk and say she was glad to be out. He was just as happy as she was that she was out. He grabbed her hand and intertwined their fingers. "You know I never wanted to leave you, right?" He looked at her, seriousness in his eyes. "I would've stayed for you if I could, Taylor."

After his question, he knew her happiness was fake. She glanced down and looked at him. Josh let her go and walked a couple steps away. He slid his hands down his face, exhaling loudly. "What did they do, Taylor?" He asked, his back to her. "Did it...did they...Taylor?" He paused and turned to face her. He knew the words he couldn't bear to speak and so did she. "Please..." He looked her, fear all over his face. "Tell me..."

Josh watched the smile cross her face when he complimented her. She was so beautiful. Then she brought her up. Josh had forgotten about her as soon as they spoke. He saw that she didn't want to believe it. "Shit." He looked at her then quickly looked away. "You're gonna hate me..."

[taylor nicole monroe]

Taylor could not help but smile as he called her babe. The prospect that he was up to hang out with her now she was here made her feel wonderful. "Good, I definitely need someone to show me the best places to hang out around here." she said smiling at him as he took her hand. It felt so right just being here with him. She had honestly missed being this comfortable with someone."I know, I know you would have." she said softly giving his hand a small squeeze. "I'm just glad we are somehow here together now." she said smiling at him.

Taylor bit her bottom lip her nerves kicking in as he moved away from her. She was not a vulnerable type of girl at least she was not one to show it. Taylor quickly moved to him she saw the fear on his face her hands rushing to touch his face. "Josh, you know I don't let anyone take advantage of me." she said her hands dwindling down from his face. "So when a guard tired.....to...you know. I retaliated." she said with a shrug as if it was nothing. "Gave him a nice bruise..." she said a small smirk crossing her lips but it quickly disappeared. "But of course they did not like that...so...I ended up staying longer there then needed thanks to the doctors." she said softly. "But I got out thankfully." she said stepping back from him.

Taylor could not keep the truth from him but she was honestly worried what his reaction to it would be. They had seen some horrible things together but got away with never being on the end of it it seemed. But things had changed for her when he had left. Apparently things had changed for him to. He's found a girl. "I could never hate you." she said automatically in response. But that was all it took for her to know. He moved on but she felt like that was not completely true she was here with him and something was still...there. She knew she was not crazy maybe she had lost him entirely to another girl. But she kept her thoughts to herself. 'What's she like?" she asked instead. She was not going to be mean. No mater how much she wanted him.

[summerw]

Laughing with Taylor was the only Johs missed about rehab. But now she was here and they were together. "I've only been to class and coffee with my sister. Then a party for my sister. Which was...not my scene." He smiled. "I don't think I'd be a good tour guide, but I'll try for you." There was just something about her that made this all seem right. Right now he had not a care in the world. He always felt that way around her. Like nothing mattered when they were together. He sighed as she squeezed his hand. "I am too. I'm glad you're here with me."

Josh listened as Taylor came over and tried to explain. He heard the nervousness in her voice. As she touched his face, he relaxed a little. Maybe it wasn't as bad as he thought. That was until he heard the words. He felt the anger rise. He clenched both his fists as she stepped back. "Damn it!" He yelled, wanting to hit something. He was never good at controlling his anger. He hit the edge of the empty stall. "God Taylor. I shouldn't have left you there. I should've taken you with me. It was bad and I left you helpless. It's my fault!" He put his back to the stall and slid down to the ground, hands on his face. "If they would've hurt you...I don't know what I'd have done. Taylor, I would've tried to kill them." Josh shook his head and noticed his bleeding hand. "Shit."

Josh thought of Arabella and then of Taylor in front him. He looked at her. He never wanted to hurt her. He noticed the silence between them. "I'd hate me if I were you..." He finally said. "I just never thought we'd be together again. If i'd have known...it wasn't planned." Arabella wasn't exactly a rebound from Taylor. She just sort of happened. He thought about how they met. "She's amazing. Sorta like you except a little more defenseless. I think that's what made me like her. I just wanted someone to want me after my parents and stuff. Arabella wants me." That's what it was. That simple. He was falling for Arabella, but he started wanting her when she started needing him.

[taylor nicole monroe]

Taylor smiled she was content with them exploring the town together. She would not mind it in the least just being around him would make her happy. this was the first day since she was here she had been truly happy. "Well, you have seen more then me." she said her hand sliding on to her hips. "My knowledge goes as far as the campus coffee shop and my dorm...Oh! and Kamen's Bluff I discovered it on accident. It has such a view...we will have to go sometime." she offered with a bit of a flirtatious smile. She could not help it.

Taylor had feared this reaction Joshua was the first person she had told about this. She knew he would be angry. 'Josh" she said softly as she took in his reaction and words. She could not help but let a small smile come across at his protectiveness for her. She quickly moved to him taking his hand he had hit the stall with. "I know, I know..." she said seeing the blood. "I'm fine now...I'm out of that hell whole." she said glancing around grabbing a random rag for his hand. "Here..." she said softly. "Let's not focus on the past I'm here now...I'm with you and no one can hurt me now." she said trying to catch his gaze. She was simply trying to calm him down. Those word may be slightly untrue Taylor could still be hurt but she was master at hiding it. Most the time.

"Well thankfully I'm me and I do not hate you Josh. It's not like you thought your were going to see me again...I understand." she said but it did honestly suck a little well more then a little. She just wished... but she pushed those thoughts aside. A small weak smile came across her face at his words as he explained the other girl. Arabella. Taylor glanced down. "Are you happy with her?" she asked. It was a silly question but she did not want to fall in to awkward silence not with Josh.

[summerw]

Josh smiled. "Sounds like a great place for alone time. You sure you wanna go so far away from people with me?" Josh smiled teasingly. "I mean at least her people aren't too far away. You sure you're ready to actually be with me?" He laughed. He really loved this girl. Had he ever told her that? Had he even said he cared? Probably not, but he was sure she knew. Or did she? He exhaled, exiting his inner thoughts. "Well we'll have to visit that place sometime..."

He knew his anger was something he needed to control. He always got way too protective sometimes. He didn't want to scare Taylor though. He had always held in his anger around her. Never fully exploding like he just did and hitting something. Hearing her talk, had started to calm him down. Taylor was what he needed. Josh took the rag from her and wrapped it around his bleeding hand. "I know, but...I'm sorry you even had to go through that without me." He pulled her down so that she was sitting beside him. "You forgive me?"

He looked at Taylor. "But you should. You're too nice to me." He said looking away. He loved Arabella, he kept reminding himself. Who was he kidding? He was IN love with Taylor Knightly. Head over hills in love with her. But where did that leave Arabella? He loved her too. He looked at her as she faked a smile for him. He was hurting her. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. "Yeah, I'm happy..." he paused, looking for her reaction. He put his hand hers. "You know I still love you Taylor...I want to be with you.

[taylor nicole monroe]

Taylor smiled and shook her head at his comment. "I would go anywhere with you." she said a simple shrug of her shoulder escaping her. "Alone time is nice on occasion but some interaction with some form of life that you actually enjoying being around it always welcomes." She said not really meaning to down the people she had meet so far in this place but it was Josh. She loved being around him. "I would love to show you it. I have yet to see it at night though...I'm rather curious how it looks then." she said softly. She thought maybe they could check it out but then again that could be considered a little romantic but not that she minded that part of it in the least. A night under the stars with Josh she would never turn that down.

Taylor sat down beside him her eyes flickering from his face to his hand now wrapped in the rag she thankfully had given him to stop the bleeding. "Of course I forgive you." she said bringing her hand up to softly touch his arm. "I survived that place and so did you that's all that matters" she said with a difinitive nod.

Taylor nodded it was true she was nice to Josh because sho honestly loved him. He was there for her through her darkest times. "I'm only nice to you because of your good looks." she said teasingly. But his next more had her smile fade a but as she nodded her head. He was hapy with this other girl. It kind of made thing hard for her she would never want to ruin his happiness. But her brown eyes moved to meet his gaze at his next words. They were not expected in the least. But all the same her smile grew. "I...love you to Josh....still." she said liking just saying the words aloud to him. But where did this put them. "Where does this put us?" she asked softly but she was being rather blunt.

[summerw]

Seeing her smile, made Josh happy. He looked at her lips as she spoke. Wondering if he'd ever get to kiss them again. "Alright...well if you like it so much then it has to be great." He smiled at her. "I say we go tonight." She was right. Being alone did sound good. He didn't want anything more than to be alone with her. He smiled and looked at her. "What do you say? Sound like a plan?"

Josh was relieved. "I understand that." He said greatful for the touch of her hand. He looked at her, taking a deep breath. "I'm glad we're together...now. I need you in my life." He knew the words would come, he just didn't know when. He meant what he had said too.

Josh laughed at her comment. "I always knew you were using me for something." He said teasing back. God, he loved this girl. He could she was hurt when he said he was happy. Then he he heard her. She said the words. She loved him back. But then she was right again. Where did this leave them? He loved Arabella and he loved Taylor too. Was that a bad thing? Could he do that? He noticed her smile and that his hand was still on hers. It was comforting. "I want to be with you and her. But it's not possible." he looked away to think clearly. "Can I just live in the now and think about later, later?" He asked looking back towards her. He knew what he wanted to do. He leaned into her and slowly kissed her.

[taylor nicole monroe]

Taylor smiled at Josh her face was gleaming at the prospect of them going to the Bluff tonight. "Sounds like a great idea we can be ridiculous and picnic under the stars." she offered. It would be fun to catch up and just relax with him. "It'll be a nice escape. Just me and you." she said liking the sound of it. Taylor's day was already getting better now that she had found Josh again everything would be different.

A soft smiled remained on Taylor's lips as she gave his arm a soft squeeze. "I'm glad to be apart of your life again." she said feeling the sweet moment between them. "But don't you dare go running off on me this time." she teased she knew last time he could not help it. She was just joking around with him. Taylor could not help but laugh. "What can I say, I'm a girl who loves a nice piece of arm candy." she teased with a flirtatious wink. "You should know how I wok by now." she said playfully.

Taylor listened to him as he spoke part of her felt her hurt by it but she was also glad to know he still wanted her... no loved her. It was not fair she was not a fan of this sharing thing in the least and it was something she would not stand for long. But as he asked to live in the now. Taylor pushed her thoughts aside focusing on him. He was here and so was she. Taylor let go and kissed him back as he kissed her God she missed him and she missed this. She pulled away from a moment. "we can only live in ignorance for so long Josh." she warned him. "But for now...ignorance is bliss." she said moving to quickly kiss him again.

[summerw]

Of Course. Time with you is always amazing." He smiled at her. He missed having this kind of bond with her. "I have to tell you though. It isn't exactly an escape if you're with me. I can help you escape if you want to though." He smiled, teasingly and winked at her. He loved being with her. It was always fun and they always flirted.

Josh felt her squeeze his arm. It was reassuring to him. He smiled at her comment. "Ouch!" He playfully put his hand over his heart. "That one hurt me." He stood up and got on one knee. "Taylor Marie Knightly, I promise never to leave you again. Cross my heart." He smiled and sat back down. He leaned over. "I know exactly how you work." He whispered in her ear.

Josh looked into her eyes as she pulled away and looked at him. He nodded. "I know." When she pulled him back into a kiss, he let go. He forgot all about his problems and the problems between them. He put his hands gently on her face to bring her closer, closing any space between them. He forgot where they were as his hands fell to her waist. He grabbed her hips, pulling her onto him.

[taylor nicole monroe]

Taylor could not help but smile at him her pearly whit teeth visible as she bashfully shook her head. "I think anytime with you is a perfect escape." she said plainly with a small shrug of her shoulders. "We have so much time to make up for I have no idea where we will begin." she teased simply flirting with him again. She honestly could not help it. "But I can always make my own assumptions." she said with a wink teasing him a sultry smile on her face. But behind it she knew she might have to tone it down eventually. It was just nice being around him again.

A giggle escaped Taylor's lips as he feigned being in pain. She loved he adorable antics he laughter continued as he got on his knees and promised not to leave her. It was adorable and not to mention it meant a lot to her. "Josh...you are so sweet." she said shaking her head softly at him. "You better know mister." she said jokingly. But they had been around each other so much and dealt with so much she knew he knew exactly who she was and how she worked. There was no hiding it. That was something she would always share with Josh.

Taylor knew it would be hard but for right now and in this moment it was not. She did not care what his girlfriend thought or what the consequence would be she was just letting go and kissing Josh. Taylor let him pull her onto him it was nice just to be close to him again. she continued kissing him but she finally pulled back. "Wow, I really missed that." she said honestly a little breathless.