Living the Future

Chapter 33 - Our last day.

“So boys that is the end of this meeting. Josh you’re leaving tomorrow, so if I don’t see you before you leave.” Uncle Dec shuffled his papers. “Have a safe trip.” He smiled and I stood up.

“Josh.” I heard Henry and I stopped by the doors. “I am sorry about this morning. I really am. I thought we had a understanding.” Henry said and I nodded.

“Look, I’m sorry too. I hear the men in our family can get a little crazy and I know you like her.” I said and Henry shook his head.

“I do, but there really isn’t anything I can do. She doesn’t feel the same way. I have to accept that.” Henry looked hurt.

“I’m sorry. I wish I had something encouraging to say.” I was at a loss. “I think this is more between you and her.” I said and he looked at me.

“While I partly agree, there might be times I continue to include you. It’s hard to watch her give you affection and you struggle to take it.” He said and I wasn’t sure how to react.

“I’m not sure what you want me to say?” I said and Henry got quiet. He pat my shoulder and smiled.

“Let me know how training is going during your trip.” He walked out and I turned towards Uncle Dec and James who really weren’t paying attention to anything that was said. I walked out and pulled out my phone. I smiled when I saw a message from Daisy. I opened it and read it.

“I’ll be waiting for you at my house!” I could just hear it in her cheery voice. I felt a slap on my back.

“I assume you’re heading towards my house. Let’s go.” Uncle Dec said leading me out. Neither of us said anything until we got to the Shore house. Uncle Dec opened the door.

“We’re home!” He called out and aunt Maddie came around the corner confused.

“Oh Josh.” She said. I could feel a hint of something in her voice. Almost disappointment at the sight of me.

“It’s Josh’s last day before his eclipse training.” Uncle Dec said leading me in. I saw Daisy coming down the stairs and I smiled at the sight of her.

“I thought you were going to talk to him.” I heard Aunt Maddie whisper.

“And I did.” Uncle Dec whispered back pushing me toward the stairs.

“Well we’re going.” Daisy grabbed my hand and headed to the door.

“WAIT!” Aunt Maddie called to us. Daisy turned to her. “Eleven. I want you here in your bed by eleven.” Aunt Maddie said sternly and uncle Dec laughed.

“Mom!” Daisy said annoyed.

“No! You’re supposed to be grounded, we are making this one exception. Eleven. Here. Bed.” She said and Daisy sighed.

“Fine!” She said annoyed and yanked me towards the door. Once outside her mood didn’t lighten. “I guess your mom told my mom.” She said.

“Yeah your dad told me. I think your boyfriend is going to challenge me.” I said and Daisy threw my hand down.

“Josh!” She looked at me steaming and I burst out laughing. “It’s not funny. I don’t like that.” She grabbed my hand.

“I’m sorry.” I said still chuckling.

“I told Izzy we would all hang out since we you’re both leaving.” Daisy said with a sigh.

“Who is we all?” I asked.

“I doubt Andy and Liddie are going to want to hang out much but they told Izzy they wanted to hang out before you leave.” Daisy said and I stayed quiet. “Are you worried about Henry?” She asked picking up on the silence.

“Worried? No. Annoyed? Yes.” I said as we walked into the pack house.

“They’re in the garden.” She said pulling me through the pack house.

“Why didn’t we go around?” I asked as we past a bunch of people.

“I didn’t think about it.” Daisy opened the doors to the garden and Izzy doing some fire display.

“You guys made it!” Izzy shouted.

“The amount of lecturing I had to sit through today.” I said as Daisy brought us to the others. I sat in the grass and leaned back.

“Heard you fought my brother!” Izzy said plopping down.

“We didn’t fight. It was a verbal argument.” I said annoyed.

“I can guess what it was about.” Lydia said.

“I think everyone can guess what it was about.” Izzy said pointing at the both of us.

“Yeah, I’m kinda done talking about it. The amount of lecturing I’ve had not only today but for the past week has been insane.” I said.

“Lecturing about Henry? Dads been telling him to get over it. My mom is fed up with the both of them fighting.” Izzy said.

“Uncle James and Henry?” Andy asked.

“Yeah because Josh made him so crazy!” Izzy pulled out her phone and crawled over to Daisy and I. She played a video and I was honestly shocked at what I was seeing. Henry pacing, anger sprawled across his face. Andy telling him to calm down and then he starts yelling punching his hand when he was about ti go for the wall uncle Arnold grabbed him. Daisy pushed the phone down.

“Don’t show me stuff like that.” Daisy said looking away. “You guys are all going and I have to hide in my house for a week.” She said sad. I put my hand on the ground and daisies started to pop up around her. She smiled and picked one looking to me.

“It’s weird! It’s too weird.” Lydia said.

“What?” Izzy said.

“Josh being nice to someone.” Lydia said.

“Why is that weird?” Izzy asked.

“It’s just not something I’ve seen in so long.” She said looking at Andy.

“Did you guys get lectured about forming attachments?” I asked.

“My dad once did, but I didn’t care.” Andy said.

“It’s all I’ve heard about from every adult.” I said.

“Mom once mentioned maybe bonds before Andy’s birthday. I told her that Andy and I were made for each other.” She smiled at Andy who was beaming back.

“You all aren’t going to start making out are you?” Izzy said slightly disappointed.

“No one is making out.” I said.

“Speak for yourself.” Lydia said kissing Andy.

“Maybe you guys want privacy?” Daisy said with a giggle.

“No! It’s your last day!” Lydia said not taking her eyes off of Andy and not even realizing Daisy said that and not Izzy.

“It’s fine, we’ll see each other later.” I said and the both jumped up and ran off.

“Ok, spill. Tell us about the fight!” Izzy said.

“He thought we had some kind of understanding. Then he grabbed me and said a few things. I’m not good enough for her, I don’t treat her with respect, I don’t like her, and so on and so on.” I said with a sigh. “He thought I forced her out of the party and made her shut her phone off.” I laid back and the grass around me started to grow.

“He was screaming he was gonna kill you at the party.” Izzy said.

“I’m very uncomfortable with this conversation. He text me so many times demanding I tell him where I was.” Daisy said. “He’s starting to scare me.”

“I don’t think he’ll ever hurt you.” Izzy said.

“Dad said James was the same way. That it will calm down.” I said watching the clouds.

“Let’s change the subject.” Izzy said and I looked over at Daisy on the verge of tears. I quickly sat up.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“You’re both leaving and this Henry junk.” Tears started to stream down her face. I hugged her rubbing her back. Suddenly Izzy was hugging both of us as well.