Smash Into Me

“My arm fucking hurts,” Kayleigh muttered as she re-bandaged her arm. She wrapped the white gauze carefully around her arm, wincing a bit. Her rough time with Josh earlier made her arm ache more than it should have. She didn’t regret a thing, though.

“Do you need help?” Dan asked, watching her struggle to wrap the gauze around her arm for a third time. He knew she didn’t like help, but she looked like she needed it. Asking couldn’t hurt.

She looked over at him and pouted, nodding, “Please help me.”

Dan laughed and got up from the sofa. He took a seat next to her at the table and grabbed the gauze, wrapping it nice and neat around her arm about six times. Kayleigh handed him the surgical tape she had stolen from the hospital and watched as he taped it up.

“There, all wrapped up,” Dan smiled, setting the tape down on the table.

Kayleigh kissed his cheek, “Thank you, Dan.”

“You’re welcome, Kayleigh” He laughed, standing. He ruffled her hair before walking to the bunk area.

Kayleigh let out a sigh and fell back on the bench. It was only seven pm and she was bored out of her fucking mind. She wanted to go walk around or take pictures or do something, but she’d been told not to by Mike and Sierra.

“Where’s Josh?” Kayleigh thought out loud. She sat up, looking out the window behind her.

Dan emerged from the bunk area and shrugged, “I dunno. Probably at the tent. Why? Looking for round two?”

“Oh, god, shut up, Dan,” Kayleigh laughed, throwing the surgical tape at him.

He dodged the tape, laughing. He took a seat on the sofa across from her and smirked, “Was he any good?”

“Dan!” Kayleigh practically screamed, her eyes wide. She couldn’t help the laughter that escaped her lips. She covered her face with her hands as she continued to laugh. “Why the hell would you ask that?”

“Just because.” He watched Kayleigh with an amused smile on his face.

Kayleigh knew he was trying to make her uncomfortable. She just smirked and stared straight at him, “Yes, Dan, he was fantastic. When he thru – ”

“Shut up, Kayleigh!” He said. He didn’t want to hear that.

She let out a loud laugh, “You asked how he was!”

“I didn’t mean go into detail, love,” Dan laughed, shaking his head.

“Go into detail about what?”

Both their heads snapped in the direction of the door. Kayleigh smiled instantly. “Nothing,” She said as he came and sat down next to her on the bench. She rested her head on his shoulder.

“Mate, what were you talking ‘bout?” Josh asked, turning to Dan. He had a strong feeling that the two were talking about him. His feeling was right, but he’d never find out. Dan just shook his head and got up, heading off the bus. Josh looked down at Kayleigh. “Seriously, go into detail about what?”

“Nothing, Josh, jeez,” She said, sitting up. She ran her hand through Josh’s hair, pushing his long brown locks away from his face. “Stop being paranoid. Not everything is about you, you know.”

He couldn’t help but to smile at that. He leaned in and pressed his lips softly against hers. Kayleigh giggled against his lips. He pulled away, a little confused, “What?”

“I’m just really happy I met you, Josh,” She said before kissing him once again. “So, I’ve got the next few days off.”

“Because of your arm?”

“Yeah, that and the slight concussion. Mike and Kevin don’t want me doing anything that could make me any worse,” She shrugged, playing with some of Josh’s hair. She twirled it around her finger loosely. “Anyways, that’s not the point.”

“What is the point?” Josh laughed.

“The point is…we can hang out all day every day and we can go to the mall and I can get you a birthday present,” She smiled as she thought about her days off. They were going to be perfect. The accident was totally a blessing in disguise.

Josh grinned, “I like the sound of that. How about we do that tomorrow?”

Kayleigh laughed, “Sounds like a date.”

*

Josh held loosely onto Kayleigh’s hand as they walked through the mall. His phone would not stop vibrating in his back pocket. He knew all too well who was calling him. He didn’t want to answer. No, he couldn’t answer. Not with Kayleigh right there with him.

He really needed to break it off with Hanna. He knew he did. He just didn’t want to see, or hear, how upset Hanna would inevitably be. He was never too fond of girls breaking down and crying. He always hated that part when he and Hanna would take their little breaks.

He was an ocean away from Hanna, though. He was just making excuses, really. He still wanted someone to go home to.

“Josh, what the hell do you want for your late birthday present?” Kayleigh asked, tearing him away from the war going on inside his brain.

“Uh…you,” He grinned, pulling her closer to him. He kissed the top of her head, making her blush like mad.

“I’m serious, Josh,” She rolled her eyes, staring into the stores as they passed by them.

“I’m serious, too, Kayleigh,” Josh shot back. He was telling her the truth. He didn’t want anything but Kayleigh.

A wide grin grew on Kayleigh’s face as butterflies fluttered about and exploded like fireworks in her stomach, “You already have me.”

“And I’m so glad I do,” He smiled, leaning down to press his lips against hers softly.

“God, enough with this sappy shit,” Kayleigh laughed, making Josh laugh and shake his head. “Seriously, I’ve never been this sappy and shit with a guy before.”

“You’re lying.”

“Am not. You can ask Sierra. Something about you, Josh, makes me turn into a crazy fourteen year old,” She admitted, softly swinging their hands as they continued walking. “It’s weird. And this conversation is over…”

Josh couldn’t help but grin at the girl spilling her thoughts to him. Kayleigh found this entire thing embarrassing. Josh, on the other hand, found it adorable as hell. It was just another thing that made him fall even harder for her.

“Stop judging me, oh my god,” She laughed, her cheeks turning a bright pink.

“Who said I was judging you?” Josh asked, amused.

“That grin on your face does,” She muttered.

“I’m not judging you,” Josh shook his head. Kayleigh believed him, nodding softly. “Are you hungry?”

“Ugh, yes. There’s a Chipotle down the street. Want to go?”

“Of course.”

*

Kayleigh stared at the vibrating phone moving slightly across the table. Her eyes flicked from the phone to Josh’s blue eyes fixated on the burrito in front of him.

He felt her eyes burning a hole into his. He looked up at her, quirking an eyebrow up at her, “Yes?”

“Aren’t you gonna answer that?” She asked, her eyes darting back to the lit up, vibrating Blackberry sitting to the right of Josh.

“It’s no one important,” He muttered, grabbing the phone off the table. He ignored the call and stuffed it into his hoodie’s pocket.

“Are you sure? It’s been going off since the moment we got here,” Kayleigh said, picking at her burrito bowl.

“I’m positive. It’s just…Chris,” He brushed it off, wanting to stop talking about it right now. The phone started vibrating in his pocket again and he threw his head back. He pulled it slightly out of his pocket and glanced at the name on the small screen. Hanna. His eyes met Kayleigh’s. He gave a little half-smile, “Do you mind if I just…go take this?”

She forced herself to laugh, “Go.”

“Thanks,” He said as he slid out of his chair. He quickly made his way outside. He drew in a deep breath before letting it out, answering the phone, “Hello?”

“Why the fuck haven’t you been answering your phone!? Are you okay!?” Hanna’s voice came screaming through the small device. “Christ, Josh, I’ve been calling all day!”

“Sorry, Hanna,” He sighed, rubbing his face with his free hand. “I’ve just been busy.”

“With what!?”

“With work,” Josh said, trying to keep calm.

“Work? Josh, you’re in a band for fuck’s sake. You do nothing all damn day except play your shitty music,” She snapped. “You could’ve answered!”

Josh felt the blood begin to boil underneath his skin. He made a fist, his knuckles turning a bright white. “You know what, Hanna? I don't need this bullshit."

"What?" She asked, her tone much softer. Suddenly, she was scared of losing him. She regretted blowing up at him. "What do you mean?"

"We're through, Hanna," Josh sighed, shutting his eyes tight as he waited for her to completely break down and go mental.

She wasn't silent for what seemed like hours. Finally, Josh heard her broken voice, "I-I...Josh, pl-please, n-no."

"I'm sorry, Hanna," He said softly. He quickly hung up and turned off his phone. A weight felt like it had been lifted off his shoulders. He was free of Hanna. No more sneaking phone calls, texts, tweets...

Even though he was free, he still felt horrible. He just broke Hanna's heart. A broken heart never felt good, for the brokenhearted or the heart breaker.

So much for going home to someone.

He groaned and shook his head. He did the right thing. He was free of her. He just had to keep repeating that over and over in his head to make sure he believed it. He stuffed his phone back into his pocket and walked back into the Chipotle.

Kayleigh looked up from her phone and immediately frowned, “What’s wrong? Why do you look so…mad?”

“Nothing,” He muttered, not bothering to look at her.

“Are yo – ”

“I said nothing’s wrong. Can you fucking drop it?” He snapped at her, finally glancing up at her. She sat there, staring at him, looking a little hurt. “Kayleigh, I – ”

“I’m full,” She muttered, grabbing her food. She threw it away and left, leaving Josh behind him.

Josh sat there and watched her leave. He buried his face in his hands, letting out a loud sigh. What happened to not letting things get to him? He needed to put on a smile and forget about brokenhearted Hanna. She wasn’t his girlfriend anymore, Kayleigh was.

She was the only girl in his life he had to please.