Nothing to Lose

“Is that everything?” Josh asked as he hoisted a duffle bag stuffed full of Eloise's belongings over his shoulder. He winced as he steadied himself trying to adjust to the weight of the bag as he watched as Eloise put one hand on her hip and bit her lip deep in thought as she looked around her bedroom to see if there was anything else she needed.

“Nope, that’s it. We can go.” She said as she looked up at him and smiled, “Thank you, Josh.”

“You’re very welcome, Lou.” Josh grinned, “Shall we then?” He asked as he turned to leave the room. He was ready to get out of this flat as soon as possible, being in a place so extravagant made him feel extremely uncomfortable. He was never one for posh surroundings such as this. It was beginning to suffocate him.

“Just wait one second!” Eloise said causing him to stop in his tracks, almost toppling over from the weight of the bag on his shoulder. He turned around to watch her scribble a few words on a piece of paper before she looked up at him again, “Caleb is already going to be mad enough. I may as well leave a note.”

“Fair enough.” Josh complied, “Can we go now, please?”

“You are the most impatient person I have ever met, Joshua James.” Eloise huffed, “Patience is a virtue.”

“I’m more of a vices sort of lad.” Josh smirked triumphantly at his little comeback as he winked cheekily at her.

Eloise rolled her eyes as she walked down the flight of stairs and waited for him to catch up at the bottom. She couldn’t help but to notice how attractive she found him, especially today. She actually kind of liked the whole rugged look he had going on, it was such a change from the way both Landon and Caleb were. She was so used to suits and ties, all the time. They were both so uptight while Josh and his friends were all so carefree about everything. “This is coming from the boy who cannot sleep in total darkness." Eloise retorted, "You’re such a puss and you know it.”

“How’d you know about that?” Josh exclaimed as he reached the bottom step where El was standing. He hadn’t ever slept with or even near the girl, so he had absolutely no idea how could know something so personal like that. It was pretty obvious she still hadn't looked up his band on the internet or even watched an interview. That sort of upset him, but he wouldn't let her know it. He knew that she had other, more important things to worry about instead of sitting on the internet looking up his band in her spare time.

“I’ll have you know that your friend Daniel is quite the chatterbox when he is drunk. He calls me constantly. Almost every night in fact.” Eloise winked as they began their journey down the road, "You boys go out and drink a lot, it seems." Josh groaned and rubbed his neck in embarrassment as he made a mental note to murder Dan later if he saw him. When they reached his car he looked at El who was staring at it quizzically.

"What?" Josh asked as he looked down at her, "What's the matter now?"

"Oh, nothing." Eloise smirked as she opened the car door to slide into the smooth leather seats, "I was just wondering if it was worth the risk of dying an untimely death today."

"My driving is not that bad!" Josh laughed as he put the bag in the back seat and headed over to the drivers side, "Are you ready to go home?"

"If we can even make it there." El joked as she buckled her seat belt and shut her eyes tight, "Okay, I'm as ready as I'll ever be."



“Do you still have a key?” Josh asked as they climbed the stairs to reach the girls’ once shared apartment.

“Of course,” Eloise replied as she pulled out her keys and jingled them in his front of his face, “I’m not just going to give the key to my apartment because we’re fighting. Where is Margot anyway? She doesn't work on Thursdays.”

“She, uh, had a business meeting...” Josh chuckled as Eloise quirked a brow at him curiously while she unlocked the door and threw it open, “In Max’s pants that is. If you know what I mean.” He wriggled his bushy eyebrows suggestively and pursed his lips to keep from smiling too wide.

“I think I get it.” Eloise laughed as she held up a hand telling him not to elaborate any further. One thing El couldn’t stand was delving into the details of her best friend’s sexual life considering how explicit it was. That was a door that Eloise would have liked to keep closed as much as possible. She continued to laugh with Josh as she plopped down on the loveseat while Josh brought her stuff into her room for her. When he came back, she had already set up Fifa on the game console and she tossed him a controller as he squished himself into the loveseat next to her.

“I’ve heard you’re quite the Fifa player, Joshy.” Eloise chuckled, “Prepare to be destroyed.”

“Oh you think you can beat me?” Josh asked as he stared the girl down with a cheeky grin never leaving his face, “Game on Princess.”



“So that’s four wins in a row for me, and four losses in a row for you.” Eloise laughed as Josh threw his controller down and began to pout, “Care to have another go?”

“No, you little cheater!” Josh exclaimed as he stuck his tongue out at her and crossed his arms over his chest. He hadn't imagined anyone could be so good at the game, but he had certainly underestimated Eloise. He hadn't even gone easy on her like he usually did when he played with Hanna. She just naturally beat him.

“I most certainly am not a cheater Joshua!” Eloise squealed, "I'm just that good."

“You are so a cheater!” Josh said as he suddenly began to tickle the girl fervently.

“J-J-Josh-h!” Eloise gasped between fits of laughter, “What a-are you do-o-ing?”

“Admit you’re cheating and I’ll quit!” Josh laughed as he moved himself to be sitting on top of her so it was harder for her to move, “Admit you’re a cheater!”

“I’m not cheating!” She screamed as she squirmed underneath him, “I’m just better at Fifa than you!”

“What is going on in here?” Max asked as he walked into the room. Both Eloise and Josh froze in place as Margot followed closely behind him, shutting the door behind him “Josh? Eloise?”

“H-hey guys.” Eloise flushed bright pink as Margot and Max stared at her silently while grinning suggestively, “I’m back, if that's alright with you of course, Margot. And Joshua get off me!” Eloise grunted as she tried to push him off. He was way too heavy for her though, so attempting to push and shove him didn't really do anything no matter how hard she tried.

“But we haven’t settled this yet!” Josh whined as he stood up and brushed himself off, adjusting his clothes and brushing off the dirt that wasn't there.

“Settled what exactly, Josh?” Margot asked as she continued to look at Eloise curiously as she stood up and attempted to fix her tangled hair, “Ellie you’re back!”

“She beat me in Fif- oh you’re not even listening anymore, alright.” Josh chuckled as Margot ran over to her friend and began squealing and jumping as she hugged her tightly.

“I’ve missed you so much!” Margot cried out, “so so SO much!”

“I’ve missed you too.” Eloise admitted, “I’m really really sorry, for everything.”

“Don’t be, Ellie.” Margot grinned as she pulled away from the girl, “I’m just glad you’re back. You have absolutely no idea.”

“And I’m glad to be back!” Eloise grinned as Max walked over and pulled her into a hug that was even tighter than Margot's.

“And I’m starving!” Max shouted as he let go of Eloise, “Let’s go eat!”

"You're always starving, Max." Margot rolled her eyes at her boyfriend as she grabbed his hand and entwined their fingers. Eloise smiled as she watched the two of them. She could really tell that they were falling in love with each other. It wasn't hard to see at all, even though they might not know it yet.

"I am not!" Max protested with a crooked grin.

"You are too!" Margot shot back with a smirk. Eloise couldn't help but to laugh as the two continued bickering with each other.

"Enough fighting, let's go get some food." Josh laughed as he grabbed Eloise's hand noticing the diamond ring was missing as he lead the three of them all out of the apartment in search of food.

Eloise smiled softly as she listened to them all chatter around her. She really did miss this.