This is NOT PROOFREAD

Two days.

48 hours.

2,880 minutes.

172,800 seconds.

That's how long it's been since I revived that text message from Alec. I have never been more emotionally drained on my life.

I've been looking at my phone so much that I could tell someone in detail every scratch it has and where it's located.

"Mia. Put the phone down," Josh pleads, placing a hand on the device as he speaks. "Staring at it isn't going to make him suddenly decide to call you."

I look up at him, my eyes red from both lack of sleep and tears.

His face softens and he places one of his hands on the side of my face with his thumb stroking my cheek. "I'm sorry that he's doing this, I really am. But moping is going to make it worse."

I know he's right, but part of me - the bigger, and more irrational part - has the theory that the longer I'm around my phone the better chance I'll have to be ready to answer his call. Like I said, it's pretty irrational, but it's what I'm going with at this point.

I loosen my grip on my phone and Josh pulls it away from me, putting it in his pocket.

"Come on, let's go do something." He lifts me to my feet from the couch.

"Okay," I agree slowly. "Let me go get my shoes."

Josh nods, letting go of my hand.

I rush up to my room and grab the closest pair of sandals I can find. On the way back, I stop by the bathroom to check my hair and makeup. Once I'm sure I look okay, I head down to Josh to find him looking at my phone.

"And only a few seconds ago you were telling me to stop looking at my phone and here you are."

He looks up at me, startled. "I wasn't. You just got a text."

Excitement and hope builds up in me. Could Alec have finally tried to talk to me? I reach for my phone but Josh shakes his head.

"It's not him, Mia."

Sightly discouraged, I still take my phone from him to see a text from Elizabeth.

'Still no result'

I frown, giving Josh back my phone.

For the past two days, Elizabeth has become determined to find out what's going on with our best friend. I'm not entirely sure how she's doing this exactly, but I'm not going to stop her.

Josh's grin pulls me from my thoughts and I look at him warily. "What?"

"You're going to have the best day ever," he promises, taking my hand in his and pulling me with him.

We drive for twenty minutes before Josh parks the car in front of a skating rink. I smile broadly, looking over at him.

He smiles back and quickly comes around the car and opens my door.

He extends his hand to me and I grab it, squeezing tight.

Once we're inside, Josh pays for us while I get our skates from the counter.

As I start to lace up my shoes, Josh comes towards me with two wristbands. He ties one around my wrist before doing the same with his. Josh then puts his skates on, somehow finishing before me.

We get up and walk into the rink, with me holding his hand tightly so I won't fall.

For the first few minutes, we just go around the outside of the rink, neither of us talking.

All I can think about is Alec and what I possibly could have done to make him so mad at me. I mean, I get that he's angry at Josh for coming into our friend group, but he seems to be a little more angry than that justifies.

Josh squeezes my hand and I look up at him. "It's not your fault, Mia."

I shake my head, looking at some little kids on the opposite side of the rink. There's three of them, all around seven or eight years old. Their hands are joined as they slowly make their way around the ice.

They remind me of Elizabeth, Alec, and I when we were freshman. We did things like that, embarrassing things for people our age, but one thing I remember is that those things were fun. Sure, maybe a few times we broke some laws or bones, but either way, I wouldn't trade those moments for anything in the world.

"I just miss him." I didn't mean to say that, I didn't mean to say anything, but that's what came out.

"I know you do. Give him some time, Mia. He'll come to his senses," Josh assures, but his words have no impact on me.

I choose not to answer him, still keeping an eye on the group of kids now just a little ways ahead of us.

Josh sighs, pulling me out with him to the middle of the rink. I drop my eyes to the floor, staying focused on not falling over.

We soon speed up and rush past everyone else in the rink.

And every single time we pass those three kids, my heart sinks lower and lower.

•••

When I wake up the next morning, I find it incredibly hard to get ready for school. This is the third day since Alec got mad at me, and I fear that it's only going to get worse from here.

Finally, when I realize that today's Friday, I get enough motivation to get out of bed. After I finish my cereal, I look at my phone for the first time since last night.

Crossing my fingers, I unlock my phone, frowning when no new messages appear.

Soon after, the doorbell rings and I answer it, seeing Josh on the other side. I mistakenly look into his eyes, but I'm able to push back the vision before it takes over.

"Good job," Josh praises as I walk out of my house.

"For what?"

"For holding that vision back. You did good," he clarifies, opening the car door for me.

The first half of the drive to school is silent except for the radio playing.

Eventually, Josh turns the radio off. "How did you sleep?"

"I slept good, even though it wasn't a lot."

I smile, remembering the late night we had yesterday. After we went ice skating, we had some burgers and fries at a local restaurant. Then we had ice cream, which was well worth the thirty minute wait in the line. That place is really popular. After the ice cream, Josh took me home at ten and I didn't fall asleep until midnight because I had to shower and do some homework.

"Well that's good. I take it that you're in better spirits than you were yesterday?"

It only takes me a fraction of a second to understand what he's referring to. The reminder of Alec is enough for my smile to drop.

"I'm sorry, Mia. I shouldn't have brought him up."

"No, don't blame yourself. Hopefully all of this drama will be over soon."

Josh hums in agreement before silence settles between us again.

It only takes a few more minutes before we arrive at the school, and when we do, I immediately spot Alec waking into the building. I scramble to undo my seat belt before rushing out of the car and after him, ignoring Josh's calls for me to stop.

I finally catch up to him at his locker, grabbing his arm roughly. "Look, you've been ignoring me long enough and I deserve to know why. If you're still mad about Josh, then I think it's time that you get over it. Why would you throw away or friendship just because someone else comes into the picture? I thought we were best friends?"

Alec stares blankly at me as I finish my rant, not saying a word.

"Why won't you answer me?" I whisper, deeply hurt by his silence.

A flash of hurt passes through Alec's eyes before he covers it up, still remaining silent.

Tears build up in my eyes, but I don't look away from him. "I thought you were better than that."

For a few more moments, we stare at each other, tears slowly making their way down my face.

"Mia," Josh whispers behind me, placing a hand on my shoulder.

It takes all of my willpower to tear my eyes away from Alec's. "Yes?"

"Let's go," he says shortly, grabbing my hand and pulling me away from the scene.

I don't argue, following him wordlessly. Soon we stop in front of a random classroom, Josh pulling me into his arms. I rest my head against his chest, focusing on my deep breaths.

"Are you alright?" Josh questions, pulling back slightly to look at me. He notices my tears and wipes them away with his thumb.

I nod, not thinking twice about looking into his eyes. Being so emotionally drained, I don't have the energy to fight against the pull of the vision, letting it take control.

The vision only becomes clearer than before. We were out for dinner. It was his birthday.

I wake up with hot tears on my cheeks and Josh wipes them away again.

I look around to see that we're simply sitting in the empty hallway. Apparently class already started.

"That doesn't get any easier to watch, I'll have you know."

Josh chuckles, kissing my forehead. "Are you good to go to class?"

"Yeah," I mumble, not entirely believing myself. I'm tired, emotionally and physically. Going to class does not seem like a good idea right now, but I really should.

Josh gives me a reprimanding look and I know that he doesn't believe me. "Let's get you home. You need to sleep."

I open my mouth to argue, but I can't find any words as I let him lead me back out to his car. I nearly fall asleep just on the way home, which proves Josh's point.

I really need to sleep.

The process of getting me up to my bedroom is taxing on Josh, considering the fact that I'm leaning against him pretty heavily the entire time.

I collapse onto my bed, not bothering to change into more comfortable clothes.

It only takes me a few moments to fall asleep.

The smell of bacon wakes me up. I check my clock to see that it's noon. As soon as I see this, my stomach growls in hunger. I get out of bed, stumbling over my get as I had to the bathroom.

I quickly fix my hair in the mirror before I go downstairs to the kitchen. I yawn as I turn the corner and then, before I can register anything else, I'm on the ground.

"Josh?" I question, looking up through my tired eyes.

He laughs through his nose, helping me to my feet. "Are you okay?"

I wave him off, entering the kitchen. "I'm fine."

It takes me less than a second to spy the pile of bacon sitting on the counter. My mouth drops and begins to water.

"I thought that this would be a nice thing to wake up to," Josh says, coming around me to grab some plates. "I made some eggs too, if you want."

I can only nod, pulling a plate from the cupboard and taking half of the bacon. I turn around right as Josh comes towards me with a pan. Wordlessly, he slips two eggs onto my plate and hands me a fork.

"Thank you," I say sincerely, looking into his eyes without fear. The vision pushes against the front of my head, but I refuse to let it win as I continue to stare into his eyes.

After a minute of staring at him, I look away, unable to handle the pressure.

"You're a natural at this. Before you know it, you won't even have to think about holding it back," he promises, grazing my shoulder with his as he passes me.

I lean against the counter, resting my head in one of my hands, willing the head ache to go away.

To my relief, it soon dissolves and I go join Josh in our meal.