Remember When?

[Eve Mallory]

The consensus was that Eve would be staying at the Jordan's that night instead of returning to the school or even staying at home. A twinge of guilt spiraled through her system for not going to see her father, although she doubted he'd want to see her anyway she still should have made the effort, perhaps she would check in on him...see how he was doing...if he needed her?

Merlin she missed her papa, before her mother died he had been the most wonderful man...and she had loved him so, but afterward...he just shut down...it had been heartbreaking.

Sighing Eve excused herself from the house she was just going to go for a short walk. She didn't want to disturb anyone but she needed the peace and quiet for a bit, that was until she heard footsteps behind her crunching the snow.

[Josh Jordan]

Josh was helping his mother in the house for a bit, then he rested on the couch. Eve had just gone out the door as he returned to the living room. There was so much that he wanted to tell her, but he didn't know if he should tell her now, or wait. It was starting to eat at him that he hadn't said anything yet.

Excusing himself, Josh grabbed his jacket and put it on. Just as he stepped out the door, he wrapped his scarf around his neck and went in search of Eve. She shouldn't be outside alone with things the way they were, plus, Josh didn't like the idea of her being alone period.

His eyes landed on her and a his eyes lit up as they usually did when she was around. Josh walked forward until he caught up with her. "Hey."

[Eve Mallory]

Eve herself had actually been getting a little creeped out. It was starting to get dark and she was remembering all the warnings from the school, so when she heard the footsteps she was nervous until turning and seeing Josh. Her smile was nothing short of brilliant as she waited for him to join her.

"Thanks for coming after me.." she said realizing halfway through saying it that it was slightly an odd thing to say. She shook it off and smiled up at him, "Walk with me for a while?"

[Josh Jordan]

"It's what I do. I have to come after you," said Josh with a smile. Of course he didn't just mean coming to find her. The coldness seemed to make her cheeks slightly pink and Josh thought it was adorable.

Although his hands were in his pockets, he extended his arm out for Eve to take. "Of course," he replied. Josh would do anything she asked of him. "I remember when we used to do this all the time."

[Eve Mallory]

She took his arm and like a magnet drew close to him she had been cold before but she was suddenly colder and warmer at the same time. Colder which was why she was drawing so close to Josh, but then warmer because blood was rushing through her body at an accelerated rate.

"I remember too." she smiled a bit shyly, "I wanted to make it to the clubhouse before dark..." she glanced at the sky wondering if light would hold out for them to make the trip, then she looked at Josh as if asking him if he thought they could make it...if he would go with her.

[Josh Jordan]

"The clubhouse? Oh, I haven't been there in ages. I remember that was the first place I pulled a prank on Lance by putting actual sand in his sandwich." A smile spread across his face. "Then of course you started fussing at me afterwords." He laughed and continued to walk in the direction of the clubhouse.

"We can make it there and back in time before it gets too dark," he said looking down at her.

[Eve Mallory]

She grinned recalling the memory and kept walking with him, "And where I fell out of the tree when I was six...scraped me up pretty badly and it hurt so much." she laughed, " Thought I was going to die...but you came and it didn't hurt at all after that." she nuzzled against him some more simply for the memory.

[Josh Jordan]

"I remember that you scared me when you fell. I don't remember being more scared than I was then. Course I had to make sure that you were alright, I couldn't have you leaving me." He gave her a wink. "And then that's when I decided that I always want you there. I also remember not letting you leave that night because I wanted to make sure you were alright. I begged my mum to let you stay." A smile played on his lips as they reached their old clubhouse.

[Eve Mallory]

She laughed, "So that's how it started." she smiled, but at some point in their youth they had just started with either Eve staying the night at the boy's house or the boys staying the night at her house. They were neighbors really so it wasn't that difficult of a situation.

She sighed, "We had a lot of good times Josh." she mentioned nostalgically. She never wanted those good times to end.

[Josh Jordan]

"Naturally we had some great times," he said agreeing. "And we still have a lot of good times ahead of us, which I'm looking forward to." Josh leaned even more into her as they walked closer to the club house.

Upon seeing it, he smiled. "It still looks the same of course. "Want to go first, or you want me to go so I can help you up?"

[Eve Mallory]

"I'll head up." she smiled, " If I fall you can catch me how's that?" she asked with a laugh before she turned towards the ladder like rope and started climbing.

It had been a while since she had done this but she was as good as ever climbing up. She used to be such a little monkey climbing up trees with the boys, but of course she'd come back down the tree and be the good little girl that she was prim and proper until a mudfight was started. Oh they had so many good times.

[Josh Jordan]

He motioned for Eve to start climbing as she said that she would go first. "I'll always be there to catch you," he replied softly as she started to climb up.

Josh gave her a moment to get on up before he followed behind her. Once they finished climbing the ladder, he took a step behind Eve and put his arms around her. He had done this the first time they had reached the small porch on the club house. "Everything seems to be the same as it had always been from here."

[Eve Mallory]

She put her arms around his and smiled holding him against her, he had said that everything looked the same and she agreed, "Oh look Josh!" she laughed pointing to a part of the house where they had all scratched in their initials with a heart around it.

"I miss these days." she admitted closing her eyes and leaning against him.

[Josh Jordan]

Josh eyed the heart that contained their intials. He had always cared about her, even as a little kid. He thought that all other girls but Eve had cooties for starters, and he did kiss her under the mistletoe when they were around five or six. Another smile came across his face as he rested his chin on Eve's shoulder.

"I miss them too. Things were a lot simpler for one thing." He rested his head against Eve's. "We didn't have to worry about a lot of things. It would be nice if we could go back to that."

[Eve Mallory]

"You're worried about things?" she asked turning to face him, wanting to take away whatever worries he might have and was eager to do so as she brushed back his hair, " What are you worried about?" What could Josh possibly be worried about and why hadn't Eve been there to stop it?

Josh had been taking such good care of her lately that she would have been horrified to learn that she was not doing the same for him.

[Josh Jordan]

"There's a few things, but it's alright. I promise," he said as she turned around to face him. Josh didn't remove his arms from around her and he realized that they were extremely close, but they had been extremely close before. This time just seemed slightly different.

He closed his eyes as she pushed back his hair. He couldn't help himself. "Just little things, but I'm going to do one thing about what I've been worried about soon. If I don't, it's going to drive me crazy, but don't worry about it Eva. I can handle it, however if there is anything else I'm really worried about, I shall let you know. You'll find out what I'm worried about soon."

She was what he was worried about. Her reaction if he kissed her, if he told her how he felt. That would make or break him.

[Eve Mallory]

She shook her head slightly her eyes imploring him to tell her what was wrong now, what big bad thing had upset him and where it was so Eve could go kill it. She wanted nothing but Josh's happiness, he was so completely responsible for her own.

Her hands stopped their exploration of his skin and instead wrapped around his neck a bit fiercely as she laid her head against his chest, "Is there anything I can do?"

[Josh Jordan]

Yes, you can tell me that you feel the same way, Josh thought to himself. "You can just promise me that you'll always be right here," he said putting his arms around her lower back. He meant being right there with him, and her allowing him to hold her. Josh didn't want that to ever change. He would go crazy if he couldn't do that again. Eve was what made him get excited about waking up in the mornings and going to class. She made everything worth while.

[Eve Mallory]

"Of course I will" she promised him then turned her impish face up at him the worry melting off her face, if that was what he was worried about, he didn't have to be worried any longer, "Josh I'm always going to be here for you." she promised fiercely, "We're going to be together for always...just like you said." she answered then laughed a little brittle laugh, " I can't sleep without you..." she whispered.

[Josh Jordan]

Josh smiled. "That does make me feel a little bit better actually. And you know that you are always welcome in my room. I don't mind helping you sleep at night. I'm used to it, and I think I sleep better when you're right there anyway." He gave her a wink. "Nothing will come in between us, alright? And you know where you can always find me for anything at all."

He stared down at her and subconsciously tightened his hold on her, having her closer.