Chapter 22
“I think Aiden said those things to Josie because of a misunderstanding, Zoey said. “If he’s really fake, we’ll figure it out sooner or later.
“And when that happens. I won’t like him anymore. Don’t worry. I’m not that dumb–I’m not gonna keep liking him no matter what
Josie realized it wouldn’t be easy to change Zoey’s fi
‘s future. The best thing now was to help Zoey see who Aiden really was–before Natalie noticed her.
“Want me to go with you to talk to him?” Josie asked. She knew Aiden might not admit anything, but it was still worth a try.
But Zoey shook her head. “Let’s not. I believe you didn’t lie, so there’s no need to confront him.”
“Don’t you want to know why Aiden said those things?” Allison asked, glancing up from Josie’s diary. After reading it, she believed Josie
Josie had written it right in front of them. The entries went all the way back to when she first moved into the dorm.
No one could plan something that complicated years in advance just to match up with what happened today. And even if someone could, there was no way it’d be Josie.
Allison just wanted to expose Aiden for who he really was and make him pay for hurting Zoey
But Zoey didn’t want that. She still liked Aiden and was too scared to ask him anything. She was afraid of what she might find out.
“I don’t want to know.” Zoey said softly, her face a little pale. “I said it’s over, I misunderstood Josie before, and I’ve already apologized. We’re still friends.”
Adeline and Allison looked at each other, then turned to Josie. They were hoping Josie could convince Zoey. Maybe Zoey would listen to her now.
But Josie knew words probably wouldn’t be enough. Once someone had made up their mind about someone–good or bad–it was hard to change that.
If they wanted Zoey to let go of Aiden completely, they needed real proof. Josie had to find a way to show everyone who Aiden truly
was.
“Aiden already turned you down. That means he doesn’t like you,” Josie said, holding Zoey’s hands and looking her straight in the eye. “We can’t stop you from liking him, but promise me you won’t tell anyone else. And don’t confess again–unless he comes to you first.”
Zoey looked uneasy. “Josip, I‘
Tm with Josie on this,” Allison cut in. “Whatever his reason was, he shouldn’t have treated you like that. You can forgive him if you want, but we can’t stand by and watch him hurt you again, Zoey, just promise Josie
Zoey shut her eyes for a moment. “Okay, I promise. I won’t tell anyone else I like hito, and I won’t bring it up to him again.”
Hearing that made Josie feel a little more at
Lease
As long as Zory kept quiet, Natalie wouldn’t find out she liked Aiden. And if Natalie didn’t know, she wouldn’t go after Zoey. At least for now, Zoey would be safe.
Back in the original timeline, Zoey didn’t get hurt until years later. If Josie could expose Aiden before that, she believed Zoey wouldn’t get involved with him again.
“Alright, we’ve read your diary, Adeline said, snapping Josie out of her thoughts. “Are you gonna rip it up now?”
Josie took the diary. “Yeah, I’m gonna rip it up. It’s like saying goodbye to who I used to be
“You should’ve done that a long time ago, Allison said. “I know I probably shouldn’t say this, but I think it’s a good thing you lett
Professor Lawsons team
“Everyone else thinks you messed up. But really, look at how you’ve been living these past few years. Did you ever eat on time? We’d all be heading to bed, and you’d still be buried in work.
Tve never seen a college student push themselves like that. It’s like you weren’t just studying for yourself–but carrying the load for Alden and the other four
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11:19 AM P P
Chapter 22
I don’t even know what you were thinking, letting them treat you like that for so long. If it were me, I would ve bailed way before that.”
Allison had always been straightforward. She used to say stuff like this to Josie all the time, but Josie never listened. Back then, she just thought Allison was being nosy.
Eventually. Allison gave up on trying, and that was how Josie ended up all alone.
Josie only started talking to them again after the time reset. She reached out to them before heading to the hospital, asking them to help pass a message to Aiden and the others. Later, she texted Adeline.
Then she quit David’s tear, and Adeline started caring about her again.
Now that Josie thought about it, she understood that even when they weren’t on speaking terms, her friends never truly stopped caring. The moment something happened, they were the first ones to worry about her.
Josie’s eyes turned a little red. I’m sorry, I was wrong back then. I thought getting into Professor Lawson’s team was such a big deal. I didn’t want to disappoint them, so I tried so hard to please them.
“But now I realize–I didn’t have a mind of my own for years. I was just a tool for them. I did whatever they told me.
“I lost myself, lost my friends, lost the things I used to dream about. So today, I want you guys to see me let go of that old version of me.
“I’m done letting people push me around. I won’t ignore my friends anymore. I want to chase after the dreams I used to have and finally be honest and brave.”
“Good,” Allison said, pulling out a lighter. “We’ll help you. Just don’t forget about us again because of some other nonsense.”
Josie took the lighter. “I won’t, I promise. If I break that promise, you can all pretend you don’t know me.
“Pretend? Please, Adeline said, giving Josie a little tap on the head. “You’d better be ready for us to beat some sense into you.”
Allison and Zoey nodded. “Yeah. And if you ditch our dorm activities again, we won’t go easy on you.”
They all burst out laughing. In the middle of the laughter, Josie lit the diary on fire, and then came the gifts–each one thrown into the fire like it meant nothing now.
By the time everything had turned to ashes, her shattered heart felt like it was finally starting to heal. She felt like herself again..
Vincent came back to the lab with the snacks, looking pretty down. Before he even got to the door, he ran into Natalie.
When Natalie saw the snacks in his hand, her heart sank. Josie hadn’t even n taken them. That probably meant she wasn’t going to help Vincent either.
“Vincent, is Josie still mad at everyone? Natalie asked, sounding upset. “It’s all my fault. She’s acting cold to everyone because of me.”
Vincent agreed. He thought Josie was being pretty cold and harsh. He’d only asked her for a small favor, and she shot him down without even giving it a second thought.
He clenched his jaw. “It’s not your fault. We just didn’t see her for who she really was. Turns out she’s pretty ungrateful. After everything we did for her, she turned on us like it was nothing.”
Natalie gave a bitter laugh. She felt even more sure now–Josie only got where she was because Aiden and the other four had helped her. And Natalie had made up her mind–she was going to destroy Josie’s reputation
