New Year's Date for 'Josh' ((mynameisnotbrad))

[chiron_survivor]

Mid-afternoon on New Year's Day, and Crossroads Café is more or less empty.

The early birds and people nursing hangovers from the previous night's festivities have already cleared out, and the dinner rush has not yet begun. Adia has claimed a table in the corner -- by herself -- although Ice Bear had stopped by to bring her a chai latte and a blueberry muffin while she waits for Josh to join her.

Caspar had made noises about coming, but Adia insisted that he stay home this time. She had a lot of catching up to do with her friend, and Caspar would make it awkward. Her one concession is to keep her PINpoint out, and so when Josh arrives, he'll find her eyes on its smartphone screen instead of the door, texting quietly and smiling at whatever she reads in return.

Comments

[mynameisnotbrad]

"...Yeah, I'll keep that in mind." His confidence at the situation wavers, but the fact that Adia is giving him such a supportive attitude keeps Josh from turning it into something negative.

The mentioning of his friend is disarming and Josh is back to wearing his emotions on his sleeve, specifically sadness. "He's not getting better, which I guess it what one would expect from someone with brain cancer. I've been dedicating time to making sure his legacy lives on, but I'm starting to wonder if I'm only getting in the way."

[chiron_survivor]

It is a surprising amount of work, to keep Josh from sliding into a negative demeanor. She's willing to keep trying, though. He did the same for her.

Except, oops, she's not helping by asking after his friend. The news does sound grim, and she frowns in sympathy. "Oh, Josh, I'm so sorry..." Impulsively, she pulls him into a gentle hug. "That is a shame... why would you think you're getting in the way? It sounds like your friend cares for you." Enough to impart some valuable advice, if she's not misinterpreting Josh's earlier words in the poké mart.

[mynameisnotbrad]

The hug is certainly disarming: causing Josh to just stare at Adia with a solemn look on his face. He almost wants to cry, but holds back those tears. "It's pretty typical, so I'm used to it. Not easy be me..." He weakly laughs, realizing that it's not to Kramer's apprentice that has issues, it's also Caspar. And no matter how nice Adia is, he still wants to know why she loves him.

"Please, don't get sad about me or my circumstances."

[chiron_survivor]

Poor Josh. Based on what he's told her, she knows that true friends are hard for him to come by. It must be gut-wrenching to lose one. She squeezes him once before letting go, her expression no less sympathetic.

"Don't worry about me. You enjoy the time you have with your friend, okay? And if you need anything, you let me know."

[mynameisnotbrad]

"But I..."

He wants to worry about her. Adia is his goal right now, the only female who's ever shown him affection. Stumbling, he tries to hold onto her hand, but lets go instead.

"Of course, Adia. I'm really glad we got to spend some time together today."

[chiron_survivor]

The fumbled attempt at hand-holding doesn't go unnoticed, but she dismisses it like every other strange thing Josh has ever said or done. "I am, too," she says with a warm smile. "We'll do this again soon."

She has every intention of keeping that promise. She opens her messenger bag and clips the clefairy keychain so it is hanging visibly on her messenger bag. Then she retrieves her PINpoint, and after waving goodbye, teleports home.