Dying and Everything in between

7| Making Progress

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Usually, Joy never dwelled in Lucas's thoughts.

Maybe that was a bit of a lie, had some awkward, bonding moment at Charlotte's house. Things led to another, and now his mind couldn't erase the aftermath no matter how hard he tried to.

Honestly, he didn't know how to explain it, but something in the air changed after Lucas assaulted a house with eggs and Joy just watched him obliterate the house. Like, he still hated her and he still didn't want to attend the program but it wasn't like he wanted to pull a voodoo thing on her.

It was just... different. Yes, it was different.

It wasn't like he dumped his entire repressed trauma on Joy in some dramatic, Shakespearean soliloquy and they rejoiced and had some empowering conversation about why life was so gosh darn precious.

It was more like Lucas coughed his soul out, drank nasty, room-temperature water, and Joy said in the nicest way possible— 'dude, you almost died doing something illegal but who doesn't do that, right?'

Total bonding moment.

When Joy met Lucas after their meeting (which wasn't eventful) after a day, he half expected Joy to bring it up and make fun of him for it. Honestly, he would so who else wouldn't?

Normal people wouldn't be dwelling on things like this, but then again Lucas wasn't particularly normal. However, that did excuse him for being this way. For being this... awkward.

Perhaps Joy could tell, judging by the way her eyes found Lucas the moment he came into her ground of vision. Perhaps she could see how he picked at a frayed sting on his hoodie incessantly and no matter how much he tugged it, it felt never-ending much like the looping thoughts in his head.

Perhaps Joy could see the unease between his brows or the frown that etched on his lips or the painful cringe in his expression when he got a brief memory of that day. Perhaps she noticed all those things but when Lucas joined her side, she merely smiled that witty smile that she always had.

All those stupid, stomach filliping thoughts just left that moment. Lucas wasn't sure why he was so concerned about the situation being awkward, seeing that Joy didn't seem like the type to let the conversation crash and burn like that. Also, this was in no way important enough to be subject to his worries.

There were a lot of other things to care about, and certainly, Joy shouldn't be in that category.

"Good morning Andrews," Joy was unnaturally perky like those nasty packets of artificial sugar. But people liked those sugars judging how they always came back for more.

"Hi." Immediately Lucas wanted to punch himself in the face. He winced, knowing there was no use in hiding anything at this point.

"You look great," She grinned. Lucas suspiciously raised an eyebrow at her. Her stupid grin widened. "A bit pale, but hey! You're still alive so that's a win!"

Lucas scowled, ignoring the pang in his stomach, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you're winning. You're beating your sickness for another day!" She beamed, turning towards Lucas.

"Did you shove a motivational magazine up your ass or what?" Lucas deadpanned, rolling his eyes.

"Why yes. Read a bit of some magazine in the lobby today, dear pal. Enthusiasm is a very great element to a speedy recovery from a sickness or injury."