Dying and Everything in between

11| Bag a woman

─── ･｡•̩̩͙˚｡✧: *. .*:✧•̩̩͙･ﾟ｡───

Within half an hour, Joy and Lucas were situated at a restaurant nearby that mostly served fast food. Joy mumbled something briefly about 'a burger would make our day', that Lucas could not wrap his head around.

Lucas hardly thought a burger was going to make his day anytime soon. 

"I noticed you have hair," Joy said after the waitress took both their orders. Lucas ordered a simple cheeseburger while Joy ordered a burger with a side of fries. 

"Excuse me?" He frowned immediately. 

"I said, 'I noticed you have hair.'" Joy said emphasizing each word with extra strength. 

"No, I heard what you said. Of course I have fucking hair." He said, subconsciously reaching out to run a hand through his dark locks. "You caught me off guard with your question." 

"Didn't you do chemo?" Joy asked, fingers drumming over the table. 

"Yeah, I was seventeen then. I took it for almost a year," Lucas scratched the nape of his neck. "Then I got off, and it grew back. I don't know why people would assume I'm bald." 

"Was it cold?" 

"Was is what now?" 

"Your head," Joy jutted her chin toward his head. "Was your head cold?" 

He raised an eyebrow at him. "No? Who just asks that?" 

Joy's lips crinkled. "What? Why are you laughing?" He scowled, watching as her eyes traveled up to his scalp. He sank further into the booth, crossing his arms over his chest. 

"I like your haircut. I always thought it was a little too short, but it fits you. Strangely you pull it off," She beamed, a low chuckle following in suit.

"I don't know if that's an insult or a compliment." Lucas grumbled. God where is the food? He was getting more impatient with the moments waiting as he leaned over the table to see where the food was.

"No, I just— not at all, Andrews! I think you look great!" Joy mused. Lucas raised an eyebrow at her as she shrugged in defense. "I mean it!"

"Sure." He sighed, shaking his head. 

Now Joy was riled up like a little child excited over a new toy. "Wait! Lucas!" She gasped.

"What now?" Lucas tilted his head to his side.

"You never told me how you discovered you had cancer," Joy said. "Can I hear the story?"

"Why would- no. No, I am not going to tell you that," He firmly said, "Why the fuck would I tell you?"

"Because we are friends."

"Who said we are friends?"

"You did. 'Cuz I make you happy in a mutual way."

"No, you don't." Lucas scowled. "I never said that."

"Yes, you did. Anyway," Joy cut him off before he could argue with her. She leaned forward in her seat, all big smiles, and bubbly laughter. "I wanna know. Tell me. Was it sad? Is that why you don't wanna tell me?"

His neck flushed with a wave of stinging heat, his lips fluttering into a grimace. He squeezed his hands, knowing damn well there was no way he could tell Joy the truth. One: he hated thinking about that moment in his entirety because it was seriously that bad. Two: since it was so embarrassing, he wanted to take that exact moment and flush it down the drain.