Wishful Adventures | An Original Story

(Ch 5) A Genie Worth Waiting For

That night, Josh and Sapph decided to try sleeping together. It felt a bit strange at first, but the two had grown comfortable enough with each other that it actually felt pretty nice.

The next day, Josh threw something together that he'd made up before, that Sapphire had liked the first time: peanut butter jelly pancakes. He topped them in spirals, like icing on a cake, which worked really well, and Josh had fun making them. He and Sapph ate well that morning, but the good stuff was only just beginning.

Josh decided to take Sapphire to the special places this week, as a great set of first dates. Over the week, he took them to the amusement park, the museum, the pool, (he still had yet to take them to the beach) and sometimes they'd just spend afternoons and evenings on the balcony out front, or the back patio around the fire pit. Those had become some of Josh's favorite ways to spend time with Sapph. They seemed to enjoy them just as much.

Joshua really did love Sapphire, and he was glad to have them in his life. He was glad to have someone who wouldn't judge him for every way he did everything, someone who loved those things about him rather than try to shame him for it. He was glad for someone who valued his autism as a special part of him, rather than something that made him unacceptably abnormal, as his family had come to realize. Josh was glad he got to show Sapph the world, not just how it is, but how he sees it, learning to love the little things as well as the big.

Just as well, Joshua loved Sapphire as a person. He loved the way they got excited, and showed it, as well as their energy and overall vibe. They were very kind, sweet, and surprisingly mature for someone who hadn't seen much of the world for more than a week every few centuries. Joshua loved having them in his life, as a friend, and a partner.

As the two sat around the fire pit on the patio, with steaming mugs of cocoa (which Sapph had grown to absolutely adore), Josh's phone vibrated in his pocket. It vibrated a second time, so Josh took it out to find a call...from Mom and Dad!

Immediately, he knew this was either important, or a call to meet and catch up with the rest of the family. Since Beira had moved out, Josh's parents had called once or twice for one of the two. Josh was glad to have shown Sapphire his phone earlier; he couldn't be dealing with their questions while there was a call from his parents that could be important. He told Sapph the call was from them, and they nodded. He answered the call and put his phone up to his ear.

"Hello?"

"Hey Josh!" answered the slightly withered, but softly peppy voice of Josh's mother, Luna.

"Hi Mom!" Josh replied, smiling, for Luna sounded happy.

"Hey son!" joined Josh's dad, Alan. "How's the move been?"

"Great, actually," Josh replied. "I've done a lot," he glanced at Sapphire with twinkling eyes, "made a few friends."

Sapphire blushed, and their eyes sparkled once more. That made Josh let out a soft chuckle.

"Glad to hear it!" Al said excitedly. "So anyway, we're calling to see if you'd like to come and visit soon! We're gonna get a hold of your siblings as well, and it'll be nice to catch up with you all!"

Josh paused for a bit. He knew his parents would want him and his siblings to visit them every once in a while, but Josh felt a bit nervous. He figured he'd be staying to visit for a week at most, as that was how Beira had done when he first visited after his move, but Josh couldn't leave Sapphire here all alone. However, he wasn't sure how his family would take to him having a partner so soon after his move.

Joshua thought his family might say he was too quick to love, and that it might be his loneliness speaking over it, but Josh knew otherwise. He knew he genuinely loved Sapph, and not out of loneliness. He knew they loved him the same way, and he wanted to be with them. He decided that if they had to travel, he'd take them with him. He smiled at Sapphire's curious eyes, remembering his dad was on the phone.