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There was an overstuffed arm chair the color of a ripe plum situated in the corner of Josh's room. It was crooked in the way it was settled there in order to make room for a bookshelf so overfilled with stacked books, that some were on the verge of tumbling onto the shag rug beneath them. Avery was curled up there in that purple chair, a multi-colored blanket tucked around her, and her chin perched in the palm of her hand as her eyes fixated on a lava lamp across the room. Everything about Josh's room was odd. It was the best way to describe it, though it wasn't the kind of odd that was off putting... it was the kind of odd that was intriguing. There was clutter everywhere, and Avery recognized that the chaos was quite intentional. Posters that were too abstract to really understand glittered the walls, wooden beads hung in the doorframe, purples and burnt oranges and shades of green painted the bedroom in a way that resembled the American 1960's with touches of other cultures around the world. Music, something African and beautiful, played softly in the background, and incense was burning and filling the room. Josh was sitting cross-legged on his bed with a notebook in his lap. He glanced up at Avery and bit down on the end of his pencil in thought before clearing his throat.
"You know... I should have gotten you a lava lamp for Christmas." When his voice broke Avery's stare, she looked to him to find a cheeky, crooked grin on his face. She smiled sheepishly, she had no clue how long she had been staring at the lamp.
"You mean you didn't? Dammit... I was really hoping for one this year..." Avery joked, smiling herself when Josh's grin stole his entire face at her wit.
"Hey, don't lose hope yet, maybe Santa will bring you one..." Josh tossed his notebook aside, "Something on your mind?" He tilted his head to the side, his face shifting more curious than the buoyancy it held before. Avery bit the inside of her cheek, and her eyes shifted to the vintage clock on Josh's dresser. It was late, everyone else had gone to sleep already, but Josh was a night owl. Avery wasn't sure if it was because Josh's mind never quieted down enough for much sleep, or if it was because it was as if his creativity came alive at night that kept him mulling about in the late hours, but she was thankful for it that evening. She had tried... and failed... to go to sleep several hours before, and finally gave up and wandered over to Josh's room down the hall.
"What isn't on my mind..." She sighed, shrugging, "All I do is think... and think... and think... God, I get so sick of thinking." Avery dropped her head to the arm of the plum chair. The corner of Josh's mouth perked upwards as his eyebrows lifted.
"Care to elaborate? Wait! Hold on..." He tossed his hands up and his eyes widened in what seemed like an epiphany before rolling off the side of his bed and rummaging through a dresser drawer. Avery raised a curious eyebrow as Josh found what he was looking for and swiveled around with a joint between his teeth, his hand cupped over the end as he lit it. He inhaled it deeply before moving over to her and handing her the sickly-smelling rolled paper. Smoke rolled out of Josh's nose and curled around his cheekbones as he lowered himself to sit in the floor in front of the chair. Avery gratefully took a drag, letting the weed fuzz out her brain. Josh twirled his hand in gesture, "Go on..." He urged, his glassy eyes upwards to focus on her. There was so much Jake in those eyes, Avery had to glance away as she took another puff of the joint.
