They Told Me I Was Gone ~Joshua Dun FanFiction~

I'm Never What I Like

I don't like drinking coffee. I think it's bitter and too strong, and it really doesn't do anything for me. I do, however, love tea, and luckily for me most coffee places also sell tea. My favorite coffee place is called The Bean and it's a ten minute walk from my house, in a small strip of stores and food places in my town. It sells every kind of coffee and tea that there is and even though it can get crowded sometimes, it's mostly a very lightly populated building.

I come here almost everyday and I sit at a table in the corner by myself. I sometimes bring my laptop and do some research on authors or other things that i want to know about, but most of the time I just bring whatever book I'm currently reading. I sit alone and read quietly while drinking tea and ignoring the rest of the world. Everyday for almost four years and no one has ever bothered me - until today.

I heard a voice beside me, "Um, would it be cool if I sat with you?" It asked.

I looked up to see a boy, about my age, so more so a man than a boy. He was pretty tall, but very fit. He had strong looking arms that showed well in his gray t-shirt. He had a silver nose ring on the left side of his face. He had curly brown hair that was shorter on the sides than it was on the top. He had stretched ears with black plugs in them. His eyes were a dark brown hazel color. He wore black jeans and Vans.

"I wouldn't ask, but there aren't any tables left." He sounded kind of desperate, and I felt bad. He seemed nice so I nodded, giving him silent permission to sit with me. "Thanks." He said and he sat down across from me, setting his paper mug on the table.

I looked at him again, even though I told myself to just focus on my book before he started talking to me. I looked down quickly before he noticed me, going back to the book I was currently reading.

"My name is Josh, by the way." He said after he had settled into his spot. I looked up from my book to see him smiling sweetly. "I see you around a lot, I think you're in the same therapy office as me." His voice was timid and shy, which made me feel a little better about him. At least he wasn't going to be one of those overbearingly friendly people that did not know when to stop talking.

"Shae." My response was so stupid. Shae. All i could respond with was my name, nothing about seeing him around or what office he went to. I had a shot at a normal conversation and I royally fucked it up.

"I like that name. And I like your hair." He said, smiling again. Why was he in therapy if he was so happy all the time?

As soon as he said he liked my hair, I immediately touched the long, red, braid that hung over my left shoulder. I had natural ginger hair, with freckles and pale skin to match, but my eyes were a hazel color, making me an incomplete ginger. It made sense though since almost everything about me was not quite complete.

"Thanks." I practically whispered. I didn't really know how to respond. I never really got compliments from strangers, only my parents and even that was a sparse thing lately.

I expected him to keep talking, to try to have a conversation with me, but he didn't. When I thanked him, he said "any time" and smiled, then looked to his phone and didn't bother me after that. So, I went back to my book, and didn't bother him. Every once in awhile I would feel like someone was looking at me, and i glanced up to see Josh staring at me softly with his head cocked to the side in intense focus. When i would look up he would look away quickly and act like it never happened.

We sat together for nearly an hour before Josh stood up, "I have to go, but thank you for letting me sit with you." Again, he smiled and then he walked out the door. I kept reading. 

Like I said, these chapters are going to be pretty short and to the point for the most part. And the chapters will go back and forth from therapy sessions to her outside life (Josh), so hopefully that's not too confusing for anyone. Vote and comment and let me know what you think!