The Day We Went To Mars - Sidemen Fanfiction

**Chapter 9**

Leaving the other five candidates at lunchtime, Josh made his way warily to his psychological evaluation. He reluctantly swept his childish excitement at the thought of their adventure in the Alps under the carpet, his mind now fixed on the one meeting between him and the orienteering task he so desperately wanted to be a part of.

After pulling up short at an unwelcoming metal door, he knocked uncertainly before entering the spacious office. There was a sofa, chair and a typical 'psychiatrist' seat that was almost like a bed. A middle aged woman with glasses poised on the bridge of a needle thin nose glanced at him with an already scrutinising glare.

"A rather tentative knock," she commented before he had even sat down, prompting him to consider the deeper meaning of his choice of chair. Settling for the more formal seat, Josh perched on the edge of the uncomfortable cushion, correcting his posture absentmindedly.

"I saw that," she muttered from across the desk, barely looking up as she furiously scribbled on a yellowing pad of paper. Josh wondered what she could possibly be commenting on in so much depth having not even heard his voice and found an overwhelming urge to laugh at the absurd situation he found himself in. She finally looked up, a list of questions resting on the table in front of her intimidatingly.

"Name?" the woman snapped irritably, not bothering with her own introductions.

"Josh Bradley," he replied softly, forcing himself to reluctantly maintain eye contact in an effort to uphold Tobi's three rules for a successful job interview. Rule #1 - Don't let yourself look intimidated, especially when out of your depth.

"Have you found it disheartening being rejected by-" she paused for a moment, running a finger down his file searchingly, "Ten companies in the last three weeks?" Josh gulped invisibly, willing himself to maintain an even facial expression despite the sheen of perspiration that coated the back of his neck.

"I've got used to living in London," he answered honestly, "I know how hard it is to maintain a permanent job in a capital city so I've learnt to expect the worst from job interviews." She raised her eyebrows cryptically, turning back to add to her papers with fervour.

"Why apply to a job such as this, with a long application process, if you don't think you will get to space?" she almost seemed curious as she phrased her next angle of attack.

"I've also learnt to be persistent," Josh added, relaxing a little more into his seat, "You can't be offered a job if you don't turn up for the process." Rule #2 - act confident and you become confident.

"So you expect to be dropped from the process?" Josh almost frowned as he contemplated her question for some time, unable to settle on an acceptable answer, "Most astronauts have at least a shred of self confidence."

"I'm just not arrogant enough to think my place is already booked on the rocket," he defended himself, unable to stop the slightly bitter tone seeping into his voice as she critiqued his personality. This caused her to look up with interest, absorbing his reignited eyes with a look of satisfaction. Pleased with the first section of evaluation, she ticked something off and moved on.

"As part of this evaluation I looked over your presence on social media and found some things about a previous relationship," she began, an almost reluctant expression sweeping her face, "And also a couple of points from your recent medical history to highlight."

Josh inhaled deeply, unprepared to be answering questions he hadn't set himself up for from his application and started getting lost in the worried hum of his mind, firing the usual doubts through his head at accelerating speeds. He could see the rocket firing off to Mars with everyone except him as he broke Tobi's final rule. Rule #3 - don't let anything they dig up from your past get to you. But some past events just can't be ignored.