The Ocean Between Us

Chapter 2

Joanna

There were a lot of students at the university despite the fact that it was Saturday, so Joanna chose to sit in a secluded area of the computer lab. She didn't like being around crowds of people because it made her feel claustrophobic. She was just finishing up her essay when she heard a familiar voice call out her name.

"Joey!!" A red haired girl came running in Joanna's direction. Joanna gulped nervously and looked around. People were staring at the girl and then at Joanna.

Dammit Becca... She grumbled internally.

"Becca why do you have to be so loud?" She frowned as her best friend sat next to her. "And what are you doing here? You don't come here."

"Well sorry! I wasn't expecting to see you here today! I was hanging out with my boyfriend while he studied. Speaking of boyfriends, tell me!" Becca flipped her auburn hair over her shoulder and pushed her bangs out of her eyes. "Did you meet someone on that app I downloaded for you?"

Joanna smiled. "I did."

"EEEEE!! Tell me everything!" Becca clapped her hands in delight. Oh god, Joanna thought begrudgingly.

"Excuse me can ya keep it down? People are tryna study y'know!" A man's voice called out. Some people started to mumble in agreement.

"S-sorry," Joanna piped up and gave the man an apologetic look. She turned to glare at Becca. "Let me finish my essay then we can go get coffee."

"Okay!" Becca whispered, giving her best friend a thumbs up.

Joanna mumbled some more and turned back to her essay. She's so noisy.. How can she completely disregard everyone around her like that? Okay never mind, just focus on your work now. I'm gonna have to tell Toshinori about this. She smiled at the thought, then lightly shook her head and began to type away at the keyboard in front of her.

In about 20 minutes she had finished writing her essay. She quickly printed it out and stuffed it into a folder, tucking it away in her bag. Standing up, she began to walk with Becca out of the school when she remembered to text Toshinori. She reached into her purse to retrieve her cell phone but was shocked to find that it wasn't there.

"Becca have you seen my phone?" She asked. Becca merely shook her head and continued walking out of the school. Joanna scratched her nose; something she did when she was confused. She continued walking down the street, the wind blowing her hair around lightly when she suddenly remembered that she'd left her phone at home.

"Oh duh!" She smacked her forehead lightly. "I left it at home."

Becca shook her head. "And you call ME the dumb one!"

Joanna glared at her. "Which one of us is the university student and the other a waitress at a shitty cafe? Hmmm."

"Yeah well I'm making money! You don't have a job, so you're flat broke!" Becca stopped walking and flicked Joanna's forehead. Joanna playfully smacked Becca's arm and chuckled. "Doesn't your dad send you money, Joey?"

Joanna frowned. I don't wanna think about him. "Yeah he does. Although, he does so reluctantly." She pushed the button at the crosswalk and waited to cross the street.

"Why? Isn't he happy you're going to school to be a.. what's it called? A something worker?" Becca fixed her shirt and started to cross the street, walking just a step ahead of Joanna.

"Social worker."

"Yeah that! That's really good work, and it really suits you since you totally care about people! You would make a great hero!" Becca smiled and pulled out a cigarette.

Joanna frowned at Becca as she lit her cigarette. "My quirk isn't good for that. And you shouldn't smoke! It's very unhealthy for you. Don't you have asthma?"

Becca shook her head. "Mild asthma, and my point exactly. You care about people, you always want to do what's best for everyone else before you take care of yourself. So if your dad really understood that, he wouldn't be hesitant to send you money to help you achieve that dream." She took a long drag from her cigarette, held it for a moment and then exhaled. "You should tell him that."

Joanna shook her head in defeat. "Whatever you say Becca."

They walked down the street until they came to their favourite cafe, and settled into a booth in the corner of the small place. They ordered their usual drinks, a chai latte for Becca and an iced cappuccino for Joanna.

"Okay now you have to tell me all the deets about this guy you met!" Becca folded her arms on the table and leaned in close to hear what Joanna was going to say.

Joanna sighed. "His name is Toshinori and he's from Japan."

Becca squealed. "Oh my gosh! Japanese men are sooooo cute! Where does he live? Hopefully somewhere close, like B.C or even Saskatchewan. Never date someone farther from Alberta than those two provinces."

Joanna grimaced. "He lives in Tokyo."

Becca put down her latte. "Honey that's an immediate red flag. Ditch him."

Joanna sipped her drink. "I'm not gonna just stop talking to him! He's really nice, and neither of us are looking for romance, so we agreed to be friends."

Becca threw her hands up. "Jojo I didn't create that account for you to make friends."

Joanna sighed heavily. "I never asked you to make the account for me."

"But you didn't say no when I asked if I could!"
Joanna shook her head, frustrated with her friend.

"Listen to me, Joey." Becca looked at Joanna. "I want you to be happy! Being in love is such a beautiful experience. It makes you feel so good, like you just get so excited whenever you talk to your man, and you always feel this warmth deep down in your gut." She put her warm hands over Joanna's cold ones. "I want you to experience that too. It's not fair that you've never been in love. You're 24 years old already! How much longer are you supposed to wait?"

Joanna's eyes began to tear up slightly, but she quickly took her hands away from Becca's and wiped her eyes.

"Joey.." Becca said softly.

"I'll be fine Rebecca." Joanna sniffled and picked up her drink, sipping it again. "I like Toshinori, he's really sweet and funny. I need a good friend, and that's what he is to me. Can you just be happy with that? Please?"

Becca sighed and looked down at her drink. After a minute had passed, she looked into Joanna's eyes and nodded. "Okay Joey. If that's what you want, I'll stop pushing you. But just.. be careful okay? Don't let him hurt you or take advantage of you in any way."

Joanna chuckled. "I won't."