Finding Joy

CHAPTER 11: ANOTHER FATED MOMENT

Joy got increasingly nervous and they walked to the lab. "This is weird, why is he so nice to me?" she thought to herself.  "Does he like me? No way- But, let's say he does like me. How do I let him down easy? Ah, this is so frustrating!"

She looked up at Edan and he seems to, also, be deep in thought. "Am I overdoing it? I hope I don't seem suspicious. I'm not good with this sort."

They finally reached their destination and, as they opened the door, Lily quickly, and discreetly, tossed half finished chocolate muffin from Sudoh Bucks in the bin: since, obviously, food isn't allowed in the laboratory.

Lily jolted up from her seat, laughed nervously, and put her hand behind her head. "Oh! Hey, Joy, I didn't know you were going to be this fast."

"Lily! Stop bringing your junk into the lab! I've told you so many times and-"

"Hold on, wait a second," Lily cut her off and walked up to the two; both to distract Joy from the muffin, but also to address the elephant in the room. "What's he doing here? Did you end up taking my advice after all?" Lily joked as she winked.

Nick covered his mouth and giggled. "Pft!" However, he froze after remembering how he barely managed to take on Edan earlier in the day. Edan's pressure somehow felt different from what he initially expected. His instincts are usually on point, due to his naturally high level of analysis, and right now they're telling him to retreat.

"Oh, he offered to help. Right, Edan?"

"Indeed." Edan replied. Being called by his pseudonym reminds him that he is, in fact, undercover and it reassures him.

Lily sat back down next to Nick. She leaned towards him and whispered. "I didn't think he'd actually come."

"Right? Who would've guessed." Nick sighed. "But, I think things are starting to make sense."

"Hm? What do you mean?"

Nick smiled, leaned back on his chair, and looked towards Joy explaining to Edan how to re-enter the information into the systems. "Wouldn't you like to know."

"What? So does it make sense or not? You're the one not making sense now. Tsk, I expect better from you."

"What!" Nick exclaimed as he jolted back and faced Lily.

"You heard me. Did I stutter?"

"But Lily, I-"

Lily crossed her arms and turned away. "Humph!"

"Humph, fine then!" Nick pouted and he also crossed his arms and turned away. He pursed his lips and interrupted Joy. "Joy, Lily's being mean to me again!"

Lily whispers under her breath. "Yeah, just keep looking to everyone else for help. Why don't you just go to Paris again."

Joy dropped her conversation with Edan. "What do you mean, Lily? Where did that come from?"

Lily looks down at the muffin she tossed into the bin, then she reluctantly explains what happened. 

-

While Joy left to sort out the situation with the other staff, Lily and Nick went out to Sudoh Bucks to get food to help them get through the night, since they would all be staying late to help finish re-entering the files. They stood in line together glancing over the menu to look at their options. Nick ordered his usual vanilla Frattuccino with three pumps of chocolate and caramel. Lily, on the other hand, wanted to try the new limited edition Peach & Cream muffins. When it was time to pay, Lily reached into her pocket and dug around for her wallet, but she accidentally left it in her car. When she turned to go to her car, Nick grabbed her wrist and offered to pay. But, of course, Nick being Nick, he too had forgotten his wallet.