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"You look happy these days," Laura commented as Lucas entered the kitchen, a towel around his shoulder, hair freshly damp from his shower. 

"What do you mean?" Lucas asked, taking the towel and rubbing the cloth behind his ear. He slid on one of the stools, watching Laura cook.

"Yeah, I noticed. You're carrying yourself differently," She gestured with her free hand, "Like, you're not dragging yourself. You're like floating."

He snorted at her comment, "Floating?" Laura nodded enthusiastically.

"Don't get me wrong, nothing's bad about that. It's nice that someone's able to make you smile like that." She reasoned. With her chin, she gestured for him to pass her the pepper. With a raised eyebrow directed to her, Lucas did as she asked.

"Who's what now?" As if on cue his lips folded into a frown, and at that, Laura merely rolled her eyes. Although, he didn't miss the teasing smirk on her dainty features.

"Ever since you and Joy started hanging, you are smiling to yourself more. It's pretty refreshing, you know, to see you smile again." Wait what? 

"Pardon me?" Lucas asked, his gaze narrowing. Laura whipped her head from her cooking, the mischievousness he mistook for gentleness was stretched across her lips in a smirk.

"I am glad I sent you to that program," Laura said, ignoring him. "You look really handsome when you smile, Luc. I am sure others have told you that too." Others? 

Lucas didn't say anything, only sparing his aunt a glare, seeing that her weird behavior didn't deserve a sentence from him just yet.

Or well, he didn't want to say something that could possibly soil her pleasant mood.

Talking to Laura was exactly like gambling. Some days she would take his cynical sarcasm and some days she would fight back with her own bluntness. Other days she would take a long deep breath and wait until she calmed down to even look at Lucas. 

When Laura's back was turned away, he quickly brushed a finger over his lips, unable to remember when the heaviness of his frown became light enough to curve into a grin. when? When was he smiling? Why was he smiling? There wasn't anything important enough to smile about. 

He scoffed loudly. There was no way he was smiling all day and Joy was certainly not a reason he was smiling. She couldn't be. 

Or well, so he thought. 

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Lucas didn't have much of an opinion when it came to Dr. Jake Jones except that he was awfully charming. All the nurses in his floor adored him, people would die for his smile and the guy was very well mannered that people swooned over him. 

Well, it made sense. The guy was a psychiatrist, so he would specialize in people skills. If not, then he probably shouldn't have taken this job. But above all, Dr. Jones was a good guy.

Which leads Lucas to wonder, how the hell was he related to Joy Jones?

Now that puzzled him. They were both incredibly different people. In the weeks that Lucas knew Joy, her style would consist of unpolished looks. maybe a flannel shirt thrown over her hoodie to look more put together but that was about it. Her raven hair was always styled the same way, fringes framing her face and hair reaching her shoulder. 

She was nothing like her brother, seeing that Jake always had a set routine of clothes. He wore his hair neatly combed to the side, turtleneck and khaki combos, and polished shoes that Lucas could see his reflection if he squinted hard enough.

The only reason that was on his mind was because Lucas ended up arriving way too early to the group meeting, and he was alone with Dr. Jones, who also happened to drop by at the crack of dawn. It was awkward bumping into each other, and neither said a word until Dr. Jones bit the bullet and invited him in.

Now he was sitting down on one of the chairs while Dr. Jones made some coffee. He offered Lucas some but he wasn't feeling it, leaving him to think.

Lucas and Joy hadn't been out for the bucket list for a week or two. Joy was busy recently, telling Lucas she had some stuff, or that her boyfriend wanted to spend some time with her. Though she didn't really say that out loud, but judging by the way she was on her phone more often and always canceled last minute, it was obvious.

It wasn't like Lucas was upset about it. He didn't have a place to be. It merely reminded him Joy was only doing this because they were assigned together, and all the things she said about them being 'friends' would never be possible no matter how much they try to fool themselves.

Joy was normal and Lucas just... wasn't. The possibility of anything else- a friendship- was too foolish to ask for. Lucas knew better than that.

"So," Dr. Jones's voice echoed through the room. He sounded like an authority figure but there was this additional coolness to him that set him apart from others. "I heard you and Joy went out to the girl's house the other day."

"She told you about that?" Lucas tried to bite back the surprise in his tone.

"Yep," He said. "She did."

"Wait," Lucas blinked rapidly, looking up to see Dr. Jones approaching him with a mug in his hands. "You're not mad?"

"Nope, and also, you can call me Jake," Dr. Jones, or well, Jake grinned. "Anyway, she told me about it over dinner the other day. Said you two had a really good time."

"But you know we vandalized a home, right?" Lucas raised an eyebrow at Jake.

"Yep," Jake brought his coffee cup to his lips. "I know all the details."

"But you are not mad?"

"Nope."

"You are not gonna punish us?"

"I don't see why I have to."

"Well then," Lucas said breathlessly, carding his fingers through his hair. Maybe Joy's whole family was crazy. That was the best explanation.

Jake chuckled, "Lucas, as long as you are not harmed, or your health is stable, I am fine with whatever you guys do. As long as you guys do your things and are safe, I'll be doing mine."

"Really now?" Lucas suspiciously looked at Jake. "Are you just saying this 'cause I am going to die soon? Is it a dying privilege?"

"I'd be more concerned if you were not having a good time," Jake said. "The whole point of this program is for you to have fun. And by the looks of it, you and Joy are getting along well."

"You think so?" Lucas muttered.

"I'll admit," Jake leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees as fingers squeezed around his mug. "It's been long since I saw Joy this energetic."

"Are we talking about the same person?" Lucas asked, still skeptical. At that, Jake's smile grew impossibly wider.

"She is not a bad person. Bit weird, but deep down she's a good person even though she's had it rough."

"Rough?" Lucas asked dryly.

"Not saying she had it harder than you. Everyone experiences all kinds of different hardships," Jake waved him off. "I am just saying. Joy's good at becoming the right person you need."

"Unfortunately for her, nobody is willing to do the same for her." Lucas frowned at Jake's words.

Now, what was that supposed to mean?

"Even so, she is worth knowing. Trust me," Jake said, and as much as Lucas wished it was a lie, there was something about Jake that already made him know he was telling the truth.

But before Lucas could ask what he meant, the door to the meeting room was thrown aside.

"What the fuck do you want me to do?" Lucas's head spun to where the voice was coming from, and there, lingering by the entrance, was Joy with her back towards them and her phone pressed against her ear.

"You are taking this the wrong way! What made you think I would lie?!" Joy kept her voice hushed, but there really wasn't much of an effect seeing that the room was large and dead silent. "Please, Noah! Listen to me!"

Lucas glanced over at Jake, raising an eyebrow, hoping he would say something. However, much to his expectations, Jake's expression was blank. Unreadable.

Lucas only pressed his lips together, drumming his fingers awkwardly over his thigh as he gazed back to where Joy was standing.

Jake must know something. There wasn't any way he would be clueless, seeing that they were siblings who seemed close. But Lucas wasn't that nosy to ask who Joy was on the phone with. He knew it probably wasn't his place.

Although it was weird. Very weird, and honestly, he didn't think he should be witnessing this.

Yet curiosity kills the cat. He couldn't help but wonder who was capable of twisting Joy in such a way, that her kindness was diluted into anger and her shoulder tensed with frustration. Maybe it was her boyfriend. Maybe it was someone else?

"Okay, call me back." Suddenly the frustration in Joy's tone melted away, and all that was left was this particular softness that wasn't as fond as it should have been. "Sure. I guess. Bye."

"Joy, are you alright?" Jake thankfully spoke up for Lucas when Joy finally did turn around.

When Joy's eyes met his, they widened for a split second, but it wasn't difficult for her to transition back into her usual relaxed demeanor.

"I am fine," Joy said, voice a little strained. She cleared her throat, scanning the entire room. "The rest are on their way, by the way."

"That's good," Jake said as Joy took a sit next to Lucas. But before Jake could speak, his phone rang.

"Well shoot, I'll be back real quick." Jake got up to his feet, phone in his other hand. "Stay put and welcome the others.

And with that, Lucas was left alone with Joy. As much as he didn't want that.

Lucas didn't know what to say when she did look over at him. It wasn't like he could comfort her, seeing that she was back on her phone once again, scoffing to herself as she seemed to be texting the person she was arguing with.

There wasn't anything to say when Joy shook her head, slipping her phone into her hoodie pocket after noticing Lucas was staring at her.

"How's your day so far, Andrews?" She lathered her words with her upbeat tone. But there was still an edge to it. Lucas frowned. "What?"

"Don't speak like that," Lucas decided the best he could do was act the same way he always did.

"Speak like what?" Joy repeated the same, stomach-twisting tone like she was mocking him. Lucas's jaw set. Though he knew she wasn't in a good mood, he wasn't going to let her use him as her punching bag.

"Are we really gonna do this right now?" He raised an eyebrow at her. Joy snorted, crossing her legs over the other. "Seriously, if you're in a bad mood, it's fine. But don't take it out on me just because you feel like it."

"Me? Taking my anger on you?" Joy bit out, the bitterness evident in her tone. Lucas nodded, licking his own dry lips.

"Are you gonna pick a fight with me too?"

"What?" Lucas frowned. "I wasn't trying to do that."

Joy rolled her eyes. "Sure." She didn't believe him. Did she? 

"If you are pissed, go take a walk outside and clear your mind, dude." Lucas jutted his chin toward the door.

Joy chuckled wryly, "Man, you suck at comforting people, huh?"

"I never said I was good in the first place. That's why you don't go around and expect things from others." He tried his best to not get agitated.

"Expectations lead to disappointment."

"Right," Joy nodded, bitterness lacing her tone. "You are absolutely right."

"Seriously, go take a walk and touch some grass," Lucas said.

"You're really not gonna comfort me?" Lucas wasn't sure if that was a sarcastic joke or a nasty jab at his personality.

"No," He said, shaking his head. "I am not."

"Okay," Joy breathed out. He peered over at her wondering if she would snap back, but instead, his expression fell watching the raven deflate in her seat.

Joy ran a hand down her face, a heavy sigh cutting through the dense silence between them. "Okay."

"Okay?" Lucas murmured.

"I am going for a walk." Joy suddenly got up to her feet.

"You do you," Lucas said, watching as her figure retreated to the door. When Joy reached the door, it flung open, revealing the rest of the other group members.

Bea's lips blossomed into a bright smile, but the second she saw Joy's face, the light died in her expression. From what Lucas could see, Bea tried to grab Joy to talk to her, but she simply shrugged Bea off with a rough tug and brushed right by the group.

"What's up with her?" Cole asked when the four of them approached Lucas.

"I don't know." He said, partially lying but that was only because he doubted telling them would be a good idea.

"Alright. Are we ready?" Jake asked, joining the circle. Neither of them said a word, and it didn't take long for him to notice Joy was gone.

"She went on a walk," Lucas answered abruptly, seeing that Jake was getting nothing from the group.

"A walk?" Jake's features contorted with a similar confusion before realization settled in. "Well, that's fine. Let's start without her?"

The group's silence was enough for Jake, and as he went on talking, Lucas found himself tuning out. But the nagging feeling inside the pit of his stomach that slowly creped its way into his chest wasn't helping.

It wasn't a good nagging. It picked at his thoughts, made his fingers drum over his thigh in an uneven beat, and his gaze search for the minute hand on a clock that somehow wasn't moving.

It felt weird, the nagging. The drumming. The looking.

But when the clock finally signified the end of their meeting and Jake said his goodbyes, he was the first one out of his seat and out the door. 

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