My phone buzzes.

Rachel is currently sleeping, so I swiftly answer the call with a whisper. Scurrying through the quiet hospital room, I slide the screen to the green circle to answer.

"Hello?"

Silence follows for the next few beats before Jo's voice greets me, "Hey. Uh, I'm outside."

"Outside?"

I almost bump into Mom while opening the door and she looks at me in confusion.

"I'll be right back." I promise her before continuing my journey to find Jo. What does he mean he's outside? He isn't in the hospital, is he?

"I'm in the garden."

"The garden?" The garden is huge, so his answer doesn't really help a lot. I pick up my pace, trying to keep an eye out.

"Do I need to go somewhere else?" Then he mumbles, "This is quite a big garden.."

"Um, do you know where the vending machine is?"

"I think so.."

I can hear his footsteps. Wait, am I supposed to be able to hear them?

I take a right turn before Jo catches me by surprise. He takes a step back just in time before we collide. 

"There you are!" I chuckle before I realize he doesn't come empty-handed. A plastic bag is in his left hold, while the other holds his phone. He probably realizes my stare since he then addresses the bag.

"Thought I can bring your sister something," he hands it over to me with a hint of embarrassment, "I hope it's alright."

"You shouldn't have," I hold out a smile, hoping it's enough to ease the awkwardness that's starting to corrupt the air, "Sorry I can't deliver the book."

"You don't need to apologize. Family comes first after all."

His words suddenly remind me of the lingering question I've had since I first met him. Maybe it's alright to fish for some answers... or not?

I agree, then after I realize how uncomfortable it is to chat under the glaring afternoon sun, I bring him to the cafeteria. All the while, we talk about the book I should've delivered this afternoon to him.

"I've picked it up before coming here."

"I thought you have somewhere to be on weekends?"

He shrugs while he absent-mindedly twirls the straw in his coffee, "I can spare a few hours or two. If it's not something urgent, I'd rather not go anywhere though."

"Those books keeping you busy?" I attempt my first bait carefully, hoping I can earn something.

"Well, in a way they do. I have to read them to my brother."

Well, I didn't expect he'd crack up this easily...

"Brother?"

"Yep. You don't think I actually read those do you?" he wears an amused smile, while I  attempt to dismiss my embarrassment.

"No..?" I cover my surprise with laughter.

"I don't really like books that much. But my brother does."

"What a good big brother you are," I coo, but in all honesty, he really seems like a great one, "he's probably your number one fan, huh?"

"Hopefully." he laughs, but somehow I can see a hint of sadness whenever his brother is mentioned. But that's probably a story for another day. The guy has cracked up a bit after all.

Our conversation starts from the book and continues to a lot of other stuff I didn't even expect we'd talk about. But of course, he'd ask about what happened with Rachel. And so I explain to him.

It's still tough to talk about it and among our family, we don't even really bring it up unless we really have to. Rachel is obviously still bitter whenever Ryan is mentioned while the rest of us ban ourselves from talking about it whenever Rachel is around.

Ryan and his three other friends were immediately hunted by the police as soon as Uncle Terry filed for a report. They already had Ryan and one of his friends, while two of them are still on the loose. 

"I'm sorry for what happened, Sash." he twirls his straw again, his eyes darting between me and his drink. 

"I just hope they get what they deserve. What they did was..." I shake my head, trying to calm myself down. The other day when I tell the whole thing to Rosa and the others, I end up crying because of what happened. I don't want to end up the same in front of Jo.

"They'll get punished, don't worry. You need to focus on Rachel right now. She needs you to be there for her."

His words hold some truth in it and I find myself nodding along.

I still have a hard time letting go about their punishment though. I need to know they'll get severely punished for what they did. They almost got my sister killed. I almost lost her and they must pay for them. But in truth, I don't really have much control over what I can do to punish them.

I want to beat them up for what they do, but I doubt I'll be satisfied with that. Unless I can become a monster overnight, my punches can't hurt them - they'll only laugh at my attempt.

"Sash? You okay?"

I blink several times, meeting Jo's concerned eyes.

"Yeah. I am." I smile for the sake of not losing myself in thoughts again.

"I won't hold you any longer, you probably want to get back to her already." he stands up and so do I.

"No, it's fine. It can get pretty boring here." 

Jo finishes his coffee, before heading outside of the cafeteria with me trailing behind. 

He turns, "Are you coming to work next week?"

"I don't know. Linda seems so eager to give me some days off, though." the side of my lips tugs up in a smile at the mention of my boss. I wonder if she has everything under control without me...

"Glad your boss loves you."

"Ooh, jealous?"

He laughs at my attempt to tease him, "No."

"Ah, well." I give a defeated shrug.

"Is this your first job?"

"How do you know?"

"Your enthusiasm gives it away."

I shrug. I do love it so much that it shows after all.

The hospital isn't so crowded during the afternoon - probably because of the heat. But alas, it isn't so deserted either.

I walk Jo to the exit, still carrying the plastic bag he gave me. By now, I've stolen a few glimpses into it. I still don't know what's inside though. Maybe some food?

"Sasha, honey! Is that your friend?"

My breath hitches for a second.

I know that voice all too well. What kind of daughter I am if I don't?

We both turn around, looking for the owner of the voice before I see Mom walks over to us. By the smile she's wearing, I know she isn't here just to say hi. The woman probably wants to investigate clueless Jo beside me here. Exactly why I'd rather not have those two meet.

"Your Mom?" Jo mutters just in time before she's standing before us and I nod, still trying to conceal my scowl.

"You should've introduced your friend!"

"Mom, he's in a hurry."

"Ah, well. I'm Dorothy Blue. Nice to meet you..."

Jo is quick to offer a hand along with his name, "Joseph Scott, Mrs. Blue."

Joseph? 

"Ah! You can just call me Dot, Joseph," she glances momentarily at me, "So how do you meet?Are you two working together?"

"Ah, no we don't," Jo briefly looks at me, "I just often go to the bookstore."

Speaking of, I didn't know his name is actually Joseph. And I thought I was so curious about him at the beginning. Yet I miss out my friend's name. Damn...

"Sasha hon-" I blink, realizing their stare on me, "Do you want me to go out-?"

"Oh, no. I'll walk him out." I dismiss the offer and turn to Jo, who's excusing himself. Their conversation isn't as long as I thought it'd be after all! 

"So Jo is short for Joseph?"

He looks at me with a lopsided grin, "Is it that surprising?"

"Well..." I catch myself stuttering, "Well, I never thought-"

"Relax," he laughs it off and I shut myself from attempting to talk further, "you're not the first to be surprised by it."

Standing a few steps from the front door, I fold my arms on my chest. The sun is still beaming down at us. The hospital's parking lot is still quite far from the lobby, yet Jo insists he can walk there by himself.

"Should I call you Joseph from now on?"

"No way," he shudders and I involuntarily laugh, "I hate when people do that."

"It suits you."

"It makes me feel old."

"Unlike Jo Scott?"

"Suits me better, don't you think?" his grin is contagious and soon I'm smiling from ear to ear.

"Joseph Scott sounds cool."

"Oh really?" he tilts his head a bit, his hands stashed into his pockets. 

You know how you suddenly get that feeling that your brain is 'taking a picture' of a certain moment? 

I do. 

That moment, I know I'll have it memorized in the back of my head for who knows how long. I just can't believe how out of all people, Jo will be the object of the picture this time.

"Mhm. You need to use it more often. No need to be ashamed."

"Maybe when I'm older." he looks around the hospital, before looking back at me, "Call me if you need a break. I know great ice cream shops around here."

"That seems like a good offer, Joseph." I grin as the impact of the name soon makes his nose wrinkle in such disgust. He finally shakes his head in surrender, knowing I probably won't quit using the name, before bidding goodbye.

I step back into the hospital building after watching his back disappear after taking a turn. Though it's impossible to instantly remove a problem, maybe some people are able to make the heaviest burdens feel a little lighter after all.